Europe.
On a relic-strewn island, a man was wolfing down his meal at the excavation site of an unnamed underground tomb.
He was a Japanese man around forty years old, tall and broad-shouldered, his skin tanned from long sun exposure, his face brimming with confidence.
His hair, perhaps self-cut, was uneven in length—as if haphazardly chopped with a knife—and his chin sported noticeable stubble.
"Just perfect. Blue skies, white clouds, fine wine with good food. This is what truly makes you feel alive," the man mused, bottle in hand as he sank heavily into a camping chair and stretched out his legs, already drinking in broad daylight.
After a moment, he spoke without turning his head.
"Right, miss?"
"Hmph..."
A short-haired woman watched him coldly.
"Gajou Akatsuki, could you please focus on your work?"
She casually tossed a package at him. "Your stuff."
"Relax when it's time to relax, work when it's time to work." Gajou drained the last of his bottle and leisurely unwrapped the package.
"Who'd be sending me anything?"
His tone was puzzled, as if he couldn't imagine anyone who would.
"It's been checked. Not dangerous," the short-haired woman said, her curiosity also piqued as she stared at the package.
"Maybe it's from my dear—"
Mid-sentence, Gajou froze.
Inside the package was an invitation.
The paper, thin as a crystal shard, was sealed with wax featuring a wheel and an eyeball motif. The vivid crimson wax made the man's eyes widen.
Beside him, the short-haired woman also gasped in shock. "Hey! Is that—?!"
"Yeah... no doubt about it." Gajou carefully lifted the invitation out.
"An invitation to the Mystic Eyes Collection Train—worth tens of millions on the black market."
The Mystic Eyes Collection Train was the legendary chariot of the Fifth Primogenitor—the Princess of the Moon. A train that traveled continuously across the globe, it hosted an annual auction showcasing selected Mystic Eyes.
Each year, an unknown number of invitations were randomly distributed. Without one, no one could set foot on the Princess of Moon's chariot.
Whether seeking power or merely a glimpse of the Princess herself, countless souls coveted these invitations.
"Mystic Eyes, huh..."
The man wore a wry smile, staring blankly at the invitation in his hand.
"Artifacts that allow humans to wield powers akin to those of familiars. Not interested?"
"Of course I am. A rare invitation falls into my hands—how could I not go?"
Since the invitations were distributed randomly worldwide, they were mostly snapped up by the three great Dominions or various governments.
The Dominions were regions ruled by Primogenitors. Only three remained in the world today:
The First Primogenitor's Warlord's Empire, the Second Primogenitor's Fallen Dynasty, and the Third Primogenitor's Chaos Bride's Empire.
"Speaking of which, the Fourth Primogenitor is one thing, but this newly emerged Fifth Primogenitor doesn't seem interested in establishing a Dominion."
The Princess of the Moon had spent these years merely driving her train around the world.
"Who knows? The various nations are quite pleased, though—they've granted the Princess the highest travel clearance," the woman shrugged, a flicker of curiosity in her sharp eyes. "The invitation allows two guests. Take me along?"
"If I take anyone, it'll be my wife. Why would I bring you?"
"Tch."
"Aren't you a vampire from the Warlord's Empire? Don't they receive the most invitations every year?"
"Unfortunately, none for me." The woman sighed and turned away. "The elders and that guy snatch up all the slots."
"Who?"
"Dimitrie Vatler."
--+--
"If it isn't the renowned 'Witch of the Void'—Natsuki Minamiya?"
On the smoothly gliding train, Vatler looked up with a smile—one that blended amiability with sly mischief.
"Somehow, you always show up at every auction, don't you?"
"Snake charmer..."
Natsuki Minamiya shot him a frosty glance, twirled her parasol, and headed straight for the lounge.
Vatler shrugged, unbothered, and fell into step beside her.
"I hear the Itogami Island management corporation has handed authority over to you," he remarked, admiring the train's decor as he spoke. "And that you plan to stay there afterward?"
Natsuki narrowed her eyes in displeasure. Really, like a persistent fly.
The island management corporation knew her wishes, but perhaps because of her closeness to the Princess of the Moon, they had only recently allowed her to move freely.
Maybe it also had to do with her resolving a certain incident.
"Speaking of which, I've heard something myself," she said, a note of amusement in her tone as she closed her parasol. "Don't you claim to adore the Fourth Primogenitor? Why are you always hovering around the Princess?"
"Is there a problem with that?"
Vatler looked puzzled. "My love for the Fourth Primogenitor doesn't prevent my admiration for the Princess."
As if recalling the night of that monumental battle, a flash of fighting spirit crossed his eyes.
"Lately, it seems some are calling you the 'Demon Killer'," he said, a smirk playing on his lips as he eyed the witch beside him. "I—"
"Can't be bothered to fight you."
Before he could finish, Natsuki cut him off sharply.
Over the years, she'd heard all about Vatler's reputation as a battle maniac. He'd sent her numerous invitations; she'd refused every one.
"What a pity." Vatler waved a dismissive hand and continued, "Recently, we uncovered a remnant faction of the Black Death Emperor Front."
"Those beastman supremacists?"
The Black Death Emperor Front were discriminatory beastmen supremacists. Their goals were to completely dismantle the Holy Ground Treaty—established to allow coexistence between humans and demons—and to seize control of the Warlord's Empire from the First Primogenitor.
Vatler nodded, his smile widening as if recalling something amusing.
"I believe you were the one who killed their leader."
"Indeed. A rather troublesome old beastman," Vatler replied leisurely. "That remnant group wants to ask you to hunt them down."
"Where?"
"The Mediterranean."
The Mediterranean? What would they be doing there...?
Natsuki seemed to recall something and asked, almost casually, "The Warlord's Empire has some operation there, don't they?"
Vatler gave a slight shrug but didn't respond.
"The Fourth Primogenitor." A young girl's voice suddenly cut into their conversation. A silver-haired maid stood ahead.
Natsuki's steps faltered almost imperceptibly. Gathering intel on the Fourth Primogenitor was a task entrusted to her by the Princess.
Vatler's smile remained, seemingly unbothered by the leaked information. He stopped at the carriage door.
Ahead lay the carriage where the Princess of the Moon resided—a place he could not enter.
Outside the window, thick fog churned and gradually dispersed. The train was nearing the next stop.
"Natsuki Minamiya." Vatler gazed calmly at the emerging scenery outside. "You, who frequent this Mystic Eyes Collection Train so often..."
"Do you possess a Mystic Eye?"
The dark-haired girl acted as if she hadn't heard his question, her footsteps never slowing.
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.