It is many things but only one thing is to keep in mind. 3 worlds have joined the world of 'The Eminence of Shadow' many races have joined the world, fairy, devils, angels, vampires, gods etc...
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The story might get deleted depending on the if the stpry doesnt get enough reader or maybe just put on hiatus.
"The casualties on the World Battlefield have been effectively contained. Forces from World No. 1 and World No. 2 have begun reallocating their resources. It's expected that the next Tri-Realm Joint Conference will convene soon. However, during these negotiations, some of the benefits we gained last time—thanks to your intervention, Lord Shadow—are likely to be sacrificed."
"That said, Mistsugoshi Trading Company has already secured 30% of the military supply chains through the World Battlefield. On the civilian front, the company's reputation for unbeatable price-to-quality ratios has left its competitors in the dust. With Mistsugoshi dominating supply routes and other factions paying little attention to the civilian sector, achieving a global monopoly is only a matter of time."
"Given these circumstances, I propose redirecting the inevitable losses during the conference onto the nations of our world. This approach would safeguard Shadow Garden's core interests, deal a decisive blow to the Church's economic network, and simultaneously reinforce Mistsugoshi Trading Company's image as a neutral entity."
….
The young man stood by the window, gazing out at the tranquil schoolyard below. Though his posture suggested indifference, a subtle shift in his demeanor revealed otherwise—something in the report had caught his attention.
His eyes, deep and inscrutable, held an air of mystery that seemed to stretch across time itself, as if contemplating the past, present, and future in a single breath. A faint crimson light flickered within them as he turned his gaze toward the speaker—a breathtaking elf with flowing azure hair.
She stood beside him, her elegant frame accentuated by the black JK-style school uniform she wore. Her presence, like a masterfully sculpted statue, exuded both beauty and authority.
Behind her, several other women—elves, foxkin, and humans—busied themselves at their desks, their focus unbroken as they sorted through piles of documents and reports.
The elf, who had moments ago been delivering her report with practiced confidence, visibly stiffened as the young man's piercing gaze fell upon her. The subtle tremor in her fingers betrayed the sudden tension that gripped her.
"L-Lord Shadow," she stammered, her earlier poise crumbling. "Did I miss something in the report? I'll have the intelligence team re-investigate immediately!"
The young man raised his hand, cutting off the panic before it could spread to the others, who had already begun preparing for emergency orders.
"Gamma," he said, his voice low yet steady, carrying an undeniable weight. "I've told you before—you don't need to report these matters to me anymore."
The elf flinched but said nothing, her lips trembling as if resisting the urge to argue.
"We're not the same," he continued, turning away from the window to face her fully. "You need to seize this opportunity and lead the Garden into the light. Remember this—flowers that bloom in the darkness can never truly thrive."
His words echoed through the room, their impact leaving everyone silent. Yet, despite the stillness, their tightly clenched fists and trembling shoulders betrayed their inner turmoil.
"I'll shoulder the shadows and sins of this world alone. That's not your role. It never was, and it never should be."
As his voice faded, the air grew heavier. No one dared to speak.
Seeing their reactions, the young man let out a quiet sigh. Without another word, he turned and walked toward the door. Just before leaving, he paused and glanced over his shoulder.
"I'll clear the darkness on the path to your future. And Gamma…"
He hesitated for a moment before speaking again.
"Think carefully about the things I've told you before."
Without waiting for a response, he stepped out of the room—the innermost chamber of the student council office—and disappeared.
The moment he crossed the threshold, the change was instantaneous.
His straight back slumped, his commanding presence evaporated, and his broad shoulders sagged as though the weight of the world had finally been lifted.
Within seconds, the awe-inspiring figure who could bring nations to their knees had transformed into a completely forgettable background character.
The transformation was flawless.
"Hey, Cid! How's President Luna today? Was she in a good mood? Did she yell at you?"
The small group of students loitering outside the room failed to notice the drastic shift. To them, Cid had always been nothing more than… well, Cid.
"Totally fine! President Luna was in a great mood today," Cid replied with a grin that practically screamed 'generic mob character.' "I even cracked a joke, and she didn't scold me for it."
The group visibly relaxed at his words.
"Whew, that's a relief," said one of the students—Shiro Mizuhara, if Cid remembered correctly. Probably one of Vice President Souna's lackeys.
"She's been on edge lately. Even minor mistakes would set her off. It's lucky we have you to test the waters, Cid. Honestly, you're the only one here who can handle being around her without getting vaporized."
Cid resisted the urge to smirk. Instead, he maintained his harmless smile and nodded along.
"Well, that's the gist of it. You're safe to go in and report now. If there's nothing else, I'll head out first."
"Sure, sure. Thanks again, Cid."
"Yeah, don't mention it."
Hearing Shiro Mizuhara's response, Cid wasted no time slipping away from the crowded hallway.
As for the rumors that later spread about the student council president's hours-long rage or the fact that the school's training grounds were flattened by elemental magic… well, those had nothing to do with him.
After all, trivial campus gossip wasn't something he cared about.
No—wait. As a proper background character, Cid Kagenou should absolutely care about trivial gossip. So naturally, he'd pick up on those rumors. As for why Gamma was upset in the first place? That remained a mystery.
Cid Kagenou.
That was his name. A student who played the role of an unremarkable mob character at school.
But in truth, Cid was someone who, even in his previous life, had harbored one grand ambition—
To become a Shadow Sovereign.
What exactly is a Shadow Sovereign?
Before answering that, let me ask—haven't most people, at some point in their childhood, dreamed of being heroes?
Whether it was knights in shining armor, valiant warriors, or masked heroes saving the day, we've all felt the desire to stand in the light and fight for justice.
Cid wasn't any different.
Except… he never wanted to be a hero.
He aspired to be something far more extraordinary—a Shadow Sovereign.
What is a Shadow Sovereign?
Neither the protagonist nor the final boss, but a figure who lurks in the shadows—manipulating events, revealing overwhelming strength at critical moments, and then vanishing as mysteriously as they appeared.
That's what Cid yearned to become.
And why, you might ask?
Because it was cool.
Imagine it—stepping out of the shadows to effortlessly defeat enemies that even the protagonist couldn't touch.
Disposing of threats with calm precision. Speaking cryptic, thought-provoking lines that leave everyone guessing your motives.
And then, without looking back, fading into obscurity.
Or even better—showing up at the final confrontation to put both the protagonist and the villain in their place. Something like:
"Is this really the extent of your strength? How disappointing."
Now that was cool.
And if the Shadow Sovereign turned out to be a sleeper villain in disguise? Even cooler. Dramatic betrayals, sharp monologues, and an air of absolute dominance—those were the scenes Cid lived for.
While other kids outgrew their childhood fantasies, Cid didn't.
Maybe it was fate. Or maybe it was a chronic case of chuunibyou—the so-called "eighth-grader syndrome."
But unlike others, Cid didn't just daydream about his fantasies. He acted on them.
In his past life, he devoted every spare moment to training.
Swordsmanship, karate, mixed martial arts—anything that might bring him closer to his dream of power, he pursued relentlessly.
Yet reality was harsh.
No matter how skilled he became, a single bullet was enough to end it all. That truth weighed heavily on him.
He refused to accept it.
If he couldn't become a Shadow Sovereign with ordinary strength, then he'd seek out extraordinary power.
Magic, spiritual energy, qi, mana, divine blessings—whatever it took.
As long as it allowed him to transcend human limits and become the ultimate being in the shadows, he would stop at nothing to claim it.
….
Cid Kagenou knew perfectly well how absurd it was to search for supernatural powers in the real world.
But then again, wasn't the very idea of becoming an Eminence in Shadow already absurd?
So why not take it one step further?
No one could prove the supernatural existed—but no one could prove it didn't, either.
To Cid, even dying in the pursuit of such powers was still dying in pursuit of his dream.
And then, as if fate itself was entertained by his determination—he really did die.
