Fantasy Library, Ch 460-465

(AN: My bad, guys. The name of the Council Chairman who came from the Warlord's Empire is Aradhal, not Aladol.)

Chapter 460 – Junior, Friend, Childhood Companion

Southern District of Itogami Island, apartment.

By the time the streets outside had grown noisy—signs of some event or parade in full swing—Kaiser had returned home with Yukina Himeragi in tow.

“Come in. No one else is here besides us right now.”

Opening the door and stepping inside, Kaiser casually said something that, taken out of context, could be rather misleading as he kicked off his shoes.

“Excuse me.”

Yukina, thankfully, didn’t think anything strange of it. She gave a polite, almost timid greeting before following him into the living room.

“That’s my room over there. This one here is where Kanon Kanase is staying. The First Princess of Aldegyr used to stay in this room, but she probably won’t be coming back, so you can share with Kanon.”

Kaiser gave a quick rundown of the place. Yukina nodded seriously while asking,

"Will that be okay? Will Kanon Kanase agree to share a room with me?"

Yukina might be a little lacking in everyday common sense, but she wasn’t so dense as to miss basic social etiquette. She knew that sharing a room with someone you’d just met was something most people would hesitate to agree to—same gender or not.

As for herself, she didn’t mind. She’d already mentally prepared for this, and with her mission in mind, being close to Kanon Kanase was ideal. But whether Kanon would be okay with it… that was another matter entirely.

“No need to worry—Kanon’s easy to get along with,” Kaiser said with a smile. “She’s actually a little afraid of being alone. If she finds out she’s made a new friend, and the two of you are close enough to sleep in the same bed, she won’t reject you—she’ll be thrilled.”

This was the girl who could fall asleep in his bed without a care—sleeping next to Yukina would be nothing. Knowing her, she’d probably be happy to agree.

“I understand.” Yukina nodded solemnly, then pointed toward another door. “Senpai, who stays in that room?”

Kaiser didn’t answer. Instead, he walked over and opened the door.

“Whoa!”

The moment Yukina saw inside, her eyes lit up, and for the first time she let out a girlish squeal of delight befitting her age.

“Mrrrow~~”

“Mrrrow~~”

Inside, over a dozen tiny kittens bounded toward the door, mewing like chicks greeting their mother’s return.

“Cats! Cats, senpai! So many cats!”

Her excitement was like she’d become a different person. She grabbed Kaiser’s shoulders and shook him, her eyes sparkling brighter than he’d ever seen as the kittens swarmed toward them.

“Mrrrow~~”

“Mrrrow~~”

The little cats gathered at Yukina’s feet, instantly melting her usual composed expression.

“Ahh, so cute… good babies…”

She crouched down without a second thought, setting aside her guitar case—complete with the Schneewalzer anti-demon assault rifle—and scooped one up, rubbing her cheek against it with a smile of pure happiness.

Kaiser just chuckled knowingly. He’d long been aware of her love for cats.

Back in High God Forest, she’d collected cat-themed merchandise, filled her dorm with plushies, and even stuck cat stickers or sketches on her notebooks. If she had a phone or watched TV, he had no doubt she’d spend hours watching cat videos.

Unfortunately, cats weren’t allowed in the Lion King Agency’s dorms. The only one she ever saw was the black cat familiar belonging to her master, Yukari Endō—and petting that was out of the question.

So with over a dozen mewing kittens suddenly in front of her, there was no way she wouldn’t be overjoyed.

“I’ve turned this room into a cat room,” Kaiser said, smiling at the girl crouched in the middle of her dream come true. “So I can’t give it to you—sorry.”

“Cat room…” Yukina looked up with wide, pleading eyes. “Are you sure I can’t stay here?”

She clearly already wanted to move in with the cats.

"It's full of litter boxes and cat food. Aside from the toys Kanon and Nagisa bought, there's nothing else in here. How could anyone live here?" Kaiser said with a laugh.

“I don’t mind! I don’t need a bed, just give me a cardboard box.”

"Denied." Kaiser rolled his eyes. "If Sayaka heard I made you sleep in a cardboard box at my place, she'd shoot me with her Koukarin."

"The cats are here every day—you can play with them anytime you're home. They're well-behaved. But you're staying with Kanon. No sneaking in to sleep here."

It was an order, and Yukina puffed her cheeks in frustration.

“…Fine.”

Her disappointment lasted all of two seconds before she was back to smiling at the kittens surrounding her.

Just then, the apartment door opened.

“Kai-kun, you home?!”

Without warning, Nagisa Akatsuki—who had a spare key—stepped inside and peeked in from the hallway, spotting Kaiser and Yukina.

“Fourth Progenitor!”

Yukina’s reaction was immediate and extreme—she snatched up her guitar case and reached for the zipper.

“Calm down!” Kaiser grabbed her shoulder before she could draw the Schneewalzer.

“Eh? Huh? What?!” Nagisa froze at Yukina’s outburst, her face draining of color. “Fourth Progenitor? The Fourth Progenitor? The one from the urban legend? Is there really a vampire progenitor here?!”

Given her fear of demons, the words hit her like a lightning bolt—her hands trembled.

“You calm down too,” Kaiser said, holding her hand to steady her. “What kind of big shot vampire would be in an apartment like this?”

“Y-yeah… you’re right.” Nagisa exhaled, still shaken. “You scared me half to death—thought the urban legend had come knocking.”

“…I’m sorry, that was my fault,” Yukina said quietly, bowing. “I’d just heard some urban legends about Itogami, and overreacted.”

“Ohh, that’s all?” Nagisa’s smile returned. “That’s normal—this is a Demon District. Legends about the Fourth Progenitor, the Prison Barrier, all that… if you want, I can tell you some later.”

Then she blinked. “Wait, who are you? Kai-kun’s friend? I’ve never seen you before. Are you from the mainland? Here for the Saikai Academy Festival?”

Her eyes sparkled suddenly.

“Wow, you’re gorgeous—just as pretty as Kanon, like a real princess. What’s your name? Fourteen, right? Did you come here alone?”

“Kai-kun, you never told me you had such a beautiful friend coming! Are you two dating?”

She rattled off questions like rapid fire, leaving Yukina momentarily stunned.

“My name’s Yukina Himeragi. I’m fourteen—fifteen in two months. I came to Itogami alone,” she quickly cut in before Nagisa could continue. “And no, Kaiser-senpai and I aren’t like that—we went to the same school before. I’m here because I transferred, and he’s letting me stay so I won’t be left without a place to live.”

It was the cover story Kaiser had given her before arriving—just tweak their shared past and it would pass.

