“Welcome to Pablohetra,” a voice said. Approaching us was a woman in a silver dress, holding a large windup key in her hand that was large enough to power a human-sized clockwork doll. “Pleasure to meet you. I am Pablohetra’s Arbitration Goddess Ottolulu, and I will now conduct Pablohetra’s arbitration process. Who is your ruler?”
“My world has no ruler,” I said, stepping in front of the Arbitration Goddess. “But I am the representative of the academy. If you need a ruler for your documentation, you can put me down.”
Ottolulu continued without a hint of wariness. “Do you seek to join the Pablohetra Academy Treaty?”
“That’s why we’re here.”
“Welcome.” Ottolulu bowed once. “However, there is no silverfoam without a ruler. I assume it hasn’t been long since your people reached the Sacred Silverwater Sea. Is this correct?”
“We left our world just today.”
“Where is your chief god? The chief god of the world is the god that governs the order of the world, also known as ‘the will of the world,’” Ottolulu said in a practiced tone. She probably thought we were new to the outer worlds and didn’t know what a chief god or ruler was.
“Unfortunately, ours was a bit defective. They weren’t really worthy of the title.” I glanced back at the Demon King Express. “But if you absolutely need one, they’re over there.”
“Can I meet them?”
I had meant that the train itself was the god, but I guess it didn’t matter. It was still capable of conversation.
“This way.”
I led Ottolulu to the engine room of the Demon King Express and opened the firebox.
“Equis. You may speak.”
As soon as I said that, sparks of fire burst from the firebox.
“Did you think,” Equis’s voice said, “that everything would always go your way?”
“Pleasure to meet you, Chief God Equis. I am Pablohetra’s Arbitration Goddess Ottolulu. May I confirm your will to join the Pablohetra Academy Treaty?”
“My will?” Equis spat. “I have none! I will never let this man do as he pleases— Gwaaaaaah!”
I threw a shovelful of coal into the firebox to remind Equis just who their master was now.
“What...”
“They’re a bit of a complainer, but their order is pretty honest. As soon as I throw some coal in there, they’ll wag their tail obediently.”
I threw more coal inside.
“Urgh... How dare you! You! Why do I have to endure this...this...!”
Black smoke rose from the chimney, transforming into runes that spelled “Woo-hoo alliance!” I stepped out of the engine room and pointed at the black smoke. “It’s as you see.”
The Arbitration Goddess stared at the smoke with her Divine Eyes. As she focused her magic power, a cog-like magic circle appeared within the smoke.
“I can indeed see the same order in the black smoke as is within your chief god. Pablohetra is aware of the vast diversity of relationships that may be between a chief god and ruler. While cases in which the ruler treats their chief god as a slave is rare, it is also just simply another way of the world. This black smoke is sufficient proof of the chief god’s will to join the alliance.”
Ottolulu looked over at Sasha and Misha. The cogs in her eyes turned.
“I can see that you have other gods accompanying you. I will approve of your designation as the ruler.”
Hmm. I’d expected more conflict, but we had passed rather easily. It was becoming clear that from world to world, the values of miniature worlds varied greatly.
“Please, come this way. The next step in the arbitration process is for you to receive explanations about Pablohetra, but not all of the required lectures are held at this late hour. I will show you to your lodgings in the palace so that, for today, you may rest there. I will retrieve you tomorrow to complete the rest of the process.”
Ottolulu turned and walked out of the hangar, with us following.
“There are a few more questions for you to answer for the enrollment process. Please tell me the name of your world,” she said.
“I’ve been calling it Militia’s world,” I replied.
“So the chief god of your world hasn’t given it a name.”
“Like I said before, ours is defective. They’ve been too busy with a few miscellaneous matters to bother with that.”
Beside me, Misha and Sasha looked like they wanted to say something, but they held their tongues.
“In accordance to order, the name of a world is the name of the creation god who made it, prefixed with a descriptor fitting of that miniature world’s order.”
So there are rules to naming worlds, huh?
“In other words, the Holy Sword World Hyphoria was made by a creation god called Hyphoria, and the order of the world has something to do with holy swords?” I asked to clarify.
“That would be a sufficient understanding of the rule, yes,” Ottolulu replied simply.
“Then the name of our world is Militia. We’ll decide on a descriptor later.”
“I will register you as so,” she agreed. “Next, please tell me your name.”
“Anos Voldigoad.”
Ottolulu paused to open a door. It led to a guest room fully furnished with everything a person could need for an extended stay.
“There are more rooms within, which I believe should be enough for your numbers. For tonight, please stay here. I will come get you in the morning.”
“Got it.”
I wanted to look around Pablohetra immediately, but it was better to do as she said for now. Everyone was tired anyway.
“Finally, what is the name of your academy?” Ottolulu said.
“The Demon King Academy.”
Ottolulu, who had been asking all her questions in an impersonal tone until now, paused in contemplation.
“Is there a problem?” I asked.
“No. It is not my duty to judge the names decided by other miniature worlds. That is your freedom.”
What a roundabout answer, but whatever. There was something else I wanted to ask anyway.
“What’s the name of this miniature world?”
“This place is the Seventh Elenesia World.”
Misha’s and Sasha’s eyes both rounded in surprise.
“It’s the seventh silverfoam owned by the Magic Bullet World Elenesia,” Ottolulu said. “The Seventh Elenesia World is a designated freewater area and can be entered and exited at any time by the residents of any miniature world.”
Misha and Sasha both looked at me in shock as they listened to Ottolulu’s explanation. We had just learned that the name of a world was based on the god that created it, meaning the creator of the Magic Bullet World was the Goddess of Creation Elenesia—the same name as Militia’s mother.