After the meeting ended, Vergil and Freya returned to their chambers.
Mina stretched her arms and glanced at a rather unusual device in her hand.
Risa noticed it immediately.
"What is that?" she asked Ashcroft curiously.
Ashcroft smiled slightly.
"That device is called a smartphone."
He continued,
"Only members of the royal family and certain royal personnel are allowed to have one."
Ashcroft paused before adding politely,
"I actually intended to give one to you earlier, Lady Risa. Unfortunately, the meeting was called so suddenly that I didn't have the chance."
He reached into his coat and handed her a device.
"Since you're here now, it would be the perfect time."
Risa looked at the device in surprise.
Ashcroft then patiently explained how to operate the smartphone and its basic functions.
Meanwhile, Shiroi and Kurogami exited the meeting room a little later, discussing preparations for the upcoming festival.
Kurogami glanced toward Risa and smirked slightly.
"You should take her around Dark Village."
Risa nodded eagerly.
"I would actually love to see the real city."
Shiroi sighed softly, though there was a faint smile on his face.
He gently took Risa's hand.
"Alright. Let's go."
Before leaving the palace grounds, Shiroi first gave Risa a brief tour of the palace itself.
Afterward, they headed toward the palace gates.
The gate guards immediately saluted.
Shiroi stopped briefly and spoke calmly.
"The woman with me is permitted to enter and leave the palace freely."
One of the guards hesitated.
"Your Majesty… are you certain?"
Shiroi nodded.
"She is my future wife. But for now, keep it quiet until the official announcement."
The guard straightened immediately.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Shiroi then guided Risa toward the central plaza of Dark Village.
At the center stood a large fountain, surrounded by bustling citizens.
Many residents walked through the square while others were busy with their work.
Nearby, a group of orcs were working on a construction project. An elf woman was delivering food to them.
Across the plaza, Risa saw halfling children playing happily with goblins.
A heavily armored minotaur soldier was helping an elderly woman carry her groceries.
At one point, he even lifted her onto his shoulder to help her walk more easily.
Risa watched everything in amazement.
"What's the secret?" she asked.
"How can the Kainaldia Empire work like this?"
Shiroi smiled calmly.
"The secret is simple."
He looked around at the people in the plaza.
"Everyone chooses to cooperate—and they leave their pride behind."
He continued,
"Kainaldia wasn't built overnight. It's the result of a long process."
He looked back at Risa.
"Every resident, regardless of race, has the same right—to live happily."
His tone hardened slightly.
"And if anyone tries to destroy that balance…"
His eyes briefly flashed with power.
"I will personally unleash my true strength."
At that moment, a beastfolk child suddenly recognized him.
"Hey! Emperor Shiroi!"
The child ran up casually.
Shiroi immediately smiled warmly.
Soon, more citizens realized their Emperor was standing in the public square.
People began gathering around to greet him.
Despite the growing crowd, Shiroi continued smiling and greeting everyone patiently.
"Welcome back, Your Majesty!"
"Thank you for everything!"
Shiroi raised his hand slightly.
"This is the result of everyone's hard work. The government only returns what has always belonged to the people."
The beastfolk child tugged on his sleeve.
"Will the festival happen like usual?"
Shiroi picked the child up and placed them on his arm.
"It will," he said with a grin. "But I'll also have an important announcement during the opening ceremony.
The surrounding citizens became excited.
"We can't wait to hear it!"
At that moment, a palace guard hurried into the plaza.
He quickly saluted when he saw Shiroi.
"Your Majesty! The Northern Army has arrived. Lady Shiroyuki is leading them here with their banners."
Shiroi nodded calmly.
"Everyone, please step aside."
He raised his voice slightly so the crowd could hear.
"They bring very good news."
The citizens quickly cleared a path.
Soon, a fully armed formation of soldiers marched into the plaza.
The crowd noticed something else—the banner of the Northen Army standing proudly beside them.
The soldiers marched with discipline toward the central fountain.
