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Inside the dimly lit antique shop...
As she stepped in, Koyomi Shizuka narrowed her eyes slightly and dispelled the concealment spells around the place.
Almost the moment the spell was undone, a black cat strolled out leisurely to greet her.
"The concealment spell on you was fluctuating. I'm guessing something didn't go so well with your meeting with Natsuki, huh, Koyomi?"
Watching the smug Koyomi, Endou Yukari—an ancient elf who had lived for over a thousand years—couldn't help but shake her head.
If not for unforeseen events, the Lion King Agency would never have let a girl in her teens like Koyomi take over the mantle of the Three Saints.
Under normal circumstances, she would've still been training for at least another decade before taking on any real responsibilities.
To outsiders, the Sword Shamans and Shamanic War Dancers of the Lion King Agency might seem overwhelmingly powerful, their reputation in the East nearly unmatched.
But what people often forget is that the Lion King Agency rarely operates outside the borders of the island nation.
Truth is, they're terribly short-staffed.
Years of fighting large-scale magical crimes have worn down their numbers. The casualty rate is just too high, and they haven't had enough people for a while now.
And to make matters worse, children with the right potential have become incredibly rare in recent years.
To the Lion King Agency, that's a bittersweet situation.
World peace is great and all, but the rise in magical crime means they're still losing personnel faster than they can train replacements.
That's the only reason they had to send someone as young as Koyomi to negotiate with Natsuki. They were just that desperate.
Luckily, despite her age, Koyomi inherited the spiritual energy of all the previous priestesses. Combined with her natural abilities, her strength was formidable enough to hold the current situation together.
But when it came to dealing with people and politics... well, she still had a long way to go. That's why Endou had sent her familiar—a black cat—to Itogami Island, just in case support was needed.
Now, facing Endou's comment, Koyomi simply shook her head.
"It's not the worst outcome… but it's pretty close."
She paused for a moment, then said, "We've reached an agreement. As long as the safety of the public is ensured, we'll support Ryo Yagami as a candidate for the Fourth Primogenitor."
"Oh?"
Endou's cat eyes widened with surprise. "That path was one of the contingency plans… but it's far from the best option."
The ideal scenario was for Natsuki and Ryo to join forces and support Number Twelve's ascension together.
The next best option? Natsuki backs off and hands over Number Twelve to another faction, while the Lion King Agency stays neutral—just quietly providing the venue, not getting involved.
Only as a last resort would they shift support to Natsuki's side.
But if Koyomi was telling the truth, it seemed they'd gone with the last—and worst—of the three.
Endou sighed with a hint of melancholy. "So that Yagami guy's really the one calling the shots?"
"Yes," Koyomi bowed deeply. "And I'm sorry. I made this decision on the Lion King Agency's behalf without authorization."
"No need for apologies," Endou smiled, waving it off. "You are one of the Three Saints, after all. I'm just an old relic keeping the torch burning."
Even if Koyomi was young, she was still a Saint of the Lion King Agency. If she made a call, it had to be followed—unless it was completely outrageous.
Still, given the scale of this Blazing Banquet, Endou had to ask: "Are you sure about this? Is that man really capable of winning?"
"I can't say for sure," Koyomi replied, shaking her head. After a moment of hesitation, she added, "But there's one thing I am certain of."
"And that is?" Endou asked curiously.
Koyomi paused, then said softly, "That man… he's even more dangerous than a Primogenitor."
"!!" Endou's cat eyes flew wide open. "Are you serious?"
"I can't be sure. It's just a gut feeling." Koyomi shook her head again and recalled her encounter with Ryo. "It felt like… if he made a move, I'd be dead in an instant."
"I see. That explains why you made this choice," Endou murmured thoughtfully.
As the latest in a long line of Shizuka priestesses, Koyomi wielded spiritual power passed down through generations. The role came with incredible strength—but also deep intuition.
Priestesses like her often had a natural talent for foresight. After dozens of generations, her instincts were just shy of being able to predict the future outright.
"If someone with time-based abilities like you thinks he's unbeatable… then it sounds like this Blazing Banquet has drawn a real monster of a candidate."
Endou chuckled, then added, "I heard he can control the Fourth Primogenitor's familiars?"
"He can," Koyomi confirmed with a nod. "According to Akatsuki Gajou's message, his son, Akatsuki Kojou, saw it with his own eyes."
"In that case, it's simple," Endou said casually, dropping a bomb. "Just treat him as if he is the fully awakened Fourth Primogenitor."
Koyomi's face changed immediately.
But Endou didn't pay it any mind. She just wanted to remind her student of the kind of threat Ryo represented.
"Looks like Itogami Island is about to welcome a new king," she smiled.
With a playful gait, the black cat walked up to Koyomi.
"You can express our position at tomorrow's gathering of candidates."
"But…" Koyomi looked uneasy, worried it might upset the others.
Endou chuckled. "A helping hand when someone's struggling is worth far more than a gift when things are going well, Koyomi."
"…I understand," Koyomi let out a long sigh.
Just then, as Endou was about to leave, Koyomi hesitated and asked, "Can I ask you something?"
"What is it?" Endou tilted her head.
"Have you ever heard the term… 'Lion King Marriage Agency'?"
Endou froze for a beat. Then her face twisted in annoyance.
"Which faction came up with that slander?! You know the Lion King Agency supports free love!"
Hearing that, Koyomi let out a subtle breath of relief.
But then, Endou muttered under her breath, "I mean, giving two people who like each other a little nudge—what's wrong with that?"
Koyomi's expression instantly distorted.
"What's with that face?" Endou narrowed her eyes, sensing something off.
"…Nothing. I'm going to prepare for the candidates' arrival." Koyomi forced her expression blank and walked out of the antique shop.
As she watched her leave, Endou's cat face broke into a mischievous smile.
"Hehe… Looks like I scared her a little. She's probably thinking I'll assign her a partner next. Too cute, too sweet."
Then, her tone suddenly shifted into something more wistful.
"Still… this girl. All she knows is how to fight and curse people behind their backs. What kind of guy would even want someone like that? Or rather, who'd even dare?"
The only sound left in the antique shop was the elf's exasperated sigh, echoing softly in the dark.
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