After ending the communication with Velyra, Norax Duskgale leaned back in the chair. He let the silence settle for a moment before turning toward Clestia.
"Clestia."
She immediately straightened, hands behind her back.
"Yes, Master Anything you command."
Norax pointed toward the door.
"Tell our members this:—focus on the Second Powerhouse. If they see anything suspicious, they report immediately No need to take action Only observation."
Clestia nodded without hesitation.
"As you wish, Master. I'll relay the order at once."
She bowed and left the room swiftly.
When the door closed, Norax exhaled.
In the underworld… there are only two methods to rule everything negotiation or domination.
And domination usually means killing the existing powerhouse.
The first powerhouse—
Garron Steeljaw.
A prideful, arrogant thug king. His fists ruled the slums, his hands controlled thugs, bars, casinos… and, as rumors whispered, the nobles' drug and weapon channels.
He and the original Norax fought dozens of times before the peace negotiation.
The second powerhouse—
Madame Kyra A masked woman, powerful mage, and the ruler of the Redlight District.
She never sided with anyone, not nobles, not organizations, not the kingdom.
Even if someone conquered the entire underworld, they could never remove her from that district.
Norax rubbed his forehead.
He stood up.
Clestia had already left the mansion.
"…Then I guess it's time to try that."
He walked to the training grounds behind the mansion—an old noble estate he had bought and renovated when building Blue Crescent.
The huge training field was quiet, lit by mana lanterns. Norax inhaled deeply.
Shadow magic. The signature ability of the final boss in any case other name original magic
Shadow magic wasn't considered a normal element like fire or ice.
It was classified as a creation-type magic—defense, offense, scouting, restraint, all rolled into one.
Seriously… I really was a crazy writer when making villains>
He raised his hand, pointing two fingers ahead.
"Alright… let's try it. Mana, manifest."
Nothing happened.
He frowned.
"…Shadow bullet."
Nothing.
"…Shadow bullet pew pew?"
Still nothing.
"…Shadow bullet pwe pwe pew?"
Silence.
Norax lowered his hand slowly, expression dead.
"Did… did I do something wrong?"
—BOOOOM!!
—BOOM!!
Suddenly two explosions erupted behind the far wall.
"W-WHAT?!"
Several silhouettes were blasted into the air, crashing onto the ground.
Servants and maids rushed out in shock.
"Boss!! Are you hurt?!"
"How did this happen?!"
"Shadow magic? Did the boss do that?!"
Norax blinked.
"I–I didn't even mean to shoot anything…"
Guards sprinted over and froze when they saw the collapsed men.
"Assassins!!"
One assassin, barely conscious, coughed blood and shouted,
"D-Damn you, Norax Duskgale… h-how did you notice us…?!"
Norax's face twisted.
The guards kneeled instantly.
"Boss! We sincerely apologize! We failed to detect them entering the mansion! Please punish us!"
Maids bowed their heads.
"We're sorry, Master! Because of our carelessness—"
Norax stared at them blankly.
He coughed lightly and waved his hand.
"Don't kneel. Just check the entire mansion. This must never happen again."
The guards bowed.
"Thank you for your mercy, sir!"
"Yes, Boss!"
They dragged the assassins away while the maids hurried to clean the rubble.
Norax scratched his head.
"…My life literally depends on this place now Please work properly."
He let out a long sigh.
Suddenly, he felt lonely.
"…For some reason… I miss Clestia."
Meanwhile, in the Underworld's main market—
Clestia suddenly sneezed.
"Achoo—!"
She rubbed her nose, frowning.
"…Why do I feel like something troublesome happened at the mansion?"
She hurried her steps.
A few hours later, Clestia stormed into the study, her pink eyes burning with cold fury.
The guards stood in a line, heads bowed so low they might touch the floor.
"How," she growled, "are you all so careless? I left for a few minutes—minutes!—and assassins slipped inside again. This is the third time!"
Every guard trembled.
Norax, sitting behind his desk, choked on his coffee.
Cough—!
He raised a hand weakly.
"C-Clestia, my, my. Calm down. I handled everything—"
"You didn't handle anything!" she snapped at him without hesitation.
