Haruto sat behind his desk with neatly arranged documents spread across its polished surface, his attention focused on each page as warm golden rays poured through the towering windows behind him, bathing the quiet office in a peaceful glow.
Without interrupting the silence, Vhalzareth gracefully slid a freshly brewed cup of tea across the desk, the gentle sound of porcelain gliding over wood drawing Haruto's attention away from his paperwork.
Haruto reached for the cup before taking an unhurried sip, allowing the warmth of the tea to settle his thoughts as he quietly looked back down at the documents before him.
"Who do these nobles think they are?" Haruto asked with narrowed eyes as he gently placed the cup back onto its saucer. "Some of these demands are becoming more unreasonable every time I read them."
"If it is your wish, my Lord, I shall remove them without delay," Vhalzareth replied with calm elegance while standing faithfully beside the desk, his voice carrying neither emotion nor hesitation.
Liora, who stood opposite him with her arms loosely folded, let out a quiet sigh before glancing toward the scattered documents.
Haruto looked at Vhalzareth for a brief moment before a faint smile softened his expression.
"Not yet. If they become a genuine threat to the Federation, you already know what to do."
Vhalzareth lowered his head respectfully, the corners of his lips lifting into a composed smile.
"As you command, my Lord. Your will shall be carried out."
"They're troublesome people," Liora said after another quiet sigh as she shifted her weight onto one leg. "If they're left alone for too long, their arrogance will only continue to grow."
A quiet chuckle escaped Haruto as he leaned back comfortably in his chair, his eyes meeting Liora's with the same calm warmth she had always known.
"You're still the same, Liora, and I suppose that's a good thing. Even so, we're not a group of assassins, and people shouldn't lose their lives over problems that can still be resolved."
Liora's stern expression gradually softened before a small smile quietly appeared across her face.
"The same could be said about you," she replied gently while watching him with quiet relief.
(...I'm glad he's still the same.)
Haruto reached toward the next document before suddenly pausing, his eyes narrowing ever so slightly as the contents immediately caught his attention.
"Hm... what's this?"
His subordinates instantly began processing the paper while his gaze carefully moved across every line.
Vhalzareth only needed a brief glance before recognizing the royal seal.
"It appears to be a formal proposal for an alliance from the Holy Kingdom of Lumina, my Lord."
"It does," Haruto replied as he lightly tapped the edge of the letter against the desk. "Which makes me wonder why it ended up mixed together with ordinary reports. A document like this should've been delivered personally by an envoy."
His calm gaze slowly drifted toward Liora.
The moment their eyes met, she instinctively looked away before scratching her cheek with an embarrassed smile.
"...I might've accidentally slipped it into the wrong pile. The paperwork has been stacking up ever since you disappeared."
(Some assistant she is.)
Haruto quietly sighed before returning his attention to the letter.
Vhalzareth's refined smile became ever so slightly more satisfied.
"Had the responsibility been entrusted to me, my Lord, such an oversight would never have occurred."
Haruto let out another quiet laugh without lifting his eyes from the letter.
"I can't really argue with that."
Liora slowly turned toward Vhalzareth, a sharp smile appearing on her face as she folded her arms once more.
(...This jerk.)
Although irritation lingered within her thoughts, there was also the slightest hint of amusement, as neither of them intended to lose when it came to becoming the person Haruto relied upon the most.
"From Queen Azuraith of the Holy Kingdom of Lumina," Haruto murmured as he carefully placed the letter beside his tea.
(...Azuraith.)
Vhalzareth rested two fingers beneath his chin while quietly searching through his memories.
(I've heard that name before... but where?)
"Do you believe it could be a trap?" Liora asked, her expression becoming serious once again. "Monsters are still regarded as humanity's greatest enemy throughout most of the world."
"Perhaps that's true," Haruto replied before taking another slow sip of his tea, "but that's also what makes this proposal so unusual. We're a nation ruled by monsters, yet the kingdom that despises monsters the most is the one extending a hand toward us."
"It certainly is strange," Liora admitted with a thoughtful nod as she looked toward the letter.
A brief silence settled over the office while Haruto quietly studied the royal seal once more, his eyes remaining fixed upon it until his decision had fully taken shape.
"I think we should accept the proposal."
Both Vhalzareth and Liora looked toward him in surprise, though neither interrupted as they waited for him to continue.
"My Lord," Vhalzareth said respectfully, "may I ask what led you to that conclusion?"
A calm smile appeared across Haruto's face.
"If this alliance succeeds, the entire world will witness the kingdom that hated monsters the most choosing to stand beside them. That single step could become the beginning of something far greater."
He gently folded his hands together atop the desk before continuing.
