Early in the morning, Shendu pushed open the door to the guest room and stepped outside.
As expected of an inn prepared for royal candidates, each residence resembled a private courtyard. Inside were not only gardens, but also lawns and even a small patch of woodland.
The grounds were spacious, and the decorations were exceptionally luxurious—second only to a noble estate. It was obvious that considerable effort had been invested to accommodate the candidates for the throne.
After Shendu had infused Emilia with the memories of her past, she suddenly noticed a streak of blue standing in the corridor by the door.
There was no need to guess. In this inn, the only one with blue hair was Rem.
She had most likely overheard a portion of the conversation between Shendu and Emilia just now.
So when Shendu stepped out, Rem's expression was especially peculiar as she stared at the silver-haired, red-eyed girl before her.
"Good morning, Lady Shendu!"
When Shendu entered the courtyard, she noticed Rem holding a broom and pretending to sweep. Seeing her appear, she offered a greeting.
"Morning, Rem. Why are you cleaning? The inn staff should be responsible for that."
Shendu looked at her meaningfully and smiled.
"Well... I was just passing the time."
Seeing the teasing look on Shendu's face, Rem stopped pretending. She set the broom aside decisively and gave up on the act.
Finding the blue-haired little maid unexpectedly adorable, Shendu quickly stepped closer.
As she approached, Rem's heartbeat quickened uncontrollably, and a faint blush spread across her cheeks.
"What's wrong, Rem? Do you have a fever?"
Shendu placed a hand against Rem's forehead and teased her lightly.
"No. I'm just a little excited to see Lady Shendu. Please don't mind it."
Although she said that, Rem's gaze remained fixed on the girl before her, filled with unmistakable fondness.
"By the way, where's Ram? Rushing all the way to the royal capital yesterday was quite surprising."
Shendu spoke with a trace of amusement, not having expected Ram to come as well.
"Sister is making breakfast. It should be ready soon."
"Mm."
After hearing Shendu's question, Rem pointed calmly toward the kitchen.
At present, Roswaal had gone to the Sanctuary. Rem and Ram had come to the royal capital. There was no master left in Roswaal's domain. It was obvious someone had arranged this deliberately.
Who could have done such a thing?
Shendu already knew the answer. Most likely it was that clown who followed the Gospel, intentionally separating them from the territory to set certain schemes in motion.
If the villagers of Arlam Village were attacked in their absence, Shendu would not care in the slightest. She was no saint. If they died, they died.
"Rem, you once told me that your homeland was destroyed by the Witch Cult, correct?"
After some casual chatter, Shendu abruptly shifted the topic, bringing up a matter that struck Rem sharply.
The moment the words fell, Rem's expression stiffened. The innocence on her face dimmed, replaced by a trace of gloom.
"Yes. That's why I hate everything related to the Witch Cult. Last time, your servant carried a faint scent of the Witch, so I didn't like him either."
Rem was naturally referring to Natsuki Subaru. Though the Witch's scent on him had been faint during their first meeting, it had still filled her with disgust.
"What if I told you that the one who destroyed your homeland was someone else—and that this person even showed you a bit of kindness afterward? Would you still seek revenge?"
Seeing Rem's expression grow increasingly uneasy, Shendu dropped another bombshell.
"What? Lady Shendu, you know the real reason behind our homeland's destruction?"
Rem immediately grabbed Shendu's hands, her eyes shining with anticipation as she looked at the silver-haired, red-eyed girl before her.
"Of course. Do you want to know everything?"
Shendu smiled faintly. She quite liked Rem.
In her view, Rem's decisive love and hatred far surpassed Ram's hesitation and confusion—especially Ram's muddled feelings toward Roswaal. If she had to choose, she preferred Rem without question.
"Yes!"
Rem's answer was as firm as ever.
Shendu then fabricated a version of events that was as reasonable as possible.
Roswaal, following the instructions of the Gospel, had believed that destroying the oni clan's homeland was the correct choice.
He had sent people to masquerade as the Witch Cult and burn down the village, severing Ram's horn in the process.
Unaware of the truth, Rem and Ram had then become maids under Roswaal.
Later, when Ram was five or six years old and cleaning Roswaal's estate, she gradually learned the truth—but buried it deep within her heart.
Caught between revenge and gratitude toward Roswaal, she became unable to distinguish clearly between the two.
Listening to this, anger surged within Rem.
