Encounter with Lord Shadow

Deep within the Dungeon, it was as sinister and dangerous as ever. Monsters roared from time to time in the dim passages all around, as if warning every adventurer who entered: every second you spend here brings you a step closer to death.

But that warning meant nothing to me.

The power of shadows let me blend into the darkness. My footsteps made no sound, and even the air could not sense my presence.

"Just as I thought, this place is another abandoned battlefield," I murmured to myself, sweeping my gaze over the monster remains scattered across the floor. The battle here had ended quickly and left very few traces. Clearly, someone had arrived before me.

Just as I was about to move on, the sound of light footsteps came from ahead.

The footsteps were graceful and steady, carrying an intangible sense of pressure. Although she concealed her presence well, I immediately recognized the familiar person.

Sure enough, a tall figure slowly emerged from the darkness. Long golden hair flowed down her back, and her blue eyes were calm and sharp. She stood gracefully before me, her gaze showing no surprise, as if she had known all along that she would meet me here.

"Cid." She smiled faintly and said my name in a perfectly natural tone.

"Alpha," I replied calmly.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, a hint of puzzlement in my voice. Although I knew Shadow Garden never acted without a reason, I was still a little surprised to meet her in the Dungeon.

"I was about to ask you the same thing." Alpha folded her arms, a teasing note in her voice. "You even managed to find a place like this. That's you for you."

Ignoring her slightly flippant tone, I said casually, "So, are you on a mission?"

Alpha put away her playful expression and regained her usual composure. She nodded, then said, "Shadow Garden has been tracking the Cult's activities. We discovered that they seem to have joined forces with certain evil powers in this world."

"Evil powers?" I repeated, sounding somewhat interested.

"Yes." She turned her head slightly, a hint of coldness flashing in her blue eyes. "The Cult is not content with its territory in the original world. They have been secretly contacting certain evil organizations in this world and are attempting to use a magic circle to open a gateway connecting to other worlds."

"...A gateway to other worlds?" I looked at her thoughtfully and continued listening.

"Shadow Garden's investigation revealed that the magic circle is nearly complete, and the Cult plans to conduct a summoning ritual soon." Alpha paused, her expression gradually becoming complicated. "However, before the Cult could act, you had already foreseen everything, Lord Shadow, and activated the magic circle ahead of time."

"Activated it ahead of time?" I pretended to consider this, while inwardly I was furiously snarking, Did Shadow Garden come up with another script for me...?

Who the hell activated it?! Although I had no idea where Alpha had gotten this script, she was clearly convinced it was my plan. After all, "Lord Shadow knows everything" was Shadow Garden's highest principle.

"..." I fell silent.

"Didn't you say so yourself?" Her voice dropped, as if she were imitating my tone. "'Don't just destroy your enemies; pull them out by the roots.' You activated the magic circle to draw out the Cult and the evil organizations from other worlds, then wipe them all out in one stroke."

"..." Once again, I fell silent.

That did sound like the kind of chuuni line the Eminence in Shadow would say, but honestly, I had no memory of ever saying it. She had imagined this whole seemingly all-according-to-plan scenario herself.

"So you came here because of this magic circle too?" I asked calmly, continuing to play along with her script.

"That's right." Alpha nodded, her tone as certain as ever. "I was there at the time, and naturally I couldn't let you face all of this alone, so I followed you here, hoping to help you carry out your plan."

I fell silent for a moment, unable to stop myself from snarking inwardly again. We've come all the way here and you're still playing pretend with me... Alpha, you really are never going to grow up.

Still, I had no intention of exposing her. After all, the Shadow Garden members' faith in "Lord Shadow" was already engraved deep in their bones. Even a joke would be taken as truth by them.

In that case, I'll play along with her one more time. I sighed inwardly, then nodded and said in a low voice, "Very well. Proceed according to plan."

"Continue your investigation in secret." I raised my head and looked Alpha straight in the eye, my tone carrying unquestionable authority. "Do not act unless necessary without my orders. Understood?"

"Yes, Shadow." Alpha bowed again, her eyes full of obedience and admiration.

Her reaction relieved me. Although the members of Shadow Garden were all exceptionally powerful, their excessive trust in me could be a headache at times. Getting them to follow orders obediently was already the greatest victory I could ask for.

But just as she was about to leave, she seemed to remember something.

"Shadow, there's one more thing." Alpha stopped and raised her head.

"Go on." I nodded.

"To better investigate the situation in this world, I've joined a Familia," Alpha said, her tone somewhat casual.

"A Familia?" I raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Yes, a small Familia." She nodded. "Although I haven't found any word of the other Shadow Garden members yet, I'll keep looking. If I obtain any information, I'll report it to you immediately."

"Very good," I said softly, my gaze calm, as if everything were under control.

"In that case, I'll take my leave." Alpha smiled faintly and turned to go. After a few steps, she suddenly stopped and glanced back at me.

"Cid."

"Hmm?" I looked up at her.

A hint of something complicated flashed in her eyes before she regained her composure. "Don't push yourself. No matter how strong you are, you don't have to shoulder everything alone."

With that, she walked into the darkness of the Dungeon without looking back, her figure soon disappearing from sight.

I stood where I was, watching her leave, her final words echoing in my mind.

"Don't push myself...?"

"Alpha, you really haven't changed a bit," I murmured to myself, an almost imperceptible smile lifting the corners of my mouth.

Looking in the direction Alpha had gone, I sighed silently.

Joining a Familia, investigating the Cult... she really is getting into it, I snarked inwardly.

Shadow Garden's faith and chuuni ideals seemed to have already seeped into their very bones. Even in this brand-new world, they were still carrying out the so-called "Lord Shadow's supreme plan" with meticulous care.

"Still... the fact that she made it here means the members of Shadow Garden are gradually gathering too, I suppose." I murmured softly, beginning to formulate my next moves.