Together with the space that was cut off, all the treemen within range were also included, as if a slanted line had been drawn on a drawing software and then deleted, leaving a smooth and tidy break, powerful like a dimensional strike.

If the world were likened to a game, such a level of spatial rule manipulation would indeed be akin to administrative privileges.

Even the two hundred-meter tall tree spirits stationed at the rear of the treemen legion weren't spared. The towering siege-class behemoths' prideful high dual resistances held no meaning against the power of the rules, and most of their bodies, aside from the roots serving as their legs, dissipated into the void.

Of course, Vera had meticulously prepared her masterpiece for a month, so the two misty tree spirits didn't perish as easily as the treemen born alongside them. Their root systems rapidly grew, delving into the earth to fully absorb the nutrients underground – water, organic matter, and geothermal energy. The nearby land quickly turned barren and cracked visibly as the grass and trees on the plain withered in large patches.

"This stuff is really toxic, huh?"

Having just unleashed the astonishingly large spatial rupture slash, Tiran's expression wasn't exactly at ease, but given that he shared vitality with Aya, the injuries incurred from several breaths of overloading were gradually healing. At that moment, he stood there with his longsword as if it was just another day.

Already prepared for the spatial restoration, Aya darted over the sky above the treemen legion, her mental tentacles fully extended as invisible ripples spread across the area, searching for Vivian's psychic fluctuations.

It was a significant event involving the fate of a city and the life of the queen of the country, so why did everyone seem unable to be serious watching this jungle-like wreckage after the indiscriminate cutting?

...Even the air still carried the pleasant scent of mixed wood and sap.

If there were some environmental organization in this world, perhaps a long-suffering eco-warrior girl would jump out and yell about the forest being chopped down.

"Aya, these woods all seem to be of good quality, right? Do you think we could make some extra money by tidying them up and sending them to a furniture factory or a carpenter?"

In the contract, the princess had begun having untimely whims again.

"Is this really the time to be thinking about that?!"

"Well, considering my mother might still be alive, I thought of lightening the mood a bit..." The princess touched her cheek, giving a sheepish laugh.

Truly befitting of a princess, she remained as carefree as ever.

Oh... What now?

Aya's spirits lifted, and she folded her wings, descending swiftly.

Johannes was left dumbfounded.

Honestly, at the moment when the branches and leaves of the treemen above his head were swept away abruptly, the profound void swept by less than two meters above him, he truly felt like he was being embraced by the goddess.

Subjectively, he couldn't tell how much time had passed as he gradually snapped out of his shock, realizing his body had stiffened as though under a petrification spell. Perhaps due to the intense nerves earlier, he subconsciously held onto the tree trunk tightly to immobilize himself.

Only after regaining his senses did he realize that holding such extreme tension for so long had caused his muscles to lock up completely, the slightest twitch distorting Theurg's expression severely.

His arms, chest, abdomen, thighs, back – he felt almost all muscle groups in his body spasming simultaneously. Compared to this pain, the wounds he received from scraping against the tree earlier were trivial.

With such pain, he couldn't possibly maintain his grip on the tree with force anymore.

By the time Johannes realized this, it was too late. With the princess on his back, he plummeted freely downward like two stones without looking back.

"Ouch... No pain?"

Luckily, Johannes hadn't climbed too high on the treeman initially, so even if he hit the ground, it wouldn't be too bad...

Wait. Wasn't the lack of pain earlier when he fell not because he hadn't climbed high enough?

Swallowing hard, Theurg grimaced and turned his head.

Yeah, if he ever had children in the future, he could brag a bit, like how he once used the queen of Milanía as a cushion.

Provided he survived until then.

Applying a healing spell to regain mobility, Johannes struggled to get up to check Vivian's injuries. He was confident in his magical healing abilities, so as long as the wounds weren't fatal, he was certain he could nurse her back with his curative arts.

However, his concern seemed unnecessary.

After all, Vivian was a physically strong woman, proficient in both magic and combat. With her robust body, she was far stronger than Johannes, so the bumps and scrapes were minor, barely even bruising.

The issue was with her attire...

Despite Johannes being cautious and preparing a robe that covered them both from head to toe with a hood for their escape from the castle, now the worn-out garment was practically in tatters.

The sight of the snow-white skin revealed beneath the torn fabric was a bit too stimulating for the innocent youth, Johannes.

"Please avert your eyes, no peeping."

Muttering a couple of words, Johannes untied his own somewhat intact robe to cover Vivian, but before he could do so, a loud shout cut through the sky.

"Release that girl – no, release my mother... No, not that either, release that lady!"

"What the heck?!"

As Johannes looked up, Aya descended from above with a textbook flying kick aimed right at him, seeming determined to kick him out tens of meters away.

Instinctively shielding his face, closing his eyes in anticipation of the kick that never came, instead, he heard a dull thud on the ground.

"Who are you calling 'lady,' Little~ Ayy~a?"

The silver-haired woman tossed aside the broken branch she had picked up casually, supporting her forehead with her left hand as she smiled amiably.

"Um... Are you alright, Your Highness Vivian?"

"I was sleeping soundly, then I vaguely heard Aya calling me 'aunt.' What's going on?"

Yawning, the queen stretched, puzzled when she saw the surroundings.

"What happened?"

"It's complicated to explain in a single sentence..." Aya didn't know where to start with the explanation. "Let's leave here first, and we'll deal with the rest later—"

"Hey! Watch out above!"

The reminder from Tiran suddenly came through the contract.

Ignoring the urge to ramble, a burst fireball rose swiftly like a chain of fireworks, slightly delaying the descending light cannon, prompting Aya to quickly scoop up Johannes and Vivian in her arms, moving them out of the attack range.

"While it's unlikely we'll kick the bucket that easily, your recovery speed is indeed setting a new record."