After leaving the hot spring, both Brandon and Scylla had dried off and changed into more appropriate clothing.

They were now sitting on a large couch in Scylla’s spacious living room.

Scylla lounged casually with one arm draped over the back of the couch, her legs spread comfortably.

They were chatting when two maids entered the room carrying trays of food.

The maids bowed politely, clearly used to Scylla’s informal lifestyle, and placed the dishes on the low table in front of them.

There was grilled meat seasoned with strong spices, fresh bread, roasted vegetables, and a jug of chilled wine. The aroma was rich and inviting.

"Thank you," Scylla said with a nod. The maids bowed again and quietly left the room, closing the door behind them.

Scylla immediately reached forward, grabbed a large piece of grilled meat and took a big bite.

She chewed with satisfaction, then glanced at Brandon "So, tell me more about this Holy Land plan. You really think you can do this? Turning Nacirfa into sacred ground for Lady Rheanne?"

Brandon picked up a piece of bread and tore it in half, dipping it into a small bowl of sauce.

"Nacirfa is already in chaos. If we don’t act, it becomes a battlefield between Cene and Eurasania again. By turning it into a Holy Land, we remove it from the play entirely. Both empires can support it without losing face."

Scylla took another big bite of meat, chewing thoughtfully as she listened.

"Hmm... smart. But you’re still asking a lot of people to bow their heads to one woman. Even if that woman is Lady Rheanne."

She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. "Religious types are going to lose their minds."

Brandon nodded, taking a sip of wine "That’s why we move fast and make it official. Once both emperors publicly support it, the smaller factions won’t have the power to resist. And the people will follow. They already worship Rheanne as a living goddess in many places."

Scylla leaned back on the couch, stretching her arms.

"Either way, if fighting breaks out... you better call me. I want in on the action."

---

One week later

Nacirfa Kingdom – Royal Palace, Grand Assembly Hall

Banners of both the Cene Empire and the Eurasania Empire hung side by side on opposite walls in the grand assembly.

Emperor Aldric Vossel of Cene and Emperor Valerian Bleaufort of Eurasania sat across from each other at a long marble table.

Between them, Brandon was sitting at the head of the table.

Several high-ranking nobles from Nacirfa stood along the sides of the hall with their heads lowered.

The news that Brandon had personally killed their King had spread like wildfire.

Emperor Aldric leaned back in his chair, "So... the Holy Land of Rheanne..."

"I must admit, when Lord Kael first proposed it, I thought it was madness. But after a week of discussion with my advisors... it may be the only solution that prevents full-scale war between our two empires."

Emperor Valerian nodded slowly "I agree."

"The power vacuum left after the King’s death has caused chaos. Many nobles were already preparing to sell themselves to the highest bidder. But once word spread that you were the one who killed their ruler..."

He let out a dry chuckle. "Most of them lost all will to resist. They know better than to challenge the man who stands beside the Goddess herself."

One of the Nacirfa nobles stepped forward hesitantly "W-We... accept the proposal."

"The Holy Land of Rheanne. As long as our people are protected and our lands are not turned into a battlefield... we will submit."

Emperor Aldric smiled faintly "Both our empires have already agreed to fund the reconstruction and the building of major temples. It will be expensive... but far cheaper than decades of border conflicts."

Emperor Valerian nodded in agreement "My daughter Amelia has also spoken strongly in favor of this plan," he spoke, giving Brandon a meaningful look.

"She believes it is the right path."

Brandon returned a small nod, acknowledging the subtle message.

The Nacirfa nobles remained silent with their heads bowed.

Their king was dead, killed by the man currently sitting before them. Their only choice now was submission and survival.

Emperor Aldric raised his wine glass "Then let us make it official. The Kingdom of Nacirfa shall henceforth be known as the Holy Land of Rheanne. A neutral sovereign territory under the protection of the Goddess."

Emperor Valerian raised his own glass as well "To peace... and to the Goddess."