“Yukina-chan, huh?” Nagisa beamed, grabbing her hand. “Even your surname sounds like royalty! You’re transferring here? To Saikai Academy? If you’re fourteen, we’ll be in the same grade—maybe even the same class!”

She squeezed Yukina’s hands. “Please, come to Year 3 Class C!”

Clearly, Nagisa had taken to her instantly.

“Senpai…” Yukina gave Kaiser a look of silent plea.

“Well, she doesn’t mean any harm. Probably just likes your looks,” Kaiser said with a helpless shrug. “Think of her as a less intense Sayaka and humor her.”

Compared to Sayaka Kirasaka—who might literally kidnap Yukina to cuddle all night—Nagisa’s chatterbox enthusiasm was nothing.

“…Traitor,” Yukina’s eyes seemed to say.

“Come on, Yukina—let’s go to my place!” Nagisa said, tugging her toward the door. “I’ll introduce you to my friends—and Kojou too. Kai-kun, you come as well! I’ve made dinner for everyone.”

“Ah! Wait—the cats!”

Yukina looked back at them wistfully as Nagisa dragged her away.

Kaiser chuckled. “Alright, you guys, go back for now. I’ll check in later.”

“Mrrrow~~”

The kittens—already transformed into familiars and his divine servants—obediently padded back inside. A few leapt out the window to patrol the neighborhood.

Then Kaiser followed the girls to the Akatsuki home.

…

Like Kaiser’s, it was a three-bedroom apartment with a kitchen and dining area—a bit cramped for a family, spacious for one person. Having lived there four years, the place was well-stocked and homier than Kaiser’s, though more cluttered.

When they arrived, Kojou Akatsuki was chatting with a girl in the living room.

“Yukina! Kojou! I brought Kai-kun and his friend!” Nagisa announced brightly.

The two turned to look.

“…Why’d you bring him?” Kojou’s face soured the moment he saw Kaiser.

“Are these Nagisa’s friends?” the girl asked with a lively smile.

She was strikingly beautiful, with a graceful air. Her hair was cut in a short, slightly curled bob, and she wore a sporty hooded tunic with shorts, showing off long, slender legs and toned calves above basketball shoes—a perfect mix of lively and pretty.

“Let me introduce you,” Nagisa said, taking over. “This is Yuuma Tokoyogi—Kojou and I grew up with her. She was our neighbor until we moved to Itogami four years ago. She’s our childhood friend!”

“Nice to meet you, Nagisa’s friends,” Yuuma said in a clear, mid-range voice that was both pleasant and distinctive. “You must be Kai-kun—Nagisa’s mentioned you. Thanks for looking after her.”

“Just happened to be living together—not that she mentioned me much,” Kojou cut in, frowning.

But even as he grumbled, his gaze slid to Yukina.

“…And who’s she?” he asked, curiosity and a hint of interest in his tone.

Chapter 461 – Now This Is Getting Interesting

Kojou Akatsuki might have been a blockhead when it came to romance, but that didn’t mean he’d never been captivated by a beautiful girl before.

The first to ever make him freeze in awe and stir his heart had been Avrora.

That fairy-like beauty, that dreamlike allure—it had bewitched even elementary school–aged Kojou into a quiet obsession. Unfortunately, those memories had vanished with the end of the Blazing Banquet.

Later, Kojou had been drawn to Kanon Kanase’s sacred beauty and pure aura, enough that Nagisa Akatsuki had teased him for ages over it. Even Motoki Yase had taken potshots at him more than once, and Asagi Aiba had been put in a sulk for quite some time because of it. Clearly, Kanon’s beauty was a weapon strong enough to move even a clueless lump like him.

And now… Kojou found his attention drawn to Yukina Himeragi.

It wasn’t quite enough to make him zone out, but he still ended up staring at her for far longer than was polite.

That was when—

“Ow, ow, ow, ow! What the hell, Nagisa?!”

Nagisa had pinched his cheek hard, yanking it outward until he yelped back to reality.

“That was so rude, Kojou-kun!” she scolded, clearly displeased. “Don’t ogle Yukina like that! What if you scare off the guest I worked so hard to invite here?”

“I—I wasn’t ogling her!” Kojou protested. “I just thought she looked a little like you, that’s all!”

That, in truth, was exactly why he’d been staring.

Sure, Yukina was pretty—but having seen Avrora and Kanon Kanase, Kojou had moved past those “low-level” impulses. Being a blockhead also meant his resistance to beauty wasn’t too bad. He wouldn’t normally be that rude.

But because Yukina’s looks reminded him so much of Nagisa—like a polished, idealized version—he couldn’t help stealing a few extra glances.

The problem was… his explanation didn’t land quite the way he thought it would.

“I swear, Kojou, all these years later and you’re still a siscon?”

Yuuma Tokoyogi blinked at him in disbelief, then sighed with a wry smile.

“So, because she looks like your beloved little sister, you couldn’t help but stare at her?” Kaiser gave him a big thumbs-up. “Classic. Wearing your siscon tendencies so openly—gotta respect that.”

“Kojou-kun…” Nagisa’s cheeks colored, her expression somewhere between exasperation and “why can’t you do better?” “That was such a terrible thing to say. When will my brother finally be able to live without relying on his little sister?”

Even Yukina seemed startled, taking an almost imperceptible step back while giving Kojou a look of pure disdain—just short of outright calling him a pervert.

“That’s not what I meant!” Kojou’s face flushed bright red—half from embarrassment, half from frustration.

“I’m telling you, I wasn’t staring at her because she looks like my sister!”

“Ah, so you were staring at her,” Nagisa shot back immediately.

“Even I don’t know how to defend you here,” Yuuma added.

The two of them tag-teamed him mercilessly, pinning Kojou on the pillar of shame.

“I… I…”

Unable to explain himself—knowing that any explanation would sound like excuses—Kojou's mouth opened and closed before he fell into silent defeat.

Kaiser couldn't help but feel a twinge of sympathy. Poor guy—once you got saddled with the "siscon" label, it was impossible to shake. No matter how you tried to explain, you'd only make it worse. Classic light novel protagonist—forever misunderstood.

At least Kojou's "siscon" tendencies didn't lean into anything… problematic—just an over-the-top level of sibling affection. Otherwise, Akatsuki Gajou and Akatsuki Mimori might've already broken his legs.

Nagisa herself knew her brother’s so-called “siscon” was really just an inability to function without her. He might be her older brother, but in terms of dependency, he was like a child. It drove her up the wall.

But still—there was no denying the label. Even in the original story, Yukina had been chosen as Kojou’s observer in part because she resembled Nagisa.

Granted, Yukina’s looks and poise were a tier above Nagisa’s, enough to rival Kanon Kanase—but her slightly youthful features, glossy black hair, and petite frame overlapped strongly with Nagisa’s “type.” Anyone could believe they were sisters.

