Just wanted to say: even if I do not answer to comments, I still read every single one of them, and sometimes even take inspiration out of them. Thank you, fellow readers!


Cid ran away.

He waited for the moment when they all would start bickering with each other (thankfully he saw enough harem animes to know when this trope would come… but looks like not enough to escape it himself) and slithered from medbay in the middle of their heated conversation.

He bet on the fact that both Claire and Rose were still participating in the tournament and so could not go on an epic quest "find mob in the capital", Sherry seemed way too shy to do so even if she had time, and Iris was preoccupied with her duties as a princess, so the only one who could actually go after him is Alexia, and she doesn't know where he could be. Now, he can think in peace.

'Where did I go wrong?'

Yep, Cid was still downcast. He painstakingly created his mob personality, making research in both previous and current lives, and up to this moment it all looked like everything worked out. But now? Now everything is ruined! He suddenly attracted not one, not two, not even three, but five women! Alright, one of them is his sister, so we don't count her, the other one is here just to make sure her own sister is feeling okay, but what about the other three?! Assume that Alexia decided to check up on her boyfriend, seems legit. Assume that Rose decided to honor her opponent, seems in line with heroine personality. What the hell that peach-haired girl was doing here?… Wait, isn't it that one that he gave away his chocolate to? Ain't no way she decided to visit him only because of that. Please tell him it isn't.

Well, one thing was certain: Cid's mob persona is ruined. His mob friends decided to give him boycott, he suddenly acquired a princess as a girlfriend, it looks like his opponent decided to compliment him in front of everyone basically elevating his status, another princess decided that he's cool, too, and now he's at the center of attention. Oh, also because of that he has less time for his Eminence in Shadow play.

Nah, to hell with it. He will go to Mitsugoshi and meet with Gamma, maybe she will give him some coffee. Tea wouldn't be that bad, either. Oh, maybe also some sweets?…


Five women were eyeing an empty bed that was occupied by a certain boy just few moments ago.

"So… anyone noticed when he managed to get out?" Alexia raised a question.

"Window is closed. Sherry was standing at the door. Claire and Rose kept an eye on him at all times," Iris reported, lifting the blankets up as if he was simply hiding in them.

"And with all these measures he still managed to escape from five top-level students. Wow, I don't know whether to be proud or angry at him… Well, I always said my brother has potential!" Claire nodded happily.

"But if he had such a skill at concealment and fast movement, he could have used it against me… Two or three times and I would be severely wounded… Why didn't he use it, then?… Why was he hiding it?…" Rose was mumbling to herself.

Sherry was simply studying the bed, frowning. Something about it was strange. She could swear that she just noticed a flash of magic, and not just any simple magic, no, that one was on the level of artifacts, but now there was nothing. And the direction it came from? That's right, this same bed that Cid was lying in…

Knock, knock.

"Oh, excuse me, dear students, have you seen Sherry? She just went… Oh, Sherry-chan, here you are!"

"A-Assistant Principal! I-"

"Ah, Sherry-chan, why so shy? It's father, father!"

Tall, somewhat thin middle-aged man with gray hair made his way in.

"Assistant Principal Lutheran," Rose bowed, "is there anything you need?"

"Oh-ho, nothing important. I just heard Sherry-chan decided to visit her first ever friend, so I simply couldn't miss a chance to meet with them. Though…" he eyed the room, "I assume they are not there?"

"Oh, right, Barnett-san, have you seen Cid Kagenou?" Rose pointed at Claire, "He's younger brother of Claire Kagenou, black hair, grey eyes, somewhat average looking, and should be bandaged as he was injured during the tournament…"

"Hmm… I'm afraid not, young ladies, this old man has not seen anyone like that on my way there…" Lutheran rubbed his mustache as he watched disappointed girls slowly making their way to the exit.

"Oh, little brother, you better pray you won't get in my hands…" Claire's smile made some weaker students lose consciousness, again.

Lutheran Barnett watched them leave, then turned to the bed where this boy was supposed to be.

'How… interesting. I clearly saw him losing against Rose Oriana, yet now he manages to outsmart them and the guards. And somehow, he made his way out without being noticed by me… Curious…'


Gamma was in ecstasy.

She was in the middle of conversation with — somewhat pale — Alpha (and Delta, but beast-kin was there for food) when Lord Shadow, in all his magnificent glory of an average person, appeared. He simply sat down with them, caught the squealing Delta, and started petting her.

"Ahem, Master Shadow," Alpha coughed, "may I inquire the reason you are here?"

