The Ability to Shift Anything is Convenient, Even in Another World!

...

Tick-tack, tick-tack—

The sound of shoes clacking echoed through the quiet hallway. A man walked toward a door, his expression serious.

As he reached it, he straightened his posture, projecting dignity and authority. Slowly, he pushed the door open.

Inside, two men sat on smaller chairs. The rest were empty, surrounding a long table that stretched across the room. At the farthest end stood a large, golden chair, its surface adorned with fine, gleaming materials that exuded elegance.

"Here you are, Minister of Military. You’re the one who called this urgent meeting, yet you kept us waiting for thirty minutes!" the bald man exclaimed.

"This had better be important, or you’re just wasting our time! We have other matters to attend to, you know?" added the man in the ornate robe.

"I apologize, Minister of Finance, Minister of Agriculture. I was delayed because I needed to verify certain details and clarify minor points in my report," the Minister of Military said.

The Minister of Finance, the one who's wearing extravagant garments, leaned forward. "Then get to the point. What is so urgent that you brought us here?"

"Two days ago, one of our border patrol guards spotted a massive flash of light in the sky, followed by a powerful shockwave. It was so bright that even sunlight paled in comparison," the Minister of Military said.

"They weren’t sure what it was—perhaps an enemy attack—so they immediately sent a messenger to the nearest outpost to dispatch an expedition team and investigate the area…"

"The team arrived yesterday afternoon, but all they found was a pile of rubble and a strange-looking house standing amid the ruins. The entire village, located on the kingdom’s border, had been destroyed."

"We also discovered what we believe to be the body of a Swordsmaster—Agnar," the Minister of Military added.

"Agnar? That name sounds familiar. Isn’t he one of the top Swordmasters? What was he doing there?" the Minister of Finance asked.

"Maybe he got into a fight with someone and lost. Who knows? That insignificant village was probably caught in their battle, and the people either died or ran off in fear—yada yada…" the bald Minister of Agriculture said with a dismissive wave.

"Why are we even here? Did you summon us just to report the death of some nobody who has nothing to do with us?" the Minister of Finance exclaimed.

"You’ve truly wasted our precious time—"

He stopped mid-sentence as the Minister of Military’s expression darkened.

"I did not call you here to waste your time, gentlemen. This is a matter of national concern, and I am not here to waste my breath on trivial matters."

Both ministers straightened in their seats, their expressions turning serious.

"That village is far from insignificant. In fact, it could be crucial to our kingdom—if the Minister of Agriculture values it as highly as I expect."

The Minister of Agriculture frowned. "And what village would that be?"

"It is Signas Village."

The Minister of Agriculture’s eyes widened as recognition dawned.

"Signas… wasn’t that one of the kingdom’s four major wheat suppliers? Don’t tell me—!"

"Yes," the Minister of Military confirmed. "Not just their homes—the entire wheat field was destroyed. Razed to the ground and burned to its last stalk."

The Minister of Agriculture remained silent, stunned by the news.

"That village… how valuable was it compared to the other wheat suppliers?" the Minister of Finance asked.

"Signas Village ranked fourth in wheat production, just behind Anton Town, the third-largest supplier in the kingdom. While it contributed the least among the four, its output was still significant and had supported the kingdom for years," the Minister of Agriculture explained.

"Three-fourths of our wheat supply is allocated for our people, while the remaining fourth is exported to neighboring kingdoms and nations. With the village and its people gone, our wheat distribution will be disrupted, leading to sudden shifts in both exports and domestic consumption," he added.

"Wait a moment," the Minister of Finance interjected. "The Ministry of Finance oversees the revenue from our exports, and wheat products bring in a fortune. If distribution needs to be adjusted, then our export income will take a hit too!"

"Now you finally understand the gravity of the situation," the Minister of Military said.

"We need to find the surviving villagers and resume wheat production!" the Minister of Agriculture exclaimed.

"I'm afraid that won’t be easy," the Minister of Military replied.

"Difficult? What do you mean by that, General?" the Minister of Finance asked.

The Minister of Military took note of how the Minister of Finance had just addressed him—as General.

This impudent fool called me General just now? He should have done so earlier!

"Ahem! We inquired with nearby villages and towns to see if any migrants had arrived in the past few days, but the reports indicate that no one sought shelter. It seems the villagers have moved elsewhere," the Minister of Military said.

