The room was drowned in silence, yet the air was thick with malice. It clung to the walls, seeped into the floor, and pressed against the skin like a suffocating weight.

  Three figures sat on a sofa, their overwhelming auras colliding and twisting together until the atmosphere itself seemed ready to shatter.

  Despite the darkness swirling within them, their outward appearance bore a mockery of holiness, white albs draped across their shoulders, pectoral crosses gleaming on their chests.

  Their hollow eyes, however, betrayed the truth, staring blankly at the table as if it were nothing but an abyss.

  The silence broke when a voice, sharp and cold, cut through the stagnant air.

  “Zaroth-sama and the other Demon Gods draw ever closer to the capital.”

  Frederick rose from his chair, stepping forward with deliberate weight until he stood before the three men. His gaze bore down on them.

  “Erik, did you carry out the task I entrusted to you?”

  The man with strange, blue hair let out a languid yawn, as though the very question bored him. “Yeah. I did what you asked. But don’t get your hopes up. It won’t activate anytime soon.”

  Across from him, Denise folded his hands together, releasing a sigh that carried both annoyance and calculation.

  “That doesn’t matter. The timing will take care of itself. When the five Demon Gods reach the capital, the moon will change its color, right. Therese.”

  The third man, seated beside Denise, gave a single nod. His brown eyes glinted with quiet agreement. “When the moon burns crimson, the magic circle will awaken on its own. There will be no stopping it.”

  Frederick leaned against the table, placing both hands on its edge as his lips stretched into a slow, sinister smile. Shadows seemed to curl around his expression.

  “Good… very good. Then it’s only a matter of time. Once our plan succeeds, we won’t just serve Demon Gods.” His grin widened, eyes gleaming with greed.

  “We will become the Demon Gods of this world.”

  After days of relentless effort, Diana and everyone accomplished what many had deemed impossible.

  With the dwarves’ unmatched craftsmanship, a vast underground refuge was carved out a colossal basement sprawling beneath the kingdom, large enough to shelter every citizen.

  Its walls were sturdy, its halls expansive and storerooms overflowed with provisions carefully stocked for the coming storm.

  Diana shared the plan before the leaders of every race.

  She explained how Leo would lead their army to halt the enemy’s main forces outside the walls of the kingdom, and how she foresaw a second war, one that would erupt within the kingdom itself against the Cathedral’s forces.

  Yet one problem towered above all others: how to make the people see the truth.

  The Cathedral’s influence stretched deeper than the crown’s own authority, binding the hearts of the faithful in unquestioning loyalty.

  To expose its schemes would be like asking the people to doubt their own very faith.

  Diana knew this was no simple task, it bordered on the impossible.

  Suddenly, an idea began to take shape in her mind, but it was dangerous—too dangerous, for it involved the fate of entire races.

  If she pursued this path, the fragile unity she is trying to build might crumble before it even began.

  Her lips tightened as she bit down, fists clenching at her sides.

  This is harder than I thought.

  Even so, she gathered her courage and shared the idea with the leaders, bracing herself for rejection. Yet, to her astonishment, they did not frown.

  Instead, smiles spread across their faces. A few even praised her decisiveness, others her sharpness of thought, as if they had been waiting all along for her to speak such daring words.

  “I think it’s a good idea, Your Majesty,” Gardath said, his voice carrying a respectful weight.

  Diana pressed her lips together, a faint crease forming on her brow.

  “I’m sorry… but I cannot think of any solution other than this.”

  Veyra shook her head firmly. “Please, don’t apologize to us. We pledged our loyalty to you, and for that, we will do whatever you ask, no matter what.”

  Nymera let out a small laugh. “Convincing people who’ve already been manipulated is one of the hardest things to do. But I believe your plan is exactly what we need.”

  Centauro gave a slow nod. “The plan is perfect for us as well.” His lips curved into a chuckle. “Right, Lizardman?”

  The lizardman smirked, his sharp eyes glinting. “Indeed it is.”

