Fantasy Library, Ch 446-450

Chapter 446 – Should I Step In and Stop It?

In the days that followed, life on Itogami Island became unusually peaceful for Kaiser.

While ships from all over the world still loitered around the waters beyond the island, scouting and searching in hopes of finding something, none of it affected the island itself. Itogami remained calm, letting Kaiser enjoy a rare stretch of quiet living.

La Folia, on the other hand, was out almost every day—meeting with important figures from the island’s government, then with officials from the mainland, sometimes even taking flights back there for diplomatic exchanges. She was busy to the point of seeming to thrive on it.

Kaiser and Kanon Kanase, though, had nothing of the sort to worry about. Unaffected by La Folia’s schedule, the two of them went to school with Nagisa Akatsuki every day, the three getting along well. Occasionally, Kojou Akatsuki would insert himself into the group to “keep his little sister company,” which only fueled fresh rumors at Saikai Academy.

It had already been eye-catching enough when Kaiser and Nagisa went to and from school together—Nagisa might not be as striking as Kanon, but she was undeniably adorable, the type of beauty in the making who already enjoyed high popularity at school. Seeing such a girl constantly with Kaiser was bound to spark gossip.

Now that Kanon, the middle school division’s very own “Saint,” had joined them, the attention they drew skyrocketed.

Kaiser didn’t care; he was used to it. But Kojou found it… less than pleasant.

All he wanted was to keep his sister from being alone with another guy. Was that so wrong? Yet for his efforts, he earned nothing but murderous glares from nearly every male student in school.

He wasn’t like Kaiser, who could just ignore everyone without a second thought. With Yaze Motoki and Asagi Aiba constantly teasing him about it, Kojou’s misery only grew.

So, one day, he simply stopped going to and from school with them.

“Well, with Kanase there now, it should be fine, right?” Kojou comforted himself with that thought.

In reality, his absence only brought Kaiser, Nagisa, and Kanon closer.

Kanon was a given—after the incident with the artificial angel, she had no guard up around Kaiser. More than once she had chatted with him in his room until she dozed off right there. If Kaiser didn’t have at least some sense of decency, she would’ve long since lost her claim to being a pure and innocent saint.

Nagisa, for her part, was still her bright, cheerful self, but had grown noticeably more at ease with Kaiser. Now, she could casually grab his hand and pull him along without a second thought.

That was a big step.

Before this, the only person with that privilege was Kojou himself.

So yes—Kaiser and Nagisa had definitely grown closer. Close enough to be called intimate.

The result? Kaiser going to and from school each day with one girl on each arm, leaving the male population itching to burn him alive.

Too bad for them—even if they tried, they wouldn’t be able to lay a finger on him.

And so Kaiser enjoyed a rare, stable, and peaceful stretch of school life, blending in like an ordinary student. No one would ever guess that his small body contained the power to alter—or even destroy—the world.

He really had let himself relax, giving up on chasing excitement or deliberately stirring up trouble. Now, his days were filled with chatting and hanging out with beautiful girls, and when at home, he mostly stayed in his room playing PC games. At most, he spared some attention to direct his cats and birds to keep an eye on Nagisa’s surroundings—fulfilling his duty as her watcher.

Even Sayaka Kirasaka had stopped coming to bother him. Perhaps she’d finally accepted reality—that she wasn’t his match—and realized that pestering him would only earn her humiliation.

Thanks to that, over a full month passed with Kaiser living this calm, easygoing life. He looked more like a normal high schooler than anyone else—relaxed and at peace.

But as time went on, the tranquil atmosphere on Itogami began to change.

It was becoming livelier. Louder.

Because a major festival was about to begin.

The Warlord’s Banquet.

Held during the final week of October, this was one of the biggest events in Itogami City.

Itogami was an artificial island with autonomous status—technically under jurisdiction, but functionally independent. Its residents were mostly either staff from international research facilities (and their families) or demons from all over the world. With no single cultural heritage, there were no traditional local customs to speak of.

In other words, the island didn’t have the kind of major annual holidays other places did.

Still, to entertain residents and stimulate the economy, some form of special events were needed. Taking inspiration from Halloween, the island’s management authority created a grand festival where the whole island could celebrate together.

That festival was the Warlord’s Banquet.

It was the largest and most beloved of all Itogami’s celebrations, lasting a full week. During the festival, every business and school on the island would close, and visitor restrictions would be eased to allow tourists in. Even outside the island, the Warlord’s Banquet was a well-known event.

