Lord of Entertainment-Chapter 301: Natives?

(3rd Person POV)

The citizens who had just received their «Book of Status» eagerly began selecting their new careers. Others—those who retained the professions from their former lives—were given a rare opportunity: to reset and choose a new path, now that they had been granted divine bodies.

Arthur watched it all unfold with a quiet smile. His people, once ghosts or forgotten souls, were beginning to find purpose once more.

Within the hour, the citizens completed their selections. Soon, the Kingdom of Dionysus would begin its first steps toward true operation.

But for now, the people needed to adjust. The divine city around them—sprawling, modern, and immense—was unlike anything they had ever known. The tall glass towers, the glowing neon lights, the futuristic infrastructure... it was overwhelming.

Standing in the massive central square, one of the citizens raised his hand and suggested, "Let's split into groups and explore. Maybe walking around will help us understand this place better."

The others nodded in agreement. Despite numbering in the thousands, the city still felt enormous—its streets too wide, its buildings too tall, its silence too loud. Some groups made their way into towering office buildings. Others wandered into cafés, lounges, and arcades filled with dormant machines and empty chairs.

Though the facilities were powered by Arthur's «Divine Power», the city itself remained hollow—like a theater before the play begins.

Arthur sensed this, too. Standing at his office window, he murmured, "This won't work..."

He rubbed his temples thoughtfully. "A few thousand citizens can't run a city like this. And more importantly... their careers are centered around entertainment—actors, storytellers, writers. They won't be manning cafés or managing offices."

He glanced at the automated establishments. Though lit and open, they remained non-functional. The machines and interfaces were unfamiliar to many. Even simple devices like vending machines or arcade consoles stood unused—citizens confused, unsure how to operate them.

He sighed and leaned back into his chair, tapping the armrest.

"If I wait for more souls to arrive... they'll probably choose similar careers. The 'Book of Status' is limited. It doesn't cover basic labor professions."

A thought crossed his mind. His lips curled.

"Maybe I should just use «Shadow Clone Jutsu»," he mused. "Populate the city with clones to run the infrastructure... at least until my citizens catch up."

Just as he was considering the idea seriously, he sensed a presence—a group approaching from outside his domain.

Arthur's city, like others in the Divine World, floated like an island in the sky. The newcomers hovered at the edge of his barrier on flying mounts—some on beasts resembling wyverns and dragons, others riding strange creatures that glided through the air like manta rays.

Arthur's expression shifted. His golden eyes narrowed slightly.

"Visitors? Natives of the Divine World?"

He stood and vanished from his office, appearing silently at the edge of his city.

Beyond the translucent divine barrier, he spotted the group clearly: nearly a thousand individuals, all clad in rugged clothing that seemed medieval in style—robes, armor, tattered suits, even cloaks. Many of their garments were torn, and their faces bore the exhaustion of long travel.

'They're not hostile,' Arthur thought, hands behind his back as he examined them. Judging by their energy signatures, most of them are at peak ‹Supreme Mortal› level. A few have reached early ‹Demigod›. 'No real threat to me.'

Still, caution prevailed.

He took a step forward—and passed through the barrier.

The moment his feet touched the air outside, the group noticed him. A tense silence fell over them. Several backed away instinctively.

Arthur kept his expression cold and calm, his presence exuding subtle authority.

"State your purpose," he said firmly. "Why have you gathered near my kingdom?"

Whispers broke out among the group.

"A deity..." one muttered, paling.

"Did we offend him?" another whispered nervously.

"We're doomed..."

Arthur blinked, slightly caught off guard by their reaction. 'They fear me? I wasn't expecting that...'

Curious, he waited—interested now not just in their answers, but in their stories.

A tall, broad-shouldered man stepped forward from the crowd. He wore tribal-like garments, adorned with feathered charms and beads. At his side rested a majestic eagle-like mount with glossy dark feathers. His skin was deep and sun-kissed, his eyes a natural swirl of brown and white. His hair, long and tied neatly behind his head, framed a face of full lips, well-groomed facial hair, and solemn dignity.

He stood tall atop his mount, then dismounted with practiced grace and offered a deep, respectful bow.

"My respectful greetings to you, Divine King," he said, his voice firm yet cautious. "I am Astu Aeta."

He paused, then added, "We are but wandering «Orphans». We travel together across the Divine World... moving from one kingdom to another, seeking temporary shelter."

Arthur tilted his head slightly. "Orphans?"

Before Astu could answer, another stepped forward—an older man clad in aged but regal mage robes. His long white beard flowed with the breeze, and he stood atop a massive pale dragon, its scales glinting like moonlight.

"We have no land to call our own," the old mage said, his voice weary. "We move from kingdom to kingdom, never staying long. Some welcome us briefly... others drive us away."

He bowed his head respectfully. "But please, do not mistake us for beggars. We come with things to trade. Skills, knowledge, even rare materials. In exchange for a short stay within your borders."

Arthur raised a brow in mild intrigue. He stroked his chin with a small smile.

'Interesting... so they're asking to stay in my kingdom temporarily. But why? What keeps them moving?'

He glanced at their flying beasts.

'They ride mounts... why not just fly on their own?'

Then he noticed it—the weight of the air itself. Thicker than the mortal world. Denser.

'Ah... must be divine pressure. Not everyone can fly freely in this realm.'

He shifted his stance and asked calmly, "Before I allow your stay, I must ask—why do you need to migrate from kingdom to kingdom? What drives this constant movement?"

There was a beat of silence. The group exchanged glances, clearly surprised by the question. Astu glanced at the old man beside him, then back at Arthur.

"You... don't know?" he asked, brows raised.

Arthur shook his head. 'How would I? I just got here...' he grumbled internally.

Astu studied him, then nodded slowly. "Your Majesty... forgive the question, but... are you perhaps newly ascended?"

Arthur furrowed his brow. "What makes you say that?"

Astu scratched the back of his neck, hesitating. "Well... only newly ascended deities ask that question. Most of the older gods already know why we Orphans must live this way."

Arthur considered it, then gave a slight nod. "You're not wrong. I am new to this realm."

Just then, the old mage lifted his hand and pointed to the vast floating land behind Arthur. "Your Majesty... is that your Divine Kingdom?"

Arthur nodded. "It is."

The crowd murmured, clearly surprised. Astu blinked in disbelief. "Forgive us, Your Majesty—it's just that most new deities don't... have something like that."

Arthur narrowed his eyes slightly. "What's so unusual about it?"

Astu chuckled awkwardly. "Usually, new gods don't possess territories of that size. It takes decades—sometimes centuries—to establish a stable Divine Realm. But yours is... vast. That kind of scale usually means immense power."

Arthur crossed his arms, thoughtful. "I see."

He paused for a moment, then said, "Now... tell me more. Why are you called 'Orphans'? Why do you travel from kingdom to kingdom without a home?"