"Damrada sure does come up with interesting schemes," Lieutenant Tatsuya Kondou, the head of the Imperial Intelligence Bureau of the Nasca Namrium Ulmeria United Eastern Empire, or more commonly known as the Eastern Empire, muttered under his breath as he sat alone in his office, looking over the letter Damrada had sent him a few days earlier.
If Kondou was being honest with himself, he had been genuinely surprised when the letter first arrived a few days ago. Damrada was not someone who reached out without a reason, and he certainly was not the type to send formal letters unless it was absolutely necessary. As a second-ranked Imperial Guard, Damrada operated with a high degree of independence and did not need to report to him like the other agents, instead being free to carry out his own missions.
That said, it was not as if they never communicated, but such occasions were few and far between.
Thinking back, Kondou recalled that the last time Damrada had contacted him was about two years ago. Back then, it had been a favor involving one of the Demon Lords from the West, though he himself had also played a part in coming up with that idea. And just like before, Damrada was once again asking for a favor, although this time it was almost modest compared to the last one, which had involved his Ultimate Skill and an absurd amount of alcohol.
Even so, Kondou agreed without much hesitation. If Damrada's plan worked, it had the potential to secure a powerful asset for the Empire. And even though he outranked nearly everyone, rank and hierarchy meant very little when weighed against the Empire's interests. Senior or junior, it made no difference. As long as it served the will of Emperor Rudra, Kondou and every soldier under his command would act as one, without question.
Then Kondou set Damrada's letter aside and picked up another file to review the latest intelligence report. However, just as he began, the door to his office burst open, and a well-built tiger-type lycanthrope strode in without so much as a warning. The man crossed the room in a few heavy steps and slammed his hand down on the desk as he glared at Kondou.
"Lieutenant Kondou! What is the meaning of this!?" the lycanthrope demanded in a raised voice.
"Good morning to you as well, Commander Gradim," Kondou replied calmly, taking a sip from his cup.
"To hell with your good morning!" Gradim shot back immediately, continuing to glare at the man before him. "Tell me, Lieutenant Kondou, why was one of my generals assigned a mission without informing me first, and already sent out without my knowledge?"
"I see, so that's what this is about," Kondou said as he gently set his cup back down onto the desk. "Well, to answer your question, all I can say is that the mission she has been given this time is extremely important. Important enough that it cannot be disclosed so casually, even to someone in your position."
Hearing Kondou's response, the tension in Gradim's body spiked all over again as his anger threatened to boil over despite his efforts to keep it in check. His jaw tightened, and for a brief moment, it looked like he might slam his fist down again. Instead, he drew in a slow breath, forcing himself to rein it in before speaking. "Is this mission dangerous? Am I going to lose my general?"
"Yes, the mission is dangerous," Kondou answered without hesitation, making no attempt to soften the truth. "As for whether she will return or not, that depends entirely on her own efforts and ability."
"Is that all you have to say?" Gradim ground his teeth, his fist clenching tightly as he struggled to keep his temper under control. "Nazim is one of my best generals. If I lose her, it will greatly weaken my Magic Beast Division, and—"
"So what?" Kondou asked, finally lifting his head to meet the Magic Beast Division commander's gaze with cold, unfeeling eyes. "So what if you lose one of your generals? If this mission succeeds, her strength will grow significantly. She will return stronger, more valuable than before. And if she fails... then unfortunately, we will have no choice but to erase her from the records entirely, since this mission is not exactly official to begin with," he said, tapping his fingers against the table. "Either way, she will be proving her loyalty and strength to the Emperor, and it makes no difference which division she serves under while doing so."
After finishing his explanation, Kondou caught the shift in Gradim's posture, the way his muscles tensed, and his breathing grew heavier. It was obvious he was about to explode again, so Kondou did not give him the chance. "Before you say anything, Commander, remember why we are here. We serve the Emperor. This is not about your division, and it is definitely not about stroking your personal pride or glory," he added as his voice dropped slightly and he released his [Hero's Haki]. The invisible pressure flooded the room at once, pressing down on Gradim with crushing force and drawing a cold sweat from him despite his strength. "Also, I outrank you, and I do not owe you any explanations for my decisions. The only reason we are even having this conversation is because of my goodwill..." his eyes sharpened as he continued, "...so keep that in mind the next time you decide to barge into my office and start shouting your grievances at me."
