The Night and The Minister

"My priority right now is ensuring the shelter and proper clothing of our village," I said plainly, my voice calm yet resolute.

"I'd also like to prepare clothing for future use—along with weapons and armor," I added, letting the weight of responsibility settle between us.

"That's easy!" Kaijin replied confidently, folding his thick arms with a grin.

"But..." Garm interjected with a glance toward the forge.

"Even if you start crafting those swords now..." Dord began, only to be finished by me.

"Can you finish in time?" I asked, meeting Kaijin's eyes.

The dwarf scratched his head, but the spark in his eyes didn't waver. "Well, I'll do what I can. No promises—but when has that ever stopped me?"

"Then let's get started," I said.

"Right!" the three dwarf siblings said in unison, raising their fists with enthusiasm.

"Sir Kaijin," I said as the thought struck me, "would it be possible for me to examine the first sword you made?"

Without hesitation, Kaijin gestured to Garm. The older dwarf retrieved the weapon with care, holding it out with both hands as though presenting a sacred relic.

The sword shimmered under the forge light. Its hilt was golden, intricately carved with dwarven runes. The blade itself gleamed faintly, as if harboring a quiet inner light.

"It's magnificent," I murmured, taking the sword into my hands.

"The blade seems to shine… is it enchanted?" I asked, tracing a finger along the cold, luminous steel.

"That's because it's made with a magisteel core," Kaijin explained, smiling proudly. "To put it simply—this sword grows stronger, adapting to the user's spirit and style. It's a weapon that matures alongside its wielder."

"Astounding," I said softly, the idea fascinating me.

"If I may…" I asked, raising my other hand in front of my chest and spreading my fingers wide. "Iris."

A faint hum echoed as fragments of light condensed in the air. To the dwarves' astonishment, exact replicas of the sword formed one by one—glimmering, flawless creations suspended in midair.

"Twenty longswords, all forged from a magisteel pattern," I said with a gentle smile.

"What!?" Kaijin, Garm, and Dord all exclaimed in unison, their jaws slack.

The astonishment on their faces was worth the effort. Still, I knew this was just the beginning.

---

As hours passed and night cloaked the sky, the forge grew quiet, its fires resting.

"A party?" I asked, eyebrow raised.

"Yeah! I made my delivery on time—thanks to you!" Kaijin grinned, clearly excited.

"You didn't have to go through the trouble," I said, though a faint smile tugged at my lips.

"Oh, come on! There'll be tons of cute elf girls there!" Garm chimed in, winking.

"Yeah, it's a place called Butterflies of the Night," Dord added. "Girls of all ages—young to mature—they'll wait on you hand and foot!"

Their laughter and easy enthusiasm felt warm, but in my mind, old memories stirred.

Anos… Answer me. Why did you exterminate the elves? There could've been another way…

The memory of the forest aflame haunted me still, but I buried the image and nodded to join the celebration.

---

The scent of perfume and soft laughter met us as we entered the lavish lounge of Butterflies of the Night. A dozen elf girls greeted us with curtsies and sweet smiles—hair of silver, gold, ebony, and rose; skin as varied as moonlight and dusk.

"Welcome!"

"I wonder how Anos would react if he saw this..." I muttered.

"Oh my… how handsome!" a young blonde elf with bright eyes and a generous figure exclaimed before suddenly pressing herself into my chest.

"A-ah... I can feel them..." I thought, caught in surprise.

"Hey! I saw him first!" A more mature elf woman stepped in, her silken dress brushing my skin as she stole me away in a graceful embrace.

"Her dress is thin...!" I thought, heart pounding.

Then, another girl—dark-skinned, with long black hair and amber eyes—wrapped her arms around me from behind.

"He's so perfect!" she sighed.

One after another, they surrounded me, their laughter melodic as their bodies leaned into mine.

"After all that resistance, you seem to be enjoying yourself quite a bit," Kaijin remarked from across the room, sipping from his mug.

"I—I wouldn't say that..." I muttered, face slightly flushed.

The girls giggled, and with a resigned chuckle, I finally gave in and returned their affection with a gentle embrace.

---

We sat together, the elves pouring drinks and laughter flowing with ease.

"Man, that threw me for a loop!" Kaijin said between gulps. "I busted my ass forging that sword, and you—" he pointed at me with a grin, "you just made twenty perfect copies in seconds!"

"I only succeeded because your original was masterfully crafted. It took me a moment to study it," I replied humbly, sipping from my mug.

"Hah! Next time, I'll make one so amazing that not even you could replicate it!" he declared, raising his mug high. "To friendly rivalry!"

"Refill, please," I said, and an elf girl gracefully refilled my drink.

For a rare moment, I allowed myself to relax. Life in Elarion, the monster nation I led, was a constant trial by fire. This fleeting peace was a blessing.

Meanwhile, somewhere deep in the dungeon, Gobta remained asleep and thoroughly forgotten.

---

"Arceus-san, would you like to try this?" the dark-skinned elf girl asked, miming a massage.

"M-Ma'am… we mustn't..." I said, shaking my head as less noble thoughts crossed my mind.

"Then how about a reading?" she asked, revealing a crystal ball.

"A reading?"

"What about the person he's destined to be with?" the blonde elf suggested.

The others leaned in excitedly.

"Let's see…" the seer elf murmured, her hands floating above the orb.

"Hmm… I see nothing!" she teased.

Laughter erupted.

"Okay, seriously this time," she said, focusing again.

The orb glowed faintly—and an image surfaced: children waving farewell to a woman clad in armor, scars marking her solemn face. Her features were unfamiliar, yet distinctly Eastern.

"I've never seen her… but she resembles someone from the eastern tribes of Elarion," I whispered.

"She's beautiful," Kaijin commented.

"Are you curious now?" the dark elf girl teased.

"No fair! He's cheating on us!" the blonde elf said, hugging my arm again.

Then, a harsh voice cut through the levity.

"Should you really be wasting time in a place like this, Kaijin?"

Kaijin narrowed his eyes. "Minister Vesta..."

I turned and studied the newcomer—elegantly dressed, eyes sharp and judgmental.

"The deadline for the longswords is—"

"Already met," Kaijin interrupted. "Sent them just before sunset."

"What!? You sent them!?"

"All twenty," Kaijin confirmed.

"B-but that's..." Vesta stammered, recovering quickly. "Ahem, well. Meeting expectations is hardly praiseworthy."

Then, his gaze shifted to me.

"And this one—he reeks of impropriety. A womanizer like him doesn't belong in a place of class."

"You've got a problem?" I asked, voice low but even.

"Manager, do you allow men like this inside?"

"He's no womanizer," the manager said gently. "Just kind, and quite well-mannered."

"Then you're blind," Vesta snapped, seizing a nearby mug—and pouring its contents over my head.

Silence fell.

I closed my eyes. My inner monster stirred—dark blood pounding through my veins like drums of war.

"Don't worry, I'm okay," I said softly to the girls beside me. "Did your dresses get wet?"

I breathed deeply, holding back the storm within.

Then Kaijin rose.

Without a word, his fist crashed into Vesta's smug face, sending him reeling backward.

"You'll regret treating my guest like that," Kaijin growled, cracking his knuckles. "I promise you that."