The moment the portal closed behind them, silence settled over the massive entrance hall of Clayman's castle.
Or rather, formerly Clayman's castle.
Tall black pillars stretched toward a distant ceiling hidden beneath layers of drifting purple mist, while pale blue flames flickered quietly along the walls. The castle itself almost felt alive, reacting subtly to Sally's presence.
Kaede looked around curiously. "…This place feels creepy."
"That's because it is creepy." Wisteria replied immediately. "But what can you expect from mortals trying to play God?"
The Verdant Dryad folded her arms while staring suspiciously at one of the moving shadows near the ceiling. "Why are there so many eyes in the walls?"
Wisteria glanced upward lazily. "Security measures, I suppose." The Primordial Violet smiled faintly. "Though admittedly, Clayman had rather poor taste."
Sally walked ahead calmly while Ninehead padded silently beside her, the massive five-tailed fox's claws clicking softly against the dark floor.
"It should calm down once I fully take over the castle's control system."
Kaede blinked. "It has that?"
"Barriers, mostly. A few traps. Might as well overhaul the whole thing while I'm at it. This territory is going to be at its weakest until I set up a bunch of things. I'm ready though."
Almost immediately, several purple magic circles spread quietly across the walls before changing color into pale silver.
The castle shuddered slightly.
Then the pressure filling the building noticeably changed. The atmosphere became… softer. A little less hostile.
Kaede stared at her for a moment before smiling warmly. "…You're amazing."
Sally paused briefly. Then continued walking.
"…Thank you."
Wisteria looked between the two of them with dead eyes. "I feel like I'm intruding on something."
"You are." Acer informed her casually.
"Can you not say it so directly!?"
Kaede ignored both of them and quickly moved beside Sally again. "So what now?"
Sally looked ahead toward the deeper parts of the castle. "Now," she said calmly, "I establish control before anyone decides now is opportunity."
Kaede puffed her cheeks slightly. "Can't that wait until tomorrow?"
"No."
"A few hours?"
"No."
"Thirty minutes?"
Sally finally looked at her.
Kaede stared back hopefully.
"…Maybe fifteen."
Kaede immediately brightened. "Nice."
Wisteria looked genuinely disturbed. "Did the terrifying undead illusionist just get negotiated down by emotional damage?"
"She's weak against Mother." Acer replied instantly.
"I CAN HEAR YOU."
"Yes, mother."
Further ahead, enormous doors slowly opened on their own as Sally approached.
Beyond them stretched an immense gathering chamber.
Or rather... An arena.
The ceiling disappeared into fog high above, while the floor below was covered in drifting silver mist that moved unnaturally across the ground.
Kaede immediately pointed. "Ohhhh this place is cool."
"It's one of the central command halls." Sally explained. "Clayman used it for large-scale gatherings and demonstrations."
"…Demonstrations?"
"Fear mostly."
"That tracks."
Nine suddenly let out a low growl.
At the same time, multiple presences began appearing throughout the castle.
Dozens.
Then hundreds.
Kaede tilted her head slightly. "…They're already here?"
"I summoned them while we were walking." Sally replied.
From the fog, figures slowly began emerging.
Majin. Mercenaries. Various Magic-Born. This was the true bulk of Clayman's military force.
Not merely disposable soldiers or puppet armies, but the core structure that had allowed Clayman to maintain control over an entire Demon Lord domain for decades.
And standing at the top of that structure were the Five Fingers. An elite group of trusted lieutenants personally selected by Clayman himself.
Each one held authority over a different branch of his operations.
Yamza, the Middle Finger.
Known throughout the domain as the Freezing Magic Swordsman, he served as commander-in-chief of Clayman's primary military forces. Tall, broad shouldered, and constantly carrying a sword over his shoulder.
Then there was Pirone, the Pinky Finger.
A woman who resembled a cross between a brid and a human, with thick tufts of violet feathers.
She oversaw intelligence gathering, espionage, infiltration, and information control throughout the territory.
