Chapter 15
Haruto gazed out the window, his expression frozen in shock.
"What are they doing here?" he muttered, his voice laced with disbelief.
He quickly threw on his jacket, wrapping his scarf around his neck. As he walked towards the door, his hand hovered over the handle, his mind racing.
Suddenly, the sound of someone rising from a bed reached his ears.
Fuyume stood up, the moonlight casting an ethereal glow on her figure. The soft fabric of her white clothes clung to her form, highlighting her perfect silhouette.
In a low, suppressed voice, she asked, "Are you going somewhere, my lord?"
Haruto's hand froze in mid-air. He took a deep breath, his mind racing. It's surprising to see them here, but... I have my own problems.
With a small smile, Haruto turned to her. "No, go back to sleep."
Fuyume lowered her head, but her eyes remained visible. A faint blush colored her cheeks as she shyly stammered, "U-Um... M-My lord... i-if you'd like... you can... sleep next to me..."
Her cheeks flushed a deeper shade of pink.
Haruto blushed as well but quickly composed himself. "Hmm... You've behaved yourself the entire day, so I'll consider this your reward."
Haruto moved to the other bed, slipping off his shoes as he settled down.
As he did, a shadow began to twist and shift. From within the darkness, four glowing red eyes appeared.
"Go find information about them," Haruto commanded softly.
Two wolf-like shadows, their eyes burning bright red, leapt from the darkness and sped down the hallway.
Haruto laid down beside Fuyume's bed, his tone gentle. "Let's rest for tomorrow."
He closed his eyes, but his mind raced, the events of the day still fresh in his mind. "You've been very helpful, Fuyume."
Fuyume, her back turned to him, spoke softly, "That's what I live to do for you, my lord."
Haruto said nothing for a moment, his thoughts lingering on her words. "I see. Let's sleep."
Though his body lay still, his mind was far from calm. I'll pretend to sleep, even though I can't...
---
The next morning, the sun rose, and the streets buzzed with the sounds of children running around, their laughter echoing through the air.
Haruto and Fuyume walked towards the exit of the kingdom, the weight of the journey ahead pressing down on him.
"My lord, do you have everything you need?" Fuyume asked, her voice soft but laced with concern.
Haruto gave a brief nod, but his attention was suddenly drawn to an alleyway. Two men were roughly pushing a girl with silver hair and light green eyes, her wolf-like ears twitching with every movement. Her clothes were dirty, and chains bound her hands, forcing her to look down at the ground as they shoved her into a carriage.
One of the men sneered, "She's going to fetch us a lot of money."
The other chuckled darkly. "Damn right."
Their laughter echoed as they closed the carriage door, leaving Haruto staring after them, a frown deepening on his face.
He turned to Fuyume. "There's still something I need to do. You can head back first."
Fuyume's eyes widened in concern. "My lord, I can't let you go alone."
Haruto's voice hardened, the seriousness in his tone unmistakable. "Fuyume, I said you can go first."
She lowered her head, her voice barely a whisper. "As you wish, my lord."
With a final glance, Fuyume turned and walked away, leaving Haruto to deal with the task ahead.
The carriage rattled across the open field, wheels bouncing on uneven dirt. One of the men from earlier held the reins, casually steering as dust trailed behind them, the rhythmic thud of horse hooves echoing in the wind.
Suddenly, the carriage jerked to a stop.
"Hey! Why'd we stop?" the other man barked from inside. Annoyed, he leaned toward the window to see what was going on.
But what greeted him wasn't an answer—it was a nightmare.
SCHLORP!
A wet, sickening sound. A splash of blood smeared the glass as the head of the driver dropped out of view.
"NOOOOOO—GAAAHHHHH!!" the man inside screamed, falling backward onto the wooden floor of the carriage, scrambling away.
The carriage door creaked open.
He crawled frantically to the back, trembling. And there, standing in the entrance like a god of death, was Haruto.
The man gasped, eyes wide in terror. "H-Hahh—haaahh—p-please… d-don't… I'll give you everything… j-just don't kill me… please… I don't wanna die!"
Haruto stepped closer, silent.
To the man's eyes, Haruto was a shadow cloaked in black, his crimson eyes glowing like a demon's.
Before he could scream again, the man passed out cold.
Haruto tilted his head, muttering to himself.
"Tch… I was still deciding what cool line to say."
In the corner of the carriage, the silver-haired girl sat curled up, her chains rattling softly as she trembled. Dirt clung to her face, and her wolf-like ears drooped in fear.
