Before anyone realized it, several days had passed.
In that time, Itogami Island remained as it had been—no major changes, no upheavals.
The artificial angel incident was no small matter, but unlike the last time, it hadn't exploded into a public spectacle. Apart from the initial fierce battle in the skies above the island's West District—where Kanon Kanase, leading two imitation angels, clashed and caused considerable damage—everything else had taken place on that uninhabited island owned by Magus Industries. Hardly anyone knew what had actually happened there.
As a result, once Kensei Kanase had been arrested and two members of Magus Industries had been personally crushed to death by Kaiser, the matter quickly died down.
In the aftermath, Magus Industries came under intense investigation by both Itogami Island and the Japanese mainland on charges of suspected illegal operations and human experimentation. The company's crimes quickly came to light. Aldegyr publicly disclosed the full list of their offenses on the international stage, and the once moderately well-known, though failing, corporation collapsed entirely—vanishing from the global market without a trace.
La Folia, upon returning to Itogami, made a single public appearance to announce her safe return. Those who had known she was making an unofficial visit and had heard rumors of her misfortune breathed a sigh of relief.
The girls, led by Kanon Kanase, were each sent to hospitals for examination and treatment. As they were victims, the authorities chose not to press charges against them, even though their earlier battle in the West District had caused serious property damage.
As for Kaiser—he had vanished from the picture entirely. No one knew he had even left Itogami Island, much less that he had taken part in the incident.
Of course, that didn't include the major international powers and organizations.
"Even the so-called angels couldn't match him?"
"They were only incomplete artificial angels, but it still proves his power."
"Higher-dimensional beings and forces can't touch him. I'd say we should raise our assessment."
"Keep watching. The true ancestors already have their eyes on him—once those three take action, we'll see what happens."
So murmured heads of state who had once sat at the table in the Garden of Whispers.
Even the Three Saints of the Lion King Agency discussed it when they received the report.
"Who would have thought Her Highness the Princess of Aldegyr would get caught up in an artificial angel case?"
"Unexpected indeed—and more surprising that he resolved it so easily."
"In any case, our objective is met. We got him involved with Kanon Kanase and the Silver Princess, adding another bond that can help us guide his future actions."
Yes—the "Lion King Matchmaking Service" was operating as intended.
Their thinking was simple: strengthen Kaiser's interpersonal ties as much as possible.
This ancient pillar—suspected to have been created before the birth of the Devas, meant to command the mythic era's beasts—had far too few personal attachments in this era. No parents, no siblings, no family at all. That was dangerous.
A man with the power to change, rule, or even destroy the world, yet with no one to care for? What he might do was anyone's guess.
So, they needed a collar on him. If the hard way wouldn't work, they'd use the soft way. Surround him with people he cared deeply about—people they could influence, or who would stand on their side or the side of the public. Those influences would eventually reach him as well.
The agency had already been doing this deliberately—why else place him in a school full of girls? Now they were simply being more thorough about it.
From that perspective, the Three Saints were more than happy to see Kaiser entangled with charming women, even lending a hand when the opportunity arose. La Folia, though not "one of theirs," was actually more useful because of her position. Being a princess meant she couldn't easily refuse diplomatic dialogue, trade, or cooperation.
In short, the Three Saints were playing a very large game of chess. And every move made the nickname "Lion King Matchmaking Service" that much more fitting.
…Not that Kaiser had any idea.
North District, Itogami Island – A general hospital
This district was full of research institutes and contained numerous general and affiliated hospitals run by major corporations, as well as many medical research facilities.
Most of the imitation angel girls altered by Kensei Kanase had been sent to such research facilities for treatment and examination—after all, they were the product of human experimentation.
Kanon Kanase, however, was not sent to any research lab. Instead, she was taken to a general hospital operated by a foreign enterprise.
This hospital was, in fact, run by a company under the Aldegyr royal family. While called a "hospital," it primarily specialized in studying demonkind to develop new magic technology. Officially it was not labeled a research institute because its main role was to collect data and biological samples from demon patients, then send them to dedicated research facilities.
Kanon was admitted here, and that same day, many of Aldegyr's own elite medical personnel arrived.
The reason was simple—royal daughters of Aldegyr were all natural spirit mediums, attracting all kinds of unsavory attention. And now, Kanon had just been caught up in a human modification case. Whether or not others trusted the Demon District, La Folia certainly wasn't about to let strangers prod and test the aunt she had finally found.
So, after Kanon was hospitalized, La Folia stayed on Itogami for the time being, brushing off questions about her reasons.
At least for now, she had no intention of revealing Kanon's royal blood to the public. That would only invite trouble.