Normally, as a demon district, Itogami didn’t allow visitors outside of authorized business or research-related purposes—much less ordinary tourists or journalists. For those wanting to do business with demon-district companies or get a scoop on the island, this was their rare chance to enter openly.

And it really was a grand affair. Every day brought different events—fireworks shows, outdoor concerts, costume parades, and more. Even the island’s schools opened their doors to visitors, with students setting up booths and stalls. Every year, the festival drew an unending flow of tourists.

As the festival approached, the whole island shifted into celebration mode. Advertising and coverage filled the city—TV specials, themed commercials, promotional displays—warming everyone up for the week-long party.

Naturally, Saikai Academy wasn’t immune to the atmosphere. For days now, students had been buzzing with talk about the upcoming Warlord’s Banquet, the excitement already spilling into the classrooms.

“So… why is the Warlord’s Banquet based on Halloween, anyway?”

In First Year Class B’s classroom, Kojou asked the question out of nowhere, clearly bored with the ongoing chatter.

“Well, obviously because Halloween started as an exorcism ritual,” replied Asagi absently, eyes glued to her phone as she tapped away.

“Really?” Kojou looked skeptical.

“You don’t sound like someone who lives in a demon district,” Yaze said, shaking his head. “Here’s a fun fact—in old Celtic belief, people thought that at the start of winter, the boundary between the living world and the spirit world would open, letting spirits and witches flood in.

“To protect themselves, people wore masks and lit bonfires. That’s where Halloween came from.

“And the thing is, the legend’s not totally baseless. The space-time continuum really does get unstable around that time of year. There are even reports of visitors from other timelines—or uninvited guests from other worlds—showing up.

“So yeah, it’s a special time. And for a demon district like Itogami, it’s definitely relevant.”

That was why basing the Warlord’s Banquet on Halloween made perfect sense.

“This is the kind of thing even middle schoolers know, Kojou. How do you not?” Asagi sighed, looking exasperated.

“I didn’t grow up here like you two! I only moved here four years ago,” Kojou protested.

“Which means you’ve been to at least three or four Warlord’s Banquets,” Yaze shot back without mercy. “You’ve gone through the festival multiple times and still don’t know the basics? Come on, man.”

“Shut up! I just never paid attention!” Kojou snapped. “It’s not like I’m the only one—Kaiser doesn’t know either!”

But he picked the wrong person to throw under the bus.

“Nope. I actually learned about it before you did,” Kaiser said without looking up from his light novel. “Nagisa came running to tell me all about it last week. Even asked me to go shopping with her during the festival.”

With a crack, Kojou’s pen snapped in his grip.

Kaiser ignored him completely, lost in thought.

The Warlord’s Banquet… if I remember right, something’s supposed to happen then, isn’t it?

Should he step in and stop it?

The thought lingered in his mind.

Chapter 447 – Kaiser: I Can’t Help It Either

There was no doubt about it—the upcoming Warlord’s Banquet was a big deal for everyone on Itogami Island.

Saikai Academy took it just as seriously. Not only would classes be canceled the day before the festival, each homeroom teacher also held a special class meeting to lay down the law.

“Listen up, brats. During the festival, I expect every single one of you to behave yourselves. Just because you’re off school grounds doesn’t mean you can throw manners out the window. If anyone dares to pick a fight or do something stupid because the festival atmosphere went to their head, I won’t show mercy.”

Standing at the podium in her Gothic lolita outfit, Natsuki Minamiya recited the various rules in her usual cold tone… and shot a glare straight at Kaiser.

“Especially certain people who have a knack for causing trouble—try to rein it in.”

Her attitude was just shy of calling him out by name.

“…You really think that if something did happen, it wouldn’t involve you?” Kaiser muttered silently, exasperated.

He knew the original story—during the Warlord’s Banquet, something did happen, and it centered entirely around Natsuki. She was the cause.

Originally, he’d been debating whether to step in and prevent the incident so no one’s holiday got spoiled.

Now? …He decided it might be more fun to stir the pot.

Natsuki, of course, had no idea her veiled barbs had earned her a place on Kaiser’s mental blacklist, and continued her lecture without pause.

To be fair, she wasn’t being strict for no reason. During the festival, Saikai Academy students wouldn’t just be enjoying themselves—they’d also be participating in band competitions, club exhibitions, and even manning stalls run by the Residents’ Association. Some would take on part-time jobs to cash in on the holiday rush.

With so much going on, student-related incidents were bound to pop up, so the school’s list of warnings was long. And Natsuki, being a homeroom teacher who couldn’t help fussing over her students, was far stricter than most.

