We entered the labyrinth—Hinata, the five children, Kumara, and myself.
Fritz was… better left alone.
Hakurou stepped out to greet us the moment we arrived, bowing deeply.
"I have been awaiting your arrival, Atem-sama and Hinata-dono."
Hinata smiled. "My, you look well, Hakurou. It's good to see you."
Their familiarity surprised me. They must have bonded during their joint training.
"My apologies for summoning you on such short notice," Hakurou said politely.
"It is not a problem," I replied. My responsibilities in Eterna were stable for now.
"Have you chosen who will attend the council?"
"Yes. A recruit Diablo brought in—Testarossa. I named her myself. You'll meet her soon."
Hinata muttered something under her breath.
"…Named her? I could ask for an explanation, but that alone would take hours."
Her sigh said everything.
"Anyway," she continued, "we asked you here because the children have grown far more than we expected. Hakurou and I have been training them hard, and it's time for you to see their progress."
"Grown a lot, you say?"
"You'll understand once combat begins. The labyrinth is perfect—no true death, so they can go all out."
A dangerous smile crossed Hinata's lips.
Of course it did.
"In that case," I said, raising my hand, "I will summon their opponents."
The air shifted. Magic thickened. The temperature dropped, then spiked. Shadows twisted.
My spirit deck responded to my call.
"Come forth—Dark Magician."
Purple lightning struck the ground.
"Jack's Knight. Queen's Knight."
Twin golden lights erupted beside him.
"Buster Blader."
A thunderous roar shook the arena.
"Giant Soldier of Stone."
The ground cracked under his massive weight.
"Gazelle, King of Mythical Beasts."
A red aura flared, primal and wild.
All six manifested with full presence—ancient spirits infused with my power, loyal to my command alone.
Hinata froze.
Hakurou stiffened.
The children gasped as the spirits towered over them.
Chloe trembled.
Alice's eyes sparkled.
Kenya grinned like an idiot.
Even Hinata whispered, "…these monsters are nothing like summoned beasts."
Of course not.
They were Duel Spirits—manifestations of my soul.
"Each of you will fight one of them," I announced. "Their power will adjust to match your limits. Overwhelm them if you can."
"YES!" Kenya shouted.
"Sensei, watch closely!" Alice added.
Kumara's tails flicked in excitement.
Chloe stepped forward eagerly.
And so, the battles began.
Not against me—
but against the Pharaoh's spirit guardians.
――――――――
—One hour later—
――――――――
"I… I don't believe this…" I exhaled.
The children were… overwhelming my monsters.
Kenya vs. Jack's Knight
His swordsmanship, amplified by the light spirit, pushed Jack's Knight back more than once. Kenya's bizarre but effective stances created unpredictable angles that even the knight spirit struggled to read.
Ryota vs. Gazelle
While Ryota's strikes lacked force, his water and wind spirit magic created traps and diversions that repeatedly cornered Gazelle. His strategy had become razor sharp.
Gail vs. Giant Soldier of Stone
Gail was immovable—literally. His earth spirit magic hardened around him like natural armor. Even the Giant Soldier's towering blade struggled to break through. His defense was absolute.
But the girls…
The girls were another level entirely.
Alice vs. Dark Magician
She summoned puppet soldiers made of magisteel—fully animated, snarling like true beasts.
Dark Magician had to warp space repeatedly to avoid being overwhelmed.
And then her floating swords—
dozens of them—
shot toward him without pattern, without warning.
Had Solarys, Sovereign of Wisdom, not predicted their trajectories, Dark Magician would have been pierced multiple times.
Alice was terrifying.
Kumara vs. Buster Blader
"Show Atem-sama your power, arinsu!"
Her nine tails glowed gold—then split into eight different beast spirits, all A-rank or higher.
The beasts attacked with perfect coordination, feeding each other their combat instincts.
They pushed Buster Blader—the Dragonslayer himself—to serious effort.
