All Emperors and Empresses gathered once more.

  The chamber was calm, but the air was not.

  "The Black Knight claims ignorance," one voice said. "Yet the weapon was acquired through the black market."

  "He refuses responsibility," another replied, "but intent does not erase consequence."

  Jiyan stepped forward.

  "There is something more urgent," he said. His gaze shifted toward Dante.

  "Where did you get that flute?"

  Dante hesitated only briefly.

  "From ruins," she said. "North-east. During exploration."

  Empress Sora narrowed her eyes.

  "No one truly knows how much of this world remains untouched," she said quietly. "Or how many mysteries it still hides."

  Yun Shi nodded.

  "We have no surviving records from the First King regarding relics," he said. "That makes every discovery… dangerous."

  Jiyan clapped his hands together, grinning.

  "Don't worry. I'll marry him— or her—and keep the relic in the family."

  Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  Dante punched him square in the face.

  "Say that again," she said coldly.

  The meeting paused.

  No one intervened.

  Elsewhere—

  Itsuki continued searching.

  Street after street.

  Face after face.

  No sign of his sister.

  Near the festival grounds—

  "Hey! Mio!"

  Shura waved wildly.

  Mio turned, startled. "Shura?" Her eyes flicked to Yura. "And… who's she?"

  Shura laughed and explained quickly, then leaned closer.

  "No paperwork today?"

  Mio groaned.

  "One day I'll burn all that paper," she muttered. "I swear."

  Juro, Zenkyou, Orin, and Ren approached.

  Mio froze.

  "…Who doesn't know them?" she said, forcing a smile.

  Inside, her thoughts raced.

  Why are they with him?

  She stepped forward and bowed deeply to Juro.

  "Thank you," she said. "You saved us. You probably don't remember me—but thank you."

  Juro placed a hand gently on her head.

  "Hahaha," he laughed warmly.

  Shura exhaled.

  "I have infinite questions," he said. "Let's go home. I want answers."

  Zenkyou shook her head.

  "Not yet. After this incident, our work doubled."

  "We're meeting the Emperors and Empresses," Orin added.

  Juro nodded.

  "Same."

  So Shura, Yura, and Mio were left behind—wandering the festival lights, music drifting through broken stone and guarded streets.

  Laughter returned.

  For now.

  Far away—

  A shadow watched.

  "So," a voice murmured, lips curling upward,

  "the weapon actually worked."

  An evil smile followed.

  Night settled gently over the city.

  Master Juro returned home without ceremony. The house was quiet, warm, untouched by the chaos of the colosseum.

  Yua sat on the floor near the doorway.

  When she saw him, her eyes lifted.

  Juro knelt slowly in front of her.

  "There was a fight today," he said, voice calm, as if telling a bedtime story.

  "Strong people. Loud weapons. A place that forgot how fragile it was."

  Yua listened.

  She didn't blink.

  Juro extended a finger.

  "Come," he said softly.

  Yua placed her small hand against the floor.

  She pushed.

  Her legs trembled.

  Her body wavered.

  She fell.

  Juro didn't move to catch her.

  He waited.

  She tried again.

  This time, she managed one step.

  Then another—unsteady, clumsy, real.

  Her mouth opened.

  A sound tried to form.

  Nothing came.

  Her brows tightened in frustration.

  Juro shook his head gently.

  "Don't try harder," he said.

  "Trying too hard breaks things."

  He rested a hand on her head.

  "One day," he continued, "you will walk far beyond this place."

  Yua looked up at him.

  "You'll travel across this world," Juro said quietly.

  "And when you do… you won't need to run."

  Yua stood there—silent, trembling, breathing.

  But standing.

  Outside, the festival lights flickered.

  Inside, something small but unbreakable took its first steps.