The Royal Capital, Re-Estize — Ro-Lente Castle.
Inside one of the elegantly decorated chambers befitting a royal palace, a small group of women sat around a round table.
Though all of them were fair and striking to behold, not one wore an expression suited for a cheerful afternoon tea party. Their eyes were sharp. Their posture attentive. Their presence—decisive.
Gathered at the table were:
Princess Renner: known throughout the kingdom as the "Golden Princess,"
Renner Theiere Chardelon Ryle Vaiself, the kingdom's third princess. And the legendary all-female Adamantite adventurer team:
Blue Rose — five powerful heroines whose names echoed across the land.
Standing by the door was a young armored attendant—almost a boy, but already marked by discipline: Climb, Renner's loyal retainer. His eyes stayed forward, watching for any danger.
"Everyone… thank you for your hard work today."
Renner spoke in a gentle, bell-like voice as she bowed her head softly.
In front of her lay a simple map of the royal capital's surrounding areas.
Several marks were already drawn on it—crossed-out symbols representing destroyed hideouts. Moments ago, a new kill mark had been added.
"Laila's powder… the black dust," Gagaran muttered, her tone rough.
"Those bastards from Eight Fingers really dumped something nasty on this country."
Gagaran, the lone muscular giant among the otherwise dazzling women, leaned her cheek against her fist as she stared at the map. Her presence at the table was so unique she seemed like a different species entirely—but an invaluable one.
"That's right," Renner replied. "If this keeps spreading, the whole country will rot from the inside out."
Black Powder — Dark Powder was a drug produced and trafficked by Eight Fingers, the criminal syndicate controlling Re-Estize's underworld.
Slave trading. Smuggling. Assassinations. Kidnapping. Theft. Gambling.
They were a festering cancer feeding off the kingdom.
And many nobles shielded them, eager to profit from the decay.
Thus, this group had gathered here—
To carve a path toward a different future.
The kill mark on the map signified another destroyed Eight Fingers facility.
They had been systematically dismantling the syndicate's operations under Renner's direction.
Blue Rose did not always agree with serving a royal princess. Adventurers were not supposed to involve themselves in politics. But every one of them loved their kingdom enough to act when it mattered.
"Well, that's why we're smashing every one of their holes, Boss Demon,"
said one half of the twin ninjas, Tee.
"And that's why we gotta squash them all, Demon Leader," added Tia.
The two spoke in the same low-energy monotone, making them nearly indistinguishable.
"I truly appreciate all of you," Renner said sincerely.
"If not for Blue Rose, things would have gone far worse by now—"
"Stop that."
Lakyus Alvein Dale Aindra, her old friend and Blue Rose's leader, gently cut her off with a raised hand.
"Between us, formalities are unnecessary."
Another voice in the room cut through the moment—the slightly muffled tone of the masked girl, Evileye.
"…You three sure love chatting. When do we strike?"
Silence fell instantly.
Everyone knew exactly what she meant.
Renner sipped her cooling tea before answering.
"…We're still finalizing the timing. But most likely within a week. Please stay ready to deploy at any time."
"Heh. The festival's finally starting," Gagaran grinned savagely.
"Let's make it flashy."
The other women smiled quietly, letting her fierce enthusiasm infect them.
"With the main bases exposed and with the cooperation of Marquis Raeven and Sir Gazef, we finally have the perfect chance to crush Eight Fingers. But if we miss this window, they'll crawl back into the shadows."
Her eyes sharpened.
"One chance. Just one. Please lend me your strength—for the kingdom's future."
Renner clasped her hands together as if in prayer.
Lakyus placed her hand over Renner's.
"Of course."
United as warriors—and as friends—Blue Rose nodded.
The day of reckoning with Eight Fingers was close.
After leaving the castle, Blue Rose rode in a large carriage toward their base.
The air inside the carriage was more relaxed compared to the intense atmosphere before.
"…I'd like this cat-and-mouse game to end already," Evileye sighed.
Lakyus nodded.
"We've destroyed several Dark Powder farms, but they were likely only a fraction. Unless we crush their headquarters, it'll never end."
Her expression showed fatigue—understandable.
As both a hero and a princess's close ally, she had pushed herself ceaselessly.
"But once we find their nest, it's our win. The only real threats are their top enforcers—the Six Arms."
"Six of them, five of us," Tee murmured.
"Numbers don't favor us," Tia added.
"And it's their turf," Lakyus said.
"We'll be fighting in enemy territory. Be cautious."
Everyone nodded.
Overconfidence meant death.
"Speaking of strong people…" Evileye shifted the subject.
"Did you know? A third Adamantite adventurer team was born in E-Rantel."
"What?!" Gagaran sat up.
"First I've heard of that! Anyone know?"
The twins nodded.
Lakyus shook her head.
"So? What kind of team?"
"…Not a team."
"…Huh?"
"A single person. Not a group. Not a party.
A solo Adamantite adventurer."
"…Explain," Lakyus demanded.
Evileye lifted a finger.
"One woman. Name: Momon."
"…What?"
"She reached Adamantite alone."
"What the hell!? That's impossible!" Gagaran shouted.
It was the natural reaction.
Individual strength reaching Adamantite was utterly unheard of.
"We're not sure we believe it either. But E-Rantel calls her the Jet-Black Beauty, nicknamed the Black Princess."
"…A princess? So she's a woman," Lakyus said quietly.
"Yes. Always in black full plate. Face hidden. But supposedly—a goddess or angel in appearance."
Blue Rose fell quiet.
"Gorgeous and monstrously strong… sounds familiar," Gagaran muttered.
"But still. What did she do?" Lakyus asked.
