After being questioned by Talulah, Kashchey found no further opportunity to invade more of his consciousness into the bodies of the two children.
"Never mind. Those body wasn't an ideal target anyway."
Early the next morning, Kashchey left the camp with his Emperor's Blades and reunited with Snake Scale, who had been stationed outside for some time.
If anyone within the Reunion Movement had harbored hostile intentions, it would have been extremely difficult for Kashchey and the Emperor's Blade to break through their siege. After all, Patriot was overwhelmingly powerful—and Kashchey's current vessel was just a standard Phidia, little more than a Caster at best.
But in the shadows, Snake Scale had already surrounded the camp. If Kashchey had wanted, he could have wiped out the entire Reunion Movement, still in its early, fragile stage.
It was simply insurance.
This body still had its uses, after all.
---
Kashchey returned to his residence.
Feeling the familiar energy of his lair—and the true body hidden beneath the earth, built specifically for battle—Kashchey felt a wave of security wash over him.
He knew he wouldn't die even if this body was destroyed. But still, he didn't want it wasted through carelessness.
He had grown attached to it.
Every time he piloted this body into danger, it gave him a thrill.
Like playing a horror game.
---
Seven days passed since Kashchey's return.
On the first day, the Emperor's Blades saw him seated at his desk, furiously scribbling notes and correcting a mountain of official documents.
For the six days after that, all they saw was Duke Kashchey hunched over drawing paper, brushing strange images with careful strokes.
At first, the Emperor's Blades held their tongues. They assumed there was some deeper meaning to his actions—this was Kashchey, after all.
But that changed the moment Kashchey summoned one of them to "appreciate" the results of his work.
On the paper was a chibi-style illustration of a white-haired woman, with the caption:
"The Ever-Changing Duke of Kashchey – University Teacher - Koshelna."
"You offloaded all your work onto us... for this?"
What made the Emperor's Blade even more speechless was being forced to read the product description written—gleefully—by Kashchey himself:
"Duke Kashchey, out of deep concern for the Empire's youth, has personally taken on the task of teaching the glorious history of Ursus. As a living witness to centuries of change, the beloved Duke Kashchey, despite an overwhelming schedule, remains committed to nurturing Ursus's next generation. Truly, it is Ursus's great blessing to have such a noble, immortal figure…"
It went on like that for paragraphs.
The Emperor's Blade, struggling to keep a straight face, finally muttered:
"Wait… don't tell me you wrote the descriptions for all the other dolls too…"
"Yes," Kashchey replied with pride. "I wrote them all myself. Pretty good, right? You'd never guess it was me."
Indeed.
Who would ever suspect that the great Duke of Kashchey spent his time writing self-praise into doll merchandise?
The Emperor's Blade cleared his throat, hesitant. "Forgive my ignorance, my lord… but I truly don't understand the purpose behind all this."
Kashchey looked up, eyes gleaming.
"Because it's fun."
"…Your Excellency, it seems your official duties for today remain unfinished."
"I'll leave that kind of work to my subordinates," Kashchey replied casually. "They're loyal, capable, and deserve greater responsibility."
The Emperor's Blade sighed inwardly.
Just like my predecessor said... this old man—sometimes cunning, sometimes childish.
He looked at Kashchey, still furiously scribbling with his brush, and then at the growing collection of dolls on the desk.
[Knight of Kazimierz]—a chibi-style figure in knight's armor, holding a spear, wearing a bright, sunny smile.
After its release, the entire Kazimierz delegation was furious. No one expected the celebrated Phidias champion—once held up as a symbol of Kazimierz's pride—to be reimagined as a doll made by the Duke of Ursus, their long-standing enemy.
The old feud between Ursus and Kazimierz ran deep, and Kashchey had weaponized it through ridicule. The Kazimierzian were outraged—but helpless.
Then there was [The Devil of Kazdel]—a Q-version figure dressed in a sharp suit, top hat, briefcase in hand, lips curled in a sly smile.
After that one launched, the Regent of Kazdel personally sent Kashchey a formal warning to cease distribution.
Later, after a private "conversation" with Duke Kashchey himself, the Regent quietly backed down.
At the time, Regent Theresis was entangled in a web of political pressure in Victoria. Surrounded by backstabbing nobles, facing suspicion about his legitimacy as regent, and worn thin by internal Sarkaz conflicts—he had no energy to take on Kashchey directly.
Not with the Duke's terrifying influence during the civil war still fresh in everyone's mind. The immortal strength Kashchey displayed had left Theresis cautious—and deeply wary.
---
There were also dozens of minor figures in the product line:
[Ordinary Soldier], [Believer of an Unknown Church], [Ordinary Businessman], and so on.
Compared to the limited-edition dolls, these had minimal political impact.
Still, the Emperor's Blade couldn't help but worry.
I wonder if this new doll will be another so-called "limited edition." I hope Lord Kashchey knows when to stop.
Every time Kashchey released a new limited-edition doll, there would be at least one assassination attempt in retaliation.
And every time, the Emperor's Blade was left to clean up the mess.
During those times, their workload would spike dramatically.
---
Kashchey, sensing the Emperor's Blade's inner turmoil, didn't care in the slightest.
To him, the dolls were not just for amusement—they were a tool. A testbed for his evolving powers.
In the past, Kashchey had to be recognized—truly acknowledged—by others before he could invade their bodies. The process was slow, clumsy, and full of variables.
But over thousands of years, he'd refined his technique.
The dolls he released in recent years were more than cute toys—they were vessels. Symbols infused with public perception.
Now, Kashchey could embed fragments of his will into each doll, hiding in plain sight within the world's imagination.
If someone identified strongly enough with a virtue—say, the [Knight of Kazimierz]—he could be "called." And that call would be answered by him, Sir Kashvald.
If you believe in the law of the jungle—that kindness is a lie—then you may be called the [Devil of Kazdel] – Kashvaren.
If you see yourself as nothing more than an ordinary soldier, then you may be called [Ordinary Soldier] – Kashenko.
If you…
Of course, this power still has limits. It depends heavily on external vessels—objects through which belief and identity can be funneled.
But compared to being hunted by old enemies just for releasing a doll, it's a fair trade.
After all, even if every physical vessel Kashchey currently inhabits were destroyed, as long as there were people who "resonated" with one of the identities, He could be reborn—anywhere, in anyone.
He was now far ahead on the path of survival.
And He had no intention of releasing every past identity. Instead, He chose ones with minimal political weight but broad emotional reach.
The current Kashchey was far stronger than the one preserved in [memory].
---
In a private conversation between Theresis and Kashchey—
"Should I call you Duke Kashchey… or Satan, Kashvaren?"
"Either is fine. I don't care."
"…"
"Why? Does the regent who murdered his own sister to seize the throne now care about formalities?"
"Do you want to destroy the relationship between Ursus and Kazdel with that mouth of yours?"
"No, no, not at all. I'm merely speaking the truth. But if you don't want to hear it, I'll keep it to myself… So, shall we continue the deal?"
"The deal continues… you beast."
"As the regent of Kazdel, you're so rude to your business partner. But no matter. Your partner is extremely tolerant… so I forgive you."
"…"
"Besides, I still haven't found the answer."