I had accepted the Council's invitation to the Kingdom of Ingracia. They seemed to view me as a guest of honor—proof of that being the lavish suite prepared for us in one of their most prestigious hotels. The luxury was unnecessary, but I didn't refuse it. A tour of the capital city might prove useful; it had been years since I last set foot here.
Benimaru, acting as my bodyguard, moved with sharp precision—every sense alert. He never relaxed when I was outside of Eterna. Souei, naturally, lurked in the shadows, gathering information before I even asked for it.
Still, the absence of Ranga was… noticeable.
I was used to feeling his quiet presence in my shadow. But he had gone to find Gobta—who, apparently, was suffering under Milim's relentless training again. Gobta had begged for mercy, claiming Milim's "examinations" were going to kill him one day. Ranga, not knowing how to comfort him, went to fetch him anyway, tail wagging despite his complaints.
He pretended to be indifferent, but I knew better. He had a soft spot for that fool.
It was good to see bonds like that still thriving in Eterna.
For this trip, I brought only Benimaru and Shuna. Too many companions would draw unnecessary attention. I considered bringing Shion—but taking her into a city this crowded would have been a disaster waiting to happen. Her personality wasn't exactly… suited for subtlety. So, I left her in charge of headquarters and her training corps.
Geld was overseeing construction in Milim's new capital and couldn't leave.
Diablo… was still out there "recruiting" subordinates. Knowing him, either his standards were impossibly high, or his candidates were all terrified of him. Probably both.
I had finished crafting the special containers I promised him. Once he returned, he would have everything he needed. Then again, Diablo was the type who'd return the moment I called. Since I didn't have any urgent matters, I allowed him to do as he pleased.
Momiji and Hakurou had gone to the hidden tengu village. Gabil and Midley were off visiting the City of the Forgotten Dragon, hoping to tame wyverns for their new aerial cavalry. Gabil's obsession with strengthening the Hiryuu was impressive—if not a little dangerous. Still, I was looking forward to the results. If his experiments succeeded, I would reward him personally.
All of my subordinates were hard at work. That was why, this time, it was just the three of us heading to Ingracia. Souei would join us once we arrived.
The first place we stopped was a clothing store.
Just like in the old world, display windows lined the streets—glass panes showcasing dresses, suits, and jewelry glinting under the sunlight. The capital's prosperity was unmistakable. Ingracia had always been the most advanced of the Western Nations, but this… this was progress.
Glass that large was expensive, worth as much as a small house. Yet, here they were, used for aesthetics. A sign of true wealth.
Myourmiles had explained it before: display windows attract more customers. Eterna had already adopted the same idea after I introduced it. Mildo handled the production, with assistance from Solarys, Sovereign of Wisdom. With his calculations guiding our alchemists, the process went smoothly.
But today wasn't about trade. We came here because of Shuna.
She stood before one of the displays, completely entranced. The latest fashion of Ingracia—silken dresses embroidered with glowing runes and lightweight battle jackets enchanted with resistance wards. Her eyes sparkled as she studied every seam.
"They're beautiful," she murmured.
We browsed through several stores, finding designs different from anything in Eterna. Most of the clothing back home was based on my own memories of another world—but these were works of pure artistry.
"I won't lose to this," Shuna declared suddenly, eyes burning with determination. "I'll refine my skill even more!"
Her spirit made me smile. "Good. I'll count on you then." I looked at my companions. "Everyone, pick something you like. I'll pay."
Shuna froze. "Eh? R-really?"
Benimaru blinked. "Even for me?"
Souei crossed his arms, stoic as ever. "…I'm fine with my current attire."
"Don't be modest," I said, my tone carrying quiet command. "You've all served me faithfully. Allow me this gesture."
Benimaru shrugged, defeated. "If you insist."
The three began searching through racks of clothes. Benimaru and Souei chose sharp, tailored jackets and black trousers—minimalist, but fitting. Handsome men looked good in anything, but they had an eye for balance.
Then there was Shuna—
She picked out a white pantskirt paired with an icy-blue knitted vest.
"It suits you," I said simply.
Her cheeks flushed with pride. "Thank you, Atem-sama."
