Late at night, as I surveyed the construction site, the weary expressions of the workers, who had been laboring tirelessly for several nights, caught my attention.

Thinking of offering some encouragement, I approached them, but they were so startled that they bowed in greeting. I waved them off and quickly said the words that would inspire them the most.

“Just a little longer. Thanks to your hard work, the construction is progressing rapidly. Once my part is finished, I’ll make sure to include a bonus in your pay.”

“Is that true, Diakonos?”

“Have you ever known me to make empty promises?”

“Never! Did you hear that, everyone? Let’s push through a bit more!”

As soon as I mentioned the bonus, the atmosphere at the construction site became lively. Just then, I noticed Martina Ivanova, the squad leader of the Astraphe 4th Squad stationed here in the Northern Boundary Region, approaching with a look of amazement.

“…Impressive. So this is why people follow you so eagerly?”

Diakonos shook his head dismissively, responding to her comment.

“Not at all. I’m not impressive. I simply have the ability to provide what they need. Anyone with this level of authority can do that.”

Leading people isn’t particularly difficult. It’s about identifying what motivates them and providing that, and they will happily follow.

Moreover, Diakonos was the head of the wealthy Dolos family in the city. He had the means to offer material support, which is why people followed him. He said so, but Martina chuckled and replied.

“It’s remarkable for someone in your position to come all the way to such a dangerous front line and pay individual attention to the workers. You also tend to those who deal with the carcasses of lesser demonic beasts, don’t you? You must have a lot of work on your plate; aren’t you tired?”

“As the head of the family, I must ensure everything is on track at the site. Just sitting in my office waiting for reports won’t suffice. Despite my age, I still have vitality. In fact, today, I’d have liked to pitch in and help move some burdens, but everyone insisted that I shouldn’t.”

“Ahaha, really. I can’t fathom how you can be so passionate.”

Martina inquired with a broad grin as Diakonos calmly scanned the workers at the site.

“Well, just as they work hard to earn their living, I have my own motivations to work hard.”

“…Motivations?”

“…Well, if I had to say.”

Turning his body, Diakonos gazed at the city’s skyline, illuminated in the distance.

Invisible but surrounded by barriers to fend off magical creatures, this was the city where humans could only exist within limited space.

Looking at that scene, Diakonos quietly replied.

“…For humanity’s happiness.”

Humanity’s happiness.

Upon hearing those words, Martina found herself speechless.

If someone else had said it, she could have considered it empty talk. But this man before her, Diakonos, would never utter insincere words.

As if to prove it, his eyes radiated a sublime clarity akin to a saint.

Though he wasn’t an active hero, in spirit, he embodied heroism more than anyone else. Martina bowed her head in quiet reverence.

Diakonos, who returned the respect to her, looked back at the cityscape.

Every time victims arose in that city, he felt a sense of responsibility.

It saddened him greatly to witness them unable to enjoy the happiness they rightfully deserved.

Hence, Diakonos Dolos prayed today with compassion and empathy.

“For the sake of humanity’s happiness.”

Wishing that as many people as possible can experience true happiness just like that.

*

In the deep of night, enveloped in even deeper darkness, female voices resonated.

“Well, the task is almost complete as ordered.”

“It’s great to hear it’s going according to plan! Ah, I can’t wait! I’m so curious about what will happen now that we have a useful piece on the board!”

As a hooded woman trembled in excited anticipation, a girl beside her glanced at what the woman was looking at, only to frown.

There, tied up and gagged, was the self-proclaimed Witch of Pride, Freida, struggling with all her might.

“Ugh-!!!! Uggh-!!!!”

“Ughh-!!!!”

As Freida flailed her limbs while bound, the girl inquired of the woman with a serious expression.

“…You really intend to use her? Is she going to be alright?”

Seeing Freida’s desperate actions at the mention of being a game piece, the girl questioned the woman with genuine concern.

“This one is a bit too … unruly to be used as a game piece.”