"What are you saying, Alpha?!" Gamma was furious, "Are you implying Lord Shadow needs a reason to visit his subordinates?! Blasphemy!"

"Yuh-yuh!" Delta raised her head, "Bossman can come whenever he wants wherever he wants! Alpha should know that!"

Yet their lord merely raised his hand, forcing them to calm down.

"Alpha is right," he confirmed, "I have come here to ask for advice. And, while we are at it, Nu, could you please prepare some coffee for me? Black, please. Oh, and some chocolate and candies."

"As you command, my Lord," the Letter bowed and went on her order.

"Master Shadow, you don't mean-?" Alpha's eyes widened. Is there something she knows about and doesn't tell them?

"No, it's not about that," Gamma really wanted to know what exactly this 'that' meant, but if they both decided to keep it a secret, there must be an important enough reason, "It's about my civilian persona."

"Civilian…? As in, Cid Kagenou?" Alpha mused.

"Correct. As you may know, the whole purpose of this persona was to hide in the light, in front of everyone, as an average member of society so I could safely collect important information that would then be used by Shadow Garden," both elves nodded to that, "However, now this persona is compromised."

"Oh?" Alpha… smirked? "How so, Master Shadow?"

"Well, now correct me if I am wrong, but average student certainly doesn't get three princesses interested in him," his frustrated look told them everything he thought about current situation.

"…Three?" Alpha's smile died out as she frowned, "Wasn't it just princess Alexia?"

"It was, initially. Then Iris Midgar decided that my civilian-self is worthy enough to be her friend," he clutched his head; it looked kinda cute if Gamma is being honest, "And now, apparently, the princess of Oriana saw my performance in Bushin Festival as something beautiful and decided to confront me in medbay to tell me something. She was only interrupted because there were two other princesses and my sister. Then a fight over me broke out, and I used that moment to get away to Mitsugoshi."

As Lord Shadow was retelling everything that happened his hand started going faster in its task to pet Delta, as if it would help him calm down.

"Should we take them out?" oh, Gamma didn't even notice Nu coming back… She knows that she's bad at fighting compared to the rest of Shadow Garden, but now it's just ridiculous! But suggestion is sound, yes.

"That wouldn't accomplish anything and will only draw more attention to me as the one link that connected all of them," Lord Shadow immediately dismissed it, shame, "And thank you for your service, Nu."

"It is my pleasure to serve you, Lord Shadow," Nu bowed and stood back.

"And also because you still care about your closed ones like your sister Claire that would certainly be outcast, right, Master Shadow?" Alpha interjected smugly.

"…Yes, because of that, too," he confirmed it with sour look and poured some coffee as Alpha grinned at him. Gamma felt really left out of the loop! Oh how she wished to be Delta now!

Right, focus.

"Ahem, forgive me, Lord Shadow, but wouldn't that be even more beneficial as you can get information right from the top?"

"Mmm, yes. However, it seems like that princesses are feeling somewhat romantic towards me, and my mob persona was not made with being Harem Protagonist in mind."

Harem Protagonist?… Oh, a character having harem, right, thank you, Beta's books!

"Master Shadow, are you against harems?" good question, Alpha!

"I am not opposed to harem as a concept, but neither I am interested in relationships," he calmly retorted, "However, my Cid Kagenou persona certainly should not engage in things like these as that would spell disaster for my cover."

"You are not interested? Why is that?" Gamma spoke out, somewhat nervous.

"Hmm, let's just say…" Shadow put his chin down on his hand, "If I spend too much time in relationship, I wouldn't have enough time in order to train properly."

"…But what if relationship does not take that much time?" Alpha's eyes emitted a dangerous glint.

"Then, perhaps, it could work out. However, the only persona that could actually get in proper relationships right now is my Shadow persona, and I don't see anyone who would do-"

"Me." "Me?" "Me!", Alpha's calm and collected voice, Gamma's concerned and nervous voice, and absolutely brash voice of Delta rang out.

"Mmm?" why is Shadow-sama so taken aback? Did he not know it already?

"Master Shadow, in case you have forgotten, all of Shadow Garden offered their souls and bodies to you. You're our benevolent Lord, and we know for sure we would be happy to be with you," Alpha was now absolutely serious, and Gamma was willing to sign every word in her speech.

"Oh- Hm- Ah- Mmm, I never thought about you that way," wait, what?! "Honestly, back then you were what?… Lost little girls, and I only thought about giving you a shelter and abilities to protect yourselves," he mused, "I honestly never thought that you all would grow up like this…"

"S-Shadow-sama?…" Gamma's whole world started falling apart.

