Even if it was only a verbal agreement, it still mattered:
Atem, King of Eterna, had secured cooperation with two demon lords.
In the face of an approaching war, that alone was a powerful reassurance.
Allies you could trust were priceless. If conflict truly erupted, they could offer military support—and if the absolute worst happened, they could accept Eterna's civilians as refugees.
But the ideal outcome?
No war at all.
That depended entirely on how the other side acted, not us. All we could do was prepare and wait.
Complaining would achieve nothing.
A king adapts, strategizes, and acts.
I sharpened my resolve silently.
Several months passed after the meeting with Guy and the demon lords.
Time moved quickly.
It had already been one year since I became a Demon Lord, attended Walpurgis, fought Hinata, held the Founding Festival, and settled the crisis surrounding Mariabell and the Rosso family.
So much had happened that the year felt like a blur.
We held the Eterna Resurrection Festival privately, but despite the celebration, the Empire remained unnervingly quiet.
Souei and Moss, however, brought concerning reports:
Supplies were being transported nonstop to major cities along the border.
Anyone with a functioning mind could understand what that meant—
war preparations.
Armed conflict was nearly guaranteed.
Thus, I ordered strict inspections on humans and monsters entering Eterna.
We could no longer welcome strangers without caution. Only authorized adventurers, merchants, and individuals with verifiable credentials were allowed entry.
Part of this was to prevent spies.
The other part?
To manage the chaos that came with outsiders of wildly different races and power levels.
Many visitors lacked manners, and without guidance, they caused disorder.
Even with strict rules about no fighting in the city, someone always thought they were the exception. Barriers prevented large-scale magic, but total suppression was impossible—such was life in a nation of monsters.
So, I consulted with Gazel and adopted the Dwarven Kingdom's method of handling newcomers.
Entrants were educated about Eterna's laws the moment they arrived.
Those wishing to migrate had to complete a more formal course, conducted in a separate facility before they were accepted as citizens.
Shion's men supervised the process.
They were perfect for the job—capable of subduing even the most violent individuals with ease.
This system also made it easier to catch spies.
Visitors were questioned, screened, and required to state their reasons for entering.
And if they lacked money, they weren't allowed in—
poverty often led to trouble.
Several inns near the Colosseum served ordinary guests.
They were cheap and simple.
But the capital—Atem City—was another story.
The upper district was flourishing with luxury accommodations, attracting wealthy merchants and nobles.
"Memories are priceless"?
Spare me.
Value must be matched by price.
If tourists wanted to enjoy prestige, then they would pay for it.
That was Eterna's way.
Rooms ranged from thirty silver per night up to a gold coin—and for the most extravagant suites, ten or more gold coins. There was no ceiling.
…And here I am, advertising my own city.
Well, this was how we organized things.
I wanted Eterna to become a major tourist hub.
So we promoted the city heavily, offering vouchers for high-class inns to merchants who closed large deals with us or to challengers who reached Floor 10 of the Labyrinth.
The strategy worked—
labyrinth challengers loved it.
The food in Eterna was famous for being exceptional, and even a simple meal cost more than ten silver coins. Considering a room at a modest inn was only three silver per night, yes—it was expensive.
But luxury attracts those capable of enjoying it.
And adventurers who reached Floor 10 had the money.
Floor 10 meant defeating a Black Spider—a B-rank monster.
That required a team equivalent to rank C-plus adventurers, or a single rank-B fighter.
Such adventurers were skilled enough to be knights in a small country.
Rank-B individuals were in demand everywhere.
Recognizing their strength through privileges was natural—and it made them more aware of their behavior.
No second chances were given to troublemakers.
The noble district was surrounded by a moat and heavily guarded.
Anyone expelled was permanently banned.
To my surprise, no one complained.
Our reputation-building efforts had paid off.
Merchants flocked to purchase the weapons made by Kurobee's disciples and the fine crafts produced by Dold's men. Their work was so exceptional that demand only increased with time.
But something unexpected happened—
merchants also sought gear found in Labyrinth treasure chests.
I had mixed feelings, but since we strictly monitored dangerous items, I let it continue for now.
Each time an Eterna-crafted weapon appeared in another nation, our reputation grew.
Word of mouth truly was a powerful force.
Customers increased steadily, even without the vouchers.
And so, even with war looming over the horizon…
life in Eterna continued to flourish.
Because war and daily life were separate matters.
And I—Atem, King of Eterna—would not allow fear to rule my nation.
Let danger come.
I will face it head-on, as a king should.
I move forward not because the path is safe, but because I decide how fate unfolds.
