"I mean… You're done for, Milim."
That was the first thing Atem said when the tension reached its breaking point. His voice carried both humor and authority, smooth and commanding—yet with the undertone of someone who knew exactly when to distance himself from trouble.
Let's make one thing clear: this whole incident had absolutely nothing to do with me—uh, us—at all. Right?
"Ha-ha… Milim," Atem said, smiling faintly but his crimson eyes gleamed with cold amusement. "You should have mentioned you had duties to fulfill. I won't stop you. Go on and… finish your assignments early."
Ramiris instantly caught on. "Y-yeah! That's right, Milim! I'm so sorry we kept you around for our—uh—research! We had no idea you were busy!"
"R-right!" added Veldora, scratching his head nervously. "We're all friends here, Milim! You should've just told us earlier—we wouldn't have kept you around, hahaha!"
True teamwork. Impeccable, self-preserving teamwork.
Atem folded his arms, watching the two scramble to save themselves. "How very admirable," he said dryly. "It seems betrayal comes easily when divine punishment is on the line."
Milim turned to them, eyes glistening with betrayal. "W-what?! You guys are just going to abandon me like that?"
Atem sighed softly, tilting his head. "Sorry, Milim. But honestly? The chances of saving you are… slim. And I prefer not to share your fate."
"N-no, it's not what it sounds like!" Milim cried, spinning toward Frey, who stood with that same calm, dangerous smile. "H-hear me out, Frey!"
Her words fell on deaf ears.
With graceful precision, Frey's wings extended slightly, feathers shimmering like blades. Her voice remained gentle, but the pressure she exuded could have crushed steel. "Excuses will not save you this time, Milim."
And just like that, Frey seized her. Her claws rested against Milim's neck—not deep enough to wound, but enough to remind her who was in control.
Milim had no choice. She was dragged out of the chamber, kicking and flailing, her voice echoing down the corridor.
Atem exhaled quietly, eyes half-lidded. "Well," he murmured, "that was horrifying."
He straightened his coat, glancing toward Shuna and Rigurd. "Looks like we narrowly avoided being collateral damage."
But just as he began to relax, another voice sliced through the air.
"Speaking of which…" Shuna's tone was deceptively calm as she appeared right behind him. "…Lord Atem, where have you been, and what exactly have you been doing?"
Atem froze.
He was a god-tier being, the ruler of Eterna, a being feared across realms—and yet that tone from Shuna made even him feel a flicker of unease.
Though he didn't sweat, it felt like he did.
No need to panic. Stay composed.
He cleared his throat. "Research. We were conducting… intensive research."
Before he could elaborate, Veldora suddenly stood, pretending to stretch. "Ahaha, looks like we're interrupting something. I should… return to my chambers and study the mysteries of sorcery!" He grabbed his manga and bolted.
Atem's gaze sharpened. "Coward."
"T-then I shall go too!" Ramiris blurted, wings fluttering frantically as she zipped out behind Veldora.
Atem blinked once, expression darkening. "How curious. When true loyalty is needed, they vanish faster than light itself."
He turned back to Shuna. Her expression hadn't softened.
This could be dangerous, Atem thought. If he said something foolish, she'd probably ban him from Eterna's palace kitchen again. A fate worse than death.
He needed a solution. Fast.
Solarys, he called inwardly. Any brilliant insight for this situation?
«Answer. There is no need for deception. Confidence will resolve this issue.»
Confidence? Atem raised an eyebrow inwardly. You expect me to face Shuna's wrath with just confidence?
Before he could question it further, the door burst open.
"My Lord Atem! I've been looking everywhere for you!"
It was Myourmiles, panting, holding a letter in his hands.
Ah. So that's what Solarys meant. Fate itself had intervened.
Atem smiled faintly, stepping forward with composed authority. "Perfect timing, Myourmiles. I assume you've brought me important news."
Myourmiles blinked in surprise—then nodded vigorously, quickly realizing the situation. "Y-yes, my lord! The Council of Nations has sent a sealed message. It seems they're requesting your presence to evaluate whether Eterna may officially join the Unified Continental Assembly!"
"Hmm." Atem's expression remained calm, but a spark of interest flickered in his eyes. "So, the Council has finally decided to act."
Shuna relaxed slightly at the sudden change of topic.
Meanwhile, Atem's mind raced. Solarys, did you predict this timing?