In short, Kojou wasn’t shaking that title anytime soon.

Nagisa let her sulking brother be and turned her bright energy toward introductions, making sure Kaiser, Yukina, and Yuuma got properly acquainted.

Both sides had strong ties to her—Kaiser and Yukina as the friendly new neighbors she’d been spending time with, Yuuma as her childhood friend. With a lively girl like Nagisa bridging the gap, it didn’t take long for the group to warm up.

Yukina remained a bit reserved, but Yuuma was effortlessly sociable, quickly finding common topics with Kaiser and Yukina alike.

Only Kaiser noticed something odd—every so often, a flicker of something unreadable passed through Yuuma’s eyes when she looked at him… and at Nagisa.

Now this is getting interesting, Kaiser thought with an inward smile, though his expression gave nothing away.

Before long, Nagisa had everyone seated for dinner—including a still-mopey Kojou—to enjoy the feast she’d cooked up.

Once the meal was done, Kaiser and Yukina took their leave, while Yuuma stayed over at the Akatsuki household to share a room with Nagisa.

As for the eve of the Warlord’s Dominion Festival, no one planned to attend the pre-celebration.

The real highlight was tomorrow’s main event. Tonight’s parade was lively, sure, but aside from some costumes, fireworks, and music, it wasn’t worth staying out half the night. Better to rest early and be fresh for tomorrow.

The group had already agreed to spend the day together. Nagisa, in particular, seemed eager to befriend Yukina, inviting her along as warmly as she had Kaiser.

Yukina, though slightly overwhelmed, recognized the goodwill and didn’t decline. With Kanon still in Aldegyr, her official mission was on hold until Kanon returned. For now, her only task was to shadow Kaiser and learn about Itogami.

“Isn’t it bad to go to a festival while on a mission?” she asked, looking a bit uneasy.

“What’s the problem?” Kaiser replied calmly. “Until Kanon’s back, you’re free to do what you want.”

He smirked. “I’m not glued to Nagisa right now, am I? And Sayaka—that crazy woman—has missions too, but she still pops by to attack me every few days. Guess she just likes making trouble for herself.”

Officially, Sayaka Kirasaka was supposed to be monitoring Dimitrie Vattler. But since Vattler’s arrival, she’d been absent whenever he made a move—like during the time Kaiser and Vattler clashed, or the artificial angel incident when Vattler slipped onto the deserted island. It was hard not to suspect she was letting him run loose just to sic him on Kaiser.

In reality, Kaiser knew she simply couldn't keep up with him. Even with her assassin's skill set, her cursecraft, and her Koukarin in hand, Sayaka couldn't truly threaten someone like Vattler—closest in power to a Progenitor. If he wanted to shake her off, he could do so effortlessly.

At best, her role was to act as a minor check on him.

If the Lion King Agency really wanted proper surveillance, they’d send the Three Saints.

Those three were humanity’s strongest exorcists—wielding ancient inheritances and unique abilities. They could hold their own against a Progenitor, and with anti-demon weapons like the Seven-Form Assault Demon Machine Gun, they could even pose a genuine threat.

But threat wasn’t the same as victory. Even Yukina, armed with the Schneewalzer, could endanger a Progenitor—but unless that Progenitor held back, she might not even get the chance to fire before being erased.

The Three Saints wouldn’t risk themselves for mere surveillance. Losing one would be a catastrophic blow to humanity. So, the Lion King Agency made do with Sayaka’s limited deterrence.

“I wonder what Sayaka’s doing right now,” Yukina mused.

“Who knows—probably up to no good,” Kaiser said disinterestedly, shooing her toward the bath.

…

Meanwhile, elsewhere on Itogami—

“Ha—ha-CHOO!”

Sayaka sneezed hard, crouched in the shadows as she tailed a pair of vampire nobles.

“Someone’s talking trash about me. Bet it’s that damned man,” she muttered, bristling. “Next time, I’ll make him pay for it.”

Her focus returned to her targets. She'd recently spotted Vattler summoning his vampire retainers to the island and suspected him of scheming in secret. Naturally, she'd followed immediately.

She didn't realize this was a deliberate decoy—Vattler's way of drawing her away.

With Aradahl's arrival, Vattler didn't want the Lion King Agency or the Japanese authorities catching on yet. Sending his retainers to bait Sayaka away was the perfect distraction.

And so, once again, she missed something important, left spinning in circles by Vattler’s games.

She had no idea that her beloved junior had already arrived on the island—and was staying in Kaiser’s home.

If she did know, she’d probably storm over without a second thought… only to get smacked down by Kaiser again and humiliated in front of Yukina.

In a way, she’d just dodged a bullet.

…

By now, it was late at night.

Itogami still bustled—lights blazing, voices carrying through the streets. The island truly was a city that never slept.

With so many demon races disliking sunlight and preferring the dark, nighttime was when the city came alive—especially for vampires, who couldn’t walk in daylight. Even on normal days, there was a thriving night scene; during a festival, it was nonstop.

Many restaurants and entertainment venues stayed open until dawn—or twenty-four hours straight—keeping the energy high.

Kaiser and Yukina, however, had turned in early.

At some point in the night, Kaiser’s eyes opened in the dark.

A cold gleam flashed within them.

Chapter 462 – Still Planning to Do This?

Akatsuki Residence, Nagisa Akatsuki’s room.

At this hour, Nagisa had only just drifted into deep sleep.

Her childhood friend had come to Itogami Island after so long, and they were even sharing the same room. Since both girls were natural chatterboxes who loved to gossip, there was little chance they’d simply turn in early.

Nagisa had made a show of telling everyone that they needed to sleep early tonight so they could get up early tomorrow—but in truth, she was still a fourteen-year-old girl. In a moment like this, how much self-control could she really muster?

Couple that with her being a motor-mouth by nature, and it was no surprise that she and Yuuma Tokoyogi had talked late into the night. Only just now had Nagisa finally started to feel drowsy, lying down and slipping into dreams.

She didn’t notice that her childhood friend hadn’t fallen asleep at all. Instead, Yuuma stood by the bed, quietly watching her.

“Honestly… Nagisa hasn’t changed a bit—once she starts talking, she can’t stop.”

Yuuma gave a wry smile. Her gaze held nostalgia, fondness, and more than a touch of helplessness.

Reaching out, she brushed a stray lock of hair from the peacefully sleeping girl’s face, murmuring to herself with a complicated expression.

“Why did it have to be you, Nagisa…? Why did you have to become the Fourth Primogenitor?”

When she’d first heard the news, Yuuma could hardly believe it.

