Chapter 60: Misunderstanding is the Mother of All Problems

  Stepping outside, Justinian pondered the news he had just heard in the voivode's hall.

  'A trip to the 60th dimension...'

  He doubted it would be as straightforward as Boruta presented. But should he worry?

  'Rudnicki seemed rather bored than frightened.'

  The young man shook his head. The recent peaceful weeks seemed to be drawing to a close. In the end, this was the fate he had chosen, and there was no backing out now.

  So, he decided to appreciate the moment of calm and simply found a comfortable bench to sit on.

  The weather here was much better than on the Mount of Plague and Misfortune, and the sun felt pleasant on his skin. Despite the surrounding hustle and bustle—crowds of devils were barely coping with transporting some large object—the view from the highest point of the dimension filled him with a good mood.

  He spent the next dozen or so minutes there until he heard the approaching footsteps of several figures.

  "Hey, you! Why aren't you helping move the stage?"

  He knew that voice. When he turned around, he saw the devils in elaborate robes and strangely curved horns whom he had met earlier.

  When he was sitting with his back turned, they hadn't known who he was. Because of this, their leader frowned upon seeing his face.

  Justinian pondered for a moment, only now paying attention to the activity occupying the crowds.

  "What are you moving all this for?"

  The delegation exchanged glances. Eridanus, standing at the forefront, was clearly displeased with being ignored. His right temple twitched upon hearing that reply. In the 60th realm, humans knew better how to behave, not to mention a mere servant.

  Nevertheless, he responded, looking as if he were doing a favor by speaking to the young man at all.

  "We are preparing a great lecture on the glorious faith of the King of Names and Symbols!"

  His eyes shone with enthusiasm when he mentioned the Ruler of Hell.

  "This is an amazing opportunity to draw inspiration about hellish powers and the order of the world! For residents of all dimensions, this event..."

  Despite his great fervor, however, he didn't manage to get going into this next topic before Justinian cut him off.

  "I must decline."

  After which, he immediately turned back to the view of the dimension below.

  Seeing this, Eridanus's eyes widened. The devils accompanying him began to whisper among themselves.

  "What an outrage!"

  "And just a common servant..."

  "They have absolutely no manners in this dimension!"

  In reality, Justinian turned around simply to hide a blush. He felt that he was behaving inappropriately by interrupting someone mid-sentence, but in the end he preferred this solution.

  After all, he didn't visit this mountain very often. He also knew the stories about the Ruler of Hell and didn't want to hear hymns in praise of a fanatic who could destroy 40% of a dimension just to make it better suit his naming taste.

  Unfortunately, the delegation leader pressed the matter further.

  "You... dare to insult the majesty of the King of Names and Symbols?"

  The young man frowned, turning around again.

  "Is that a problem? Religious tolerance is in effect in the 66th dimension."

  The mention of such a thing to the delegation of the Ruler of Hell caused the incident to quickly escalate beyond all control.

  In Voivode Boruta's Hall...

  "What is all the big fuss about anyway? I haven't even seen Micromegas around!"

  Rudnicki was surprised by the old ruler's attitude. It was one thing for him to complain as usual, but why make a mountain out of a molehill?

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  Boruta heavily shifted his gaze to him.

  "This year's inspection will be unlike any other."

  "Meaning?"

  "The King of Names and Symbols has his 13th child. Rumor has it that this time he intends to closely monitor the results."

  The nobleman frowned. His face, which until now contained a hint of condescension, slowly grew serious. Especially when he recalled the fate of the former 67th dimension.

  "If the dimension categorization proves true this year..."

  Brief calculations made him turn pale.

  The Voivode saw this and nodded slowly.

  "There is another problem."

  "What now?"

  Today was not a particularly good day for Rudnicki, and each subsequent piece of news seemed worse and worse.

  "My health has deteriorated to the extent that I cannot participate."

  Before the wide-eyed nobleman could even protest or ask for details, a small yellow card written in tiny script levitated towards him from the Voivode's pocket.

  "There will be no discussion, with this card you will act as my representative there. Now give me a moment of peace, Orphan, I must conserve my strength."

  It was the most serious voice he had ever used with the nobleman.

  Angry, but shaken, Rudnicki couldn't do anything else than listen to that order. After all, he was no match to the ruler in strength. Throwing curses all around, he didn't even bow before leaving abruptly.

  As soon as he did, Boruta slumped into his throne. Large amounts of black blood glittered in his hand, which he had just coughed into.

  Outside...

