At the Inner Sanctum, after Hinata had left, four figures gathered in quiet conversation.
"What a pitiable girl," one said coldly. "Thinking she could ever become a true hero."
"That's true… she is far too inexperienced compared to the previous one," another agreed.
"She's no match for him," a third said, his voice low but certain. "Not Atem. Not even close."
"But as of now," the fourth said, eyes narrowing, "she possesses the greatest combat potential among mortals."
A brief pause followed. Then one of them asked hesitantly, "But… is it really all right? Sending Hinata out without informing the princess?"
"She is furious…" another sighed. "All 7 of us are trying to comfort her, but who knows when her mood will stabilize."
"All seven of us tried to console her until just now," the first said grimly. "But it wasn't enough. Her power… it cannot compare to what it once was."
They exchanged meaningful glances, as if silently weighing their next words.
"I don't know who he is," said one, "but perhaps it's a good thing."
"Indeed," another agreed. "Thanks to him, the princess has awakened."
"Still… we cannot leave her alone," the first said firmly. "No matter what, we need to retrieve that one."
The four nodded in unison. Only the true hero mattered to the Seven Elders. Whoever they appointed as a temporary substitute was insignificant.
It was true—they had nurtured Hinata with care, raising her to be the finest candidate in recent years. But her heart remained weak. Despite her immense willpower, despite reaching heights of thought that humans rarely achieved… she could not overcome her inherent fragility.
She hadn't even realized that her physical growth had long since ended. Two years after arriving here, her body had frozen at seventeen, preserved by the divine protection of the holy spirits. Loved as she was, she could not surpass the trauma that had shaped her. Cool-headed and rational, eager to save the weak—including herself—but fundamentally lacking in sentiment. She did not truly love others.
Her childhood, devoid of love, had left its mark, twisting her heart. Those who could not love others would never perceive the love of others. Even the acceptance and care of the holy spirits had failed to awaken her fully.
It was a pity—but even with time, she was unlikely to awaken.
"In that case," said one quietly, "we can put her to use in analyzing the war potential of the new threat… the new Demon Lord."
"You all understand, yes?" the first asked.
"Of course," another replied. "It would be ideal if she wins. But if she loses…"
"We will claim it was Hinata's arbitrary decision," the first continued. "Yes… and then we will grandly acknowledge Eterna's true champion."
Hinata was a disposable pawn. It mattered little whether she won—if she lost, she would be discarded, left to bear the weight of all responsibility alone.
Everything—their calculations, their expectations, their desire for supremacy—was wrapped in shadow.
Before long, the presences of the Elders began to fade, their figures dissolving into the darkness of the sanctum… leaving only the distant echoes of their plotting behind.
The stage was set. And the true hero, Atem, awaited—unseen, unfathomable, and unstoppable.
The report that Hinata Sakaguchi had departed for an attack on Eterna reached me almost immediately.
All she had brought with her were one hundred fully equipped paladins. No hesitations, no half-measures, no unnecessary personnel who could become burdens. As expected of Hinata—she must have realized instantly that bringing anything less would be a liability.
And yet… a sense of disappointment settled over me.
Her actions were as if to reject us outright—monsters, in her eyes—and to snuff out any possibility of understanding between our kinds. If this continued, there would be no choice but annihilation. And if annihilation came, war would escalate to levels far beyond what any side could contain. Blood spilled in the name of religion was a lesson anyone from contemporary Japan ought to know.
But Hinata… she did not seem to understand that. Her actions were one-sided, forcing her ideas on others without consideration for the other party's perspective. She had not listened to me since the first time we met. Perhaps to her, monsters were not even worth listening to. Even if it meant a greater war, she seemed to believe she could cut through anything with her own power.
Could it be… that her knowledge of history or politics was limited? She had arrived here at fifteen. Perhaps she had not fully absorbed the lessons of the wider world. Then again, how much that mattered was irrelevant. Knowledge is only as useful as the person who applies it. Excuses did not interest me. Great power and responsibility may have been thrust upon her while she was still a child, but that no longer mattered.
She had chosen to be our enemy. There was nothing left to do but respond. I shook my head, clearing my thoughts. If she intended hostility, then we would crush her.
I summoned my executives to assess the situation.
"Souei," I said, my tone firm and measured, "report what you know of Hinata's movements."