Her childhood friend—a girl she’d laughed and played with—had become the vessel for the strongest vampire in the world, a being of legend, sharing her body with that existence. The thought felt more absurd than any fairy tale.

“Not that I’m any better…”

The moment she thought of her own origins, Yuuma’s face grew even more complicated.

Nagisa and Kojou probably wouldn’t believe it either—

That their childhood friend had never been an ordinary girl.

And now, she, an outsider who’d never been “normal” from the start, was about to make a move against her friend, who’d stopped being “normal” along the way.

“Don’t hate me for this, Nagisa.”

As she whispered, the space behind her began to shimmer faintly, rippling like the surface of a pond.

From the far side of that ripple, something slowly emerged, as though rising from the depths of a dark lake.

A massive knight, its entire form a cold, azure blue, radiating a fierce, malevolent aura.

Clad head to toe in armor, it wore an ominous, skull-like helmet devoid of a face—only an unfathomable darkness within.

Anyone who had seen Natsuki Minamiya’s guardian would be shocked by the sight, for this towering Blue Knight’s presence and appearance were eerily similar.

Clearly, this too was a Guardian.

And there was only one kind of being who could possess such a thing—

A witch.

"Do it, Le Bleu."

Yuuma pointed toward the sleeping Nagisa and issued her command to the Guardian.

Unfortunately for her—

“I’d stop right there, if I were you.”

Just as the azure Guardian reached out toward the bed, a voice spoke from behind her.

“…!”

Yuuma’s expression sharpened as she spun around.

The window was somehow open, curtains fluttering in the night breeze, and a figure had arrived as silently as moonlight on water.

“It’s you?” Yuuma’s face tightened, her body going on alert—then she smiled faintly. “I knew you’d show up.”

“Oh?” Kaiser arched a brow. “So you know who I am.”

“Yeah. Someone told me.” Yuuma’s smile turned casual, almost teasing. “Never thought a government agent from the Lion King Agency would come to spy on my childhood friend. If my identity could be made public, I’d file a formal protest.”

“Too bad your identity can’t be made public.” Kaiser’s tone was flat. “I bet even the Akatsuki siblings don’t know their childhood friend is a senior officer of the Library—LCO.”

“The ‘Azure Witch,’ Yuuma Tokoyogi.”

“If they found out you were part of a criminal organization, both Nagisa and Kojou would be stunned.”

Yuuma fell silent.

Behind her, the Guardian radiated menace, itching to strike—either at Kaiser or at Nagisa.

But Yuuma didn’t move. She only sighed.

“If I told you I didn’t become friends with Kojou and Nagisa because of some ulterior motive… would you believe me?”

“I would,” Kaiser replied without a trace of surprise.

He knew her backstory all too well.

"Ten years ago, the Grand Librarian of LCO, Aya Tokoyogi, brought a powerful grimoire called the Dark Oath to Itogami Island. She intended to transform it into a realm without powers, without the supernatural—no magic, no sorcery, no demonkind."

“She failed. Natsuki Minamiya, the ‘Witch of the Void,’ stopped her and imprisoned her in the Prison Barrier for eternity.”

“But LCO wanted her freed—and wanted the Dark Oath back. They used her biological data to create a clone, a witch capable of breaking the Prison Barrier’s seal.”

Kaiser’s eyes bored into her.

“That witch is you—Aya Tokoyogi’s daughter, Yuuma Tokoyogi.”

Yuuma was an artificial witch, an artificial lifeform, born already six years old.

Meeting Kojou and Nagisa had been pure chance. She’d simply gone out one day, met them playing nearby, and became their friend.

They never knew her origins—never knew she was a witch. They just played together until four years ago, when the incident on Gozo Island happened and Nagisa was sent to Itogami for treatment.

“At that time, Kojou was a genuine ordinary human—still pretty much is, honestly—and had never been involved in any incidents.

“Nagisa was special, yes—an excellent spirit medium and spirit medium—but to you and LCO, she held no value.

“LCO only cares about grimoires. You only wanted to save your mother. You had no reason back then to target either Kojou or Nagisa, let alone deliberately become their friend.”

That was why Kaiser said he believed her. Even without knowing the original story, the logic was clear.

“But now… it’s different, isn’t it?”

Kaiser’s gaze was like it could see straight through her.

Yuuma fell silent again—then gave a resigned, almost self-mocking smile.

“You’re right. It’s different now.”

“Because Nagisa is the vessel of the Fourth Primogenitor, carrying its power inside her.”

“And I need that power.”

Her goal was to free her mother from the Prison Barrier.

But the Barrier was in another dimension—hidden somewhere within Itogami Island, yet in a separate space no one could pinpoint, much less enter.

To locate it and break its seal, Yuuma would have to disrupt the island’s spatial fabric.

That was no simple feat.

Spatial interference was rare and difficult—even high-level magi struggled with it. Only a witch like Natsuki Minamiya, specializing in spatial control magic, could manage it easily.

Fortunately, Yuuma was exactly that type of witch. She could twist space with ease.

But distorting all of Itogami Island’s space at once would require an enormous amount of magical power—far beyond what any witch could provide alone.

So she’d set her sights on Nagisa… or rather, the Fourth Primogenitor.

“With magical power rivaling a dragon vein, the Fourth Primogenitor’s strength would give me enough to warp the entire island’s space.”

“So I need Nagisa’s body—to take the Fourth Primogenitor’s power within it.”

Her plan wasn’t to swap bodies, but to exchange senses—linking their nervous systems through spatial distortion so she could control Nagisa’s body while Nagisa would control hers.

This required weaving countless nerve connections through twisted space—something only a witch of her kind could do.

“I only need the power inside her. I have no intention of hurting her,” Yuuma said, looking at Kaiser. “Don’t stop me, King of Beasts.”

It was clear she didn’t want him as an enemy.

An ordinary agent wouldn’t have fazed her. But this man—

The host of Leviathan, ruler of countless mythical beasts, someone who could defeat Dimitrie Vattler with ease—was another matter entirely.

Even if she succeeded in taking Nagisa’s body, even with the Fourth Primogenitor’s power, she couldn’t be sure she could win against him.

Kaiser’s expression didn’t change.

“I don’t know if you’re truly ignorant or just pretending. But let me remind you—”

“Even setting aside whether Nagisa can control the Fourth Primogenitor’s power herself… even if you had her body, could you make Avrora lend it to you? And if you could—would you really use it recklessly?”

“Nagisa isn’t the Fourth Primogenitor. She’s not even a vampire—just a human spirit medium. The true Fourth Primogenitor is dead. Only its soul and power remain, coexisting with her.”

“If you push that power too far, her body will give out. Even if it holds together, using the beasts will drain her life—shortening her lifespan.”

Kaiser’s eyes locked on hers.

