Three Days Later — War Room
The tension in the room was palpable.
Kaito sat at the end of the table, hands clasped, watching in silence.
Adelheid stood to one side, maps spread out.
Lilith stood on the other, holding intelligence reports.
And the two of them… were arguing.
"This is stupidity," Adelheid declared, slamming her fist on the table. "We need to expand the army. Now."
Lilith looked at her with cold calm.
"And I say it's a waste. Numbers without information are just cannon fodder."
Adelheid turned toward her.
"Cannon fodder? Is that what you call trained soldiers?"
Lilith shrugged.
"I call reality what it is. Without intelligence, your army will march blind."
Adelheid clenched her fists.
"And without an army, your intelligence is useless. You can't infiltrate a kingdom that's already conquered you."
Lilith smiled.
"Conquered? My dear, before they ever reach our gates, they'll already have collapsed from within."
Adelheid stepped forward.
"Not everything is solved with poison and whispers, Lilith."
Lilith stood up.
"And not everything is solved with brute force, commander."
The title sounded like an insult.
Adelheid half-drew her sword.
Lilith activated her presence. A thin mist began to form.
"ENOUGH!"
Kaito's voice cut through the air.
Both of them froze.
Kaito stood slowly.
"Adelheid. Sheathe your sword."
Adelheid hesitated, but obeyed.
"Lilith. Disperse the mist."
Lilith gave a faint smile, and the mist retreated.
Kaito walked between them.
"You're both right. And you're both wrong."
He looked at Adelheid.
"We need an army. But we can't expand without resources. The scouting teams haven't returned yet."
He looked at Lilith.
"And we need intelligence. But without force to support it, it's just useless information."
He paused.
"So stop fighting and find a balance."
Adelheid clenched her jaw.
"With all due respect, commander… she doesn't understand—"
"I don't understand," Lilith interrupted. "How convenient, coming from someone whose only solution is 'more soldiers.'"
Adelheid turned, furious.
"At least my soldiers can do something. Your spies just watch."
Lilith stepped dangerously close.
"My spies have saved more lives than your battles ever could."
Adelheid faced her head-on.
"Want to prove it?"
Lilith smiled.
"Are you sure? Because once I start…"
Kaito slammed his hand on the table.
BAM!
"I SAID ENOUGH!"
Both of them stopped.
Kaito looked at them, frustrated.
"Get out. Both of you. Now."
Adelheid opened her mouth.
"Commander—"
"Out."
His voice was firm. Final.
Adelheid clenched her fists, turned on her heel, and left.
Lilith followed calmly, but gave Kaito one last look.
"This isn't over, my king."
And she vanished.
Kaito was left alone.
He dropped into the chair.
Covered his face with his hands.
I can't keep going like this.
Two queens are already too much. They'll destroy each other.
Or they'll destroy me.
That Night — Kaito's Room
Kaito was alone.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, black gloves in his hands.
The cards rested on the table.
Two already summoned. Empty. Without glow.
But the others…
One in particular burned.
Literally.
Blood-red with golden edges.
Kaito picked it up carefully.
It was hot to the touch.
The title engraved in crimson letters:
"Naporia: The Empress of the Bloodied Sword"
Kaito stared at it for several minutes.
Two villains are already hard to manage. A third one?
But then he remembered today's fight.
Adelheid and Lilith on the verge of killing each other.
I need balance. Someone who thinks differently than both of them.
Someone who…
The card pulsed in his hand.
As if responding to his thoughts.
Kaito closed his eyes.
Am I really going to do this?
But deep down, he already knew the answer.
Because he had no choice.
He put the card away.
For now.
The Next Day — Attack
The news arrived at dawn.
An exhausted messenger, covered in blood.
"Commander! Attack!"
Kaito ran out of the fortress.
Adelheid was already there.
"What happened?"
The messenger gasped.
"Trade caravan… ambushed… ten dead… Adenitas stolen…"
Kaito felt his blood run cold.
"Where?"
"Southern road. Three hours from here."
Adelheid was already shouting orders.
"Mobilize a rescue squad! Now!"
Kaito grabbed the messenger.
"Did you see the attackers?"
The man nodded, trembling.
"They weren't normal bandits. They were… organized. Professionals."
He pulled something from his pocket.
A piece of black cloth.
With an embroidered symbol: a dagger piercing a crown.
"They left this. With a message."
"What message?"
The messenger swallowed.
"'Courtesy of the Shadow Guild.'"
War Room — One Hour Later
Kaito, Adelheid, and Lilith were gathered.
The piece of cloth lay on the table.
"Shadow Guild," Lilith said, studying it. "Criminal organization. They operated under Vargun's protection."
Adelheid clenched her fists.
"I thought they scattered after his fall."
Lilith shook her head.
"They never scatter. They just wait."
She looked at Kaito.
"And now that we're building something… they've come for their share."
Adelheid slammed the table.
"Then we destroy them. Full raid. We locate their bases and wipe them out."
Lilith looked at her.
"And how many bases do they have? Where are they? How many are there?"
Adelheid glared at her.
"That's why we hit them fast. Before they reorganize."
Lilith smiled coldly.
"Or… we infiltrate them. Learn their structure. And dismantle them from the inside."
Adelheid stood up.
"That will take weeks! They killed ten of our people!"
Lilith stood as well.
"And if we attack blindly, they'll kill a hundred more!"
Adelheid drew her sword.
