Chapter 51: The Proclamation of Lumiria

"Ren Celestial is the one who rebuilt the territory of Lumiria—the very land that once lay in ruin after being destroyed by monsters," Evelyn declared, her voice carrying across the entire expanse of the royal square.

A sudden ripple of murmurs surged through the assembled crowd.

"Wait, what? A porter rebuilt an entire domain? Is Princess Evelyn out of her mind?"

"Right! If a low-class baggage handler actually built a settlement like that, I’ll bow down and worship him right here!" A burly royal hero clad in a heavy crimson mantle burst into boisterous laughter, his voice dripping with condescension. "How absurd! Since when can a common porter construct entire districts like a master stonemason?!"

"It’s completely impossible," another voice chimed in from the surrounding gathering. "A fourteen-kilometer defense wall spanning an expanse of fifty kilometers? Raised out of nowhere without any of us noticing? That doesn’t make any sense."

Verion’s brow furrowed tightly as he stared at the princess. "Princess Evelyn, have you lost your senses?" He raised his hand once more, pointing a sharp, accusatory finger directly at Ren. "Are you truly claiming this trash—this porter—built an entire territory? A project of that magnitude would take years of labor, endless logistics, and a massive workforce!"

"Silence, Verion," Sylvara interjected, stepping forward onto the main platform. Her hand rested on the pommel of her sidearm, drawing the blade an inch from its sheath with a cold metallic click. "If you interrupt the princess again, I will personally gag you with my blade."

Verion’s eyes flicked down to the gleam of silver steel in her hand. He swallowed his next words, letting out a heavy, frustrated breath. "Fine... My apologies."

Elysia clicked her tongue softly, her expression cold and detached. "Like it or not, Verion... those are the facts. You shouldn’t dismiss someone simply because of their former occupation."

"Listen to me, all of you!" Evelyn’s command cut through the lingering chatter, restoring absolute quiet across the avenue. "Ask yourselves this: Was that territory created through conventional means? Did any of you witness massive construction crews operating outside the city gates? Did you see supply convoys hauling thousands of tons of stone and timber back and forth through our central thoroughfares?"

She swept her sharp gaze across the silent sea of faces.

"Tell me! Did a single one of you see anything of the sort?!"

Her stern question hung heavy in the evening air. The citizens below exchanged uneasy glances, completely silent as her words registered.

"Wait... she’s right. We never saw any construction crews moving in or out."

"Now that I think about it... a project that size would require thousands of laborers working day and night. But there was nothing. No supply wagons, no stone transport... nothing at all."

"Then how did those stone houses and that massive perimeter wall just appear out of nowhere? Was it all planned in secret?"

Whispers multiplied exponentially through the crowd as confusion took hold. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Beside the stage, the royal heroes and the lined-up palace officials exchanged bewildered looks, their brows furrowed as they tried to process the princess’s words.

"What is Princess Evelyn trying to imply?" one high-ranking official muttered, glancing nervously at his peer.

On stage, Ren’s eyes widened slightly as a sudden realization struck him. His heart gave a sharp, heavy thud against his ribs.

’Is she about to expose my ability in front of everyone?’

Exposing the exact nature of his power to thousands of onlookers was the last thing Ren wanted. Revealing an anomalous force capable of reconstructing matter out of nothing would instantly make him an overnight target. It would invite relentless scrutiny, destroy any chance of a quiet life, and draw the attention of dangerous entities—whether the fanatical Heretical Dark Factions or envious royal officials looking to exploit his capabilities for their own ends.

Before Evelyn could elaborate further, Ren stepped forward, passing Elysia, Sylvara, and the stunned Verion.

He reached Evelyn’s side and placed a firm hand on her shoulder.

"Princess Evelyn, please," Ren murmured in a low, sharp whisper, his purple eyes locking onto her icy blue gaze. "Don’t tell them about my power. Leave the explanation to me."

Evelyn stared at him for a brief moment before offering a subtle, approving nod, stepping back to grant him the floor.

Ren stepped to the front of the elevated platform, standing firmly before the massive crowd.

The surrounding murmurs flared up instantly. "Look at him... what is he doing now?"

"Listen up, all of you!" Ren’s voice thundered across the square, sharp and direct. "The territory of Lumiria was constructed under strict secrecy by royal decree! The operation was intentionally hidden to avoid attracting the attention of surrounding monster hordes and hostile factions! The speed of the construction was achieved through specialized, high-tier magic protocols authorized by the crown—details that are classified and beyond your concern! What matters right now is that this territory was established by the kingdom to expand human civilization in a world falling apart!"

Off to the side, Elysia’s brow furrowed in utter confusion. ’Ren... why isn’t he taking credit for what he actually did?’

Evelyn watched his broad back from behind, a faint realization dawning on her. Ren wasn’t trying to shirk responsibility; he was deliberately deflecting attention to shield himself from becoming a prime target.

She let out a quiet, inward sigh, feeling a brief pulse of self-reproach. In her desire to justify her choice, she had nearly exposed his secret.

"It doesn’t matter how Lumiria came to be!" Ren continued, his tone unwavering as he addressed the thousands of onlookers. "What matters is that the kingdom has provided a brand-new sector so humanity doesn’t remain trapped behind these same walls forever! If you have a problem with me leading this district—a choice made directly by the royal crown—then don’t come to Lumiria!"

He gestured broadly toward the vast cityscape of the capital.

"You already have homes inside the Starlight Kingdom! Neither Princess Evelyn nor I am forcing a single one of you to pack your bags and move! I am building Lumiria for those who actually need a roof over their heads—not for people who already live comfortably!"

The crowd rippled again with hushed, bitter insults, but Ren ignored the noise entirely. He swept his cold gaze across the sprawling avenue, stepping directly up to the edge of the stage.

"Anyone out there who is homeless, destitute, or struggling to survive—step forward to the front of the stage right now!" Ren shouted, his voice echoing over the silent square.

He had no intention of filling his territory with arrogant, entitled citizens who looked down on others.

Those who had tasted rock bottom—the impoverished, the discarded, the refugees who knew the bitter reality of hunger and cold—understood the true value of a home. By offering a sanctuary to those with nowhere else to turn, he wasn’t just giving them shelter; he was building a foundation of loyal, resilient people who would genuinely respect his leadership and take pride in calling Lumiria their home.