"If you hadn't noticed them, if you were still injured— what then?! You just recovered and you're already being reckless!"
Norax blinked <…Isn't she my subordinate? Why is she scolding me like I'm the child?>
After what felt like ten minutes of nonstop lecturing, she finally exhaled and glared at him.
"Anyway… I did everything you ordered. And don't worry— I interrogated those assassins."
Her expression twisted into something terrifyingly sweet Norax swallowed hard.
<…She's scary right now. Truly scary. As expected the final boss side kick>
He coughed "I appreciate the hard work, but interrogations won't help much. We need to find the main source first."
Then he tapped the desk.
"For now, Clestia, you stay beside me."
Clestia immediately knelt in front of him, placing her hands gently on his lap.
"I will always stay by your side," she said softly.
"…Now. Pat my head."
Norax stiffened.
"W-Wait— why do you sound like I'm the frightened one here?"
But she continued staring expectantly.
He sighed and patted her head.
Clestia smiled like a blooming flower.
"…Good."
Norax cleared his throat and straightened up.
"Clestia, listen. The next six months will be hell for Blue Crescent. So take care of yourself too."
She stood and bowed.
"Yes, Master."
Norax nodded."We move faster than everyone else. After all…"
<@Applepie wants me to change the fate of the world, >he thought silently.
A while later, the two finished the overwhelming mountain of papers in the study.
Norax massaged his temples.
"…Finally. Done."
Clestia handed him the final report.
" Master , about the new commander…? Are you really find someone"
"Yes." Norax pulled out an envelope. "Send this letter to the café owner. Tell him to find this man."
Clestia opened the letter and read the description:
> 'A blonde man with blue eyes Womanizer.
A con artist scamming noblewomen in the capital.
Name hidden. Real name: Zen.'
Norax leaned back."He's a commoner like us but talented. I need him."
Clestia folded the letter.
"As you command."
"And prepare a carriage with guards," Norax added. "Not just anyone— pick guards who have strong mental fortitude. We're visiting Madam Kyra this week if possible. And take rest"
Clestia pouted slightly.
"…You should rest with me too."
"W-What?"
"Nothing." She turned away, hiding the pout and left to carry out his orders.
Norax sighed and headed to his room.
As soon as he entered, he kicked the bed lightly, then opened a drawer. Inside lay a worn notebook.
Nostalgic… at least I get the original Norax's memories from this body.
He opened the notebook and started reading—
General Notes on Shadow Magic
1. Clear mind and imagination form the base of shadow magic.
2. Shadows can be shaped. Imagined objects can be created. Living creatures require shadow cores.
3. Non-attribute magic uses different breath cycles; regular mana flow fails.
Norax flipped the page—
—and froze.
A handwritten line read:
> 'Clestia is my cutie pie. She asked me to call her but I refused. She's cuter than any princess.'
Norax's face turned bright red.
He slammed the notebook shut and groaned.
Somewhere else, far from the mansion—
In the Redlight District, a girl with soft pink hair and pink eyes sat at a window, staring at the moon.
Her voice was small.
"…Mother won't let me leave the room again. She's avoiding me… maybe she's angry."
She hugged her knees.
"I… I want to see Mama."
Then her eyes glimmered with mischief.
"…Just a little prank."
She grabbed a cloak, wrapped herself tightly, and tiptoed toward the door.
And then she slipped out silently into the night.
The carriage waited at the front gates of Blue Crescent Mansion.
Two young guards in uniform stood beside it—straight posture, calm faces, disciplined to the bone.
Beside them, Clestia stood proudly in her new maid uniform.
Norax stared.
<…As expected from Clestia. I said "one week," and somehow we're already heading to the Redlight District. Her efficiency is terrifying.>
He glanced at her outfit again.
"Clestia… we're going out. Isn't a maid dress a bit… odd?"
Clestia puffed her cheeks.
"This is a new design I made. Myself You don't like it?"
Norax froze Clestia's eyes sparkled with sad puppy-dog disappointment.
"…Master?"
He groaned.