"No, I did not mean you would never accomplish anything; in fact, I actually thought that your talents were quite strong. It's just that…" Shadow tapped his cup, "I simply never imagined that seven little girls that I saved out of kindness would actually grow up to become one of the biggest companies controlling a large part of kingdom's economic," he slowly drank coffee as his expression softened, "What am I saying is… I am really proud of you. Really."

"S-Shadow-sama!" Gamma's world fixed itself back as pure joy on her face was enough to lit up the whole room, "I-I can't thank you enough for your kindness! It's all because of you that we could become who we are today! If not for you, we would never be able to feel the warm sun and familial love again! Shadow Garden itself would not exist if you weren't there to save us…"

"Shadow Garden, you say?…" he smiled, "Do you want to know how I came up with that name?"

"M?" Gamma blinked, "It isn't because of "hunting the shadows" motto?"

"Oh? A-ha-ha, no-no," Shadow shook his head, "I used this name because…" he slowly leaned to her as she did the same, ready to hear the most discussed secret of their organization! "It sounded cool," and wink.

Silence. She could see Alpha barely containing her laugh.

"Eh?! Wait, Alpha-sama, don't say you too-"

"Well, I am not gonna say that I knew for certain," the First Shade giggled, "but I knew our glorious leader good enough to suspect the reason," and wink.

Gamma was shaking in her seat.

"Oh, right," suddenly their Lord posed a question to Alpha, "I remember teaching you the means to cure the Curse. How was it?"

"As of right now, Shadow Garden's manpower reaches six hundred and fifty seven people," blonde elf replied.

Surprise briefly flashed through their Lord's eyes.

"Six hundred and half, you say…?" he turned his head to Gamma, "And I assume most are employed at Mitsugoshi?"

"It is as you say, my Lord," she finally calmed herself down, "we give them a job offer at Mitsugoshi and, should they agree, train them in being store cashiers, assistants, and guards."

"Hmm, that's great. After being subjected to such horrible experiences they might completely lose their will to live. Allowing them to have a proper education and fulfilling job would allow them to stand back up faster and will give them confidence about their future," Lord Shadow softly smiled at her, "Stand proud, Gamma. You did well."

Gamma was shaking once again, but this time out of happiness.

"Now, about your relationships question…" Shadow turned his head back to Alpha, "If you are really willing to go that length for me, then you must know-"

"That you are currently in relationship with Alexia Midgar however superficial it may be, yes," the First Shade nodded, "but I will not back down."

"Is that so?" he tapped his now empty cup, "However…"

"Also having harem is cool."

'What?'

"Oh?" Lord Shadow was taken aback.

"Having harem is cool," Alpha repeated, "It is well known that in history the most powerful people always created harems, be it men or women. As a leader of the strongest organization in shadows, it is expected of you, Master Shadow, to have your own harem, especially considering the fact Shadow Garden consists entirely of females, with the only exception being the leader. You, Master Shadow."

'Alpha-sama, what the hell are you sprouting?!'

"So what you are saying…"

"That as a leader of Shadow Garden you are to have a harem, and once you are to reveal yourself to the world, you can also take all your civilian's romantic interests, thus solving three problems at once: your civilian persona having harem, your Shadow persona answering feelings of Shadow Garden, and adding more powerful members to organization in form of princesses."

"Well then, if you say so, then so be it. You will be the first one, Alpha," Shadow nodded, "and I assume other Shades will not be against it, either?"

"We talked about this, Shadow-sama. We only waited for your approval," the First Shade bowed her head, smiling.

"I agree, Shadow-sama. The best way to preserve our current bonds would be to go with Delta's suggestion and create one family," that was Gamma chipping in.

"Mmm! Delta said this a long time ago and you only now managed to do that?! What are you, stupi-i-i-a-a-h?" Delta tried to growl at them but was interrupted by sudden hand at her tummy.

"Hmm," Shadow smiled as well.

"My Lord?"

"Ah, it's nothing, Gamma. I just wanted to say that I am deeply thankful."

"Eh?"

"You all gave everything in order to help me in my dream, going as far as offering yourselves…"

"S-Shadow-sama, t-that's-"

"Let's cut it short, Alpha, Gamma."

He raised his head and looked straight at them, his usual grey eyes being replaced with beautiful shine of a Blood Moon.

"You, Seven Shades, were the first true friends I ever made in this world. And I couldn't be happier about that."

She gulped nervously, her body weakened as his affectionate gaze reached her own eyes.

"S-Shadow-sama, is this?..." Gamma finally realized what was going on.

"You are a wonderful team. I really love being with you."