Lucas's outburst never found the chance to be unleashed—because they had arrived at their destination.
During their stay on Itogami Island, the Aldegyr royal family was lodging in the top-floor estate of a luxury hotel. In the coming days, they would be meeting with the upper management of the Artificial Island Management Corporation, high-ranking officials from their own country, and influential figures from various nations, factions, and organizations also present on the island for this period—including Vattler.
While Aldegyr and the Dominion of Ardeal weren't exactly on friendly terms, the Sanctuary Treaty had ended their large-scale wars. The two sides were now in a period of easing tensions—not a honeymoon, but far from open conflict—so encountering each other in the same demon district demanded at least a formal greeting and some diplomatic pleasantries.
Because of this, La Folia couldn't stay at Kaiser's place any longer. Lucas was adamantly against his beloved daughter returning to Kaiser's home, so he forcefully brought her along to live in the estate.
Kanon Kanase was taken as well—Polifonia wanted to have a proper talk with her half-sister and reunite the family, so Kanon would be staying with the Aldegyr royals for the time being.
In the end, Kaiser was left on his own.
"Works for me," Kaiser muttered, more than happy for the peace and quiet.
He had no interest in getting caught up in that family's affairs—especially with La Folia. The princess was beautiful, yes, but far too scheming and deviously clever. Spend too much time with her, and he might find himself sweet-talked right onto her ship as her husband.
Kaiser could tell she had plans, but like Polifonia, he couldn't tell if the black-bellied princess was truly serious. Best to keep his distance for now—if only to avoid becoming a target for Lucas, the troublesome daughter-obsessed king.
So Kaiser headed straight home.
Nagisa had already called to say that she and Kojou were meeting a local friend who had come to Itogami for the Festival.
"A local friend of the Akatsuki siblings, huh…"
Kaiser's eyes narrowed slightly, but he said nothing. He simply placed the Gorgon Stone with Nagisa and had a certain night goddess handle the surveillance.
The goddess didn't seem pleased with the arrangement—but she didn't complain either.
After all, if nothing happened, she wouldn't need to appear. She could just remain in the Gorgon Stone, watching. She still intended to draw Kaiser over to her side, and for that, she had patience to spare.
Patience stretching decades, centuries, millennia, tens of millennia—even millions of years. Time meant nothing to a god. She could wait.
Not that she had a choice—right now, she couldn't resist Kaiser at all. She had no option but to obey his orders.
Surveilling a little girl? If Kaiser decided to drag her to bed right now and put her into every humiliating pose imaginable, she could only comply.
Athena was proud, but she was also a goddess who understood reality. She wouldn't waste effort on pointless resistance—she would simply watch Kaiser quietly, and, when the time came, tempt him.
Her goal: to shape this extraordinary man into her own image.
And as the goddess of wisdom, Athena had no doubt she could.
If Kaiser knew her intentions, he'd probably just laugh.
"Before I take your shape, you'll already have taken mine."
That was simply how it was.
With Athena watching over Nagisa, Kaiser wasn't worried.
Athena was one of his exclusive armaments—her strength grew as his did. Even before, she had been the threefold queen who ruled the Mediterranean, the sky, the land, and the sea—a great earth mother goddess whose power rivaled, if not surpassed, this world's True Ancestors. Now, with Kaiser's growth, her might had only risen further.
And a True Ancestor was already among the pinnacle of power in this world.
With Athena present, Nagisa would have a hard time finding trouble even if she tried. Should anything happen, Athena could alert Kaiser instantly, and he'd be there to handle it.
With that settled, Kaiser could finally relax.
He thought his night would be uneventful—until a text message appeared on his phone.
"…This is…"
Kaiser stared at the content for a moment—then smiled.
"Looks like I'm about to see an old friend again."
Itogami Island, West Zone—Rokugō Hill.
For locals, this was a well-known, distinctive part of the island.
The reason was simple: this was Itogami's most famous hotel district.
The street was a little cluttered, sparsely populated, yet carried a strange mix of quiet and tension. Here, hotels lined both sides, their signs and façades steeped in suggestive, pink-hued charm.
Clearly, these weren't respectable inns for tourists—they were love hotels for couples looking to "deepen their relationship."
Usually, this street was busiest right after nightfall. But tonight was different—being the eve of the Festival, most couples were likely out enjoying the festivities, leaving the area unusually quiet.
Kaiser stepped onto the street and headed deeper in.
Bzzzt…!
At a certain point, he felt himself pass through an invisible barrier. As it shattered, he entered a new space.
There, standing oddly out of place amid the love hotels, was a low red-brick building—as if it had appeared out of a vacuum.
Its windows were set with old stained glass, the door hung with a faded sign, and the shopfront décor suggested a store dealing in imported antique furniture.
"This is the place, huh?"
Kaiser clicked his tongue in mild admiration.
"Who would've guessed? The Lion King Agency's Itogami branch is in a place like this?"
No sooner had the words left his mouth than a voice answered.
"I wouldn't have guessed it either—that the first person to break the ward I set here wouldn't be an enemy, but my own disciple. Life's full of surprises."
It was a smooth, clear voice, like jade striking jade.
And it belonged to… a cat.
Yes—a cat.
Jet black fur, graceful form, eyes like molten gold. A thin collar encircled her neck, set with a golden-green gemstone, giving her an air of refined elegance.
The black cat sat atop the antique shop's roof, looking down at Kaiser and speaking those words.
Kaiser glanced up at her and smiled faintly.
"Knew it was you, Master Endō."
The black cat's name was Yukari Endō—or rather, the person controlling her was.
Yukari Endō was an attack mage of the Lion King Agency, the head instructor of High God Forest Academy, and a master of curses, magic, martial arts, and other anti-demon techniques. Her seniority in the agency surpassed even the current Three Saints, and nearly every graduate of High God Forest had trained under her—making them, in a sense, all her disciples.
Including Kaiser himself, who had spent several years at High God Forest under her tutelage.
Though she had never taught him curses or magic, she had passed on all her martial arts to him—earning her the title of Master in his eyes.
"Well, well—the great Beast King still calls me Master? I'm flattered," the elegant black cat said with a teasing smile in her voice.
Kaiser just shrugged.
"Don't start, Master Endō. If you were really that flattered, you wouldn't have ordered me here by text."
He knew full well the cat before him was just Yukari's familiar—her real body was over three hundred kilometers away on the mainland, remotely controlling the shikigami to speak with him.
Yukari wasn't even human—she was a long-lived species who had walked the earth for centuries. Her age and experience gave her an old-fashioned style; she wasn't the type to be awed by titles like Beast King, especially when dealing with her own student.
"I'm just taking advantage of my seniority," she said breezily, her tone as relaxed as ever, revealing the easy detachment of one who had lived far too long.
"I'll take that as a joke," Kaiser replied, arms crossed as he looked up at the black cat. "So you're the one running this branch office?"
"More or less." Yukari leapt gracefully down from the roof, strolling toward him. "At least, for as long as you and that so-called Fourth True Ancestor girl are here on this island, I'll be in charge."
Not just anyone could handle a responsibility like this. It had to be someone who was both Kaiser's master and one of the most senior attack mages below the Three Saints.
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