By some strange twist of luck (or misfortune), Cid was reborn in another world—one roughly equivalent to the era of the First Industrial Revolution.
There, he found it.
Magic.
Yet, despite the discovery, the world he found himself in wasn't exactly what he had hoped for.
Sure, it wasn't peaceful per se, but it wasn't chaotic enough to warrant the rise of an Eminence in Shadow either.
Most enemies were trivial—bandits, petty kidnappers, or the occasional rebellious noble trying to usurp the throne.
But there were no shadowy cults plotting world domination.
No immortal villains pulling strings from the darkness.
Nothing worthy of an Eminence in Shadow.
….
That's not to say the world was completely devoid of intrigue.
There were rumors—whispers about something called 'Demon Possession.'
According to the Church, it was a curse that transformed humans into monsters. Victims' bodies would rot as if decaying from within. Most died shortly after the symptoms appeared, but the Church still went out of its way to capture the afflicted.
They called it 'purification.'
To Cid, the entire thing reeked of medieval superstition. Still, he held out hope that it might lead to something real—something worthy of investigation.
Then, at the age of ten, that hope was shattered.
He encountered a so-called Demon Possessed and, after a month of research, reached a conclusion.
It was just a blood disease.
Disappointed, he treated one of the afflicted—an elf girl who had been left for dead.
Cid had intended to send her on her way after curing her. But instead of leaving, the elf insisted on repaying her debt.
And that's when it hit him.
An Eminence in Shadow needed an organization—a secret group operating from the darkness.
Because, let's be honest, any proper Eminence in Shadow worth their name should have one.
So, he made something up on the spot.
He wove a tale about an evil cult—the Diabolos Order—that lurked in the shadows, spreading corruption and orchestrating the rise of the Demon Possessed.
He told her the world was teetering on the edge of ruin and that he, as the mysterious force opposing them, was the only one who could stand in their way.
To her, it was the truth.
To Cid?
It was just roleplay.
But that didn't stop him from naming her Alpha and founding an organization called Shadow Garden.
It was the ultimate setup for his fantasies—an elite group dedicated to rooting out evil and protecting the world from darkness.
And the best part?
They believed every word.
…
Three years passed.
By then, the organization had grown to seven members.
They called themselves the Seven Shadows.
And for Cid, those years were some of the best of his life.
Until the day it all came crashing down.
…
His lie was exposed.
Or so he thought.
Back then, the seven of them had stood before him, saying they were leaving to expand their operations and fight against the Diabolos Order elsewhere.
Cid knew what they really meant.
They'd figured out the Diabolos Order was fake.
Still, maybe because he had saved them, or maybe because of the bond they'd built over the years, they decided to keep playing along with his Eminence in Shadow act.
I mean, there was no way the Diabolos Order actually existed, right? (laughs)
Two years ago, things had been much simpler.
Back then, Cid had to rely on them to set up scenarios for his Eminence in Shadow play.
Sometimes, he'd step out of the shadows to deal with terrorists, spout cryptic lines that even he didn't fully understand, and then eliminate them in dramatic fashion.
It was cool.
But in the end, it was just self-indulgence.
And whenever the Seven Shadows ran into trouble, they'd call him in using the Diabolos Order as an excuse.
If they couldn't think of a reason that fit the setup, they'd just change the setup.
Thanks to that, the Diabolos Order had gone through so many revisions that he'd lost count.
What started as a shadowy group obsessed with claiming the power of Diabolos had morphed into an ancient organization that had supposedly created the Three Heroes who defeated Diabolos, experimented on Diabolos itself, and controlled terrorist networks across the world.
Honestly, if such an organization actually existed, Cid wouldn't have minded.
It would've given him the perfect stage for an Eminence in Shadow.
But unfortunately, it was all made up. (Regretful sigh.)
Of course, that didn't stop him from becoming a wanted criminal under his alter ego—Shadow.
After all…
"Being wanted is pretty cool, isn't it?"
He had assumed his life would continue like this—spinning elaborate tales, striking cool poses, and pretending to fight enemies that didn't exist.
He thought he'd never get the chance to truly play the role of an Eminence in Shadow.
Until a year and a half ago.
That day—
The ground shook.
Magic erupted across the skies.
Beasts fled the forests in terror, and waves hundreds of meters high swallowed the shores.
That day, every living being in all three worlds witnessed what could only be called a miracle.
The worlds… fused.
Despite the chaos, there were surprisingly few casualties.
The three worlds merged seamlessly, as though they had always been one.
But the factions that came along with them?
They almost tore the new world apart.
The tension was unbearable.
With armies clashing at borders and a three-world war about to erupt, it seemed like civilization was doomed to collapse.
Until they appeared.
Invaders from beyond the worlds.
And strangely enough—
That invasion was a blessing.
Funny, isn't it?
An external invasion, far from being a disaster, actually saved the world.
Because without it, the factions of the three worlds would have destroyed each other long before the first shot was ever fired.
The invaders forced them to unite—giving the fractured worlds a common enemy.
It was the perfect storm.
And for Cid Kagenou, it was also the perfect opportunity.
The World Battlefield.
That was what they called the frontline where the new world clashed against the invaders from beyond.
Ordinary people across the three worlds might look at the invasion and feel grateful—grateful that the external threat had shifted the pressure caused by the world's fusion outward, preventing the collapse of civilization.
But make no mistake—this was no blessing.
Since the war began, countless soldiers had died. Even more had been wounded.
Nations crumbled. Factions rose and fell.
And in the wake of this chaos, the balance of power shifted irreversibly.
After more than a year of uneasy ceasefires and political maneuvering, the three worlds finally agreed on a plan—a fragile attempt at unity.
On an artificial island called Itogami Island—a relic from World No. 2—they constructed an international academy.
It was a school with no teaching experience, yet the moment it opened, nobles, leaders, and influential figures from all three worlds sent their children there.
They pinned their hopes on fostering relationships between their heirs, believing it might lead to the true integration of their worlds.
As for Cid Kagenou?
In World No. 3, where noble blood still mattered, he slid into the academy effortlessly.
A minor noble's son with a few loose connections here and there was all it took to secure a position as a second-year student.
The academy was prestigious, sure, but that didn't matter to him. What mattered was that it provided cover.
Itogami Island also supposedly held some research labs related to demons back in the day, but ever since the academy was established, nobody dared bring that up anymore.
Beastkin, vampires, and demons existed openly now—especially in World No. 1 and World No. 2. Questioning their origins wasn't exactly diplomatic.
Not that Cid cared.
What he cared about—what he thanked the world fusion for—was the stage it had provided him.
A perfect stage for the birth of an Eminence in Shadow.
Demons, angels, vampires, gods…
With beings like these running around, true peace was never an option.
And that was perfect.
Just take the Fourth Progenitor, for example—a vampire of legend said to be more monster than man.
Rumors painted him as a mass murderer who drank a virgin's blood every night and commanded twelve incarnations of calamity—beasts so powerful that he could single-handedly destroy the world.
Now that was cool.
If someone could just point him toward this Fourth Progenitor, he'd be more than happy to take them down—personally.
What better way to mark his second grand entrance as the Eminence in Shadow?
Villains of every stripe, apocalyptic crises lurking in the shadows—it was enough to send shivers down his spine.
The best part?
Even with all his strength, he could already name three individuals in this world whose power was an unknown variable.
Three people.
And in a world like this—where chaos was practically guaranteed—he could finally become what he had always dreamed of.
A few months ago, when the realization fully hit him, he summoned Alpha and the others to gather the Shadow Garden.
In total, over seven hundred members.
Standing on stage before them, he surveyed the crowd.
The sight sent a thrill through his veins, but he didn't let it show.
Instead, he opened his mouth and, in the most dramatic tone possible, declared—
"I'm done playing games."
….
Cid's words often sounded cryptic to the average listener—layered with depth and mystery.
But the Seven Shadows?
