And yep, just as the vampire girl named Silica said.
After Reinhard came back to the dome, he hugged Kraugel and took him to meet the King of the Re-Kastrize Kingdom, Carlyle De Estizen. Gumi was also picked up directly by Reinhard because the Stampede had been completely repelled, as a mysterious someone had lost control over them.
They talked for a while, discussing the future Kraugel would choose, as well as...
"What will you use your immense power for, Sir Kraugel? Forgive me if this sounds pessimistic, but this kingdom has been abandoned by a strong person who became a < Worldly King > and no longer fully sided with humanity," Carlyle said.
"I can't say much about that, but there's one thing I can promise for humanity."
"W-What is that?" Carlyle asked.
"Blood for blood, an eye for an eye. I am not an aggressive person. However, if someone close to me is disturbed, that is enough to give me a reason to fight AGAINST ANYONE."
The two of them ended the non-formal meeting quickly due to some issues that had already occurred in the Central Palace, and Carlyle readily agreed that the credit for defeating the kingdom-threatening Archdemon should be given to Reinhard.
Reinhard showed a face and spoke words that disapproved of this, but Kraugel also flatly refused any public recognition for his achievement. He simply said, "< I just want to be an ordinary adventurer, traveling the world >."
After a long conversation, Carlyle took Kraugel to the lowest floor of the palace.
"This?"
"Consider this the kingdom's appreciation. Take one item from here. I'll be waiting outside," Carlyle said.
Carlyle waited outside the entrance of the royal vault, accompanied by Reinhard.
Kraugel entered the treasure room, which was filled with various seemingly enchanted items. However, only one caught the attention of 「Solomon」.
[ Report ]
[ Master, I have found an item that I assess to be superior to everything else in this room ]
You found something, Solomon?
[ Allow me to show you ]
Swiftly, 「Solomon」 used Magical Perception to increase the sensitivity of Kraugel's five senses to the Magus aspect. He immediately became aware of an item radiating a unique and greater amount of Magus than the others.
At that very moment, he looked back.
"This! A k-katana!" Kraugel exclaimed.
How can this item exist in this world?? Could it be there is a Japanese person came to this world before me? I think I'll choose this!
It was a katana with a unique hilt and a dark purple sheath. The hilt was tied with a small, long, red rope.
"Well, Solomon, it looks like our next fights will be using a sword more often, huh?"
So, after everything was finished, he left the Central Palace with Reinhard, who kept smiling broadly at him and waving his hand incessantly.
Khiii~ That Holy Knight Commander never stops, huh... By the way, I got a lot of supplies!
Kraugel looked into the money pouch given to him by the Minister of Finance, who had recovered from his previous fainting spell. It contained roughly 100 Gold Coins and a Token symbolizing the Re-Kastrize flag at the peak of the Central Palace dome.
Kraugel walked to the center of the capital, where he met a tattered Towa & Barosque.
"Forgive us, Master, we have failed," Towa & Barosque said.
"No need to say that. What's important is that we all got back together alive... Let's go, toward a limitless adventure!"
Kraugel put Towa & Barosque back into a glass sphere to let them rest, while he walked leisurely, holding Gumi's hand as they went down the main road towards the North Gate, which had previously been full of the Stampede.
Oh, right, Solomon, what were the upgrades you mentioned earlier?
[ The upgrades are in the form of Skills or a change in Skill Evolution based on Optimization & Efficiency ]
[ Would you like me to perform it? ]
"Hmm, I guess, yes!"
[ Permission granted ]
[ Initiating Optimization & Efficiency ]
[ Skill < Downfall > and Skill < Charm Person > have been successfully optimized into a single Extra Skill, along with several characteristic adjustments of other Skills, becoming「Evil Ambition」, which suppresses the victim's will to fight and emotions, then forces the victim's mind to realize how terrifying the owner of that Aura is ]
[ Based on the previous attack style reference, Unique Art - Black Flash has been added as an Original Ability ]
"I guess that's quite a lot, huh?"
[ That's correct, and based on my analysis of your Physiology & Biological Composition. After receiving sufficient intake, I can evolve you and provide a significant boost ]
"Hmm~ then until that happens, I'll be relying on you. Solomon-san!~"
— In the country of Ibrassia, inside a dark room at an unknown location.