And finally, Adalman.
The Index Finger. Also known as the Immortal King. Among the Five Fingers, he was perhaps the oldest.
Adalman was an evolved member of the Wight race, a rare existence known as a Wight King.
At a glance, he resembled a powerful Lich, possessing pale bone-like skin and hollow glowing eyes hidden beneath elegant clergy robes.
Long ago, before Clayman inherited this land, Adalman had served under Kazalim, the former Demon Lord who once ruled this territory.
It was Kazalim himself who had granted Adalman the title: Defender Of The Castle.
The atmosphere throughout the chamber grew noticeably heavier as he stepped forward slowly through the fog.
"Lady Sally," Adalman spoke calmly, though caution lingered beneath his voice. "What has happened to Lord Clayman?"
His hollow gaze shifted slightly.
"And why have you returned without him?"
Immediately, murmurs spread throughout the chamber.
Questions rose one after another from the gathered subordinates.
"Who is she?"
"Why would she be with Lord Clayman?"
"Where is Lord Clayman?"
"Did something happen at Walpurgis?"
Confusion spread rapidly through the crowd.
Which honestly wasn't surprising.
Because during the entire year Sally had operated beneath Clayman's command, not once had she ever revealed her face publicly.
She had always worn a mask.
Even her name had remained unknown to nearly everyone within the domain.
Clayman himself communicated with her primarily through [Thought Communication], issuing orders indirectly while keeping her existence hidden from most of his own subordinates.
As a result, the silver-haired girl currently standing before them was practically a complete stranger to the majority of the castle's population.
Except for one person.
"I will speak once." Sally said calmly.
Her voice was not loud. And yet every single person in the chamber heard it perfectly.
"Clayman is dead."
"He was defeated by Rimuru Tempest." Sally continued. "His authority, territory, intelligence network, military structure, and assets now belong to me."
"As for who I am," She revealed her mask, placing it just inches away from her face. "I was once the shadow that spread out of his every step. However, from today onward, I am a shadow no more."
The fog thickened slightly around the chamber.
"I have already been recognized by Walpurgis. I am Demon Lord Sally, Lady Of Phantom."
That caused immediate reactions.
Shock.
Disbelief.
Fear.
Sally continued speaking calmly. "Those loyal to Clayman out of fear are no longer bound. Your hearts are no longer held prisoner by Clayman."
Several people visibly relaxed.
"Those loyal to the territory itself may remain."
More tension disappeared.
Then Sally's eyes sharpened slightly. "However…"
The fog throughout the chamber froze.
"If there are any among you considering betrayal, sabotage, or outside communication…"
For a moment... Every shadow in the room moved unnaturally.
Illusions flickered across the walls.
Hundreds of glowing eyes opened within the mist.
And every person present felt cold terror crawl down their spine.
Sally smiled faintly.
"I would strongly advise against it."
Dead silence followed.
Then... Everyone kneeled.
Yamza remained kneeling near the front of the gathered forces, though unlike many of the others, his expression wasn't fearful.
It was thoughtful.
His gaze remained fixed on Sally.
"…Lord Clayman truly died?" he finally asked quietly.
Sally nodded once.
"Yes."
Yamza lowered his head slightly after hearing the confirmation directly. For several moments, he remained silent. "...I see."
"Yamza?" Pirone frowned slightly.
"How could Lord Clayman possibly lose? That's what I was thinking just now. He always seemed to have a plan..." Yamza continued after a moment. "Lord Clayman is far too cunning to be defeated so easily."
Several figures in the crowd visibly flinched. A few of them were already starting to see where his thoughts were headed.
"He's far too cautious, bordering on paranoid, always making sure his plans were perfect to the minute detail. He kept constant watch on everything, even if it made operations awkward and rough."
"Then Lady Sally started showing up." Yamza continued. "And suddenly operations became smoother."
"Supply chains stabilized. Intelligence leaks decreased. Internal conflicts stopped almost entirely."