They'd grown up alongside him. They knew him.
They understood his quirks, his habits—and most importantly, how his mind worked.
Take Gamma, for instance.
To most people, his earlier speech probably sounded like a somber declaration of burdens he had chosen to bear—an admission of guilt and responsibility.
But to Gamma?
She was smart enough to translate it instantly.
"You don't need to report to me anymore." (I already told you—I'm done playing chuunibyou games.)
"We're not the same anymore. Seize this chance to lead Shadow Garden into the light. Flowers can't bloom in darkness." (It must've been exhausting babysitting me all this time. Thanks for sticking with it—but you won't have to anymore.)
"I'll carry the world's shadows and sins alone. You don't need to, and you shouldn't have to." (I'm heading off to become a real Eminence in Shadow now, so let's face it—you're not going to be much help.)
Yes.
It was time to graduate.
Cid was cutting ties with the Shadow of the past and stepping into the Shadow of the future.
Pretending to be a mysterious savior and spouting riddles had been fun—no doubt about it.
But fake was fake.
There was never a Diabolos Order.
The kingdom wasn't hunting down some shadowy cult—they were hunting him.
Which meant the kingdom had never fallen for his lies.
Looking back…
It was all just a giant black mark on his record. (Cringe.)
But this new world?
It might look peaceful on the surface, but Cid could feel the undercurrents—danger and chaos brewing just beneath.
It was perfect.
If he missed the chance to debut as a real Eminence in Shadow on this stage, he'd regret it for the rest of his life.
He could finally step into the shadows for real.
No more games.
And while part of him had considered bringing Alpha and the others along, he ultimately decided against it.
After all, they'd paid out of pocket to help him set up those chuunibyou scenarios.
Dragging them into actual danger just to live out his dream?
Even he had standards.
It was one thing to fail strangers he'd never met.
But failing friends who had supported his dream from the very beginning?
Unthinkable.
Still…
Maybe he'd gone a little too far earlier.
Judging by the way Gamma had nearly burst out laughing, it was clear his performance had been a bit over-the-top.
Thankfully, he'd managed to recover before it got worse—making a hasty exit while throwing in a few final lines to soften the blow.
"I'll clear the darkness from your path to the light." (Call me if you need backup.)
"And Gamma—think carefully about the things I've told you before." (Please, for the love of God, don't start laughing until I'm out of earshot.)
With that, he'd left.
Now, on his way to class, Cid mulled over his plans.
Shadow Garden's era had come to an end.
But for the Eminence in Shadow?
His story was just beginning.
….
Gamma stared at the door as it closed behind Cid.
A sudden warmth traced down her cheeks.
Tears.
She reached up to wipe them away, startled by her own reaction.
When was the last time she cried?
Probably back in the countryside—when Delta defeated her without breaking a sweat.
Gamma had always known her shortcomings.
She wasn't athletic. She lacked combat talent.
Among the Seven Shadows, she was the weakest.
The Weakest Shadow.
She had heard the whispers before. "Gamma, the weakest." And her repeated defeats only reinforced that truth.
She had been the third person saved by Cid.
Yet those who came after her quickly surpassed her in both strength and skill.
She had offered her life to repay her savior—dedicating herself entirely to his cause—only to discover that her strength amounted to nothing.
It was pathetic, wasn't it?
So pathetic that, for a time, she even thought about ending it all.
But then he called for her.
"Gamma, I'll teach you a different kind of strength."
He called it wisdom.
And for Gamma, it was as if she'd been tossed a lifeline.
Desperate to prove herself, she clung to that knowledge like a drowning person clings to driftwood.
Using what he taught her, she established the Mitsugoshi Trading Company—a lifeline for Shadow Garden.
Even after the world fusion, she rode the wave of chaos, expanding Mitsugoshi's influence by exploiting the World Battlefield economy.
Their products dominated markets with unbeatable quality and pricing, and Mitsugoshi soon became the backbone of the civilian economy.
She thought her accomplishments would finally prove her worth.
She thought she could finally stand before him and say—
"Look, my lord. I am useful. I belong here."
But then—
Two months ago.
Shadow had summoned the entire Shadow Garden.
He declared that the organization—once shrouded in secrecy—would step into the light.
And he?
He would remain alone in the darkness.
In that moment, Gamma understood.
They had been discarded.
Not out of malice.
Not out of disappointment.
But because their master was too kind.
If Shadow Garden was to step into the public eye, this chaotic world was the perfect time.
The post-fusion period left every faction scrambling, resorting to dirty tricks behind the scenes.
No one would bother investigating the sudden rise of a second-rate organization amidst the turmoil.
"Spectators should act like spectators."
Those had been their words—the words they used to mock the people who lived peacefully in the light.
Now, in this new world, their master had thrown those same words back at them.
Not a single member objected.
No one begged him to reconsider.
Because they all knew—they were too weak.
Too weak to help him.
Too weak to even stand beside him.
They had learned that the hard way.
In their old world, Shadow Garden had once dared to challenge their master.
The result?
He shattered them.
Not just physically, but completely.
He had broken them so utterly that even now, the memory still burned.
Once, Shadow Garden had stood as equals against the cult—their enemies in the shadows.
But in this new world, they weren't even a second-rate power.
And their master?
A god.
Even here, in a world teeming with monsters, only four people could be said to rival him.
But the rest of them?
Dead weight.
To the world, Lord Shadow was one of its strongest.
An untouchable force standing atop all others.
But with them at his side?
Even the strongest could fall to weakness.
If no one could defeat him, enemies would never dare to reveal their claws in the open.
Instead, they'd lurk in the shadows, striking at his weaknesses.
And that's exactly what they were—his weakness.
Enemies wouldn't face him directly. They'd target them.
It had happened before.
World No. 1 had witnessed a war where demons, fallen angels, and celestial beings clashed.
On paper, the god of the angels was supposed to be on par with Lord Shadow.
And yet…
That god had fallen—dragged down by the Four Demon Lords in a mutual annihilation.
Theories varied about why it happened.
But the truth was undeniable—
The angels had held their god back.
If not for them, no matter how weakened that god had been, the Four Demon Lords wouldn't have been enough to bring him down.
Lord Shadow might seem cold on the surface, but to Gamma and the others, his kindness was crystal clear.
He wasn't the kind of man who would abandon them just because they were weak.
He had saved them—given them a second chance—when their own families and nations had discarded them.
He had taught them how to fight.
He had healed their wounds—not just their bodies, but their hearts.
He had done all that not because he owed them anything, but simply because he was kind.
To repay that kindness—and to seek revenge—they had formed Shadow Garden.
Most of its members had stories just like theirs—girls cast aside after becoming Demon Possessed.
But did any of that matter to him?
No.
Even if they had turned their backs on him, walking away and choosing not to fight the Diabolos Order, he would've kept fighting.
He would've kept saving more girls like them.
Could the Diabolos Order actually defeat him?
Impossible.
His power was absolute.
The world itself would bow before him, and Demon Possessed girls would be saved—whether Shadow Garden existed or not.
To him, the war against the Diabolos Order was probably just a game.
But even if it was, back in their old world, they could at least keep up.
They could hold their ground and even fight back when needed.
Now?
They couldn't even protect themselves.
So being cast aside was only natural, wasn't it?
If Lord Shadow were a cruel man, he could've just used them as cannon fodder—pawns to distract enemies while he dealt the finishing blow.
But unfortunately for them, he wasn't.
He was too kind.
And so, he wanted them to step into the light—to leave the darkness behind while he faced the world's threats alone.
"Nu. Did you catch what our lord just said?"
Gamma's voice was steady as she wiped the last traces of tears from her face.
"Yes, Gamma-sama," Nu replied without hesitation. "I've already contacted Zeta-sama. The intelligence unit is moving to infiltrate major nations and monitor their control over supply chains."
Gamma nodded, her tone sharp and composed—like nothing had happened moments ago.
But deep down, she knew what he'd meant.