She even added:

“I understand some of you are itching to make a move on your crush, but don’t overdo it. If I catch anyone crossing the line, I’ll drag you out for a public shaming.”

For couples and would-be couples, the Warlord’s Banquet was a big deal.

After all, it had all the classics—test-of-courage events, fireworks displays—and plenty of special attractions unique to a demon district, like charm booths and fortune-telling. It was the perfect excuse for anyone with a romantic interest to make a move.

Naturally, Natsuki’s warning made quite a few students drop their heads and shrink into their seats… Blue-haired hacker included.

As for Kaiser… yeah, he got another glare from Natsuki.

I don’t even have a girlfriend…

He wanted to say it out loud, but didn’t.

Because everyone knew that during the festival, he’d be out on the town with multiple girls.

Natsuki clearly suspected as much, and in her mind, that made him prime troublemaker material.

Kaiser was both speechless and annoyed at her pointed suspicion—annoyed enough that his resolve to “cause a little trouble” solidified.

Poor Natsuki Minamiya had no idea she’d just been added to the grudge list. She simply finished rattling off the rules, sipped her water, snapped open her lace fan, and sauntered out of the classroom.

The moment she was gone, the students collectively sighed in relief, as if a weight had been lifted.

“So, where are we going first?”

“Hey, wanna come with us?”

“Sure, count me in.”

The room quickly erupted into chatter as people started forming groups and making plans. Even Kojou, Asagi, and Motoki were huddled together, clearly plotting to hang out.

Kaiser figured it didn’t concern him and was about to slip out when—

The boys in the class suddenly swarmed him.

“Hey, Kaiser—got any plans for the festival?”

“You wanna work part-time with me? Our neighborhood’s doing an outdoor café but we’re short on staff. I’ll even bump your pay.”

“Our booth’s selling goods—come help and I’ll give you ten percent of the profits. No, wait, twenty percent!”

“Don’t forget the beach volleyball tournament! C’mon, let’s work up a good sweat in the sun!”

“Hold it, if it’s about competitions, you’ve got to help judge the beauty pageant! We’ll reserve you a spot at the judges’ table!”

“This is life-or-death, man!”

Their eyes lit up—not with admiration, but with the predatory gleam of hunters spotting prey.

Even Kojou was stunned.

“Wait… what the hell? Why are they all so eager all of a sudden? Since when was that guy this popular?”

Motoki chuckled knowingly.

“Of course they’ve got ulterior motives. Everyone knows Kaiser spends all his time with your sister and the middle school saint. Those two practically glue themselves to him.”

“So anyone running a stall or organizing an event sees a golden opportunity. If Kaiser shows up, there’s a good chance those two will tag along.”

“Great for drawing in customers… and, y’know, for the view.”

Before Kojou could react, Asagi was already rolling her eyes.

“Seriously? They’re that stupid?”

“To you maybe,” Motoki shrugged, “but for guys, this is just below a life-or-death matter. Even if it’s not about business, they’ve got their own little schemes.”

“Think about it—if they get Kaiser stuck working during the festival, he won’t have time to stroll around with your sister and the saint.”

“They’d rather not spend the holiday slaving away while some guy waltzes past them on a date with two cute girls. That’s the ultimate finishing blow to a single guy’s pride.”

Kojou’s eyes lit up like he’d just found religion.

“…So that’s the play, huh?”

“Hey! Kaiser! You’re working with me!”

No hesitation—Kojou charged forward.

Well, he was the doting big brother type who couldn’t stand the idea of his sister on a date with another guy.

Snap! Asagi’s pen broke in half.

“That idiot…!”

She’d been debating how to invite Kojou to hang out, and now her window had just slammed shut.

Motoki patted her shoulder in sympathy.

Meanwhile, Kaiser had no clue about their scheming, but he could tell these guys were up to no good.

So he turned them all down flat.

“Sorry, I’ve already got plans. No work, no competitions.”

Snap! This time, it was every single boy in the room breaking their pens.

“Plans…?”

“What kind of plans?”

“Don’t tell me… with the middle school saint?”

“Or Kojou’s sister?”

“Kaiser, they’re still middle schoolers—you can’t just—no, wait, I mean, you should pace yourself!”

They were practically foaming at the mouth.

“I can’t help it,” Kaiser said, wearing his most harmless smile. “Nagisa told me her mom—who’s almost never around—will finally have time during the festival, and she wants to introduce me.”

Kojou took a critical hit straight to the heart, his eyes bloodshot.

