The difference between **Gobemon** and **Gobta** was as simple as that one sentence suggested: the ability each person had to cooperate effectively alongside their subordinates.
Gobta wouldn't take on all the duties by himself. Even when facing powerful monsters, he would command his men to fight together. During simpler missions, it often looked like he was just slacking off—and honestly, he really did slack off a lot. But despite that, his way of commanding made his subordinates grow faster and stronger. Even Benimaru had said before that Gobta's leadership was surprisingly effective.
Gobemon, on the other hand, would charge forward alone against strong monsters just to claim the spotlight. He had the strength to back it up, but that strength came with pride. Acting alone didn't let his men grow. And if he ever fell in battle, retreating would be nearly impossible—his team would be crushed. It was for this reason that Benimaru had always preferred Gobta's way of fighting.
And it was exactly why **I, Atem**, wanted Gobemon to learn to trust his comrades more. Myourmiles was a man who understood leadership better than most. If Gobemon learned from him, he could become far more than just a strong warrior.
"—That's why you should learn the importance of teamwork," I said firmly, my tone leaving no room for argument. "I'm not telling you to stop fighting. But you need to know when to hold back and when to strike. That's what separates a warrior from a commander."
"I… I…" Gobemon clenched his jaw, frustration in his eyes.
"You are strong. No one doubts that," I continued, stepping closer. "But strength alone isn't enough for me to hand you an army."
Gobemon fell silent. I could see the conflict in him, that wall of pride he had built for years. Without hesitation, I tossed him a healing potion.
"Ah!"
The moment it touched him, light wrapped around his body and his right arm began to regenerate.
"Gobemon," I said with a sharp edge in my voice, "you'll stay with Myourmiles for now. Train Bydd and his men—or take time to face yourself. Either way, in Eterna, Myourmiles doesn't need a bodyguard. What you need is to confront the weakness inside you."
"Y-Your Majesty—"
"At the end of the day, you'll amount to nothing by fighting alone," I said, my words striking like iron. "You've already learned this the hard way. So use that failure as a lesson. When you decide to act, I'm sure you'll know the right path."
Gobemon stared at me with wide eyes as I drew the **tachi** from my belt. The polished blade gleamed under the lamplight as I handed it to him.
"My gift to you," I said.
"B-But… My mission…" he stammered.
"You brought Myourmiles back safely. That's more than enough for now. This blade will be your mirror—every night, it will reflect the man you're becoming. Use it well."
Gobemon trembled as he took the sword, his eyes burning with renewed determination. If he could cast aside that heavy pride and learn to lead, his growth would be unstoppable.
"I understand! I, Gobemon, will definitely live up to Your Majesty Atem's expectations!"
I gave him a small, approving nod. That fire in his eyes was exactly what I wanted to see.
"Then, Myourmiles," I turned to him, "I'm leaving Gobemon in your hands."
"Hahaha, no problem at all," Myourmiles chuckled, already expecting this. "I was going to ask you the same thing anyway. Bydd, it looks like your wish came true. Gobemon-dono will be training all of you."
Bydd and his men lit up with excitement. Gobemon's reputation was no secret, and having him as a trainer would push them all further.
And just like that, Gobemon became a guest under Myourmiles's care, free to train and reflect on himself.
When I left Myourmiles's estate, the night sky greeted me. The stars above Eterna glittered like cold silver flames. The constellations of winter stretched far and wide—different from those of the old world I once knew.
I stood there in silence, letting the cool air brush against my face. A storm was coming… and every piece on the board had to be strong enough to endure it.
I was still wary about the ambush incident. Something about it didn't sit right with me.
Was the culprit truly **Viscount Kazak**?
A mere viscount shouldn't have had the power or influence to prepare that kind of force. Rank B monsters were one thing… but a Rank B-plus basilisk? That was a whole different matter. Only the wealthiest and most influential could control or even summon something of that level.
I folded my arms, my gaze sharpening. *Could a man of his position really orchestrate something like this… or was there someone else pulling the strings from the shadows?*
More importantly, could one even *buy* a Rank B-plus monster with just money?
«Answer. Previously, Rank A-minus summoner Thegis was able to summon a Rank B-plus lesser demon. It would not be unthinkable that someone has domesticated a basilisk.»
*Summon Magic…*
That explained it. With the right summoner, bringing a monster of that class into the field wouldn't be too hard. Faster than transporting it with carriages, and deadlier. But that also meant the ambusher used the road on purpose — because there were no barriers there.
Shuna's defensive barriers were installed in key areas to block magic. The outer roads were not one of them.
I exhaled through my nose and muttered quietly, "I should order tighter security on the trade roads. If someone is probing our defenses… they'll get nothing but ash next time."
Leaving the scene, I returned to the heart of **Eterna**.
Myourmiles was already here, and the citizens welcomed him warmly. I had introduced him to the executives earlier, and Rigurd would handle spreading the word among the people. To my surprise, things were moving far smoother than expected.
Myourmiles worked like someone born to rule. Within a blink, he'd familiarized himself with the subordinates I'd assigned to him. He didn't care about race or background; he simply delegated efficiently and built a structured, unified team. Even his own followers were perfectly integrated, creating a brand-new organization almost overnight.
A competent man really does make the difference.
Despite the heavy workload, he showed no signs of slowing down. Invitations were being sent out through his personal network—powerful nobles from landlocked kingdoms, top merchants from the great cities, and high officials from **Ingracia's** capital.
Our nation-founding festival was already looking far larger in scale than I'd first envisioned.
And of course, none of us were sitting idle. Rehearsals for the opera performances were underway, the martial tournament's rules and entry fees were being finalized, and we were calculating every price connected to the labyrinth. We were also tracking the flow of imported goods and preparing sales routes.
Thanks to Myourmiles, everything was moving like a well-oiled war machine. It was hard to believe this was supposed to be our *first* major international event.
I'd also introduced him to **Veldora**. The two got along surprisingly well. Myourmiles even agreed to act as his consultant for the takoyaki shop idea Veldora wouldn't stop talking about.
I gave a faint grin. *I made the right choice.*
Out of all my plans so far, appointing Myourmiles was without a doubt one of the best. Without him, none of this would have been possible at this speed.
Just us alone wouldn't have been enough to hold up such a massive structure.
To have met someone like him through a twist of fate…
How lucky I was.
I watched Myourmiles at work with quiet satisfaction. His movements were precise, confident, and calm—like a man already at the center of a nation's pulse.
This was only the beginning.