The newly formed Akatsuki organization began to move.
Patolli went to recruit new members, while Rhya and Vetto gathered the treasures from the Demon Palace and headed for the outskirts of the Clover Kingdom.
The former base of the Eye of the Midnight Sun in the strong magic region had been discovered by Nozel Silva.
That incident taught everyone a harsh lesson — hiding in a dangerous region full of powerful devils wasn't a good idea.
Some places might seem hidden, but in reality, they were the most conspicuous.
Adam proposed a better plan: a remote village, so deserted that even thieves wouldn't bother visiting.
So Rhya and Vetto went ahead to investigate. With Rhya's Imitation Magic and a little help from Spatial Storage Magic, all the treasures and gold were safely secured.
Fana accompanied Adam to the royal capital. A true leader, Adam thought, should have a capable assistant by his side — it gave him the right air of authority.
In truth, Fana came with him to shop. Her tailoring skills were excellent, and she volunteered to make Akatsuki's uniforms herself — safer that way.
After all, tailors could easily recognize their clients, and secrecy was everything.
Gotta stay cautious.
"Looks like I'll have to come back in a few days," Adam muttered.
He'd searched the capital for a fabric shop, but the only thing he found was ruins.
The once-great capital of Clover lay in ashes. Even if reconstruction began tomorrow, it would take years to restore its former glory.
"I'm... sorry…" Fana whispered, her eyes filled with guilt.
Though she'd been deceived like the other elves, the destruction their kind had caused weighed heavily on her.
Commoners weren't nobles — they couldn't flee or defend themselves.
And beyond them were the powerless — peasants living in remote villages far from the protection of Magic Knights. Even a single bandit raid was enough to devastate them.
If Adam hadn't deployed the Blue Water Group, those innocent people would've been slaughtered during the elves' rampage.
"Don't think too much," Adam said, stopping to place a hand gently on her head. "You're mine now. I absolve you of all guilt."
Fana's cheeks flushed. His hand carried a strange warmth — magic or something deeper — and the memory of their first battle flashed in her mind, sending a shiver between her legs.
"Um…"
Her voice was so soft it was almost inaudible. If Adam's five senses hadn't been enhanced, he wouldn't have heard it at all.
Truthfully, she'd been spared from reincarnation only because of Sally's strange experiments.
No... wait. There was another Fana.
"Double happiness…" Adam muttered under his breath before quickly shaking off that dangerous thought. No one truly understood the mystery of souls.
"Master Adam, what's wrong?" Fana asked, her tone full of concern.
"It's nothing. Let's rest for now," he said, forcing a smile.
The Black Bulls' base had been destroyed too, and much of the kingdom was spending this dark night under the stars.
"Come with me," he said, leading her toward the Vermillion family's mansion. He'd already contacted Mereoleona and planned to stay there for the night.
"Yo! Spartan brothers!"
The elves' devastating attack hadn't turned the Vermillion estate into rubble. The mansion still gleamed in fiery splendor, its damage swiftly repaired by devoted servants.
"Adam?"
Standing in the training yard were Fuegoleon and Leopold Vermillion, exchanging fiery blows as usual. But Mereoleona was nowhere in sight — unusual for the wild lioness.
"Why are you here?" Leo asked, blinking in surprise.
"I'm looking for Mereoleona," Adam replied.
Fuegoleon stepped forward. The proud royal with his flame spirit hovering behind him glared sharply. "Adam, you and my sister rarely interact. Why are you seeking her now?"
"Captain Fuegoleon," Adam said with a calm grin. "You've been unconscious for a while. Some things… are better explained by Mereoleona herself."
Fuegoleon's frown deepened. He respected Adam's power — this was the man who'd slain a devil nearly instantly — but as a royal, he couldn't simply let Adam do whatever he pleased.
And besides… he'd heard rumors about Adam's "hobbies." Was he after his sister now?
"Leo, step back," Fuegoleon ordered firmly.
"Brother?" Leo hesitated, confused.
The younger Vermillion had overheard mansion guards gossiping that his eldest sister once trained privately with Adam — in the old basement no less.
"Adam! I won't—" Fuegoleon began, ready to unleash his flames—
"Adam! You're here!"
Mereoleona burst out of the mansion in pajamas.
Both brothers froze.
"If you don't come down here, I'm going to get eaten by your brother," Adam sighed, exasperated.
"Sorry," Mereoleona said, striding confidently toward him. "I forgot to tell them."
She wrapped her arms around Adam, leaned in close, and whispered into his ear, "And who's the woman behind you? Didn't I warn you already~?"
Her breath was hot against his skin — not comforting, but terrifying. Adam felt a shiver run through him, the kind that said danger.
"Fana's my subordinate now — but it's not what you think!" he blurted, hands up defensively.
"Hmm… fine. I'll believe you this time."
Her words froze the two brothers in their tracks.
"Sister, what's going on?!" Leo shouted, his face red with confusion.
"As you can see," Mereoleona said matter-of-factly, tightening her grip on Adam's arm, "Adam is my man."
And with that, she dragged him inside.
Fana followed silently, though her curiosity was burning brighter than her flame magic.
A certain silver-haired girl from the Black Bulls came to mind — one who clearly had feelings for Adam too.
Oh, this was going to be fun.
Meanwhile, Fuegoleon stood frozen in the courtyard, pale and speechless. His world had just shattered.
"Come eat when you're done training," Mereoleona called back over her shoulder. "I won't wait for you."
The Spartan brothers stood there, completely petrified.
Dinner had already begun.
Without them.
"Sister, wait for us!" both of them shouted, their voices cracking as they ran after her — tears of frustration and disbelief in their eyes.
...
Author's Note:
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