  Diana’s eyes widened in surprise. Then, slowly, a faint smile touched her lips.

  “Thank you everyone.”

  Kargan’s hand moved absentmindedly through his beard, a slow, thoughtful gesture.

  “Our people’s lives matter the most,” he said, his eyes fixed on Diana, filled with earnest seriousness.

  “But, Your Majesty,” he added cautiously, “the Kingdom’s structures are more than just buildings, they are symbols of our history and its founding. Wouldn’t it be a terrible waste to let them be destroyed?”

  Diana shook her head twice, her expression firm yet serene.

  “I already expect a second war will break out inside the Kingdom. I do not care for structures, houses, or monuments.” She said firmly. “The Kingdom isn’t the buildings but it’s the people. Even if everything falls, we can rebuild and create something new in our own way. As long as our people survive, nothing is ever truly wasted.”

  Her smile broadened, warm and radiant, reaching her eyes, which sparkled like stars scattered across the night sky. “Wouldn’t that excite you, Kargan?” Her voice filled with excitement.

  In Kargan’s mind, he could clearly see the images Diana was painting with her words.

  The vision stirred something within him, and his eyes lit up with a lively spark. Without hesitation, he nodded enthusiastically. “You’re right about that, Your Majesty!”

  On the ramparts that circled the entire Kingdom, Leo stood motionless. His golden eyes fixed on the horizon, where dark clouds crept forward like a living shadow.

  Though they were still distant, he already knew the day they would engulf the Kingdom. The wind tugged at his dark hair, brushing against his serious expression, as if the storm itself tested his resolve.

  A soft but deliberate footstep broke the silence.

  Leo turned to see Alaric approaching, eyebrows furrowed in irritation at Finn, who continued babbling foolishly beside him.

  “Are you both done preparing the war equipment?” Leo asked, his voice calm but firm.

  Both nodded in unison.

  Leo’s gaze shifted to Finn. “You fought them all by yourself, right?”

  Finn froze, startled by the question, but after a tense pause, he nodded.

  “Yes… all by myself.”

  “How strong are they?”

  Finn’s carefree eyes darkened, sharpening with seriousness. Alaric noticed the sudden change, the weight that now pressed on Finn’s shoulders.

  “They… they’re on an entirely different level from us,” he admitted, jaw tight, eyes narrowing.

  “Even the army itself feels suffocating, just from the aura of each individual carries. And when I faced them…” He paused, swallowing hard. “I noticed something… strange.”

  “Strange?” Alaric asked, leaning slightly closer, curiosity and caution flickering across his features.

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  Finn nodded, his expression grave. “I felt five individuals… completely unlike the rest. Their auras were overwhelming, beyond anything I’ve ever encountered. Immense—so immense I can say with certainty they’re on the same level as you, Leo-san.”

  His voice was steady, but a single bead of sweat slid down his temple, betraying the weight of his words.

  “I see.” Leo’s gaze shifted back to the horizon, his expression unreadable.

  “Then those individuals must be like Zaroth.”

  The air seemed to tighten around them. Both Alaric and Finn widened their eyes, stunned by the implication.

  “Demon Gods,” Leo continued, his tone calm but edged with gravity. “The supreme entities that have ruled the abyss since the dawn of creation.”

  Alaric’s brows drew together, unease flickering across his face.

  “Can you handle them on your own, Leo-san?”

  For a moment, silence stretched. Then Leo’s lips curved into a smirk.

  “Handle them? The very thought excites me to my bones.” His golden eyes gleamed with a thrill that bordered on dangerous.

  “I’ve never crossed blades with supreme beings before but if Her Majesty has entrusted me with this task, then I’ll fight with everything I have.”

  A low chuckle escaped him, his voice brimming with exhilaration.

  “With that trust behind me, I feel as if I could triumph against any foe.”

  The two men exchanged glances and worry still lingered, but the sheer conviction in Leo’s words drew reluctant smiles from them both.

