End of Conflict

After giving a false hope to the Gremory party, who also hoped to have a relationship with the Lucifuge clan, Eugene felt confused as to why everyone had such hopes. As he scratched his head, he suddenly felt a piercing chill, like the self-defense instinct of a wild predator. Not only did Eugene feel it, but everyone there also turned their heads in unison towards the direction the terrifying and cold energy was coming from.

"Oh, my dear boy Eugene..." That soft yet cold voice came from Grayfia, who was smiling sweetly at Eugene with an unchanged polite posture. However, the aura emanating from her said otherwise.

Eugene gulped down his saliva, feeling nervous as he realized that his mother was already there. "Hey... Could it be?" He tried to ask the people around him for help, but suddenly everyone disappeared like morning dew. "Eh!? Wait! Lily! Claius! Everyone! Don't leave me with this Witch!!!" he shouted frantically, looking for everyone.

"Hmmm?... What did you say? Witch?" Grayfia's voice grew closer and suddenly she appeared right behind Eugene, holding his shoulders gently but with a firm grip.

Eugene felt his heart skip a beat, cold sweat running down his forehead. "Uh, no, mother... I mean, Grayfia-sama," he stammered, trying to correct his speech while smiling nervously.

Grayfia looked at him with a smile that was more terrifying than angry. "Did you call me a witch earlier, Eugene?" she asked in a tone that sounded sweet yet dangerous.

Eugene felt even more cornered. "No, not at all, mom... I mean, just kidding," he said while trying to laugh, although it sounded very awkward.

The people around who were still silently observing the scene couldn't help but feel sorry for Eugene, but no one dared to approach. Lily, who was usually bold, chose to hide behind a nearby pillar. Claius, who was usually stern, pretended to be busy with something in the distance. Everyone was trying hard not to attract Grayfia's attention.

Grayfia, still with her sweet smile, brought her face close to Eugene's ear. "My dear boy, let's talk about manners and how to talk to your mother, shall we?" she whispered softly, yet there was a clear tone of threat.

Eugene could only nod obediently, not daring to look his mother in the eye. "Of course, mother. I'll listen well," he replied weakly, hoping this situation would end soon.

Grayfia nodded in satisfaction. "Very good. Now, let us return to the house. We have much to talk about," she said, directing Eugene gently but firmly to walk with her.

As they walked away, Eugene turned to his friends who were still hiding, giving them a desperate look. His friends could only give gestures of support from a distance, hoping for the best for him.

"Sorry boss, but in order to deal with Grayfia-sama, I'm retreating first," Claius said with a look full of regret, but also obvious fear.

"Eugene-san, sorry, I can't stop your mother for now," Lily added with a regretful look in her eyes, even though she clearly didn't want to face Grayfia.

Others looked at Eugene with pity, some were slightly pleased, and some were very happy to see how desperate he was right now.

Eugene felt increasingly cornered. In his heart, he shouted at his friends who had left him alone. 'Traitor!!'

Watching all these moments from a distance, without anyone noticing, a black pigeon observed the entire conflict of the day. The bird's eyes exuded an intelligence unusual for a pigeon. Every movement, every word, and every facial expression shown by the characters on the spot was clearly recorded.

When Grayfia pulled Eugene away, and the atmosphere began to calm down again, the pigeon nodded as if it understood something important. Having had enough of witnessing the events that transpired, the bird flapped its wings and flew off into the night sky of the underworld, its silhouette disappearing among the glittering stars.

…

In a dark and secluded place, two figures were talking in a room that was only dimly lit by a few candles placed in the corners. A man with glowing red eyes and a sword with a rose on it directed his gaze at his companion, Paul.

"So, is this plan okay, letting our newest member work under Kokabiel?" he asked, his voice heavy and alert.

Paul, who was sitting quietly while twisting a ring on his finger, smiled faintly. "Well, I never fully trusted Kokabiel from the start. I'm sure he won't treat our members well. However, we'll just trust our people. They'll know how to deal with him," Paul replied in a confident tone.

The red-eyed man nodded slowly, though his facial expression still showed a hint of doubt. "I predict there will be a betrayal at the end, considering how bad our initial encounter with Kokabiel was," Paul added, his eyes radiating seriousness.

"Do we have a backup plan if that does happen?" the red-eyed man asked again, his gaze now sharper, trying to seek reassurance.

Paul smiled wider this time. "Of course. There's always a backup plan. We can't let something trivial ruin everything we've carefully planned. Our people are prepared for any eventuality."

A cold wind blew in through the cracks in the room, as if sensing the tension that existed between the two men. They stared at each other in silence, realizing that this power game was not only dangerous but also full of unexpected twists.

In the dimly lit room, the two men were still having a serious discussion, talking about the big steps they would take in the supernatural world. The red-eyed man interrupted the silence with a stern tone.

"Umu, this will be our first debut since the formation of the new faction in the supernatural world," he said as he leaned his body against the chair, his eyes shining with anticipation.

Paul nodded, a faint smile gracing his usually calm face. "It's true. This will be a big and bold first step," he said, his voice full of conviction. But then, Paul looked at the red-eyed man with a curious and slightly seductive gaze.

"Instead of that, I wonder how you'll feel when you appear before your younger brother not as 'The First Challenger', but as the first child of Petra Henderson?" Paul asked, his tone implying an unspoken secret.

The red-eyed man was silent for a moment, thinking about the question that had just been asked. His eyes narrowed slightly, trying to dive into his own feelings. "That's a good question," he replied slowly, his voice slightly hoarse. "But, I won't answer it for now."

Paul sighed firmly, looking at his friend with a mixture of frustration and warmth. "Oh, come on. Haven't we been friends long enough? On the one hand, you always surprise me with your prowess, and on the other hand, you can be quite annoying."

The red-eyed man chuckled, his laughter low and full of mystery. "My nails~. It's not that I'm reluctant, but didn't you guess it? You who are an expert in psychology didn't realize that?"