"Gamma, think carefully about the things I've told you before."
That had been his final message before leaving.
A hint.
He had already seen the flaws in her report, and the answers were hidden in the knowledge he had taught her.
This was how he operated—never spoon-feeding them solutions, but guiding them toward the answers.
They could ignore the hint if they wanted.
And if disaster struck because of it, Lord Shadow would swoop in as Shadow and save them.
But that would only mean one thing.
They had disappointed him.
Gamma closed her eyes for a moment, replaying Lord Shadow's words in her mind.
"If things are going too smoothly, stop and look behind you. Otherwise, how can you be sure that what you call 'smooth' isn't part of someone else's plan?"
She opened her eyes, her thoughts sharpening like a blade.
Had she been too complacent?
Gamma had assumed Mitsugoshi Trading Company's neutrality was a given—something that would carry over into this new world just as it had in the old one.
In their original world, Mitsugoshi's economic dominance, its role in currency circulation, and its ability to stimulate growth had forced nations to tolerate its neutrality.
It wasn't just preferred—it was necessary.
Mitsugoshi could only function as a neutral force because the countries needed it to stabilize their economies.
But the world fusion had changed the playing field.
Mitsugoshi had already begun solidifying its position as the economic giant of the new world.
The only step left was formally declaring neutrality and securing trust from the factions of the other two worlds.
Or so she had thought.
Now that she looked back, she realized the nations of her old world probably didn't see things the same way.
Would they settle for Mitsugoshi being neutral among the three worlds?
Of course not.
They wanted Mitsugoshi's neutrality to be exclusive—to their world.
The implications hit her like a slap.
She had assumed peaceful coexistence, but they were likely laying traps.
They didn't want Mitsugoshi to float freely as a neutral power.
They wanted to bind it to their side.
Destroying Mitsugoshi outright was unlikely.
Its collapse would throw the delicate post-fusion economy into chaos.
Nations depended on Mitsugoshi to counter economic threats from the other two worlds.
But if the nations managed to anchor Mitsugoshi to their side before it declared neutrality, it wouldn't matter how angry Mitsugoshi got—it would be trapped.
Bound to the same sinking ship as the others.
But now that Gamma was aware of their schemes, everything changed.
All she had to do was uncover the traps they'd planted, disarm them, and then—if the opportunity arose—turn the tables.
Lord Shadow's words echoed in her mind again.
"I'll clear the darkness from your path to the light. And Gamma, think carefully about the things I've told you before."
No, they hadn't been abandoned.
He wasn't discarding them.
He was still giving.
Giving without asking for anything in return.
Because to him, they were still children—people to be protected, not relied upon.
They were the ones who had misread the situation.
Gamma clenched her fists and stood up.
….
"Asagi, wake up. Class is over."
"…Huh? Oh, Cid? School's done already?"
Asagi sat up groggily, brushing her black hair out of her face.
Her crimson eyes blinked behind an outdated pair of glasses, giving her the look of someone who was eternally stuck in the past.
She was wearing a plain, unfashionable outfit—something that practically screamed "background character."
Cid couldn't have been happier when he met her.
Because Asagi Aoi was one of the rare few in this school who fit the role of a mob character perfectly.
Asagi was a local resident of World No. 2's Itogami Island.
Before the world fusion, she had been just another top student with decent grades and no magic whatsoever.
But after the fusion, her latent magical talent had surfaced, and she had been transferred to the academy.
A sudden leap from ordinary to extraordinary.
Cid thought it sounded like the plot of a bad light novel.
Not that he'd ever say that out loud.
"School's over, huh? I better get going—my shift's starting soon," Asagi said, already packing her bag.
She was working part-time to make ends meet, balancing school and her newfound magical studies.
Cid watched her go, a hint of admiration flashing through his eyes.
A proper mob character, through and through.
And like any good mob character, she'd unknowingly earned her place in his world of Mobs.
The fusion of worlds had brought more than just political turmoil and cultural clashes—it had also forced the creation of a new power-ranking system to standardize strength across the merged realms.
From lowest to highest, the ranks were as follows: D, C, B, A, S, SS, SSS, and at the very top—Dragon God.
Unfortunately, even with her natural talent, Asagi's rank sat at C.
Not bad for someone who'd only had a little over a year to train.
But in this academy, where practical combat ability mattered more than grades, her ranking left her stuck firmly in the lower-middle tier.
Even her strong performance in written tests couldn't change that.
"Busy lately? You slept through the entire day and still look exhausted. Good thing Natsuki-sensei didn't have class today. The other teachers probably just gave up on you. Otherwise, you'd be drowning in written apologies right now."
"Yeah… It's been hectic. Something came up at work—a minor issue, but it's taking longer than expected to fix. I've been pulling late nights trying to sort it out."
"A minor issue?" Cid raised an eyebrow. "You don't usually let small problems drag out for days. And sleeping through class isn't exactly helping either."
"Relax. It'll be resolved over the weekend."
Her voice lowered to a murmur—soft enough that most people wouldn't have caught it.
"Not like telling you would help, anyway."
Packing up her things, Asagi rushed out of the classroom before Cid could respond.
Watching her hurried retreat, Cid let out a small sigh.
He'd heard her.
Every single word.
She probably thought she'd muttered too quietly for him to pick up, but Cid Kagenou wasn't most people.
He had always had an acute sense for details.
Not that it made him feel any better.
It wasn't like he wanted to pry into her problems.
But having his rare display of genuine concern brushed off so easily still stung.
Not that it was entirely selfless concern.
Asagi was, after all, his source of campus gossip.
And her constant napping over the past few days had left him out of the loop.
Cid slung his bag over his shoulder and grabbed a wooden practice sword before heading toward the school's training grounds.
Passing by the magical practice field—which now resembled a disaster zone—he walked straight into the empty swordsmanship training room.
He didn't start training immediately.
Instead, he moved toward a blind spot in the surveillance system.
From seemingly thin air, he produced a white crystal block.
Only after stowing it away did he turn to the training dummy and begin swinging his wooden sword.
"Swish… swish…"
Cid Kagenou.
In his carefully crafted backstory, he was nothing more than a minor noble's son—a mediocre student stuck in the lower-middle ranks both in grades and combat ability.
A nobody.
A mob character.
Someone destined to fade into the background.
But the new world had thrown his plan off track.
The standards at this academy were much higher than his previous school.
Suddenly, his once passable results were at the bottom of the barrel.
And that just wouldn't do.
A proper mob character couldn't be too weak.
So what was the solution?
Training.
If he worked hard enough, he could climb his way back to lower-middle tier—right where a mob character belonged.
But then came another problem.
Spending hours every day on pointless training just to maintain appearances?
Unacceptable.
For Cid, the solution was simple.
If he needed to increase his training intensity without anyone noticing, he just had to do it in a way that was invisible to others. (Obviously.)
Take his current routine, for example.
To any outside observer, it looked like he was swinging a plain wooden sword.
But in reality?
That wooden sword was secretly packed with magic.
Its weight fluctuated wildly—oscillating between the lightness of a sheet of paper and the crushing heaviness of a mountain.
All within seconds.
It forced his body, reflexes, and control to adapt constantly.
Not that it was without risks.
Maintaining this illusion required a constant flow of magic just to stabilize the space around him.
And if he ever slipped up?
Best-case scenario? The school gets leveled.
Worst-case scenario? The island sinks.
But compared to the ability to train as an Eminence in Shadow while maintaining his mob persona?
Totally worth it. (No doubt.)
"Swish… swish…"
His sword slashed through the air, its weight shifting unpredictably.
One second, it felt like wielding air.
The next, it was as if he were lifting mountains.
And yet—
Every strike traced the exact same path.
He wasn't using magic to guide the blade.
Pure muscle memory.
Every time the weight shifted, he adjusted his strength instantly.
His speed never wavered.
No, that wasn't entirely true.
