The Silent Deity: Saiki Kusuo in Tensura

In the Following Days and Weeks…

With the crown firmly resting on King Elric's head and the Storm Kingdom's plan executed flawlessly, the next phase began—international recognition. The newly formed court in Falmuth, guided by Testarossa and a team of seasoned diplomatic demons, drafted a series of elegantly worded letters. Each letter was sealed with the crest of the Storm Kingdom—an intricate design of a swirling dragon wrapped around a storm cloud—and personally enchanted by Veldora himself to prevent forgery or tampering.

The message inside read:

To the Esteemed Leaders of the World,

Be it known that the Kingdom of Falmuth now recognizes King Elric, a ruler chosen by the will of the people and endorsed by His Majesty Veldora, The Storm King.

In light of this great change, all previous treaties, trade agreements, and alliances are now subject to renegotiation. This is not an act of rejection but of renewal—an opportunity to forge stronger and fairer bonds under this new era.

We humbly and formally invite your kingdom's representatives to the capital of Falmuth for peaceful discussion and reformation.

Signed,

Testarossa of the Storm Kingdom, Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Twelve elite demons, perfectly disguised as human diplomats, took different routes toward twelve nations. The world was about to feel the chill—and charm—of a reformed Falmuth backed by one of the most terrifying forces on the continent.

In the city forged from stone and steel, King Gazel sat in his war room. The letter was delivered by a cloaked envoy, but the seal was unmistakable.

Gazel (reading aloud): "King Elric... renegotiation... Storm Kingdom endorsement."

Adviser Varn: "Sire, shall we reject this nonsense?"

Gazel: "No. Are you a fool? it clearly states that King Veldora endorses him. We'll go. If Falmuth is truly stable under Veldora's banner, ignoring them would be foolish. Besides, I want to see how far they've come. Prepare a delegation."

The elven capital was serene, but the moment Queen Elmesia unsealed her letter, the air thickened.

Elmesia: "Oh my, how bold of them."

Royal Mage: "Shall we send spies, my queen?"

Elmesia (smiling): "No need. We'll attend their little summit. If they think they can charm the elves into new deals, they'll have to do better than flowery words."

(She secretly found the change... exciting.)

In his modest palace, the king of Blumund and Fuze nearly choked on their tea when the letter arrived.

Fuze: "A new king already? Elric? Wasn't Edmaris...?"

Secretary Elgin: "Vanished, my liege. People say the nobles turned against him."

Fuze: "We'll go. No doubt the Storm Kingdom wants a better trade share. Better show we're open to talks."

Deep within the massive citadel of the Eastern Empire, Rudra opened the message with cautious interest.

Rudra: "So, they took over Falmuth and managed a smooth transition. Impressive."

Velgrynd: "my little brother has become a true king now"

Rudra (smirking): " Let's watch the game unfold. Send a high-level observer. Let's see if Veldora's gotten smarter... or just louder."

The letter arrived via enchanted bird, fluttering down into Milim's courtyard mid-battle training.

Milim: "Huh? A new king? King Elric?"

Frey (nearby): "Falmuth's probably trying to legitimize itself. We all know, Falmuth is now the storm kingdom vassal"

Milim (grinning): "Maybe! I'm bored anyway."

In Eurazania, Carrion read the letter in his war tent surrounded by generals.

Carrion: "Renegotiations? Trade routes? Tax deals?"

Advisor: "It's a bold move."

Carrion: "Or a trap. But ignoring it would be worse. We'll send envoys—but prepared ones."

In a room lit by golden chandeliers, Leon read the message silently.

Leon: "Storm Kingdom... clever devils."

Claude (his aide): "Shall we challenge it?"

Leon: "No. We go. I'll see if this Elric is truly a king—or a puppet."

Barren Lands Chieftain: "If Storm Kingdom wants to talk, we listen."

Raja's Priest-King: "Peaceful talks may help our drought problem."

Coleus Merchant Guild: "Renegotiation could save us from bankruptcy!"

Merchants whispered across taverns:

"Falmuth rose from ruin faster than any kingdom before it."

"That King Elric... he was just a knight a year ago, right?"

"The Storm Kingdom must be playing some grand chess game."

Nobles across continents polished their finest clothes. Embassies were dispatched. Carts rolled toward Falmuth with letters of acceptance.

Days later....

The sun gleamed brightly over Falmuth's newly rebuilt cityscape. Towers were cleaner, the streets more organized, and the air carried the scent of blooming flowers and the murmurs of a hopeful people. The Kingdom of Falmuth had changed—no longer did it carry the grim presence of war or the shadow of a falling monarch. Now, it stood proud, sharp, and alive, like a blade freshly forged.

Above the clouds, a group of majestic Pegasi soared in perfect formation—white wings spread wide, glinting under the sunlight. On their backs rode armored warriors and at the center, the unmistakable figure of King Gazel Dwargo, the Iron King of Dwargon, his beard braided in twin coils and his armor polished to a mirror's shine.

"Your Majesty," one of his guards whispered, squinting down, "This city… it doesn't look like the Falmuth from the reports. Are we sure we're in the right place?"

