Published: January 4, 2026
The golden bull, Behemoth.
When I first met Prince Lei Indra, he liked me and “transferred” it to me.
The scene was exactly the same as when it was “transferred” to me.
A space with no heaven or earth, filled only with overflowing light.
Within that space, I faced the golden bull Behemoth.
“It’s been a long time since we met like this. What happened?”
“Do you desire power?”
“...What do you mean?”
“Do you desire power?”
Behemoth repeated the same words.
I hesitated.
What could it possibly mean?
What was it referring to?
“You must have called me, right?”
“Called...?”
I grew even more puzzled.
“I was once known as ‘the perfect beast,’ admired by all beasts.”
“—!!”
My confusion instantly turned into surprise.
There was only a single line in the history books mentioning “one admired by all beasts.”
I never imagined such a presence was so close to me.
“Tell me, do you want my power?”
“...Yes, I do.”
“Then call my true name.”
“...Lend me your power, Behemoth!”
My hesitation lasted only a moment.
I spoke the name of the one admired by all beasts—Behemoth.
The instant I said it, Behemoth’s body transformed into light, overflowing and enveloping me.
I closed my eyes briefly against the brightness, but the light soon subsided.
When I opened my eyes, Jerry was right before me, and we had returned to the original place.
I looked around.
The desolate backyard looked exactly the same as before.
“What’s up?”
“...Nothing.”
Jerry was only puzzled by my behavior.
Our exchange with Behemoth must have lasted more than a minute.
Normally, Jerry would have asked questions like why I stopped, why I was spacing out, or where I had gone.
But since he didn’t, it meant that the interaction with Behemoth was just like with Indra—an instantaneous event in the spiritual world.
Though it could have easily been a dream or a daydream—that was not the case.
A large change appeared in the status display I saw out of the corner of my eye.
―――――――――――――
Name: Noah Alarate
Emperor of the Empire
Gender: Male
Level: 17 plus 1 over infinity
HP: C + A Fire E + S + S
MP: D + B Water C + SSS
Strength: C + SS Wind E + C
Stamina: D + B Earth E + C
Intelligence: D + S Light E + S
Spirit: E + A Darkness E + B
Speed: E + A
Dexterity: E + A
Luck: D + B
―――――――――――――
Just like with Leviathan and Bahamut.
Thanks to embracing Behemoth, now renamed Behemoth, my Light attribute had risen by three ranks—to S.
“...Jerry, is there anyone here who can use status magic?”
“Huh? Ah, wait a moment.”
Jerry looked as if a fox had tricked him, but he didn’t ask further and went to summon a mage.
After a while, he returned with a young mage.
Whispering a reminder in his ear, the young mage nervously cast a spell on me.
It was the Status Open spell.
When cast, it displayed my status not only visible to me but also to others.
This status did not have any “+” symbols, but it was the combined total of the “+” ranks I personally saw.
“—!”
The mage gasped.
I wondered why, and then noticed his gaze was fixed on the “Emperor of the Empire” title in the status.
“As I said before, keep this secret. If you tell anyone, I’ll skin you alive.”
“Y-Yes!”
“All right, go.”
“Yes!”
As if given permission, the mage hurried away.
Jerry then looked at my status again.
“It’s the first time I’ve seen my lord’s status, and this is amazing.”
“Come to think of it, it’s your first time.”
“Yes.”
“Mm.”
I nodded.
Since becoming emperor, I rarely showed my status to others.
I always had it visible myself.
From when I was reborn as the infant Noah until today, it had always been lingering at the edge of my vision.
It was so normal now that if it were gone, that would be strange.
Putting that aside—the Light attribute had risen three ranks thanks to Behemoth’s boost.
Of course, Jerry, seeing this for the first time, didn’t comment on it.
‘Try to master this power.’
“...I see.”
The moment I finished checking my status, Behemoth urged me on.