Souta returned to the castle of Beeatrix.

  The guards saw him pass in silence, as if a shadow had crossed the corridors.

  No one dared stop him.

  In the royal hall, Meliora sat beside the empty throne.

  Her eyes were steady, but an invisible weight pressed on her posture.

  — “Princess…” Souta began.

  — “Don’t say anything,” Meliora interrupted.

  — “My father is dead. I need to be strong. Don’t you understand? This is war. And in war… there are losses.”

  Her voice was firm, but carried a gentle tone, without hatred.

  Souta frowned.

  — “What are you talking about? Are you crazy? Your father died, girl. You should be crying, screaming, blaming me. Why aren’t you?”

  Meliora took a deep breath.

  — “Because you weren’t the culprit. Looking for culprits is for the weak. That’s what my mother taught me.”

  Souta placed his hand on her head.

  And, for the first time in a long while, he showed a gentle smile.

  — “I’ll have a talk with your mother. Be right back. Adults need to talk.”

  The queen had summoned the Drones and patrolwomen, preparing for the confrontation against Termia.

  But Souta appeared in the center of the hall.

  **Shadow Step.**

  He emerged from the queen’s own shadow.

  She glared at him, cold.

  — “You returned. I thought you had fled. Step aside, I need to lead a kingdom.”

  Souta smiled, insolent.

  — “Silent, you look prettier, your majesty.”

  The queen frowned, but did not react.

  Souta walked past her, releasing his infamous protective smile.

  His aura expanded, suffocating the hall.

  — “No need to worry. There won’t be any more war. The kingdom of Termia… no longer exists.”

  Everyone was stunned.

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  Ministers, guards, Drones, advisors — none believed what they heard.

  — “What are you talking about?!” the queen demanded.

  — “Didn’t you hear? I wiped out those women of Termia. Took care of their descendants too.”

  The hall fell into silence.

  Meliora stepped forward, her voice hollow:

  — “Souta…”

  The queen thought to herself:

  *So that’s why the mana presence in Termia vanished… This man is truly interesting. If I could manipulate him, I’d feel safer.*

  Souta faced the queen.

  — “Don’t think I’m on your side. I only want total control of Magnapis… in the palm of my spoon.

  I will eradicate every nation that opposes me. I suggest you kill me now… because you won’t be able to contain me.”

  He smiled, provocative.

  — “By the way, I’ve been thinking… I want to be royalty too.”

  The audience murmured, confused.

  The king had just died, and he was… hitting on the queen?!

  — “I need to preserve the royal bloodline, don’t I? Melisara and Meliora are too young. Stingara is too sadistic. And you… though very much my type, are a strategist and manipulator.”

  The hall erupted in murmurs.

  — “If you hate me, kill me. But until then, I’d rather preserve the royal bloodline, in case of future problems. That’s why… I’ll take Meliora with me. She’s the gentlest of this kingdom. In case you all die at once.”

  — “What?!” the queen’s eyes widened.

  **Shadow Step.**

  Souta emerged from Meliora’s shadow, grabbed her, and hoisted her onto his shoulder.

  — “What are you doing?! Why are you kidnapping me, Lord Kihara?!” Meliora blushed, confused.

  — “Quiet.”

  The Drones moved into combat stance.

  Gabriel advanced, sword in hand.

  — “Kihara! Kidnapping the princess… you’re becoming too dangerous. What’s the point of this?!”

  Souta laughed.

  — “You were right, young Gaiden. There’s no shame in running.

  At twelve, you ran and let your parents be devoured by monsters.”

  Gabriel froze.

  — “How does he know that…?”

  — “I found out. Among the Drones, your world is the most like Magnapis. Magic, monsters… you were just a boy. You ran, and that’s why you’re alive. Thanks to that, you saved another million lives, including mine.

  You taught me to choose a side. To measure my strength.”

  Souta narrowed his eyes.

  — “But you didn’t understand. This is war. Magnapis calls for me.

  You may become a divine hero one day, defeat the Demon King… but that only forces me to kill you.”

  Gabriel raised his sword, serious.

  — “Souta… you were a good guy. This world changed you. But don’t stop being Souta Kihara.”

  Souta smiled, dark.

  — “I’ll take note. But the truth is, now I am Souta… the Harlequin of Fear. So don’t stand in my way.”

  His black aura engulfed the hall.

  At that moment, Souta was the strongest present.

  Except for the queen.

  Who stared at him with a dominating gaze.

  — “This is the second time you’ve threatened me in my own kingdom,” her voice echoed.

  The sky opened.

  The sun blazed over Beeatrix.

  A golden magic circle appeared in the queen’s palm.

  — **Solar Magic.**

  The light burned like divine fire.

  The walls trembled.

  The floor cracked open.

  She raised her hand.

  — “You die here, Kihara Souta.”