"Now leave. I have work to do," Kondou added as he withdrew his pressure and returned to his usual calm, collected demeanor. He picked up the document from earlier and resumed reading, completely ignoring the fuming yet helpless tiger-type lycanthrope standing before him. After a brief moment of silence, Gradim shot him one last glare, then turned sharply and strode out of the office, slamming the door behind him, while Kondou continued his work without giving him a second thought.
******
Free Guild Headquarters, Englassia
"Welcome back, Yuuki," Kagali said as her gaze settled on the young Grandmaster of the Free Guild as he stepped into his office.
"Thank you," Yuuki replied with a relaxed smile as he made himself comfortable on the couch and accepted the cup of tea she offered. "So, did anything interesting happen here while I was gone?"
"Nothing I couldn't handle on my own," Kagali answered smoothly, as she poured herself another cup before taking a seat across from him. "Anyway, how was your trip to Siltrosso?" she added, bringing the cup to her lips.
"Well, it was definitely worth the trip," Yuuki said after taking a slow sip of his tea. "Not only did I secure Granbell Russo's support, but I also managed to convince him that I'm just some talented but naive kid trying to win his favor."
"Oh, that's good," Kagali nodded. "That should keep him from being too guarded around you for a while."
"Hopefully, at least until we manage to squeeze something useful out of that old man to push our plans forward," Yuuki said as he leaned back into the couch, while his thoughts drifted to the self-proclaimed protector of humanity, Granbell Russo. Yuuki knew better than most that the man was far older than he let on. He had looked into Granbell's past himself, going through old records and forgotten texts, and the same name kept showing up again and again. Not just once or twice, but across different eras, along with descriptions that matched him in many heroic tales passed down across the world.
That alone was enough to convince Yuuki that Granbell was hiding far more than he let on. A man like that doesn't just survive through history without picking up all kinds of interesting powers, artifacts, and secrets along the way. And all of that made him valuable. Very valuable. Which was exactly why Yuuki had no intention of rushing things. For now, all he needed to do was play his role perfectly, stay in Granbell Russo's good graces, and slowly draw out everything that man had to offer until there was nothing left worth taking.
"Oh, and by the way, one more interesting thing came up while I was in Siltrosso," Yuuki added, leaning forward slightly as his tone shifted, drawing Kagali's full attention. "Apparently, someone attacked Granbell's daughter-in-law and kidnapped his granddaughter. And from what we could see at the scene, everything pointed toward Falmuth being behind it."
"Oh, I would have never thought that moronic king of Falmuth would dare to do something so bold," Kagali said, tapping her finger against her chin. "Maybe I really underestimated that man."
"Now, now, I said it 'seemed' like Falmuth did it, but I never said they actually did," Yuuki said as a sly smile spread across his lips.
"Ah... I see," Kagali said, her own lips curling into a knowing smile as she caught on. "So you deceived Granbell and nudged him into thinking in that direction?"
"Come on, don't make it sound like I'm the bad guy," Yuuki said with a chuckle. "I did not deceive him. Whoever took his granddaughter went out of their way to make it look like Falmuth was behind it. So if anyone asked, I was just as misled as everyone else at the time."
"I doubt that kind of excuse would actually hold up if Granbell ever figures out the truth, but knowing your luck, you'll probably find some way to wiggle out of it alive somehow," Kagali said with a sigh, shaking her head. "Anyway, what are you planning to do about this situation with Granbell? Are you actually trying to start a war between him and Falmuth?"
"Well, I was planning to start a war, but I was still figuring out how to get that monster nation involved," Yuuki said as he rested his chin on his fist. "Ever since Clayman's attempt to create a puppet Demon Lord failed, I have been looking for a way to gather enough souls for his evolution into a True Demon Lord. And now, this opportunity has practically landed right in our laps. The problem is that even if Granbell never realizes his granddaughter isn't in Falmuth, once his anger settles, he'll crush them economically and politically instead of going to war."
"So that's why you want to bring that monster nation into the mix, so neither side has any reason to resolve things without violence," Kagali said, picking up on his train of thought as she started considering the plan herself.
