After giving orders to Laplace and the other clowns, it was now Kagali's turn.
She turned toward Yuuki, her expression sharpened with purpose.
"Boss, what do you want me to do next?" she asked.
Her question referred to the ruins—no, the city. To most, it was an ancient ruin shrouded in mystery. But to Kagali, it was a place burned into her memories.
Back when she was still the Demon Lord Kazalim, she had sealed layers of protection magic across that city—a city known as Amalita.
To her, this wasn't just an archaeological site—it was her homeland, the true heart of the Puppet Nation Jistav.
Unlike the surface city guarded by Adalmann, Amalita's defenses were her own creation. Thousands of enchanted dolls and protective barriers—artifacts forged from forgotten elven magic.
Clayman had inherited fragments of her craft, but his work, even his most advanced doll, Viola, was nothing compared to the originals guarding Amalita's depths.
Those dolls were her silent sentinels, forged long before most of today's Demon Lords had even risen.
Amalita's defenses weren't just for protection—they were a monument to a forgotten age. The real reason they existed went back to ancient times, when the Ultra-Sorcerer Kingdom of the Elves still ruled the world.
Once, that kingdom thrived. But arrogance led to its ruin.
They had provoked one being they should never have crossed—Milim, the daughter of the Dragon King.
In a single night, their glorious civilization was reduced to ash.
The shattered remains of that world were later called the ruins of Soma. The surviving elves swore to rebuild what was lost, but their ambitions birthed another tragedy—the Chaos Dragon, a creature of uncontrollable destruction, a beast almost rivaling a True Dragon.
Driven out of their lands, the elves scattered. Some became rulers in distant lands. Others hid away, bitter and broken.
And some—cursed by their own sins—became dark elves.
Kagali, once Kazalim, had been among those survivors. A remnant of the elven royal line. She had seen the annihilation Milim wrought, lived through it, and carried that memory for centuries.
She fled far to the west, carrying what was left of her people's knowledge. From those ashes, she created Amalita—a perfect replica of her destroyed home.
As she remembered, her hand clenched tightly. Then, realizing she was drifting into old ghosts, she shook her head and composed herself.
"The defenses in Amalita are still active," she said coldly. "Shall we use them against Atem?"
Her voice carried no hesitation. She had already planned to use the ruins as a trap. She'd made an agreement with Atem to explore Clayman's former base together—but during that expedition, she could activate the traps to eliminate him.
To her, it would be simple—one decisive move.
The only concern was Milim and Veldora. But if Atem came alone—or even with limited guards—then this could be her chance. Triggering Amalita's ancient defenses would look natural. No suspicion, no evidence, just "an accident" in an ancient ruin.
But Yuuki's eyes narrowed the moment she finished speaking.
"That's an interesting plan, Kagali… but do you really think it will work?" he asked, his tone flat but sharp. "What if Demon Lord Milim joins him?"
Kagali frowned, her crimson eyes flashing. "Even then, I can trigger the mechanisms and retreat before they notice. It won't expose me."
Yuuki studied her carefully. He knew her past—how her kingdom had fallen to Milim's wrath, how she had been reborn time and again. From elf to dark elf, to undead elf, and finally to a demon lord. She had lived through countless centuries of humiliation and survival.
And yet, even now, she didn't show fear—only cold resolve.
Yuuki sighed. "You've truly shed your past, haven't you?"
Kagali smiled thinly. "I learned that fear changes nothing. I'll never forgive Milim, but I won't repeat my mistakes either. Atem, however… he's different. I want to know how far his power goes."
Yuuki's smirk deepened. "Exactly my thought. That's why I want you to proceed. Don't try to defeat him—you won't. But observe him. Test his strength, his limits. I want to know what kind of being he truly is."
Kagali tilted her head slightly. "You really think he's worth all this effort?"
"Yes," Yuuki said without hesitation. "Atem is unlike the others. There's something about him—an aura, a command of power that feels... beyond this world. If we're going to take the West, we can't ignore him."
"I understand," Kagali said quietly. "I'll hide my identity and act accordingly. He might be suspicious of you, but not of me. I'll make sure he doesn't find out who I really am."
Yuuki's expression softened slightly. "Good. Stay cautious, and don't let him provoke you. Atem's not someone you can easily manipulate."
Kagali smirked. "Don't worry, Boss. I'll be careful."
They exchanged a silent nod.
"Right then," Yuuki said, standing up. "Let's move. We're meeting Misha soon."
"I'll continue preparing on my end," Kagali replied. "What about you, Boss?"
Yuuki's eyes gleamed. "Me? I'll contact Damrada. I need him to expand our base in the East. If things get bad, that's where we'll retreat."
He paused, that familiar cunning smile crossing his face.
"But before that…"
Laplace, leaning against the wall, snorted. "Heh, you're definitely up to something again. You tell us to keep low, but you're scheming as usual, huh?"
Yuuki laughed softly, his tone calm but deliberate. "It's not scheming, Laplace. It's called preparation. I plan to use every card we have—because I'm not giving up on dominating the West just yet."
