I Am the Messenger of God

Star, having just become Queen, was preparing to abolish the slave system and remove the fate that King Yesael had imposed on those miserable people in the name and authority of God.

Or rather... the curse that had lasted for generations.

She had witnessed firsthand the wretched state of the slaves and was horrified by the unending misery that persisted across generations.

She was preparing to amend the legal code. As long as it was stipulated in the code, henceforth, even if these slaves would forever bear the brand punished by the wisdom kingship, it would be forbidden for nobles and merchants to buy and sell them as goods or slaughter them like fish.

Inside the palace, several ministers and a group of nobles were indignant.

"This is tradition, this is the law."

"It is recorded in the legal code compiled by the King of Wisdom. Slaves are sinners, they should be punished."

Star was not intimidated by the actions of the ministers and nobles. She was not a stubborn person by nature, but when faced with the right thing to do, she had an indescribable persistence.

"Then amend the code."

The minister firmly disagreed, "That is the code set by the King of Wisdom, the law established by King Yesael."

"Even as the current ruler, you should respect the will of the previous King."

Star sat on the throne, her body motionless but her eyes unyielding, "What if King Yesael was wrong?"

The minister replied, "How could King Yesael be wrong?"

This was far more difficult than Star had anticipated.

It was clear that almost all powerful figures and nobles were strongly opposed to Star's actions.

Without slaves, who would tend to their fisheries, how would their bone tool workshops operate?

Who would do the hard labor for their merchant caravans? Who would ensure and serve their luxurious lifestyles?

The scene reached an impasse.

But even if royal power had declined, it was not something that ordinary nobles could resist. Compared to Star, the ministers and power holders below her were more apprehensive and fearful.

Someone stepped out from the crowd and knelt at the foot of the steps before the throne, "Queen! I have obeyed your decree, but amending the legal code is not a simple matter. It requires summoning the scholars who compile the code to study it, and this all takes time."

Star came from a royal bloodline family, the lofty Sky Temple.

She knew that issuing a decree and implementing it were two different things. The nobles of the Yinsai Kingdom had long learned to pay lip service while opposing in secret.

But as long as the ministers yielded, she had taken the first step.

At this moment, Star was very happy, feeling that she had accomplished a great deed. She joyfully went to find Polo, wanting to share her sense of achievement with him.

The sunlight streaming through the window enveloped Polo, making him appear to radiate light.

Polo was arranging stone chess pieces on the table. Seeing Star come in, he immediately turned his head, revealing a smile like the summer sun, "Star! Come quickly and look, this is a game passed on from the Samo city-state, it's so fun."

The Queen took off her crown and sat beside Polo.

Polo enthusiastically explained the rules of stone chess to Star, even fiddling with the pieces as he recounted how he had acquired them from a cunning merchant.

Star also listened attentively. She had originally been eager to express the excitement in her heart, but upon hearing Polo's voice, she was no longer in such a hurry.

It seemed that just being by his side gave her a sense of reassurance.

When Polo finished speaking, Star smiled at him, her eyes narrowing, "I told them today... I will abolish the slave clause of King Yesael and remove it from the legal code."

Polo looked at Star and stood up dramatically, praising her with an exaggerated expression, "Star! I admire you so much, you did the right thing."

But then he furrowed his brow and raised a finger, shaking it.

"But those people certainly won't give up so easily. Star, you must be careful of them!"

Having traveled in the Yinsai Kingdom for so long, he was no longer as ignorant as before.

Star was not afraid. She said in a serious tone,

"King Yesael was wrong. As the priest of God, I should rectify his mistake."

"Turning the craftsmen who built the Sky Temple into slaves was his idea, not the will of God."

Then she looked at Polo, "And I'm not afraid of them, because..."

"I have you."

Having said this much, Star felt something welling up in her chest, ready to pour out.

She was shy yet excited, but she knew her choice.

She also understood her heart.

She stood up excitedly, looking at Polo's face.

"Polo!"

"Come on! Stay by my side!"

"I can share the kingship with you, my everything is yours."

The innocent and romantic Polo stared blankly at Star, not understanding what she was saying.

Until Star called out to him, "Polo! I like you."

Polo's face flushed crimson. He was at a complete loss for words.

"Ah!"

"But I don't plan to stay here!"

"Polo still wants to travel, to witness those... miracles in this world... and... and..."

Polo stuttered, his mind going blank.

He suddenly thought of a perfect reason, one that couldn't be refuted at all.

"I am the messenger of God, I must return to God's side."

"I came to seek the divine descent technique, I must fulfill God's mission."

Star looked at Polo, "Then what?"

"Will you come back?"

Afraid of commitment, Polo avoided Star's gaze.

"I don't know either."

"There are many matters in the temple, many of God's decrees that I need to..."

"And... and..."

Star saw Polo's hesitation. He didn't want to stay by her side.

He cherished his freedom and would not tolerate any constraints, even from her.

Star felt a deep sense of shame and burning anger.

Star no longer wanted to hear Polo's clumsy rejection. She took out a stone tablet and placed it on the table, angrily turning to leave, "Your divine technique! This is the only thing you care about, the only thing you know."

"Now it's yours."

"Go!"

"Never come back."

She had already completed it long ago, but fearing Polo would leave her, she had never taken it out.

Polo opened his mouth, but in the end could only close it without saying a word.

Star angrily walked towards the outside. She was waiting for Polo to call out to her or come forward to comfort her, but there was no movement behind her.

She turned her head back, wanting to see Polo's actions.

But she found only a patch of starlight in the air.

And by the table, no shadow could be seen.

Star immediately ran back, stopping by that table. The dreamlike starlight continuously dispersed and disappeared.

"Polo!"

Star called out Polo's name, but he had already vanished without a trace.

She somewhat regretted her impulsive actions just now. She felt she had lost the most important thing.

But she didn't express her regret out loud. Instead, she shouted towards the surroundings of the palace.

"If you left, then you left."

"I have Ruhe beasts, I am the Queen of Yinsai. I'm not weak like before."

"I'm very powerful now."

"I..."

"Don't need you."