Chapter 15: The Sun Has Gone Mad (Seeking Recommendations)

3rd day of the Month of Withered Banyan.

Regardless of how frantic or protesting Lady Sonia was, Colin's wedding proceeded as scheduled.

Theodore seemed prepared to treat this as a celebration for the unification of the Green Forest, so it was very grand; everyone in the Green Forest with any status or position came to Sotos Castle.

The massive castle was decorated with lanterns and streamers everywhere, and a large number of kitchen maids were busy in the back kitchen, presenting all kinds of exquisite delicacies.

Roast chicken, roast lamb chops, steak, roast suckling pig, vegetable salad, raisin pudding, cheese, mead...

All kinds of delicacies filled the long tables, and the hall was filled with laughter and joy.

However, the main venue for the wedding was not here.

According to the customs of the Green Forest People, a marriage must be conducted under a banyan tree to establish a sacred bond.

And the most famous banyan tree in the Sotos territory was the "Divine Tree" located behind Sotos Castle.

"Today, I am honored by everyone's arrival to witness the wedding of my son, Kelin Suotuosi, and Sylvie Davis!"

Theodore wore priest robes, his expression solemn.

Aaron glanced at the bride and discovered that Sylvie was not resisting, and he immediately understood; this woman had likely resigned herself to her fate.

After all, what else could she do otherwise?

Furthermore, although the direct line of the Davis Family was wiped out, collateral branches still existed, and she had to consider them.

Lady Sonia and Sean were also there, though they wore polite smiles that any outsider could see were fake.

As for the vassals below, their expressions were even more varied.

The original Knights of the Sotos territory were naturally joyous and felt honored, while the new defectors from the Davis Territory had more complex, thought-provoking expressions.

"Huh?"

Aaron scanned the area and saw a stranger.

That was a strange noble, wearing silk robes as smooth as milk, his hair combed meticulously, and his eyes held a hint of arrogance, as if a city dweller had come to the countryside, sizing up these Green Forest nobles.

"Who is this person?"

His heart stirred, and he pulled the nearby Knight Turner Shorien, asking in a low voice.

"An envoy from the Kajashi Kingdom, the King's jester—Feili Getuo. He brought the King's enfeoffment, seemingly to title the Lord as some kind of Count..."

It was clear that Turner was very disdainful of this.

After all, the conflict between the Kajashi Kingdom and the Green Forest could be said to have existed since ancient times.

A long time ago, those forest barbarians who could not survive often went south to plunder the lords of the warm southern lands, establishing a deep "friendship" with each other!

It was not until later, when the Kajashi Kingdom was established, that this situation eased; after all, the Green Forest People were not fools.

It was easy to rob the softies in the south, but when the softies united, they were a bit hard to deal with.

Later, the Kingdom could not take the Green Forest and could only bestow titles upon the strong within the Green Forest, nominally incorporating the Green Forest into its rule.

'Isn't this just expanding territory on a map?'

Aaron also realized that his own title and the Davis Family's title perhaps came from this; it seemed they had previously been titled as some kind of Baron by the King?

But this was completely useless; neither side took it seriously.

Now that the Green Forest was unified, that King was likely stimulated by this, so it was only natural for him to take action.

Was this enfeoffment perhaps a gesture of goodwill?

'Actually, besides sounding good in name, this is of no use at all. Even if he is called a Baron, Sotos is still the ruler of the Green Forest!'

After understanding this, Aaron could not be bothered to pay attention to that envoy and put his mind back on the sumptuous banquet.

Rather than considering these things, it was better to think about how to eat better tonight.

Night.

The castle remained noisy.

Aaron, however, had no interest in the wedding night rituals; he returned to his room, dismissed Tiya, and lay down on the large bed.

Darkness, falling.

In the Dream World.

It was still daytime, with the Scarlet sun hanging in the sky.

"Keep going, hopefully I can see land!"

Ever since the war ended, Aaron immediately put the Mysterious energy generated every day into exploration.

At this time, every time he entered a dream, he would move in one direction, hoping to see land.

"Another boring day of traveling today."

After confirming his direction, Aaron continued on his way.

After an unknown amount of time, suddenly, his 【Danger Perception】 was triggered, his consciousness as sharp as a needle prick.

"The sun!"

Aaron looked up abruptly and saw that sun he had polluted, which had turned Scarlet.

At this moment, this Scarlet sun was emitting terrifying Light and heat, the Scarlet on it becoming even more intense, even turning black!

One black spot after another emerged from the sun, like sunspots, or like congealed blood clots!

The whole world seemed to have quieted down; at this moment, even the most frenzied creatures stopped their hunting and looked up at the changes in the sun!

Aaron's eyes were almost tearing up, and just then, he saw those black spots condense and "detach" from the Scarlet sun.

The detached sunspots condensed and gathered... turning into a smaller black sun, hanging right next to the Scarlet sun.

Sizzle!

His consciousness felt as if it were being pricked by needles, and a vague sound suddenly came to his ears.

It sounded like thousands of people shouting, and also like something unknown whispering and murmuring...

These ravings seemed to contain some information, but they were also mixed with a dense factor of madness!

"... Sun... Creator... Darkness..."

The inexplicable information manifested in a peculiar supernatural language, such that even an illiterate person could grasp its meaning.

Aaron felt a certain quality within his heart being stirred, and he suddenly had an epiphany; looking at those two suns, one red and one black, he could not help but sigh: "The sun... has gone mad!"

Regarding what was happening at this moment, he already had some guesses in his heart.

The original star had no consciousness.

And his modification, in reality, had given the sun consciousness.

Although it was a consciousness of madness and chaos, it was still consciousness!

For a Shitou, having emotions is progress; even if they are mad emotions, it is still a crucial step taken toward becoming a living being!

"And that black sun, just by looking at it, makes me feel depravity, corruption, Darkness... Is it the mad manifestation, the personified avatar of the Scarlet sun?"

Aaron could not help but smile bitterly: "What on earth... have I created?"

The previous Scarlet sun was equivalent to the source of madness and pollution in this world!

And at this moment, from that source, something quite terrifying had been born!

He did not doubt that the energy of that black sun could simply and easily annihilate all living things in this Red Sea!

It could be said that even the most massive and Weird sea monster he had seen before was like an ant in front of it!

"If the Scarlet sun is viewed as the Creator, then this black sun is at least the son of the Creator... or an avatar of the Creator... a god?"

Aaron's expression was very subtle: "Then what does that make me? The Creator of the Creator?"