Seishuin Ena's personality was actually quite interesting.
She was the only daughter of the Seishuuin family, educated from a young age in etiquette and manners to near perfection—a young lady destined from birth to be flawless, the ultimate Yamato Nadeshiko.
However, at the same time, Seishuin Ena was also a top-ranking Hime-Miko, the Miko of Susanoo, and a Descending Spirit Medium.
Because she needed to receive divine power and maintain a pure mind and body, she could not stay long in crowded places. She often trained in the mountains, so while she was the ultimate Yamato Nadeshiko, she also seemed innocent and carefree, detached from worldly desires, aware of the evils of the world but without truly feeling them.
Naturally, Seishuin Ena was also extremely naive regarding matters between men and women. Let alone having any experience, she knew very little, having only been taught some necessary knowledge by the Seishuuin family.
Thanks to this, Seishuin Ena was able to openly request affection from Kaiser, because according to the Seishuuin family's teachings, their daughters should offer themselves when needed.
Be it for marriage alliances or for battle, the daughters of the Seishuuin family should possess this kind of virtue.
Naturally, when necessary, she must also become someone's concubine, someone's secondary wife, even someone's private property.
Isn't this what a daughter of a great family is supposed to be?
Thus, having been educated this way from a young age, Seishuin Ena did not feel much resistance toward the instructions of the head of the household, nor did she harbor much resentment toward that old man's arrangements.
She was the only daughter of the Seishuuin family, the Miko of Susanoo, and the current top-ranking Hime-Miko. As long as there was a need, with her status and position, she was obligated to offer herself—and now was simply the time.
But when Kaiser approached her with such an ambiguous gesture, standing so close, Ena, who had never had any experience with men, still became shy in the end.
In short, she was a girl with high attack but low defense.
Thus, for the first time since her appearance, Seishuin Ena retreated.
"L-let Yuri go first. Ena doesn't mind being second."
The girl escaped into the bed, covering her head with the blanket.
Kaiser couldn't help but laugh and cry at the same time.
"With your courage? Second place? I'd say there's no spot for you in third, fourth, or fifth."
In that moment, Kaiser thought of that black-haired girl who kept teasing him and scheming to have his children, of the red-haired girl whose first kiss he stole, even of Hinamori Momo, of Kirin Toudou...
...Why does it feel more and more like a crime the more I think about it?
Kaiser's mouth twitched slightly. He quickly shook his head to dismiss the strange thoughts.
But the more he shook his head, the more he thought. In the end, he even recalled the image of a certain Hime-Miko completely naked last night...
"Am I going through puberty?"
Kaiser's mouth twitched even more violently.
Feeling that continuing this train of thought would be dangerous, Kaiser quickly sat up.
"You should focus on recovering first before talking about receiving affection."
He left behind those words.
"I don't want to break you."
With that, Kaiser decisively turned around, preparing to leave.
"Wait! My King!"
Seishuin Ena's voice suddenly rang from behind, causing Kaiser to turn and look.
He saw Seishuin Ena's eyes peeking out from under the blanket, sneaking a look at him.
"This is the love nest of the King and Yuri. Ena shouldn't be occupying your bedding."
Fortunately, Mariya Yuri wasn't present. Otherwise, that sentence would've rendered her completely speechless, blushing, and fleeing once again.
"Stop worrying about unnecessary things." Kaiser waved his hand tiredly. "Just borrow the room and the bedding for now. We'll talk about other things once you've recovered."
Without saying more, Kaiser left the room, returning it to silence.
Seishuin Ena watched Kaiser leave, then after a while, turned over and pulled out her phone.
She realized she had to study some necessary knowledge...
......
The administrative building of Shichio Shrine wasn't very big, but it wasn't without other rooms to stay in. Among these rooms, the one Mariya Yuri had previously used was the most well-equipped, so Kaiser had occupied it and moved in directly.
Now that an injured person had been added, the room with the best accommodation had to be given to her.
Under these circumstances, Kaiser began searching for another room, only to run into Mariya Yuri midway.
"You're...?"
Seeing Mariya Yuri, Kaiser was stunned.
Because in Mariya Yuri's hands was a bag full of fresh clothes.
"E-Ena didn't say anything weird again, did she?"
Mariya Yuri's face was slightly red, her gaze a little evasive when she saw Kaiser—clearly still concerned about what Seishuin Ena had said.
"What do you think?" Kaiser didn't answer directly but asked back teasingly. "Based on your understanding of that girl, what do you think she'd say?"
"I don't know either..." Mariya Yuri shrank her head a little and softly said to Kaiser, "That person is just like that. Despite having received impeccable education from the Seishuuin family, she often says strange things because she's lived so far from the normal world."
"So?" Kaiser found Mariya Yuri's reaction interesting and smiled. "What are you trying to say?"
"I-I'm trying to say..." Mariya Yuri timidly said, "You don't have to take what Ena says too seriously, My King..."
"Are you sure?" Kaiser raised an eyebrow. "This concerns the future of the entire Seishuuin family. You're telling me not to take it seriously—is that really okay?"
Mariya Yuri instantly fell silent.
Clearly, when it came to the future of one of the Four Great Families that oversaw the Japanese magical world—even Mariya Yuri... no, especially because she was serious by nature, Mariya Yuri couldn't casually tell him to ignore it.
"Let's put that aside for now." Seeing that Mariya Yuri wasn't speaking, Kaiser didn't press the issue and instead asked, "Are you planning to stay here now?"
Bringing a bag full of fresh clothes—there's no way he'd believe she didn't plan to stay.
"Because Ena's here." Mariya Yuri said a little guiltily, "I-I have to stay and take care of her."