Shiroi stepped forward and waited.
Moments later, the formation halted in front of him.
At their head stood a woman with an icy, commanding aura.
She saluted sharply and spoke with a loud, clear voice.
"Your Majesty! I report that the Northern Kingdom has surrendered unconditionally. Their territory is now part of the Kainaldia Empire."
The crowd gasped.
She continued,
"The people of the Northern Kingdom have long suffered under their previous rule. Many of them willingly assisted our forces and have requested to become citizens of the Kainaldia Empire."
Her voice remained firm.
"They witnessed soldiers of different races fighting and supporting each other without discrimination."
She finished her report.
"Our forces sustained approximately 2,500 injuries… but there were no fatalities."
Shiroi raised his voice proudly.
"Report accepted."
He looked at the assembled army.
"Welcome home, soldiers."
The entire plaza erupted into cheers.
Shiroi raised his hand again.
"Dismiss formation. Return home to your families."
The cheering grew even louder.
Citizens rushed forward as they recognized family members within the ranks.
Soldiers embraced their loved ones, the plaza filling with laughter, tears, and celebration.
The woman who had led the military formation stepped forward toward Shiroi.
Her presence carried a cold, commanding aura.
She glanced at Risa before asking calmly,
"So… is this the woman who will become your wife?"
Risa instinctively shivered.
The air around the woman felt extremely cold, like standing in the middle of a snowstorm.
Without thinking, Risa stepped behind Shiroi.
Shiroi sighed lightly.
"Aunt Shiroyuki… could you stop releasing your Blizzard Aura for a moment?"
Shiroyuki blinked in surprise.
"Oh."
She immediately stepped back slightly.
"My apologies."
The cold pressure in the air faded almost instantly. Shiroyuki then gave Risa a gentle smile.
Shiroi explained,
"My Aunt Shiroyuki has had trouble controlling her Blizzard Aura since birth. Anyone standing near her can feel intense cold… no matter the season."
Risa slowly stepped forward again.
She bowed politely.
"My name is Risa. It's an honor to meet you."
She smiled nervously.
"I'm happy to finally meet another member of Shiroi's family."
Shiroyuki chuckled softly.
"You don't need to worry so much."
She added with a playful tone,
"If you're going to marry into the Ragnaros family, you'll eventually get used to all of our… peculiarities."
Risa glanced at Shiroi.
"Doesn't it bother you?"
Shiroi shrugged casually.
"I've already gotten used to it. Besides, Aunt Shiroyuki is actually very kind."
He smiled slightly.
"Her aura just happens to feel like a snowstorm."
Risa thought for a moment before asking another question.
"Then what about Aunt Kazumi? Her gaze feels as cold as ice."
Shiroyuki laughed quietly.
"People who don't know her often think she's cold and rigid."
She shook her head.
"But in reality, Kazumi is very kind and deeply caring."
Risa quickly bowed again.
"I'm sorry. I didn't know how to react earlier."
Shiroyuki waved her hand casually.
"It's fine. You haven't met the entire Ragnaros family yet."
Risa blinked.
"There are more?"
Shiroyuki nodded.
"Oh yes."
She smirked slightly.
"And Shiroi's father is the most terrifying of them all."
Risa's eyes widened.
"Really…?"
"You might feel like running away just by standing in front of him—even if you've done nothing wrong."
Risa slowly turned toward Shiroi.
"Is he really that scary?"
Shiroi simply nodded.
Shiroyuki then turned back toward the assembled soldiers.
Her tone immediately shifted back to that of a commander.
"Before returning home, report to the barracks and store the banners properly."
She crossed her arms.
"Once that's finished, you are dismissed."
The soldiers responded in unison.
"Yes, Commander!"
Shiroi spoke again.
"You returned at the perfect time, Aunt Shiroyuki. The Kainaldia Festival begins in two weeks."
Shiroyuki nodded.
"With the northern campaign finished, I can finally relax."