"This is the true reason behind the destruction of the oni clan's homeland. If you were to face Roswaal again, what would you do?"
Watching Rem open her eyes once more, Shendu asked with a faint, knowing smile.
"Kill him. Gratitude and hatred cannot be mixed together. He is my enemy. I will deal with him personally."
Rem's eyes grew cold. She felt her sister was too weak—placing vengeance for their homeland second.
"Don't worry, Rem. I will help you take your revenge. You will kill Roswaal with your own hands."
Shendu stepped forward and drew the steadfast girl into her arms, offering comfort before continuing softly.
"Would you like to form a contract with me—and become mine?"
With her crimson eyes, Shendu gazed gently at Rem.
Feeling Shendu's concern and hearing her promise, Rem was deeply moved. Following such a master did not seem like a bad choice at all.
"Yes, Lady Shendu. You are far better than that bastard Roswaal. I am willing to follow you forever."
At the thought of forming a contract, Rem decisively shifted her loyalty—from Roswaal's maid to Lady Shendu's exclusive maid.
"Good. Then let's begin."
Shendu snapped her fingers. A sheet of paper radiating black magic appeared before them, inscribed with ominous demonic script that exuded dark energy.
"Sign your name, and the contract will be officially established. From now on, no matter where I go, I can take you with me."
Shendu explained calmly.
But Rem moved faster. The moment she saw the place meant for a signature, she wrote her name in this world's script without hesitation.
Instantly, the black contract burst into flames and turned to ash, transforming into two beams of light that entered their bodies.
In that moment, a connection formed between them.
Rem's emotions and memories were now visible to Shendu at any time. She no longer had secrets.
"As for your sister, I will handle her appropriately. I will erase her affection for Roswaal and correct that mistake."
Shendu said expressionlessly.
In her view, Ram was inferior to Rem. Now that she had formed a contract with Rem, she could take the girl away at any time.
"Thank you, Lady Shendu," Rem said gratefully.
Strictly speaking, Shendu did not particularly like Ram's indecisive personality—the inability to distinguish clearly between gratitude and hatred.
She saw no need to form such a contract with Ram.
After all, Rem was unique. Her sister could not compare to her in the slightest.
That was precisely why Shendu had chosen to form a contract with her.
After secretly forming a master-servant contract with Rem and bringing the little maid under her command, Shendu headed to the living room.
Early in the morning, Ram had already finished preparing breakfast and arranged it neatly on the table. When she saw Shendu and Rem appear, she immediately stepped forward to greet them.
"Good morning, Lady Shendu. Rem, you're clinging to Lady Shendu again."
Ram looked somewhat displeased. Seeing her younger sister getting close to Shendu felt far too cunning.
"My apologies. Lady Shendu seemed lonely, so naturally I wanted to accompany her. Sister was busy just now and surely didn't have the time to keep Lady Shendu company."
Now that Rem knew the truth, she harbored a slight grievance toward her sister. Gone was her previous deference—her attitude was completely different from before.
"Alright, enough of that. Let's eat first."
Shendu sat at the dining table. Rem nodded and placed the prepared breakfast before her, while she herself stood quietly at the side.
"By the way, I went to Lady Emilia's room earlier. She was crying. Lady Shendu, do you know the reason?"
"I couldn't even deliver the breakfast inside."
Ram recalled trying to check whether Emilia was awake, only to find the door locked from within. The royal candidate had been sobbing loudly.
"It's nothing. Don't bring the breakfast in for now. Emilia isn't feeling well. Let her rest for a while."
After a moment's thought, Shendu gave her instructions.
She believed Emilia needed time alone to properly accept the reality of her past. If she could overcome it, the girl would surely grow from the experience.
"Yes, Lady Shendu."
Ram did not understand, but she obediently nodded.
Shendu had never liked flowers raised in a greenhouse. Protecting Emilia was one thing—after all, she was someone Shendu liked.
But that did not mean she would indulge the girl endlessly. To survive in this world where the strong prey on the weak, one had to change oneself. What Shendu had given Emilia was precisely that opportunity.
After finishing breakfast, Shendu stood up and casually addressed Rem and Ram, who were preparing to clean up.
"Rem, Ram, I'm going to the Divine Dragon Merchant Guild. I'll leave things here to you."
"Yes, Lady Shendu. Please rest assured. We'll handle everything."
"No problem, Lady Shendu. Leave it to us."
