Chapter 30

The towering spires of the Melromarc capital breached the horizon, signaling the end of their pilgrimage.

Maya rode her horse at a steady pace slightly behind Myne. Her HUD was still pulsing with the glowing golden notification urging her to visit the Dragon Era Hourglass for her Class Up.

She swiped the notification away.

If I go to the Grand Cathedral now, Maya calculated, her eyes fixed on the distant walls, I risk everything. The Church is already bleeding silver because of the Oakhaven rebellion I sparked. They are paranoid. If they catch me trying to bypass their holy rites or snooping around the Hourglass, my cover as Myne's brainwashed puppy is blown instantly.

Furthermore, if Myne saw her undergo a Class Up this early, the Princess would realize exactly how astronomically high Maya's stats had become, shattering the illusion of dependency.

I can survive the next Wave at Level 35 if I rely on Onyx and my weapon forms, Maya decided, her jaw set. I will wait. When the Wave hits, the capital will be in chaos. The Church’s knights will be deployed. That is when I strike. I’ll use the apocalypse as my smokescreen.

"Are you well, Maya?" Myne asked, glancing back with a sweet, patronizing smile. "You seem quiet."

"Just anticipating our return, Princess," Maya replied smoothly. "And preparing to protect you from whatever comes next."

Hundreds of miles away, in the sovereign nation of Faubrey…

Queen Mirellia Q. Melromarc sat at her mahogany desk, a map of the allied nations spread before her. The candles in her study flickered as a Shadow operative materialized from the darkness, kneeling instantly.

"Report," Mirellia commanded, not looking up from her trade agreements. "What is the status of my kingdom and the Cardinal Heroes? We are less than a week from the Second Wave."

"The situation is… highly complex, Your Majesty," the Shadow began, their voice hushed. "The Gauntlet Hero, Maya Lin, has completely taken control of the board."

Mirellia finally looked up, her violet eyes gleaming with intense interest. "Explain."

"She has spent the last month using Princess Malty as a political shield," the Shadow reported. "To the Crown, Maya is a devoted, brainwashed servant. But in the shadows, she has been dismantling the Church of the Three Heroes' extortion rings. She personally shattered a Church-controlled Manticore in Oakhaven, secured the physical evidence, and anonymously incited a peasant rebellion to oust the corrupt local priest. She left no trace of her involvement."

Mirellia let out a sharp, delighted laugh, snapping her fan open. "Brilliant! She is weaponizing the peasants against the Church while letting the Church believe they still hold power over her. And what of the other Heroes?"

"The Gauntlet gave us three anonymous letters to deliver to the Sword, Spear, and Bow, warning them of the Church's sabotage," the Shadow continued. "The results have varied."

"Give me the breakdown."

The Shadow nodded, pulling a small ledger from their cloak.

* Motoyasu Kitamura (The Spear): "The Spear Hero largely dismissed the letter as a prank. He spends his days courting women in the towns he visits. However, his party members read the warning. They have become highly paranoid of ambushes and are steering him clear of Church-controlled territories. He is approximately Level 30."

* Itsuki Kawasumi (The Bow): "The Bow Hero took the warning to heart, but his arrogance twisted it. He believes he is the sole target of a grand conspiracy. He recently overthrew a corrupt Viscount, believing it was his own heroic intuition. However, our operatives confirm that Maya secretly infiltrated the manor, secured the legal evidence to protect him, and stole the Viscount's secret vault to fund her own operations. Furthermore, Maya has embedded a spy—a green-haired mage named Rishia—directly into the Bow's party."

* Ren Amaki (The Sword): "The Sword is the most perceptive of the three. He analyzed the Gauntlet's letter and began matching it against monster spawn patterns. He has realized the Church is manipulating the ecosystem. He is actively investigating their movements and refusing to share his findings with the King. He is Level 32, the strongest of the primary three."

Mirellia leaned back in her chair, a look of profound respect crossing her features. "She funded her war chest with corrupt noble gold, planted a mole in a rival Hero's party, and turned the Sword against the Church with a single, anonymous note. All while fetching my daughter's tea."

"She is a terrifying tactician, Your Majesty," the Shadow agreed. "But there is one more."

"The Shield," Mirellia said softly. "Naofumi Iwatani. Did he succumb to the capital's hatred?"

"No, Your Majesty. He is thriving," the Shadow reported, a hint of genuine awe in their tone. "He is operating entirely in the shadows. He utilized the secret funding provided by Maya—laundered through the blacksmith Erhard—to purchase a demi-human slave named Raphtalia. He has raised her into a highly lethal vanguard. They fight with a brutal, desperate synergy. The Shield is currently Level 33, and his defense stats are astronomical. He harbors deep hatred for the Crown, but he will be a critical asset during the Wave."

Mirellia stood up, walking to the window to look out at the moon.

The Kingdom of Melromarc was a powder keg. The King was blind, the Church was treasonous, and the Princess was being played for a fool. The only thing holding the defense of the world together was a nineteen-year-old girl with a silver Gauntlet and an absolute mastery of psychological warfare.

"The Second Wave will break in less than a week," Mirellia stated, her royal authority radiating through the room. "The monsters will be stronger, and the Church will undoubtedly attempt to use the chaos to assassinate the Shield, and perhaps the Gauntlet if they suspect her true strength."

"Your orders, my Queen?"

"Prepare my royal carriage and my elite guard," Queen Mirellia commanded, her eyes narrowing. "I have delayed my return long enough. It is time I went home to Melromarc and met this Iron-Fisted Hero face-to-face. But until I arrive, order all Shadows in the capital to stand by. If the Church moves against the Shield or the Gauntlet during the Wave… intercept them."

Melromarc Capital – Three Days Until the Wave…

Maya stood on the balcony of the Dragon's Rest inn, looking out over the sprawling city. The sky was clear, but the air felt heavy, charged with the static electricity of the impending dimensional rift.

She was Level 35. Onyx was fully grown, resting in her shadow, his stats pushing her own Agility and Attack into terrifying numbers. Her inventory was packed with high-tier potions, black market explosives, and Meteoric Iron.

She hadn't Classed Up, but she was ready for war.

A soft knock came at her door. "Maya-sama?" Myne called out. "The King has summoned all Heroes to the war room. The hourglass indicates the Wave will strike a highly populated zone."

Maya turned away from the balcony, a cold, empty smile slipping perfectly onto her face.

"Coming, Princess!"

Interactive Choice: The War Council

Maya is about to enter the King's war room alongside Myne, Ren, Motoyasu, and Itsuki. The Crown will dictate the strategy for the Second Wave. How does Maya position herself on the tactical board?