"Yes, exactly. If one side of the conflict is made up of monsters, humans will not hesitate when it comes to bloodshed, and the monsters will respond with just as much brutality once they are attacked," Yuuki explained. "That's why I've come up with a plan that will not only test the true extent of Tempest's power, but also help Clayman ascend into a True Demon Lord, and at the same time turn the monster nation into an enemy of the world. We can also use the war as a cover to infiltrate Tempest and rescue Footman from those monsters. That said, this war will have to wait for now. I still need to get a few more pieces into place before I make my move."
"That really does sound like an absurdly complicated plan, which makes it exactly the kind of thing you would come up with," Kagali said, leaning back into the couch as she crossed one leg over the other. "But you might not even need to help Clayman ascend to a True Demon Lord, since one of his own plans is going into motion soon."
"Ah, you must be talking about that whole Charybdis situation he was working on," Yuuki said, leaning back slightly as he pieced together what he had previously heard from Tear. "Did he manage to find a suitable host to act as Charybdis's core? Last I heard, he was planning to use someone from Tempest and pin the whole thing on them, make it look like they were the ones who revived a calamity-class monster."
"Yes, that was the plan, but it seems that eastern merchant Damrada decided to step in and help him," Kagali said, a frown forming on her face. "From what Tear told me, it looks like that man has offered to provide a suitable host for Clayman's plan."
"Damrada, you say," Yuuki murmured, his eyes narrowing the moment the name left her lips. "That man isn't as simple as he looks. Kagali, don't you think so too?" he said, glancing toward her as she nodded in agreement. "Hmm, you know, it's about time we started looking into this merchant, Damrada. I've been ignoring him so far since he wasn't a factor in our plans, but that's changed now," he continued, standing up before turning to his elf-eared secretary. "...Kagali, get our clowns to work. I want to know just how deep the roots of this seemingly crafty yet harmless merchant really go."
******
Meanwhile, deep within a cave hidden somewhere in the Jura Forest, Demon Lord Clayman stood before a strangely shaped stone structure. It was being held together by the complex and intricate magical formations wrapped around the structure like chains, yet thin cracks had already begun to spread across its surface, branching out like fractures in glass, as if the whole thing could fall apart at any moment.
"Hmm... this feeling is incredible," Clayman said with a pleased smile as he gazed at the structure before him, taking in the ominous yet overwhelming power radiating from it. "Don't you think so?" he added, turning toward the other three people in the cave. Two of them were his own companions, Tear and Laplace, clowns from the Moderate Harlequin Alliance. The third guest, however, was someone with a very special identity.
Standing a short distance behind them was a tall woman with long, wavy white hair, a stark contrast to the three pairs of grey wings extending from her back. Faint purple patterns spread across those wings and along her back. This was Nazim, one of the Three Generals of the Eastern Empire's Magic Beast Division.
"Well, it does look strong, I will give you that," Nazim replied coolly, as she studied the formation in front of her with her arms folded neatly beneath her chest. Her eyes, however, told a different story. The way her gaze lingered on the structure made it clear there was an anticipation in her eyes, along with a sharp edge of greed that she did not even bother trying to hide.
Clayman caught that look immediately, but he said nothing. If anything, it only affirmed what he already knew. In his experience, no deal worth making ever came without a certain level of greed attached to it. Besides, Damrada had also warned him in advance about the kind of person Nazim was, someone with a short temper and far too much pride for her own good, not unlike a certain harpy he was familiar with. Remembering that, Clayman kept his thoughts to himself. There was no point in provoking her now, not when everything was finally coming together, and he was this close to seeing his plan through.
"Well then, Miss Nazim, the stage is yours," Clayman said as he gestured toward the sealed structure before leaving the cave along with the other two clowns.
Nazim gave a small nod to herself and stepped forward, stopping just inches away from the structure. The air around it felt heavy, almost suffocating, yet she did not pull back. Instead, she slowly raised her hand, though it trembled slightly despite her usual composure. 'This is it... this is my chance to get everything I've ever wanted...' she thought, her eyes fixed on the cracked surface in front of her as her mind drifted back to the moment everything had begun, to the letter she had received from the vice commander of the Imperial Guardians just a few days ago.
At the time, Nazim had been both surprised and wary when that letter reached her hands. It was not every day that someone of that rank reached out to her directly, especially from another division. For a brief moment, she had seriously considered bringing it straight to her commander and lover, Gradim. That would have been the proper thing to do. However, before handing it over, the messenger had made it very clear that the contents were meant for her eyes alone. Even then, she had been tempted to ignore it and hand the letter over anyway, but something about it made her hesitate.