A child forcing a spirit born from countless battles…
She truly was Clayman's "ace."
Chloe vs. Queen's Knight
"Hiiyaaaa!"
Her cry was cute.
Her speed was not.
She vanished and reappeared faster than Queen's Knight could track.
Even Solarys flagged her movements as "high-danger."
Queen's Knight was forced into uninterrupted defense—
Chloe nearly broke through multiple times.
Had the monster not been linked to my magic, she might've overwhelmed it completely.
And she was still just a child.
Hinata exhaled. "Do you see now, Atem-sama? They aren't normal children anymore."
Hakurou nodded. "Even I struggle keeping up with Chloe."
I stared at the battlefield.
They weren't just strong.
They were monstrously strong—far exceeding what even prodigies should be capable of.
Especially Chloe…
That innocent little girl…
Her potential was terrifying.
"Ahh, you've all improved remarkably."
"Right? Hearing Atem-sama say that fills me with confidence!"
"But Chloe-chan… she was the strongest. Even though everyone calls me the Empress, I've never managed to surpass her," Alice admitted, bowing her head slightly.
"Yeah… Chloe seems gentle at first glance, but when she focuses, she's terrifying. An angry Alice isn't frightening at all, but when Chloe fights seriously, we have to be on guard," Ryota added, his tone cautious.
Alice's eyes flared, and she leapt up, furious. "What did you just say?!"
Ryota and Gail simply nodded in agreement. It was clear the boys were unified in their assessment.
I studied the children carefully. "Kenya was impressive as well. However, your stance and swordsmanship require refinement. These are your weak points. Strength without fluidity is wasted. Focus on that, and your movements will become far more effective."
Kenya's movements were flashy, almost as if drawn from a storybook or manga—impressive but overly elaborate, with many unnecessary flourishes. Correcting these would make him formidable.
"That's precisely it," Hinata sighed beside me. "No matter how I instruct him, Kenya refuses to abandon these extravagant poses."
"Impossible to dissuade him?" I asked, raising a brow.
"It's Masayuki-san's influence. He insisted Kenya master these stances," she replied, frustrated.
I frowned. That man's guidance had clearly left its mark—style over practicality. Yet, while aesthetically dramatic, it wasn't entirely without merit. Some techniques had potential if honed correctly.
"All right," Hakurou interjected, voice sharp and confident. "Talking won't help. I will personally refine your habits. You will move as smoothly as flowing water, and your sword will follow your intent without hesitation."
Hakurou's approach differed from Hinata's strict methods. He wasn't constrained by tradition—he secretly embraced unorthodox techniques, refining them into lethal, efficient forms. Kenya's lessons were not entirely wasted; I allowed Hakurou to handle the rest.
Meanwhile…
"Chloe's swordsmanship mirrors Hinata's style. Her movements are precise, beautiful, and supremely effective."
Chloe's small face lit up at my praise. "Really? I worked hard to imitate Shizu-sensei's style!"
"Imitation alone is not enough," I stated, my voice calm but authoritative. "To master these moves without relying on innate Skills requires talent and dedication. You should be proud of your accomplishments."
Hinata and Hakurou exchanged glances, both stern yet clearly impressed. Chloe was extraordinary. Her potential was boundless. Despite her youth, her progress was astonishing. I allowed myself a moment of anticipation mixed with a tinge of unease.
Turning my attention to the present matter, I focused on Hinata's reason for visiting.
"The first reason I summoned you here is to demonstrate the progress the children have made," Hinata said, gesturing to the arena. "They are gifted, but still young. Understanding their current capabilities is vital if we are to guide them correctly."
I had been monitoring them closely myself, of course, but I nodded in agreement. Hinata treated these children—once under Shizu's care—as her own siblings.
"I understand. Hakurou will continue training them, and there are numerous seniors in Eterna who can provide guidance as well. I will ensure they remain on the proper path."
