Inside a study within the castle of the Arclesia Empire’s capital, Chris, the Empress herself, was hard at work.
She had just finished reviewing a stack of reports and was taking a moment to breathe when a voice cut through the silence.
"Ah, are you done?"
"!?"
The sudden interruption made Chris nearly jump out of her skin. This was her private office. Given the sensitive information handled here, the room was outfitted with world-class security measures, including teleportation interference. Hardly anyone should have been able to slip inside without her noticing.
Chris looked up, her heart pounding, but the sight of the figure lounging on the sofa made her exhale in relief. She lowered her guard instantly; if the person before her was the one who had arrived, bypassing security was likely child's play.
"Sorry for barging in like this~"
"Welcome, God of Fate-sama. My apologies for the lack of a proper reception."
"Don't sweat it. I'm the one who dropped in unannounced. Anyway, I'm not here for small talk, so let’s get down to business."
Fate had settled onto the sofa before Chris had even registered her presence. In her typical breezy manner, she got straight to the point.
"So, I heard from Kai-chan that you want to use my visit to that resort for advertising, right?"
"If that is inconvenient, or if you have specific conditions, please let me know..."
Chris had already sought permission through Kaito to promote the resort as a destination visited by the God of Fate, and Fate had given her approval. Worried that the deity might have had a change of heart, Chris watched her closely, but Fate simply shook her head.
"No, no, that part’s fine. It’s just... well, isn’t it a bit weak?"
"Weak? In what sense?"
"Well, Ris-ris, you want some prestige for your resorts—and for your empire as a whole, right?"
"R-Ris-ris... Yes, you are exactly right."
"But think about it. Sinfonia has that Sky Castle, built by a whole team of Gods using top-tier materials. And Hydra has that beach, where not just me, but the Six Kings and Shallow Vernal-sama herself have hung out. Compared to that, 'Fate visited once' feels a bit underwhelming, doesn't it?"
"...That may be true, but I wouldn't dream of asking for more."
Fate had hit the nail on the head. Even ignoring Sinfonia, Arclesia’s claim to fame would look like a pale imitation of the Hydra Kingdom’s beach. There was no room for argument. However, as far as Chris was concerned, this whole thing was a stroke of unbelievable luck. She felt she shouldn't get greedy.
"Look, I had a blast on this trip. It was honestly the best memory of my life. I’m so satisfied that I felt like giving you a little extra service. It would’ve been easy enough to give you a blessing, but you're an Empress, not a common noble. I have to worry about the reputation of the God of Life, who’s officially in charge of Arclesia. I can’t just step on her toes, so I thought I'd try something else."
"Something else?"
"Yeah. I think... a radius of about five kilometers should do it. I’m going to grant that tourist spot—and the five-kilometer area around it—my Divine Protection."
"The Divine Protection of the God of Fate!?"
Chris stood up so fast her chair nearly toppled.
Unlike a blessing, which was granted to an individual, a Divine Protection was anchored to the land itself. The Arclesia Empire was notoriously poor for farming, and the only reason they could harvest anything at all was due to the Divine Protection of fertility granted to the soil. While a protection's effects were less intense than a blessing's, the benefits were broad, affecting the land and everyone on it. For a nation, it was an asset of immeasurable value.
Normally, these protections were granted by the Low-ranking Gods who tended to the local temples. No one had ever heard of a High-ranking God doing such a thing, let alone a Supreme God. Fate granting her protection to a specific piece of land was a world-first event.
"Oh, I won't make it too powerful. It’ll just be something like... giving visitors a temporary boost to their luck. But while a Low-ranking God's protection has to be refreshed every few years, mine is permanent. It'll last forever. That should be plenty of prestige for your ads, right?"
"T-That is... it’s more than we could have ever dared hope for! Are you truly certain?"
Fate was acting casual, but the implications were staggering. Being the only place on earth with the permanent protection of a Supreme God was an advertisement beyond compare. If it became a confirmed Power Spot where luck actually improved, people would flock there regardless of the cost. For an empire struggling to keep pace with Sinfonia and Hydra, this was the ultimate prize.
"I mean it. This trip was the best. Consider it a special bonus. And don’t worry, I cleared it with the God of Life first. Anyway, I could have just done it quietly and left, but you want that prestige, right? So, I’ll clear fifteen minutes of my schedule on the 30th of the Month of Heavens. I’ll show up at noon and grant the protection in person. If you want to use that for your promotion, go nuts! Anyway, that’s all I wanted to say. I’m out!"
"T-Thank you! Thank you so much!"
Her message delivered, Fate hopped onto a cushion floating in mid-air and vanished in a flash of light. Chris remained bowed deeply for a long time after Fate had gone. When she finally looked up, she immediately scrambled to start the logistical arrangements for the big day.
Serious-senpai: "Is that it? Is that really it!? She's way too happy, she's talking about how it was the 'best ever'... Aaaagh, m-my body is turning into sugar again!"
???: "Are you all right? Should I call the Doctor?"
Serious-senpai: "I am begging you, please do not."