"Anyhow, in reality, it was the eastern merchant or something who was behind this. So, do you know his name?" Atem's voice cut through the tense air like a blade, calm yet heavy with an authority that demanded truth.
"That person called himself Darm. But it must have been an alias."
An alias. Atem's eyes narrowed slightly, his golden irises shimmering with a quiet omniscience. "Names are unimportant. What matters is the reality behind them. The eastern merchant was the true culprit." His tone carried such weight that even Luminas instinctively inclined her head slightly, though she said nothing.
"Demon Lord Clayman also had ties with the eastern merchant. Moreover, it was probably the same party of people that instigated the ex-king of Farmus, Edmalis." Hinata, despite herself, spoke more softly than usual.
"That was indeed the case. We were able to clarify that after interrogating Reyhiem," Atem replied evenly, weaving the information together as if he had already seen the tapestry behind the events.
Benimaru, standing behind Atem, folded his arms respectfully. "So all of this… Clayman, Farmus, even the merchants—it was all a single network, Atem-sama."
Atem gave a slow nod. "Yes. It was not a coincidence. These were not mere opportunists; someone was pulling the strings, shaping events like pieces on a board." His voice was low but resonant, as though he were stating an unchangeable law of the world itself.
Hinata muttered under her breath, a dangerous aura briefly flaring, "And I was also used by others for this plan—" but even that flicker of hostility withered as Atem's presence brushed against her. He did not need to speak to still her.
"All of the incidents are linked to the eastern merchant," Atem continued. "Clayman always wanted to awaken as a True Demon Lord, and the Kingdom of Farmus sought territorial expansion. But beyond their ambitions stood 'That Lord'—the one pulling the strings…"
Luminas and Atem exchanged a glance, both aware. "'That Lord,' it was the person Clayman mentioned, wasn't it?" Luminas said, her voice cool but now focused.
Atem inclined his head. "Exactly."
Benimaru looked between them, his brows furrowed. "What does that mean?"
Hinata and her knights listened in silence as Atem's commanding presence filled the chamber. His tone softened slightly, like a teacher revealing a truth. "In truth, Demon Lord Clayman was following orders. Orders from someone greater."
"It was quite impressive for a nobody like Clayman not to reveal the person's true identity even to the end," Atem added with a hint of disapproval.
"Could it be that the person's true identity is one of the Seven Luminaries?" Atem's eyes glinted with sudden insight, the air around him thickening as though reality itself held its breath at his words.
Luminas turned sharply, displeased, her crimson eyes flashing. "What did you say? Are you suggesting that the Seven Luminaries acted on their own behind my back?"
But before she could escalate, Atem's quiet voice cut through like a thunderclap, though he hadn't raised it at all. "Enough, Luminas." The two words held such weight that the temperature in the room seemed to drop. "We will discuss possibilities, not wounded pride."
She lowered her gaze slightly in deference, her irritation fading.
"I see, we cannot exclude the possibility," Louis said at last, his tone steady.
Luminas shot him a sharp glare, but again Atem's calm presence neutralized her tension without a gesture. Louis continued explaining the Seven Luminaries' past, their longing for Luminas's affection, and their possible collaboration with the eastern merchant.
Atem stood silently while Louis spoke, his arms folded, golden aura dim but vast. As Louis finished, Atem's eyes narrowed slightly, his voice calm yet absolute.
"So, the truth reveals itself. Clayman, Farmus, the merchants, the Luminaries' schemes—they are threads of one weave. And that weave ends here."
Solarys, Wisdom of Eternity, seemed to want to speak, but I was probably just overthinking it. Perhaps it was merely observing, calculating, waiting for the perfect moment. Its gaze weighed on me like an unshakable truth.
"Could the Seven Luminaries really have considered me an obstacle for such reasons?" Hinata's voice wavered, a mix of disbelief and controlled anger.
"Perhaps," I said, my voice calm but carrying the weight of certainty. "They may have intended Clayman to awaken and challenge you. Alone, they could not hope to defeat me. So they sought any method, any leverage, to accomplish their goal."
