The introduction of trains triggered a seismic shift across the continent.
"Pleased to meet you. I am Viscount Ariel, Lord of Exile. I've come to hear more about your trains."
"Could you also extend the ZTX line to Arendelle?"
"If possible, we'd like a railway connecting to our territory, Lyonia…"
Not only nobles of the Empire but also envoys from foreign nations flooded the imperial palace day after day.
Even countries that had historically opposed the Empire were no exception.
Reports surfaced of unknown magitech engineers lurking around Amun and the Misty Plains, all with a single goal in mind—trains.
Every nation on the continent was scrambling to claim this new technology, recognizing its economic and military potential.
Trains, a means of safe and efficient travel, were nothing short of a revolution.
What was once a luxury only some nobles could afford was now becoming accessible to all.
And with this freedom of movement, something else became inevitable—the spread of culture.
For the kingdoms, this was an alarming development.
They had already witnessed firsthand what had happened to the Cornell Kingdom when it embraced Imperial culture.
The entire continent remembered the shocking events—
A kingdom that had opposed the Empire for centuries was brought to its knees not by war, but by cultural infiltration.
A nation that fell without a single battle, its chancellor overthrown by rioting citizens, and its gates voluntarily opened to the Empire.
A stunning collapse.
They called it "Cultural Invasion."
And now, trains would accelerate this very phenomenon.
Yet, no nation could afford to reject them.
Because freedom of movement was something every intelligent race had dreamed of for generations.
And more importantly, the benefits far outweighed the risks.
The only way to avoid being consumed by Imperial culture was for these nations to develop their own cultures at an unprecedented pace.
"Find a substitute for cola—immediately!"
"Hmph, 'Beast Cards'? We can make our own version just as well!"
The continent was in cultural turmoil.
New innovations, new products, and new ideas emerged by the day—colliding, blending, and evolving.
Culture began to bloom.
And the thousand-year-old military-centric worldview of the continent started to crack.
This was the Train Revolution.
A legacy of Earth's technology.
*
With the rise of trains, the Empire found itself busier than ever.
Merchants flooded in, eager to invest, and railway plans were redrawn and expanded at an unprecedented pace.
Even I was surprised at how quickly things were changing.
And right in the middle of this whirlwind—
I was preparing a new project.
Not another processed food product.
That had always been my hobby, and it would continue to be.
I still hadn't made meal kits, there was still Tteokbokki (Stir-Fried Rice Cake) to perfect, and Fanta was on my to-do list.
There were countless things I wanted to create.
But they were all things I could make anytime.
"Then what is it that you want to build?"
"I want to create a space to sell products."
Christina's lips curled into a knowing smile.
"Is it the place I saw in your thoughts?"
"Yes. That's the one."
I confirmed her guess.
There were many things I wanted to create, and I had plenty of ideas.
But first and foremost—
What I wanted to make the most was a space.
A place where I could display all the products I would create.
"I want to build a convenience store."
A convenience store.
The sanctuary of processed food.
A place where anyone—child or adult, noble or commoner—could enter freely.
A haven of accessibility and comfort.
That was the space I sought to create.
*
To purchase goods in the Empire, one had to rely on city-based merchant guilds.
However, even guilds did not always stock everything, and prices varied wildly by region.
Still, this was a luxury only available in the cities.
In rural territories, where even merchant guilds were rare, people had to depend on traveling merchants passing through.
Naturally, the prices were exorbitant, yet imperial citizens had no choice but to grit their teeth and pay.
There was no guarantee of when the next opportunity to buy essentials would arise.
This was the harsh reality faced by the Empire's remote provinces.
"So, you're saying you want to create this… 'convenience store'?"
"That's right."
Hearing my plan, Aria tilted her head in confusion.
"But how is that different from a regular merchant guild?"
"Guilds are big. They only exist in cities."
Merchant guilds were associations of traders, dealing in bulk sales rather than catering to individual buyers.