Seeing this, Brandon raised his own glass "To the future..."

---

The declaration was made official on a bright spring morning.

In the central square of the capital city, both Emperor Aldric of Cene and Emperor Valerian of Eurasania stood together on a grand stage alongside Brandon and Rheanne.

Thousands of citizens, nobles, and soldiers from many nations gathered to witness history.

The proclamation was read aloud.

"From this day forward, the Kingdom of Nacirfa shall cease to exist. In its place rises the Holy Land of Rheanne- a sovereign, neutral territory under the divine protection and guidance of the Goddess Rheanne. No empire shall claim it. No king shall rule it. It shall stand as a sanctuary for all who seek peace, faith, and protection from the monsters that plague our world."

The moment the words were spoken, a wave of mixed reactions swept across the continent.

As expected, not everyone accepted the change quietly.

Several powerful noble families in Nacirfa openly rebelled, refusing to surrender their lands and titles.

A coalition of warlords gathered an army of roughly 8,000 men, declaring they would rather die than bow to a "foreign goddess."

Religious factions from the old Sun and Land churches protested violently in multiple cities, calling the Holy Land "blasphemy" and "an insult to the true gods."

There were assassination attempts, sabotage of reconstruction projects, and even a short-lived uprising in the southern provinces.

But all resistance was crushed with ruthless efficiency.

Brandon personally led several operations alongside General Scylla and elite forces from both empires.

The rebels quickly learned that fighting against the man who stands beside the Goddess herself was suicide.

Most surrendered after the first major clash. The rest were hunted down.

Rheanne herself rarely intervened directly, but her mere presence and quiet support were enough to demoralize most opposition.

Despite the resistance, reconstruction moved forward at an astonishing pace.

Massive funding poured in from both Cene and Eurasania.

Each emperor sought to outdo the other in showing generosity, pouring gold, materials, and manpower into the newly declared Holy Land.

They even got support from other empires trying to please the Goddess Rheanne.

Temples dedicated to Rheanne began rising across the land. New roads were built, farmlands restored, and trade routes reopened under the protection of the Holy Land’s banner.

Brandon oversaw much of the planning.

He worked tirelessly with architects, priests, and administrators to create a functional holy nation.

Laws were written to ensure neutrality, protection of pilgrims, and fair governance through a council that answered directly to Rheanne.

Rheanne, though initially reluctant, slowly accepted her new role.

She visited construction sites, blessed temples, and addressed the people directly in her free time.

Her calm, graceful presence won over many hearts.

And eight months after the declaration, the Holy Land of Rheanne was officially established and recognized by major empires.

---

On a quiet evening, Brandon and Rheanne stood together on the balcony of the newly built Goddess’ Residence, overlooking the capital.

Rheanne leaned against the railing, her long white hair swaying in the breeze as she looked at the glowing city below.

"I still can’t believe this is real." she murmured. "An entire nation... named after me."

Rheanne turned to him, "All of this because of you. You truly are changing the world, Kael."

Standing beside her, Brandon let out a chuckle "You totally deserve it, Rheanne."

"You’ve carried the weight of this world for so long. Now the world is finally carrying some of that weight for you."

She let out a soft sigh "I’m still not used to being called a Goddess by so many. Every time someone kneels before me, I feel strange."

Brandon smiled gently and wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer against his side.

Rheanne leaned into him naturally, resting her head against his shoulder as the evening breeze played with her hair.

"You’ll get used to it. And if it ever becomes too much... I’m right here."

She tilted her head, looking up at him "Since you were too focused on rebuilding this nation, I was clearing dungeons and towers solely. It feels lonely without you."

"Now that everything is completed, shall we go together tomorrow?"

With a thoughtful look, Brandon replied "Sure. We can go tomorrow."

Rheanne’s eyes brightened and she turned around in his arms to hug him.

"Just like old times..." she whispered excitedly.