He looked directly at Sally.
"Even Lord Clayman himself became… calmer after Lady Sally began assisting him."
"Spit it out, Yamza." Sally ordered.
"The only way Lord Clayman could have lost would be if he had been caught off guard..." Yamza placed his hand on the pommel of his sword. "Likely from a betrayal of his own shadow."
Sally kept her gaze on him, her face completely impassive.
"So it was you." Yamza breathed heavily.
"His fate was already sealed from the moment he captured me, and forced me into his service." Sally replied.
Yamza exhaled, before letting go of his sword, allowing his arm to drop to his side.
Sally raised a brow. "Nothing to say?"
Yamza shook his head. "I only wanted to confirm what actually happened. I have no qualms with your actions." He smiled. "In fact, I actually have a sudden hope for the future."
"Flattery will get you nowhere, Yamza." Sally shook her head.
Beside Yamza, Pirone breathes a sigh of relief, happy that Sally, no Demon Lord Sally had not been angered by the foolish Yamza and his probing.
Meanwhile, Sally turned her attention back toward the gathered forces.
"There will be changes."
That immediately brought the room's focus back to her.
"The territory will remain operational. Existing command structures will remain intact temporarily until I complete a full assessment."
Yamza nodded slowly.
Reasonable.
Very reasonable.
Honestly, far more reasonable than most new rulers.
"Pirone."
The bird-woman straightened immediately. "Yes, Lady Sally?"
"I want every intelligence report Clayman kept hidden from his officers brought to me within the hour."
Pirone's expression shifted slightly.
"…That may take time."
"I know exactly where they are." Sally replied calmly.
Pirone froze.
Then after a brief pause, she lowered her head. "…Understood."
Sally's gaze shifted again.
"Yamza."
The swordsman looked up immediately.
"Begin reorganizing the military command structure. Any units still fanatically loyal to Clayman personally are to be identified immediately."
"…And if they resist?"
The fog around the chamber shifted slightly.
Sally's silver eyes glowed faintly.
"Then they may leave."
Everyone understood what she actually meant.
"Adalman." Sally turned toward the ancient Wight King. "Have you made your decision yet?"
The chamber quieted slightly again.
Adalman stood motionless within the drifting fog, his clergy robes shifting faintly as pale mist curled around his skeletal frame.
"Lady Sally." the Wight King spoke solemnly while observing the massive chamber around him.
For a brief moment, his hollow gaze lingered on the castle walls themselves.
"What decision?" Kaede asked curiously from beside Sally.
Sally glanced toward her briefly before answering. "Adalman has been bound to this territory for nearly a thousand years."
"The former Demon Lord Kazalim placed powerful restrictions upon him long ago. Adalman was unable to leave this land for the entirety of that duration."
Kaede blinked slowly. "…A thousand years?"
Adalman lowered his head slightly. "Yes." There was no bitterness in his voice. Which somehow made it sound worse.
Wisteria raised a brow from the side. "That level of binding magic would have required absurdly complex spiritual contracts. You must have been pretty strong if he went through all that trouble. At least strong to someone like Kazalim anyway."
Kaede stared at the Wight King for a moment longer before her expression shifted slightly. "...That sounds awful."
This time, Adalman looked at her directly. Then surprisingly... A faint smile appeared beneath the shadows of his skeletal face.
"It was not entirely unpleasant." he admitted calmly. "Lord Kazalim granted me purpose when I had none."
Sally remained silent while listening.
"Even so," Adalman continued, "purpose and freedom are not the same thing."
The fog around the chamber drifted quietly.
Then Sally spoke again.
"After freeing him from those restrictions, I offered Adalman a choice."
The gathered subordinates listened carefully now.
"If he wished to leave this territory permanently, I would not stop him."
Several people looked genuinely shocked hearing that. Because monsters of Adalman's caliber were strategic assets. No Demon Lord willingly released individuals like that.
Sally however continued without hesitation.