  “Focus on what Her Majesty has assigned you two,” Leo said, his expression softening into the most genuine smile they had ever seen from him.

  “Leave the rest to me. Whatever happens beyond these walls. I have it under control.”

  Moved by his certainty, they placed their hands over their chests and bowed in unison.

  “Your wish is our command.”

  As preparations for the coming war pressed on,

  Tetra stood quietly in Diana’s office. Her gaze lingered on the window, distant and unblinking.

  The sound of weary footsteps echoed down the hall. Diana appeared, shoulders heavy with exhaustion. She drew in a long, shaky breath and released it in a sigh that seemed to carry the weight of the day.

  When her eyes lifted, she caught sight of Tetra standing beside the office door, and a flicker of confusion crossed her face. What is she doing here?

  Noticing her Queen’s approach, Tetra dipped into a small bow, her voice gentle, almost soothing.

  “Good work today, Your Majesty.”

  Diana stopped before her, a tired smile curving her lips.

  “You too, Tetra.” She studied her for a moment, then asked, “May I know the reason you’re waiting here?”

  “There is something I’ve been meaning to ask you,” Tetra replied softly. “But you’ve been busy the entire day, so I thought I’d wait until you returned.”

  Diana blinked, her hand pausing on the doorknob, eyes widening in surprise.

  “You’ve been waiting here the whole day for me?”

  Tetra shook her head gently, her expression calm.

  “No, I’ve been practicing with Ella, helping her learn how to awaken her power.”

  Diana stepped into the room, and Tetra followed close behind, quietly closing the door.

  “Then… how is Ella?” Diana asked. “Has she managed to use her power yet?”

  “Just a little, Your Majesty,” Tetra replied, her tone carrying a note of surprise.

  “I was quite surprised when she awakened her power for the first time.”

  Diana made her way to the table, dragging out her chair with slow, weary motions.

  She sank into it and released a long breath, as if the day’s burdens had been sitting squarely on her shoulders.

  Her gaze lifted to Tetra, eyes bright with intrigue.

  “What kind of power is it?” she asked, curiosity edging her voice.

  A faint smile tugged at Tetra’s lips. “The power that had long been dormant inside her… is Light magic. One of the most powerful forms of magic in the world, Your Majesty.”

  Diana let out a soft giggle, relief easing her expression. “That’s wonderful. All she needs now is training.”

  Tetra nodded, but in the next moment her gentle expression hardened. The shift was so sudden Diana immediately sensed the change in the air.

  “By the way, Your Majesty,” Tetra began, her voice steady but carrying weight,

  “the promise you made me a long time ago. I think it’s about time you fulfilled it.”

  Diana blinked, tilting her head. Confusion flickered across her face.

  Promise? What promise?

  Then it struck her, this must have been something Towa made a promise with her.

  An awkward smile crept onto her lips.

  “I-I’m sorry. I’ve been so busy… I forgot the promise we made.” Her eyes slightly averted at Tetra’s straight stare.

  Tetra sighed, the sound heavy with quiet defeat. “I expected as much.” She paused, but her eyes never wavered from Diana’s. “My birthday is coming soon. Once I turned seventeen, you said we’d have a picnic together with everyone.”

  Diana’s eyes widened in surprise. “I-I see… I completely forgot about it. I’m sorry.” She forced a smile and nodded quickly.

  “Since your birthday is coming up, let’s have a picnic with everyone.” A small giggle escaped her lips, but it carried a nervous edge.

  Tetra’s expression did not soften. Instead, her eyes slowly dimmed, hollowing as she asked, “What day is my birthday, Your Majesty?”

  “A-about that…” Diana laughed weakly, but the sound faltered in her throat.

  She’s noticed it, my hesitation. Only Leo and Lucas know the truth about who I really am. She’s testing me, trying to see if I’m Towa or not.

  Her teeth sank into her lower lip as sweat trickled down her face, betraying the pressure crushing in on her.

  Tetra’s voice trembled, rising with restrained frustration.