Since most of their customers were wealthy merchants or nobles, common citizens often found themselves either unable to buy goods or pushed to the back of the queue.
Guilds were designed for trade, not everyday shopping.
A new type of store, catering specifically to the people, was necessary.
"And that's where convenience stores come in?"
"Exactly."
Convenience stores were a modern innovation—a product of humanity's endless pursuit of efficiency.
A place where you could buy what you needed, whenever you needed it—the ultimate level of convenience.
While retail businesses existed in this world, they were nothing like the convenience stores of modern Earth.
This world had yet to experience the true peak of human laziness—
A world where people could order food with a single tap, where they could eat lying down, where they could sleep while traveling.
However, with the establishment of processed food distribution networks and the expansion of railway lines, the foundations for convenience stores had finally been laid.
Thus, I made my decision—
"Let's start with a hundred stores."
"…A-A hundred?!"
"Yeah, just for now. We'll expand later."
Aria's eyes went wide.
In my previous life, Korea had over 55,000 convenience stores—on a landmass smaller than the Empire.
A true "Convenience Store Kingdom."
People expected a store to be just around the corner wherever they lived.
And the Empire was 50 times larger than Korea.
A mere 100 stores were barely anything.
But from their perspective, it was a shocking figure.
Even Count Trion, a seasoned merchant, was visibly taken aback.
"You're planning to establish a hundred new merchant guilds?"
"They're not guilds, Count. They're convenience stores."
"Ah, right…"
In a world where franchises didn't even exist, proposing 100 retail locations was beyond shocking—it was borderline insanity.
But it was doable.
"With our distribution network and the expanding ZTX railway, we can make it work."
After all, I had laid the groundwork for this from the very beginning.
A convenience store's lifeline was consistent inventory and efficient supply chains.
"Still… one hundred…"
"We'll start small, focusing on the capital first."
"In that case, it might actually be possible."
"Exactly."
"Have you decided on a name?"
"I have something in mind."
I had already thought of a name—
"With You."
A store that's always with you.
That was the name I had envisioned.
But—
"That's terrible."
Aria immediately shot it down.
"What does that even mean? It has nothing to do with a store."
"It means we're always with the customers."
"Yeah, but will people associate that with a shop?"
"Probably not…"
She had a point.
Since convenience stores were a new concept, the name needed to be simple and straightforward.
In my previous life, people already knew what a convenience store was, so the name didn't have to be obvious.
But here, it did.
"What about 'Aerith'?"
"I like it."
'Aerith' was a word in Imperial common tongue meaning 'fresh'—a term commonly used for fresh food.
Aria's idea made perfect sense, so I agreed.
I was a little disappointed about not using "With You", but in this world, Aerith was the better choice.
"Haah, just when I thought we could finally rest… now we're busier than ever."
Aria grumbled, rubbing her stiff shoulders.
She had already worked tirelessly laying magical stones along the railway, and now I was dragging her into another massive project.
Her complaints were understandable.
"Once this is done, we'll take a long break."
"Really?"
"Yeah. I promise."
She narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
"Last time you said that, we didn't rest at all."
"This time, I mean it."
"Promise?"
"Trust me."
"I'd trust you if you were actually trustworthy."
I had broken my promises before.
So, her skepticism was well-founded.
Still, this time I was serious.
Once this was done, I was planning to actually rest for a while.
Then—
Aria's voice lowered.
"Forget the break. Answer my question."
"What question?"
"The second one."
"...."
Her violet eyes held unwavering determination.
Just like that night in the Carcel Kingdom when she had confessed to me.
I sighed, smiling wryly.
"You know my answer doesn't matter. Her Highness the Second Princess's answer does."
"I know."
"Then—"
"Just give me a chance."
"A chance?"
"Yes. Who knows? Maybe the Second Princess will like me better."
For a moment, I was stunned.
Aria had always been straightforward, but this was bolder than ever.