"I'm sick of your cowardly strategies!"
Lilith summoned her mist.
"And I'm sick of your suicidal stupidity!"
"ENOUGH!"
Kaito stood—but this time…
He didn't shout louder.
He simply… turned around.
And walked out of the room.
Adelheid and Lilith froze.
"Commander?" Adelheid called.
But Kaito didn't answer.
He just kept walking.
Toward his room.
Toward the cards.
Toward the decision he knew he had to make.
That Night — The Summoning
Kaito stood alone in his room.
Naporia's card in his hand.
It burned hotter than ever.
He closed his eyes.
I need balance. I need someone different.
Even if it's dangerous.
He placed the card on the glove.
It reacted immediately.
But differently than before.
The other two empty cards also began to glow.
As if recognizing the third.
The energy in the room grew dense.
The air… vibrated.
Kaito felt pressure in his chest.
"I summon…"
The card lit up completely.
BOOM!
An explosion of red energy filled the room.
More intense than with Adelheid.
More violent than with Lilith.
Kaito was thrown back, slamming into the wall.
When the smoke cleared…
A figure stood in the center.
Small.
Kaito blinked.
Small?
The woman was short. Barely one-sixty.
But her presence…
Her presence filled the room like a giant.
She wore an immaculate military uniform.
Dark imperial blue, almost black.
A fitted jacket with a double row of golden buttons.
Rigid, gold-edged shoulder guards.
A high collar with crimson embroidery.
A dark red cape hung from her shoulders, as if about to be removed.
Her black hair was tied into a low military bun, not a single strand out of place.
Her eyes…
Dark. Deep amber.
They stared at Kaito with an intensity that made him feel dissected.
And in her hand…
A sword.
Not enormous. Not flashy.
Slightly curved. Dark metal with red veins.
Perfect.
The woman observed him for several seconds.
Then she spoke.
Her voice was clear. Firm. With a hint of amusement.
"So you're the brat who freed me."
Kaito stood up, regaining his composure.
"I'm Kaito Yukimura. Your commander."
The woman laughed.
A short, almost mocking sound.
"My commander?"
She circled around him, evaluating him.
"Young. Inexperienced. No battle scars."
She stopped in front of him.
"And you think you can command me?"
Kaito held her gaze.
"Yes."
The woman smiled.
"Prove it."
Kaito frowned.
"How?"
She pointed toward the door.
"You have soldiers, right? Warriors."
Her eyes gleamed.
"Let me fight your best one. If I win… I'll serve you."
She paused.
"If I lose… I'll leave. No hard feelings."
Kaito studied her.
She's testing me. She wants to see if I'm worth it.
He nodded slowly.
"I accept."
The woman smiled wider.
"Good. I like you, brat."
She extended her hand.
"I'm Naporia. The Empress of the Bloodied Sword."
Kaito shook it.
"Who do you want to fight?"
Naporia shrugged.
"Your best warrior. Whoever you consider the strongest."
Kaito didn't hesitate.
"Adelheid."
Training Yard — Midnight
Adelheid stood in the center of the yard.
Confused.
Kaito had summoned her urgently.
Lilith was also there, watching from the shadows with curiosity.
Kaito emerged from the fortress.
And behind him…
A small woman in an imperial uniform.
Adelheid frowned.
"Commander? Who is—"
Then she felt it.
The presence.
Like a wave of invisible pressure.
Adelheid tensed instinctively.
Naporia walked toward the center of the yard.
She looked Adelheid up and down.
"Well. Tall."
Adelheid blinked.
"What?"
Naporia smiled.
"You're tall. One-seventy-five, right?"
Adelheid nodded automatically.
Naporia crossed her arms.
"I'm one-sixty. How annoying."
Adelheid didn't know whether to feel offended or confused.
Lilith emerged from the shadows, studying the newcomer.
Naporia looked at her.
Then looked… downward.
At Lilith's chest.
Then at her own.
She frowned.
"Commander Kaito."
Kaito blinked.
"Yes?"
Naporia pointed at her own chest.
"My size is perfect for battle. Practical. No obstacles."
She looked at Lilith.
"Right?"
Lilith smiled with amusement.
"Of course, dear."
Naporia turned to Kaito.
"Tell her."
Kaito blushed.
"I… uh… yes. Very… practical."
Naporia nodded, satisfied.
"Good."
Adelheid and Lilith exchanged a what the hell is happening look.
Kaito cleared his throat.
"Adelheid. This is Naporia. My third… queen."
Absolute silence.
Adelheid's eyes widened.
"Third…?"
Lilith stepped closer, intrigued.
"My, commander. You move quickly."
Naporia drew her sword.
"And I've requested a duel."
She looked at Adelheid.
"Against you. The commander's best warrior."
Adelheid tensed.
"A duel?"
Naporia nodded.
"Not to the death. Just until surrender."
She smiled.
"I want to see if this kingdom has thorns."
Adelheid looked at Kaito.
Kaito nodded.
"Do it."
Adelheid drew her sword.
"As you command, commander."
They took their positions.
Naporia removed her cape with a smooth motion.
She let it fall to the ground.
"When an empress removes her cape… someone dies."
She smiled.
"But today… someone will just kneel."
Adelheid activated her presence.
The pressure of Iron Will filled the yard.
Naporia… didn't flinch.
"Interesting. Mind control."
She spun her sword.
"I prefer physical control."
And she attacked.