"F-Fine. Fine. But buy other clothes too. We need variety."
Clestia's ears perked up like a happy cat.
"Yes! I will make new designs in maid style too!"
"Oi—! That's not what I meant!" Norax snapped, but she was already humming in joy.
And so the carriage rolled forward.
After several hours, they left the carriage and walked into the Redlight District with the guards.
The moment they entered—
The scent hit them.
Perfume. Alcohol. Smoke. Aphrodite drug faint in the air.
Nobles walked drunkenly. Women in revealing dresses smiled at rich men.
It was a place of color, noise, and poison.
Clestia exhaled.
"…I never liked coming here."
Norax walked beside him, sharp eyes scanning every corner.
"I don't like it either. But if we want results, we have no choice."
Norax glanced back at the guards—
Surprisingly, they were unaffected by the smell or sights.
Good. At least Clestia didn't pick weak-willed ones.
They turned into a narrow side street.
Just then—
A small figure sprinted toward them.
"Move—!"
She bumped straight into Norax, bounced off him like a ball, and landed on her butt.
She instantly pointed at him.
"You ugly!! Step aside"
Then ran away.
Clestia burst into soft laughter.
Norax blinked, stunned.
'Wait… she bumped into me and called me ugly?'
He turned to Clestia.
"…Are you enjoying this?"
Clestia straightened, shaking her head violently.
"No! N-Never! Master is handsome!"
The guards behind her nodded furiously.
Norax's eye twitched.
'…Great. Wonderful encouragement.'
He crouched and noticed something glimmering on the ground.
A pink star-shaped pendant.
He picked it up.
Engraved on the back:
Elsie Lunawer
Norax frowned.
"…This name sounds familiar."
Clestia peered over his shoulder.
"celstia , let's follow that girl."
Clestia then grabbed her chest dramatically.
"D-Don't tell me… you're bored of me now?"
"Shut up," Norax muttered. "Stop teasing. Let's just find her."
Three hours later.
They found nothing.
Clestia wiped sweat from her forehead.
"Master… must we really find her? We didn't come here for this."
"You're right. We'll try one last time. It's not like she'll fall from the sky—"
Thump!
Something dropped on Norax's head.
A girl.
The same girl.
She landed on him like a stage platform, standing there proudly.
Norax lay on the ground, eyes blank.
<…Why? Just why do I need to endure this?>
Clestia clapped dramatically.
"Master… are you God now? Girls fall from the sky into your arms."
"Shut up, Clestia."
The girl blinked down at him.
"It's not my fault! I told you to step aside! I was busy!"
Norax grabbed her wrist and growled,
"Shut up. And take this. You dropped it."
He handed the pendant to her.
She snatched it, then—
"Hey, idiot!" she snapped. "Because of you I'm delayed! I was going to meet Lady Ky— I mean, Madam Kyra!"
Norax dusted off his clothes and walked past her.
"Good for you."
But then—
"W-Wait!" she shouted. "Are you going to meet Ma— Madam Kyra? Take me with you! Please!"
Norax raised a brow.
"Why should I? Also… aren't you being followed?"
She froze.
"…How did you know?"
"It's obvious. A girl running through the Redlight District in a cloak? Suspicious as hell."
Norax turned away.
"Anyway, we're busy. Leave."
But she grabbed his waist from behind like a desperate child.
"Please! Please please please! I have important business with Madam Kyra!"
Norax's eye twitched.
Clestia hummed.
"Master… you look like you're enjoying the attention."
"I'm not, Clestia."
The girl pressed her forehead against Norax's back dramatically.
"Please! Pretty please!"
Norax sighed deeply.
"Fine. Elsie Lunawer. But stop embarrassing me in public."
Elsie lit up instantly.
"Thank you!!"
She then turned to Clestia.
"Your dress is so cute!"
Clestia's eyes sparkled.
"Really? Do you like this? I made it myself!"
She began spinning like she was in a fashion show.
Norax dusted his coat again.
Elsie Lunawer…
He exhaled!
Norax straightened.
"Let's go. No one knows what'll happen in that meeting."
And they walked deeper into the heart of the Redlight District.