I decided in the end to send a guard to Myourmiles's side — someone who could protect him from the shadows without ever being seen. I didn't know exactly who the security department would assign, but there were only a handful of people capable of operating alone. It wouldn't be a rookie. It would be a veteran — someone at least at squad leader rank.
A squad leader commands five people. In adventurer terms, that's equivalent to Rank B. For an assignment like shadowing Myourmiles, that level of strength was more than enough. As long as they remained sharp, Myourmiles would be safe. While the guard made their way to him, I planned to visit Fuze first and keep Myourmiles under quiet surveillance.
I pushed open the heavy doors of the Freedom Association branch in Blumund. The last time I came here, I'd made a bit of a spectacle, so I half expected to draw attention again. But instead, the receptionist only gave me a blank "Who are you?" look.
…Ah. Right. Last time I wore the mask.
Good. That was convenient. If they refused to pass on my message to Fuze, I'd just drop the matter and leave. Simple as that.
I walked up to the counter with calm steps.
"Hello. My name's Atem. Could you help me send a message to Branch Leader Fuze? Here's my identification card."
I reached into the void of my spatial vault and pulled out the card, sliding it across the counter.
The young receptionist blinked at me with a confused smile.
She doesn't recognize me.
Not surprising — last time was a blur of chaos. But then, she glanced at the card, froze, and her eyes widened like stars.
"A-Atem-san! It's been a long time! How have you been?"
I smiled faintly. "I've been well. You look healthy too. That's good."
"Yes! I'm doing great. By the way… I heard you passed the HQ test and ranked up to B-plus. That's amazing, I really admire you!"
I chuckled lightly. "Ah, that. I was supposed to take the A-rank test next, but I've been too busy."
Truthfully, I simply didn't feel like dealing with the responsibility that came with it. Higher ranks meant more obligations — more eyes watching every move. I already had enough headaches as it was. But there were perks too: unrestricted travel, free lodging and food at every branch, and wide access. A tempting deal. I'd climb the ranks when I needed to, not before.
"If it's Atem-san, I'm sure you'll make it to Rank A in no time!" she said with a bright, almost childish spark in her eyes.
"Hah… Thanks," I answered, though her gaze was starting to feel too intense.
Then she hit me with the surprise.
"By the way, Atem-san, doesn't it bother you that you share the same name as the Demon Lord Atem? There's a 'Rename System.' If you ever feel uncomfortable, you can re-register under a new name and work under a lower-level alias. You'd blend in anywhere without anyone realizing who you are."
I froze for a heartbeat. Right. I had become a Demon Lord… and I'd been casually walking around with my name on full display.
How reckless.
Atem. The world knew the name. One of the Octagram. If I showed up at any branch openly, sooner or later, someone would put the pieces together.
I should stay out of the adventuring spotlight. If I ever needed to move again as an adventurer, I could use that Rename System to lay low. A B-rank alias would be more than enough.
"Thank you. That's good advice. I'll keep it in mind," I said calmly. "Can you still get Fuze for me?"
"Of course! I'll take you there right away."
The moment she stood up to escort me, a wave of whispers rippled through the hall.
"Is this real?"
"Who's that?"
"Wait, isn't that the one from last time?"
"Unbelievable… such a calm face… that's the one who tore through that lesser demon like nothing?"
"I heard he's got the same name as the Demon Lord."
"No way… that's impossible!"
"Yeah, you're probably right. Just a coincidence."
Exactly the reaction I wanted. Confusion. Curiosity. Nothing conclusive. If they started connecting too many dots, I'd leave before the rumors grew fangs.
I followed the receptionist through the hallway to a private room. Fuze was inside, elbows on the table, fingers pressed to his temples. When he looked up and saw me, he sighed like a man bracing for a storm.
"Hey," I greeted casually. "You look like hell. What happened?"
He groaned. "Everything was peaceful. Then a Demon Lord walked in."
I raised a brow. "Oh? That sounds terrible. You should offer him tea."
Fuze stared at me flatly. "That Demon Lord is sitting right in front of me."