She glanced toward the city.
"The festival will proceed as usual, correct?"
Shiroi nodded.
"Of course."
Shiroyuki then looked up at the sky.
The sun was already beginning to set.
"It's getting late," she said calmly.
She looked at Shiroi and Risa.
"You two should return to the palace."
Shiroi, Risa, and Shiroyuki soon made their way back to the palace.
As soon as they arrived at the palace gates, Ashcroft was already waiting for them. His usually calm expression carried a hint of concern.
"Your Majesty," Ashcroft said with a respectful bow. "Everyone at the palace has been waiting for you. The senior officials of the Empire are already gathered."
Shiroi frowned slightly. "Waiting for me? I don't remember scheduling any meetings today."
"They requested an urgent audience," Ashcroft replied. "They wish to discuss the preparations for the upcoming festival."
Shiroi let out a quiet sigh. "Of course they do…"
He then glanced at Risa. "Looks like we're heading to the meeting room."
Risa nodded and followed him as they entered the palace.
When they arrived at the meeting chamber, it was already filled with high-ranking officials of the Kainaldia Empire.
Shiroi walked to the head of the table and took his seat. Risa stood quietly beside him.
As she looked around the room, Risa noticed something that caught her attention. The ministers and officials present were not only humans—many different races were represented. There were Oni, Orcs, Dryads, Beastfolk, and several others she had never seen before.
Shiroi leaned back slightly in his chair.
"So," he said calmly, looking across the room, "what's so urgent that it couldn't wait until tomorrow?"
One of the generals stepped forward. He was a tall man from the Oni race with crimson skin and sharp horns.
"Your Majesty," the Oni general began, "during your visit to the Alfana Kingdom a few days ago, many new groups arrived within the territory of the Kainaldia Empire."
Shiroi nodded slowly.
"Most of them have already been registered as official residents," the general continued. "They have accepted the laws of the Empire and have been granted citizenship."
A female Oni officer then spoke up.
"However… some of the newly arrived races and several Beastfolk tribes have made a request. They want to see the Emperor for themselves."
Shiroi raised an eyebrow.
"See me?"
"They want to know what kind of person rules the Empire," she explained. "And… some of them wish to see how strong the Emperor truly is."
Shiroi gave a small nod, understanding the implication.
Beside him, Risa looked slightly confused.
"Wait… do they not know who Emperor Shiroi is?" she asked quietly.
An Orc minister wearing a neat formal uniform chuckled softly.
"In some cultures," he explained, "the strongest warrior becomes the leader of the tribe. Naturally, they judge rulers based on strength."
He crossed his arms.
"And some are simply curious about the man who governs the land they now call home."
Before Risa could respond, a gentle voice came from the side of the table.
A Dryad woman tilted her head slightly, her leaf-like hair swaying.
"And who might this young lady be?" she asked.
The room's attention shifted toward Risa.
Shiroi glanced briefly at Ashcroft before speaking calmly.
"I will make a formal announcement soon."
The female Oni officer spoke again.
"In that case, Your Majesty… it might be best to hold a public audience tomorrow afternoon. Everything can be arranged quickly."
Shiroi considered it for a moment, then nodded.
"That works perfectly."
He leaned forward slightly.
"It will also be the perfect opportunity to make my announcement."
He looked around the room.
"Inform everyone. My uncle Vergil and Aunt Freya should also be present for the open audience."
Several officials nodded immediately.
With that decided, Shiroi rose from his chair.
"That will be all for today," he said. "Get some rest. Tomorrow afternoon, the leaders of the Kainaldia Empire will gather again."
The officials stood simultaneously and bowed before leaving the chamber one by one.
Soon the room fell quiet.
Shiroi leaned back in his chair and let out a long breath.
"…Tomorrow is going to be a long day."
The next day at noon, the Open Audience with Emperor Shiroi officially began.
The grand plaza in front of the palace was filled with citizens. Many of them were from races other than humans—Beastfolk, Orcs, Oni, Elves, Dryads, Dwarves, and many others who had gathered to witness the event.