“And Kanase—her family’s coming to the island for the festival. Apparently, they specifically asked to meet me. Can’t exactly say no, can I?”

That was something La Folia had told him in advance.

The Aldegyr royal family had been looking for a chance to come to Itogami and deal with Kanon’s refusal to return home. With the festival loosening entry restrictions and providing a perfect cover, it was the ideal opportunity.

Of course, to the uninformed, this was nothing less than a killing blow.

“They’re already at the ‘meet the parents’ stage?!”

“With both of them?!”

“Monster!”

Tears streamed from the boys’ bloodshot eyes.

“Why… why didn’t Nagisa tell me?! When did Mom say she wanted to meet him?! How could she not tell me?!”

Kojou sounded like his soul was breaking.

“I’ll never accept this!”

The siscon’s roar was pure blood and heartbreak, his eyes on Kaiser now filled with the hatred of a sworn enemy.

Kaiser, having just dealt maximum emotional damage to a room full of scheming classmates, walked away in satisfaction… heading in the direction Natsuki had gone.

Chapter 448 – Not Working for Free

Saikai Academy, High School Building – Hallway.

When Kaiser caught up to Natsuki Minamiya and was about to call out to her, a lace fan was suddenly flicked in his direction, aimed straight at his head.

“If you dare stick a ‘-chan’ onto your homeroom teacher’s name again, I’ll make sure your holiday ends before it even starts.”

Natsuki stood there with her lace fan raised, pointing it right at his nose, delivering the warning with all the severity of a death sentence.

“Alright, alright, I get it,” Kaiser said, raising both hands in mock surrender. “But come on, everyone else calls you that. I’m just going with the flow. Why single me out?”

“I single out every brat who tries it,” Natsuki snorted. “But you—coming in to steal my business—being called that by you just makes me feel like you’re looking down on me.”

“Who in their right mind would look down on the Natsuki Minamiya?” Kaiser muttered, curling his lip. “Even the so-called Three Saints of the Lion King Agency wouldn’t dare underestimate the legendary Witch of the Void.”

The Three Saints might be the strongest Attack Mages humanity had to offer, but Natsuki was hardly any less formidable.

She might currently be “just” an instructor in the Demon District, but in Europe she’d earned the reputation of a Vampire Slayer and lived to tell the tale. And Europe was the War King Domain’s backyard—the very heartland of vampires and most other demonkind. To stir up trouble there, walk away in one piece, and keep living this comfortably and freely? That alone said plenty about how dangerous Natsuki was.

If she weren’t content to stay tucked away on Itogami Island, she could easily have vied for the title of humanity’s strongest mage.

And let’s not forget—this was someone who could casually refer to Vattler, the man closest to being a true ancestor, as “that snake charmer.” If it ever came down to an actual fight between them, whether Vattler could even come out ahead would still be in question.

In short, Natsuki Minamiya was no ordinary woman.

It was just that she was arrogant by nature and had no interest in meaningless titles.

“So, you chased me down just to butter me up?” she asked with a sidelong glance. “If you’ve got something to say, spit it out. I’ve got work to do.”

Kaiser’s smile widened slightly, and he spoke a single word.

“LCO.”

The moment the acronym reached her ears, the impatience drained from Natsuki’s face, her whole body going still.

“…Where did you hear that name?”

Her tone had shifted, her attitude changing completely, and with it, the relaxed air in the corridor turned sharp and heavy.

Kaiser, however, remained just as casual as before.

“Please. I’m an agent of the Lion King Agency. You think I wouldn’t know about a world-famous criminal organization?”

LCO—the Library of Criminal Organization, more commonly called simply the Library. As Kaiser said, it was an infamous global syndicate composed solely of high-ranking magi and witches.

In this world, there existed certain books—grimoires—that recorded spell formulae, ritual procedures, and the means of summoning or controlling supernatural beings.

Over centuries of compiling such dangerous knowledge, grimoires themselves had become steeped in mystery and power, turning into artifacts capable of granting their readers abilities far beyond human limits—and of bringing equally great calamities.

Unsurprisingly, every seeker of magical knowledge sought grimoires, hoping to gain wisdom, power, or both. But only a rare few could truly read, master, and harness the enormous magical energies contained within.

History was littered with the ruins of magi who’d failed—destroyed themselves, and often everything around them. A runaway grimoire could wipe out entire cities, polluting the souls of tens or hundreds of thousands.