"…Then you should offer him tea fast."
"What cake," he muttered as he got up anyway, "do you think I keep luxurious sweets around for random Demon Lord visits? Why do you even stroll in here like it's nothing, Atem-san?"
He said it like a complaint, but his hands didn't stop brewing the tea. That was Fuze — no matter how much he grumbled, he did what needed doing. I accepted the steaming cup as it was placed before me. One sip, and the quiet business talk began.
"Atem-san," he said seriously, "I'm sorry. We couldn't stop the Western Holy Church. That's why the Holy Knight Order moved."
I leaned back slightly. "It couldn't be helped. The masterminds were the Seven Luminary Clerics."
His eyes narrowed. "…Them? Are you sure?"
"Yes. They already had Hinata in their sights. After everything, she's safe, and the misunderstanding was cleared up. But there was a casualty. Captain Garde — the man of flame. He disappeared."
Fuze's voice softened, almost mournful. "Garde of Fire… He may not have been Shizue's equal, but his fire-spear techniques were elegant. He was one of the Ten Great Saints — a guardian of humanity."
The Garde I'd seen was an illusion — a puppet under the Luminaries' control. I never met the real man. But judging by how Fuze spoke, he was someone worthy of respect.
"Missing," I said quietly, but in my heart I already knew the truth. "Or dead."
Silence hung in the air. Outside, the bustling noise of the Association went on, oblivious.
Fuze lowered his gaze. "This world's shifting faster than people can keep up."
I set the cup down gently. "Then we adapt faster. That's the only choice."
I leaned back slightly, letting the air settle before I spoke.
"I'll explain everything that's happened so far," I said quietly.
Fuze nodded, his expression serious. He'd been worried about me since the start, so I didn't leave anything out—at least, not anything that could be shared.
I told him about the Walpurgis Banquet.
About how the number of Demon Lords had been reduced to eight and their title changed to Octagram.
About the battle against Hinata and the fall of the Seven Luminaries.
When I came to the part involving Luminas's true identity, I only brushed over it lightly. That secret wasn't mine to reveal. If someone called me loose-lipped, so be it—but I wasn't foolish enough to hand over something that dangerous.
Fuze listened without interrupting, his eyes narrowing with every detail. When I finished, he exhaled slowly.
"I see how it was… No matter how we tried to approach or contact them, we would've been blocked from the start. I even sent people directly to the Church headquarters after communication with the Western Holy Church failed. But the highest person we could reach was just a priest. I never imagined the Seven Luminaries were behind all this…"
I folded my arms. "Hinata said the same thing. Their faith in Luminas was genuine. They believed. But faith can be twisted easily. And they used it as a weapon."
Fuze scoffed bitterly. "Humans are fragile. That's why we cling to gods."
I raised a brow. "Do you cling to one too?"
He chuckled softly, without warmth. "No. When I run out of breath, that's it for me. I've lived with that truth since the day I first picked up a sword. I may hope for a miracle, but I've never prayed to some god I've never met."
That answer didn't surprise me. In this world, humans worship monsters or divine beings only after witnessing their power. They bow to what they see, not what they imagine. Luminas was no exception. In the beginning, she only protected those she deemed worth protecting.
Fuze had never met her. So he built his strength with his own hands. It was cold, maybe even harsh—but that kind of resolve was something I understood.
I looked straight at him. "I get it. People want to believe something will save them when everything falls apart. But in reality, what a god can do is limited to their own will. Praying doesn't guarantee salvation."
His gaze met mine, steady and unwavering.
I continued, my voice firm. "Whatever Luminas is capable of, that's her own power. And this incident… it's forced us and the Western Holy Church to the same table. Whether they like it or not, they'll have to face reality now."
The room fell into a tense silence. The flickering light of the lamp cast long shadows against the walls.
Fuze finally spoke, his tone rough. "So this is how the world shifts. Not through prayers… but through people like you."
I didn't deny it.
Because he was right.