"…Are you drunk?"
"No. I'm completely sober. And I'm serious."
Which is why—
"Alright."
I found myself smiling before I even realized it.
"Thank you."
Hearing my response, Aria's face lit up with a bright, relieved smile.
*
When I first arrived in this otherworld, my only dream was to eat something decent.
The food in this world made me question whether it was meant for enjoyment or just for survival.
So, I started by making Cola, then moved on to Pringles, Ramen, Gelato, and countless other processed foods.
What began as a personal craving soon reshaped the culture of not just the Empire but the entire continent.
Eight years.
In what could be considered a short amount of time, I had completely transformed the way people lived and ate.
But this was only the beginning.
It was merely the first step in fulfilling my original selfish desire.
And now—
[ Congratulations on the Grand Opening of the Aerith Convenience Store! ]
A convenience store—
This had been the ultimate vision, the driving force behind all my innovations.
"Congratulations, Yuri."
"You have my blessings."
In the heart of the Imperial capital, a crowd had gathered in front of a building with a sign that read 'Aerith'.
"Nom, nom!"
As expected, Iberkina was already searching for snacks, even during the grand opening.
"Ooh! That's my milk!"
Lilith gasped in delight as she spotted her fresh milk lined up neatly in the dairy section.
"Congratulations, nya~."
"Thank you, Laura."
Even Laura, the head chef of the Golden Garden, had come.
"Do you like the sign?"
"I'm not sure I deserve such a finely crafted sign for free."
"Hahaha! Think nothing of it."
Dorian, face flushed red from chugging Guinness, let out a hearty laugh.
"Compared to all the free beer you've been supplying to us dwarves, this is nothing!"
Beyond them, Ciel, Bolitur, Ayla, Bianca, the Saintess, and many others I had met along my journey were present.
The large interior of the convenience store was packed with various processed foods, and those attending the opening ceremony were happily picking out their favorite items and enjoying them.
"So, this is the vision you spoke of."
"Yes, it is."
Hearing Christina's words, I smiled.
A place where anyone could comfortably pick out and enjoy the food they loved.
This was exactly the kind of convenience store I had envisioned.
'I finally made it.'
A warm sense of fulfillment settled deep within me.
*
[ Shop with Ease at Aerith Convenience Stores! ]
From the very first day, Aerith Convenience Store, which had just opened in the Imperial Capital, was packed with people.
The freedom to buy whatever you want, whenever you want—something Imperial citizens had never experienced before—was now a reality.
For those who had been accustomed to shopping only once a week or even once a month, the emergence of convenience stores completely transformed their daily lives.
They no longer had to stock up in advance or worry about their magic refrigerators running empty—
Now, they could simply walk into a convenience store at any time and buy whatever they wanted.
And because convenience stores welcomed everyone regardless of status, people felt at ease enjoying them.
Perhaps that was why—
[ "Aerith Convenience Store" Surpasses "Orcel Trading Company", Becoming the No.1 Seller in the Capital! ]
[ Aerith Convenience Store Announces Plans to Expand with 10 More Branches in Nearby Territories! ]
It took only three months for Aerith Convenience Stores to become a massive hit.
Competing merchants were already rushing to announce their own convenience store chains, eager to replicate Aerith's success.
A convenience store revolution was sweeping across the Empire.
The streets were now lined with processed foods, and people roamed the city in search of the nearest store.
They ate fish-shaped pastries, drank Let's Be coffee, and laughed and chatted together—
A sight that would have been unimaginable in the Empire before processed foods existed.
It was also the ideal vision of the Empire I had dreamed of.
And so, the dream I had vaguely envisioned had finally come true.
A sight so fulfilling that just looking at it made my heart feel full.
And then—
The moment of destiny approached.
*
On a sweltering summer day—
"Yuri, it's rare for you to call me."
At my summons, Christina stepped into the White Tower's garden, only to have her expression cool the moment she spotted the woman standing there.
