The construction of the passage crossing the Palan continent began. 

 

It was a massive project with a large number of workers from Mohron and Hayad mobilized.

 

Construction took place only at night after sunset, not during the day, in accordance with the characteristics of the Palan continent and the Mohron people’s active hours. 

 

The midday solar heat could only be endured for an hour, even with cave rat leather. 

 

They chose the relatively easier-to-counter cold instead.

 

Dahlia and Hissin helped in every way possible so that the people dispatched from Hayad could adapt well to life in Mohron.

 

The workers came out of Mohron around the time the sun sank red beyond the horizon and worked until the morning star disappeared the next day.

 

Even the Mohron people, as well as Hayad’s experts, struggled greatly at first with night construction, something they had never done before. 

 

But gradually, as they began to coordinate, they increased their speed.

 

The reason they could build such teamwork in such a short period was thanks to none other than Dahlia.

 

“Lady Dahlia. Gamma Team’s movement is slightly delayed. Should we wait until then?”

 

“No. Alpha Team is scheduled to join Gamma Team as soon as they return, so please proceed with Delta Team first.”

 

“What should we do about that rock in the middle? It’s embedded too deeply to pull out, and going around it will take quite some time…”

 

“Let’s go around avoiding the rock. We have plenty of materials, so please build the path in the safest way possible for the Mohron citizens to pass through.”

 

Dahlia also stayed at the construction site the entire time and worked alongside them. She held meetings with the experts from Hayad every day and studied architecture.

 

It was not a bridge to climb up, but a passage to avoid the deadly sunlight of Palan. 

 

More attention had to be paid to heat blocking and air circulation than anything else.

 

If even the slightest risk was spotted, construction was immediately stopped, and the site was inspected. 

 

Thanks to Dahlia’s meticulous and detailed eyes, there were more than a few occasions where even the experts had missed things that she safely supplemented.

 

Occasionally, severe sandstorms would halt construction for several days. 

 

Each time, the workers grew anxious, and sometimes their uneasy predictions came true, but Dahlia did not lose heart even after seeing the broken ends of the passage. 

 

Instead, she said that thanks to the sandstorm, they had discovered the weak points in advance and reinforced the passage even more solidly.

 

She was willing to do anything if it meant building a safer and sturdier passage.

 

Seeing Dahlia like this, who did not hesitate to make personal sacrifices for the passage construction, the workers poured all their strength into building it without a single complaint despite their exhaustion.

 

The passage continued slowly but solidly and firmly, and the people of Mohron became excited with hope that after decades they could finally leave the underground country and step on land under the sky.

 

The news that Mohron was migrating spread quickly to other countries. 

 

Nations gradually began extending a helping hand to support the new challenge of these people who had lived hidden deep underground for decades.

 

There were naturally some calculations of profit and loss behind it, but Dahlia wisely discerned them and gladly accepted help as long as it was within a manageable range. With the gradually increasing support and supplies, passage construction also began to accelerate.

 

By the time Dahlia was smiling contentedly while looking at the passage whose end could no longer be seen from Mohron’s entrance.

 

“Dahlia.”

 

Hissin, who approached, had a rather serious expression. 

 

Could there have been an accident at the construction site? 

 

Dahlia’s heart sank, and she hurriedly followed behind him. But what she faced was completely different from what she had expected.

 

“We greet Her Highness the Princess.”

 

Hundreds of people knelt before her. 

 

They had come all this way, enduring Palan’s sun with only camel leather and no cave rat leather, and they looked at her with steadfast eyes.

 

“Please use us as well, Your Highness, the Princess. We wish to become your strength.”

 

They were the Baran people.

 

Her old citizens who had willingly come to welcome their new ruler.

 

🌙

 

The passage, built jointly by five countries and 7 million people, reached the end of the Palan continent after a full six months.

 

The passage used thick planks made by pounding cave rat leather and mulberry bark to block solar heat, built walls with easily processed sandstone, and reinforced both the inside and outside with marble to prevent easy wear.

 

The long passage starting from the land of death and crossing the vast Palan continent extended all the way to the Sevin River leading to the Misilan continent.

 

The entire continent was paying attention to Mohron Kingdom’s migration through this enormous passage.

Amid that tension, the day finally arrived.

 

“We are ready.”

 

Hovan came and said. 

 

Dahlia, who was with Hissin, let out a breath thick with tension and stood up. Hissin carefully adjusted her clothes and said softly.

 

“Don’t worry. Everything will go as you wish.”

 

Thanks to his deep trust, Dahlia swallowed her trembling heart and nodded. 

 

The two walked side by side out of Mohron.

 

Outside, there were countless Mohron people and Mohron’s Queen Tefnu. As Dahlia came out with Hissin, Tefnu approached her using her staff.

 

“Now our fate rests with you, Princess.”

 

When Tefnu extended her arm, Dahlia bowed her head and placed it against that hand. Tefnu looked at Dahlia with all the emotion she could put into her faded white eyes.

 

“New ruler.”

 

“…”

 

“Please lead us to paradise.”

 

Going to Baran together with Baran’s owner meant she was entrusting all her authority to her. Tefnu was willingly placing the lives of her people in the hands of Dahlia and Hissin.

 

“Yes, Your Majesty the Queen.”

 

Dahlia gently closed her eyes and took Tefnu’s feelings deep into her heart. 

 

Pushing away all anxiety, worry, and anything that shook her, Dahlia held only the thought of safely bringing them to a secure place.

 

“I will do my very best.”

 

Dahlia rose to her feet. She nodded while meeting Hissin’s eyes, and he moved the Moon Lions with the oath of the heart to envelop the long procession. 