To be honest, the girl preferred the obedient type.

Moreover, she couldn’t understand the woman’s intentions of wanting to use this seemingly uncontrollable individual in a project that appeared carefully constructed.

In response to the girl’s disapproval, the woman grinned slyly.

“That’s precisely why I want to use her. Her abilities are a perfect match, and the fact she can’t be fully controlled has its own charm, you know? What do you think? Don’t you agree, Halfwit?”

“Shut up! Don’t call me a Halfwit, you damn witch!!”

Freida, indignant at the woman referring to her as a Halfwit, managed to bite through her gag and shouted.

But even in her frenzied state, the woman just patted her head affectionately, amused.

“Since you lost to me, you’re free to call yourself whatever you want, right? You worthless, weakling, halfwit trash~.”

“Ughhh!! If you had just fought fairly, I would never have lost! If it’s a duel, don’t just run away like a coward. Besides, bringing your lackeys to a one-on-one fight? What do you even think a battle is, you cowardly wench!!”

“Boo-hoo, I never said I’d fight you one-on-one. Even in a one-on-one, I don’t think I would lose to a Halfwit like you, but it’s just cumbersome. As long as you win, that’s all that matters, right? And then you make excuses after losing? How pathetic for a loser to be so ugly. Just the worst~.”

“Argh!!! Let me go! I’ll kill you!!”

“Could you be quiet for a bit?”

“–!!! -!!!!”

“Ahaha, haha~!”

After twisting space with her ability to silence Freida, the girl shot a exasperated glance at the woman continuing to toy with Freida.

The woman seemed to find joy in toying with Freida, but honestly, the presence next to her was no mere toy.

In terms of pure combat power, the girl was more likely to lose to Freida.

Moreover, when the girl had sneakily watched the previous altercation, she had seen Freida, enraged by the continuous ridicule, effortlessly slice through layers of barriers created by summoned demonic beasts.

She knew that it was impossible under normal circumstances.

That must be Freida’s unique ability, the girl could cautiously deduce.

Of course, that didn’t mean she would lose if she fought Freida.

After all, the differences in abilities were vast.

If they were to face each other, the girl was confident she could subdue her; that’s what she thought inwardly.

While lost in thought for a moment, the woman, perhaps satisfied with her teasing, finally removed the gag from Freida.

“…Just kill me. I’d rather die than be treated like this. I beg you; please don’t humiliate me any further.”

“Hah, you’re just stubborn with useless pride. But I refuse. Since I won, I hold your life and death in my hands.”

“…Then what the hell are you planning to do by holding me like this?”

“I told you. I plan to use you as a game piece. Since you lost the duel, I’m going to need you to grant me one request.”

“Do you think I’ll comply after being treated like this?”

Freida shot a defiant look at the woman, who merely smirked.

“Of course not. If only you weren’t a Halfwit, if we could have made a clean contract before the duel, agreeing that if I win, you would have one request. But well, there are other experts who can handle that, you know? They’ll probably coerce you into granting any request soon enough.”

As she spoke while glancing back, the girl frowned.

“…You want me to do it?”

“Sorry, but please!”

The bright and cheerful voice of the woman, accompanied by a wink, made the girl furrow her brows for a moment before she sighed, unable to resist.

I knew it would come to this, and as the girl looked at Freida, a sharp glare of defiance met her.

Ahhh, this type is annoying; they have such inflated egos for no reason.

Of course, I could handle it.

The girl murmured under her breath, feeling annoyed, before grabbing Freida’s head and forcing her to kneel at her feet.

At that moment, Freida, sensing she was about to be subjected to something, looked up at the girl, growling lowly.

“…Do you think I’ll succumb to pain? I’ll resist even if it means dying!”

“Don’t worry. I’m not trying to hurt you. I just want to—”

To make you feel good to the extent that it feels like you’re dying.

“Now, be happy.”

With the girl’s whisper, a viscous liquid oozed from her body and seeped into Freida’s form.