Haruto took a slow step forward. She flinched.
"Hey..." he said gently, voice softening. "Sorry about the mess. If you need help, just say the word… and I'll take you under my care."
Her wide, frightened eyes met his. "P-Please… help me."
Without hesitation, Haruto knelt and gently lifted her into his arms.
"You can rest now. You're in safe hands."
Her body relaxed, and her eyes fluttered shut as she passed out from exhaustion.
Haruto jumped down from the carriage, landing silently. Reaching into his Pocket Realm, he pulled out a thick, warm blanket, wrapped it around her, and shifted her carefully onto his back.
"Instant Teleportation," he whispered.
The world blurred.
A moment later, Haruto stepped onto a polished stone walkway. Towering stone pillars flanked him, and humanoid spiders lined both sides of the corridor. They dropped to one knee the moment he arrived.
"Welcome back, Lord Haruto!"
Among them, Vhalzareth—the stoic commander of the Spider Guard—rose slowly, placing one hand over his chest.
"Welcome back, Lord Haruto," he said, voice deep and unwavering. "The air itself feels steadier with your presence returned."
Haruto raised an eyebrow, eyes scanning the formal setup.
"...What is all this about?"
"Welcome back, Lord Haruto!" they all said in unison, their voices echoing through the air like thunder restrained by reverence.
Vhalzareth stepped forward, kneeling with one hand over his chest, his deep voice calm yet commanding:
"Welcome back, Lord Haruto. The air itself feels steadier with your presence returned."
He rose slowly, gaze sharp yet respectful.
Haruto looked at him with a neutral expression.
"What is all this about?"
Then, like a breeze laced with cherry blossoms and danger, Lunara stepped forward.
Her long white hair with pink tips trailed behind her like stardust. Two curved horns rose from her head, polished and regal. Her striking red eyes met Haruto's, both fierce and affectionate. She wore a hybrid outfit—half school uniform, half battle armor—that spoke of nobility and bloodshed, elegance wrapped in lethality.
She bowed, lips curling into a sly grin.
"We wanted to give Lord Haruto a proper welcome back."
Liora, standing nearby, tilted her head, her brows drawing together in confusion as she pointed toward Haruto's back.
"My lord... what is that you're carrying?"
Haruto glanced back.
"Huh… I found her on the way here."
Liora's voice shifted to concern, even a tinge of frustration.
"Why bring her here, my lord? She won't be of any use. She has no skills or magic. Just… dead weight."
Haruto's tone turned cold but composed, his eyes unwavering.
"That doesn't matter. As long as she's alive, she has the potential to make a difference."
Lunara looked over Haruto's shoulder at the unconscious girl, curiosity sparking in her eyes.
"Hmph," she said, folding her arms. "Then I suppose she's earned the Spider King's protection. Lucky girl."
---
Haruto's office remained as still and immaculate as ever, wrapped in the amber glow of enchanted lamps. Paperwork stood in neat, unforgiving stacks—arranged with the precision of a war general. Beneath the marble floor, faint magical wards pulsed with a quiet hum, like a heartbeat just under the skin. It was a sanctum—flawless, fortified—a command center fit for the man who ruled kings and bent demons to his will.
Then came the sound.
Click. Click.
Heels.
Deliberate. Measured. Lethal.
She didn't knock. She never had to.
Her silver hair spilled behind her like a silken banner in a moonlit breeze, the pink-tipped strands catching the light as she moved. Tall wolf ears, always alert, gave the slightest twitch. Her dress—black as midnight—flowed like a living shadow, the high slit along her thigh revealing a flash of skin and the strap of a hidden holster. The bodice, sharply tailored, hugged her frame with elegance—refined, not seductive. A subtle belt at her waist shimmered faintly, reacting to the arcane pressure she carried like it was part of her very being.
One emerald eye gleamed beneath her fringe. The other, hidden beneath a strip of dark silk, whispered stories no one dared to ask her to tell.
> "You called, Master Haruto?"
Her voice—low, smooth, deliberate—was the calm just before a battlefield erupts.
Haruto didn't glance up right away. He finished his signature with one clean stroke, the pen scratching quietly against parchment. Only then did he give a small nod.
> "I did. Come closer."
She obeyed, stopping precisely three paces from his desk. Always three. Never more. Never less.
Without a word, Haruto reached beneath his desk, pulling out a long, obsidian case. Its edges shimmered with faint runes—ancient, vigilant. As he placed it on the table and clicked it open, a low resonance echoed in the room.