Three individuals were seated on chairs around a round table in the center of a dark room with many windows. Each of them was accompanied by one or two others. One brought a person, another brought two, and the last one was the man in the white priest's attire from before.
"Now that I think about it, you haven't contributed much, have you? Hey, Bruno," a man in a black robe, who was previously fought by Kraugel's group and was accompanied by two other robed individuals, said what was on his mind without holding back.
"Have some manners, I'm your senior, you know," the man in all white, named Bruno, retorted. He was accompanied by another man in all white whose body was wrinkled as if he were very old, yet on his waist was a white-handled sword patterned with a dragon.
"Enough, calm down everyone. I have coordinated with General Schneider and the person in charge of [ True Numbers ]. We are allowed to proceed with Phase 2," said a person accompanied by two individuals with "slightly" unique appearances. One was a tall, fat-bellied man with curly green hair and a plain white mask. Next to him was a little girl wearing a similar mask. She had pink twin ponytails and wore expensive clothes as if she were a great noble.
"Hoho, is it time for me to move, August?" Bruno asked about his next role in a low and friendly tone
"No, I am the one who will move in this phase. Besides, my loyal subordinate has already found that item," August replied.
"Hoo~ The Core of that mindless Destroyer Machine... where did you get it? The Core of Charybdis isn't something you can find just anywhere," another mysterious person chimed in.
"My subordinate, Beako—no, I mean Beatrice, found it in the [ No-Man's Land ]," August clarified.
"Hoo~ I heard that place has an inhabitant rumored to be its Master, an Ultimate Doll. Unfortunately, I don't know its name," the other mysterious person said.
"I can confirm that it seems to be true, Sir. When I was searching for it in the ancient ruins in that territory, I was approached by an individual in a robe who fully concealed their form. I couldn't fully sense that person's presence, but I could feel after seeing them that the individual was < Strong >!" the pink-haired girl explained.
"And? Did they not attack you?" the mysterious person asked.
"Unfortunately, no. I had intended to gauge their strength, but the individual just left without saying a word," the pink-haired girl replied.
"So, August, have you found it? A living being suitable to be the vessel for our plan with Charybdis," Bruno asked.
"I have. He's an interesting individual, you know. I met him in the northern forest," August said.
"Are you going to let that creature rampage first? They say the more souls it absorbs, the more the Charybdis Soul Core will dominate, and the harder it will be for you to control it," the mysterious person warned.
"No need to ask so many questions. That Great Forest will soon become a sacrifice for my chosen doll. If it succeeds, even your Phase 3 won't be needed," August said.
"Tch, be quiet, I've brought him anyway. Introduce yourself!" Bruno snapped.
The man in all white behind Bruno finally stepped closer to the round table with a lantern, his appearance becoming clearer: a bald old man with golden eyes.
"Greetings, all you important people. My name is Eustass Rubicous, I am the Head of the Coldbringer Cult. It's a pleasure to meet all of you."
"Kwahaha, look at that. Now this crazy priest is taking a man who's about to die of old age as a member of his team," the mysterious person laughed.
"Hoo~ I have heard of it. Your [ Coldbringer ] worships one of the Ancient Angels, don't you?" August asked.
"That's right, and we—"
"Be silent," August said.
"..."
"You understand your task and role, don't you? We have failed once. We have disappointed the Emperor once. I do not want to be an incompetent person, and I do not like incompetent people," August declared.
Wooaah, there it is. His strict and ambitious nature. [Mysterious Person]
"I-I understand. We, the [ Coldbringer ], have also prepared the < thing > that is the key to Phase 3 of the plan that Sir Brunolicht explained to the Cult."
"Ho~? You've really worked hard to find the weaknesses of the [ World Kings Council ] members, haven't you... Are you confident?" August asked.
"Y-Yes, sir, I am confident!"
"Whether this Phase 2 soul harvest succeeds or fails, the side objective is definitely a success: to test the effectiveness and control over the Charybdis Core's vessel. Get ready, because the Emperor's final plan is close. Try to play your role as well as you can."
August, a man in a white military uniform with gray hair and a thin mustache, walked out of the dark room with his two companions. He passed through a wooden door and into a much darker hallway.