  The devils who had been moving the stage were now noisily gathered in the square where it was soon to stand. Excitement could be seen in their eyes.

  "Did you hear the delegation's announcement?!"

  "We are in for a wonderful spectacle!"

  "I like nothing better than embarrassing some human before lunch!"

  A few minutes earlier, Eridanus had announced great displeasure with the manners of a human he encountered in this dimension. To everyone's delight, he, along with the delegation, now intended to publicly teach him some respect.

  Now the proud devil with curly horns stepped forward before the crowd, accompanied by his delegates. In his eyes was majesty and righteous indignation at the insult he had suffered.

  "Humans are becoming more and more brazen every day! They forget that they will soon find themselves under the heel of the Ruler of Hell!"

  Enthusiastic shouts and applause answered him. Migrants from the human dimension were still not tolerated well here.

  "Today, one such individual not only refused to help us! With his insolence, he insulted our very mission!"

  Immediately, boos and whistles erupted. Even by the loose standards of the 66th dimension, this was particularly brazen behavior. After all, who could be so completely unaware of their place?

  "And you know what else? This fool has so much audacity that, being a mere servant, he dared to accept our challenge to a duel!"

  Eridanus's emotions swelled to the point that his entire face was almost burning with outrage. This also began to affect the crowds, who felt like they were at a festival. Immediate bursts of loud laughter, crude comments, and insults aimed at the idiot broke out.

  "Who could be that stupid?!"

  Someone from the crowd shouted.

  Hearing this, the delegation leader decided it was high time to introduce the individual. He gestured to one of the delegates, and the devil waded into the crowd to lead the young man out.

  As the man's face was not very visible at first, he took a few steps toward the center of the stage under the immense pressure of the masses.

  Then something strange began to happen.

  "What an idi..."

  One of the enthusiastic devils in the front row still wanted to shout, when a powerful blow to the back of his head interrupted him. It was his wife, now deathly pale, looking at him reproachfully.

  The tumult that had been at its zenith just a moment ago turned into complete silence almost instantly. Devils stared wide-eyed at the embarrassed young man who stood before Eridanus and his delegation.

  The emotions that had just been kindled now turned into something strange. Eridanus frowned, feeling that something was wrong.

  The crowds were now looking primarily in his direction. On their faces, he saw terror and confusion.

  'Why do I feel like some of them are looking at me with pity?!'

  His deliberations in the dead silence were interrupted by the human speaking.

  "Can we just get this over with?"

  Justinian regretted allowing himself to be provoked into this foolishness. He just wanted to sit in peace and relax with a nice view.

  'Now it's turned into a spectacle.'

  Shaking his head, he concluded that he needed to settle the whole matter as quickly as possible and find Rudnicki. He looked at Eridanus, with whom he had previously set the conditions.

  'I have to duel them one by one, they are supposed to allow me the first three strikes before retaliating.'

  He also had the right to rest between rounds.

  Still, the situation seemed abstract to him.

  'Do these delegates really have nothing better to do?'

  Sighing heavily, he approached his opponent—the delegation leader, who, for some reason, began to look at the audience strangely. It wasn't hard to guess that this was due to the public's reaction.

  'I need to end this nonsense.'

  The foreign devils wore special robes through which their energy could not be read. Similarly, they could not read the energy of the others. However, Justinian was fairly sure he knew their level. He had paid them attention before and observed how they moved.

  'Eridanus has probably reached Foundation Stabilization, the rest are at the last level of Ki Gathering.'

  "Can we just get this over with?"

  The delegation leader looked as if he had some doubts, but eventually gritted his teeth and nodded. Smiling irritatingly, he spread his arms wide.

  "So show us, insolent human, what you can do."

  Justinian nodded and adjusted the force of his blow not to overdo it. He wanted it to be strong enough to knock down a first-level Foundation Stabilization cultivator.

  Then, his eyes flashed with determination, and he appeared right next to his opponent!

  The devil didn't even manage to guard before a powerful slap reached his face! A thunder like a cannon shot boomed through the air, and Eridanus's head bent in a strange way, sticking out from his neck!

  Then, without even letting out a scream, the massive impact sent him cutting through the air like an iron ball and embedding his head into the wall of a nearby building!

  The gathered crowds stared wide-eyed at the scene before them, too terrified to even squeak. The jaws of the remaining delegates were close to the floor, disbelieving what they had just witnessed.

  Justinian was no less surprised, looking with an embarrassed expression at his opponent, who was not making even the slightest movement.

  Scratching his temple awkwardly, he felt this could turn into a really big mess.