The speed slowed down at exactly 0.003 centimeters before the sword touched the wooden dummy.
And at 0.001 centimeters, he would withdraw the blade entirely.
This was why—
Even though it was just basic sword practice, and even though he wasn't using external magic,
It felt like he was pouring his entire soul into every swing.
Half an hour later, his clothes were drenched in sweat.
His breathing was steady, but labored.
To anyone watching, it would've looked like a mediocre noble's son pushing himself to his absolute limit.
A weakling desperately trying to claw his way out of irrelevance.
The kind of scene that might prompt dark-hearted bullies to mock his efforts.
And then, perhaps, a kind-hearted girl would step in to defend him.
And after a series of events, she'd end up falling for him.
Yeah. No thanks. (Cringe.)
That was exactly the kind of development he wanted to avoid.
It was precisely why Cid always trained after school—long after most students had gone home.
This wasn't about showing off or impressing people.
It was about creating a believable excuse for his improvement without breaking character.
If anyone ever started to suspect him, this training footage would be more than enough to clear their doubts.
After all, Cid Kagenou wasn't supposed to be a genius.
And even if he was one, no sane person would waste hours on such a pointless exercise every single day. (Obviously.)
Cid's sword slashed through the air as his thoughts drifted.
Suddenly—his pupils contracted.
A faint, sharp smile crept onto his lips.
Without missing a beat, he continued swinging his sword.
But the magic imbued in the blade—the force manipulating its weight—vanished without a trace.
The spells reinforcing the space around him faded just as silently.
And then—
He really did spend an hour and a half swinging a plain wooden sword in meaningless repetition.
By the time he finished, he was physically drained.
Sweat dripped down his face, and his legs trembled—unsteady from standing for so long.
He even prepared to fall for added effect.
Good.
Now for the finishing touch.
Cid turned around—
And executed his greatest performance yet.
"Wha—wha—waaah!!"
He stumbled backward, flailing.
"Natsuki-sensei?! W-why are you here?!"
Cid collapsed onto the floor, his exhausted body giving out as though pushed to the brink.
His voice quivered, breaking midway through his words—an authentic portrayal of panic.
The hesitation and stammering in his speech perfectly sold his nervousness at being caught.
And to top it all off—
He made sure to botch her name, choking halfway through as if too flustered to pronounce it properly.
Truly, a mob character's masterpiece.
Now, if only there were a main character next to him for comparison, his performance would've been even more convincing.
"I just got here, actually."
The woman standing before him crossed her arms.
Her jet-black hair flowed down to her waist, framing her piercing blue eyes.
Dressed in an elaborate black Lolita outfit, her petite figure barely reached 140 centimeters.
She looked nothing like a teacher.
But appearances aside, Natsuki Minamiya was the real deal.
A top-tier combat mage from World No. 2, and one of the strongest individuals on the island.
Her title, the Witch of the Void, said it all.
"And this question should be directed at you," she continued, her sharp gaze narrowing.
"It's already late.
Why haven't you gone home yet?
You do know students aren't allowed to stay on school grounds after hours, right?"
Cid knew better than to argue.
Instead, he bowed his head slightly and put on his best guilty face.
"I-I'm really sorry, Natsuki-sensei!
You already know how terrible my talent is…
I'm barely hanging on as it is, so I needed the extra practice just to pass my classes.
But the training grounds outside are way too expensive, so I had to sneak in here instead…
Please don't report me to the school!"
A confession.
Desperate. Pathetic.
Completely believable.
Natsuki regarded him for a moment, then sighed.
"This is your first offense, so I'll let it slide.
But just this once.
Don't make it a habit.
Next time, you'd better find somewhere else to train."
"Wha—?!"
Cid let his voice break in disbelief before quickly recovering.
"…Fine. I understand."
He slumped his shoulders and dragged his feet toward the corner to grab his bag, throwing in just enough disappointment to sell the act.
As he reached the door, Natsuki's voice stopped him.
"One more thing.
It hasn't been very safe around here lately.
You'd do well to stay indoors at night."
Cid turned back, forcing himself to nod nervously before walking out.
But inwardly, he was already grinning.
"Not safe, huh? Sounds like the perfect stage for an Eminence in Shadow."
….
Cid strolled through the bustling streets, his thoughts still lingering on the events earlier that evening.
His relationship with Natsuki Minamiya could only be described as student and teacher.
They didn't have much interaction beyond that.
Yet, if someone asked him who in the school he trusted the most, he'd probably say Natsuki.
Because—
A doll can't defy its programming.
Yes, as far as Cid Kagenou was concerned, Natsuki Minamiya was a doll.
Sure, she acted friendly with students, and even tolerated being called "Natsuki-chan" with nothing more than a light smack from her folding fan.
But that was just her programming.
He had no doubts.
The emptiness lurking behind her eyes was undeniable—void and chaotic, no matter how well she faked emotions.
And even if that could be dismissed as emotional detachment, her entire body being constructed from pure magic was proof enough.
He didn't know where her core was, but she was definitely a doll.
At least, that's what he'd concluded.
But then…
Would a doll ever lie?
Natsuki claimed she had just arrived at the training hall earlier.
But Cid had felt her presence more than an hour and a half before she made herself known.
What kind of doll spends that long watching someone swing a sword?
Did her programming glitch?
He shook his head, dismissing the thought.
Whatever.
It had nothing to do with him.
As he continued walking, a silver-haired figure suddenly rushed past him.
Gone in seconds.
Cid's eyes narrowed.
"Was that… Kojou?"
The figure was Kojou Akatsuki—his neighbor after moving to Itogami Island.
A normal guy.
Probably.
So why was he running like his life depended on it?
Before Cid could think further—
BOOM!!!
An explosion rocked the area, followed by a surge of magical energy.
Screams and panic erupted as the crowd quickly descended into chaos.
"What the hell was that?!"
"No idea! Just run—quickly!"
"Could it be demons?! If we get caught up in this, no one's going to help us!"
The crowd scattered, fleeing in every direction.
And as a proper mob character, Cid should've done the same.
Blend in. Disappear. Let the heroes handle it.
But then again—
Some mobs were dumb enough to run toward danger.
Maybe they thought they could play hero.
Maybe they just wanted to gawk at the scene.
Was he that kind of mob?
Was he?
…He could be. (Why not?)
His B- rank strength wasn't much, but it was good enough for situations like this.
And with a wooden sword strapped to his back, it wasn't like anyone would expect much from him anyway.
If he got lucky, he might even unlock a new mob achievement.
Plus…
He was really curious.
And so, with the perfect excuse in hand—
Cid Kagenou dove headfirst into the chaos.
…
By the time Cid arrived at the scene, the fight was already over.
Two thuggish-looking demons lay sprawled across the ground, motionless.
The battle was long finished.
A complete waste of time.
Unless…
"Sniff, sniff…"
His nose twitched.
His eyes narrowed as he scanned the area.
"I smell it."
"The scent of money."
His sharp gaze locked onto it—a wallet lying unattended on the ground.
Granted, there was a surveillance camera positioned right above it.
But that didn't matter.
He had at least ten methods to stay invisible to security systems.
The simplest of which was—
"The World."
Time—stopped.
It was a spell he had learned after the world fusion.
The inspiration?
A certain anime character from his previous life who was unbelievably cool.
And so, he gave it the name—"The World." (Because why not?)
Casually, he strolled over to the wallet, picked it up, and returned to his spot.
"Resume time. Walk away."
To everyone else, it was as though nothing had changed.
Except, of course, the wallet was gone.
Back at home, Cid locked the door, flicked on the lights, pulled the curtains, and sat down.
Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out the wallet and placed it on the table.
"Now then… Let's see what we've got."
His fingers danced through the contents.
"One, two, three, four, five… 200,000 zeni. Not bad."
And then—
"…a student ID?"
The name on it read—"Yukina Himeragi."
After confirming the wallet was empty, he tossed both the wallet and ID into a drawer without a second thought.
