The conference room was filled with anticipation. Everyone had gathered for the routine report, their faces a mixture of fatigue and excitement from the ongoing festival.
Was Myourmiles the only one yet to arrive?
It was nine in the evening, and the night feast had just concluded. The distant sound of flutes and taiko drums drifted through the air from the still-celebrating townsfolk. I had permitted the festivities to continue until ten—anything beyond that would have been excessive, but for now, the music carried legitimacy.
The guest accommodations were fully soundproofed; even the rowdiest of townspeople could not disturb the delegates. I had considered visiting the night market myself, but recalling that everyone had been kept busy until late last night, I decided it was wiser to start the reports early.
"Shuna, Shion," I began, my voice calm but carrying authority that demanded attention. "Your performance was exceptional. I am impressed."
Shuna smiled, a quiet pride in her eyes. "Heh heh, we practiced in secret, but I only really mastered those two pieces. Yet, I'm glad the surprise worked for you, Supreme Atem."
I nodded, assessing her carefully. Talent was evident in her precision and musical intuition. Given her limited practice time between duties, her skill was remarkable. Shion, standing nearby with her violin, radiated focused elegance, a cold beauty that demanded respect.
"I trained alongside Shuna-sama," Shion said softly, yet with pride in her tone. "We hoped to give you a pleasant surprise, Supreme Atem. I am glad it succeeded."
"You were remarkable. Will you perform again?" I asked, eyes sharp and discerning.
"Of course," Shion replied, determination burning in her gaze. "I will memorize more pieces and recreate them flawlessly for you."
I inclined my head slightly, acknowledging her promise. She had potential far beyond what many would expect, and her dedication was admirable.
Next, I turned to Gabil.
"Gabil," I said, my tone calm yet carrying the weight of command, "your presentation was exceptional. Yuuki himself was impressed, and King Gazel praised your insight. Though he mentioned we might have shared too much, I find the information delivered was precise and compelling."
"Yes, sir! Thank you, Supreme Atem," Gabil said, relief washing over his features. "Even though Vesta-san assisted, I gave my all in the demonstration. Perhaps I overdid it at times…"
"You did well," I interrupted firmly, but without harshness. "Your experiments were meticulous, engaging, and sparked interest. The audience left informed and impressed. There is no fault in your efforts."
Gabil visibly relaxed. "I shall send my regards to Vesta as well," I added, acknowledging the teamwork that had made the presentation successful.
I checked with Diablo regarding the martial tournament.
"There are six formal participants," he said, tone teasing, yet his eyes betrayed genuine analysis. "If I were to intervene, none of them would present a challenge. I have seen one chosen hero—an intriguing talent. Shall I deal with him first?"
I narrowed my gaze, voice sharp. "Did I not forbid that?"
"Of course, Supreme Atem," Diablo replied smoothly, bowing slightly. "I will not interfere. The fun of tomorrow shall remain untouched."
With that assurance, I turned my attention to the reports from Souei, who relayed that the children were enjoying themselves thoroughly. They had attended the preliminary matches of the martial tournament, cheering for Masayuki, and indulged in the festival food.
Hinata's presence, I noted, ensured order—but I could not help a wry thought. "Hinata, guardian of the children… did you not worry them into overindulgence?" I mused quietly.
Souei merely nodded, knowing my observation was more rhetorical than inquisitive.
As we waited for Myourmiles, the quiet tension of the night's unresolved matters lingered. Thirty minutes would pass swiftly—unless…
The door swung open. Myourmiles entered, his frame trembling slightly, an ashen pallor over his face.
A storm of doubt crept into the room. "Something has gone wrong," I noted silently.
"S-sorry to keep everyone waiting," he stammered. Normally confident and composed, he could not conceal the tremor in his voice.
I stood, eyes sharp. "Explain."
Shuna offered him a cup of cooling tea, which he accepted with trembling hands. Only after a moment of composure did he begin.
"I… there's been a major problem," he said. "The merchants have demanded payment for their goods. Despite my best efforts…" His words trailed, heavy with unease.
I studied him intently. "Go on," I commanded, voice calm yet radiating unyielding authority.
