A violent wind was trying to tear the street trees out by their roots. The rain was so heavy that "sideways" didn't do it justice; umbrellas had long since become useless. Guest tried to take cover in the shadow of a building, shielding their face with their arms. It happened in that instant. With a deafening roar, their body suddenly felt weightless. Their feet left the ground. The fingers they reached out to grab something caught only air, and gray clouds filled their entire field of vision. "—!" Even their voice was stolen by the wind.

The next thing Guest felt was not the sensation of rain hitting their body. It was the sensation of cold stone against their cheek. They slowly opened their eyes. It wasn't raining. Instead, a thin white mist was drifting by. "...Where am I...?" Sitting up, Guest was lost for words. Before them stretched a massive stone staircase, leading to a magnificent palace with multiple layered roofs. Vermilion pillars, golden decorations, and white stone pavement. Carvings of unknown beasts lined the roof edges, and sharp peaks jutted out beyond the sea of clouds. Looking back, it was even more surreal. Mountains stretched out far below. There was no way this was the world they knew. In fact, a palace this massive shouldn't even exist on the summit of such a high mountain. "You have awakened, I see." A clear voice came from behind. Guest turned around. A woman stood there, dressed in a long robe of white with gold and crimson embroidery.

Her long black hair swayed in the mountain breeze. Her refined features held a gentleness, but her eyes observed Guest with careful attention. "Who are you...?" The woman quietly folded her hands at her chest. "My name is Seiran Ryu. I am the caretaker of this Koyo Palace." "Koyo Palace...?" It was an unfamiliar name. Seiran tilted her head slightly. "As I thought, you are unfamiliar with this continent." Guest furrowed their brow at those words. "Continent...? Where exactly is this?"

Seiran guided Guest inside the palace. The interior of the Koyo Palace was even more magnificent than its exterior. Polished stone floors were lined with thick pillars, and murals depicting mountains and dragons covered the walls. However, there was a surprising lack of people. Seiran placed a cup of warm tea before the protagonist in a guest room. "First, I will tell you everything I can. After that, I will leave the judgment to you." Guest looked at Seiran through the rising steam. "Judgment?" "Yes." Seiran sat down quietly. "This is Mount Seikou. It is the highest mountain on the continent, located in the center of the Koun Mountain Range." These were names they had never heard before. Seiran's explanation continued. Once, a massive nation called the Golden Dragon Empire existed on this continent. It ruled the world for hundreds of years, but in its final days, royal authority waned, and local power players began to raise armies. After successive civil wars and the fall of the final capital, the empire collapsed. The continent split into three nations. The Black Lion Kingdom. The Red Tiger Kingdom. The White Wolf Kingdom. All three claim to be the successor to the Golden Dragon Empire, asserting that the legitimacy to unify the world lies with them. "Is there still a war?" "It continues. There are years without major battles, but skirmishes at the borders never cease." Seiran spread a simple map on the table.

Three territories met, surrounding the central mountain range. "And Mount Seikou, where we are, is almost exactly in the center of the three." "Why is there a palace in a place like this?" At that question, Seiran remained silent for a moment. Eventually, she looked straight at Guest. "To welcome you." "...Me?" "To be precise, someone like you." Seiran stood up and brought an old scroll from the wall to Guest. It depicted a violent storm. Light falling upon the mountain peak. And a person in strange clothing appearing from within it. Guest reflexively looked at their own clothes. Clothing that was perfectly ordinary in their own world. But here, it was clearly alien. "Since an era even older than the Golden Dragon Empire, there has been a legend on Mount Seikou." Seiran's voice echoed in the quiet room. "On the night of a great storm that covers the heavens, a guest shall descend from another world upon Mount Seikou. When that person descends the mountain, chooses a nation, and aids that nation—the world shall be one again." "...The guest." Guest was speechless. It was far too absurd. Blown away by a typhoon and ending up in another world. And on top of that, being told they were a legendary figure who would decide the unification of the world. "No, wait. I'm not a soldier or a politician. I'm just an ordinary person. War is..." "I am aware." Surprisingly, Seiran answered immediately. "At the very least, you do not look like a warrior." Guest looked at her in surprise. A very faint smile played on Seiran's lips. "The legend does not say the guest will take the world alone. It does not say they are a master swordsman or that they lead armies. Only—that the nation the guest chooses shall win the world." "So, just by me choosing a country..." "No." Seiran's expression tightened. "Even if the legend is true, reality is not so sweet that victory comes from that alone." Her words held the coolness of someone who had watched this era of chaos for a long time, rather than just a shrine maiden. Seiran explained the three nations. The Black Lion Kingdom is a powerhouse with the largest military. Queen Reika Shin is a cool realist, served by excellent subordinates like strategist Keisaku Kan and General Rinka Gaku. The Red Tiger Kingdom is a fierce nation specializing in offense. Queen Enrei So is a bold figure who sometimes goes to the battlefield herself, supported by General Retsuzan Gi and Chancellor Keirin To. The White Wolf Kingdom possesses a fortified land and rich trade routes. Queen Setsurei Shin is cautious and an excellent administrator, supported by General Keiho Cho and Seigetsu Ryo, who leads the "Snow Shadow" spy unit. "They're all queens, aren't they?" Guest asked reflexively, and Seiran nodded slightly. "It is a coincidence, but currently, all three nations are ruled by queens. And none of the three are foolish rulers." That was why the balance remained unbroken. Looking out the window, the clouds had cleared before they knew it. The distant land was visible. Somewhere out there were three nations where millions of people lived. A world that should have had nothing to do with them. And yet now, they were being told to choose its future. Which country should they choose... no... what should they even do in the first place...? That choice was about to change the fate of the continent.