The Mist Dragon lowered its head slightly—a gesture that, for a being like it, was the equivalent of acknowledgment.
"Very well, Ash. I accept your contract. If your death is the price of my freedom… then I will wait for that day with patience."
Its vast eyes shimmered faintly.
"And until that moment comes, this mist… shall be yours."
Gabriel smiled thinly.
He turned his head to the side.
"Fay."
The small figure was still sitting casually on his shoulder, her blue eyes glowing softly.
"Prepare the Soul Contract ritual," Gabriel said flatly. "The complete one. No loopholes."
Morgan raised a small eyebrow, then smiled askew.
"Of course. A contract between an immortal dragon and… a troublesome child like you does sound rather entertaining."
The mist around them began to tremble, as if reality itself were bracing to witness something that should never have come to pass.
Morgan prepared the Soul Contract ritual between Gabriel and the Mist Dragon.
At the center of the glowing magic circle, her voice reached Gabriel through telepathy.
"I remember," Morgan said in her usual tone. "You once mentioned it… a being like you—a Herald—cannot die of old age."
She paused for a moment.
Gabriel smiled faintly.
"For some reason," Morgan continued, "the way you're deceiving this poor old dragon reminds me of a certain white-haired individual whose name I'd rather not mention."
Gabriel immediately understood.
That figure was none other than Merlin—the ancient trickster.
"Fay," Gabriel replied in his mind, "why are you feeling sorry for this dragon?"
"You know, don't you? Lately I've been drained on an existential level… as if brushed by an ancient void, just from thinking about where Shadow Garden should reside."
His thoughts rang with quiet conviction.
"That's the point. My purpose in coming to this world is to carry out my mission—while still remaining Ash."
"That's exactly why," Morgan replied flatly, without hesitation, "I feel sorry for this unfortunate dragon. And I feel even more sorry for the reason behind it—your foolish intention."
"For some reason," she added, "I'd rather see this dragon be deceived by that white-haired being than by you."
"Oh? In that case… would you like me to—"
Before Gabriel could finish, Morgan had already caught his meaning. She cut him off, cold and sharp as a spear's edge.
"If you summon him," Morgan said, "I'll make sure the two of you are locked up in the Garden."
Gabriel smiled faintly, his eyes glinting through the mist. He looked at Morgan in silence for a moment, then turned his gaze back toward the Mist Dragon.
"Don't worry, Fay," he murmured softly. "Ash knows his limits… and that isn't something you need to concern yourself with."
Silence settled over the Abyss Woods once more—leaving only the sound of Gabriel's breathing and the low rumble of the mist.
All preparations were complete, and the fate of the newly forged contract now waited to carve the next chapter for Ash and the Mist Dragon.
***
Some time had passed since Gabriel bound a Soul Contract with the Mist Dragon.
Now, he stepped out of the mist-shrouded territory of Abyss Woods, Morgan still seated casually on his shoulder.
Outside, the darkness of night greeted him.
Alpha and the other Shades were waiting patiently, their gazes fixed on the figure emerging from the fog.
The moment they sensed Gabriel's presence, all seven girls turned toward him at once.
Alpha stepped forward—and before she could even speak, Gabriel flicked the forehead of the blonde elf.
The flick landed with unmistakable force, despite being aimed at Alpha alone, enhanced by Mana Zone.
"That's your punishment," Gabriel said flatly. "You just bought yourselves tickets to the realm of death. Without me—or Cid—you wouldn't be standing here right now."
The seven of them glanced at one another, their faces flushing with a mix of fear and irritation.
"Please forgive us, Ash-sama…" Alpha said, her voice trembling despite her effort to stay composed, while Beta and Delta quickly bowed their heads.
Epsilon, Zeta, and Eta looked like they were holding back small laughs—relief at still being alive mixing with lingering annoyance at being scolded.
Gamma merely furrowed her brow, restraining her emotions, yet her gaze couldn't hide the mixture of awe and fear within it.
They all fell silent for a moment, fully realizing just how vast the gap in power was between them and Gabriel.
Gabriel let out a slow breath, looking at the seven girls with eyes that were cold yet calm, then formed a faint smile.
"In that case… be grateful I'm still here to make sure you keep breathing," he said flatly. "Remember this well—Shadow Garden is not a place to test your courage."
His gaze swept over the seven of them, steady and composed, his pale wings trembling faintly beneath the night's light.
A thin smile lingered on his lips.
"The Mist Dragon… has been taken care of."
Gabriel's eyes settled on Alpha.
"You may begin relocating Shadow Garden's members to Alexandria," he continued.
"For anything beyond that… discuss it directly with the dragon," he said, his tone calm yet carrying unquestionable authority.
He drew a long breath, then added in a softer—though still firm—voice,
"As for me… I'm going home to rest. Today has been exhausting."
