“Successor state? The Republic of Francois?”

Lila’s words sounded like a story right out of some hot-blooded resistance novel or something. The Second Extermination had been very successful; the Southern Assembly was even able to lay siege to the unofficial capital of the beastfolk. Most of the beastfolk had been systematically exterminated — Gemini had even estimated that the beastfolk in Ark City was perhaps the last of the race.

How on Orb did a small resistance group manage to build up a formidable army and repel the Assembly’s forces? For a moment, Gemini was tempted to send out his divine sense and spy on this so-called Republic, if only to see what was going on over there.

Lila nodded. “Amazing, isn’t it? It’s like one of those popular novels that were circulating in Ark City!”

At those words, Gemini felt a bit apologetic. “Right. I…kinda took you away from Ark City like this. Sorry. Didn’t ask for your opinion. I mean, being in Ark City is definitely more interesting than my little threadbare cottage here, right?”

“Nuh-uh.” Lila held his hand. “I don’t see the issue, really. Besides, Aria really likes it here.”

Their little baby daughter was currently crawling around the cottage, with Pai-Relix watching over her, a gentle smile on her face. Gemini couldn’t blame his daughter for being so curious either; with his powers, he had created all kinds of toys and sights suitable for babies.

“Right, where’s Quinn?” Lila looked around. “Haven’t seen him the whole morning. He has a lot more details on the formation of the Republic, so you could ask him for details if you’re interested.”

Quinn, the Champion Support Entity that Gemini had severed away and placed in his clone, had went with Lila when the Demon Sovereign brought them over to his Divine Kingdom. He didn’t quite know what to do, however, since there really wasn’t a purpose for his existence now. From what Gemini could tell, he was supposed to support his host with tactical combat data, but since his host was now a great god, there really wasn’t much supporting to be done.

“I sent him out to watch over the war effort,” Gemini replied. “And to…contribute too.”

“Contribute?” Lila echoed. “How?”

“Right now, the Five Lands’ forces are acting on a very independent basis,” Gemini replied. “They aren’t receiving any new commands from their headquarters; they have been given the leeway to make any decisions that help them in the occupation of my land.”

He closed his eyes for a moment. “Ars Tribe…the primal demons who attacked our homeland back then have already restored the city. It seems that the…Assembly is desirous of it, however.”

“Ars…”

“Yes.” Gemini looked out of the window coldly. “It’s as if they really can’t rest until they have a lot of territory to exploit, isn’t it? As such, I sent Quinn over to the Assembly’s base camp to screw with them. Foster some infighting. Maybe kidnap a few of their commanding officers.”

He didn’t quite know why the idea of kidnapping commanding officers of the Assembly sounded so endearing to him, but that notion had taken root in his mind the moment Quinn suggested it about it. Shaking his head, he said, “Well, the bottom line’s that I’m going to do everything I can to dispel their notions about an invasion. That’s it. Plain and simpe.”

“You’ve changed.” Lila looked at Gemini. “But anyone would, I guess. After everything’s that happened to you…”

“Do you not…like it?” Gemini chuckled. “But no, I didn’t change because things happened to me. It’s…just that I saw a lot of things when I woke up. Just because I have strength doesn’t mean I’m a different person.”

He got up from his seat and held out his hand. “Let me bring you somewhere.”

Lila took it. A moment later, he had brought them outside, to the highest peaks of his Divine Kingdom. Wind howled as he led her around the mountaintop, a height that perhaps only Exemplars and Demigods could reach. A false blizzard whirled around them, one that was formed from his inner thoughts alone.

“This is my world,” Gemini murmured. “Memories that I have long buried can be retrieved here, at pinpoint accuracy. Even things I wanted to forget can be taken out and replayed. All is to my will.”

The scenery changed as the last sentence rang out, turning one of his memories. It was one of his many memories that had been unconsciously suppressed by the Human God — his role in the Second Extermination. Back then, under Anren’s influence, most of the Constellations only had a very vague recollection of the atrocities that they had committed. Brainwashed by the Human God, the Constellations led the Southern Assembly on a path of bloody slaughter.

Right now, what the two of them were seeing was a mass execution ground. It was located in one of the many beastfolk cities that had been overrun by the South’s forces. Hundreds of thousands of beastfolk had been herded into the central city square, where they would be killed in a single strike.

This was a rather rare form of…genocide, made only possible because a Lord or above was present.

“What’s going on?” Lila asked.

By way of answer, the assembled people burst apart into minced meat a moment later, seemingly crushed by an invisible hammer. Lila stumbled, her hand latching on to Gemini’s shoulder for support.

Gemini took in the bloody sight and burned it into his mind. “Killed by a single strike from a Lord from some House. And I was there. Watching. Like the heartless, sinful fool I was.”

“Gemini…”

“I was muddled back then. Bound by an image of false justice. Made to think I was the hero.” Gemini clenched his fist. “There is no way I can atone for all this. No matter what anyone else says. Even if Ark City forgives me. Even if the surviving beastfolk turn the other cheek.”

“But you were controlled, right? Forced by the Human God—”

“I was deluded. That’s all. That does not absolve me from my guilt.” Gemini looked around. “The Demon God…did you know why the First Extermination happened? The truth behind it all?”

Lila stared at him. “You know?”

“All that, and far, far more.” Gemini scattered the memory with a wave of his hands, and the gales howled out once more. Snowflakes danced around him, and for a moment, the Demon Sovereign thought about the remnant memories that the Demon God had left behind. “It’s a rather riveting tale, really.”