Autumn had fully passed, giving way to winter.
Heavy snow had fallen throughout the night, leaving behind a white trail that now blanketed the trees, the ground, and the world itself in a silent cold.
At the edge of a river whose flow had frozen solid, Gabriel stood still.
White vapor slowly escaped his lips with each breath.
Both of his hands were hidden inside his pockets, while the black trench coat adorned with silver ornaments he wore fluttered gently from time to time in the winter wind.
A faint layer of pale white Mana could be seen across his body—the proof that Gabriel was using Mana Skin. That was why he showed no sign of shivering from the cold.
As he gazed at the snow—and recalled the snowfall from the previous night—Gabriel's thoughts began to turn.
As always, he wove worlds within his mind, assembling narratives that existed only for himself.
Ash sat upon a black sofa, soft and elegant, positioned directly before a quietly burning fireplace.
The flames danced gently, casting warm light across the walls of the dim room.
In his hand, a glass of deep red wine was held lightly.
Good.
Very fitting.
It was… too perfect.
A faint smile formed on Gabriel's lips as he continued his narration.
The glass was raised slowly, the liquid inside swirling for a brief moment before he took a calm, measured sip.
Beyond the large window before him, snow continued to fall without end, striking the glass in a soft, steady rhythm.
White.
Silent.
Eternal.
The sound of a gramophone filled the room—low, classical notes, old yet graceful. The music did not dominate; it merely accompanied, wrapping the silence in a soothing warmth.
Ash gazed out the window, his expression calm, almost melancholic.
In that world, the cold remained outside.
Inside—there was only fire, music, and a comfortable stillness.
A simple narration. Yet it was enough to lift the corner of Gabriel's lips ever so slightly in the real world, before his gaze returned to the snowfield spread out before him.
Not long after, the sound of soft footsteps reached him from among the trees behind.
Without needing to turn around, Gabriel already knew who it was.
That figure—none other than Alpha.
The blonde Elf girl was now dressed for winter: a thick, warm black fur-lined jacket, paired with a matching scarf wrapped around her neck. Each of her steps was light, yet steady.
After a few strides, Alpha stopped near Gabriel, leaving about three adult paces between them. Her expression was gentle, yet the focus in her eyes remained sharp and well-trained.
A brief gust of cold wind passed through, causing the tips of her golden hair to flutter softly.
"May I ask," Alpha said in a calm and polite tone, "why you summoned me, Gabriel-sama?"
A moment of silence settled between them, before Gabriel finally opened the conversation.
"Alpha," Gabriel called, speaking the blonde Elf's codename in a gentle tone.
"Yes, Gabriel-sama," Alpha answered without hesitation.
"It has been seven months since Shadow Garden was formed," Gabriel said, his gaze still fixed on the river now sealed in ice. "You and Epsilon have perfected the technique for treating the Curse of Diablo."
Alpha lowered her head slightly. She immediately understood where the conversation was headed.
The Cult of Diablo.
An organization that had taken root in this world for hundreds of years.
Kingdoms, nobility, even political figures—none were truly free from the shadow of its influence.
Unfortunate girls of Hero bloodlines, forced to bear the Curse of Diablo.
Cruel experiments carried out in the name of ambition and power.
All of it was a nightmare that could not be allowed to continue.
"That means…" Alpha said softly, yet firmly,
"we have entered the next phase."
"Exactly," Gabriel replied, drawing a quiet breath. "It's time we recruit new members and expand Shadow Garden."
—DUN.
The word fell like a hammer, striking the silence.
Alpha lifted her head.
Her gaze settled on Gabriel's back, filled with deep respect—not merely for his power, but for the measured resolve he carried.
"I understand," Alpha said firmly. "If this is your decision, and His as well, then I will prepare the foundation."
"Recruitment will be conducted with strict selection. Shadow Garden does not need numbers alone—but quality."
However, a moment later, something stirred in her mind.
"Gabriel-sama," Alpha continued more carefully, "this plan… should we inform Shadow-sama?"
At that question, Gabriel fell silent.
His thoughts turned slowly, deliberately, while Alpha waited without showing the slightest hint of impatience.
Informing Cid-kun… huh?
Gabriel began to weigh the idea.
Was it necessary to tell Cid about the plan to recruit new members into Shadow Garden?