Just as the capital of Eterna continued its unstoppable rise, so too did the vast network connecting it to the world beyond. Under Atem's rule, progress wasn't simply encouraged—it accelerated like destiny itself answering the will of a king.
With Benimaru's persuasion and Atem's silent approval, the tengu—led by Momiji—pledged their support. Their mountain tunnels were nearly complete now, paved through all but the most treacherous segments. Soon, the path linking Eterna to the Sorcerer's Dynasty of Sarion would be open.
Atem had entrusted Duke Elalude's engineers with the finishing touches, and they moved with a speed that came only from fear and respect of the Pharaoh's gaze.
At the same time, construction on the railroad to the Kingdom of Farmenas was racing toward completion. Tracks to the Kingdom of Ingracia were already operational. Even the Dwarven Kingdom had embraced this new age—an inn-town had bloomed around their station, packed with travelers eager to be part of the trade revolution Atem had inspired.
Where the Great Jura Forest met the Great Ameld River, a small settlement had formed. Monsters, travelers, workers—they converged there naturally. Atem saw potential. Under his command, it became an organized inn-town—another future jewel in the kingdom's growing influence.
Eurazania's road-widening project was also complete. Despite a few unfinished sections, traffic flowed without issue. Merchants begged for the paving to finish faster; high-speed carriages on rough terrain were… unpleasant. Still, compared to the old world, travel was safer and faster than ever.
Streetlamps lit the roads at night, powered by automatic magic generators. Barriers lined the routes so monsters wouldn't even dare approach.
Atem's authority permeated everything—even the wilderness learned discipline.
In less than a year, Eterna's transportation network had reached a state other nations would call impossible.
To gather real-world data, the magitrain was already running between Eterna, Dwargon, and Ingracia. Tests were done. Now, it was time for results.
The locomotive could haul enormous cargo at speeds of 50 kilometers an hour—rewriting history itself.
Food from distant lands now arrived before it could spoil. Trade opened. Wealth multiplied. Diets expanded. Famine weakened. A civilization surged forward under Atem's shadow.
Atem reviewed the reports with a calm, steady gaze, while Solarys, the Sovereign of Wisdom, delivered analytical precision only a divine intellect could provide.
Eterna possessed twenty locomotives, each with six cars—one engine, two freight, three passenger. Eighty seats per car; up to 150 passengers if needed, though Atem preferred orderliness over chaos.
If they maintained an 80% occupancy rate, the profits were immense…
But Atem shrugged. Myourmiles will handle the finances. A king concerns himself with the horizon, not coin-counting.
Soon, the magitrain would run at 100 kilometers per hour with ten-car formations.
Not a dream—a declaration.
Atem knew the world would tremble once these achievements were revealed. This was the rise of an era shaped by a king's hand.
Eterna's prosperity soared:
– higher living standards
– unmatched cuisine
– entertainment gathered from across continents
– stability that inspired awe
All while Atem continued satisfying his own pursuits—strategy, puzzles, games, training—with absolute clarity and discipline.
If not for the Eastern Empire, which moved like a blade hidden in a sleeve.
The Shadow of War
Atem considered a direct strike. The idea was simple:
If the Empire prepares to attack Eterna, then the King will strike first.
Waiting was never Atem's nature. His power was decisive. His authority, absolute.
But even Atem could not ignore the lore surrounding civilization that advanced too quickly—the descent of the Angelic Host. Their origin was unknown. Their rules were rigid.
He couldn't preemptively strike them.
But the Empire?
They had no such protection.
An invasion could come by sea…
Impossible. Sea monsters ruled those waters. No navy could move tens of thousands safely. And Youm's forces in Farmenas stood ready.
If the Empire failed their first landing, they would be caught between ocean beasts and Farmenas' defenses—doom guaranteed.
Northern Ingracia?
Also impossible.
That region belonged to the demons… and Testarossa's forces would tear an invading army apart for sport.
A land route?
Crossing the Dragon Roost in the Canaat Mountains was suicide. Even Atem, with all his confidence and power, respected the dragons' domain.
The only realistic path was through the Dwarven Kingdom.
Solarys confirmed the possibility.
Hinata investigated.
Theoretically, a large army could pass.
But King Gazel would never allow it.
And if the Empire forced passage, they would face the full might of the Armed Nation of Dwargon first—a nation forged like a living fortress.
Three entrances.
Eastern border closest to the Empire.
Heavily guarded.
Fortified.
Reinforced with the finest dwarven engineering and unwavering warrior discipline.
Trying to breach Dwargon meant annihilation.
Atem had already decided—
If Gazel called, Eterna would respond instantly.
This was the world situation surrounding Eterna—a world accelerating toward conflict while Atem prepared every road, every alliance, every strategy for whatever destiny dared to rise against him.