After my speech concluded and the cheers still echoed through the plaza, I made my way to the main hall on the ground floor. The children had already finished dressing up and were gathered there, waiting for me. Their excited chatter filled the air.
"Sensei turns out to be the king of this country?" Kenya blurted out with wide eyes.
I raised a brow slightly. Hmm? Did I not mention that?
"So, you didn't know, Kenya?" I said with a composed smile, my cloak flowing lightly as I stepped forward. "Well, now that you do, it's never too late to start showing a little more respect toward your king."
Kenya flinched. "What did I—"
Before he could finish, Alice jumped forward. "Yeeees! I respect sensei a great deal!" she shouted proudly as she threw her arms around me.
"Me toooo!" Chloe followed suit, clinging to me with sparkling eyes.
I let out a low chuckle, resting my hand on their heads and gently patting them. Their warmth was comforting, but their pouting faces when I gently pushed them away were just as predictable. "I only have one body, you two," I said with a teasing tone. They both puffed their cheeks at the same time, clearly unsatisfied.
"Speaking of which," Gail said, tilting his head, "this is quite a surprising turn of events. Just yesterday, I was guessing whether sensei was actually a king or not…"
Ryota nodded quickly beside him.
I crossed my arms, letting my presence fill the space. "Ah, this whole king thing happened after I parted ways with you all. Since then, I've been… quite busy."
"R-right… Of course you'd be really busy after becoming a king…" Gail murmured, a little intimidated.
Kenya still had that annoyed look in his eyes, but the sharpness in his expression was dulling a little. I could tell he'd forgive me eventually.
"Then… sensei," Chloe asked, her voice small, "will we not have any more chances to see you again in the future?"
I looked at her and Alice, their worried faces staring at me. "Hmm. I'll check on you when I have time," I replied calmly, then smirked slightly. "Don't let appearances fool you. My title might be king, but that doesn't mean I'll be hiding in a throne room all day."
"Tsk," Kenya muttered, "are you great or not?? Make up your mind!! Seriously…"
I let his complaints slide with a short laugh, then straightened. "Listen well, all of you," I said, letting a trace of Pharaoh-like authority flow through my voice. "You're going to be excited out there. But remember this—don't get carried away. Stay out of trouble. I won't have time to chase after you if you cause chaos."
" " "All right!" " " they answered in unison, standing a little straighter than before.
A faint smile tugged at the corner of my lips. They were a lively bunch, as always.
"Did you bring your handkerchief, napkin, and that necklace I gave you?"
" " "Of course we did!" " " they replied with the speed of a well-trained unit.
I sighed inwardly. Their quick answers were suspiciously enthusiastic, but I decided to let it slide. Normally, I'd have someone accompany them, but every one of my subordinates was already tied up with their own duties.
Diablo was overseeing the Colosseum as the referee. Hakurou had a date with Momiji, and Benimaru… well, he was glued to me as my bodyguard.
I turned to Benimaru with a sly look. "Are you sure you want to give the chance to date Momiji to Hakurou?"
Benimaru's face stiffened. "Please give me a break, Atem-sama. It's… all too soon for me."
I let out a short, rich laugh. "We'll see."
Shuna was managing the café. Shion had disappeared somewhere earlier this morning—which, frankly, gave me a bad feeling—but for now, I'd trust she hadn't blown anything up yet. Souei was stationed in the shadows, watching over the entire city. If anything happened, I'd know.
And he has people watching over the kids too. That thought let me breathe a little easier.
"What's the matter? Something troubling you?"
The smooth, composed voice cut through my thoughts like the edge of a blade.
It was Hinata.
She stood at the entrance, wearing a navy-blue sleeveless dress that showed off just enough of her toned arms and chest to make anyone falter if they weren't prepared. A saber hung at her waist, framing her slim, elegant figure with deadly precision. Her presence was calm, composed, and sharp—like a blade drawn halfway from its sheath.
My gaze lingered on her for a brief moment longer than intended. Elegant. Dangerous. And completely aware of it.
"Eh, sensei!" Alice and Chloe tensed as they caught my expression. "Who is this?"
I took a step closer, my tone calm but firm. "Her name is Hinata. She's the one who challenged me—and paid for that arrogance."
Kenya opened his mouth with that same reckless tone of his. "Huh—? This old hag managed to—"
SHING!
In the blink of an eye, Hinata's saber was unsheathed and pressed against his throat. Just one centimeter away. One twitch, and his blood would've painted the marble floor.
"Now," she said coolly, her golden eyes narrowing like a hawk's, "what were you saying?"
Kenya froze. His face drained of color. "…I-I was going to say… t-the beautiful big sister…"
Alice and Chloe gasped. Ryota tried to move, to defend his friend, but her gaze alone froze him solid. Gail—mesmerized a moment ago—stood stiff as a board, unable to even breathe.
I folded my arms. Even for me, Hinata's killing intent was impressive. For these kids, it must've felt like staring into the maw of a beast.
"Kenya," I said with the weight of command, "watch your manners. This woman is also the disciple of Shizu-san. She is your senior."
Kenya's eyes darted to me, wide and pleading—like a puppy caught in the rain. Couldn't you have said that earlier?! his expression screamed.