"In exchange, he would remain under my service for one year until I established a replacement capable of maintaining the castle's defenses and security systems."
Kaede tilted her head slightly. "…And the second option?"
Sally looked back toward Adalman. "He could remain here willingly."
Her silver eyes softened just slightly.
"As one of my trusted advisors rather than a prisoner bound by obligation."
Silence followed her words.
Adalman himself remained quiet for several moments.
Then slowly... The ancient Wight King lowered himself fully onto one knee before Sally.
The fog shifted gently around him.
"I have already made my decision."
His voice echoed calmly throughout the chamber.
"For nearly a millennium, I was lost, wandering through the motions of my unlife with hope all but forgotten. My faith in fate itself shattered. I believed I would wander for a millennium more. Though Luminous has abandoned me, it seems that fate has not, for it led you to me."
His hollow eyes lifted toward Sally. A faint glow flickered within them. "I would like to serve... if you would have an old soul like me."
Kaede immediately brightened. "That's nice."
Wisteria looked emotionally conflicted. "…Why is this undead castle suddenly wholesome?"
Acer nodded thoughtfully. "The power of healthy management."
"I refuse to believe that sentence applies here."
Meanwhile, Sally looked at Adalman silently for a moment. Then she gave a small nod.
Then she turned slightly.
"Eva."
The chamber stirred again.
Near the rear of the gathered subordinates, a dark elf woman stepped forward slowly.
Unlike most of the others present, she wore elegant servant attire rather than armor or military uniform. Long silver hair flowed down her back, while sharp violet eyes calmly observed the scene unfolding before her.
Eva stopped several meters away before lowering herself respectfully. "Lady Sally."
Unlike the others, her voice contained very little uncertainty.
Throughout the entire gathering, Eva had remained almost completely silent while everyone else reacted emotionally.
"You hold considerable influence amongst the dark elves here." Sally stated plainly.
It wasn't a question.
Eva gave a small nod. "I have served this castle for a very long time."
"I noticed."
The fog drifted quietly around the chamber again.
Sally's silver eyes remained fixed on the dark elf woman. "I assume Clayman's death is… unpleasant news for many of them."
A very slight pause followed. Then Eva answered carefully.
"Lord Clayman was accepted by the people of Justav." she admitted. "Especially amongst the older generations."
"I see." Sally replied calmly.
Eva continued after a brief moment. "However… stability matters more than grief right now."
That caused a few nearby elves to glance toward her in surprise.
Eva ignored them completely.
"The people of Justav have already endured the fall of one ruler before." she said quietly. "Nobody wishes to see the territory collapse into chaos again."
Sally observed her silently.
Kaede meanwhile leaned slightly toward Wisteria. "…I feel like they're fighting."
"They are." Wisteria whispered back immediately.
Acer nodded seriously. "Political warfare."
"What do you know about politics, Acer? You're barely four years old."
Sally ignored them. "Do the elves resent me?" she asked directly.
Several people in the chamber visibly stiffened hearing such a blunt question.
Eva however remained composed. "…Some do." she admitted honestly.
"Because I killed Clayman?" Sally asked.
"Yes."
The answer came immediately.
The chamber grew tense again.
Even Yamza looked slightly uncomfortable now.
And yet Eva continued speaking calmly. "But many also feared him."
That caused several expressions throughout the crowd to darken subtly.
Sally noticed. So did Kaede.
"…I see." Sally repeated softly. For a brief moment, the chamber fell quiet again. Then Sally spoke once more.
"I have no interest in ruling through fear alone."
"But I also have no intention of allowing instability."
The fog around the chamber thickened slightly.
"I do not expect immediate loyalty." Sally stated. "Nor do I particularly care about being loved."
Kaede puffed her cheeks slightly beside her.
Sally ignored that too.
"However…" Sally's gaze sharpened faintly. "Criticize me all you want, I will not tolerate betrayal."
Eva blinked slightly. "You're keeping me in my position?" she asked carefully.
