"MadMa, the 2nd Prince's carriage is passing through the west gate of Trumpet Hall."

"Okay, finally he's here. I was about to get a crick in my neck waiting."

I placed my hands on my knees and stood up in one motion. I'd been waiting for a long time. Now that the main actors were taking the stage one by one, my job was to put the puzzle pieces together.

The grand unification strategy. The terrifying master plan to buddy up with every faction except the Cardinal Faction and leave them out to dry. At first glance, it seemed incredibly difficult, but it wasn't.

Once you get the first button right, each subsequent button becomes exponentially easier to fasten.

Think about it—if I've already persuaded the Imperial Family, the Reformist Faction, and the Northern Grand Duke, wouldn't the Redburn Duke's family have to play along too if they didn't want to be screwed over?

The same goes for the Northern Grand Duke. If I tell him I'm already cooperating with the Imperial Family, given his calculating nature, he'll definitely accept. I wouldn't even need to bring out Heart.

So it all comes down to one thing. I just need to sweet-talk Irid.

At this point, I'm practically starting with a win in my pocket. There's a certain bond between Irid and me, isn't there? Right?

As I was getting ready to go meet Irid, Benett, who had just entered, delivered some good news.

"Mad Magician. It seems Northern Grand Duke Julius's entourage has passed through the south gate."

"He's here too? Okay. If I can persuade the 2nd Prince and then him, I'll accomplish my grand plan in a single night, with time to spare!"

"...I don't know where your confidence comes from. Even for you, this will be difficult. We're talking about royal blood leading a nation and a power who has ruled the frigid lands. It's quite different from recruiting a mere dark mage."

"Well, just watch, Benett. I'll pluck the moon from the sky in one night. Kukukuk..."

When I'm holding the fate of their first loves in my hands, what more needs to be said?

I confidently pounded my chest. As the one who controls personnel controls everything, this is what a fail-proof plan looks like.

One day is all I need. What could possibly go wrong in that time?

===============================================================

Thump. Thump. Thump. THUMP!

It was a magnificent procession.

All sorts of troops and attendants surrounding Irid's carriage filled three blocks. I hadn't realized it from his unusually frugal appearance, but seeing this, he really was a prince after all.

And this was supposedly "scaled down out of respect for the Goddess." I couldn't imagine how impressive it would be if he were showing his full authority. I watched the procession among the gawking spectators with their mouths hanging open.

Step, step, step.

The crowd parted as two muscular knights approached me. In stiff voices, they said, "The Prince requests your presence."

"How did he find me?"

I had been wondering how to get in touch with him.

The knights thoroughly checked me for dangerous items. Being frisked by two men brought an unpleasant discomfort, but these gentlemen probably didn't want to be touching a man either.

So we shared the same misery. They were sad about touching, and I was sad about being touched. I felt sorry for all of us in our pitiful situation.

As the knights were about to put magical restraints on my wrists, Irid's voice came from the carriage.

"Enough. Let him in."

"2nd Prince, we haven't yet secured against magical—"

"That's a waste of time. I won't say it twice."

"......"

The knights glared at me with stern eyes, their expressions saying it all: if you cause any harm, you won't leave in one piece—that kind of non-verbal communication.

I shrugged and walked forward. In front of the carriage stood a tall female knight with light blonde hair and purple eyes.

She was about 176cm tall, with an overall refreshing appearance. She was beautiful, but rather than praise for her beauty, what struck me more was her knightly fortitude.

Above all... from the color of her eyes, I could recognize Yuna's bloodline.

I casually asked, "...Urensto?"

"Yes. I am Sissel Urensto. I've heard about you from the Prince. You're the one who will lead me to victory."

"Ah, so you're participating. I'd like to offer my assistance in advance."

"Let's end the small talk here. The Prince is waiting."

Fair enough.

As the female knight pulled the carriage handle, the door opened smoothly without a sound from the hinges. I hopped into the imperial carriage.

It was incredibly spacious inside. That was to be expected, I suppose. It was closer to a mobile home than a carriage.

