Yet, to eliminate Demon Lord Atem—that was easier said than done. In order to observe Atem personally, Mariabell had actually attended the opening festival herself. She convinced Granbell that she would act cautiously and set out toward the nation alone.
Her intuition had proven correct. The Eterna Federation was too magnificent a nation to ignore. Its capital radiated influence, destined to become the city of desire and trendsetter for a new age.
This nation's value would only increase as it formed alliances and strengthened relations with other powers. In time, the world would slip beyond the grasp of House Rosso.
Yes—everything was proceeding according to Atem's design.
Mariabell felt a surge of frustration, almost enough to throw a tantrum, but she restrained herself and focused on planning her next move.
Simply defeating the opponent outright was not an option. Even if they succeeded, Veldora remained an uncontrollable variable. The legendary being had annihilated twenty thousand elite soldiers single-handedly—it would be reckless to leave him unchecked.
In that case, the only solution was to neutralize the threat. But how? Carrot or stick?
If she used the stick, history offered a cautionary tale: Duke Muze. Mariabell had carefully orchestrated a favor for Atem, yet he refused to act as expected and retaliated instead. While Duke Muze's misjudgment revealed his foolishness, Atem's wisdom and foresight earned her grudging respect.
Indeed—it had been utterly foolish to alert them so easily.
Atem desired to join the council. It would have been simple to reject him outright. Mariabell had anticipated wars and hoarded crops and supplies in advance. The civil unrest in the Kingdom of Blumund had caused their stored goods to circulate, creating opportunity.
"We could hire mercenaries disguised as bandits to torch villages at night. That would raise food prices and limit supply. In a smaller nation, such shortages would become catastrophic," Mariabell mused.
Fear fueled by scarcity was devastating. The ignorant masses would blame the Demon Lord for the shortage, forcing smaller nations' representatives to oppose his council membership.
To Mariabell, this plan seemed simple—but doubts lingered.
No good. Magic could transport supplies. Atem had already demonstrated that during the night feast. Moreover, he maintained ties with major figures like Gazel, Dwarven King of Dwargon, and Elmesia, Emperor of Sarion. Accepting Atem outright might prove less troublesome.
Any attempt to manipulate smaller nations through famine could backfire, giving Atem an opportunity to intervene. Failure would make Mariabell a second Duke Muze.
If she repeated the failed strategies of the past, he might retaliate. Mariabell wasn't arrogant enough to believe she could always devise a perfect plan instantly. Her task was to act cautiously, only where she could.
Thus, all that remained was the carrot.
"If we use the carrot, I must meet him and negotiate an alliance," Mariabell thought. "No… I cannot yield now. I am Mariabell of 'Greed.' Even a Demon Lord cannot dominate me. I must succeed!"
Her Unique Skill, Greed, could bend others to her will. By influencing their desires, she could compel them to act as she commanded. Like she had done with Yuuki, Mariabell could manipulate targets subtly, without their knowledge.
There were two ways to wield this power.
The first: exploit her own desires to overwhelm her target's, guiding them to agree on a goal. The drawback was that this method required multiple conversations, each long enough for the skill to take effect. Timing had to be perfect, or suspicion would arise.
The second: a direct and immediate domination. Inject all the desire needed at once and crush the target's will, turning them into a puppet. Faster, but far riskier. Against a being as formidable as Atem, even an instant misstep could be fatal.
Mariabell recalled her younger self aborting the direct method when she faced Granbell. To use it safely now, everything had to be prepared.
The prerequisite for either method was the target's existing desire. The stronger the desire, the easier it was to manipulate. Weak desire?
Then she would have to cultivate it slowly—time-consuming and suspicious. That was why Mariabell could never manipulate Hinata the Saint. She lacked sufficient desire for Mariabell to exploit.
By contrast, Yuuki had been introduced by Johann, giving her repeated private interactions. He was easy to control.
The real challenge was Demon Lord Atem.
Even up close, Atem seemed to harbor little desire—but considering his accomplishments, Mariabell knew she was facing an extraordinary being. At the night feast, she had observed him directly. His desire barely met the threshold for her skill, meaning only repeated attempts could yield results.
Yet if she succeeded, Atem would be hers to command. By extension, Veldora, already bound to Atem, would also fall under Mariabell's influence. The thought of controlling the dragon that even the gods feared made her pulse quicken.
But first, careful observation was essential. Then she could devise a plan to manipulate Atem safely.
Yuuki had said he would avoid antagonizing the Demon Lord. According to this plan, Demon Lord Kazalim—Kagali—would lead the expedition to the ruins, navigating potential dangers without incident. Mariabell intended to use this as part of her larger scheme.
"I will send a letter," Mariabell decided aloud. "Invite him to a council conference and observe his response."
"Will he accept?" Yuuki asked cautiously.
"Certainly. He desires to join the Western States Council," Mariabell replied.
"How unusual," Johann muttered.
"Atem seeks peaceful coexistence with humans. He will follow council rules to demonstrate that monsters under his command are allies, not threats," Yuuki explained.
Mariabell frowned at the notion. Binding oneself to rules was a weakness. A demon lord abandoning his martial prowess to side with humans—utterly foolish.
"Then we shall grant his wish. And I will bend him with my desire," she whispered, eyes gleaming.