"Yes."
"…Despite knowing some of the elves may resent you?"
Sally's expression remained completely calm.
"If I removed every person capable of disagreeing with me, this territory would collapse within a month."
Silence.
Then unexpectedly…
Eva smiled faintly.
"…I understand now." she murmured softly.
Sally narrowed her eyes slightly.
"Understand what?"
Eva did not reply, although Sally already knew what the woman was about to say.
"There's a lot of work to be done," she said calmly while looking over the gathered forces once more. "Some of you should rest as well. It has been a long day for everyone."
Honestly, that was an understatement.
Clayman had died.
Walpurgis had ended.
The balance of power across the continent had shifted violently in a single night.
And now an entirely new Demon Lord sat upon the throne of Justav.
Nobody in the chamber truly knew what the future would look like anymore.
The fog drifting throughout the arena slowly began to thin.
Yamza rose first, striking his fist against his chest respectfully before turning away to carry out Sally's orders.
Pirone followed shortly after, already muttering to herself about hidden records and intelligence vaults.
Adalman lingered for a few moments longer before bowing once more. "I shall begin reinforcing the outer defenses immediately."
Sally nodded. "Good."
Gradually, the massive chamber began emptying.
The tension that had dominated the room earlier slowly dissolved into subdued conversation and cautious movement.
Kaede stretched both arms upward once the crowd finally started dispersing. "That was exhausting."
"You didn't do anything." Wisteria pointed out.
"I did emotional support."
"That is not a military position."
"It should be."
Acer nodded seriously. "Mother's emotional support capabilities are extremely high."
"Thank you Acer."
"You're welcome."
"C'mon." Sally beckoned immediately while turning away from the chamber.
Ninehead rose from where the massive fox had been resting, its five tails swaying lazily as it followed behind Sally.
Sally led them deeper into the castle halls.
The corridors beyond the gathering chamber were quieter now.
Purple mist drifted lazily across the dark floors while silver magic circles occasionally flickered along the walls as the castle continued adapting itself to Sally's control.
Kaede walked beside her comfortably. "…You handled that really well." she said after a while.
Sally remained quiet for a brief moment.
"…I was improvising a lot, you know?"
Kaede blinked. "Seriously?"
"Yes."
"You didn't look nervous at all."
"Trust me, I was."
Kaede laughed softly.
The sound echoed gently through the otherwise quiet hallway.
Behind them, Wisteria leaned toward Acer slightly.
Eventually, Sally stopped in front of a massive pair of black doors covered in pale silver markings.
Unlike the rest of the castle, these doors lacked the oppressive atmosphere Clayman's territory normally carried.
Sally placed a hand against the door. The markings glowed softly before the doors slowly opened inward.
Kaede immediately peeked inside curiously.
The chamber beyond was enormous.
Tall windows lined the distant walls, though thick magical mist obscured whatever lay beyond them. Shelves filled with books and artifacts stretched across one side of the room, while a massive bed rested near the center beneath dark silver curtains.
Compared to the rest of the castle, the room surprisingly felt… normal.
Well.
Mostly normal.
There were still floating eyes in a few corners.
Wisteria immediately turned around. "Wonderful. Acer, we're leaving."
"Understood."
Ninehead lazily followed after them as well, the giant fox clearly having no interest in remaining nearby.
The doors slowly closed behind the three of them.
Then the chamber became quiet.
Kaede wandered further inside while looking around curiously. "So are you gonna rename everyone now that you're in charge? Or is that too much work? Because honestly some of Clayman's naming sense was kinda..."
The doors locked behind them with a loud click.
Kaede blinked.
Then Sally grabbed her suddenly.
"Eh..."
Kaede barely had enough time to react before Sally pushed her firmly against the wall.
The illusionist's silver eyes were glowing faintly now.
"S-Sally?"
"Shut up and kiss me." Sally said immediately.
Kaede stared at her for exactly one second.
Then her face turned bright red.
"…Oh."