The pieces fell into place with brutal clarity. Clayman would fight Hinata. If he succeeded, the Seven Luminaries could act freely. The Kingdom of Farmus would unknowingly serve their interests. Eastern merchants would profit from war, selling arms, provisions, and gear at extortionate prices. And the Seven Luminaries? They would bask in Luminas's favor once more.
Hinata's eyes narrowed, her composure firming. "Did they also send me to provoke Atem, to eliminate me while appearing loyal to Luminism? Two birds with one stone."
I gave a measured nod, letting the implications hang in the air.
Renard, sitting quietly, added confirmation. "That aligns with our findings. The Seven Luminaries were the ones who guided the merchants to influence Clayman."
Hinata's hands clenched at her sides, her expression fierce yet composed. "So… it was all orchestrated. And I was just a pawn."
"Yes," I confirmed, letting the truth settle over the room like a cold wind. "And if any of the Seven Luminaries had survived, this would not be over. One remained — the final piece."
Her eyes flicked to me. "And that one…?"
I met her gaze steadily. "You need not worry. That person has already been neutralized. The crystal ball you sent your message through was tampered with — a detail discovered by Nicolaus, who ensured the last threat was removed."
A frigid smile curved Hinata's lips, unnerving in its serenity. Even observing from the side, her expression radiated the calculated intensity of someone who had survived manipulation and betrayal. Beauty and danger intertwined seamlessly in her presence — and I understood why she was often misunderstood.
"Hold on a second. Who exactly is this last person?"
It might have been just a passing thought, but that name—Gran, the Master of Sun who was said to be stronger than Clayman—stuck with me. If that was true, then this man, Nicolaus, was no ordinary figure either.
"It should be the head of the Seven Luminaries, the 'Master of Sun,' Gran," Luminas said with quiet certainty. "That man seldom went on the offense, so he was likely the one remaining."
"Really?" I asked, my tone curious but steady. "He actually managed to defeat Granbell? If I recall, isn't Nicolaus the cardinal who pledged his eternal loyalty to you, Luminas? What method did he use?"
Luminas's expression softened slightly, though her crimson eyes gleamed with faint melancholy. "It's nothing impressive, but he had prepared Disintegration in advance. Gran never expected it. Nicolaus caught him off guard, and that was the end of it."
"I see…" I murmured, my eyes narrowing in thought. "Granbell must have grown complacent to have fallen for such a simple stratagem."
Luminas exhaled quietly—a sigh neither of satisfaction nor grief, but of acceptance. "Perhaps age dulled his instinct. Once, his light rivaled even my own."
Despite her words, the news brought me little relief. The situation was far from resolved. Disintegration was no trivial spell; it was one of absolute erasure. Even among divine magic, it stood near the pinnacle. If Nicolaus could wield it so effortlessly, he was not to be underestimated.
I filed the name away in silence—Cardinal Nicolaus. A man worth watching.
"About that, Luminas-sama," Hinata asked, her eyes narrowing slightly, "the Granbell you just mentioned—is that the same 'Master of Sun' Gran?"
"Correct," Luminas replied, her voice carrying an almost nostalgic tone. "That man was once called Granbell. He was the Chosen Hero of Light… and once crossed blades with me."
Her lips curved into a faint smile—tinged with something between pride and sorrow. For a fleeting moment, Luminas looked less like a cold immortal and more like a woman remembering a distant, bittersweet past.
As her words sank in, I caught myself studying her expression a bit too closely—perhaps with more curiosity than I should've shown. Immediately, Luminas turned her gaze toward me, sharp as ice.
I offered the smallest, most diplomatic smile imaginable.
Right. Definitely overthinking it.
"I see…" Hinata murmured, her brows furrowed. "I couldn't have guessed that. But still…" She hesitated, her voice dropping. "He used to be very strong. Strong enough to stand against me."
"That's true," Luminas replied softly, eyes half-lidded in recollection. "Those who become Chosen Heroes are bound by the law of causality itself. Perhaps… in some corner of his heart, Granbell resented me for what he had become."