Then, he flopped down onto the bed.
Two years ago, finding a wallet like this would've prompted a moral dilemma.
Should he return it?
Or keep it to fund his ambitions?
Back then, becoming an Eminence in Shadow meant having wealth.
And wealth meant buying artifacts, rare materials, and antiques—the essentials for building a legendary persona.
His primary funding source?
Looting bandits.
He saw it as poetic justice—taking the ill-gotten gains of criminals and using them to fuel his grand designs.
From Cid's perspective, picking up a wallet from the ground wasn't all that different from robbing bandits.
In both cases, the money wasn't earned.
One came down to luck.
The other, to force.
Of course, sometimes, when he was feeling charitable, he'd return the lost items he found.
But that was before.
A year ago, the three worlds united for a massive anti-bandit campaign.
They swept through the lawless territories, wiping out the criminal networks that had once provided Cid with his income.
Naturally, Cid had joined the chaos.
While the allied forces were clearing out hideouts, he had been pillaging them right under their noses.
He made a fortune.
But with his stable income stream severed, he was now left burning through his reserves.
And asking Gamma for a loan?
Out of the question. (He had his pride.)
So in his current financial crisis, returning the wallet was not an option.
Besides, student IDs could be reissued.
And 200,000 zeni?
Not enough to make anyone starve.
Whoever Yukina Himeragi was, she'd be fine.
Consider it the price of carelessness.
Cid let out a contented sigh—
Just as his stomach growled.
"…Food first. Moral debates later."
….
The growl from his stomach jolted Cid out of his thoughts.
"Time for dinner."
Let's get one thing straight—
He hadn't bought groceries.
And his fridge?
Empty.
Cid slid off the bed, walked over to his desk, and opened another drawer.
Inside, neatly stacked, were several flyers adorned with intricate magical symbols.
Without even glancing at them, he grabbed one at random and strolled into the living room.
Holding up the flyer, he tossed it into the air.
It hovered mid-flight, spinning slowly as it expanded into a magic circle roughly a meter wide.
From its center, a tall, elegant figure began to materialize.
"Greetings. I am—oh, it's you, Cid."
The woman who emerged immediately relaxed, her formal tone vanishing.
"I was starting to wonder if you'd forgotten about me. It's been, what, a week? I thought maybe you'd overdone it last time and finally collapsed.
But seeing how healthy you look now? I'm relieved."
"It's you, Tsubaki. Same deal as always. Same request. I'll leave it to you."
"Ugh." She crossed her arms, pretending to pout.
"Why so lifeless? Don't tell me you've been summoning other demons behind my back?"
Without waiting for his reply, she waved her hand dismissively.
"Whatever. Since you're a regular customer, I'll cut you a deal this time."
"No need."
Cid shook his head.
"You already said it's been a while since I last called you. I'm perfectly fine.
Take as much as you need."
"…You…"
Tsubaki paused, her sharp eyes narrowing behind her glasses.
"I'm serious, Cid.
You've been looking half-dead lately.
If you keep trading desire like this, it's going to affect your body."
Cid shrugged.
"What else am I supposed to offer?
Desire's all I've got."
"Besides, if the trade's unfair, it'll just cause problems for you, right?
This stuff regenerates after a bit of rest anyway.
As long as it's useful to you, take it."
Tsubaki let out a long sigh.
"Fine.
But I'm still taking less this time.
If it's only every now and then, my master won't complain."
The woman before him—Tsubaki Shinra—was an era-defining hybrid demon.
With raven-black hair cascading down her back, sharp glasses, and an intelligent air, she exuded a strict yet elegant charm.
She was also one of Cid's go-to freeloader contacts.
To most people, demons were the embodiment of cunning, cruelty, and evil.
Creatures born from darkness that bartered souls and lifespans through twisted contracts.
And that image?
It wasn't wrong.
But it only applied to the old demons.
Thousands of years ago, World No. 1 had been consumed by a war between demons, angels, and fallen angels.
The casualties had been catastrophic—so much so that the survivors of all three races had turned to humans to replenish their numbers.
The result?
Chess Pieces.
Using forbidden magic, they could reincarnate humans into hybrid beings—part-human, part-monster.
These hybrids inherited the bloodline powers of their new species while amplifying their potential and strength.
The process wasn't cheap.
But the results were worth it.
It's not that pure humans couldn't obtain Chess Pieces.
It's just that hybrids had natural compatibility that made them more efficient candidates.
For a pure human to qualify?
It meant their talent and potential were so overwhelming that even the limits of humanity couldn't contain them.
Tsubaki Shinra was one such Chess Piece.
But to Cid?
She was nothing more than a convenient supplier—and occasionally, an overly concerned nag.
Each set of demon chess pieces could have only one King.
And the stronger the King, the greater the amplification of power granted to their pieces.
The other pieces?
They were merely the King's subordinates—their retainers.
But the number of pieces a King could command was limited.
Which meant that every King faced the same question—
Should they waste pieces on the average?
Or recruit only the extraordinary?
The answer was obvious.
And in a world where demons now relied on humans to reproduce, the old methods of trading in souls and lifespans had fallen out of favor.
These days, deals were sealed with money.
And the services offered?
They ranged from strength, wealth, and fame to more mundane requests—
Finding lost pets.
Therapy sessions for stress relief.
Even help beating video games.
Honestly, it was starting to sound less like a demonic pact and more like a freelance handyman service.
The first time Cid encountered a demon was shortly after he moved to Itogami Island.
It had been… who was it again?
He glanced at Tsubaki Shinra, who was currently busy cooking dinner.
Cid furrowed his brows, trying to recall.
Maybe… probably… it was Tsubaki?
When he learned that summoning demons required payment, he almost decided to call it quits.
After all—
Money was something he seriously lacked.
But then Tsubaki had made him an offer.
Apparently, his spiritual desires were of extremely high quality.
Good enough to use as currency.
Instead of demanding money, she offered to take his desires as payment.
It sounded sketchy as hell.
But Cid decided to give it a try.
The first time he let her drain his desires, he'd felt weak and sluggish.
It was uncomfortable—
But by the next day, he was back to normal.
Actually, no.
Stronger.
And that's when it hit him.
She couldn't keep up.
The amount of desire she took wasn't even close to his natural regeneration rate.
Cid immediately suppressed his emotions.
He kept his face pale and his movements lethargic, pretending to be weaker than he actually was.
But on the inside?
Champagne corks were popping.
If not for his rational side reining him in, he might've signed a long-term contract with her on the spot.
Tsubaki had mentioned that normal people needed several days to recover after each summoning.
And as a mob character, Cid knew he couldn't afford to recover too quickly.
But giving up this endless buffet of free resources?
Not happening.
So he devised a solution.
A brilliant plan that aligned perfectly with his mob persona.
Step 1: Sign contracts with multiple demons.
Step 2: Summon them on alternating days.
Step 3: Never let them talk to each other.
If each demon thought they were his only partner, then in their eyes, he'd be summoning them every few days.
No one would suspect a thing.
Flawless.
As expected of me.
"Dinner's ready. Come eat before it gets cold. I'll handle the cleanup."
Tsubaki's voice called out, snapping him back to reality.
"Oh, sure. Thanks."
And just like that, Cid Kagenou's scheme continued—
A shadowy network of contracts and deals fueling his rise to power.
The reason Tsubaki Shinra often mentioned Cid's half-dead appearance had nothing to do with the desires she took from him.
No—
The real culprit was his training.
Specifically, the 24-hour magic refinement regimen he maintained every single day.
Sure, today he'd ended up doing actual sword practice for an hour and a half because of Natsuki.
But his daily regimen?
Never skipped.
The method was brilliantly simple.
Compressing magic within his body—refining it while simultaneously forcing it to integrate with his muscles.
The result?
It subjected his body to the kind of pressure you'd only experience in the deep sea.
Perfectly reasonable training. (Totally.)
And the cost?