Hearing that Shendu intended to go there, neither of them attempted to stop her. Instead, they bowed in unison, their movements surprisingly synchronized.
After leaving the inn, Shendu stepped onto the clean streets. The royal capital remained lively, and public order was well maintained.
It had not been long since she arrived in this world, but she was gradually adapting to life in another realm.
If not for the system giving her an overwhelming advantage, she probably would not have been much different from Natsuki Subaru.
As a former shut-in, she likely did not even possess Subaru's athletic build, nor his steadfast heart and resolve to face death repeatedly.
That was precisely why she had chosen to save Natsuki Subaru. Sometimes, looking at that hopeless protagonist, she felt as though she were seeing a reflection of her former self.
After a brief moment of reflection, Shendu smoothly entered the headquarters of the Divine Dragon Merchant Guild. Upon arrival, Old Man Rom informed her that Akane was not currently at the guild.
Akane was at a hillside on the outskirts of the royal capital. After learning her location, Shendu folded space itself with spatial magic.
In the blink of an eye, she appeared where Old Man Rom had indicated.
As she approached the hillside, Shendu noticed numerous guild members dressed in purple robes stationed across the slope.
Not far away, a compressed barrier enveloped the hill, occasionally releasing ripples of magical power. Shendu could clearly sense a powerful force within.
"Looks like Akane has done well. I wonder how far the progress has gone."
With another teleport, Shendu appeared atop the hillside.
Seeing their guild leader arrive, the surrounding mages immediately bowed. Their attitude was exceptionally respectful—almost fervent in its admiration.
"Guild Leader, the Vice Guild Leader is ahead, carrying out your instructions," one of the purple-robed mages said respectfully.
"Lead the way."
With a wave of her hand, Shendu followed the mage to the target location.
Upon reaching a corner of the hill, she saw that a furnace-like deep shaft had been excavated into the ground. Blazing heat surged upward from within.
Inside the molten pit, a katana-like weapon was submerged in magma-like liquid. Newly inscribed magic arrays surrounded it, amplifying the flames.
"Akane, is the task I assigned completed?"
The moment she arrived, Shendu smiled at Akane, her expression filled with expectation.
"Hehe, of course it's done. The rest depends on you, Master!"
Upon seeing Shendu, Akane beamed and hurried over, wrapping herself around her arm.
"Good. Leave it to me."
Following her earlier design, Shendu took out pieces of mithril and orichalcum, engraving them with magic and arranging them in precise sequence before gradually integrating them into the weapon.
As the final arrangement was completed, the various magical inscriptions formed a perfect cycle. A golden light radiated from the blade.
"Perfect timing. It's finally complete."
Watching the pseudo-divine artifact take shape, Shendu snapped her fingers once more. A scabbard and hilt materialized instantly, and the blade flew straight out of the furnace.
When the newly forged sword hovered before her, Shendu examined the jet-black blade, the hilt wrapped with red cord, and the black scabbard. She was thoroughly satisfied.
"Hehe, with so many magical inscriptions fused into it, it shouldn't be weak," Akane said, staring at the blade with delight.
"Indeed. At the very least, it will work perfectly with my sword techniques."
The moment Shendu grasped the sword, the sky above shifted dramatically.
Suddenly, as if responding to its birth, the will of the world reacted. Two blessings descended from the heavens. Golden light flashed and merged separately into Shendu and the Amaterasu Sword.
"This is a blessing from the will of the world!"
Akane was astonished. She had never expected that forging a weapon would attract such favor.
Sensing the two blessings, Shendu's eyes lit up.
Without a doubt, they were exceptionally useful.
One was the Divine Protection of Weakness Perception, allowing her to detect an enemy's vulnerabilities and exploit them decisively.
The other was called Holy Radiance. When used in conjunction with the Amaterasu Sword, it could dispel darkness and sever Authorities. However, it came with limitations—she had to first identify the weaknesses of the Sin Archbishops before eliminating them.
"Heh. It seems the will of the world stands on our side. That feels rather good. In that case, I suppose it's necessary to bring back those brainwashed fools from the Witch Cult."
Holding the sacred blade, Shendu felt immensely satisfied. Using the Sage's crafting method, she had produced this pseudo-divine artifact. It would suffice—for quite some time.
The person she referred to was Geuse—the man deeply connected to Emilia's adoptive mother. Unfortunately, he had been brainwashed.
But she still had a way to restore the Archbishop of Sloth to being Geuse once more.