'It's all ruined.'

Gamma was clutching her head in despair.

'I failed the mission given to me personally by Alpha-sama…'

She will not be able to recover from this, not only because it was a mission, but also…

'I DIDN'T EVEN ASK HIM WHAT HE FOUND IN THAT SPOILED PRINCESS!'

That's right, poor Gamma was so enamored with Shadow-sama magnificent visage, and the way he kindly looks at them, and the way he sits on the throne, and the way he lowers himself just so they can feel at ease around him, and the way… Ahhhh, she'd getting sidetracked again! This is the reason she forgot about the fact that he currently dated Alexia Midgar in his civilian persona!

'But why, Shadow-sama? I understand everything before that, as it was clear as day she's the next target for Cult's clutches, but why now?! I don't understand!…'

"Gamma-sama, you seem to be frustrated. May we know the reason?" the brown-haired clerk interjected before she could drown herself in sea of despair.

And even Gamma herself couldn't help but admit that if she didn't know who that person was even she would be fooled by clerk's disguise. After all, this unassuming woman was, in fact, one of the Named Numbers, Nu, the thirteenth, master of disguise, espionage, and a professional at getting information out of their enemies.

Hmm… Right, a person of such caliber surely wouldn't be like her. Nu will definitely be able to find out why Shadow-sama would take this spoiled, bratty, rude, absolutely non-feminine… Ahem, princess, as his civilian persona girlfriend.

"Nu, I have a mission for you…"


'It's all ruined.'

Cid was clutching his head in despair.

'I failed the mission I set for myself in this Academy…'

He will never be able to recover from this.

'EVERYONE IS PAYING ATTENTION TO ME! MY MOB PERSONA IS GONE!'

That's right, poor Cid was so enamored with amount of money he got from Gamma (she's now officially his most loved girl, sorry Alpha and Alexia, move on) that he forgot about the fact that he's still princess' boyfriend! And when he tried to go back to tier-9 Bushin section, Alexia looked at him, said "Why is he here? Is he stupid?", and took him back to tier-1! Y'know, where elites among elites are? Now he's stuck here with them and everyone looks at him! And his mob friends, Skel and Po, only looked at him with such amount of jealousy that if it was mana he would consider placing them just slightly below himself…

And then Alexia said, and he quotes: "I want you to enter the Bushin Festival." That's right, she wanted him to participate in tournament that would give to everyone who managed to show themselves glory and money! And the funniest part is, she will not participate! She just wants to look at him squirming under everyone's gazes! And whe he tried to refuse, she just looked at him with sad eyes, then upon realizing puppy eyes don't work on him she just dragged him against his will. Of course, he tried to signal to tournament's clerks that he was definitely not willing, but they just looked at Alexia's smiling face and accepted his entry. He tried to dispute that later without her but they denied it on the basis that he already has an opponent and can't back down now. In short: it sucks!

…Wait. He has an idea. Nobody said that he has to win the tournament. He could just lose against a powerful opponent, but in the process he could also test out his mobfu techniques! Alright, everything is not that bad. It's actually playable. Now he just needs to figure out which opponent would he lose against so it would look the best for his mob persona…


'It's all ruined.'

Alexia was lying listless on her bed.

'I failed as a friend…'

She can't even shake off the bad feeling.

'HE DID NOT EVEN WANT TO DO ANY OF THAT!'

It was seen plain as day. Cid said it himself multiple times. He does not like attention. Yet she continued pestering him in public just for her own amusement. After all, he was looking cute when he was flustered from her interjections in his daily life. Normally he just brushed it off, though he would speak everything to her face in private settings.

However.

This time was different. She tried to list him to participate in the Festival. She, unexpectedly, succeeded.

Alexia thought that tournament clerks would surely reject any applications made not out of free will. Turned out princess' influence was enough to override whatever rules they had and force him to participate. As his 'friends' (they were Po and Skel, if she recalls correctly) later told her (while salivating in the process), he tried to cancel his application tet-a-tet, only to be refused as he was immediately paired with his future opponent.

Rose Oriana. Oriana's kingdom princess and the current champion that has risen in ranks barely a day before their application. She was his opponent in elimination rounds. Anyone with a single working brain cell would realise why, exactly, was she paired with him: smooth sailing. They wanted her to reach the finals as fast as possible, so they placed weak opponents against her.

Ha… Ha-ha…

"I am so sorry, Cid…" tears started flowing, "Because of me, you will be… w-will be… sniff… Please, forgive me…"

She was barely able to stand up. She needed to take a breather. Then, maybe, she would go to him. They will go to registration point and recall his application, no matter how much damage will her reputation suffer. She can't go any lower as Mediocre Sword anyway.


Yep, everything is great!

Cid just checked out who his opponent is, and it actually turned out to be a princess of an ally kingdom! Not only that, but she's also a champion of Academy! Practically the strongest in it! If he lost against such an opponent, nobody would even bat an eye because it's the expected result! Everything is working out in his favor!

Alright, course is set. Now he needs to think about his Eminence in Shadow role. Turned out girls are actually still feeling grateful to him, if Gamma's generous donation is anything to think about, so maybe they will not refuse his next suggestion?-

"Shadow-sama."

As he turned around he met a brown-haired clerk from Mitsugoshi, though if he gave it a deeper thought she is possibly Gamma's bodyguard if her stance is anything to go by?… And why was she in student's uniform?