«Answer. Yes. Based on intelligence gathered by Souei, all espionage agencies of the surrounding nations have recently reported back simultaneously. It was logical to deduce that the Council would take action now.»
Atem's lips curved into a faint smirk. Impressive. You foresaw even the political timing. But wait—Souei reported back?
«Answer. Affirmative. However, Master was preoccupied with… 'testing simulations of divine combat' and likely ignored his report.»
Atem's expression froze. "Testing divine combat?" he muttered aloud. "You mean playing sparring games with Veldora…"
He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "So even my Sovereign of Wisdom sees through my distractions."
«Affirmative.»
It was impossible to lie—to himself, or to Solarys.
Atem let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. "Fine. I'll admit it. Maybe I did get carried away. But it seems even my mistakes move fate along."
He turned toward Myourmiles, eyes glowing faintly. "Prepare the chamber. We'll respond to the Council's summons. Eterna is ready to enter a new era."
The moment carried weight, his tone that of a monarch whose every word could shape nations.
Even Shuna couldn't help but smile softly. "Understood, Lord Atem."
As for Veldora and Ramiris, who had fled earlier? Atem made a mental note.
They'd owe him big time.
And as Solarys' serene voice faded in his mind, Atem whispered under his breath, "Confidence, huh? You were right again."
The light in his eyes sharpened.
That was fine, I guess.
Up until the moment we faced Green Rebellion, everything had been tense, organized, and deliberate. But somewhere along the way… we let our guard down. What started as a serious mission turned into us playing around like it was a game. That was the truth.
Still—there was one thing I couldn't deny. Solarys, Sovereign of Wisdom, had saved me this time.
If not for Solarys' quick calculations and guidance, I would've been standing there with nothing but excuses to spin. Instead, I was able to act like I had seen everything coming from the start.
I straightened my cloak, meeting their gazes with a composed expression. "That's indeed the case. Their investigation unit was wandering inside the Labyrinth of Eterna, so I decided to... observe their actions. They fled back to their homeland in a panic, which told me their plan was about to move forward."
"OH, OH! Could you be referring to Green Rebellion?" Myourmiles asked, his eyes wide with intrigue.
"That's right, Myourmiles," I replied calmly, my tone carrying quiet authority. "They were stronger than expected, so I thought it necessary to conduct my own investigation. Their energy signatures were too peculiar to ignore."
Of course, that was a complete fabrication.
Every single word came from Solarys.
But that didn't matter.
What mattered was keeping my people calm—and maintaining control over the flow of information.
"I see, so you were secretly investigating the matter… As expected of Atem-sama!" Shuna said with a relieved smile, clasping her hands together.
Her faith was unwavering, and for a brief moment, I felt the faint pull of guilt. But I let it pass. A leader couldn't afford doubt—not in front of his people.
I took the letter from Myourmiles' hands and unfolded it carefully. The parchment shimmered faintly with residual mana—official seal, no doubt. The message confirmed what Solarys had already predicted.
They were inviting us into the Council.
I exhaled quietly through my nose.
So, Solarys was right again.
And my face had been saved.
Still… this had been too close.
Had I been just a little more careless, I might have lost my footing completely. My eyes drifted toward the window where the twin suns of Eterna bled golden light across the horizon.
I folded the letter, speaking softly yet firmly to myself, "Addictive games and distractions… lead only to failure."
It wasn't just a reflection—it was a vow.
The next time I let my focus waver, Eterna itself could pay the price. I needed to remember this lesson well, to engrave it into my very soul.
Everything, even amusement, must exist in moderation.
With that, I looked toward Shuna and Myourmiles again, authority returning to my voice.
"Prepare the council chamber," I ordered. "If the invitation is genuine, I want us ready to respond immediately. No missteps."
"Yes, Atem-sama!" Shuna replied, bowing gracefully.
Myourmiles adjusted his glasses, already scribbling notes with his quill. "Understood, I'll handle the arrangements right away."
As they both hurried off, the silence that remained was heavy.
Solarys' calm voice echoed in my mind—cold, logical, precise.
[Calculation complete. Probability of Council interference: 92.7%. Recommended response: calculated diplomacy.]
"I know," I muttered under my breath. "But next time, we'll act on our terms… not theirs."
For a moment, the faint hum of Solarys' energy pulsed in sync with my heartbeat.
The game pieces were moving again.
And this time—I wouldn't let myself get distracted.