At the seat of honor sat the 2nd Prince, Irid Crown, with his legs crossed. Even after not seeing him for a while, his handsome face was still annoyingly good-looking. I greeted him with my usual shamelessness.

"Your knights are quite loyal, aren't they?"

Meaning: your body search was pretty thorough.

"You look so suspicious that the knights were probably more on edge than usual. Try to understand."

Meaning: it's your ugly mug's fault, so deal with it. Do I really look that suspicious? Yuna told me I was handsome.

I glanced at the mirror on the wall. Under my black hair, red eyes gleamed brightly. After accepting the evil nature, my eyes had taken on a strange aura that made people uncomfortable when they looked at me.

I understood. With a face like this, I deserved to be searched.

"How have you been lately?"

"I've been well. Work has been going smoothly, and thanks to some crazy magician who's been cleaning up all the dark mages... I've had some free time."

He wasn't just making small talk. His complexion looked good, and his voice had more strength than before, suggesting he was eating well. I rubbed my palms together like a sycophant and subtly said:

"If you're grateful, perhaps you could reward me a little?"

"Wasn't handing over a Defense Bureau agent without a gag or leash enough? Just interrogating her properly could yield a box full of classified documents."

"Agent Yuri Lanster has principles, so she doesn't tell me such things unless necessary. And I don't ask."

"If you need research funds, I'll consider it."

Good, I scored a point. This might slightly appease Yuna's anger too. Though I'm no longer bound by funding constraints, more research money is always better.

With the small talk over, it was time to get to the main point. Irid and I exchanged silent glances. Then we each checked our security measures.

I activated my artifact and cast a spell. We thoroughly isolated the interior of the carriage from the outside, ensuring no information could be leaked or eavesdropped on.

Once security was established, Irid bluntly asked:

"What are you scheming this time?"

"About this Hero selection—let's all join forces to keep the Cardinal Faction from getting it. Wouldn't it be nice for the Goddess Cult to have some fresh air? A nice, refreshing breeze."

"Explain who's included in that 'all.' This is intriguing."

"Well, first the Northern Grand Duke and—"

Clunk. The carriage shook.

"......"

"...What was that?"

Irid opened the carriage window and signaled to a knight who was following. The knight, frozen under the powerful gaze, reported:

"Um, our procession has crossed paths with the Northern Grand Duke's entourage, Your Highness. But, insolently, they refuse to make way...!"

"......"

So they're fighting over who should move their carriage first.

I peeked out the window and indeed, our procession had collided with another magnificent entourage approaching from the distance. Both were so large in scale that neither could move until one side gave way.

Pride battles are common, but against the Imperial Family?

As far as I knew, the Imperial Family's authority should be considerable... why wouldn't the Northern Grand Duke back down? He's a man who should know that such behavior offers no advantage. He's someone who pursues practical benefits over pride.

Maybe there was some trouble between him and Irid? I looked at Irid questioningly, and he clicked his tongue with an irritated expression.

"...Tsk, is he still caught up in that delusion?"

"Delusion? The Northern Grand Duke?"

"Yes. You of all people should know, shouldn't you? That Centra came to the modern era 100 years ago and worked as Heart to meet me."

Huh?

"Uh, what? Oh, ah, yes. That's right."

"I had a meeting with him recently about succession rights in the North, and when he saw a portrait of Centra I kept, he started spouting nonsense. Something about Heart and him being connected by soul."

"Ah... I, I see."

"I denied it, of course. There's no doubt her heart belongs to me. She was just briefly a companion to earn money to stay in this world... Connected by soul? Tsk."

So that's why they're fighting...

The Crown Prince and the Northern Grand Duke are fighting over Heart and Centra!

The karma of the past hit me hard from behind. I felt dizzy.

As my brain short-circuited, my mouth moved on its own.

"Please don't fight over me...!"

"...Have you finally gone mad?"

Shit.

No, no. Get it together. It's not over yet. Emotions are emotions, and practical benefits are practical benefits. My proposal to suppress the Cardinal Faction is clearly advantageous to both of them.

They should be able to endure some emotional conflict. Right? Right?