“Knowing that… are you still planning to do this?”

Yuuma was silent. For the third time.

The oppressive atmosphere pressed in, her Guardian twitching restlessly.

Finally, she gave a bitter smile.

“I’m a witch. The price for my contract, for my power, is freeing my mother from the Prison Barrier.”

If she defied that purpose, her Guardian would behead her on the spot.

So even knowing it would hurt Nagisa, she had no choice but to try.

“I see.” Kaiser nodded, unsurprised.

Then—

“I’ll stop you.”

The moment the words left him, Yuuma’s Guardian surged forward, unleashing its vicious magic.

Chapter 463 – Don’t Underestimate This Island

Vwoom…

The instant the Guardian behind Yuuma Tokoyogi unleashed its vicious magic, Kaiser released his own spiritual power.

His energy tore straight through the Guardian’s menacing aura, crushing it effortlessly and holding it down so it couldn’t fully erupt.

If that magic had been allowed to explode unchecked, never mind anything else—Nagisa Akatsuki, lying only a short distance away, would have been the first to suffer. The entire apartment building might not have been spared either.

So Kaiser didn’t bother with niceties—he simply slammed down with overwhelming force, suppressing the Guardian without mercy.

In the same moment, his figure vanished from where he stood, reappearing directly before Yuuma.

“…!”

Yuuma’s eyes widened in alarm. She started to react—only for Kaiser’s hand to shoot out and seize her by the collar.

Thud!

With the sound of space itself being pierced, Kaiser left behind nothing but a fading wisp of smoke. He vanished from the room, dragging Yuuma with him.

Southern District, Itogami Island – Sky Above

Thud!

Without warning, Kaiser appeared high in the air, Yuuma still in his grasp, and shot forward at blistering speed.

Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! …

With each burst like space being torn open, Kaiser advanced in rapid leaps, as if teleporting, until they reached the shore. There, he dropped sharply toward the ground.

Boom!

It was like a meteor striking earth. On the rocky coast, a reef exploded into fragments on impact, waves and air bursting outward in a violent shockwave that pushed back the incoming surf and sent it crashing away in the opposite direction.

“…Ugh…”

Yuuma emerged from twisted space onto an intact rock nearby, dropping to one knee with a pained expression.

“Used spatial manipulation to escape before you hit the ground?”

Kaiser stood on the shattered reef, still in the posture of having slammed something down—only his grip was now empty.

“Quick reaction. Doesn’t suit the image of a delicate little witch.”

At that, Yuuma forced a wry smile.

“Don’t be fooled by appearances. I grew up playing basketball with Kojou—my stamina’s nothing to sneeze at.” She added lightly, “Though I didn’t expect the so-called King of Beasts to handle spatial manipulation magic so well. You really keep your cards close, huh?”

It was natural for her to mistake Shunpo for spatial magic—both were movement techniques.

What did surprise her, as a witch who specialized in spatial manipulation, was that she couldn’t read the structure of the technique at all—not even a trace.

Kaiser, however, didn’t bother explaining.

“If you want to fight, we’ll do it here,” he said calmly. “No need to worry about dragging Nagisa or Kojou into it.”

Yuuma almost said that was exactly what she wanted—but as someone who had just tried to harm Nagisa, she knew she had no right.

"Le Bleu!"

She summoned her Guardian without hesitation. The faceless Blue Knight appeared once more, raising both arms.

With a groan of armor, it vanished abruptly, melting into space itself—only to reappear behind Kaiser and bring both massive arms down.

Boom!

The blow shattered the remainder of the reef, sending another surge of seawater roiling.

Yet the steel fists, powerful enough to pulp a human instantly, met Kaiser’s elbow—and stopped.

“Not bad power,” Kaiser said, hovering above the water in blatant defiance of gravity, his tone unnervingly calm.

“Unfortunately, it’s not enough to threaten me.”

He slowly pushed the steel arms upward, bit by bit, while chanting softly.

“Hadō #11—Tsuzuri Raiden.”

In an instant, crackling lightning raced across his body, flowing from his elbow into the Blue Knight.

Bzz-CRACK!

Blue-white sparks burst across the Guardian’s armor, driving it back with a pained roar.

“Tch…!”

Yuuma clicked her tongue, raising her hand. The space around her warped, churning the seawater like an invisible giant had swept it up. A massive wall of waves surged toward Kaiser.

"Hadō #31—Shakkahō!"

Kaiser extended one hand toward the nearly ten-meter wave, murmuring a short incantation.

BOOM!

A crimson blast of fire exploded outward, obliterating the wave on impact.

“I’m not done!”

Yuuma warped space again, ripples forming above Kaiser’s head. From them poured an immense cascade of seawater, like a flood from the heavens itself—enough to sweep away an aircraft carrier, let alone a man.

“Stop.”

Kaiser didn’t even look up—he just spoke a single word.

The falling water froze mid-air as if someone had pressed “pause” on reality.

“What—?!”

Yuuma’s eyes went wide.

“Transferring such a volume of seawater through warped space to attack me… clever,” Kaiser said evenly. “But still not enough.”

Controlling the sea was one of his own specialties.

Canceling his gravity manipulation, Kaiser walked across the water’s surface as though it were solid ground.

Vwoom!

The Blue Knight struck again, twisting space to appear behind him, fists raised.

But before they fell, Kaiser turned and punched it square in the chest.

BANG!

The force sent the Guardian flying, pieces of shattered armor scattering.

"Le Bleu!"

Yuuma called out, but to no effect.

"Bakudō #63—Sajō Sabaku."

Thick chains of light shot from Kaiser’s hand, wrapping around the Blue Knight like living serpents, binding it tight.

"Break it! Le Bleu!"

Yuuma poured more magic into the Guardian, its aura flaring ever more violently. It thrashed with all its might—yet couldn’t break free.

“H-How…?!”

This wasn't just any Guardian. This was Le Bleu, once belonging to Aya Tokoyogi herself—Yuuma's mother.

Le Bleu's power might not match Natsuki Minamiya's Rain Gold, but it was leagues above most Guardians. Against an ordinary vampire of the Old Generation, Le Bleu would be overwhelming. Even a Third Progenitor’s kin wouldn’t be out of reach.

Yet here it was—swatted aside by a single punch and bound so thoroughly it couldn’t move.

Yuuma had assumed Kaiser’s real strength lay in his control over mythical beasts. She’d even prepared a countermeasure—teleporting them all away the moment he summoned them. Without them, she’d thought, he might be manageable.

But she’d been too naïve.

“You think summoning beasts is all I can do?”

Kaiser raised a hand. A silver blade appeared, then split into countless short daggers whirling around him.

“You’ve underestimated me.”

“Damn it!”

