Meanwhile, just moments before Gabriel took a sip of his tea, outside the cabin, Cid had just entered the Bounded Field with a relaxed stride, both hands tucked into his pockets.
The pitch-black Slime Weapon cloak fluttered softly behind him, blending seamlessly with the shadows.
The instant he crossed the boundary, the sight before him made his steps come to a halt.
The area… was filled with people.
Movement and activity flowed in an organized manner.
New members saluted as he passed by.
In the distance, the Seven Shades were busy managing logistics—assigning duties, checking reports, and overseeing training.
Elsewhere, tents were being erected one after another, forming a very real base of operations.
Cid came to a complete stop.
"..."
Oh.
Inside his mind, his thoughts began spinning like the hands of a clock that had suddenly switched to Asian time—despite him standing in Europe.
I had deliberately avoided visiting the headquarters for a few days… and now a global secret organization had appeared?
Slowly, Cid turned toward the main cabin.
His eyes instantly glowed red—the sign that his Mana was active.
The world shifted in his vision, like a high-tech thermal camera able to penetrate physical barriers and energy flows.
Inside the cabin, he saw Gabriel.
The boy sat casually, leaning back in his chair, staring at the ceiling as if the world itself were nothing but a dull spectacle.
At least, that's how it appeared to Cid.
…Just as I suspected.
He had advanced this far silently.
Cid smiled faintly.
This is… the true Right Hand of Shadows.
Not long after, the soft sound of footsteps echoed behind him.
Alpha approached gracefully. As always, her face appeared gentle, yet her gaze was sharp and disciplined.
In truth, she had come to report—to inform him of all the developments within Shadow Garden. Yet seeing Cid's expression now, the report seemed almost unnecessary.
Still… a commander must convey the information.
"Cid," Alpha called softly.
Cid nodded without turning around.
"So… it has reached this stage."
The words made Alpha stiffen instantly. Her chest tightened, and she swallowed hard.
"We apologize for moving forward without waiting for you."
Without waiting?
…Ah.
Cid glanced back toward the cabin, where Gabriel sat.
"It's fine," he replied calmly. "I knew."
Alpha froze for a moment—then a small, relieved smile, filled with respect, appeared on her face.
Of course he knew.
Before Shadow… nothing is ever truly hidden.
Cid continued to gaze at the cabin.
"The progress… is faster than you anticipated?"
Alpha nodded slightly. "The number of recruits has increased drastically. Logistics, the base, training… everything is developing faster than the initial plan."
Cid gave a faint smile.
"I see."
Alpha hesitated for a moment, then asked softly, "Is… this truly what you want?"
Cid answered without hesitation. "Of course."
Alpha bowed her head a little deeper. "As we suspected."
Moments later, the cabin door opened.
Gabriel stepped out, his gait slightly unsteady, as if emerging from an invisible battle. His face was still pale, but his eyes were far calmer than before.
He walked slowly toward Cid and Alpha.
Alpha immediately turned, slightly surprised to see Gabriel stepping out on his own.
"Alpha," Gabriel said in a light yet clear tone. "Regarding logistics, organizational structure, or the needs of the Seven Shades… please coordinate with Cid-kun."
He shifted his gaze briefly toward the snowy forest outside the Bounded Field.
"I just want to get some fresh air for a bit."
The words fell casually—without drama, without explanation.
But on Alpha's side…
Cid immediately turned his gaze sharply.
…Leaving control to me?
At a time like this?
Shadow Garden, already this large… the Seven Shades… hundreds of members… and he… just leaves it all in my hands?
Cid's thoughts raced.
Ah… I see.
This isn't delegation.
This is a scene.
A role in which the Right Hand of the Shadow holds the stage while the true mastermind moves behind the scenes.
So he's finally starting this phase…
Cid's lips curved into a faint smile.
Of course.
An organization this large can't be run from the shadows alone. Someone must stand at the forefront… while the architect moves unseen.
Cid slowly clenched his fingers.
Gabriel, seemingly unaware of the storm of interpretations he had just sparked, had already turned away.
His footsteps carried him past the edge of the Bounded Field.
The thin mist rippled as the small figure passed through it, then vanished into the silent, cold, snowy forest.
