The Council Convenes
All Emperors and Empresses gathered once more.
The chamber was silent.
Not peaceful.
Measured.
"The Black Knight claims ignorance," one Emperor said evenly. "Yet the weapon was purchased through a black market channel."
"Ignorance does not absolve responsibility," another added. "A relic activated inside a sanctioned arena."
A pause.
"If he were not under Special Commander status," Empress Sora said calmly, "he would already be imprisoned."
No one disagreed.
The weight of that truth settled heavily.
The Black Knight stood restrained at the center of the chamber. Silent. Not defiant. Not pleading.
Just… still.
Yun Shi spoke next.
"His record remains clean. His service unquestioned. But the weapon does not."
His eyes shifted slightly.
"The source matters more than the wielder."
Jiyan leaned back in his seat.
"So," he said casually, "we confiscate the sword, fine him, suspend him, and lecture him for three hours?"
Dante glanced sideways. "You forgot the part where the colosseum collapsed."
"Details."
No one laughed.
The Flute
Jiyan's gaze turned suddenly.
"More importantly," he said, eyes locking onto Dante, "where did you get that flute?"
Dante did not look away.
"Ruins," she answered. "North-east region. During exploration."
"Unregistered ruins?" Empress Sora asked quietly.
"Yes."
A faint tension crept into the chamber.
Yun Shi exhaled slowly.
"We possess no complete records from the First King regarding relic classification. Every artifact we discover is… an unknown variable."
"Unknown variable?" Jiyan grinned. "That's a fancy way to say 'potential catastrophe.'"
He looked at Dante again.
"Well, if it's dangerous, I'll just marry you and keep it in the family."
Silence.
Dante punched him.
Clean.
Direct.
No wasted motion.
The crack echoed lightly across the chamber.
"Say that again," she said flatly.
Jiyan held his nose.
"…Worth it."
Even Empress Sora allowed the smallest exhale of amusement.
The tension eased.
Slightly.
Festival Lights
Elsewhere, the city tried to remember joy.
Itsuki searched street after street.
No sign of his sister.
Near the lantern stalls—
"Hey! Mio!"
Shura waved both arms like a malfunctioning windmill.
Mio turned sharply.
"Shura?" Her eyes shifted to Yura. "…And who is she?"
Shura scratched his head awkwardly.
"Long story. She reads minds. Don't think too hard."
Mio blinked.
"I'm thinking about paperwork."
Yura tilted her head. "You really are."
Mio paled. "That's terrifying."
Shura grinned. "See? I'm not special."
Footsteps approached.
Juro. Zenkyou. Orin. Ren.
Mio froze.
Her internal thoughts accelerated rapidly.
Why are the most dangerous people in the kingdom walking casually behind him?
She stepped forward and bowed deeply.
"Thank you," she said sincerely. "You saved us that day. You probably don't remember me."
Juro placed a gentle hand on her head.
"I remember," he said lightly.
Mio almost short-circuited.
Orin leaned toward Ren.
"Hey, muscle tower," she whispered loudly. "Try not to demolish any more public property."
Ren sighed. "I didn't."
"You did."
"It was the sword."
"Sure. Blame the possessed ancient weapon."
Zenkyou glanced at them.
"Children."
Shura raised a hand.
"I still have infinite questions."
Zenkyou shook her head.
"After today? Our workload doubled."
"We're meeting the Emperors again," Orin added.
Juro nodded.
"Same."
And just like that—
The strongest figures in the kingdom walked away like it was a routine inconvenience.
Shura stared.
"…Do powerful people ever rest?"
Yura smiled.
"Only when they collapse."
The Shadow
Far beyond the lantern light—
A figure stood atop a distant tower.
Watching.
"So," the voice murmured softly, "the weapon activated."
A faint chuckle.
"Good."
Eyes narrowed.
"They noticed."
A smile.
"But not enough."
The wind swallowed the rest.
Juro & Yua
Night settled quietly.
Juro returned home.
No ceremony. No guards. No announcement.
Just a door sliding open.
Yua sat near the entrance.
When she saw him, her eyes lifted slowly.
Juro knelt in front of her.
"There was a fight today," he said gently. "Very loud. Very dramatic. A building forgot how fragile it was."
Yua stared.
He extended a finger.
"Come."
She pressed her palms against the floor.
Her legs trembled.
She pushed herself upward.
She fell.
Juro did not catch her.
He waited.
She tried again.
This time—
She stood.
One step.
Unsteady.
Another.
Her lips moved.
A sound almost formed.
Nothing came.
Frustration flickered across her small face.
Juro shook his head softly.
"Don't force it."
He rested a hand lightly on her head.
"Trying too hard breaks things."
She steadied herself.
Breathing.
Standing.
Small.
But unyielding.
"One day," Juro said quietly, "you'll walk far beyond this city."
His voice lowered.
"And when the world shakes…"
He looked at her carefully.
"You won't."
Yua did not understand the words.
But she stood.
Outside, festival lights flickered.
Inside, something far stronger than relics took its first steps.