"How terrifying," Johann muttered nervously. "Yuuki should be strong enough to rival Hinata if he fought seriously. Are you seriously attempting the same against a Demon Lord?"
Mariabell smiled, unfazed. "Yuuki is ambitious. He believes he acts of his own volition. That's the beauty of it."
Before Yuuki could respond, Mariabell added, "And he should be grateful for it."
Yuuki remained silent, proof of her flawless control.
"—Demon Lord Atem will likely be none the wiser. Wouldn't he be like a child before me? Are you confident your control is perfect?" Johann asked nervously.
"What does that mean?" she asked sharply.
"Nothing… just concern someone might break your hold," Johann stammered.
"You're mistaken. Once corrupted, desire cannot be undone—as long as it does not exceed mine."
Mariabell embodied greed itself, her power absolute. Johann's fear, however, was natural. He was fortunate she hadn't yet unleashed her full wrath.
"Wise choice," Mariabell said coldly. "Johann, deliver the letter to Demon Lord Atem of Eterna. I will draft the content myself. It must reach him before the next council conference."
In contrast to Mariabell, who radiated the aura of a ruler in every movement, Johann, a member of the Five Great Elders, could barely lift his head.
"I understand, Mariabell. Leave it to me."
He quietly exited the room, accompanied by Yuuki, careful not to disturb her any further.
Even after their departure, Mariabell remained seated, deep in thought. Time was all she had—a vast expanse to scheme, to plot, to set pieces into motion. Her mind raced through the countless pawns she had used before, and now she prepared for another game.
How exhilarating. How intoxicating.
Her trust in no one but herself made her all the more dangerous. She sank into her calculations once again, unblinking, unstoppable.
Elsewhere, in the labyrinth surrounding Eterna, the chaos of battle unfolded with ruthless precision. A man fell, blood streaming from his mouth, and Milim laughed—a sound that cut through the tension like a blade.
"WAHAHAHA! You were careless, fools!" she shouted, her voice ringing across the hall.
The remaining five men froze. They formed a tight cluster, expecting to defend themselves—but it was already too late.
"Blazing wind! Form into a whirling tornado and tear them apart! Tornado Blade!"
The Tornado Blade carved through the tightly packed enemies with merciless force. Unlike the single-target Wind Cutter, this area magic swept across the battlefield, precise and deadly. Milim had struck first, ambushing the vanguard as they patrolled. By the time Atem unleashed his magic, the initial strike had already sown chaos.
Those at the rear were oblivious until it was too late. Atem followed up with another Wind Cutter, a swift, cutting wind that left no opening. Milim was unharmed, her movement perfectly synchronized with Atem's command. The enemy squad was obliterated before they could react.
"Shit! It's the Crimson Comet! Everyone, watch out!"
"Damn it! Majya and Najya… gone! Jean… he's not breathing!"
The challengers' roars of rage filled the labyrinth. They were formidable on paper, but against Atem and his companions, they were overmatched.
Veldora and Ramiris had already engaged the frontline, taking the brunt of the assault. Atem held back, his presence commanding even in the shadows. He deployed his analysis magic, scanning the approaching warriors. Red health bars glimmered above their heads—each one below half strength.
"These men are already weakened. Veldora and Ramiris will handle the rest," Atem said, his voice calm but authoritative, slicing through the chaos like his very presence demanded obedience.
The invisibility spell he had cast allowed them to strike first. By the time the enemy realized their mistake, Atem's magic had incapacitated key targets—the mages and healers in the rear. Victory was almost preordained.
Emerging from invisibility, the challengers' vanguards saw their doom too late. Atem's laughter echoed through the halls, deep and commanding.
"GAHAHAHA! You are all far too naive!"
"Do not dream of leaving this place alive!" Milim added gleefully.
Veldora and Ramiris, fully in sync with Atem's strategy, tore through the remaining opposition. Atem did not intervene directly, his authority alone guiding the battlefield. His presence alone made the enemies hesitate, falter, and die.
The analysis magic provided a crystal-clear tactical view. Atem's companions moved efficiently, exploiting every weakness. The red bars of their enemies indicated a critical vulnerability that would not be ignored.
Had the challengers maintained protective barriers or more careful formations, the battle might have been harder. But they had underestimated the Crimson Comet—underestimated Atem himself.
Veldora and Ramiris dispatched the remaining foes with swift precision. Milim's preemptive strike combined with Atem's magic ensured the rear guards were eliminated before they could react.
An easy victory. But Atem's gaze remained sharp, unyielding. Victory was not a reason for complacency; every encounter was a lesson, every misstep an opportunity to improve strategy.
The last enemy vanished in a burst of light, leaving the battlefield silent. Atem surveyed the scene with unshakable authority.
"Amazing," Milim said, eyes sparkling. "These rookies were no match for us."
"Indeed," Atem said, voice calm, commanding. "Our strength is decisive—but we must never underestimate those who come after. Strategy and foresight will always be our greatest allies."
The team, smug from their victory, had learned another truth: under Atem, victory was not just about strength—it was about authority, precision, and unyielding will.
Atem's gaze lingered on the labyrinth's exit. The rookies had been pawns, test subjects to sharpen their tactics. He, along with Veldora, Ramiris, and Milim, had refined strategies that would serve Eterna well in battles yet to come.