Some sharp-eyed individuals would figure it out, but keeping it from the masses was enough.
For example—right now, a self-proclaimed "ordinary citizen" strolled right into the hospital, acting like a regular visitor, despite the place being firmly under the quiet control of Aldegyr's Holy Ring Knights.
"I didn't even know this hospital existed."
Holding a bouquet of flowers, Nagisa Akatsuki looked around with open curiosity, chattering away as she walked under the watchful eyes of "medical staff" who were anything but ordinary.
"There are so many hospitals and research facilities in the North District. How could you know them all?"
Kaiser walked beside her, glancing at the surroundings without drawing attention.
"That's true. I mean, I was hospitalized a lot before, but it was always at one of the hospitals affiliated with the company where Deep Forest Mama works. I never stayed anywhere else."
Her cheerful tone belied the weight of the subject.
Four years ago on Gozo Island, after being possessed by the First Primogenitor's fragment, Nagisa's health had deteriorated sharply. Until recently, she had been practically living in hospitals. Only after the Feast of Flames did her condition improve enough to leave, join clubs, and live more normally.
Hearing her speak so lightly about her past, you'd never guess how much time she'd spent in a hospital bed.
"Speaking of which, how did Kanon suddenly end up hospitalized? They say it's due to some family trouble… What kind of trouble? A gas explosion? Food poisoning? D-Don't tell me it was… a ghost?"
Her voice turned timid at the end.
"You're a spirit medium, and you're afraid of ghosts?" Kaiser asked, half-amused.
"I'm not a spirit medium anymore!" she puffed her cheeks. "Besides, even spirit mediums can be afraid of ghosts! I'm sure lots of them are!"
Uh-huh. That's how most people justify it to themselves.
Still, this was a good opening.
"Whatever family trouble Kanon's dealing with, it's best we don't pry. No point poking at someone's scars, right?"
"I know how to mind my own business!" Nagisa huffed. "You think I'm a big mouth and you're just warning me so I don't blab, huh?"
"…Of course not."
"Look me in the eye and say that, Kai-kun."
"… …"
"Aha! You looked away! Too mean!"
They bickered all the way down the hall.
Though it was a hospital, no one told them to keep quiet. This was the top floor's private ward—only one room, only one patient. Other than running into the "medical staff," they saw no one else.
Finally, they stopped in front of Kanon's room.
"Excuse us."
Kaiser stepped in first, holding the door for Nagisa.
Inside was a bright, spacious, warmly decorated room, free of any antiseptic smell. It looked more like a luxurious bedroom than a hospital ward.
"Ah…"
In the center, a silver-haired girl in a hospital gown sat on a snow-white bed. Seeing them, her face lit with a shy, happy smile.
"Kai-senpai… and Nagisa. What brings you here?"
Kanon Kanase had woken up—and looked to be recovering well. Her complexion was healthy, though she carried a fragile, delicate air that made her all the more endearing.
"Welcome. You're here to see Kanon, right?"
Standing at her bedside, smiling as if she belonged there, was none other than La Folia.
"So you're here too?" Kaiser raised a brow.
"Shouldn't I be?" La Folia said sweetly. "My family is hospitalized. As her only blood relative on this island, of course I'm here to watch over her."
She said it openly, in front of Kanon, who only looked a little embarrassed.
Clearly, La Folia had told her everything—and Kanon had accepted it. Understandable. The two looked so alike it was proof enough.
For a girl who had grown up alone, learning she had family left in the world must have been a joy.
…But some outsiders still had no clue.
"Hey, Kai-kun, what's going on here?"
Nagisa gawked between the two silver-haired beauties, then tugged on Kaiser's sleeve, eyes sparkling.
"Who is she? She looks just like Kanon! She's a foreigner, right? So pretty! She's like a real princess!"
Not like—is.
"You're adorable too, Nagisa," La Folia said warmly, turning her gaze on the girl. "Like a sleeping beauty who hasn't woken yet."
Kaiser was the only one who caught the double meaning. Nagisa, having forgotten her "sleeping beauty" situation entirely, just waved her hands.
"No way I could compare to you two." She shook her head eagerly. "So, are you Kanon's sister or something? Or maybe her mo—mmph!"
Her stream of questions was abruptly cut off when Kaiser covered her mouth.
"Are you a problem child? That's way too many questions!"
Nagisa squirmed in his grip, muffled protests spilling out.
Watching their easy closeness, Kanon's eyes showed a hint of envy.
La Folia, on the other hand, only looked more intrigued.
"The Beast King and the Fourth Primogenitor… The more I see, the more interesting you two become."