A confident lady with black short hair and violet eyes—Aria.
She bowed her head toward Christina.
Given that Christina already knew about my relationship with Aria, she naturally swept her gaze between us before fixing her crimson eyes on Aria.
"It seems you were the one who called for me."
"Yes, that's right."
"Hmm."
Christina's gaze sharpened slightly.
"What is it that you wish to say?"
"I like Senior Yuri."
"I know that."
Christina was already aware that Aria had confessed to me.
After all, I had promised not to keep secrets from Christina regarding our relationship.
Then, she turned to me with a curious look.
"What exactly about Yuri do you like?"
"...."
The way she asked felt strangely dismissive—almost as if she couldn't understand what there was to like about me.
However, Aria's answer was even more shocking.
"Honestly, it can be frustrating watching him. He never wants to leave his room, and apart from eating and playing, he doesn't seem to care about much."
"I can relate."
"...."
Wait… Did they just come here to roast me?
Just as I was about to say something, Aria continued.
"But even though he's frustrating, he's also the most dedicated person when it comes to his work. He might seem lazy, but deep down, he's incredibly diligent."
"I can relate to that as well."
Was this supposed to be praise or an insult?
"So that's why I like him."
"Yuri is my consort, though."
"I don't mind being the second."
"...."
"I won't interfere in your relationship or come between you two."
"...."
"You can be the only one to marry him—just let me stay by his side."
"And why would I allow that?"
"No reason."
"...?"
Even Christina was momentarily at a loss for words at Aria's sheer audacity.
"No matter what I say, my reasons won't mean anything to you, will they?"
"And yet, you're saying them anyway?"
"Yes. But I can be of help to you. It's not a boast, but both the Blue Tower Master and the White Tower Master have acknowledged my talent."
At that, Christina turned her gaze toward me, as if seeking confirmation.
I simply nodded.
That alone changed her expression.
After all, for two Grand Wizards to recognize Aria's abilities meant that she was highly likely to become one herself in the future.
And Grand Wizards were not something even the Imperial Family could ignore.
Having a Grand Wizard's support was enough to shift political influence, making even high-ranking noble houses cautious.
Aria had essentially offered herself as a powerful future ally.
It was a tempting proposal for someone as power-driven as Christina.
Of course—that alone was not enough for Christina to share her consort.
"Yuri, what do you think?"
"I will follow your decision, Christina."
"I asked for your thoughts."
"If it's my choice… I hope you'll allow it."
"You realize what you're saying?"
"Yes."
Her crimson eyes narrowed; their usual warmth replaced by an icy sharpness.
Even so, I did not waver.
I loved Christina—but that didn't mean I wanted to lose Aria either.
If Christina was the one who guided and awakened me, then Aria was the one who gave me comfort and rest.
They were both important to me.
Call me greedy. Call me foolish.
But this was my true desire—
To be with them both.
If this were modern times, it would be an impossible request.
Even in this world, proposing such a thing to a royal was beyond audacious.
Of course—there was no way Christina would accept it.
And yet—
"…Fine."
"...?"
What?
Both Aria and I widened our eyes in disbelief.
Had I… heard that correctly?
She just said… "Fine."
"Christina?"
"Having a future Grand Wizard at my side isn't a bad investment."
"...."
I knew that was just an excuse.
Christina was far too proud and possessive for such a compromise.
She was not someone who shared anything—let alone her consort.
And yet, she was choosing to make an exception for me.
This was her way of making a massive concession—without openly admitting it.
It was a small way to preserve her pride.
"But there is one condition."
"What is it?"
"You must always put me first."
"I understand."
"No matter what happens, in any and every situation, I come first."
"I understand."
"If you fail to do so—I'll crush your heart and kill you myself."
Her chilling crimson eyes bore into me.
Meeting her gaze, I nodded without hesitation.
"Yes."
And I swore—
"I will always put Christina first above all else."