Sensing danger, Yuuma immediately began space-jumping, rippling the air around her. A spatial mage might not be the strongest, but she could escape anywhere.

“Not happening.”

Kaiser pointed. The silver daggers shot forward in flashing arcs, slicing through the warped space around Yuuma in hundreds—no, thousands—of cuts, severing it completely.

“Spatial Severance…!” she gasped.

"Bakudō #61—Rikujōkōrō."

Six brilliant rods of light shot in from all directions, slamming into her and locking her in place.

“What is this?!”

Yuuma struggled desperately, trying to warp space again—but the constant slicing of the silver blades had cut her off from the very fabric of space in her vicinity.

Shup!

Kaiser stepped in front of her in a blur, pressing a fingertip to her forehead.

“It’s over,” he said mildly, as if it were nothing. “So… will you give up now?”

Yuuma stopped resisting.

“…This is so unfair.” Her smile was bitter, her eyes complicated. “Why does someone this terrifying have to show up beside Nagisa now, of all times?”

LCO’s original plan had nothing to do with Nagisa—her becoming the Fourth Primogenitor’s vessel was only a few months ago. The body-snatching scheme was a later revision, made once they learned of it. They’d thought the timing perfect—until Kaiser appeared out of nowhere.

“Maybe it’s fate,” Kaiser said. “Even without me, you’d still have fallen here on this island.”

"Even if you freed your mother, Aya Tokoyogi—what then? Ten years ago, she lost to Natsuki Minamiya. Ten years later, she'd still fall here."

“Don’t underestimate this island, witches.”

With that, he flicked her forehead.

Thwack!

The sharp snap made her feel like she’d been struck in the skull. Yuuma’s consciousness went dark instantly.

Clatter, clatter…

At that moment, Le Bleu, still bound in chains of light, began thrashing wildly, a new, alien magic surging from within it.

“Aya Tokoyogi…?”

Kaiser narrowed his eyes.

“So you rigged your clone’s Guardian so you could seize control at will?” His tone chilled. “Doesn’t say much for your trust in your daughter.”

“But… who gave you permission to make trouble here?”

Silver flashes erupted, slashing Le Bleu in countless cuts in the blink of an eye.

Shnk! Shnk! Shnk! Shnk! Shnk!

The faceless Blue Knight fell apart into fragments, dissipating into the air.

Chapter 464 – You’re Mine Now

On a deserted stretch of coastline, a potential large-scale crisis was snuffed out before it could even begin.

Thanks to Kaiser's earlier warning, Natsuki Minamiya had already captured the entire LCO—Library—team, including the Meiya sisters. The only one left, Yuuma Tokoyogi, was stopped mid-operation by Kaiser himself. Even the contingency left behind by Aya Tokoyogi was wiped out in one stroke.

An upheaval that could have swept across the entirety of Itogami Island was erased without a trace.

The LCO’s rescue plan had been ten years in the making—one that, in the original events, had brought endless trouble to both Kojou Akatsuki and Natsuki Minamiya. Yet here, it had been quietly strangled in the cradle. Fate, it seemed, had a strange sense of humor.

However, while Kaiser was facing off against Yuuma, another figure—one who could cause an entirely different wave of chaos—slipped into Nagisa Akatsuki’s room.

“It seems you’ve been living quite comfortably, Number Twelve.”

A fairy-like girl swayed her head of gold hair, each strand shimmering with rainbow light, as she appeared soundlessly at Nagisa’s bedside. Her flame-lit eyes glimmered with danger as they lingered on the peacefully sleeping girl.

“I had no intention of disturbing your slumber. After all, for you—originally just a monitor and vessel—to become the ultimate victor of the Blazing Banquet, and the new Fourth Primogenitor… that was beyond anyone’s expectations.”

“You should have vanished along with the other base bodies, never to be drawn into this world’s vortex. You were meant to face the challenges of the Fourth Primogenitor as a Godslayer Armament, nothing more.”

“Now that you’ve somehow survived, I had no reason to hasten your death. I only intended to wait until you fulfilled your mission and passed that power to the one truly destined for it—so that the real Fourth Primogenitor could walk the world again.”

The fairy-like girl sighed softly.

“But who could have foreseen it? That a being even older and more mysterious than us would appear?”

“A King of Beasts whose power might surpass our own. What will his presence bring to this world, I wonder?”

“Let me borrow your power for a while… so I can see for myself.”

With that, she reached out and touched Nagisa’s forehead.

In that instant, Nagisa’s eyes snapped open.

Her pupils burned with the same flame-light as the girl before her.

Her hair lifted as if caught in an invisible current, golden hues shimmering like refracted light.

Her once-bright, cheerful expression went blank. All warmth drained from her presence, replaced by a distant, ethereal aura.

Boom!

A torrent of magic exploded outward, knocking the fairy-like girl’s hand away and whipping the air into a violent gale that rattled the entire room.

Nagisa rose unsteadily, like a spirit medium possessed.

“Awake at last, Number Twelve?”

The fairy-like girl ignored her own hand—its skin burned away by the surging magic—and smiled radiantly at the strange new presence standing before her.

Nagisa, eyes blazing with flame-light, stared back coldly, and—astonishingly—anger flared within them.

“Using that form… do you mean to insult me?”

The words were not Nagisa’s own.

It was unmistakable—this was the voice of the soul sleeping within her: Avrora Florestina.

The true Fourth Primogenitor had awakened—summoned by the fairy-like girl.

“Angry, are we?” The girl ignored Avrora’s oppressive magic and smiled. “Don’t be like that. I’m hardly the only one to use this appearance.”

“As vessels for the Twelve Beasts of the Fourth Primogenitor, didn’t all of you base bodies share this form?”

“Too bad—the other eleven have all been reclaimed by you. And you, the last survivor and victor, willingly sought death, abandoning your original body. That means everyone who bore this form has vanished.”

“So why not let me use it? Wouldn’t it be a shame for such beauty to simply disappear?”

Avrora’s power surged even more violently in response.

“We have all passed on. This form should fade into history as well. Why awaken it? Why awaken me?”

Her icy words chilled the air, frost creeping across the walls.

“I am fated to vanish soon enough. When I do, this girl will live.”

“To wake me is not only to hasten my end, but hers as well.”

“What exactly are you trying to do?”

The girl only smiled brighter.

“Just making use of you, Number Twelve.”

Her tone was merciless.

“The girl you inhabit, and you yourself, are deeply tied to that King of Beasts.”

“We intend to test his measure—to see if he is truly a variable in this world.”

“And for that, I need your help.”

Avrora’s gaze turned glacial.

“I refuse,” she said without hesitation. “I will not help you harm one who shares my fate. And I will not harm the girl who bears me.”

