Golden hieroglyphs spiraled around me as I teleported back to Eterna, materializing directly on the one-hundredth floor of the Great Labyrinth. The air here was heavy—thick with magicules, ancient runes, and the pressure of countless past challengers who failed to reach this very point.
My sandals clicked softly against the obsidian-like tiles as I stepped forward into the vast chamber meant to receive those who conquered the labyrinth.
To the side rested Veldora's private quarters—or rather, his chaotic hoard of a room.
Two rooms in total.
And both were empty.
I exhaled slowly.
"Where did that dragon wander off to now…?"
The echo of my voice lingered in the enormous chamber. I pressed two fingers to my temple.
"Most likely causing mayhem," I muttered. "Again."
The ground hummed beneath my feet—an almost uncomfortable density of magicules concentrated in the air around Veldora's room.
Even by my standards, this was intense.
A low whistle escaped me.
"This room… the youki is so dense it feels like a storm compressed into a box."
I shook my head.
"That dragon… If someone accidentally touched anything in here, he'd throw a tantrum fierce enough to qualify as a natural disaster."
I crossed my arms as I evaluated the surroundings.
"So this is Veldora's sanctuary…"
I narrowed my eyes.
"And even though he's not here, it reeks of him."
The reason was simple.
"I taught him how to conceal his magicule signature. Before that, he leaked youki like a broken floodgate. If I wanted Eterna to thrive, I couldn't have half the new residents fainting from his presence."
Solarys, my ever-calm partner, spoke in my mind:
«Explanation: Had you not intervened,approximately 47% of Eterna's population would have collapsed from magical pressure within one hour of Veldora's last rampage.»
"Exactly. Unacceptable."
I paced forward, inspecting the chamber.
"People forget the truth—Veldora was once feared as a walking calamity. His reputation was earned."
I paused, recalling Luminous's stories.
Her very soul trembled remembering his past antics.
"But even someone like him can change. Slightly," I corrected myself. "When I give him an order, he listens… eventually."
Solarys hummed thoughtfully.
«Correction: He listens to you because you told him—quote—"A true king commands even dragons."»
"…Did I really say that?"
«Affirmative.»
I sighed but didn't deny it. Sounds like something I'd say.
"And regarding the aura control… The day he returned, I told him—"
I stepped onto the staircase and raised my voice dramatically, reenacting the moment.
'Master your aura, and you shall appear truly dignified. A king among dragons keeps his power sheathed.'
That single statement changed everything.
"From that day forward, he trained relentlessly to suppress his presence. The improvement was astonishing—no one recognizes him unless he wishes it."
I smirked faintly.
"Not that he's any less troublesome now."
I walked deeper into the chamber, irritation flickering behind my composed exterior.
Milim. Veldora. The twin plagues of my peace.
"If I compare them… Veldora is a storm, yes. But Milim is an earthquake riding atop a cyclone."
I shook my head.
"And both seem determined to give me endless work."
So I vented.
I spoke out loud to the empty chamber—
about Veldora's recent chaos,
about Milim's unbearable whims,
about the nonsensical disasters they created,
about the repairs,
and the endless diplomatic apologies.
Solarys remained silent, likely calculating how much of my ranting was emotionally driven versus factually supported.
By the time I'd finished, the weight on my shoulders had eased.
I dragged a hand through my hair.
"Good grief… Even a Pharaoh needs to vent sometimes."
The Millennium Eye glowed faintly on my forehead.
The labyrinth trembled in response.
"Just when I was about to inquire, Veldora suddenly cut in.
'Oh, it's Atem. I showed up to help as well. Ramiris begged me to come and help her, so I had no choice.'
'Your assistance is welcome,' Atem replied, calm yet regal. 'She does seem to be lacking manpower.'"
Atem's project was classified far beyond any public knowledge.
He couldn't summon just anyone from level ninety-five of the labyrinth.
Only people he absolutely trusted—
or at least people who would not complain about what they were about to witness.
After all, Atem was preparing bodies created
solely to be possessed.
And the ones meant to possess them…
Demons—high-class, dangerous, and powerful.
To anyone else, this was not "research."
It was a military weapon.
Which is why the existence of this place had to remain hidden
even from allied nations.
Ramiris suddenly burst forward, wings flailing desperately.
"Yahoo! Atem! I've been waiting for you! Mentor's support is like an extra pair of wings—but I still need more help, fast!"
Atem exhaled quietly.
Solarys, Sovereign of Wisdom, materialized its voice within his mind.
<< Prediction: Ramiris will demand additional labor. >>
Atem spoke with flawless authority.
"As expected. For that reason, I brought someone new to assist you.
Ramiris—you know this man as well. Beginning today, Kurobee will be cooperating with us. You may rely on him for menial tasks and manual labor."
Kurobee bowed, respectful and sharp-eyed.
Ramiris nodded vigorously. "Perfect! Thanks, Atem!"
Although Kurobee was far from an academic, his skills were invaluable.
At this stage of Atem's project, menial support was essential.
Vesta soon approached, and Atem finally understood why he had come all the way down.
The reason was simple and predictable:
Ramiris had dragged him here.
Because personnel were lacking, Vesta stopped his own research
so he could prioritize Atem's secret project.
Ramiris's "persuasion" was as intense as ever.
She didn't care about schedules.
She needed someone to perform clerical work, filing documents, collecting references—
And Beretta was already overworked.
Treyni was busy with management and Ramiris's personal needs.
Veldora was… completely unreliable.
So Vesta had become the next victim.
Atem questioned him.
"Will the Elemental Colossus be stable without your supervision?"
Vesta thought carefully.
"I cannot say for certain that nothing will go wrong. But—once we finish here, Treyni-chan's sisters will have their new bodies. We can build the Colossus at the same time."
Atem nodded. "Logical."
Vesta bowed apologetically.
"I am still disappointed in the 'Magic Armor Soldier' failure… but this research is equally compelling."
Vesta looked torn between frustration and excitement.
His heart wanted to continue his own work—
yet Atem's project was a continuous stream of discoveries
that made it impossible to step away.
He had matured greatly.
Even learning the top-secret nature of Atem's plan did not faze him for long.
His trauma and experiences had hardened him.
Finally, Vesta confessed:
"Please allow me to continue here. I want to see the results of these bodies you intend to create. Every day brings astonishing revelations—I cannot sleep because I do not want to miss any!"
Atem's stern eyes sharpened.
"Sleep deprivation is unacceptable," he said, voice deep and commanding.
"You will rest, Vesta. That is an order."
Vesta stiffened, then lowered his head.
"…Yes, Atem-sama."
Magic could restore stamina—but not replace sleep.
And Vesta was clearly pushing his limits.
So Atem made the decision:
"Because we have a new helper, Kurobee will take over your physical tasks. You will rest until you recover."
Kurobee stepped forward.
"Leave the workload to me, Vesta-dono."
Vesta let out a small sound—half relief, half exhaustion.
He gave Kurobee a concise explanation of the work required.
Despite the circumstances, Vesta performed his explanations flawlessly.
Atem observed them with narrowed eyes.
No problems.
Everything was functioning smoothly.
At last, he felt confident leaving them to handle this portion of the project.