•Constant fatigue and mental lethargy.
•The sensation of being torn apart and rebuilt over and over again.
•A non-zero chance of accidentally turning himself into meat paste.
But for Cid, this was a flawless trade.
A routine that perfectly fit his mob character persona while secretly pushing him toward Eminence in Shadow.
And best of all?
It had let him scam a year's worth of free meals without raising any suspicions.
"Hahaha… Ha! Hahahaha!"
Cid burst into laughter, reveling in his genius.
And then—
His Mob Radar flared.
The sudden alarm yanked him back to reality, wiping the dumb grin off his face.
"Huh? Weird."
After a quick scan of the room, Cid's Mob Radar fell silent.
The only person nearby was Tsubaki, bent over as she swept the floor.
Her glasses caught the light as she leaned forward, her slender waistline perfectly highlighted by her posture.
Cid shook his head.
"Must've been my imagination."
"Whatever. Time to eat."
….
Meanwhile, Tsubaki Shinra froze.
Her face reddened, her usual composed aura replaced by nervous tension.
For the first time since meeting him, she couldn't hold back the thought—
"Cid… likes me?"
It wasn't baseless.
Not after a year of observing him.
To Tsubaki, Cid was someone who worked hard.
She had seen it herself.
As the vice president of the student council, she could access the school's surveillance footage.
And from that footage, she'd learned the truth.
Even in his exhausted state, after training as a Magic Knight, Cid would push himself further.
Late at night.
Alone.
Always practicing.
And yet, he willingly sacrificed his spiritual desires to summon her.
Sure, desires regenerate, but the mental strain didn't just disappear.
Even knowing that, he kept calling her.
And sometimes…
He'd look at her with that goofy smile.
The kind that made her heart flutter no matter how hard she tried to ignore it.
It was…
Cute.
She didn't dislike it.
If anything, she liked it too much.
Tsubaki Shinra was no stranger to romantic interest.
As a Queen Piece—the second-highest rank among demon chess pieces—she knew her value.
Her future lover was destined to be claimed by her King, Sona Sitri, and turned into a retainer.
And with Sona's potential, even a normal human transformed into her servant would have the baseline strength of an A- rank demon.
Power. Prestige. Wealth.
Anyone who became her partner would gain it all.
And yet—
Tsubaki Shinra couldn't stop her thoughts from wandering back to the ordinary boy in front of her.
The one with the messy hair, tired eyes, and dumb smile.
The one who kept calling her back.
And despite knowing better…
She couldn't help but feel—
Drawn to him.
Tsubaki Shinra wasn't one to brag, but she was fully aware of her appearance.
Her figure was among the best in the school, and her features didn't fall short either.
Naturally, this meant she was often subjected to unpleasant stares from male students.
She knew exactly what those stares meant—hungry, lustful, disgusting.
Even if the culprits quickly looked away the moment she noticed, the intent was always clear.
But Cid?
His gaze was different.
There was no greed, no desire.
Just a pure, genuine happiness—the kind of contentment that made him smile without even realizing it.
At first, Tsubaki had been confused.
Why did Cid always look so happy when they were alone?
Why did he sometimes grin like an idiot just from sitting in the same room as her?
Over time, the answer became obvious.
"Cid likes me."
Suddenly, everything made sense.
His constant summoning.
His goofy smiles.
Even his willingness to sacrifice his spiritual energy despite knowing it would leave him drained.
Cid liked her.
Liked her so much that just being near her was enough to make him smile.
And yet, now that she'd realized it, Tsubaki had no idea how to respond.
Normally, when someone confessed, she would just reject them outright.
But Cid?
He hadn't even said anything.
Bringing it up herself would feel like overreacting.
Or worse—like she was being self-absorbed.
What's more—
She had tried imagining the scene in her head.
Cid, standing there with his usual awkward sincerity, asking her to go out with him.
And she—
Couldn't decide.
Would she reject him?
Would she accept him?
She honestly didn't know.
So for now…
Avoidance.
As long as Cid didn't confess, she could just pretend she hadn't noticed.
It wasn't like he was the type to suddenly declare his feelings, anyway.
And if he did?
Well—
She'd deal with it then.
If only he were stronger.
If Cid had been at least B rank—no, A- rank—she wouldn't have to hesitate.
She could've just accepted his feelings without worrying about the consequences.
But she was a Queen Piece.
Her master wasn't just a high-ranking devil but one of the Four Demon Lords' sisters.
Her choices couldn't be made lightly.
If Cid was too weak, then forcing her master to accept him as a servant would only cause trouble.
For now, it was safer to keep her distance.
She just had to make sure she didn't let things get out of hand.
"Tsubaki, you haven't eaten yet, right? Come sit and eat with me."
"Ah… Sure."
Wait.
When had she sat down?
And why was she holding chopsticks?
"Um…"
She quickly stood up, trying to make an excuse.
"I should go. I have another summon—"
"Relax."
Cid waved her off casually.
"I'm in great shape today. Better than ever, actually. I can more than cover the trade. Think of it as a vacation."
Completely. Unstoppable.
Tsubaki sighed.
"Just this once." (Next time, I'll keep my distance.)
But for now, she let herself sit back down and focus on their conversation.
"Remember what I said, Cid."
Tsubaki stood at the door, her usual sharp tone making a return.
"It's not safe at night. Stay home and don't wander around, got it?"
"Yeah, yeah. I got it. See you next time, Tsubaki."
Her shoulders stiffened.
"R-right. See you next time, Cid."
And as Tsubaki Shinra turned to leave, she couldn't quite shake the warmth in her chest.
Just this once.
Maybe.
….
Watching Tsubaki Shinra's figure fade into the magic circle, Cid picked up the now ordinary-looking flyer that had fallen to the floor.
He casually tossed it back into the drawer where it belonged, grabbed a bottle of milk from the fridge—courtesy of Eta—and downed it in one go.
Then, without so much as taking off his shoes, he collapsed face-first onto the bed.
"Both Natsuki-chan and Tsubaki mentioned something might happen soon.
Once could be a coincidence.
But twice?
That means something's definitely brewing."*
He grinned.
"Sounds like the perfect stage for an Eminence in Shadow."
Three days.
That's how long he'd give it before heading to the academy to sniff out information.
For now, though—
Training.
A pure white crystal materialized in midair, floating silently beside his bed.
Cid took a deep breath.
"Inhale… exhale."
His muscles tensed, his entire body tightening as though bracing for an impact.
The Triple Compression Magic Refinement Technique.
An advanced version of the 24-hour refinement method he already practiced.
The core principle was the same—compress magic into his body while refining it to boost density and potency.
The difference?
This version operated at three times the pressure.
In theory, it was perfectly efficient.
It trained his magic circuits, muscles, and endurance all at once.
The cost?
•Intense physical pain.
•A constant feeling of being ripped apart and rebuilt.
•And a very real chance of dying if he lost focus for even a moment.
He'd considered maintaining the triple compression all day long.
But unlike the standard version, this one required his full concentration.
Letting his guard drop even for an instant would mean death. (Not ideal.)
Even so, as he endured the crushing pressure, Cid split a fraction of his consciousness and directed it into the floating crystal.
Inside the crystal, a projection of himself appeared within an endless white expanse.
He looked around at the blank space and muttered—
"Let's study fire magic today."
With that thought, bookshelves materialized from the void, stretching endlessly in all directions.
One by one, tomes of fire magic emerged—
Each one radiating an intense heat that would've burned lesser beings to ash just by being near them.
Cid called it the "Great Archive."
Or, more casually—"The Library."
The Library had appeared shortly after the world fusion.
It had approached him on its own—floating silently into his hands.
And now?
It served as his personal vault of magical knowledge.
Time worked differently here.
A single hour spent inside translated to just six minutes in the outside world.
And its contents?
Every spell and technique he had encountered from World No. 1 could be found inside.
Which meant—
If his guess was correct—
The Library wasn't just valuable.
