[Wait…what next strike?!]

I'm a pacifist! Don't tell me…

"Yes, our next strike. We need to expend as much as we can. So far, we have been attacking the weaker scattered sects as subtly as possible. We have no proof, but chances are the other big powers are doing this too." (Anon)

"Yes, we've been pretty successful. So successful that we need to create a new pen soon for the captured. Actually, we could expend the current one. That's the best part about water magic, it's so easy to transform and upgrade." (Fairy)

"The only issue is most of our targets were so poor! As much as I love jewelry, it's useless if we can't get mana cores for our training." (Empress)

"I mean, for mana cores, we could simply raid a disaster zone until we have enough." (Princess)

"Please, you know as well as us that it's not viable. The nearest disaster zone is really ill-suited to us. As for journeying to another one, it's way too risky. Besides, it's more efficient to get some from a third party that has hopefully been accumulating such thing." (Queen)

[Eh, everyone. Why don't we simply remain here and defend this place? We don't really need mana cores, do we? If we simply wait long enough the people outside are bound to stop fighting at some point. Then we can come back as if nothing ever happened.]

"*Sigh* That wouldn't work. There is no sect out there that has managed to survive doing that, ever. Remaining cooped at one spot is the best way to get left behind. First, the training resources become scarce, then training slows down, meanwhile, others are becoming powerful at a crazy rate outside and before long your base is getting sieged by forces you can do nothing about." (Anon)

[On the other hand, getting out there and getting killed won't help. Plus, I actually know a sect that is doing just that, hiding from the world and they are doing just fine as far as I know.]

"You do? Who?" (Fairy)

[The dwarves that revere Forgar, you know, a small muscular dude with red fiery hair and a pretty boring hammer in his hand. Like you'd expect a god to be wielding a tool made of lava or something, but nope.]

"Y-you, are you describing a god so casually?!"

[Eh, it should be fine. Guy asked me to become his champion once. He's pretty chill, ah but he sucks at magic. Like seriously I asked him to teach me how to reliably start a campfire and he couldn't even do that.]

"…"

"…"

"…"

"Hahahaha that's a nice joke! Please do make sure you never say anything like that about Aqua, however." (Princess)

Then they all start to nervously laugh. I wasn't joking, however. I swear people put the gods on too high a pedestal. I mean sure, they clearly are powerful but that's about it. I guess that's because I've seen a world void of magic.

In these, no matter how powerful or wealthy one becomes…at the end of the day we are all human. There could be the noblest most illustrious man or the vilest of villains and both would disappear after a few decades, corpses devoured by worms.

Living in these kinds of worlds is far from a utopia. There are inequalities, wars, slavery, sickness, lots of nasty stuff really. But it has the advantage of being very down to Earth. This kinda shaped my personality and made me who I am.

For me, the gods are akin to powerful CEOs. Sure, they possess more divine energy than me and for sure know how to use it better, but that doesn't mean I won't reach their level one day. Actually, I get the feeling I will for sure. It may be very slow, but the more time passes and the better I am getting.

At first, I could only enhance myself. Maybe that's what I use most of the time because it's super convenient but at least I added a few strings to my bow.

While I was lost in thoughts, they've been discussing various sects out there. It all sounds so foreign to me. It's like attending a class that's way over one's comprehension level, you try your very best but even taking notes is hard and understanding said notes afterward a nightmare.

So, I simply nod from time to time. If my life was a movie the subtitles would read: *Nods in: what the fuck is happening, I'm lost! *

They are still going on about raiding other sects. I am very much against that. Earlier they kind of got stuck on the god part of my statement, didn't they?

"We should definitely not underestimate these-"

[*Cough cough* Excuse me, but I need to say something before we go further.]

"Go ahead." (Anon)

[Can we go back to my earlier statement? You know, the one where you guys say no sect hiding ever survived and where I'm telling you the dwarves managed to do it.]

"That wasn't a joke?" (Empress)

"The dwarves are pretty much mythical creatures at this point that haven't been sighted in forever. There are always rumors of the elusive dwarf masters that are experts of forging, but 11 times out of 10 it turns out to be a lame scam attempt." (Queen)

[That's what I'm telling you! I've met them! All of them, the three clans: Iron hammer, Iron Anvil and Iron Furnace. I've even participated to their Champion choosing ceremony! It's a really neat event where contestants forge, hunt and drink. I've even journeyed with Iron Hammer himself for a little while. So yes, they exist and are doing just that, defending!]

"Seriously?! Wow! Wait…I'm confused. Is Iron Hammer a dwarf or a clan?" (Empress)

[Ah, it's both. The leaders are called by the name of their clan. It's kind of a title that they keep as long as they hold power.]

"Oh! That's neat!" (Empress)

"You say you've met them? Where and when?" (Anon)

[Where I have no clue. I had an artifact to guide my way back then. As for the when I'd say about 2 years ago?]

"So, your suggestion is that we hide right where we are and do nothing else?" (Queen)

[Exactly! Actually, there is something I'd like to do. You see, I should have some friends scattered all across the continent. I'd like to try and find them. But that doesn't require fighting at all, we can simply stay in here, be safe and we can slowly turn this place into a fortress.]

"A fortress? How?" (Princess)

[Well, remember that dwarf I was talking about? Well, he's able to create barriers too. He should be able to help strengthen our defenses.]

"So, how do we find this so-called dwarf?" (Fairy)

[Well, that's the issue…]