Gazel narrowed his eyes. "It's the same city... but reborn. Let's see what kind of king this Elric truly is."

As the Pegasi descended into the open landing courtyard just outside the royal palace, Gazel and his entourage were greeted by an elite royal guard formation. Each guard stood like statues—perfectly still, eyes forward, synchronized as if they were extensions of a single mind. Their uniforms bore Falmuth's crest, but something in their movements—too perfect, too smooth—sent a subtle chill down the spines of Dwargon's warriors.

"Disguises," Gazel thought quietly. "These men are no ordinary soldiers."

The head guard stepped forward and bowed, voice crisp and formal. "Welcome to the Kingdom of Falmuth, Your Majesty Gazel Dwargo. His Majesty King Elric awaits you in the throne hall."

Gazel nodded without emotion, though he was already impressed. "Lead the way."

The massive golden doors to the throne room opened with an echoing groan. Inside, the hall was bright but regal—ornate chandeliers lit with magical flames, floor marbled in silver and obsidian, and a crimson carpet that stretched all the way to the throne at the far end.

Upon that throne sat King Elric, clad in a black and gold ceremonial cloak, a deep violet jewel resting at his collar. His eyes—sharp, calculating, calm—met Gazel's without blinking.

Flanking Elric were his personal guards, handpicked from the named demons Veldora had granted. Their auras were muted but... dense, like coiled serpents hiding in plain sight. Even with their energy suppressed, Gazel and his men could feel it—the pressure. The power.

Yet the Iron King remained unfazed.

Elric rose gracefully and walked forward a few steps, stopping just at the edge of the raised dais. "King Gazel Dwargo of Dwargon," he said, voice smooth like flowing silk, "it is an honor to receive you. Welcome to the new Falmuth."

Gazel stepped forward and returned a respectful nod. "The honor is mine, King Elric. I must say... your kingdom looks almost unrecognizable. In a good way."

Elric smiled, his eyes betraying nothing. "Rebirth requires sacrifice, vision... and the will to carry it through. But please, let's speak not in formality. Join me."

He gestured to a long obsidian table to the right side of the throne room, already set with chilled water, fine wines, and fresh fruit.

Once seated, their entourages stepped back, leaving only a few personal aides from each side. Gazel leaned slightly forward, resting his gauntleted hand on the table.

"Let's not dance around it," he began. "The world is buzzing. Edmaris vanished, and a new king rises just weeks after a war. The people approve, the nobles bow... and the Storm Kingdom seems to be standing right behind you."

Elric took a slow sip of wine before speaking. "Yes. The past regime led this nation into an unjust war—one that brought suffering to both our people and others. I will not repeat their mistakes. My mission is to ensure prosperity, order, and progress for Falmuth."

Gazel nodded. "That's admirable. But I'm here to talk reality—trade, taxes, borders. What changes are we to expect?"

Elric responded immediately, as though expecting the question. "First, we will honor all previous debts owed to Dwargon—but with adjusted interest rates to ensure fairness. Second, all new mining contracts will be opened for competitive bids, including those from your forges. Lastly, Falmuth will lower taxes for imported Dwargon steel, but in return, we ask for access to your airship technologies."

Gazel raised an eyebrow. "Airship schematics aren't something we share lightly."

Elric leaned in, his voice dropping to a calm intensity. "And I am not asking for your secrets. A simple joint project. Shared innovation. Your engineers working alongside mine, monitored and protected. This... is not a power grab. It's a partnership."

There was a pause.

Then Gazel chuckled, folding his arms. "You speak like a ruler who's been king for years."

"Time doesn't determine wisdom," Elric replied. "Crisis does."

After several hours of discourse, they had finalized their terms:

Dwargon would have exclusive access to Falmuth's precious white quartz mines in exchange for joint engineering support.

Falmuth would adopt Dwargon's military logistics systems to restructure its army under Benimaru and Hakuro's guidance.

Both sides would open ambassadorial offices in each other's capitals and hold annual economic summits.

As they stood to shake hands, Gazel gave Elric a long, thoughtful look.

"You're not just a king by name. I see now that this... takeover wasn't reckless. It was artfully done. The people don't just serve you—they believe in you."

Elric smiled faintly. "A king must be both the sword... and the mask."

As Gazel's entourage returned to their Pegasus mounts, a few of his men whispered among themselves.

"I didn't expect this at all."

"Falmuth was a mess a few months ago… what kind of magic did they use to rebuild this fast?"

"Did you see the way the guards moved? That wasn't human."

Gazel overheard but said nothing. He looked back once more toward the castle, then whispered to himself, "the Storm Kingdom is more dangerous than we thought."

Meanwhile, hidden on the palace roof, Saiki floated on his side, munching on coffee jelly like he was watching a live drama.

Saiki (mumbling): "Hmm... pretty decent political theater. Elric handled it well."

He scooped another bite of jelly. "Let's see who shows up next."

And just like that, in the next few weeks, more and more leaders came in. The discussions were all about restructuring the alliances, the trades, the taxes and all left with a high impression of king Elric and the New Falmuth.