Cid watched Gabriel's back recede, the tiny silhouette gradually swallowed by the winter fog beyond the Bounded Field.
For a few seconds… he simply stood still.
Then, Cid let out a soft chuckle.
"Heh…"
The corner of his lips lifted.
"You… really are a troublesome Right Hand of the Shadow."
Alpha, standing beside him, glanced cautiously.
"Cid…?"
Cid turned his head, his gaze now calm and full of certainty.
"It's alright," he said lightly. "He's simply playing his role."
Cid's eyes returned to the forest where Gabriel had vanished.
"And now… it's my turn."
He stepped forward, entering the center of the Bounded Field.
All around him, Shadow Garden moved like a machine that had just found its axis.
A faint smile appeared on his lips as he assumed his role.
"Alright," he murmured. "Let's play this chapter."
***
The darkness of night still stretched within the Bounded Field, while outside, the winter day remained clear and unblemished.
Days passed, and the world slowly moved into the early days of the new year.
Shadow Garden grew—silent, yet unstoppable.
At the Kagenou Residence, Gabriel existed only as a shadow: a Dark Matter clone playing the role of an ordinary noble child.
Meanwhile, his true form remained in the cabin, laying the foundations of a shadow kingdom that must never collapse.
At the same time, Epsilon ushered in a new wave of recruits.
The number of members surged to three hundred—large enough to force Gabriel to restructure his entire long-term framework.
Amidst the changes, Shadow Garden moved like a living organism.
Training squads marched in perfect formation outside the Bounded Field, guided directly by Lambda.
Logistics units moved back and forth, carrying supply crates, while numbered members received instructions with near-military precision.
At the center of all this activity stood a girl with white rabbit ears.
Her blonde hair was tied into twin tails, and her green eyes reflected the light of the training ground as she surveyed it. She wore a Slime Weapon crafted in Shadow Garden's signature style—jet black with delicate gold accents.
The girl's code name was Iota.
"Units Three and Seven, rotate to the eastern sector. Close-quarters combat training begins in one hour. Logistics—ensure food supplies for the next two days are ready before sunset."
"Yes, Iota-sama!"
Without hesitation, the entire unit moved in unison—like the gears of a massive machine that had finally begun to turn.
A few weeks ago, this had been nothing more than a group of confused recruits.
Now… they were an organization.
Not far from there, Gabriel stepped out of the cabin, carrying a bundle of thick documents made of Dark Matter—the long-term framework he had just completed.
His eyes swept over the base, now far livelier than he had anticipated.
"…Too fast," he murmured softly. "They're growing too fast."
Elsewhere, Iota's gaze fixed on Gabriel as he stepped out of the cabin.
She recalled Gamma's instructions before departing: report immediately on the current financial status once Gabriel left the cabin, so that the long-term framework could proceed.
With light, measured steps, Iota approached Gabriel, carrying a data board filled with concise report sheets. Once she was close enough, she halted, bowing slightly in respect.
"Iota reporting."
Gabriel turned his head. "What is it?"
Iota lowered her head a little further.
Her voice dropped to a professional tone meant solely for him.
"The first phase of economic operations has entered the stabilization stage."
She handed over a concise data sheet.
"The shell companies established by Shadow Garden have absorbed three small trading guilds in the border regions. Gold flows and logistics have now been subtly redirected into Gamma-sama's network."
Her green eyes narrowed in focus.
"No external parties have detected our involvement. All transactions are recorded as legitimate expansions by the Mitsugoshi Syndicate."
She lifted her head.
"Additionally… we've successfully manipulated the prices of healing potions and magical metals. Within two weeks, the major factions will be dependent on supplies that are under our control."
As Iota spoke, Gabriel's mind raced.
…Already this far?
And all of this without direct instructions over the past few days.
Gabriel's gaze briefly returned to the girl. Numbers, code name Iota—Gamma's personal assistant in economics and distribution.
Yet that was precisely what unsettled him.
If operations had already reached this depth… where was Gamma?
And why was a report of such importance coming from Iota instead of him?
Rationally, Gabriel had no issue with who delivered the report. Yet his instincts sensed something was off.
A faint, almost imperceptible feeling—like the absence of a critical node in a network that should have been intact.
___
Author's Note:
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