She knew too well—any use of her power would weigh heavily on Nagisa’s body, bringing her one step closer to death.

Helping this girl was out of the question.

“So you choose to oppose me?” The fairy-like girl’s voice was still playful. “Aren’t you afraid that fighting me will shorten your vessel’s life as well?”

“Then I suggest you step aside,” Avrora said flatly. “Don’t force me.”

“That would be boring,” the girl replied with a shake of her head. “If not for another purpose today, I might have enjoyed a fight with you.”

“With your full power as the Fourth Primogenitor, you might have been enough to entertain me after these endless dull years. But right now, trapped in a spirit medium’s body, you’d be too restrained to fight freely.”

“A battle like that might be disappointing. So I’ll stick to my plan.”

Avrora’s instincts screamed a warning.

She released as much magic as she could without harming Nagisa’s body, the icy form of the The Bewitching Princess of Azure Ice beginning to take shape behind her—

—but the girl moved first.

Still smiling dreamily, she spoke a phrase—a chant, or perhaps a command code.

Avrora froze in place, eyes widening.

She could not comprehend what had just happened.

The girl, as if to herself, began to explain:

“As an artificial vampire, the Fourth Primogenitor was fitted with several safeguards to protect its creator.”

“Mode: Logic Bomb—to protect classified data. Mode: Freeze—to strip away self and use the body as a pure magic source. Mode: Root—a virtual persona embodying the weapon aspect of the Fourth Primogenitor…”

“Your self-sacrifice erased Mode: Root. The loss of your original body nullified the Logic Bomb. But Mode: Freeze seems to have been faithfully inherited by your soul.”

Avrora’s heart went cold. She understood now.

“Fortunately, as one of the three who created the Fourth Primogenitor alongside the Devas, I remember exactly how to activate Freeze Mode.”

She stepped forward, tilting Avrora’s chin until their flame-lit eyes met.

“From now on, you’re mine, Number Twelve.”

“No—Avrora Florestina.”

“Even if you chose self-destruction, the final victor of the Blazing Banquet deserves our respect.”

Her words acknowledged Avrora as a life in her own right—not just a vessel or base body.

“Rest assured. If we succeed, you may yet find salvation.”

Leaning in until her lips nearly brushed Avrora’s ear, she whispered,

“Ready?”

“The entanglement between the Fourth Primogenitor and the King of Beasts—after four years, it begins again.”

“It’s your turn now, Avrora…”

With the girl’s laughter in her ears, Avrora’s will was stripped away. Her eyes went blank.

Moments later, the two vanished from the room without a trace.

“…Nagisa?”

Kojou Akatsuki stood in the doorway, one hand still on the knob, staring blankly.

The room was empty, cold air lingering in the disarray—no sign of life anywhere.

Half an hour later, Nagisa’s room.

When Kaiser returned and found the same scene Kojou had, he was silent.

Magic residue still clung to the air, frost dusted the floor, and a chill seeped into the walls.

The girl who should have been sleeping here… was gone, as if she had never existed.

“Senpai…” Yukina Himeragi arrived, calling softly to the unmoving figure in the room.

“…Where’s Kojou?” Kaiser asked without turning. “He’s unharmed?”

“He seemed… unsettled,” Yukina admitted. “I put him under for now.”

“And Yuuma Tokoyogi?”

“She hasn’t woken. I left her with Kojou.” Then, hesitating, “Senpai… what happened here?”

Kaiser didn’t answer—not because he wouldn’t, but because he didn’t know.

Why had Nagisa suddenly vanished? Had she been in danger?

Avrora’s magic and the power of the The Bewitching Princess of Azure Ice were still here. That much was clear—Avrora had awakened. But why? What had forced her to use her Beast’s power—and why had she disappeared afterward, without a single trace?

Even if she’d been attacked, there should have been signs. But there was nothing—no hint of a second presence.

Until those questions had answers, he could say nothing.

The only thing certain was that something big had happened—something that shouldn’t have, at least not now.

“…We’d just dealt with the LCO,” Kaiser muttered. “And now this?”

He didn’t feel anger. Or sorrow.

If anything, he was frighteningly calm—almost as if he’d always known something like this would happen around Nagisa.

With the soul of the Fourth Primogenitor inside her, she was destined to attract the schemes of many—including the Lion King Agency. This was simply another plot.

“Yukina.” Kaiser finally turned to her.

“Take Kojou and Yuuma to Master Yukari.”

Yukina almost blurted out the obvious question. “And you?”

His answer was simple.

“I’m going to find her.”

Chapter 465 – You Sure You Want to Stop Me?

Finding Nagisa Akatsuki wasn’t exactly difficult—at least, not right now.

By the time Yukina Himeragi had taken Kojou Akatsuki and Yuuma Tokoyogi toward Yukari, Kaiser had already unleashed Bakudō #58—Kakushitsuijaku, and successfully locked onto Nagisa's spiritual signature.

But the moment Kaiser rode the wind upward, defying gravity with the power of the Gravisheath, he realized his efforts were unnecessary.

Because in the same direction as Nagisa’s spiritual presence, a colossal surge of magic was erupting—vast as a flood, fierce as a beast, like a calamity of heaven and earth. It shook the ground of the entire Itogami Island.

Dun— Dun— Dun— Dun—

Alarms blared across the city, shattering the festival cheer of the Warlord's Dominion celebrations.

The Artificial Island Management Bureau began issuing evacuation orders, while the Special Zone Security Team rushed through the streets with mounted machine guns. The bright, festive atmosphere dissolved instantly into tension and dread.

“What happened?”

Countless people turned toward the source of the overwhelming magic, their expressions clouded with uncertainty.

In the top floor suites of the luxury hotel housing the royals of the Kingdom of Aldegyr, Lucas and the others stepped out into the grand manor balcony, gazing toward the towering magic pillar.

“Looks like a new disturbance has arrived,” Polifonia murmured, narrowing her eyes meaningfully.

"I should say—just what you'd expect from a Demon District," La Folia Rihavein replied, amused. “Even during times like these, trouble finds a way. This island never fails to keep things interesting.”

“Hmph.” Lucas snorted. “Holding an open-door festival in such unstable times—no wonder it ends like this.”

The royals were unfazed—seasoned veterans of chaos. Even as alarms screamed and the Holy Ring Knights poured in to establish a guard perimeter, they stood calm, as though the commotion were nothing but a game.

Only Kanon Kanase looked uneasy, her thoughts elsewhere. “…Senpai…”

“Don’t worry, Kanon,” La Folia reassured her, resting a hand on her shoulder. “He’s far stronger than you think. No matter what happens, he’ll be fine.” Her tone carried unshakable trust.