Inside rested two weapons—twin guns, sleek and honed to perfection. The silver filigree along their frames pulsed faintly with condensed arcana. They were elegant, yet unmistakably deadly. The craftsmanship wasn't of this age—half spell, half steel, all violence. Each barrel vibrated softly with restrained power, as if recognizing the one they were made for.
Her emerald eye narrowed ever so slightly.
> "Gifts?"
> "No," Haruto said plainly.
"Tools."
He lifted one of the guns and offered it to her, grip-first.
She accepted it without hesitation—no ceremony, no hesitation—just inevitability. The second slid into her other hand with the ease of destiny, as if it had been waiting for this moment all along.
As soon as her fingers wrapped around the hilts, the runes etched into the steel pulsed—flaring with recognition. The weapons adjusted instantly, syncing with her mana signature like a breath held too long finally released.
> "I reforged these for your hands alone," Haruto said, voice even. "The recoil would shatter another person's bones. You, however…"
She tilted her head, a faint smirk brushing her lips—cool, almost nostalgic.
> "You always knew what suited me."
Haruto leaned back in his chair, golden eyes sharp and unwavering, arms folding across his chest in that unbothered, calculating way only he could manage.
> "With these, you can bend gravity, infuse your shots with elemental payloads, and phase rounds through solid matter. You're a wolf, not a hound. I want the world to remember that."
With a fluid motion, she holstered the twin guns beneath her coat. They disappeared into the folds like whispers into darkness—silent, unseen, but ever-present.
> "And my assignment?"
> "Void activity. It's flaring near the border." He leaned forward slightly, tone lowering like a blade unsheathing. "You'll know more once you're there. Take Zephyr if you must. Otherwise..."
His gaze sharpened, voice a slow burn.
> "Make them regret touching what's mine."
Her lone eye gleamed. Her ears twitched—once, like a silent salute.
> "Then I'll paint the night in starlight... and gunfire."
She turned, heels clicking once more—calm, precise, fatal. At the doorway, she paused. Head turned slightly, voice softer than before, but carrying a gravity no spell could replicate.
> "...Thank you. For not sealing me away… and for letting me choose who I fight for."
Haruto didn't move. He didn't need to.
His golden eyes held hers.
> "Go."
Haruto leaned back in his chair, the golden glow from the enchanted lamps catching in his eyes like twin suns behind storm clouds.
> "It's already been five months in this world…" he murmured in thought, fingers brushing his temple.
He let out a breath, almost a sigh, then spotted a slip of parchment sticking out from under a stack of battle reports. A faint seal shimmered at its edge—arcane, old, and arrogant.
> "Hmm…"
Haruto tugged the letter free from the corner.
> "From… the High Circle?"
Before he could say another word, Vhalzareth stepped forward, his faint smile already loaded with cryptic amusement. His silver-threaded cloak whispered as he moved, as if even fabric bowed to his presence.
> Vhalzareth (with a faint smile, eyes gleaming with intrigue):
"Congratulations, Lord Haruto. It appears the High Circle has taken… quite the interest in you."
(He bows slightly, voice smooth but edged with pride)
"As expected of my liege—your presence alone unsettles the pillars of power."
Haruto raised an eyebrow, the letter still unopened in his hand.
> "This 'High Circle'... what are they? Some sort of council?"
Vhalzareth stood straighter, folding his arms behind his back like a teacher unveiling forbidden knowledge.
> Vhalzareth (voice low and deliberate):
"The High Circle… is no mere council, my lord. It is a sovereign assembly of rulers whose very names shape the fate of continents."
(His gaze drifted upward, almost reverently)
"Admission is not requested. It is seized—through fear. Through awe. Through absolute, unshakable power."
(He turns back, eyes narrowing)
"They gather once each decade… or when the world teeters on the edge. Their word ends wars, crowns kings, and razes empires."
(A short pause)
"To receive their invitation, Lord Haruto… is to be acknowledged not as a ruler… but as a peer among gods."
(And then, with a glint of icy finality)
"And those unworthy? They are simply… dust beneath their feet."
Haruto slowly turned his gaze to Vhalzareth, who stood just to his side like a quiet sentinel. His eyes narrowed.
> "How do you know all this?"
Before the silence could settle, a calm voice chimed in—measured, respectful, but never lacking in presence.