It was precisely because I knew the true identity of Luminas that I understood how hollow prayer could be. But even then, I wasn't blind to the truth: sometimes, faith alone gives people the strength to keep moving. It's not something I could simply crush with cold logic.
"That's right," Fuze exhaled slowly, his shoulders loosening. "I feel like a huge weight has finally been lifted off my back."
The corners of his mouth lifted faintly—a rare, genuine smile. He'd been struggling for so long, trying to convince the Western Holy Church to honor their agreement. Seeing that burden lighten, even a little, stirred something deep inside me.
We had spoken from beginning to end, untangling every thread of this conflict. When I finally stood to leave, a thought struck me.
"Right," I said, reaching into my coat. "I almost forgot. This is for you."
I handed Fuze a sealed envelope. Inside was the official invitation for the upcoming Kingdom-Founding Festival—the grand event to celebrate the birth of my nation, Eterna, and my formal rise as its Sovereign. In the rush of serious talk, I had nearly overlooked the very reason I'd come here today.
Fuze raised an eyebrow. "And this is?"
"We're holding a ceremony to announce my inauguration as Sovereign. A celebration. A festival. There will be food, tournaments, and more than enough commotion. I've already sent invitations to rulers and nobles from the surrounding nations. You're coming too, Fuze. I expect to see you there."
"Huh? W-wait a minute, Atem," he stammered. "Even if I go—"
"It's fine," I cut him off with a half smile. "I've sent one for the King of Blumund too. Just hand it to him on your way."
"Why don't you just deliver it yourself—oh… right," he muttered, realizing the obvious.
I nodded. "Exactly. I've already sent envoys to the Dwarven King and Duke Elalude, but I'm not on familiar terms with everyone else. A monster walking into their royal courts unannounced would cause… unnecessary panic. So I routed the invitations through the Freedom Association branches instead. I've met the King of Blumund before, but do you really think it's wise for a Demon Lord to just stroll into his throne room?"
Fuze let out a weary laugh and took the invitation. "It's bad enough when one of you shows up here."
I chuckled quietly. "Good. Then you'll deliver it for me."
He straightened his posture a bit, the weight of duty returning to his face. "I'll make sure to place it directly in the king's hands. You have my word, Atem."
With that, I was ready to take my leave for real this time. But then—
"Wait," Fuze said suddenly, snapping his fingers as if remembering something. "The head of the Freedom Association's been worried about you too. After the negotiations with the Western Holy Church, he looked like he'd been run through a battlefield. I'll tell him the situation's under control now."
"Yuuki, huh?" I murmured, the name stirring something warm and old in my chest. It had been a long time since I last saw him. "I see. I probably caused him a bit of trouble then."
Fuze shook his head. "No. Not trouble. He just didn't want the Association and the Church at each other's throats. He worked hard to keep things calm. That's just the kind of man he is."
I considered it for a moment. Then an idea formed. "Then let's do this—invite him too."
Fuze blinked. "Yuuki? Are you serious?"
"I'll cover his transportation both ways. If he can spare even a single day, I want him there. If not, I'll visit him later myself. That's all."
I reached for another sheet of parchment, my
fingers moving fast and precise as I wrote a personal note addressed to Yuuki. The scratching of ink filled the quiet air. I sealed it in another envelope and slid it into Fuze's hand.
He looked at me with wide eyes. "…Where did you even pull that paper from—no, forget it. If it's just a letter, I'll use teleportation to deliver it. Easy enough."
I gave a small laugh. "Then I'm counting on you."
Fuze sighed, but nodded. "Yeah, yeah. Understood, Atem."
I took a step back, my cloak brushing lightly against the floor. Then I turned slightly and added, "Ah. One more thing. Milim's coming to the festival too."
Fuze froze. "…Milim? Wait. THE Demon Lord Milim?"
I grinned and started walking toward the door. "That's right. So you'd better be ready."
"Wha—Oi, Atem! Are you serious!? That Milim!? EH!? HEY!!"
His voice echoed behind me, full of panic and disbelief.
But I didn't stop. I simply raised a hand in farewell and stepped out.
Some things were best left for people to process on their own.