“After all, even the True Ancestors take him seriously. If it’s him, there’s nothing to worry about,” Polifonia added with a small laugh—earning a very sour look from Lucas.

“That brat… one of these days, I’ll teach him his place and show him that the treasures of Aldegyr’s royal family aren’t so easily touched!”

The thought of Kaiser brought an image to Lucas’s mind—hair color conveniently imagined as yellow—and his grip on his battle axe tightened until the veins stood out, itching to lop the man’s head off on the spot.

The tension wasn’t new. The family had been talking for some time: Polifonia persistently urging Kanon to return to Aldegyr, Lucas trashing Kaiser at every turn in hopes La Folia would come to her senses and abandon “some upstart yellow-haired nobody.”

Unfortunately for them, both attempts failed spectacularly.

“I have no wish to live as royalty,” Kanon said gently but firmly. “I’m truly happy to know my blood relatives are still alive, but I want to stay here on Itogami Island. That’s also the choice my mother made.”

Her voice was soft, but her resolve was iron. Not even Polifonia’s coaxing or carefully chosen words could sway her.

“I still have friends here… and my senpai, who saved me. I don’t want to leave.”

When she mentioned Kaiser, her cheeks flushed—pure lovestruck maiden. Polifonia could only sigh in defeat.

As for La Folia, she went on the offensive.

“I trust the man I chose. He’s the finest man in the world. Even the legendary Lost Warlord who founded the Warlord's Empire is no match for him—and didn’t my father, famed for his valor, fall easily to him? That’s how strong he is!”

“Compared to the nobles the Elder Council or my parents have in mind, Kaiser isn’t even in the same league!”

“So don’t try to stop me. If you insist, then defeat the man I’ve chosen first.”

It was poetic justice—Lucas’s own words from before (“If you insist on taking La Folia and Kanon, defeat me first!”) now thrown right back at him.

He nearly lost it, desperately wishing Kaiser were here so they could fight three hundred rounds on the spot.

If Kaiser had been present, he might have been tempted to put La Folia over his knee for using him as a shield. But the truth was—she wasn’t using him as a shield at all.

She had chosen him. And once La Folia chose someone, she committed to the end. That was her pride as Aldegyr’s First Princess and first in line to the throne.

Like it or not, Kaiser had somehow gained a future bride hailed as a living goddess—plus a bonus Saint from the Holy Middle School Division. Not a bad haul.

But Kaiser had no time for royal drama.

Suspended in the skies over Itogami, his gaze cut straight toward the island’s steel giant—the Keystone Gate.

The inverted-pyramid monolith was both the island’s foundation and control center, housing high-end stores and the Demon District Museum. Tourists made it their first stop; locals named it without hesitation as the island’s prime landmark.

Now, with alarms blaring, chaos reigned inside. The Gate’s defense systems had activated, sealing protective shutters throughout. Trapped tourists panicked as tremors shook the city and waves lashed the surrounding sea.

That massive magic surge—enough to churn the seas—was coming from the Keystone Gate’s very peak.

Kaiser didn’t know why Nagisa was there, but unleashing that much magic from the island’s most prominent, important location was blatant provocation.

“…As if you were afraid I wouldn’t find you.”

He smiled—but his eyes were cold.

With a flash, he stepped forward. In less than a heartbeat, he crossed the distance between himself and the Gate—hardly a challenge given the island's 180 square-kilometer size.

He arrived above the Keystone Gate and prepared to descend—

When two terrifyingly powerful magic signatures erupted from opposite directions.

Both were aimed squarely at him.

Two beasts came at him fast—one, a Dark Greatsword streaked with shadowed light, the other, a golden falcon with a wingspan of fourteen or fifteen meters.

The sword roared forward faster than sound, shattering the air with sonic booms. The falcon’s wings summoned countless wind blades, howling toward him like a tornado that could tear the sky apart.

Their power rivaled, perhaps even surpassed, Vattler’s serpent beast—comparable to a fusion beast formed from multiple familiars. Near–True Ancestor level.

Enough to slaughter hundreds of thousands on the island in an instant.

Kaiser stopped in midair.

BOOM!

A burst of spiritual power and his monstrous magic resistance sent both beasts flying. Riding the shockwave, he dropped to the wide plaza before the Keystone Gate.

“…Didn’t expect interlopers. Looks like this was planned.”

He brushed dust from his coat, voice flat as he spoke to the empty plaza.

“This is a misunderstanding,” came a voice from nowhere.

“It’s not my plan—at least, not mine alone. I’m merely taking advantage of the moment to fulfill a task entrusted to me by my king.”

Black mist swirled, condensing into a long-haired nobleman. The Dark Greatsword landed behind him—his familiar.

“And you are?” Kaiser asked evenly.

"My apologies." The man bowed with courtly grace. "I am Velesh Aradahl, blood heir to the First True Ancestor, the Lost Warlord."

"Aradahl?" Kaiser's brow lifted. "Duke of Severin. Chairman of the Imperial Assembly. The so-called second-in-command—that Velesh Aradahl?"

"The same." Velesh's tone was meticulous. “By order of my king, the First True Ancestor, I came to determine whether the King of Beasts poses a threat to our Empire. I didn’t expect the chance to come so soon—but since someone’s already extended an invitation, it would be rude to stand idle.”

He glanced toward the sky. “Isn’t that right, Your Highness Iblisveil Aziz?”

From above, a boy of twelve or thirteen descended—dark-skinned, black-haired, golden-eyed.

Arms folded, bat-like wings of magic unfurled behind him. The golden falcon perched there was clearly his familiar.

"So, you're the one they sent from the Warlord's Empire, Velesh," the boy said, haughty. “Seems your king also takes this so-called Beast King seriously.”

"It's a title granted by the world," Velesh replied coolly. “Unlike our True Ancestor sovereigns, you are not an actual monarch. Sending someone lacking in stature would be an insult.”

The boy smirked. “Better that it’s a recognized title than self-proclaimed. Otherwise, more than just the two of us would be here.”

His golden eyes fixed on Kaiser, burning with challenge.

“I am Iblisveil Aziz, Ninth Prince of the Dynasty of Destruction, Lord of the Caucasus Citadel, son of the Second True Ancestor, the Fall Gazer. You’ve come for the vessel of the Fourth True Ancestor, haven’t you?”

His arrogance was matched only by the lethal magic radiating from him—no weaker than Velesh or Vattler.

Kaiser didn’t flinch. “You sure you want to stop me?” His tone was ice-cold.

Velesh's eyes narrowed. Iblisveil's lips curled into a feral grin.

In the wide plaza, the tension snapped taut—battle about to ignite.

Kaiser’s spiritual power shifted, converting to magic. A savage aura bled into the air.