I sighed softly. "I warned you not to get carried away," I said, my voice low and final. "This is what happens when you ignore the Pharaoh's words."
Kenya swallowed hard, nodding frantically. The blade at his throat disappeared as swiftly as it had appeared, Hinata sheathing it without a sound. The air in the hall relaxed slightly, though the kids were still pale and stiff.
It was a lesson they wouldn't forget.
"Shizu-sensei's disciple… Could it be?!"
"Could it be the person that allegedly surpassed Shizu-sensei in just a month…?"
"The Holy Knight Commander of Lubelius—Hinata Sakaguchi-sama?"
"No way… That's insane!"
"But is it really her…?"
"Hey—shouldn't you mention something this important first?!"
The moment her name spread through the crowd, the air shifted. A wave of tension rolled out like a sandstorm descending upon the desert. Hinata's presence alone was sharp enough to silence chatter. Her hand moved with blinding speed, steel flashed—and then just as quickly, her sword was sheathed.
Kenya fell backward with a thud, trembling like a leaf in the wind. His face was pale, his hands clutching at his knees.
"I… I almost pissed my pants," he muttered, voice weak.
Alice shot him a disgusted look. "Gross."
"You can't blame me!" he snapped back, voice cracking. "She looked like she was gonna cut me in half just for breathing wrong!"
Chloe crossed her arms, unimpressed. "But it was still your fault, Kenya."
Her logic cut clean, and Kenya could only look away in shame.
"By the way," Gail asked suddenly, curiosity lighting up his eyes as he looked at me, "Atem- sensei, is it true? Did you really fight Hinata-nee to a draw?"
I met his gaze calmly. The crowd around us had already fallen into a quiet hush. My presence naturally filled the space—authoritative, steady, impossible to ignore.
"A draw?" I repeated, letting the word linger like a blade hanging over their heads. I crossed my arms, the gold of my bracelets catching the light. "No. I punished her for being stubborn."
That single sentence made Kenya's mouth drop open. Alice gasped. Gail froze. Even Chloe blinked in surprise.
"She came at me with everything she had," I continued, voice even, but carrying weight like rolling thunder. "And I respected that. But in the end, stubbornness has its price."
Kenya swallowed hard. "S-so… you mean…"
"I defeated her," I said flatly. "I let her walk away with her pride. That was all."
A sharp silence followed. Hinata's eyes narrowed for just a second—not in denial, but in silent acknowledgment. She didn't look humiliated. If anything, she gave a small, defiant smile. A warrior's pride was something I understood well.
The children were wide-eyed, a mixture of awe and nerves buzzing through them. They'd always seen Hinata as untouchable. The idea that she had been bested… and by their sensei… hit differently.
Kenya was the first to speak again, his voice shaking slightly. "That's… that's insane…"
Alice elbowed him. "Obviously! This is Atem-sensei we're talking about."
The tension in the air finally loosened, just a little. But the weight of my words stayed with them.
The children still had more to ask, but Hinata interrupted, stepping forward. Her tone was sharp and precise, her confidence undiminished.
"So, what was it that was troubling you just now?"
I turned toward her, cloak brushing lightly against the ground as I shifted. "It's nothing complicated. These kids are going to the town soon. Even with Eterna's security, the festival crowds are dense, and in crowds, danger moves unseen. I need someone I can trust to watch over them."
Hinata tilted her head slightly. "Oh—in that case, I can take care of them."
I blinked once, caught off guard. "…You?"
She raised an eyebrow. "What, do you think I'm not qualified?"
I let out a low chuckle—not mocking, just surprised. "No. You're more than qualified. Just didn't expect you to volunteer."
Her gaze hardened, daring me to challenge her further. Kenya actually flinched just standing near her. I had to give the boy credit for staying on his feet this time.
"You won't turn me down now, will you?" Hinata asked, her voice soft but laced with authority.
"No, of course not!" the kids chorused immediately.
"Ken-chan…" Alice sighed dramatically.
"Please help us!" Gail added eagerly.
Even Ryota, who had been trying to act cool, cracked when he saw everyone else. "I can't believe I get to spend time with Hinata-nee… This is the best day of my life!"
Alice was practically sparkling with excitement. Kenya and Gail had the kind of wide-eyed admiration you'd expect from kids meeting their hero. Chloe, though, stepped forward with her usual bright smile.
"Big sis is such a nice person!" Chloe declared before wrapping her arms around Hinata's waist without hesitation. "You feel like Shizu-sensei!"
Hinata stiffened slightly at first, clearly not used to random hugs, but her hand gently rested on Chloe's head. And then—just faintly—she smiled. Not the sharp, fierce smile of a warrior. A real one.
The children's excitement was clear. They weren't just safe—they were happy.
And as I watched Hinata surrounded by their trust, I allowed myself a small smile. The weight of a Pharaoh isn't only to rule—but to choose wisely whom to trust.
I straightened, watching them with calm authority. The crowd's noise in the distance faded, leaving only the sound of their laughter.
This wasn't a battlefield. But it was a moment worth remembering.
And somewhere in the back of my mind, I knew this peace wouldn't last forever.