"The hatred between humans and monsters has lasted for generations, and I believe it's finally time they learned how to coexist."
Understanding gradually appeared across Liora's face as she slowly nodded.
"If your goal is to spread the Federation's ideals beyond its borders, then this truly is the best place to begin."
Vhalzareth lowered his head with unmistakable respect.
"As expected of you, my Lord. Your vision reaches a future that few possess the wisdom to perceive."
Haruto smiled warmly at the praise.
"Thanks. That's why you're my best."
For only the briefest moment, Vhalzareth's composed expression became perfectly still before he silently activated "Recording", carefully preserving Haruto's words so he could listen to them again whenever the opportunity arose.
Liora looked at him before releasing a helpless sigh.
"Haruto, please don't encourage him like that. He's already proud enough without hearing something he'll treasure for the next hundred years."
Haruto looked between the two of them with an innocent smile that made it impossible to tell whether he truly understood what she meant.
"I didn't think it was that serious."
Liora could only shake her head in quiet disbelief.
Haruto slowly turned his chair toward the enormous window overlooking the capital, where the endless blue sky stretched peacefully beyond the glass as a gentle breeze brushed against the curtains.
"Anyway, prepare an envoy," Haruto said calmly without taking his eyes off the view. "We'll deliver our official response to the Holy Kingdom of Lumina."
If Vhalzareth may be so bold... may I accompany the envoy, my Lord?" Vhalzareth asked after composing himself, his refined voice carrying its usual composure as he stood with quiet dignity.
Haruto looked up from his desk before resting his chin lightly against one hand, taking a brief moment to consider the request.
"Hm... I don't see a problem with that," he replied with a small smile. "It'll make the negotiations go more smoothly. Since you'll be going, I'll have Sora accompany you as well. She'll need the experience for the plans I have for her in the future."
His calm gaze shifted toward Vhalzareth.
"Is that acceptable?"
Vhalzareth respectfully lowered his head.
"My personal feelings have no place before your will, my Lord. Whatever role you entrust to me shall be carried out in service of your greater vision."
A satisfied smile appeared on Haruto's face.
"Good."
Liora folded her arms before smiling to herself.
"This should honestly become law."
She quietly looked toward Vhalzareth from the corner of her eye.
(Good gracious... what a demon.)
(Laws...)
Haruto's thoughts quietly lingered on the word as another idea naturally took shape within his mind.
(I should probably revise the Federation's legal system when I have the chance.)
While Haruto continued thinking about the nation's future, Vhalzareth and Liora silently exchanged glances behind his back, each quietly refusing to yield even the slightest ground in their endless rivalry.
Vhalzareth merely answered Liora's look with his usual composed smile, while Liora responded with an equally determined expression that made neither of them appear willing to lose.
Haruto noticed the silent exchange without saying a word, the faint smile on his face growing ever so slightly warmer.
(For people who've lived through countless generations... they really do act like children sometimes.)
Far away, within the Elarion Skyhold Kingdom, Ronóva sat gracefully upon a crimson sofa trimmed with gold inside an elegant royal chamber whose matching walls reflected the warm afternoon light.
Towering glass doors opened onto a spacious balcony beyond the room, allowing the golden sky outside to bathe everything in a peaceful amber glow.
"My Queen."
Aster remained respectfully kneeling before her with one hand resting against his chest.
"I've received confirmation that the Emperor of the Satoria Federation has returned."
Ronóva quietly shifted her gaze toward the balcony beyond the glass doors, her expression remaining as unreadable as ever.
(...So it was his presence.)
Her eyes softened almost imperceptibly.
(It's as overwhelming as ever.)
Aster carefully observed her side profile, expecting some visible reaction, yet her calm expression barely changed.
(No reaction...? I thought she'd be happier... somehow.)
The thought crossed his mind before he instinctively lowered his eyes, a faint blush appearing across his face after catching himself admiring her beauty once again.
"That's... good news, Aster."
Ronóva's voice remained calm and steady as she slowly turned her eyes toward him.
"You may leave now."
A brief pause followed.
"Please ask Rose to come here on your way."
Aster respectfully lowered his head.
"At once, my Queen."
The moment his words fell, his body dissolved into countless glowing particles that quietly scattered into the air before disappearing without a trace.
Only a few moments passed before a gentle series of knocks echoed against the glass doors leading to the balcony.
Ronóva's eyes narrowed ever so slightly.
She had already expected who it would be.
"Yo."
Haruto stood on the opposite side of the glass with the gentle closed-lip smile she knew so well, his warm eyes quietly meeting hers through the transparent doors.
For the briefest moment...
Ronóva's lips parted ever so slightly.
Haruto casually stepped forward, his body becoming intangible as he passed straight through the glass without disturbing it in the slightest before coming to a stop before her.