The outfit gave her a graceful, modern elegance—different from her priestess robes, yet no less beautiful. I had her pick several more pieces and bought them all. Inspiration bred creativity, after all.
For Shion, I selected a pale-blue jumpsuit. Cold, regal, and striking. "This will fit her," I said with certainty.
"She'll love it," Shuna said warmly.
"Good," I replied, my tone calm. "That pleases me."
Benimaru snorted. "No compliments for us?"
Souei raised an eyebrow. "None at all, it seems."
"Your complaints are noted," I said dryly, earning a chuckle from Shuna.
Once we were all satisfied, I paid the bill and we changed into our new clothes. Shuna's smile as she hugged her bags like treasure was reward enough. She worked tirelessly for Eterna—she deserved a little joy.
Benimaru and Souei looked equally refreshed.
Afterward, we stopped at a café run by Yoshida's apprentice. The aroma of roasted beans and sweet pastries filled the air. The place was lively, bustling with both locals and travelers. Their ingredients came from Eterna, so we received a modest discount—a quiet reminder of how deeply our influence had spread.
We sat in the corner booth, waiting for Hinata. She was on her way from Lubelius to attend the same council meeting. Before that, we had business to discuss.
I turned to Souei. "Report."
He bowed his head slightly. "Very well. I'll begin with the aftermath of Eterna's founding festival—"
His words flowed efficiently. Praise from nobles, fascination from commoners, and curiosity from foreign nations. The dungeon, in particular, had caught everyone's attention. Rumors about its treasures spread like wildfire. Nobles were even forming adventuring teams to challenge it.
Our strategy had worked perfectly.
As Souei concluded the lighter topics, his tone shifted. "Now for the merchants tied to Duke Muze."
My eyes narrowed slightly. "Go on."
"I investigated their transactions, families, and partners. None have recent contact with suspicious groups. However…" he paused. "…they all shared a common benefactor when applying for their business licenses. The officer handling these matters was Duke Muze."
I frowned. "So, they were his pawns."
«Affirmative,» Solarys' voice echoed calmly within me. «The merchants acted under Muze's influence.»
"Then what of Muze himself?" I asked.
Souei's expression turned grave. "He's dead."
The silence that followed was heavy.
"How?" Benimaru asked sharply.
"A ranged attack. Instant kill. No mana trace, no weapon residue."
Even Souei's shadow sense hadn't detected it. For Muze—a powerful noble—to die so quietly was alarming. Whoever did this had skill beyond comprehension.
«Analysis complete,» Solarys whispered. «Probability high that Muze's death was an intentional silencing. Perpetrators likely detected Souei's surveillance.»
I exhaled slowly. "He was erased, then."
Souei bowed his head. "Forgive me. I could not sense the attack until Muze fell."
I raised a hand. "It's not your fault. If even you couldn't detect it, we're dealing with a professional assassin—or something worse."
Benimaru leaned forward. "If it was magic, Souei would have sensed the mana. If it was physical, there should've been traces of energy. What could it be?"
I met his eyes. "A sniper."
Benimaru blinked. "A… what?"
Shuna tilted her head. "I've never heard that term."
"In another world," I explained, "a sniper uses a weapon that kills from hundreds of meters away. No mana. No sound. Just one precise shot."
Souei's eyes narrowed. "So, an Otherworlder?"
"Possibly."
"You mean like Yuuki?" Shuna asked. "Didn't he own a gun?"
Before I could answer—
"Correct," said a calm voice behind me.
I nearly turned with an energy surge before realizing who it was.
Hinata.
She had arrived silently, aura completely hidden.
Benimaru chuckled, amused. Souei covered his mouth to hide a smirk.
"Enjoying yourselves?" I asked dryly.
"Onii-sama! Souei!" Shuna scolded both, pouting.
I sighed quietly and dismissed the tension with a faint smile.
Solarys, I thought, you could have warned me earlier.
«Report: The approaching individual bore no hostility.»
I figured as much, I replied mentally.
It was my own fault—I had been too relaxed.
Still, even I had to admit, it was impressive.
Hinata stood before us, expression cool and unreadable.
Whatever came next, I knew—this meeting would not be simple.
And with that, I leaned back, eyes half-lidded, as the faint hum of Eterna's wisdom pulsed quietly within my mind.