Shiroi stood on the elevated platform prepared for the audience. Beside him stood Risa, who looked both nervous and amazed by the massive crowd before them.
Around the platform stood the highest officials of the Kainaldia Empire.
Vergil and Freya were present together with all of their children. Kazumi, Shiroyuki, and Aeka were also there, each dressed in formal royal attire as they stood among the Empire's leaders.
The Custodes Guard stood at attention around the plaza.
Their presence alone commanded respect. Each of them wore imposing armor forged from a special golden metal, polished until it shone under the sunlight. In their hands they carried unique hybrid weapons—long spears integrated with large-caliber firearms.
They stood completely still, radiating absolute discipline.
Shiroi stepped forward slightly and raised his hand.
The crowd slowly fell silent.
"Before this open audience begins," Shiroi announced with a calm but clear voice, "I have some good news I would like to share first."
He briefly glanced toward the leaders of the Empire standing beside him, then turned his gaze back toward the gathered citizens.
"The woman standing beside me today…"
He paused for a moment.
"…is my future wife."
A wave of surprised murmurs spread through the crowd.
Shiroi continued,
"I would also like to apologize to the leaders of the Kainaldia Empire. I intended to share this news earlier, but preparations for the upcoming Kainaldia Festival have kept us all extremely busy."
He gently gestured toward the woman beside him.
"Allow me to introduce her properly."
"This is Risa En Swardberg, a noblewoman from the Alfana Kingdom."
Risa bowed politely toward the crowd.
Shiroi smiled faintly before adding one more sentence.
"And yes… I fell in love with her at first sight."
The entire plaza erupted with excitement.
Many citizens had already seen Shiroi walking through the city with Risa the day before, but very few had known who she truly was.
Now the truth had been revealed.
Cheers, applause, and joyful laughter filled the square.
After allowing the crowd a moment to celebrate, Shiroi raised his hand once more.
The noise gradually settled.
"With that announcement made," Shiroi said firmly, "we will now begin the Open Audience."
The first group to step forward was led by King Arma of the Lizardman tribe.
King Arma approached the platform with pride and immediately knelt before the Emperor.
Shiroi raised a hand gently.
"Please stand, King Arma."
The Lizardman leader hesitated but obeyed.
"The Kainaldia Empire opened its population policies long ago," Shiroi continued warmly. "The Lizardmen were among the first to accept them. You stood beside us when we fought against the forces of Demon Emperor Razquaz."
He smiled slightly.
"Our peoples share the same values."
King Arma nodded deeply.
"We are grateful, Your Majesty. Recently, the Imperial soldiers helped us drive away dangerous beasts that had been disturbing the river near our cave settlements."
Shiroi chuckled softly.
"The Empire protects all of its citizens."
The two shared a brief laugh before the Lizardman delegation respectfully stepped aside.
The second group came from the Minos tribe, who lived beyond the Red River.
The large, horned people knelt respectfully.
"We are honored to meet you, Emperor Shiroi," one of them said. "However… we are facing a problem."
Shiroi leaned forward slightly.
"What kind of problem?"
"Our farms are failing," the Minos explained. "We live in the mountains across the Red River. The climate is cold, and the wheat seeds we have do not grow well in the soil."
Shiroi nodded thoughtfully.
He turned toward one of his ministers.
"Lady Nanami. Send agricultural researchers to investigate the soil conditions there."
Nanami bowed immediately.
"If necessary," Shiroi continued, "the Minos tribe will also receive the fertilizer currently being produced by the Empire."
One of the Minos blinked in confusion.
"Fertilizer…?"
Shiroi smiled.
"It is additional nourishment for the soil. It helps crops grow stronger and more fertile."
The Minos delegation immediately knelt again.
"We thank you, Your Majesty."
"We will await your assistance."
The third group consisted of Elves.