"The treasury—what we recovered from Clayman's estate, the reparations from the Kingdom of Farmus—those cannot be used as currency here. The merchants will not accept them. They demand the official gold coins issued by the Dwarven Kingdom."
I frowned slightly, weighing the situation. Myourmiles had meticulously managed the budget, selecting trade partners carefully. Still, these merchants were formal citizens of the Council State Allies. They were bound by international law and protocol, leaving little room for leniency.
Diablo's voice broke through, decisive. "Someone is manipulating this. This is not a mere oversight."
I nodded, understanding the layers of intrigue immediately. "Indeed. Someone intends to undermine us, to damage our credibility with the Western Nations."
Myourmiles nodded vigorously. "I suspected as much, Supreme Atem. But the enforcement of law here is precise—they refused all alternative offers, even from merchants with whom we have long-standing ties."
I considered the implications carefully. The First Day of the Festival had been a triumph, but this development reminded me that no victory went unchallenged. The threads of fate were already twisting, and the hand that manipulated this situation remained unseen.
I observed Myourmiles, then Rigurd, whose shoulders slumped slightly with the weight of responsibility. I could see his concern, the sense of accountability weighing heavily on him despite knowing he was not solely to blame.
"Very well," I said finally, my voice calm but carrying the force of command. "We shall address this. Whoever is behind this scheme will face consequences. For now, we adapt and ensure the merchants are satisfied. Let none mistake Eterna for a weak state."
Both Myourmiles and Rigurd bowed, understanding the weight behind my words. Diablo's smirk hinted at amusement, but even he recognized the seriousness of the situation.
These people possibly just all conspired to create problems on purpose. If so, applying an uncompromising attitude could lead to adverse consequences. In that sense, there was reasonable suspicion that this was exactly the outcome our adversary wanted.
"If we insist on them obeying the regulations of our nation, perhaps the council will also oppose us."
"It would have been different if we were already part of the council, but since we intend to join in the future, this may cause the situation to be tense."
Normally there wouldn't be any issue paying with the ancient kingdom's gold coins. But if their intention was to destroy our nation's integrity…
Perhaps they wanted to see if our kingdom would be willing to obey international regulations or not.
"Could the council members be behind this?" someone asked.
"The merchants came from all over the world. They must have arranged the retailers into the mass of merchants in secret. Although I don't know who our enemy is, this is not as simple as we thought. By plotting this way, it shows that they are not afraid to take some losses and have put their own benefits out of the picture. I believe they only have one goal—destroy Eterna's reputation."
Despite Myourmiles's usual confidence, even he looked uneasy. If he believed that our opponent was problematic, and if we couldn't find anything on them, then they were clearly hard to deal with.
"Can't we just force them to comply with our kingdom's rules?" Shion said.
Atem's eyes narrowed sharply. His deep, commanding tone made the air in the room tighten. "We could… but that would be reckless. If we force people to obey our regulation outright, the Western Nations will see us as a threat. That would be exactly what these cowards want."
Shion looked at him but didn't back down. "But, according to Atem-sama's plan, there are already Sarion, Blumund, Dwargon, Farmenas, as well as Demon Lord Milim-sama's territory. Shouldn't these nations already coexist in prosperity? If we are to focus on developing Eterna, shouldn't our loss at hand be greater?"
Atem looked at her with a steady gaze. The confidence in his eyes was absolute—he carried himself not like a negotiator, but like a ruler whose word was law.
"Yes, and that is why we must not dance to their tune," Atem said firmly. "They test our patience, not our strength. They want to see if we will bend or break. But a Pharaoh does neither."
His words struck the room like a divine decree. The weight of them made even Diablo fall quiet behind him. Atem exuded authority naturally—every breath, every word carried power.
"Eterna bows to no one," Atem continued calmly, but his voice had a sharp edge to it. "If they think they can shake us with such petty schemes, then they have gravely miscalculated."
Shuna lowered her gaze respectfully, and even Shion, who often argued, said nothing more. Everyone could feel it clearly—Atem was not Rimuru. He wouldn't let this insult slide, nor would he let his enemies manipulate him from the shadows.
The room fell into silence as Atem's presence filled it like a golden flame, commanding attention without needing to raise his voice. It was the calm before a storm only he would decide to unleash.