"Preposterous! They dared to abandon their village and their duties for their own selfish reasons? Those commoners should have taken refuge nearby and returned once the situation was resolved!" the Minister of Finance exclaimed.

"I have already dispatched a search party to track them down," the Minister of Military continued. "Not only have they acted with defiance and negligence, but they may also possess crucial information regarding the shining light incident and the death of Swordsmaster Agnar."

"Minister of Military, you must locate those fugitives before our next official meeting with the king. We need to report these incidents, including the potential threat behind what happened in that village. This concerns the kingdom’s safety," the Minister of Agriculture said.

Without a word, the Minister of Military bowed his head in acknowledgment. The other two ministers rose from their seats, signaling the meeting’s conclusion.

As they departed, the Minister of Military remained in the hall. His gaze drifted toward the window, where the bustling capital city of Ardrom, named Aroth, stretched before him.

I must uncover the truth behind Swordsmaster Agnar’s death.

If someone strong enough to defeat a top-ranking Swordsmaster has entered our borders—or worse, is already residing within our kingdom—then I must remain vigilant.

The identity of the one responsible for that large-scale attack must be revealed. If we can persuade that person to join our ranks, they may strengthen our military might… but if they are a threat, they must be eliminated.

...

A day had passed since the Ardrom Kingdom learned of the destruction of Signas Village. However, one crucial detail remained unknown to them—the involvement of the Wildfire Dragon in the incident.

Veylir, the guardian of the Great Forest of Drys, was a name recognized across the entire Mainlands Continent. Yet, the Ardrom Kingdom remained unaware of her disappearance. Their lack of detection skills, coupled with the fact that her resting grounds lay far beyond their sphere of influence, left them blind to this critical development.

While the Ardrom Kingdom only had an incomplete picture of the event, another nation had uncovered the missing piece—the disappearance of the Wildfire Dragon’s aura. That nation was the Nation of Adventures, Axiel.

Unlike other nations, Axiel did not operate under a sole ruler or king. Instead, its six regions were governed by six individuals who together formed the Council of Elders.

Each elder ruled a distinct region, with different economic strengths such as agriculture, infrastructure, tourism, and education. Despite lacking a single leader, Axiel thrived without major conflicts—a feat made possible by the Treaty of Axiel.

This treaty, signed by the six elders at the nation's founding, ensured that no single ruler would ever rise above the council. It established fairness and stability, preventing internal power struggles that could plunge Axiel into chaos.

On the same day the Ardrom Kingdom received its intelligence, the council convened to discuss the Wildfire Dragon’s sudden disappearance. Seated around a grand circular table, the six elders faced one another, each bearing a solemn expression as they prepared to address this alarming event.

The council’s round table, unlike other well-known ones, had a hollowed-out center. At the very core of this four-meter-wide empty space sat a large, ruined seat—officially known as The Empty Seat.

This seat symbolized that no one should stand above the rest of the council. Its broken state served as a reminder that should anyone claim it, whether one of them or an outsider, the nation’s downfall would be inevitable. Positioned at the heart of their gatherings, it reinforced their duty to uphold the treaty with respect and dignity.

As the six elders deliberated on various national matters, their final agenda shifted to the disappearance of the Wildfire Dragon. Though the Great Forest of Drys lay far from their borders, Veylir’s absence had consequences that extended beyond Axiel—affecting not only their nation but the entire continent.

"First Elder, I suggest we launch an investigation into this matter. The disappearance of the Wildfire Dragon is no trifling issue," the Second Elder said.

"He’s right," the Fourth Elder added. "Calamity Dragons are considered the pillars of the continent, second only to the Extremity Beings in status. They have existed for thousands of years and are among the oldest living races of this world. With their vast influence, any disappearance among them will send ripples across the continent and stir the masses."

The First Elder paused, stroking his beard in thought.

"This is not good. If other factions catch wind of this information, chaos could erupt across the continent. Especially the Draconic Race… they will not remain idle on such a crucial matter."

Meanwhile, the Sixth Elder remained silent as the others discussed Veylir’s disappearance. Though he listened, his mind was elsewhere—festering with resentment toward the five elders before him.