"It's been a while, Ronóva."
His gentle smile never faded as he looked at her with the same quiet warmth as always.
"How have you been?"
Ronóva quietly looked at Haruto, her eyes never leaving his face as countless emotions silently passed through them.
"...I thought you were gone."
Her voice remained soft, yet her hand had already tightened around the fabric covering her thigh, as though she feared the man standing before her would disappear the moment she looked away.
Haruto rubbed the back of his neck with a faint, apologetic smile.
"About that... I rewrote the conditions of the Universal Core Fusion. I managed to preserve both my individuality and the Core itself."
Before Haruto could say another word, his eyes widened in surprise.
Ronóva suddenly stepped forward and threw her arms around him, the force of the embrace pushing him back several steps until his back gently met the glass doors behind him.
"I was so worried... you idiot."
Her quiet voice trembled as tears slowly escaped the corners of her eyes, her forehead resting against his chest while she held onto him as though she never intended to let go.
"I... I thought I'd never see you again."
A gentle guilt settled across Haruto's face as he slowly wrapped both arms around her slender waist, his chin coming to rest lightly upon the top of her head.
"I'm sorry..."
His voice was barely above a whisper.
"I'm sorry I made you go through that."
Ronóva's fingers tightened slightly against the back of his clothes before she slowly closed her eyes.
"I don't know whether I should be happy... or angry."
Her words came quietly between uneven breaths.
"I thought you were going to lose yourself forever... and now you're standing here as if nothing happened."
She slowly lifted her head just enough to look at him.
"You didn't even tell me what you were planning."
Haruto gently pulled her a little closer, his embrace becoming just a little firmer.
"It was selfish of me."
A quiet sigh escaped him.
"I knew you'd try to stop me... and so would my subordinates."
For a brief moment, neither of them spoke.
Only the quiet warmth of their embrace filled the room.
Ronóva slowly raised one hand before giving Haruto a light punch against his chest, the strength behind it barely enough to wrinkle his clothes.
"Believe in me a little more."
Her calm voice carried an unmistakable tenderness despite the firmness behind her words.
"No more secrets."
A faint smile finally appeared across her face.
"You're mine... understand?"
Haruto couldn't help smiling.
"Yeah."
He quietly nodded.
"No more secrets."
The moment those words left his lips, Ronóva gently closed the remaining distance between them before pressing a soft kiss against his lips, catching Haruto completely by surprise.
His eyes widened for only a heartbeat before he naturally leaned into the kiss, his hand gently resting against the small of her back as the quiet moment stretched between them.
When their lips slowly parted, Haruto's hands naturally settled around Ronóva's slender waist while she rested her head against his chest once again, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.
A peaceful silence lingered between them before Haruto's expression gradually softened, replaced by a quiet hint of nervousness that rarely found its way onto his face.
"Ronóva..."
His voice remained gentle.
"How's our child?"
The question left his lips almost cautiously as a sudden wave of anxiety quietly settled within him.
Ronóva slowly stepped back from his embrace, her eyes carefully studying his face as though searching for something hidden behind his calm expression.
"She's doing well," Ronóva said as she turned away from Haruto, quietly smoothing the fabric of her dress before adjusting the layered ruffles of her waterfall skirt with practiced elegance. "She's probably at the training grounds by now, so... would you like to see her?"
Haruto's eyes widened ever so slightly as genuine surprise crossed his face, and a warm smile naturally followed while he looked at her.
"Huh...? Yes... I'd love to."
Ronóva slowly turned halfway back toward him, resting one hand against her hip while quietly studying the surprised look on his face, her eyes carrying a faint trace of confusion beneath their usual calmness.
"...Why do you sound so surprised?"
Haruto hesitated for only a brief moment before scratching the back of his neck, his expression growing slightly awkward as he searched for the right words without looking away from her.
"I just thought... you might've been angry with me."
Ronóva's brows knitted together ever so slightly as she continued looking at him, the question clearly catching her off guard before she let out a quiet sigh.
"No... why would I be?" she replied calmly, though there was the slightest hint of offense hidden beneath her composed tone. "That's a rather mean thing to ask, darling. Other than what happened with the universe... no, I'm not."
Haruto quietly lowered his gaze for a moment before a small breath escaped him, the uncertainty he had been carrying finally beginning to ease as he slowly looked back at her.
"I thought you might've been upset because I got you pregnant," he admitted with a faint, self-conscious smile. "We're the same age, after all, so I couldn't help wondering if I'd forced something onto you."
Understanding gradually appeared across Ronóva's face as the meaning behind his words finally became clear, and she slowly walked back toward him before stopping only a step away, her expression softening almost imperceptibly.