  “Ever since Alaric, Finn, and I lost our village. Leo-san took us in, and Towa-sama welcomed me as her little sister. She was the only one who remembered my birthday… even when I myself had forgotten.” Her fists clenched tight, nails biting into her palms as her brow knitted, her lips quivering.

  “She was the only one who cared for us like we were truly family.”

  Tears threatened to spill, her hollow gaze locking onto Diana with raw pain.

  “W-who are you? You’re not her.”

  Diana’s eyes widened in disbelief. Watching Tetra break character, she realized there was no use lying anymore. Her lips parted, but no words came.

  Her heart sank, heavy with pain she could no longer keep buried.

  Family…

  That word alone struck her deepest weakness. To care for them, to welcome them, to be part of them.

  It mirrored the same yearning she carried from her previous life.

  But now, her throat tightened, choking the words she wanted to speak.

  “Why are you so quiet?” Tetra’s voice wavered, caught between curiosity and anger.

  “I just want to know if you remembered my birthday like you always did.” She paused for a brief moment.

  ”Tell me, Towa-sama!”

  Diana shook her head faintly, her eyes shimmering with restrained emotion.

  Rising slowly from her chair, she met Tetra’s gaze with unwavering intensity.

  But Tetra’s emotions spun out of control, clouding her reason. A sword materialized in her trembling hand, its edge pressed against Diana’s neck until a thin line of blood traced her skin.

  “W-who are you!?” she bellowed, desperation cracking through her voice.

  Yet Diana did not flinch. Instead, her eyes sharpened, glowing like stars piercing the night sky. With deliberate calm, she grasped the blade, blood dripping steadily onto the table. Then, guiding the tip, she pressed it against her own heart.

  Tetra’s breath caught. Her eyes widened, her hands shaking uncontrollably as she stared at Diana, at those radiant eyes that seemed impossibly beautiful even in such a perilous moment.

  And then, as if fate itself chose the timing, the orange glow of the setting sun streamed through the window. Its light washed over Diana’s figure, wrapping her in warmth, transforming her into something almost otherworldly.

  For a fleeting instant, Tetra saw someone entirely different standing before her yet within that presence lingered the same unshakable strength she had always felt from Towa.

  It was unfamiliar, and yet achingly familiar all at once, as if two souls overlapped in a single figure.

  “I’m sorry. I’ve been lying to you all this time. You’re right, I’m not Towa. I’m not the person who made you that promise.” Her eyes held hers, unwavering, even as blood slid down her palm in dark rivulets. She looked as though pain didn’t exist.

  “S-Since when?” Tetra’s voice cracked, her heart hammering so violently it felt like it might tear free from her chest.

  “The night before I dismissed the maids,” Diana answered.

  “W-Why? H-How? W-What’s going on!?” The words tumbled from Tetra’s lips in fragments, her thoughts a storm she couldn’t control.

  Diana slowly released the blade. Her gaze sank downward, lashes lowering as a heavy sigh trembled past her lips.

  For a heartbeat, silence pressed between them, then she lifted her eyes again.

  “I’m very sorry. I cannot answer your questions right now.”

  “Huh? W-Wh—”

  “But when the war is finally over, when we finally protect everyone…” Her voice steadied, filled with an sincerity. Her eyes gleamed with a fierce, unshakable light.

  “That is when I’ll tell you everything.”

  Tears welled in Tetra’s eyes. The sword in her hand dissolved into ash, falling away as her other hand clutched her trembling arm. She shook her head, choking back sobs, but her tears fell down, streaking her cheeks in silver trails.

  Then, Diana took a step toward her, reaching out, but Tetra stumbled back.

  With a strangled gasp, she turned and fled, her footsteps echoing until the door slammed shut, leaving the air heavy with grief and unanswered questions.

  Diana closed her eyes. A shuddering breath escaped her lips, fading into a weary sigh.

  When her eyes opened again, tears had already slid slowly down her face as the silence pressed in around her.