"If you can persuade that fool of a Northern Grand Duke, I have no intention of interfering. The weakening of the Cardinal Faction is something I would welcome with open arms."

That's right.

Irid is essentially convinced. Now I just need to make sure things don't escalate further. Let's go to the Northern Grand Duke's carriage right now. End this pride battle by being the first to move the carriage.

I hurriedly exited Irid's carriage. And at that moment.

Crack.

There was a splitting sound. This was the sound of my plan breaking and shattering.

Cra-cra-crack, BOOM—!!

Between Irid's procession and the Northern Grand Duke's entourage... a fight had broken out.

If this fight escalates and creates irreparable resentment between Irid and the Northern Grand Duke... that would be troublesome. My pride would be in trouble!

I had boasted to Benett that I had everything under control!

"Damn it, no fighting! Stop fighting—!"

I ran toward the middle, my feet sweating.

===============================================================

I knew there were differences in levels even among the same Ascension. I still can't forget the blood wind that the 1st Princess Elaine created with her fist.

How my head ached calculating the output that could grind even giants. Even if you brought a dozen Roderus, they would be helpless against Elaine's storm fist from those days.

She was masterful. The process of dyeing her soul with emotion—generating colored mana—and using it to manifest abilities was flawlessly efficient.

The gap would be even greater with Namgung Cheong-hwi, who had just awakened his Ascension. No matter how many Emperor's Sword Forms he fired, it didn't seem like he could bring down a giant with them.

They say there are some compatibility differences between Ascensions.

But the difference between someone who has taken their first step in Ascension and someone who has reached the end of Ascension, touching the wall of Sublimation, is this vast.

Ka-ka-ka-ka-kak—!

So the fierce battle unfolding before my eyes was a clash between monsters who had reached the end of Ascension—potential Sublimation candidates.

"I'll warn you again. Step aside."

"We entered this street first, hmm-?! The Northern scouts were the first to step on this shiny ground. Do you have ice blocks stuck in your ears?!"

Crack, cra-cra-crack—!

The Northern Grand Duke's warrior was truly a beast, a wolf-like woman. Her sky-blue hair flew wildly as she flashed her vertically slit pupils. She looked like a mix of beauty and beast.

She held small hand axes in both hands, but the power contained in those axes was far from small. With a single gesture, an ice storm swept through. Winter was undoubtedly held in those hands.

"First come, first served! If you want to break this rule and pass through! Try eating me first and then go ahead-!!"

With one swing.

Swish-swish-swish—!!

Ice spikes sprouted from the ground along her trajectory, bringing winter to a part of summer. A three-story building caught in it frosted over completely, as if liquid nitrogen had been poured on it.

And opposing her was iron.

"I warn you for the last time. Step aside before the Imperial Family."

Whoooosh—!

As the greatsword cut through the air, wind rushed into the empty space left by its overwhelming mass. The swing became a storm.

The Imperial side's warrior was the female knight from the Urensto family I had seen in front of the carriage earlier. She was lightly swinging a zweihander that exceeded her height, cutting through the oncoming winter.

The impact sent three or four Northern warriors flying into the sky, and windows of buildings in the sword's path shattered instantly.

Two houses had already been destroyed, but this was just the preliminary skirmish.

It was a place to visually compare whose fangs were longer. And now, if they were to bare their fangs and bite each other's necks... the area would be completely devastated.

It's a dizzying threat. For my plan, I should step between them and stop the fight, but my lost left arm was aching for no reason.

...What if I get hurt and make Yuna sad again?

Flutter.

Just then, a butterfly's wing brushed past my ear. Though she was still sulking and wouldn't show herself, she seemed to be watching over me... telling me it was okay.

Yes. Fortunately, it seems Yuna isn't that angry after all!

With my heart swelling with happiness, I excitedly stepped between the two fighters. The fight ends here!

"Hello! Isn't today just an amazing day, everyone?"

"...You. It's dangerous here, step back."

"What's this black thing? A dark mage?"

"Come on, don't be like that..."

Time for my tongue to dance.