Thus, many magi and witches banded together to form the LCO—ostensibly to collect grimoires from around the world, classify them, seal them, and only lend them to qualified individuals.

But over time, their purpose warped. No longer seeking to advance magic or protect the world, they began using grimoires to indulge their own curiosity and greed, becoming an insular cabal of magi who did as they pleased.

With thousands of members and countless grimoires in their vaults, the Library had been behind numerous large-scale magical crimes, leaving cities devastated and uncountable victims in their wake.

A national Attack Mage like Natsuki had every reason to know their name.

“But you bringing them up now…” she said coldly. “You’re not just trying to make conversation, are you? Out with it. What do you know?”

Kaiser’s lips curled into a knowing grin.

“They say that many years ago, Itogami Island had a certain magical crime incident,” he began, almost like telling a story to himself. “The one behind it was a Grand Librarian of the LCO—a renowned witch, carrying an incredibly powerful, maybe even terrifying, grimoire.”

Natsuki’s grip on her fan tightened slightly, though she said nothing.

A witch, in truth, was not simply a human mage. She was a woman who had made a pact with a demon to realize a wish—gaining demonic power rivaling high-class vampires, surpassing even the most skilled magi, and sometimes acquiring unique abilities. The price, however, was always steep—anything from completing certain objectives, to sacrificing loved ones’ lives, to living forever in torment.

Bound to a demon’s familiar—protector, watcher, and executioner—any witch who broke her contract would be killed without mercy.

The Witch of the Void wasn’t just a flattering nickname. It was her title, her truth.

Natsuki Minamiya was, beyond any doubt, a witch.

Which meant she understood perfectly well just how closely Kaiser’s little anecdote tied to her.

“What you’re really saying,” she said flatly, “is that to rescue one of their high-ranking members and retrieve that grimoire, the Library’s set its sights on Itogami Island?”

She wasn’t wrong. Her intuition had nailed his point in one shot.

“That Grand Librarian,” Kaiser replied, “you were the one who caught her, weren’t you? And that powerful grimoire—it’s in your hands, right?”

The implication was clear enough.

“I see. So their real target isn’t the island—it’s me.”

Her expression didn’t change, but the chill radiating from her was unmistakable.

“If they’re going to make a move,” Kaiser added pointedly, “the Saikai Festival would be a perfect opportunity, wouldn’t it?”

Natsuki clicked her tongue softly.

“So that’s why you were so helpful as to warn me—you’re trying to stick me with the heavy lifting.”

Her voice made no attempt to hide her irritation now.

“I’m just saying, I’m not the only one who might cause trouble this holiday,” Kaiser said with an innocent shrug. “If you want your students to have a nice, peaceful break… well, you know what to do, right?”

The message was clear—if she didn’t want him dragged into some weird incident, she could deal with the problem herself.

Kaiser had originally planned to handle it, but after all her jabs earlier, he had no intention of being free labor.

So he laid his cards on the table—let Natsuki deal with it, give her something else to focus on besides harassing him.

“You…” Natsuki raised her lace fan, looking like she was about to swat him.

But Kaiser had already predicted that and vanished down the hall before she could even take a swing, leaving her with nowhere to vent her temper.

“Library… what a damned nuisance,” she muttered, already running through countermeasures in her mind.

It looked like she’d have to make some preparations after all.

Chapter 449 – It’s Not Like I Haven’t Seen It Before

Time flew, and the day before the Festival arrived.

It was the last Friday of October, the night of the festival’s eve celebration.

By late afternoon, as preparations for the evening events began, waves of tourists from outside the island surged in, flooding Itogami Island to the brim.

The airport, train stations, and the roads connecting them were packed shoulder to shoulder with travelers dragging suitcases, clogging sidewalks until not even a trickle of space was left.

Amid this crush, a long luxury limousine rolled down one of the city’s main thoroughfares toward the East District.

Inside, Kaiser sat by the window, watching the throngs outside.

“Feels like the Festa,” he remarked.

It brought back memories of another man-made island—the Academy City of Asterisk—where he had seen the same scene during the Phoenix Festa. Visitors had poured in just like this, crowding the city to bursting. Back then, if he wanted to see a match, he had to jostle and sweat his way through the masses under the scorching sun.

Those days… he’d only just become a librarian of the Fantasy Library, had barely gained some Genestella power, and swaggered around with nothing but his Serveresta to lean on. Compared to the man who could now slay gods, he had been painfully green.

But that world was where he’d first escaped the shackles of his former life, found the strength to show his true nature, and begun the path that led him here.