She smiled faintly, relieved. "I knew you would say that. I mentioned it merely in case."
Hinata's concern, though excessive, was genuine. Beneath her usually frigid exterior, there was warmth.
I glanced toward the arena. The children were engaged in combat—but not against me. Instead, they fought against my Spirit Deck monsters, each opponent summoned by my will. They were testing strategy, power, and teamwork against constructs of pure magical might.
Even Hakurou, experienced as he was, faced a complex challenge controlling all five children at once. Their speed, instincts, and coordination were exceptional. A single lapse could have proved disastrous.
Kumara, strategically absent, would have tipped the balance further had she joined seriously. Yet with Chloe leading the front, the children held the advantage. The composition of their team was flawless—like a carefully choreographed martial performance. It was mesmerizing.
"She's so young… yet so powerful," Hinata whispered, eyes fixed on Chloe.
While Kenya, Ryota, Gail, and Alice were formidable, Chloe stood apart. She fought with a precision and authority that rivaled seasoned fighter. If she had been absent, Hakurou would have ended the simulated battle swiftly—but now he was fully engaged, assessing each child's ability in real time.
The duel concluded, leaving the children breathless but exhilarated. Hakurou dispensed his advice, detailed and methodical, ensuring each child understood how to refine their skills. It was no wonder they had progressed so rapidly under such rigorous training.
Hinata's attention returned to me. "I was captivated by their fight. Have you scheduled the music exchange Luminas-sama requested yet? She seems genuinely interested. I brought the matter to you personally."
I considered her question. "I had planned to postpone it due to other pressing matters, but the timing may now be appropriate."
"Oh, it seems Luminas truly enjoyed our previous concert," she continued. "I advised Takt and the band to continue practicing. Their repertoire has expanded considerably as a result."
Her inability to read or write music was evident; she admired those who could, but this was a matter best left to Solarys, Sovereign of Wisdom, whose counsel I relied upon heavily.
"I shall anticipate their arrival, then," I said. "Moving a full ensemble is no small feat. The Holy Knights will escort them, using Elemental Magic 'Warp Portal' to transport them in groups."
"Splendid," Hinata said, nodding. "Transporting instruments and luggage by horse-drawn carriages would be impractical. A Barrier protects Lubelius, so direct teleportation is not an option."
I agreed. Logistics were a concern: instruments delicate, roads incomplete, potential damage. Air transport or the completed train would simplify matters—but the train was still months away.
Hinata's proposal to use elemental magic with escorts was optimal. I consented, and we discussed the remaining details thoroughly.
As we concluded, the children—fresh from their break—gathered around.
"Atem-sama, where are you going with Hinata-oneechan?" Chloe asked eagerly.
I explained the upcoming music exchange at Lubelius.
"I want to go too!" Kenya shouted.
"Me too!" Alice and the others chimed in.
Even shy Kumara hesitated before timidly requesting, "I-I wish to go as well arinsu…"
Her tone was cautious; she knew her role as guardian of the ninetieth floor demanded responsibility. Yet her heart yearned for adventure. I smiled and placed a hand on her head.
"You need not be so formal. Small requests like this may be granted," I said calmly.
The children erupted in joy. Kenya shouted about skipping school, and Chloe giggled, delighted by the prospect. I allowed myself a measured sternness.
"Life will not always be fair," I said. "You must learn that now. Your teachers will assign additional homework in preparation for our journey."
The children groaned in protest, but Chloe's satisfied smile softened the atmosphere. They were learning discipline, yet their joy remained intact.
Hinata watched, her expression softening as well.
"You go soft so easily," she remarked.
"Do you oppose this, Hinata?" I asked, my gaze steady and commanding.
"Tsk—never said that," she replied, irritated yet unconvinced.
With that, the plan was settled.
We would attend the music exchange in Lubelius. The day our band departed, the children would accompany us, ready to witness and participate in a broader world beyond Eterna—under my guidance, disciplined yet free to explore.