It was one of the greatest treasures in existence.
When it first appeared, it had emitted strange sounds.
It took Cid weeks to decode those noises using its own records.
And in the end, the translation gave him only three fragmented words.
"Cross… resurrection… compatible."
"Seriously?"
He'd thrown the book he was holding at the time.
What kind of garbage translation was that?
No origin, no history, no user manual.
Just those three words.
And since then, no other clues.
But none of that really mattered.
Because after months of experimenting with the Library, Cid had to admit—
This wasn't just a treasure.
It was the treasure.
The three worlds all used different systems of magic.
•World No. 1 relied on "Mana"—an elemental force manipulated externally, ideal for mages.
•World No. 3 used "Magic Power"—a raw energy focused internally, making them close-combat specialists.
•World No. 2 blended both systems, but its top-tier elites focused on external manipulation.
Yet the Library bridged the gaps between them.
No matter how different the systems were, Cid found a way to integrate them all.
And now?
He planned to master every spell it contained.
As fire magic grimoires floated before him, Cid smirked.
"Let's get started."
The Eminence in Shadow always needed more tools—and more weapons—for the stage.
….
In theory, a person's magic type was something inherently fixed—something that couldn't be changed.
The only known way to alter it was through interbreeding with individuals from another world, producing offspring that combined the magical traits of both parents.
But the Library broke that rule.
It could change magic itself.
Even though Cid had technically discovered the method first and then used the Library to apply it, the knowledge had come directly from the Library's records.
And the scariest part?
It was contagious.
Take Gamma, for example.
She was the weakest of the Seven Shadows.
She never said it aloud, but Cid knew she was self-conscious about it.
Her lack of combat talent made her ill-suited for close-range battles—especially in the third world.
But she had an exceptional mind—perfectly aligned for magic combat in World No. 1.
So Cid's plan had been simple.
He'd give Gamma access to the Library and have her convert a small portion of her magic first.
Once converted, that strand of magic would act as a seed, gradually transforming the rest of her magic over time.
Simple.
Except—
Gamma couldn't see the Library.
It wasn't just that she couldn't access it.
She couldn't see it—even when Cid placed it right in front of her face.
No problem, he thought.
If Gamma couldn't use the Library directly, then Cid would do it for her.
He injected some of his own converted magic into her, assuming it would fade after a few days without causing any lasting effects.
It was a logical plan.
And then—
Day 2: The magic strand split into seven.
Day 3: The seven strands became hundreds.
Day 4: Over three hundred.
Day 5: More than six hundred.
By the fifth day, Cid was done.
Mentally.
How?!
How had his modified magic suddenly gained the ability to reproduce itself just by being shared?
And Gamma?
She had been perfectly fine.
She didn't even notice what was happening.
It wasn't until later that Cid realized the Library had far more functions than just storing magic knowledge.
•It could stabilize space.
•Enable communication.
•Borrow power from others.
And those were just the ones he'd discovered so far.
Still, none of that really mattered to him.
What Cid cared about was the magic knowledge stored inside—
Because honestly?
He was already too strong to need any of those other functions. (Obviously.)
The sun was already high in the sky when he finally woke.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
A loud knock rattled his door.
"Cid-kun! Don't forget, you're eating at our place today! I made omelet rice!"
The voice jolted Cid out of his mental trance.
The moment his eyes opened, pain spread through his entire body.
Every muscle screamed in protest, sending sharp reminders of the triple-compression training from the night before.
His bed?
Soaked through.
The sheets might as well have been pulled out of a lake.
He peeled himself off the mattress, tossed the wet sheets into the washing machine, and stumbled toward the fridge.
After downing a bottle of water, he stepped into the shower.
Standing before the mirror, he studied his reflection.
A body sculpted like a statue, lean and defined without a trace of excess.
His features were sharp, his red eyes glowing faintly like embers.
His gaze—deep, mysterious, and almost hypnotic.
Then—
He reached up, pinched his face, and pulled.
His features flattened.
His eyes dulled.
In the blink of an eye, he went from divine warrior to forgettable mob.
With practiced ease, he grabbed his casual clothes from the rack and threw them on, burying his physique under layers of fabric.
He stepped out of his apartment, took a few steps to the right, and knocked.
"*Cid-kun! Hurry up and come inside! I'll grab your plate.
Kojou! Get off the couch and come eat already!*"
The door swung open to reveal a bright-eyed girl with short black hair and an energetic smile that practically radiated cheerfulness.
Nagisa Akatsuki.
His neighbor.
The younger sister of the Akatsuki siblings.
They went to the same school and had first met a year ago through a minor incident.
As Cid stepped inside, his body briefly stiffened.
His eyes sharpened.
But the moment he spotted the silver-haired figure rising lazily from the sofa, he immediately relaxed.
"Yo, Cid. You're here."
Kojou Akatsuki.
The older brother.
And, in Cid's personal assessment?
A natural-born Eminence in Shadow.
Sure, he went to a normal school.
But the ocean of mana swirling inside him couldn't be hidden from Cid's senses.
Not even if he tried.
"Ack—!"
Before Kojou could even reach the dining table, his foot caught on something, and he went tumbling forward—face-first.
Cid reacted instinctively.
"Whoa!"
Cid's footwork shifted as he released tension from his legs, softening the impact just in time.
Turning his body slightly, he caught Kojou mid-fall, letting him land on top of him instead of crashing onto the hard floor.
A flawless replay of the selfless mob character he'd established when he "saved" Nagisa the year before.
"Ow, ow, ow…"
Kojou winced, quickly getting back to his feet.
"You okay, Cid? Sorry about that. Mornings aren't my thing, you know?"
Cid waved him off, brushing imaginary dust from his shirt.
"Don't worry about it. I'm a Magic Swordsman. Built to handle a little tumble."
"Appreciate it."
Kojou scratched the back of his head, looking awkward.
"Man, you must think I'm an idiot. But seriously, mornings hit me hard."
Cid smirked inwardly.
Perfect.
Absolutely perfect.
Kojou's performance was a masterclass in playing a mob role.
The stumble.
The careless attitude.
The casual excuses.
No one could've guessed he was hiding enormous power.
But Cid wouldn't lose in this battle of disguises.
This was his stage.
And he had years of practice perfecting his persona.
Sorry, Kojou.
You're good.
But I'm better.
My reaction speed? Perfect.
My execution? Immaculate.
I even used this moment to reinforce my character.
A good-natured mob who goes out of his way to protect others.
You're stuck in the light, Kojou.
I'm shrouded in shadows.
You're one step behind.
I'm already two steps ahead.
Cid glanced at Kojou, resisting the urge to grin.
A pity.
If only you had the strength to match that acting talent.
Because without it, you'll never be an Eminence in Shadow.
Before Kojou could say another word—
A sudden scream pierced the air.
"AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!"
Both Cid and Kojou froze.
Turning their heads toward the source of the sound, they spotted Nagisa.
Standing at the kitchen entrance.
Her eyes were wide.
Her hands trembled as she clutched a plate of omelet rice.
And she was staring directly at them.
Kojou was still half-collapsed on Cid.
"N-Nagisa… wait—"
The words never left his mouth.
Because Nagisa Akatsuki's mind had already jumped to the worst possible conclusion.
Kojou Akatsuki… was gay.
"W-Wait, it's not what it looks like!"
Kojou scrambled to his feet, his face flushed red.
But Nagisa had already bolted.
Her plate of food left behind on the counter as she fled toward the hallway.
Meanwhile, Cid remained completely calm.
He dusted himself off, his mind already piecing together the scenario.
A misunderstanding?
Or perhaps—
A test.
Was Nagisa also a player in the shadows?
Was this part of Kojou's plan?
He narrowed his eyes.
This wouldn't be the first time someone tried to bait him out.
But no matter what it was—
Cid Kagenou would play his role flawlessly.
Because that's what an Eminence in Shadow does.
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