The nostalgia in his eyes deepened, and without realizing it, his hand brushed his chest.

Vmm…

Inside him, the Ser-Veresta, slumbering in its installed form, gave a faint vibration, as if in response.

Unfortunately, no one else in the car understood his sentiment.

“Festa? What kind of festival is that?” asked La Folia, seated across from him, curiosity in her tone.

“It doesn’t sound like an Itogami Island celebration,” said Kanon Kanase, sitting beside her with perfect posture and a gentle voice, though her gaze toward Kaiser carried a trace of fondness.

“It’s not,” Kaiser replied, pulling himself from his thoughts to look at the two beautiful girls across from him—like sisters in bloom. “I’ve only been to it once. Not sure if I’ll ever get the chance again.”

It had been decades ago, and while his mindset hadn’t changed much, the comment was just a passing reflection. He had no intention of lingering on it, so he switched topics entirely.

“Anyway, you’re going to meet your family—that’s fine. But why do I have to come along?”

The group was on their way to the airport.

For a floating island in the middle of the Pacific, planes were vital transport. Itogami City had six airports—one central airport capable of handling large planes, and five small, privately-run airstrips barely meeting the minimum requirements, with runways under 800 meters, no landing guidance systems, and not even night lighting.

Naturally, they were heading for the central airport—to receive the royal family of Aldegyr.

It should have been La Folia and Kanon’s job alone, but Kaiser had been dragged along, leaving Nagisa—the one he was supposed to be keeping an eye on—behind.

La Folia’s reasoning had been simple:

“You’re the owner of the house we’re living in now—our temporary guardian, so to speak. Father and Mother said they wanted to meet you, and you agreed. So let’s start with the welcome.”

“…I agreed to meet them, not to roll out the red carpet,” Kaiser grumbled. “I’m an outsider. This isn’t like we’re greeting my relatives.”

The whole trip felt uncomfortably like he was going to meet his in-laws, and it set his teeth on edge.

“You’re not scared, are you?” La Folia teased. “Relax—it’s only my father and mother this time. Grandfather and Grandmother didn’t come. Even if I’ve already told them how Kanon sometimes falls asleep in your bed, you should be able to handle their… questions.”

…You’ve already told them?

Of course you did, you black-hearted princess.

The Ser-Veresta pulsed harder inside him, making his hand itch to draw it and cut something—anything—just to take the edge off.

“I’m sorry… it’s my fault,” Kanon said, thinking La Folia’s words were aimed at her.

“It’s not you,” Kaiser said quickly. “The guilty party is a certain princess whose insides are as black as her heart.”

“Lies,” La Folia shot back without shame. “They’re pink, as you very well know.”

Kaiser nearly coughed up blood.

“For the love of—can you not? What kind of royal princess says things like that?”

The limousine rolled into the central airport’s VIP arrival area.

Naturally, the place was packed—people, cars, greeters everywhere. But Kaiser’s group bypassed the chaos, entering a spacious, empty reception hall through the VIP corridor.

The Special Ward’s security unit stood in formation, while knights in uniforms matching La Folia’s stood at precise intervals, flanking a wide red carpet.

“We’re here?” Kaiser asked, glancing toward the far end of the carpet.

There, instead of a plane, a vessel awaited—powder-blue armor gleaming like glacial ice, edged with gold trim, its hull bearing the image of a sword-wielding Valkyrie. The spindle-shaped main body stretched over 150 meters—twice the length of a jumbo jet—bristling with autocannons.

It wasn’t an aircraft—it was a flying fortress, a military-grade armored airship of Aldegyr’s royal fleet.

From its hatch, a figure emerged—broad-shouldered, thick-muscled, with wild red hair like a lion’s mane, a silver serpent cloak draped across his back. His arms, legs, and chest were like sculpted stone, exuding raw dominance.

In his left hand, a round shield; in his right, a battle-axe over a meter long, etched with intricate magical runes that radiated power.

“La Folia!”

The moment he appeared, he bellowed, his voice like a beast’s roar.

“La Folia! You’re here, aren’t you?!”

He hadn’t even reached the carpet before shouting for her, urgency and anger in his tone—so much so it was hard to believe he wasn’t here to kill someone. And judging by his fully armed state, maybe he was.

Kaiser turned his head slowly toward La Folia.

“…So, this would be…?”

“That’s right.” La Folia was calm as ever. “Lucas Rihavein, my father—King of Aldegyr.”

Before the words had fully left her lips—

“La Folia! Get over here if you can hear me!”

The King of Aldegyr was currently acting less like a monarch and more like an irate barbarian.