 

It was to protect the people from any possible external attacks.

 

“We depart.”

 

At Hissin’s command as the signal, the long procession finally began to move.

 

Among them was also a large coffin containing the remains of the Hinna tribe.

 

🌙

 

Mohron’s procession continued for over two months. 

 

Even though the Moon Lions ran without rest, covering a distance that took more than ten days, over 200,000 people, including the elderly, women, and children, were moving together. 

 

It took a full five days just to leave Mohron’s territory.

 

“Bertha, bring that mother and daughter further inside to hide their bodies.”

 

“Yes, Your Highness.”

 

Whenever sandstorms struck, they stopped walking and waited until the storm passed. When people became afraid of the fiercely shaking passage, Dahlia firmly comforted them, saying nothing could harm them.

 

If necessary, she was even prepared to shed her own blood for them.

 

Fortunately, thanks to the half year she had poured her heart and soul into it, the passage easily withstood any sandstorm. 

 

Once the surroundings quieted, Dahlia and Hissin led the procession again toward the end of the Palan continent.

 

Thus, after a full 85 days, they were able to reach the Sevin River at the end of the passage.

 

“Cross one by one, slowly and in order. Everyone can cross the river, so do not be afraid.”

 

Hissin first sent some of the Moon Lions, Dahlia, and the elderly women and children across the river. 

 

The men gladly built rafts and sent their wives and children first deep into the night.

 

Thanks to Hissin and Dahlia’s calm control, all the people safely crossed the Sevin River.

 

“Wow… Mother, look at that. It’s the sun. The sun doesn’t feel hot even when looking at it.”

 

Unlike the Palan continent, the Misilan continent allowed one to fully look at the sun even at midday. 

 

Facing the gentle sunlight after such a long time, the Mohron people reddened their eyes and savored the joy of the surface.

 

“Just a little further now. Everyone, please hold on until the end.”

 

At Dahlia’s words, Mohron’s procession began walking joyfully again. Even after two months of marching, no one showed signs of exhaustion. 

 

They moved forward toward the new land, helping one another.

 

And at the end of that long and arduous march.

 

“We greet Her Highness the Princess.”

 

The people left behind welcomed Baran’s true owner.

 

🌙

 

All the way to the imperial palace, the remaining citizens prostrated themselves before Dahlia and expressed their reverence. 

 

As if they had been waiting for their owner’s return, even on the abandoned land, they looked up to the descendant of Hinna, the origin of Baran, and the true owner of the Holy Grail and sang loud songs of welcome.

 

“You have finally arrived, Your Highness, the Princess.”

 

Upon arriving in front of the imperial palace, Mudhat Osahar, who had been waiting for Mohron’s procession, bowed deeply to Dahlia.

 

It was said that while Baran had fallen due to long sins, and the country was in chaos from civil war and raids, only Mudhat had worked hard to protect this place. 

 

For the true owner who would return.

 

Dahlia looked around the imperial palace with renewed eyes. 

 

The ownerless palace was broken and dirty in many places, as if embracing the end of a declining Baran, yet it still stood firm as if preserving its primordial glory.

 

“Your Highness, the Princess, please become the owner of this country and raise this land once more.”

 

Osahar, kneeling before Dahlia, offered the Holy Grail that he had protected with his life. Dahlia’s eyes trembled faintly at the Holy Grail that had always contained her pain and sorrow.

 

‘Can I truly accept this? Can I truly stand before them as the owner of this land?’

 

In front of countless Baran citizens and Mohron people, watching her.

 

“Dahlia.”

 

Hissin gently wrapped his hand around Dahlia’s. Warmth seeped in and reached her fiercely beating heart.

 

“It is your land.”

 

“…”

 

“The land that Hinna protected. Your people’s land.”

 

The land Hinna protected. 

 

Our land. Dahlia’s wavering eyes finally looked straight ahead. The vast land, the beautiful sky, and the eyes of countless people looking at her.

 

In the beginning, Goddess Nuit took Hinna as her child and granted all of this to Hinna.

 

Now it was her turn to protect it. Hinna’s blessing. Her land and her people.

 

“…Yes. I will.”

 

Dahlia accepted the Holy Grail. When she lifted it high toward the sky, all the people of Baran and Mohron became one, shouting cheers and calling her name.

 

“Bestow the imperial title, Your Majesty the Empress.”

 

Dahlia looked at Hissin. Meeting her eyes, he nodded gently and supported her decision.

 

Dahlia proclaimed her sacred new name without hesitation.

 

“Baran Hinna Dahlia.”

 

“…”

 

“From now on, the imperial history of Baran will be engraved in the name of Hinna.”

 

The first day, when Hinna’s history was proudly revealed in Baran’s name.

 

“And… Lewisia will become our symbol.”

 

Dahlia willingly engraved even Levitzenna’s tears upon it.

 

“For Levitzenna Hissin, who will share the rest of my life with me.”

 

Hissin looked at her with slightly surprised eyes. Dahlia looked at Hissin with faintly wet eyes and smiled softly.

 

“I love you, Hissin.”

 

The quietly conveyed confession soaked his heart like waves. For a moment, he quietly submerged himself in those waves.

 

“I offer all of myself to you…”

 

Hissin soon let out a small laugh and bowed his head.

 

“Grant me your blessing, my ruler.”

 

Hissin kissed Dahlia deeply.

 

The entire populace cheered for the new emperor, who would lead Baran and his companion. The bright sunlight pouring down sparkled as if blessing them.

Dahlia thought it resembled the smile of Goddess Nuit.

 

The greatest blessing the goddess had granted to the fifth girl.