It was a bright morning; the warm sunlight brushed against my face as if promising a peaceful day. I allowed myself a small breath of calm—
—but that prediction shattered instantly.
A novice Holy Knight burst through the doors, pale and shaking.
"Th-this is a crisis! The Grand Cathedral has been breached! Our forces are already engaged—!"
So much for a peaceful morning.
Before I could speak, Hinata had already responded with razor-sharp calm.
"Compose yourself. Report clearly. How many intruders? How many casualties?"
Her ice-cold tone reminded me how terrifying she could be as an enemy.
"Yes, ma'am!" the knight replied, snapping to attention. "Enemy numbers are unknown, but estimated close to a hundred. Their strength is at least B-plus class. They are moving with coordinated precision—they know the nation's layout intimately!"
A hundred B+ operatives was no trivial threat.
And if they knew the layout…
Granbell's men.
Without question.
"Casualties?" Hinata pressed.
The knight swallowed.
"Several novice knights injured. Multiple deaths and severe wounds among the Pope's Imperial Guard. Civilians are unharmed."
Had this been Eterna, my homeland, I would have destroyed the enemy before their second breath.
But this was Lubelius, not my kingdom. I could not act freely without consequence.
Hinata nodded, expression unchanging.
"Then it is exactly as expected. The leader of the Seven Luminaries—Sun Priest Gran—and the Rosso family. Their true combat strength will be far superior to this first wave. Mobilize all Holy Knights. Prepare for a full-scale engagement."
No hesitation.
No mercy.
That was Hinata.
I watched her, impressed despite myself.
Still, one issue burned at the back of my mind.
"The Grand Cathedral…" I said, narrowing my eyes. "Is that the same place where the instruments were set up?"
If so, then—
"There is only one Grand Cathedral in this nation," Hinata answered flatly.
Of course.
My predictions had a frustrating habit of being right.
I turned to Diablo, the ever-unfaltering shadow at my side.
His smile remained elegant and calm.
No danger had reached the children.
No threat skirted the defenses he and Venom established.
Through Solarys, Sovereign of Wisdom, he reported to me instantly.
"The band continues rehearsal undisturbed. No enemy has breached their perimeter."
I exhaled—a controlled release of pressure.
"With everything collapsing around them, they remain focused," I muttered.
Diablo chuckled softly.
"Kufufufu… naturally. Anyone incapable of that would be unworthy to serve under me."
His confidence was a mountain.
Sometimes I wondered if anything could ever shake him.
"Well then," I said, rising to my feet, "let us not waste time. We head to the Grand Cathedral."
As King of Eterna, I did not rush—I decided, and the world obeyed.
Space rippled at my fingertips.
Even inside Lubelius' holy barrier, Solarys parted the resistance like silk.
A portal opened instantly.
Hinata stared at it, sighed heavily, and muttered,
"Phew… I don't even have the energy to mock you. Just take me with you."
Why was she so exhausted so early in the morning?
I decided not to comment. Even a Pharaoh knows when to hold his tongue.
Nicolaus joined us as well.
At first glance he seemed like a simple servant, apron still tied around his waist—yet beneath it, he wore the regal robes of a High Cardinal of the Western Holy Church.
A strange man. A dangerous man.
But trustworthy—for now.
The children had already gone ahead earlier, full of energy.
Normally I would not worry, but this world delighted in mishaps.
And I would allow no harm to reach them.
Not while I draw breath.
With that conviction, I stepped through the portal—
and into the heart of the chaos.
A cacophony of intense clashes resonated outside the Grand Cathedral as I arrived, my eyes immediately finding the band members, their faces etched with fear. The sight of them stirred something within me—a sense of responsibility and authority that demanded immediate action.
At that moment, Shion's voice rang out, sharp and commanding. "Don't worry! Have you all forgotten what Atem-sama said? He promised to ensure your safety! You should focus on your performance and trust him! Didn't Atem-sama say that? So why are you hesitating?"
I tilted my head slightly, observing. Eh…cut them some slack. Shion-san, have you not realized that this is a battlefield? Asking non-combatants to suppress fear so rigidly, no matter how noble, seems harsh—even for a king.
"Shion-sama, forgive me. I was panicking a little," Takt muttered, his tone sheepish.
—Eh?
Yet, just like that, Takt regained his composure, his eyes flicking over the band members as he raised his conductor's baton with renewed determination. Their gazes followed mine, and for reasons unclear, a sense of calm returned. Smiles even crept back onto their faces.
"Then let's continue practice!" Takt declared, his voice confident and unwavering. The rest of the band followed suit as if nothing had happened. Notes of music soared, beautiful and precise, blending with the chaos outside. The music wasn't merely background—it became a force in itself, vibrant enough to rival the sounds of battle. Watching them, I allowed myself a subtle nod of approval. Their courage was commendable. Fighting while a score played in the background—it felt like a grand stage drama.
I quickly located the children and reminded them not to run around.
"You have me here, Arinsu?" Kumara's small form radiated fighting spirit.
I shook my head. Now was not the time. Kumara had only one tail and was far too young to engage in battle. Like the children, she needed protection rather than combat. I instructed Shion and Diablo to guard them carefully.
"What are your plans, Atem-sama?" Shion asked, concern lacing her voice.