“Explain yourself! ‘Found a suitable husband in a foreign land’—what in the blazes is that supposed to mean?!”

Kaiser gave her another silent look.

La Folia turned her head away, refusing eye contact.

His mouth twitched. Then his eyes twitched. Then his eyebrows.

You conniving…

Before he could finish the thought, Lucas spotted them—La Folia, Kanon, and the infuriatingly conspicuous young man standing between them.

Crack.

The haft of the battle-axe creaked in Lucas’s grip.

A vein bulged on his temple.

“So it’s YOUUUUUUU—!”

The old man’s instincts lit up, burning his reason to ash. He launched himself into the air like a rocket, then plummeted like a meteor toward the “blond brat” between his daughter and Kanon, battle-axe swinging down without mercy.

BOOM!

The sound was both his massive frame slamming into the floor and the axe’s impact.

The shockwave tore up the ground, blasting tiles into the air and shaking the hall.

“Father!” La Folia grabbed Kanon and retreated from the impact zone under the gale-force wind.

As for Kaiser…

He hadn’t moved. One hand extended, palm open, he caught the descending axe head-on—utterly unscathed.

“…You…” Lucas’s eyes shifted, a flicker of surprise breaking through the rage.

Chapter 450 – The Princess’s Little Scheme

“Your Majesty!”

“Your Majesty!”

By now, the knights who had arrived on Itogami Island alongside Lucas had come to their senses. Without a word, they surrounded Kaiser, weapons drawn and leveled at him.

“Stand down!”

The Special Administrative Zone’s Security Corps, stationed at the airport, turned pale and reflexively raised their rifles.

“Senpai!”

Kanon Kanase called out in deep concern.

“Honestly, Father…”

Even La Folia seemed taken aback that her father had attacked outright. She gave a wry smile while shielding Kanon in her arms.

In the middle of it all, Kaiser and Lucas faced off.

Lucas still held his battle axe poised in a cleaving stance, muscles in his arm bulging, veins standing out with the sheer force he was applying. But no matter how much strength he poured in, Kaiser kept the massive weapon at bay with one hand, holding it effortlessly.

“Quite the unique welcome gift, Your Majesty.”

Kaiser didn’t spare the axe a glance. His eyes stayed on Lucas’s face, narrowed in faint amusement.

“…So you’re that so-called Beast King, the man who defeated Dimitrie Vattler?”

Lucas was clearly surprised that Kaiser had caught his blow barehanded, but his voice carried the weight of authority as he demanded answers.

“Don’t call me by that ridiculous title.” Kaiser’s tone stayed calm. “I’m Kaiser, a special agent of the Lion King Agency. Currently assigned as observer to the so-called Fourth Primogenitor, Nagisa Akatsuki. Pleased to make your acquaintance, Your Majesty.”

“Hmph!” Lucas snorted, scowling. “A special agent of the Lion King Agency who dares lay hands on my daughter and covet my wife’s younger sister—bold indeed!”

“Careful with your words, Your Majesty,” Kaiser shot back, releasing the axe. “When did I ever lay hands on your daughter? Or covet your wife’s sister?”

“Oh, you didn’t?” Lucas stepped back a pace, keeping his guard up as he continued. “La Folia says you’ve seen her naked—was that a lie?”

Kaiser: “…”

“My wife’s sister, I’m told, you’ve also seen naked—is that a lie?”

“…”

“That girl often falls asleep in your room in the middle of the night—fake, is it?”

“…”

“And the two of them live under the same roof with you—you never once felt anything?”

“…”

With each question, Kaiser’s only answer was silence. Lucas’s temper rose with every word, veins standing out across his forehead as he glared at Kaiser like a mortal enemy. His grip on the axe tightened again.

“So it’s all true, then! Otherwise my daughter wouldn’t be declaring she’s found a man she absolutely must marry—after all, you’ve already defiled her!”

Bellowing, Lucas raised his axe once more and swung it down in a furious arc.

Kaiser slipped aside from the first strike, but Lucas was no amateur. The moment he missed, he reversed the blade, cleaving sideways with a whistle of air so sharp that the cold gleam of the edge seemed to reach Kaiser’s skin before the steel did.

Kaiser’s footwork was light, flowing—he evaded strike after strike, the axe cutting only air, whipping up blasts of wind and the howl of rending air.

Bang!

At last, Lucas’s axe smashed into the floor, shattering it and kicking up a thick cloud of dust.