There was no hierarchy in the council, yet they addressed each other in numerical order, with the First Elder being the eldest. As the youngest, he had been given the title of Sixth Elder, but in his mind, this numbering created an implicit ranking. To him, being the Sixth meant being the last, the lowest, the least respected.

These senile bastards… How dare they ignore my presence? Is it because I’m just the Sixth Elder? How dare they!

His bitter thoughts were interrupted when the Third Elder spoke up.

"First and foremost, we must ensure this information does not leak—especially to the eastern nations, where that individual is currently residing."

Everyone, except the Sixth Elder, stiffened.

"D-Do you mean…?"

"Yes, that person," the Fourth Elder confirmed grimly.

The Second Elder stroked his beard, his expression clouded with unease.

"This is bad. That individual declared close ties with the Wildfire Dragon six years ago. If she learns that Veylir is missing, she won’t stay quiet… She’ll cause an uproar."

"Isn't that an exaggeration?" the Third Elder questioned. "We know she’s a little… excessive, based on rumors, but does she really have the power to stir up something of this scale?"

The Second Elder scoffed. "Do you live in a cave? She’s known as the Elusive Hero and ranked first in the Swordsman Rankings. If she decides to make a move, things will not end well for anyone!"

"Also, she’s an S-rank adventurer and a prized champion of the Continental Adventurer’s Guild. Her strength and influence shouldn’t be underestimated!" the Fourth Elder added.

As the room filled with murmurs, the First Elder cleared his throat loudly.

"Ahem! Old coots, maintain order in this room."

The chatter died down, and the elders straightened in their seats.

"We still don’t know exactly how the Elusive Hero will react once she learns that the Wildfire Dragon has vanished without a trace," the First Elder continued.

"In that case, our best course of action is to keep this information from leaking at all costs. By doing so, we not only prevent mass panic and unwanted attention from other factions, but we also ensure that the Elusive Hero doesn’t act recklessly."

Especially since the reputation of my Continental Adventurer’s Guild is at stake here…

Hearing the First Elder’s reasoning, the others nodded in agreement.

"That seems reasonable…"

"First Elder, shouldn’t we investigate further?" the Fifth Elder spoke up. "Our current information comes from limited sources and remains incomplete. If we send more people to look into it, we might uncover the full truth behind the Wildfire Dragon’s disappearance."

The First Elder glanced at the Fourth Elder and nodded.

"That’s a good idea."

Placing both hands on the round table, he continued, "Since I oversee the Continental Adventurer’s Guild, I’ll assign a party to investigate the Great Forest of Drys—without informing them of the Wildfire Dragon’s disappearance. If they can gather information on events from the past five months, we may be able to piece together the reasons behind the dragon’s vanishing."

"A brilliant plan, First Elder!" the Fourth Elder said.

The others murmured in agreement, nodding their heads.

"Does anyone have further ideas or concerns?" the First Elder asked, scanning the room.

No one spoke up.

"Then this meeting is concluded."

As the elders departed, the Sixth Elder was the last to leave. Walking down the corridor, he mulled over their discussion.

Hmph! Those senile fools… Haven’t they considered that the dragon might already be dead? That someone may have killed it? That possibility is far closer to the truth!

As he continued down the pathway, he caught sight of the First Elder speaking with the Fourth Elder. The sight irritated him.

"Tch!"

All of a sudden, the Sixth Elder halted as an idea crept into his mind.

Wait. Wouldn’t it be better if I secretly informed the Elusive Hero that the Wildfire Dragon is dead? Even if it’s a ruse, her rage alone could throw everything into chaos. If she lashes out and causes destruction, it will smear the reputation of the Continental Adventurer’s Guild!

A devious grin spread across his face.

If that’s the case, then I should contact that person and have them deliver the message. The Elusive Hero is still in the eastern nations, doing who-knows-what…

His grin widened as he mulled over ways to twist the truth—crafting an exaggerated, far-fetched version of events to feed to his informant.

Yet, in his ambition to disrupt the council’s order, the Sixth Elder remained oblivious to the true weight of his actions.

This single manipulation of information—seemingly small, insignificant—would set in motion a chain of tragedies. The consequences would not only shake the Continental Adventurer’s Guild or his nation but would ripple across the entire continent, altering its fate forever.

...

Bonus Illustration/s