"I will remove the threat. Hinata and her team are engaging the masterminds behind this, so I will handle those interfering with our performance."
Even as a guest in Eterna, I would not allow this disruption to continue. The band's dedication demanded results.
"—Understood," Shion replied.
She turned to Diablo, clearly surprised. "Second Secretary, you actually obeyed Atem-sama's order? I didn't expect that."
I smirked slightly. Even I was mildly surprised. It seemed that Diablo recognized the authority of my command. Better yet, this meant fewer distractions in the cathedral.
"I will leave the safety of this place in your capable hands," I stated.
"Very well. May you emerge victorious," Diablo responded, his tone firm yet respectful.
Shion opened her mouth as if to argue, but the moment passed. I took the opportunity to step toward the battlefield.
The scene at the cathedral entrance was chaos incarnate. The gate lay in ruins, shattered beyond recognition, and over a hundred combatants clashed with unrelenting fury. Yet my attention was drawn to one figure in particular—Hinata's opponent.
An elderly man, yet imposing beyond his age, stood with flawless posture. He wore a sharply tailored suit, his eyes sharp, radiating an aura that defied human or monster categorization. His presence was undeniably commanding.
"Who is that man?" I murmured.
"Granbell Rosso," someone answered. "He is the head of the Five Great Elders, leader of the Rosso family."
Recognition clicked into place. Granbell…a name with a reputation to match his overwhelming aura.
He spoke sharply, issuing commands. "Maria, locate Luminas-sama and bring her here. Resistance is permissible—eliminate her if necessary."
From his words emerged a woman—Maria—resembling Mariabell in appearance. Their similarity suggested a familial link, yet my analysis indicated otherwise.
«Answer. Genetic analysis indicates no blood relation.»
How Solarys determined that so quickly was beyond me. Regardless, Maria's robotic obedience confirmed her status as a highly capable agent, though perhaps not yet a threat to Luminas. I decided not to dwell. Granbell's intentions were clear: he wished to escalate the situation, and diplomacy alone would not suffice.
I stepped forward, authority radiating from every movement. "Granbell-san, I am Demon Lord Atem. A pleasure to meet you."
He scowled. "So you are the Demon Lord Atem? How dare you—"
I anticipated his accusation of Mariabell's death. "Your fault and hers are irrelevant now. What matters is that this ends swiftly."
«Report. Peaceful resolution improbable. Conflict necessary.»
Indeed, Granbell's ego suggested negotiation would fail. Strength alone would have to dictate the outcome.
"Then let us determine the rightful side through battle," I declared.
Granbell chuckled cruelly. "You speak boldly, newbie demon lord. Think you can defeat me? Watch your friends crumble while I dispose of you."
Newbie demon lord…a slight insult, but I remained composed. His arrogance was noted—but my focus was absolute.
Others rushed to intervene. "Hinata-sama and Demon Lord Atem-dono need not fight! We will face Granbell!" shouted Cardinal Nicolaus, taking the initiative.
The three captains of the Holy Knight Order—Leonard, Arnaud, and Ritase—joined, coordinating with Nicolaus. Their combined assault should have overwhelmed Granbell, yet he moved with terrifying elegance. His strikes flowed like a deadly dance, effortless and precise, barely breaking a sweat.
Nicolaus completed his spell—Disintegration—designed to annihilate Granbell. The beam of light should have ended him instantly, yet Granbell merely absorbed the attack with his sword.
A faint recognition flashed in my mind. The
technique mirrored the ultimate holy sword art: 'Melt Slash,' once mastered by Hinata.
"Everyone, spread out!" Hinata commanded, realizing the danger.
Even her legendary-grade Moonlight Rapier couldn't fully block Granbell's attack, sending her flying into Nicolaus. Both survived, but Nicolaus suffered severe injuries, and the captains were incapacitated. Without my intervention via 'Absolute Defense,' they might have been obliterated.
Granbell's arrogance only deepened. "So, others can wield Melt Slash? Interesting. Perhaps your kind is worth noticing."
Hinata's resolve hardened. "Enough. You are mine now."
Before I could intervene, a massive explosion shook the cathedral—Razul's handiwork, flamboyant and destructive. Children and the band remained inside, shielded by Shion and Diablo, but any stray combat inside would be disastrous. I prepared to teleport back to handle Granbell myself.
He stopped me with a mocking tone. "Demon Lord Atem, face these people first. They may be your own countrymen—entertain yourself."
Otherworlders under his control emerged, each possessing magicule content far beyond ordinary humans. Their free will suppressed by his curse, they charged me simultaneously.
Granbell's voice cut through my thoughts. "Are you hesitant to strike the innocent? Choose wisely, King of Games. Your hesitation will define the battlefield."
Cunning. He had studied me, predicting my strategy.
I clenched my fists. "So be it. Then I shall demonstrate the true authority of Atem, King of Games."
One by one, I dispelled the curses with surgical precision, incapacitating the otherworlders without harm. Each motion was deliberate, every action imbued with authority. This battlefield was mine to command, and no one would suffer under my protection—not the innocent, not the untrained.
The clash erupted, controlled yet overwhelming. Atem's aura projected dominance, bending even cursed opponents to his will. Granbell had planned to manipulate me into hesitation, but he underestimated the authority of a sovereign who does not merely fight—he dictates the terms of engagement.