> Liora (bowing her head slightly):
"Lord Haruto… Vhalzareth is one of the Primordials. He existed over 10,000 years ago."
Haruto froze. The paper crinkled slightly in his hand. His expression shifted—not to fear, but to suppressed disbelief.
> "Wait… Vhalzareth is a Primordial?!?"
A soft chime echoed in the air, like a golden bell rung in judgment. Then, another voice—a familiar one, light as moonlight, edged with divine sarcasm.
> Seraphina (calmly):
"Yes."
She let the silence breathe for a beat.
> "I see the revelation has… finally reached you."
Haruto:
> "You're telling me I've had a Primordial under my command this whole time?!"
> Seraphina (utterly unfazed):
"Affirmative. I refrained from stating the obvious."
(Then, with gentle snark)
"Had you asked, I would have gladly colored within the lines of your blind spot."
Haruto's eye twitched.
> "…Why didn't you just tell me!?"
> Seraphina:
"Because you named him. You forged a bond. One does not casually bind a Primordial without sensing their weight."
(Still serene. Still shady.)
Vhalzareth gave a slow, prideful smile. No words—just that look of someone who's always known his worth, and now enjoyed the theatrics of others catching up.
Haruto exhaled sharply through his nose and finally tore the letter open. His voice was steady, but his golden eyes were sharp with anticipation.
> "Let's see what the gods of the earth have to say…"
He began to read aloud:
> "To the Sovereign of the Forest-Bound Domain—Haruto, Spider Empyrean Arachnid Emperor,
Your recent actions have not gone unnoticed…"
Word of your strength, your growing domain, and your claim to kingship has reached the attention of those who govern the balance of this world. As such, the High Circle extends an official summons.
You are invited to attend the upcoming Convergence of Sovereigns, to be held nine months from the date of this letter. Your presence is requested to determine the legitimacy of your rule and the recognition of your nation among the established powers.
You may bring no more than two retainers. Choose them wisely.
Attendance is not mandatory.
However, absence will be regarded as a forfeiture of your claim to nationhood.
Further details, including time and coordinates, will be delivered in due course.
He set the letter down slowly, fingers lingering on the edge of the parchment as if its weight echoed the pressure building in his chest. Then he leaned back in his chair, the leather creaking under the shift, his gaze tracing the ceiling in thought.
A quiet beat passed.
> Liora (gentle, with concern):
"Lord Haruto… are you going to go?"
Haruto cracked a smirk, though it didn't reach his eyes. His gaze was steady. Cold.
> "Of course I'm going. Maybe I'll finally meet the Actheria leader…"
(He narrowed his eyes)
"Oww... where is she, by the way?"
> Liora (hands clasped behind her back, dutifully):
"She's in the Tosser Room, my lord. The other one—she's in the underground jail."
A shadow stirred at the edge of the chamber as Vhalzareth stepped forward, always precise, always watching.
> Vhalzareth (bowing slightly, tone sharp and calculating):
"Lord Haruto, if I may inquire… have you acquired any useful intelligence regarding the Solmera Kingdom?"
(His eyes glint with ambition)
"Specifically—details or commodities we might leverage for trade or diplomatic gain?"
(He straightens, hands folded, voice cool)
"Even knowledge, in the right hands, can be sold for influence."
Haruto folded his arms, voice casual but edged with clarity.
> "Yeah. Turns out they don't have much in the way of spices—or lakeside fruits. And paper? Practically a luxury. Rare as hell, which is probably why it costs so much."
> Vhalzareth (nodding thoughtfully):
"Indeed, my lord. Paper is exceedingly rare in this region—that scarcity alone drives its value to absurd heights."
"Supply is minimal, demand unrelenting… thus, its price remains steep."
Haruto tilted his head, a faint, wistful breath slipping through his lips.
> "If I were in my original world… I could've gotten loads of paper and spices without blinking."
(A pause. A soft, unspoken ache beneath his words)
"If only I could've gone back home…"
The room fell into a hush. A stillness so deep it felt like the world itself was listening.
Then, like a ripple in the fabric of reality, Seraphina's voice echoed—gentle, celestial, otherworldly.
> Seraphina (gazing softly, voice calm and ethereal):
"With the [Unique Skill: Eternal Requiem], you possess the means to traverse the boundary between worlds…
Not only to return to the one you once called home…"
(A beat)
"…but to step across the veils of reality itself—wherever your soul dares to reach."
Haruto's eyes widened, breath caught in his throat.
> "What?!…"