After reading the letter, she realized there were barely any concrete details, making it clear that Damrada had deliberately avoided putting too much into writing. Even so, the tone alone told her everything she needed to know. Whatever this mission was, it was dangerous, and more importantly, unofficial. At the same time, she understood why the vice commander, Damrada, had insisted on secrecy. If Gradim ever saw that letter, she had no doubt he would either forbid her from taking part in it outright, which could create friction between the Imperial Guardians and the Magic Beast Division, or worse, insist on going with her himself, which might ruin the plan entirely.
In the end, Nazim made her choice. Rather than risk unnecessary conflict between the two divisions or complicate the situation further, she chose to trust her instincts. Under the cover of night, without informing anyone, she slipped away from the Empire and began her journey toward the West.
When Nazim finally met Damrada in person, he laid out the plan in full, and the moment she understood what he was proposing, something inside her stirred. Excitement, anticipation, and her deepest, most buried desire rose to the surface as memories of her past began playing through her mind.
Yes, if everything went according to plan, it would benefit the Empire greatly, but that was not what drew her in. It was not that she lacked loyalty to the Empire or to Emperor Rudra. She was loyal, unquestionably so. But this was different. This was personal. This was her chance to finally act on the hatred she had carried for so long, to kill Demon Lord Frey and erase the Harpy Queendom of Fulbrosia from existence.
So the moment Nazim realized that Damrada's plan involved the destruction of Fulbrosia, any hesitation she might have had vanished without a trace. She did not question the risks, nor did she care about the cost. Whatever conditions Damrada had attached to the plan, she accepted them without argument. And now, standing here before the sealed Charybdis, those instructions echoed clearly in her mind.
Slowly, Nazim extended her trembling hand and pressed it firmly against the surface of the seal, then began channeling her magicules into it without holding anything back. As her foreign magicules poured into the seal, they clashed violently with the existing formation, disrupting its balance almost instantly. The intricate magic circle began to overload, and its structure started destabilizing as cracks spread rapidly across its surface. At the same time, a thin purple line appeared along the back of her hand and started creeping up her arm.
Then, a moment later, a gut-wrenching scream tore itself out of Nazim's throat as agony ripped through her entire body. It felt as if thousands of spears were stabbing into her all at once, piercing through flesh, bone, and soul without mercy. The pain was overwhelming, enough to break most people instantly, yet it did not last long. Just as suddenly as it began, the scream cut off, twisting into manic, unhinged laughter. "Hahahah! Yes! This is the power I was promised!" she shouted, her voice trembling with exhilaration as an overwhelming surge of energy flooded her.
But in that same moment, as power filled her, something else began slipping away. Her thoughts grew hazy, fragmented. Everything about her mission, Damrada's instructions, even the image of her lover Gradim, started to fade from her mind, while at the same time her anger spiraled out of control, growing wilder with each passing second as flashes of her mother and the Fulbrosia repeated endlessly in her mind.
"Just wait for me, sister! I will..." Nazim tried to continue, but the words never left her lips. A sharp, glass-like crack rang out as the seal finally gave way, shattering completely. In the very next instant, her eyes went blank, all traces of her former self disappearing, and a cocoon of dense, purple energy rapidly formed around her body, swallowing her whole.
Meanwhile, outside the cave, the sky itself seemed to split apart as a massive crack tore through the air above. From that rift, a gigantic shark-like creature, easily over fifty meters in length, forced its way into the world. At the same time, the cave under it erupted violently, the ceiling blasting apart as the purple cocoon containing Nazim shot upward like a comet before slamming into the creature's body and merging with it. As the cocoon fused completely, the creature, Charybdis, slowly opened its single, ominous eye. For a brief moment, everything went still, and then it unleashed a deafening roar that tore through the surrounding landscape, sending shockwaves across the forest before it rose into the sky and began moving forward.
On a nearby mountaintop, Clayman stood with his arms spread wide, his laughter ringing out wildly as he watched the scene unfold. His eyes gleamed with satisfaction, bordering on madness, as Charybdis took flight and set its course toward the nation of the harpies.
To be continued...
******
Bonus Image: There is no official illustration of Nazim, so this is what I think she would look like.