The light from the candles flickered against Yuuki's eyes, revealing a sharp glint of ambition.
And in that dim light, Kagali could feel the weight of what was coming.
The shadows were beginning to move once more—quietly, purposefully, toward the East.
The majins in the dark had begun their next act.
The Founding Festival of the Eterna Federation had been a resounding success, and with that, the festival drew to a close. Ten busy days had passed, and all the invited guests, along with visitors from neighboring nations, had departed.
That included the King of Blumund and Fuze, who seemed eager to discuss their future plans and returned home without delay. Dwarven King Gazel promised to elect a squad of researchers and also left fairly early.
As for the Emperor of Sarion, Elmesia, she acquired an inn near the guest hotel in the prime district of town. Selecting one of its rooms, she set up a magic portal, apparently for the convenience of returning whenever she wished.
As expected from a billionaire, she spared no expense. I still remembered the superiority-laden smile Elmesia cast toward the clearly envious Gazel—no doubt he would rush back to Dwargon and have their treasury authorize funds to purchase one of our villas. Perhaps I should even be thanking her. Even better, she agreed to continue employing our local staff working there under the same conditions. Rigurd managed the detailed arrangements, ensuring her meals were provided and her room kept in pristine condition.
"I suppose next time I visit, I'll transfer my consciousness to a homunculus. It's a pity I can't fully enjoy myself in this body…"
"Your Majesty, please stop being so self-indulgent!"
Elmesia's remark reminded me that her absence alone had already caused turmoil. Even if it had little to do with me directly, Elalude must have been tormented beyond his breaking point. Deploying the Magus to protect her was no small matter in terms of national defense.
"Is that so… Then is Elen using a homunculus as well?"
Elen, of course, was Elalude's daughter and also an elf, though her ears appeared human.
"Oh, about that—Elen-chan is using her own body. Homunculi are not all-powerful. Prolonged use can even endanger the user."
"YOUR MAJESTY! Your casual attitude and revealing national secrets could cause serious problems!"
From my private conversation with Elmesia, I understood that Elen had been using certain substances to alter her appearance while traveling in her own body. That explained why Elalude always worried and secretly deployed numerous bodyguards. To my surprise, Kabal and Gido were both members of the Magus. Elalude had insisted that even sending one of these knights could affect national defense, yet he sent two by his daughter's side. His care for Elen was evident.
"But how come those two never appeared particularly strong?"
When I had run Analyze and Assess on them previously, their abilities seemed ordinary. I sought clarification. Elalude spoke with measured restraint: "That's top secret as well, but I will tell you—those two are equipped with magic rings that limit their abilities. Should Elen fall into danger, the limits would be removed."
I regarded them calmly, letting my presence ripple subtly. "Elalude, I am aware of the technology you have employed. Your magic rings, your containment spells, all of it—I see through everything. Nothing escapes my divine sight."
The effect was instantaneous. Elmesia froze, her eyes widening in shock. Elalude's jaw tightened as he processed my words. Even the Magus stationed beside Elen instinctively bowed their heads, fully recognizing the authority behind my voice.
"So… Your Majesty can see through everything?" Elmesia whispered, a mixture of awe and disbelief in her tone.
"Indeed," I replied, my voice steady and commanding. "Your defenses, your precautions, the limits you impose—they are all visible to me. There is no concealment when I focus my divine sight."
A stunned silence filled the room. The sheer certainty of my authority and perception left them speechless. Elalude's hands twitched slightly, but he remained composed, bowing subtly. The Magus stationed around Elen held their ground, but their unease was unmistakable.
Elalude gave a small bow. "Then, I'll leave my daughter's safety in your care, Lord Atem."
Atem inclined his head slightly. "Rest assured. As long as she walks in my domain, she will come to no harm."
"Then, until next time," Elmesia said brightly, her voice echoing through the plaza.
With a wave of her hand, she and her entourage ascended onto the Guardian Dragon King Ship, a vessel so massive its wings eclipsed the afternoon sun. The air hummed with divine energy as it soared into the sky, leaving behind trails of light and wind that rippled through Eterna's towers.
Atem watched it go, his cloak fluttering in the downdraft, until the glow vanished into the horizon.
Then he turned his gaze skyward again—this time toward the faint shimmer of magic in the upper atmosphere.
Demon Lord Luminas had already departed. Unlike the others, she preferred elegance through simplicity. She simply folded space around herself, using her overwhelming magical power to vanish in a flash of Spatial Movement, returning instantly to her domain.
Before she left, she had turned to Atem and said with a smirk, "I'll contact you soon about the orchestra exchange. And next time, Atem… I expect you to attend in person."
She had smiled faintly. "Then make it worth my time."
Her laughter still lingered in the air when the light of her teleportation faded.
And just like that, the grand festival that had united kings, queens, and demon lords came to a close—leaving only the calm after the storm, and the faint, charged silence before whatever came next.