After the speech, Kiana Kaslana and Sirin followed Incarnation toward the castle.
After killing the nobles who had lived there, Incarnation had the place thoroughly cleaned inside and out. Most of the furniture was replaced, the servants changed to devout nuns personally chosen by her, and the guards replaced with various zombies.
Incarnation led the two into the grand hall of the castle. Inside, the decor was lavish and splendid, adorned with precious jewels.
This medieval castle was somewhat simple in structure—one large hall and five spacious living rooms—but the interior design was luxurious.
Kiana Kaslana walked to the lord's seat in the hall, turned around, and sat down. Incarnation stood beside her, while Sirin, seeing no other chairs available, plopped herself right onto Kiana Kaslana's lap.
Kiana looked toward Incarnation and said, "You may all go rest for now."
Incarnation nodded. "Lady Kiana, Lady Sirin, if you need anything, please don't hesitate to command us."
After she finished speaking, Incarnation led the rows of waiting attendants out of the hall.
Kiana Kaslana watched them leave, then swept her gaze across the hall.
In this era, European castles were essentially military fortresses. The concept of comfort found in civilian architecture had been abandoned.
Those fairy-tale castles seen in Disney animations existed only in fantasy.
Still, the noble who had previously lived here clearly enjoyed a comfortable life.
The place was rather well made in all respects.
"Mom, why did you talk so much to those humans?" Sirin asked, unable to hold back.
In her eyes, the humans of this world were different from those of her own—they were all weak ants. There was no need to waste words. Just fight.
Kiana Kaslana gently stroked her daughter's hair, smiling. "Our power is strong, but you must always consider the possibility of accidents."
"What kind of accidents?" Sirin asked curiously.
"There are many possibilities—otherworldly travelers, aliens from the cosmos, the mysterious forces of this world..." Kiana explained patiently. "That's why you must learn to disguise yourself. For example, when you want to destroy humanity—even if you have the power—it's best not to become a target that unites them all against you."
"We can first win some over, let some be, and destroy some."
"You have to learn to play the hidden hand—to manipulate everything from the shadows."
Seeing Sirin's half-understanding expression, Kiana continued, "The best way is to make sure humans never realize it was you who wanted to destroy them."
"Mom, but aren't you making those humans unite against you right now?" Sirin asked in confusion.
After all, the speech earlier was basically a declaration of war against every kingdom and church.
You're doing the opposite of what you just said!
"Different worlds require different methods. What I'm doing now is exactly what I want," Kiana replied.
Using her true body's vision, Kiana looked toward the spies who had gone to report back to their nations.
Since this was her first time formally conquering an entire world, she was cautious. By taking control of this world and this universe, she would gain greater capital to conquer even more worlds—and more universes.
"?"
Sirin was a little dizzy. Just moments ago, her mom had warned her not to unite humanity against herself—and now she said uniting them was her plan?
"I am now an angel—a heavenly messenger sent by God to punish and judge the wicked. My goal is to destroy the powerful who oppress the weak. Do you understand?"
After thinking for a moment, Sirin nodded.
So that's how it was. The common people were the ones to be won over or ignored, and the kings and nobles were the ones to be destroyed.
"But... would winning those people over really help us?" Sirin asked.
"I don't know," Kiana said with a playful smile. "It's my first time doing something like this too."
Seeing Kiana's teasing expression, Sirin rolled her eyes helplessly.
After all that talk, she thought her mom had done this kind of thing many times before and was full of experience!
So it really was her first time after all!
"I think they'll still be of some use," Kiana said.
The humans of this world could serve as practice—valuable experience.
For the Will of Ruler, invading another universe was like a maiden entering the bridal sedan chair for the first time.
She had no experience.
Her current plan was to spread a belief among the lower classes: that if the angels sent by God ruled humanity, the world would become a better place.
That way, the common people would not see her as an invader or willingly join armies opposing her.
Instead, they would regard her as a true angel sent by God to save them.
If the kings forced their peasants into the army, her angelic identity would give her an edge.
Once she called out, "Surrender and you'll be spared," those conscripted commoners would throw down their weapons faster than anyone else.
The doctrine of divine right of kings had its appeal—but the descent of a real angel promising guidance and salvation was far more alluring.
Under the rule of kings and nobles, did the common people truly not know how they lived?
Of course, words alone would not suffice.
She had to take action.
As the saying went, there is no harm without comparison.
Kiana Kaslana repeatedly reduced taxes within her own territory.
...
The purpose of taxation was to maintain the operation of a nation.
Simply put, a country's rulers used military force to make others pay, sustaining the state, its army, and its officials to ensure its normal function.
But since she already had her own army, taxes were little more than optional protection fees.
How much she collected depended entirely on her mood.
After all, human gold, silver, and material wealth were of little use to her.
The policy of tax reduction had already been tested in the Far East—with immediate and remarkable results. The commoners who benefited from it were endlessly grateful to Ai Enma.
As word spread, more and more peasants flocked to Ai Enma's domain.
Some even came to her doorstep, begging her to conquer their villages.
It was... rather surreal.
Kiana Kaslana observed the situation across Europe. Under the assault of her Honkai Black Death, many small nations had fallen into paralysis.
In the Middle Ages, the military strength of each country depended primarily on noble knights and their retainers. Militias existed, but they were not the main force.
As long as the noble knights were eliminated, the whole of Europe would lose its ability to resist.
...
In the world of the Hell Girl, Kiana Kaslana used her Herrscher of the Void core to open a subspace, linking the Houkai Universe through it—and inside, she created Honkai Beasts.
The original self-destructing Seraph-class Honkai Beasts were modified into units capable of carrying heavy loads and deploying explosives.
Essentially, she fitted them with racks capable of generating small Honkai bombs under their bodies and triple-mounted short arrows on each wing.
The Honkai bombs were single-use, self-destructing creatures—spherical bombs, with each Seraph-class able to carry two per sortie.
The short arrows in their wings were similar to those fired by Ranger zombies, though less powerful. They relied entirely on the momentum from diving and then flinging their wings forward to launch them—their accuracy... rather random.
Given the Seraph-class Honkai Beasts' flight capabilities and speed, ordinary human soldiers couldn't even touch them on the battlefield.
And when needed, she could have people make hanging baskets, attach them beneath the beasts, and drop "lazy dog bombs" from above.