"That's all?" Kaiser looked at Mariya Yuri with a half-smile. "No other reason?"
"N-no." Mariya Yuri's tone stiffened, still clearly guilty. "No other reason."
"Alright then." Kaiser shrugged. "I thought Miss Mariya was staying because she was afraid her childhood friend just made a bold statement and wants to keep an eye on us to prevent anything happening tonight."
Mariya Yuri fell silent again.
This girl really was terrible at lying.
"Alright." Kaiser stopped teasing her and waved. "Then go keep Ena company. I'll go find another room to sleep in."
"O-okay." Mariya Yuri let out a huge sigh of relief, then quickly ran off.
Kaiser once again resumed his search for a room, but vaguely heard a short scream from the room behind him.
"E-Ena! What are you secretly looking at all by yourself?!"
The Hime-Miko's embarrassed and indignant shout made Kaiser turn his head in confusion.
"What are they doing?"
Hearing the room behind him grow noisier, Kaiser thought for a moment, then decided not to join in.
Two girls were getting worked up in there—it wouldn't be appropriate for a guy like him to intrude.
Although he was curious why the two of them were making such a fuss, Kaiser still didn't want to disturb them.
"If I really end up taking both of them, I'll ask them what they do all day..."
Thinking this, Kaiser left the increasingly noisy room behind.
......
At the same time, in the Balkan Peninsula.
This was one of Southern Europe's three major peninsulas, located in the southeastern corner of Europe between the Adriatic and Black Seas. It covered an area of about 550,000 square kilometers and had a population of nearly 55 million.
Together with the Iberian Peninsula (home to Spain and Portugal) and the Apennine Peninsula (home to Italy), the Balkan Peninsula was one of the three major peninsulas of Southern Europe. Its territory included Greece, Bulgaria, Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as parts of Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Romania, and Turkey—not far from Italy.
Because of this, some of Italy's magic associations submitted to the Demon Lord who claimed this region as his territory—the oldest Campione, Sasha Dejanstahl Voban.
The Bronze Black Cross was one such group.
The Copper Black Cross and Bronze Black Cross were the two dominant magic associations in Milan, and two of the Seven Sisters of Italy.
Logically, as Italian magic associations, the Bronze Black Cross should have submitted to Italy's king—Salvatore Doni, who was the leader of all Southern European magic associations.
However, although both were based in Milan, the Bronze and Copper Black Crosses were rivals. Moreover, the leader of the Bronze Black Cross was from the Kranjčar family, a name as famous as the Blandelli family. For several generations, the Kranjčars had served Marquis Voban and were his devout followers. Thus, the Bronze Black Cross distanced itself from Italy's allied leader and chose to increase its influence by staying at Marquis Voban's side.
Liliana Kranjčar was the one carrying out this policy.
She was the eldest daughter of the prestigious Kranjčar family in the magic world and a Great Knight of the Bronze Black Cross.
Everyone in Italy's magic world knew that Milan had two prodigies.
At the age of twelve, they both became official knights of their respective associations. Before even turning sixteen, they had each become Great Knights—superior in both swordsmanship and magic, geniuses with promising futures.
One belonged to the Copper Black Cross; the other to the Bronze Black Cross. They were destined to be rivals—destined to be enemies.
And compared to Erica Blandelli, who was still striving to earn the title of "Diavolo Rosso," Liliana Kranjčar had already been granted the title "Fairy Knight."
At this moment, this knight, who matched Erica in both talent and strength, stood atop a castle tower.
This girl, who had just turned sixteen, possessed the beauty of a Western doll. Her slender figure was dressed in a long-sleeved black T-shirt and a short ruffled skirt. She wore black tights and a blue cape, giving her a striking appearance.
Her beauty rivaled Erica's, but the two were entirely different types.
If Erica's beauty was that of a refined noblewoman—elegant and seductive—then Liliana's was like a fairy—natural, fresh, cold, and enchanting.
Born of a noble family, beautiful, and full of potential—no matter where she went, such a girl would always be welcomed and pursued by men.
But at this moment, this girl knelt on one knee, bowing her head to the Demon Lord seated on the throne.
"Liliana Kranjčar of the Bronze Black Cross, here at your summons, My King."
The one she served was a foreign old man.
He had neatly combed silver hair and a clean-shaven face, dressed in a well-tailored suit, looking every bit the gentleman.
His face radiated intelligence, his tall and thin frame showed no weakness. He sat straight with perfect posture.
But despite his proper appearance, his expression was arrogant, haughty, dangerous, and fierce...
Yes—just like a wolf.
"The granddaughter of Kranjčar, huh?"
The aged Wolf King—Sasha Dejanstahl Voban looked down at Liliana and chuckled.
"Didn't expect this. I only said I needed a subordinate to help manage some affairs, and the Kranjčar family actually sent their most prized daughter. Quite serious of them."
The Marquis's words were met with a straightforward response from the girl.
"Since it is the King's request, it must be carried out with full effort. That is what my grandfather told me."
The girl's cold voice did not earn the Wolf King's praise. Instead, he looked rather disinterested.
"Your grandfather is a shrewd man, but still boring. A guy who only knows how to flatter isn't worth as much as a stray dog that bares its fangs at me—at least in my eyes."
Marquis Voban's eyes glinted.
"I prefer wolves—ones who hide their fangs and are always ready to pounce."
"Girl, you seem to have that potential. Much better than your grandfather."
"You'll do. You'll be my subordinate."
"Come with me... to the far eastern island nation."
---
🔹 Read 10 chapters ahead! → patreon.com/NiaXD