As they headed toward the temple, Shin asked, "Heart, can I get the church now?"
"Yes, Host. Which one would you like?
• A common church (low-level faith, holds small gatherings) — 50 system points
• A standard church (medium-level faith, holds normal gatherings) — 100 system points
• A cathedral (large faith, holds large gatherings) — 150 system points
• A grand cathedral (comes with nuns, cardinals, priests, and popes to preach to all gods and goddesses in the current pantheon) — 250 system points"
"Heart, place one grand cathedral and one cathedral."
"Yes, Host."
A flash of white light illuminated the area as two cathedrals appeared—one noticeably larger than the other.
"Now I can hold weddings for my citizens," Shin murmured with satisfaction.
"Big brother, I need to upgrade," Heart informed him. "It should take about two hours. You can still access your inventory, take and complete missions, and use the gacha. The only thing offline will be the system store."
"Heart, will you be okay?" Shin asked, a hint of concern in his voice.
"Yes, big brother," Heart reassured him warmly. "I'm growing because the territory is prospering and getting stronger. See you after my update."
Shin sighed in contemplation as they entered the temple. A familiar white light enveloped them as they approached the four members of his pantheon. All of them seemed pleased to see him—especially the two goddesses.
Shin turned to Thurdd. "I wanted to ask about my dragon heritage. I thought I was a multicolored dragon."
Thurdd smiled. "Dear husband, you—and most of your father's side—are Void Dragons. Void Dragons are the strongest living dragons, possessing all the advantages of both chromatic and metallic dragons. This power comes from inheriting much of Tiamat's strength before she married my father, another dragon god."
She paused, then added, "However, there's one drawback—reproduction. Void Dragons can only reproduce with their partners, regardless of gender, unless they have a harem. That's why Lilith gave you her blessing: to ensure you could have multiple children. Ever wonder why your mother, a Succubus Queen, only had one child?"
"I never thought of it like that…" Shin murmured.
"It's okay, dear husband," Thurdd continued. "Your Void Dragon genes will merge perfectly with your mother's Succubus bloodline. Your wives have already been prepared to handle it. We've also shortened the pregnancy period. Instead of two years, like your birth, your wives will carry for nine months."
"We've even added a bonus," she said with a playful smile. "Every time you impregnate a wife, you'll earn a Wife Gacha Ticket. For now, only your dragon and succubus wives are safe to be intimate with while carrying."
"We also want to congratulate you on your victory and the growth of your territory," she finished. "We'll post more missions after your visit."
Aether spoke next. "You have a decision to make regarding the goblins. After you kill the emperor, you can:
• Take them in, name their race, and give them your dragon blood like the Chaos Wolves
• Name them individually and make them Dragonborn
• Or eliminate them entirely
The choice is yours. But remember—every king needs people. You've seen how strong goblins can become in stories like Re:Monster and Tensura. If nurtured, they can become great assets."
"Thank you for the advice, Lord Aether. I'll keep it in mind."
"That's all I ask, young monarch."
Thurdd spoke again. "You've begun assimilating Shin Wilford's mana. Your first two affinities are fire and lightning. You did well merging his knowledge with your own. Although you can learn all magic types, focus on mastering these two first. You'll find books on all affinities in Dragon Mountain."
"Darling," Lilith said softly, "I have two tasks for you."
"Yes, Lilith?"
"Host a wedding for Ri Shin and Kyou Kai in the new grand cathedral. Also, mark the succubi in your territory by activating their Succubus Marks. This will allow interspecies reproduction without complications or extended pregnancies."
"Hayato," Aether added with a stern tone, "don't neglect your training. Not even with your new wives."
"Yes, Lord Hayato. I'll resume daily training after I check out the nearby town."
"You better," Hayato smirked. "Or I'll increase your nightly battle difficulty, brat."
"Now go," Aether said. "We want to see how far you've progressed by your next visit."
⸻
Mission Update
Upon exiting the temple, Shin received new mission prompts:
Main Missions:
• Master fire and lightning magic
• Awaken Boa's bloodline
• Complete the next nine night battles with zero losses and earn an SSR rating
• Defeat the Goblin Emperor and make him the first Shadow General
Daily Training Mission:
• 100 push-ups
• 100 sit-ups
• 100 pull-ups
• 10 km run
• 100 vertical, diagonal, and horizontal slashes (sword and spear)
• 100 sword stabs
• 100 spear lunges
• 1.5 hours of mana meditation
Daily Rewards:
• +5 Stat Points
• +1 Strength, Endurance, and Intelligence
Failure Penalty:
• Night battle difficulty increases tenfold
Additional Missions:
• Host the wedding of Ri Shin and Kyou Kai
• Activate the Succubus Marks
• Upgrade Dragon Mountain to Level 2
Shin sighed as he reviewed the list. "Looks like I've got a lot of work to do."
⸻
The group of five made their way to Dragon Mountain and headed straight for the treasure room. Their eyes lit up at the treasures inside—resources that would significantly strengthen the territory.
Among the loot, Shin found:
• 2 Centennial Serpentine Tree saplings
• Weapon blueprints (silver to gold tier): magic staffs, battle axes, spears, hammers, shields
• Recruitment Scrolls:
• Level 2 Archer (x2)
• Level 3 Artisan (x2)
• Level 5 Druid
• Level 4 Space Mage
• 100+ building blueprints (homes, shops, towers, schools, and a hospital)
After storing everything useful, Shin noticed a sealed letter addressed to him. Curious, he opened it:
⸻
[Son,
If you're reading this, it means you've claimed Dragon Mountain and passed the first trial from your mother and me. We're proud of you. Build a strong kingdom, my boy.
As for allies, beyond lizardmen and ogres, consider:
• Beastmen
• Dark Elves
• Kobolds
• Oni
• Hybrids and outcasts—those shunned for mixed bloodlines are often the most loyal.
When Dragon Mountain reaches Level 2, we'll send more gifts.
Love,
Mom and Dad
(Little Shin)]
⸻
A tear slipped down Shin's cheek, but a determined smile followed. "I'll build the strongest kingdom in Arlos."
Motivated, Shin grabbed several books on fire and lightning magic and began his training.
⸻
As they headed toward the stables to gather horses for the nearby town, a sudden surge of power pulsed through Shin's body.
Ding!
[Assimilation of Shin Wilford's mana and magical knowledge complete.]
Shin closed his eyes, consolidating the influx of knowledge. Moments later, he opened them—his understanding of magic sharpened and his body empowered.
The road ahead would be challenging, but Shin was more than ready to rise to the occasion.