From a purely rational standpoint, it wasn't something that absolutely had to be done.
Yet for some reason, that was precisely why Gabriel felt tempted.
Perfect material.
If it was to be conveyed at all, then the manner of doing so could not be careless.
The wording had to be exact.
The narrative had to be cool.
It could not sound ordinary.
It could not be too ostentatious either.
Just a few words—natural, almost accidental.
As Gabriel continued assembling sentences and flow within his mind, Alpha remained silent, waiting calmly. But then, a sudden realization crossed her thoughts.
She noticed something important.
Shadow-sama… always knows everything.
Then didn't her earlier question mean that she had doubted the foresight and judgment of the Shadow himself?
Alpha's expression tightened slightly. Without hesitation, she knelt down onto the snow.
"Please forgive my mistake," Alpha said, her voice restrained yet sincere. "I have overstepped my bounds."
Gabriel flinched faintly, registering the movement. For a brief moment, he almost asked—
Why are you kneeling all of a sudden?
What mistake?
But he knew—if he voiced that thought aloud, the narrative he had carefully built from the beginning would feel off.
That could not be allowed to happen.
In a calm, controlled tone, Gabriel said, "I did not order you to kneel."
Alpha fell silent for a moment, then lowered her head even further—not out of compulsion, but out of understanding she had chosen for herself.
"I understand," she replied softly. "But I am kneeling not because of an order… but because of my own awareness."
She clenched her hands atop her knees.
"I doubted, if only for an instant. That alone is enough reason for me to apologize," she continued. "Shadow-sama does not need to be reassured. Your decisions always surpass our perspective."
The cold wind blew again, carrying small grains of snow between them.
Gabriel remained standing, gazing at the frozen river—while behind him, Alpha's loyalty was etched into the snow, without a single command ever being spoken.
Ah.
At last, Gabriel understood.
This was a misunderstanding—one that was all too familiar.
The kind of misunderstanding that, little by little, would shape the direction in which this world would move.
Should it be corrected?
The answer was simple.
No.
Because Gabriel had to admit—it sounded incredibly cool.
So he spoke, briefly, flatly, without excess emotion.
"Shades," he said quietly, "will become the Main Pillars."
Alpha lifted her face. Her gaze was calm and clear, yet filled with unwavering resolve.
"If that is your will and His," she said firmly, "then the Seven Shadows will become the foundation of Shadow Garden."
She bowed deeply.
"We will gather the shadows. Those cast aside, those wounded, those abandoned by the world—we will embrace them and shape them."
A faint smile curved Gabriel's lips.
For a moment, silence filled the air. Without turning around, he posed a question—a small test.
"Alpha," he said quietly, "when do you think the recruitment plan should begin?"
Without the slightest hesitation, Alpha answered, "At any time."
She continued, her voice calm yet resolute. "The Seven Shades are always ready. As long as the Cult of Diablo continues to move… new shadows will keep appearing. All we need to do is open our hands."
Silence fell once more.
Then Gabriel gave a small nod.
"That's a good decision," he said softly. "Very elegant."
Alpha lowered her head, accepting the evaluation in silence.
Beneath the quiet winter sky, Shadow Garden was no longer merely an organization—it was beginning to become a refuge for shadows.
***
Somewhere within the snow-covered forest, Cid stood with a small smile on his face, a gold coin resting lightly between his fingers.
A cold wind blew past, teasing the edges of the jet-black slime cloak he wore—fluttering like a shadow that refused the light.
All around him lay the bodies of bandits. Lifeless. Cut down without mercy. Fresh blood stained the white expanse of snow, like a pristine canvas marred by deep crimson strokes.
Silence enveloped the forest.
Suddenly—
"Hachii!"
Cid sneezed.
He wiped his nose, then looked up at the sky with a puzzled expression.
"…Hmm?" he murmured softly. "My protagonist aura… increased?"
The wind whispered once more, carrying flecks of snow—and somewhere in the distance, unnoticed by anyone, new shadows were beginning to gather.
__
Author's note:
Is the MC's storyline in the world of Kage no Jitsuryoukusha boring?
Sorry if that's the case, because the MC is indeed intent on completing all the missions to get the highest score, not just competing to be Ash. This means the MC is working while playing.
Ah... If you enjoyed this chapter, please send some Power Stones, leave a comment or review, and add it to your Favorites. 😉