"...."
"That is all I need."
Her serious expression melted away, returning to her usual demeanor.
Then, she asked me—seemingly out of curiosity.
"By the way, even if I accept this, Imperial Law forbids the Emperor's son-in-law from taking concubines."
"Ah, about that…."
I revealed the solution I had thought of long ago.
After hearing my plan, both Aria and Christina stared at me with expressions of utter disbelief.
"…That is certainly… an ingenious idea."
"Amazing… The way you scheme is almost admirable."
Their responses—somewhere between praise and exasperation—only made me grin.
*
Long ago, the Apostle of the Heavenly Father descended upon this land and took three wives.
Yvril, Aran, and Serin.
Among them, his first wife, Yvril, had a full name— Yvril Offenbach von Terrazé.
Yes.
She was none other than the First Princess, the eldest daughter of Offenbach, the second Emperor of the Empire.
The Apostle of the Heavenly Father had taken a member of the Imperial Family as his wife.
This was not a legend or a myth—it was an established historical fact, officially recorded in the Imperial Chronicles.
Even now, the descendants of that Apostle continued to exist among the Empire's nobility.
Which meant—
The Apostle of the Heavenly Father had married an Imperial Princess… and still had two more wives.
Of course, at the time, the Empire was merely a kingdom, far weaker than it is today.
Yet, the fact remained—the Apostle had three wives.
Because an Apostle of the Heavenly Father was second only to the divine itself.
So—
"I am indeed the Apostle of the Heavenly Father."
"!!!"
"Ah…! So, it was true!"
For the first time, I officially confirmed the long-standing speculation.
"The Heavenly Father was the one who sent me to this world."
I declared that I was the Apostle of the Heavenly Father.
"Oh! A disciple of the Heavenly Father bows before his Apostle!"
Naturally, the Church erupted into chaos, and I was immediately canonized as a Saint.
And soon after—
A rumor began spreading through the capital.
"Have you heard? The Apostle is courting the Second Princess."
"Not just the Second Princess. I heard he's also involved with a wizard from the White Tower."
"…What!? Both at the same time!?"
"Haha, for someone of the Apostle's caliber, two is nothing!"
A belief had long existed among the Imperial citizens—
An Apostle of God must spread their lineage as widely as possible.
This idea had been passed down through the generations, stemming from the previous Apostle, who had multiple wives.
The fact that one of my partners was an Imperial Princess did stir some controversy—
But under Christina's icy gaze, no one dared to say a word.
Of course, being with me meant that Christina had to forfeit her claim to the throne…
But—
"Well then, since it's come to this, it might be fun to raise you into power instead."
"...."
Rather than ascending the throne herself, Christina decided to make me her project instead.
After all, my status as the Apostle of the Heavenly Father was just as valuable as the Imperial Crown—if not more so.
Of course, in practice, it was Christina who held the true power as the de facto ruler behind the scenes…
And thanks to her ambitions, my workload doubled overnight—a catastrophic disaster in the making.
The mountain of documents that had awaited me upon returning from vacation… was now twice as high.
"I need to use the restroom."
"Don't even think about escaping. I had Aria set up an alarm spell just in case."
"...."
I fell silent in sheer defeat, while Christina smiled in obvious amusement.
"If you're going to govern the House we will establish, then this much is necessary."
At that moment, I locked eyes with Aria.
And she simply nodded in agreement.
"I agree with Her Highness. You should at least be able to handle this much."
Then, as if remembering something, she added—
"Oh, and congratulations."
"For what?"
"You didn't hear? The Imperial Council has just nominated you as the next Minister of Magic."
"…Who?"
"You."
"...."
Slowly, my gaze drifted toward the window.
The sky was clear and blue, with not a single cloud in sight.
"Vacation…"
"Hm?"
"Please, just let me go on vacation…!!!"
And my desperate scream echoed throughout the Imperial Palace.
***
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