Souei stepped forward. "Lord Atem, she departed for Eterna accompanied by one hundred paladins. Spies report that her strategy was deliberate: the strongest forces only, nothing superfluous."
"Good," I replied, nodding. "And the intelligence on the kingdoms of Ingracia and Falmus?"
"Reports came in quickly. Our spies were dispatched to both lands, gathering information from main cities and local settlements. We even extended operations as far as the Holy Empire of Luberios."
I raised an eyebrow. "The Holy Empire? That is no easy feat."
"It was dangerous to go directly," Souei admitted, "so informants were hired to count the number of knights entering and leaving their headquarters. The data was surprisingly precise."
I allowed a small, approving nod. Souei had been taught the basics of espionage and ninjutsu under my guidance, but he had taken those lessons and refined them into his own style. It suited him perfectly—even I was impressed.
"Souka and the others," I continued, "how are they managing?"
"They have been deployed across various lands, utilizing locals to collect intelligence. Even without specific orders, they anticipated developments and acted accordingly," Souei said.
I leaned back slightly, considering. "So the preliminary reports are thorough. Excellent. Continue to monitor all movements closely. Hinata may be inexperienced, but she is decisive and dangerous. Do not underestimate her."
"Yes, Lord Atem," Souei replied, bowing.
I turned my gaze toward the distant horizon. Hinata's bold actions revealed her strength—but also her limitations. She sought victory through force and will alone, ignoring nuance, diplomacy, or understanding. That made her predictable… and thus, dangerous.
"Prepare Eterna's defenses," I said to the assembled executives. "We cannot afford to wait for her to strike. All measures, all reconnaissance, all strategies… they must be ready. And make no mistakes. I will not tolerate failure."
"Yes, Lord Atem," the executives echoed in unison.
As they dispersed to execute their orders, I remained standing, eyes focused on the faint glimmers of movement in the distance. Hinata had chosen her path. Now it was time to see how it would meet mine.
And mine would not fail.
Among the intelligence gathered, one detail immediately caught my attention: the number of knights assembling in the Ingracia Kingdom was far too unnatural.
I felt a twinge of suspicion as I examined the flow of traffic between the Holy Empire of Luberios and Ingracia. The pace of movement was abnormally fast. Even with well-maintained roads and minimal interference from monsters, the speed of their travel was astonishing.
Moreover, the discrepancy between those entering and those leaving was significant. In the span of three days, roughly a hundred knights had emerged. The decisive confirmation came from the visual recognition of Hinata Sakaguchi, the Head of the Holy Emperor's Imperial Guards. Every informant had identified her instantly—her reputation made it impossible to mistake her.
All hundred knights mounted horses with an effortless precision, as if it were entirely natural, and set off toward the Falmus Kingdom—the shortest path to our lands. Based on their pace, they would likely arrive within two weeks.
I turned my gaze toward Souei, who had compiled all this information with remarkable efficiency. He explained the situation as if it were routine, casual even, in the midst of an emergency executive meeting. His poise, his clarity, his absolute reliability—he had become indispensable.
"You did very well," I said, my voice calm but carrying weight. "Grasping intelligence quickly is crucial. I will continue to rely on you."
Souei's response was quiet, almost modest. "No, this is nothing. I will continue to do better."
I nodded, satisfied. He accepted praise with the subtle grace of a shadow—steady, unobtrusive, and lethal in his efficiency. Even when a handsome man delivered words of recognition, there was no hint of arrogance, no sarcasm. He simply understood the weight of responsibility and carried it with silent mastery.
I allowed myself a brief pause, scanning the maps and reports in front of me. Hinata's movement was bold, decisive, and reckless—but that recklessness made her predictable. Every knight, every formation, every decision she had made could be anticipated… if one had the will and insight to see it.
And I did.
"All right," I said, turning to my executives, my tone sharp, commanding. "Prepare Eterna. Every force, every defensive measure, every reconnaissance unit—double-check them. Hinata Sakaguchi believes she can dictate the battlefield, but she has chosen the wrong opponent. We will be ready."
"Yes, Lord Atem," they replied in unison, their voices carrying the weight of certainty.
I returned my focus to the reports. Hinata's march had begun. Her power, her strategy, her pride—all were on display. And I would meet them, unflinching, with the full extent of my knowledge, my skill, and my authority as the protector of Eterna.