"So that's what you meant," she said in her usual calm voice as she gently shook her head. "No... I would never be angry about that. If I were ever upset, it would only be because the love between us wasn't real, and I know that isn't the case."
Her answer settled quietly between them, carrying a certainty that needed no further explanation, while Haruto simply looked into her eyes as a gentle smile slowly spread across his face.
(...I really did make the right choice.)
The thought came naturally, filling him with a quiet warmth that reached far deeper than words ever could.
(She's the one.)
Ronóva noticed the peaceful smile on his face, and although she didn't say another word, a soft giggle escaped her lips before she looked away with a warmth that only ever appeared when she was with him.
(Honestly... this man can be so blind sometimes. Can't he see how completely I've fallen for him? My love for him isn't something that has a limit... it simply exists, and it always will.)
Yomi stood before a pair of grand double doors, her small figure dressed in an elegant outfit woven with such remarkable craftsmanship that it almost seemed too beautiful for someone her age, yet somehow it suited her perfectly and only made her natural charm shine even brighter.
Ronóva stood quietly behind her, looking down at her daughter with a gentle smile that rarely appeared before reaching out to softly pat her head.
"Go on," she said in her usual calm voice. "Your father is waiting for you."
Yomi slowly turned around, her large luminous golden eyes carrying a faint trace of nervousness as they met her mother's.
"...Won't Mommy come with me?"
Ronóva gently shook her head, the long strands of her hair swaying gracefully behind her.
"Not today," she replied softly. "Today should be just for you and your father. The two of you deserve the chance to know one another without anyone else getting in the way."
Yomi quietly nodded, understanding the meaning behind those words even if she still felt a little anxious.
Before she could say anything else, Ronóva vanished without the slightest sound, leaving only a peaceful silence behind as Yomi slowly turned back toward the doors before gathering her courage and gently pushing them open.
Warm golden sunlight poured through the enormous windows beyond the room, illuminating Haruto as he sat comfortably upon a sofa with a peaceful smile already waiting for her.
Haruto looked up the moment she entered, his gentle eyes quietly meeting hers.
"Hey there," he said warmly. "Are you my daughter?"
Yomi's body stiffened almost imperceptibly as she looked back at him, the excitement she had imagined for so long suddenly making it difficult to find the right words.
Seeing her quietly freeze in place, Haruto smiled to himself before effortlessly teleporting her onto the sofa opposite him, the gentle shift in space happening so naturally that it startled her despite the calm expression she continued to wear.
She blinked once before gracefully straightening her posture.
"Yes," she replied with a polite smile whose quiet joy reached far deeper than she allowed herself to show. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Papa. My name is Yomi Varkhail Satoru."
Haruto's eyes brightened with genuine interest as soon as he heard her full name.
"So Ronóva combined our family names," he said with a soft laugh. "And Yomi... that name refers to the land of the dead, doesn't it?"
Yomi's golden eyes sparkled ever so slightly.
"Yes," she answered with obvious happiness after finding something they could talk about together. "Mommy chose the name because she's the Concept of Death."
Haruto leaned back against the sofa, a quiet smile remaining on his face as admiration quietly crossed his thoughts.
"I'm honestly surprised she knew a name from Japanese mythology."
A brief silence settled comfortably between them before Yomi leaned forward ever so slightly, curiosity quietly overcoming her nervousness.
"Papa... could you tell me how you became so strong?"
Her large golden eyes, adorned with their delicate seven-petaled flower-shaped irises, never left him for even a moment.
"Everyone in the world knows about you... and I can feel that your Mana is endless."
Haruto couldn't help smiling as he watched the excitement gradually replace the nervousness she had carried only moments earlier.
"You really enjoy talking about things like this, don't you?"
"Of course," Yomi replied with a bright smile as her eyes gently narrowed, causing her long, graceful eyelashes to catch the golden sunlight. "The very idea of power is fascinating to me. The more I learn, the more I realize how deep and complex it really is, and I can't help wanting to understand it."
Haruto quietly listened before a gentle smile naturally spread across his face, an amusing thought forming in the back of his mind as he watched the innocent excitement shining within his daughter's eyes.
(For some reason... I have a feeling my daughter is going to set her sights on becoming the strongest someday.)
Yomi continued smiling as she looked toward her father, yet hidden beneath that gentle expression was a quiet desire that had existed since the very moment she opened her eyes to the world.
(From the moment I was born... something has continued to grow within me. It's a desire so overwhelming that even I can't fully understand it yet, but it constantly urges me to reach higher... as though it's calling me toward something absolute.)
The small smile resting on her lips never changed, yet there was something quietly unsettling hidden beneath its innocence, hinting at a future that neither of them could yet see.