Their leader was an elegant man who introduced himself as the chief of an Elven village located in the northern forests near Apple Gate Town.
"We wish to thank you, Emperor Shiroi," the Elf leader said respectfully. "Since the establishment of Apple Gate Town, our agricultural products can now be sold at stable prices."
Shiroi nodded.
"I simply facilitated the development of the town. The Arudi Dungeon is located there, and adventurers need a place to prepare their equipment and supplies."
The Elf chief smiled.
"It has also allowed our people to sharpen their archery skills. Some of our young warriors have even become heroes in other kingdoms after joining famous adventuring parties."
Shiroi smiled proudly.
"Then I look forward to seeing the next generation of Elven adventurers rise."
The next delegation came from a Beastfolk tribe whose members had human-like appearances but possessed horse ears and tails.
Their leader, a strong-looking woman, stepped forward.
She bowed respectfully.
"We are grateful, Emperor Shiroi. Not only did you accept our people as citizens of the Kainaldia Empire… you also provided education and fair employment opportunities for our tribe."
Shiroi nodded.
"To be honest, the Empire still needs more workers."
He stepped forward slightly.
"Especially now."
The crowd grew curious.
Shiroi raised his voice so everyone could hear.
"The Northern Kingdom has surrendered completely. Their territory is now part of the Kainaldia Empire."
Gasps and excited murmurs spread across the plaza.
"For available positions and opportunities," Shiroi continued, "my ministers will soon conduct a full survey of the region."
The Custodes Guards reacted with proud cheers.
The delegations from various races also began celebrating, shouting the name of their Emperor with excitement.
"Emperor Shiroi!"
"Long live the Emperor!"
The next group stepped forward.
This time, it was another Beastfolk tribe, but their leader was a tall wolf-like man who stood upright and spoke fluently like a human.
The Wulffern chieftain bowed respectfully.
"This is my first time meeting you in person, Your Majesty."
Shiroi nodded.
"I'm glad to see another Wulffern tribe joining us."
The chieftain continued,
"The fertilizer your Empire provided has greatly improved our harvests. We would like to learn how to produce it ourselves."
Shiroi smiled.
"That can be arranged. The fertilizer is made using compost materials."
He nodded reassuringly.
"I will have experts teach your people how to produce it."
Suddenly—
BOOM.
A massive explosion echoed from the direction of the city center.
The entire plaza fell silent.
Immediately, Shiroi, Vergil, Freya, Kazumi, Shiroyuki, and all seven of Vergil's children felt it.
A powerful disturbance in the air.
Shiroi narrowed his eyes.
"…Two energies."
He could feel them clearly.
"Opposing elements."
"They're fighting."
Risa looked startled.
Shiroi gently touched her shoulder.
"Stay calm."
Then, with a subtle nod, he signaled Vergil, his family, and several ministers.
They understood immediately.
Without another word—
Shiroi leapt into the air, heading straight toward the source of the explosion.
Vergil and the others followed instantly.
Meanwhile, the Custodes Guard quickly formed a defensive formation around the plaza.
Their weapons locked into position.
Their priority was clear
Protect Risa and the gathered guests.
Something dangerous had appeared in the heart of Dark Village.
Shiroi, Vergil, and several ministers quickly arrived at the source of the explosion.
The street was in chaos. Buildings were damaged, stone pavement cracked, and magical residue still lingered in the air.
However, to their relief, there were no civilian casualties.
Vergil quickly scanned the area.
"Two groups," he said.
In the middle of the ruined street, two factions were locked in a fierce battle. Magic flashes lit the air as spells clashed repeatedly.
Freya narrowed her eyes, recognizing them immediately.
"The Mahou Shoujo… the Magical Girls who protect Dark Village."
She pointed toward the other side of the battlefield.
"And the ones they're fighting… members of that evil Magical Girl organization."
Both groups wielded powerful magic and were completely focused on defeating each other.
Shiroi stepped forward and raised his voice.
"Stop this fighting immediately!"