“You really should calm down, Your Majesty,” Kaiser said lightly, still moving as if the weight of those attacks were nothing. “It was just an accident.”

Lucas was having none of it.

“My kingdom’s treasure—its future ruler—has been taken advantage of by you, and you think you can sweep it away with ‘just an accident’? Not a chance!”

And indeed, in Aldegyr, La Folia was nothing less than a national treasure. It wasn’t just her beauty, talent, and capability—she was also the designated heir to the throne.

Lucas had three daughters. La Folia, the First Princess, was seventeen and the most supported candidate for succession. The Second and Third Princesses were twin eleven-year-olds still in elementary school.

Naturally, La Folia was by far the most suitable heir in every respect, the almost-certain future queen. Celebrated as the reincarnation of the goddess Freya, the Silver Princess was adored both at home and abroad. Calling her a national treasure was no exaggeration.

And Lucas, the doting father, cherished her beyond measure.

So upon learning his precious daughter had been stranded on a deserted island and that some man had seen her naked—he’d nearly blacked out from fury.

Worse still, his wife’s younger sister had suffered the same indignity, and both young women seemed to look at this man with special regard. And now his daughter was openly calling Kaiser the most suitable husband for her, asking her father to approve…

Lucas’s rage boiled over. Approve? He wanted the man’s head.

“If you’re a man, stop dodging! Face me in a fair fight!”

He hefted the battle axe once more.

“If you can’t even defeat me, I’ll never acknowledge you as La Folia’s husband!”

That made La Folia—who had been about to stop her father from making a further spectacle—pause in her tracks.

“La Folia?”

Kanon glanced at her in disbelief.

“Don’t worry,” La Folia said with a small smile. “Let Kaiser-kun show his stuff. It’ll save us a lot of trouble.”

She didn’t want her father to embarrass himself too much, but the opportunity was too good to pass up. If Kaiser could win over her stubborn father here and now, it would make everything simpler.

La Folia was shrewd, and well aware of her position. She knew the royal family had already started arranging meetings for her to find a suitable consort to secure the kingdom’s next generation.

Adored by her parents and idolized by many, she also knew that as a princess, she’d eventually have to make sacrifices.

Her marriage, for one, would never be hers alone to decide.

If she enjoyed the privileges of being a princess, she had to shoulder the duties. But that didn’t mean she was willing to marry someone she felt nothing for, sacrificing her own happiness for politics or the state.

So she had resolved early on: her husband would be her choice, even if she had to be willful to make it happen.

Meeting Kaiser here, she had felt an instant spark. In every way, he seemed the most suitable man for her—not just strong and capable, but mysterious, intriguing.

The more time she spent with him, the more certain she became he was different from everyone else—mysterious, yes, but also fun.

Decisive by nature, once she grew curious and fond of him, she decided to groom him for the role of her husband.

Her confession to Lucas hadn’t been to stir up trouble for Kaiser—she truly meant it.

If this man could pass her family’s test, then he would be her husband. And she was sure: the man she chose wouldn’t be daunted by her father.

“Take this!”

As La Folia thought, Lucas charged Kaiser.

A hum resonated from the axe in his hands, the weapon glowing with holy, dazzling light. Power surged—explosive, overwhelming—so great it was hard to believe a human could wield it.

“A Forged Holy Sword…”

Kaiser’s eyes narrowed.

This was Aldegyr’s pride, the Forged Holy Sword—created by their masterful Völundr system. By channeling massive spirit energy from a magically linked spirit furnace, a normal weapon’s power could be raised to the level of a true holy sword.

And like La Folia, Lucas could wield it unaided—except, Kaiser realized, not entirely unaided. The immense energy flooding into Lucas wasn’t his own—it was coming from the airborne battleship.

So, the spirit furnace onboard had been activated, feeding him power?

The thought flashed through Kaiser’s mind an instant before Lucas’s empowered axe came crashing down.

A strike that even powerful demons might not withstand; that could cleave a vampire and their summoned beast in one blow.

A Forged Holy Sword might lack the anti-magic properties of a divine artifact, but it was still a bane to demonkind. Kaiser wasn’t a demon, but if he used something like Kidō arts to block, it could still be disrupted—perhaps even his – Silver Radiant Qilin’s triple-layered spatial severance might be interfered with.

“Honestly…” Kaiser sighed, expression as calm as ever.

“…what a troublesome man.”

As before, he reached out to meet the descending axe—

—dragonic power surging across his palm.

----
Author's Note: Very sorry for the long delay....IRL stuff piled up and slowed me down a bit..