Evileye folded her arms and began listing:
"She slew a magical monstrosity estimated at difficulty level two hundred.
She annihilated a union of northern goblin tribes.
She hunted a Gigant Basilisk.
And captured—alive—Brain Unglaus, who'd turned to banditry."
"…Level two hundred…"
"…Gigant Basilisk…"
The air grew heavy.
"That's ridiculous," Gagaran said weakly.
"No way that's real…"
"Licensed and acknowledged by the guild," Evileye countered.
"Make of it what you will."
Gagaran swallowed.
"And she's… a good person?" Lakyus asked.
"So rumor says. Likes helping people. Plays with children. Helps collapsed women. Very popular in E-Rantel."
"…A true hero," Lakyus murmured.
"And apparently she swings a huge greatsword with one hand," Tee added.
"And casts third-tier magic," Tia continued.
"…What the hell is she…" Gagaran groaned.
Lakyus gave a faint smile.
"If she aided us, this operation would be so much easier…"
"Her base is in E-Rantel," the twins said.
"…We'll meet her eventually," Evileye added.
Elsewhere in the Royal Capital — within the darkness of night.
Figures slipped through the streets, converging quietly in a hidden location.
These were the leaders of Eight Fingers, the eight-headed serpent dominating the kingdom's underworld.
Their regular council meeting had begun—attendance mandatory, on pain of death.
"Another one taken out," said Hilma Cygnaeus, head of the drug division, calmly exhaling smoke.
"Sixth one so far. Is the Dark Powder supply stable?"
"Stable enough. Demand keeps rising. We lost a farm, but plenty remain."
The conversation moved quickly, detached, almost routine. But tonight's meeting was not like past ones.
Hilma's eyes shifted to two outsiders at the table.
"And who are those two weirdos?"
The "weirdos" were seated beside Zero, the head of the Security Division:
A decrepit elderly man.
And a pale, twitchy white-haired woman chewing her nails.
"Let me introduce our special guests," Zero said with a grin.
"A new addition to the Six Arms—
Khajiit, one of Zurrernorn's Twelve High Disciples. A magic caster whose power rivals even the undead king Dybaernoc."
The old man glared sidelong.
"And his followers as well."
Zero continued.
"And this woman—
Clementine. Also one of the Zurrernorn Twelve High Disciples, and formerly of the Slane Theocracy's Six Scriptures."
Shock rippled across the table.
"A Six Scripture operative…? That strong?"
"She exceeds even me in pure combat ability," Zero said.
"A woman so strong she could reach heroic realm—surpassing even Gazef."
But Clementine only twitched, muttering to herself…
Her entire aura was unstable, violent, wrong.
Hilma narrowed her eyes.
"Aren't you scared she'll go wild?"
Zero shrugged.
"Found her broken. Mind shattered, muttering nonsense, crying, raging. Gave her Dark Powder to stabilize her. As long as we control the supply—she's manageable. Probably."
That did not inspire confidence.
"And… what did that girl—M—"
Hilma didn't finish the name.
But Clementine heard it.
Faster than anyone could react—
STAB.
A scream exploded.
"KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!"
Clementine was behind Cocodoll, pinning his hand to the table with a stiletto through flesh and bone. Blood splattered like crushed fruit.
She twisted the blade cruelly, grinning inches from his face.
"Ooooiii, you filthy little worm… Don't EVER say THAT name in front of me… Should I make you a pretty little flower pot with holes all over your body?"
"P-please—!! It hurts—!! Stop—!! PLEASE—!!"
Clementine stabbed again. And again. And again.
Her breath wild, her eyes bloodshot, her expression a demonic caricature of joy and hatred.
"STOP, CLEMENTINE!!" Zero shouted as he grabbed her from behind.
"SHUT UUUUP!! I'LL KILL YOU TOO!!!"
It took drug-soaked cloth and brute force to subdue her.
Even unconscious, her face still twisted with murderous madness.
Zero faced the table, drenched in sweat.
"You see. Don't mention that name around her. Not even indirectly."
Silence. Fear.
Then Zero continued, wiping his brow.
"We have one more new ally—Brain Unglaus."
A wave of shock hit the room.
"The Brain? Gazef's rival? How did you lure him!?"
Zero simply jerked his chin toward Clementine.
"…You understand."
Silence.
Momon again.
What did she do to Clementine?
Why does her name trigger a killing frenzy?
No one dared ask.
But Eight Fingers also knew:
Momon operated in E-Rantel.
Far from the capital.
Not an immediate threat—yet.
"…Remarkable," Hilma whispered.
"Catching Khajiit, Clementine, and Brain…"
The power was unprecedented.
Greater than the kingdom's warrior guilds, greater than the empire's Four Knights, greater even than the Holy Kingdom's Nine Colors.
Zero basked in the tension.
"With these forces, Six Arms is at its strongest. This will never happen again."
He spread his arms.
"So… support us.
Invest in us.
Lend Eight Fingers' full might to my division."
"What… are you planning?" someone asked.
Zero's grin deepened.
"We'll cause chaos in the capital. And then—
We'll wipe out Blue Rose and the Warrior Captain."
Everyone inhaled sharply.
"With them gone, the Royal Faction collapses.
The nobility under our influence will rise.
We'll own the kingdom."
Murmurs, gasps, awe.
"And Eight Fingers will flourish more than ever—Dark Powder farms expanded, slave trade reinstated… all within reach."
He slammed his fist on the table.
"This is the greatest chance in Eight Fingers' history.
Invest in us.
Or you'll regret it."
Outside, the night deepened—
as if the darkness itself were gathering strength