But neither side responded.
The magical battle continued as if they hadn't even heard him.
Shiroi's expression darkened.
"…I see."
His patience snapped.
Without warning, Shiroi stepped directly into the battlefield.
A moment later—
BOOM!
In a blur of motion, he struck the first magical girl mid-spell, knocking her out of the air.
Before the others could react, he appeared beside another fighter and slammed her into the ground with overwhelming force.
Then another.
And another.
Within seconds, Shiroi had single-handedly beaten down both sides.
The magical girls were forced to stop fighting entirely.
They stared at him in shock.
Shiroi stood in the middle of the destroyed street, his expression completely furious.
"What do you think you're doing?!"
His voice echoed like thunder.
"You're fighting in the middle of the capital city!"
Both groups froze.
Shiroi continued his furious lecture.
"Do you have any idea how many civilians could have been hurt?!"
"Do you think this is some kind of playground for your personal grudges?!"
The more he spoke, the sharper his words became.
Vergil quietly folded his arms and watched.
"…Wow," he muttered.
He could practically see the mental damage being inflicted.
Both groups of magical girls stood there trembling under Shiroi's relentless scolding.
Freya whispered to him,
"Season One of the Emperor's lecture…"
Vergil nodded.
"Yeah. The famous one."
After several minutes, Shiroi finally paused.
He turned toward the Magical Girls who protected Dark Village.
"You're dismissed."
They immediately bowed repeatedly.
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
They quickly fled the scene.
Shiroi then slowly turned toward the villainous magical girls.
His expression darkened again.
"…We're not finished."
Vergil sighed quietly.
"Oh no."
"Round two."
For the next several minutes, Shiroi unleashed an even harsher lecture.
By the end of it, the villainous magical girls looked completely mentally shattered.
When Shiroi finally finished, he turned toward the others.
"Let's return."
As they walked back toward the open audience plaza, Freya glanced back at the defeated villains.
Aria did the same.
Both of them could clearly see it.
The villainous magical girls were standing there with empty expressions, completely overwhelmed.
Freya whispered quietly,
"…Yeah."
"They're definitely in full mental shock."
After Shiroi and the others returned, the Open Audience resumed.
The event continued peacefully for the rest of the afternoon, and the remaining delegations were able to meet with the Emperor without further interruptions.
By the time the sun began to set, the plaza was finally starting to quiet down.
Shiroi stretched his arms slightly, loosening the tension in his shoulders after hours of standing and speaking with the citizens.
Nearby, Vergil let out a long sigh.
"At least nothing else exploded after that mess."
Risa glanced between them, still curious.
"That explosion earlier… what exactly happened?"
She hesitated for a moment.
"It sounded really powerful."
Freya answered calmly.
"In Dark Village, there is a group of Magical Girls who serve as protectors of the city."
Risa blinked.
"Magical Girls…?"
Freya nodded.
"They deal with supernatural threats that occasionally appear in the capital."
She continued,
"The group they were fighting earlier is their counterpart—an organization of rogue magical girls who constantly try to seize control of the city."
Risa looked surprised.
"So they're basically enemies?"
"Exactly," Freya said. "But they've never succeeded."
Risa tilted her head.
"Why not?"
Freya smiled faintly.
"Because the Ragnaros family exists."
Risa slowly turned toward Vergil.
"What kind of power does the Ragnaros family actually have?"
Vergil looked completely relaxed as he answered.
"Well…"
He shrugged casually.
"If I really felt like it…"
He paused for dramatic effect.
"…I could destroy the world."
The statement was delivered so casually that it took a moment to register.
Risa stared at him in disbelief.
Shiroi simply sighed.
"…Uncle, please don't say things like that so casually."
Vergil chuckled.
"I'm just being honest."
Freya crossed her arms and smirked.
"That's actually the toned-down explanation."
Risa suddenly realized something.
The strength she had seen from Shiroi… might only be a fraction of what the Ragnaros family was truly capable of.