Meanwhile, Gabriel slowly beat his wings, preparing to take flight, leaving the seven Shades behind as they continued to watch him with a mixture of awe and relief.
Alpha then turned to the Seven Shades one by one, ensuring their full attention was on her.
"Alright," she said firmly. "We'll split into two groups. Beta, Eta—you're coming with me. We'll speak directly with the Mist Dragon to work out the details."
Beta adjusted her glasses, the corner of her lips lifting slightly.
"Understood. Negotiations and information gathering, then. How intriguing."
Eta gave a light nod, her eyes gleaming.
"Data from an ancient being like that is invaluable… of course I'm in."
Alpha then turned to the remaining members.
"Gamma, Delta, Epsilon, Zeta, and all support units—you're returning to Headquarters."
"Begin coordinating the relocation of all Shadow Garden members to Alexandria. No one is to be left behind."
Gamma bowed gracefully. "Of course, Alpha-sama. I will handle the logistics and relocation routes."
Delta gave a short nod. "If it's about swift execution, leave it to Delta, nanodesu!"
Epsilon crossed her arms with a confident smile. "We'll tighten security. If any threats arise, we'll handle them."
Zeta let out a small chuckle. "And if anyone tries to snoop around, they won't even have time to report it."
Alpha closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them again, her gaze resolute.
"Move out," Alpha added. "This is a new phase for Shadow Garden."
Several of the Shades nodded and immediately moved according to Alpha's orders, while Beta and Eta followed her in the direction of the Mist Dragon.
***
Seven days had passed since the relocation of Shadow Garden to the City of Alexandria began.
The process unfolded almost flawlessly.
Behind a veil of thin mist, the city looked like something straight out of a fairy tale—nearly impossible, yet undeniably real.
Cracked stone walls were covered in frost-bitten moss, while the ground lay beneath a thin layer of snow interwoven with patches of stubborn green grass.
Amid the ruins of old buildings, rice fields and gardens appeared strange—yet alive.
Young rice stalks, partially frozen, swayed in the cold wind. Plots of tea leaves, spared from the worst of winter, released a sharp, refreshing aroma into the air.
On raised terraces, berry trees and coffee plants bore the weight of heavy fruit, dusted with fine snow—silent proof of a harvest yet to come.
Alexandria was no longer a dead city.
It breathed, even in the biting cold.
Along stone roads cleared of snow, members of Shadow Garden ran lightly, their breaths turning into white vapor in the frigid air.
This was not mere jogging.
It was discipline training.
Their formation was orderly—steps in unison, breathing controlled. In the distance, a Dark Elf with deep green hair stood with her hands on her hips, overseeing everything.
Lambda.
Her voice rang out—firm yet measured—as she called commands, ensuring not a single rhythm slipped out of place.
On the other side of the city, Gabriel walked at an easy pace along a road covered in a thin layer of snow.
Morgan was not on his shoulder this time. Instead, Gamma walked beside him, carrying several sheets of documents and a data board, her breath forming small clouds in the cold air.
"The first-stage agricultural zones have stabilized," Gamma reported calmly, her voice slightly heavy from the chill. "Berry production should be able to sustain internal logistics for two months. Cocoa will follow after that."
Gabriel gave a small nod, his gaze sweeping over the fields and gardens half-buried beneath the snow.
"…Faster than I expected."
Gamma smiled faintly.
"With the fog protecting Alexandria, anything becomes possible. There's no external interference, and troop discipline remains at its peak."
Gabriel continued forward at an unhurried pace, eyes fixed on the city reborn in the heart of winter.
At last… Shadow Garden had land that could truly be called home.
Ah…
Suddenly, a thought crossed his mind.
His steps came to a halt. His gaze shifted to the tea fields, shimmering faintly under the morning frost of winter.
A silence settled between them.
Gamma followed his gaze to the field, while on the other side, Gabriel's thoughts began to spin.
Their pay.
No.
More precisely—allowances for all members of Shadow Garden.
It mattered.
Shadow Garden was not a shadow organization that treated its people like disposable tools.
The question was… how many gold coins should be distributed each month?
Or… perhaps every week?
After thinking long enough for his head to start feeling heavy, Gabriel gave up. He turned toward Gamma.
"Gamma," he called softly.
"Yes, Ash-sama?"
"In your opinion…" Gabriel narrowed his eyes at the tea field, "…how much funding should we allocate each month for the Seven Shades, the Numbers, and the General Members?"
__
Author's note:
I wonder where my readers are? 🤔
I don't know why their numbers have decreased. Maybe it's because the holiday season is over. 😅
Anyway, thank you to those of you who followed this work. ✨✨✨
Don't forget to add your favorites, leave sweet comments, and all your Power Stones. 😌
Come on... don't be shy, or I'll be embarrassed too~ 😏
Ah, next world is Date A Life. Ehehe~