"Hmm, you were with Gamma back then…" profound-master-look-№13, go! "You are…?" HE DIDN'T KNOW HER NAME! IT'S SO OVER!

"Nu, the thirteenth, specialization: espionage, disguise, torment, interrogation," 'Hollup-hollup, thirteenth? Did they really expand the Shadow Garden lore that much and found more people to play with? That's cool, but what's with this skillset?! Is she an assassin or what?!' "Gamma-sama has sent me over to inform you about Shadow Garden's impersonators that try to defile Shadow Garden's reputation with ruthless killing of innocent."

Well, he did hear about some kind of murderers running around in the city, but to think girls would mark them as targets for their next stage? That's neat as hell, not gonna lie. And here he was thinking on how to convince them to play together again…


Well, turned out there really were some interesting things out there.

It was midnight, and he in his Shadow persona together with Nu in her slimesuit were sitting on the roof watching over a trio of strange people in black clothing running around from corner to corner. Honestly, he would rather go on and take them out immediately, but his cliché sense was tingling so he stayed there. Watching. Nu didn't have any complaints and only observed everything with her tenacious gaze, occasionally shifting to his form only to go back to observation duty immediately. 'Yep, she's a real professional. How did they even convince her to participate in my Eminence games is beyond me…'

And then it happened. Suddenly, out of nowhere, God only knows why, Alexia decided to visit this exact gloomy alley in which the strange trio was chilling. He could not believe this coincidence either.

While Cid was processing about what the hell is going on the battle erupted. Alexia tried to take down the guys while they… Wait, did he hear that right? Did they just say that "they were Shadow Garden?" And why do they look like there's no sign of intelligence in their heads? Did they get drugged or what?

"It is as you say, Shadow-sama," 'Oops, slipped,' he thought as Nu started explaining the lore, "these are Third Children of Cult of Diablos. They are made by picking up children that have a spark of magical talent, drugging them to the point until they can do nothing but obey commands and forcefully increasing their magical potential, thus creating perfect cannon fodder," Cid saw cold glint in her eyes when she finished her speech.

But man, they really do not hold back on their lore, huh? Then it's time for him to say something…


"Precisely. I am glad that you managed to find this information. It seems Shades' trust in you was not misplaced."

That's what he said. Of course, he already knew all of that and was simply testing her knowledge by throwing a seemingly innocent question. And it looks like she fulfilled her task to a T.

"But it seems we have to intervene. Princess will not be able to hold on much longer."

Right, princess. Nobody knows why, exactly, their omniscient Lord would choose her as his partner for civilian persona, and that's the most important reason for her to go out and relay the information to him. Gamma-sama actually expected her to find out the real reason for this arrangement.

To be fair, Nu could not wrap it around her head, either. After alll, if he wanted to maintain his average civilian persona, then he would need an equally average partner, and she was a perfect candidate for that with her abilities. And if he actually wanted to somewhat reveal his unparalleled might, then she, again, would be a perfect partner for him as a high-ranking member of the most popular store in the Capital. There was simply no need to engage with member of royalty. Especially as ill-mannered as Alexia.

But that can wait. They have a mission to perform.

He nodded at her and minutely looked at the distance. The order is clear: "Wait for anyone who tries to get out."

The Lord himself jumped down right in-between princess and impostors (she's not jealous of her, not jealous…) as his cloak majestically, graciously moved along with the wind.

"Hmm, what do we have here? Three puppets trying to frame Shadow Garden?" Shadow mocked both them and their masters.

The next moment one of dark cloaked people exploded in blood. Nu hasn't even noticed the moment her Lord drawn his sword, it was as if the world itself couldn't notice it. That was it, the peak of swordsmanship, revealed to them in but a moment.

"That's what waits everyone who dares to stain the name of our organization," a declaration. That's what it was. "My name."

Nu couldn't calm down her heart. Even all her abilities in being a perfect spy and easily blending with surroundings couldn't help in containing her excitement at the display of her Lord's majestic abilities. And his declaration made it clear: he is not merely a leader of Shadow Garden. He is Shadow Garden itself. Everything that was ever connected to organization was his to wield, to possess, to use however he wishes.

Cult's pawns realized their struggles are meaningless. They tried to run away. Futile attempt. After all… She already awaits them.

Second one falls down. The unseen blade is the deadliest. She barely glanced at how her Lord ordered the princess to stay back. Nu wanted to tear Alexia's head off when she refused but Shadow, in his infinite kindness and wisdom, merely humored her threat.

"I shall wait eagerly for the day when you are to challenge me, Alexia Midgar," that's what he said to her. "After all, our blades are alike. There would be nothing more exciting for me than to converse with someone whose abilities match my own."

And it was at this moment Nu understood. Shadow-sama saw the potential that Alexia Midgar has and decided she was worthy to be someone close to him once she manages to grow. Nu remembered the fond stories from Seven Shades about how they were training under their Lordship, how exciting it was to receive yet another lesson from him.

'I'll admit, I am jealous, Alexia Midgar. To receive a hidden tutelage from a person like him, it seems like you accumulated plenty of luck in your life precisely for this moment.'

But for now, she has another job. After all, her Lord left the last one for her.

Nu stares down at the last target, oblivious of the fact that she was right behind him.

"You must be envious of what that your partners got, to die from hands of our Lord himself," she whispered in his ear, placing her hands right on his neck, "After all…" slime suit slowly produced needles, "I am not that merciful."