The Silent Deity: Saiki Kusuo in Tensura

Weeks later....

Beneath the veil of moonlight in the deep halls of Clayman's castle — dark, gothic, laced with twisted elegance — a secret meeting was held in a room where sound could not escape.

Clayman stood by a tall glass window, gazing out over the withered forest that surrounded his domain. His fingers tapped rhythmically against his chair's armrest as a long, sinister grin spread across his pale face.

Behind him stood his guests: Yuuki Kagurazaka, the clever manipulator hiding behind a charming smile; Kigali, ever silent and calculating; and the Harlequin Alliance — Laplace, Footman, and Tear — dressed in their usual circus-like clothes, but their expressions deadly serious.

Clayman: "The Storm Kingdom… admired, respected, powerful. It's the new heartbeat of the Cardinal World."

He turned, his voice slow and dramatic.

"But a heartbeat… can be stopped."

Yuuki smirked and stepped forward, brushing imaginary dust from his white sleeve.

Yuuki: "You don't stop a kingdom like that by brute force. You poison its reputation first. Give the world reasons to strike. You have to make it look like they deserve to be destroyed."

Clayman's eyes sparkled.

Clayman: "Exactly… and I have a plan."

The first phase began in Falmuth.

Using forbidden soul-binding magic, Clayman sent a small crystal vial to infiltrate the minds of three trusted advisors in King Edmaris' court. That same night, while the king dined with his nobles, the three men suddenly began pushing a new agenda.

Advisor One (under influence): "Your Majesty, the Storm Kingdom is growing too powerful. They will soon dominate trade routes and border control."

Advisor Two: "The alliances they've built… Dwargon, Sarion, even Blumund… if we don't act now, we'll be at their mercy."

Advisor Three: "Now is our chance. Before they become untouchable."

Edmaris leaned back in his gold-lined chair, stroking his beard. The seed had been planted. Clayman watched through a magical orb, grinning as the king's expression grew darker and more intrigued.

The next phase required more delicacy.

Yuuki stepped in with his plan to manipulate the Western Holy Church — specifically, its most dangerous asset: Hinata Sakaguchi.

Yuuki: "We'll make them believe the Storm Kingdom has committed a holy crime."

He leaned over the table, spreading out a map of Ruberios and Jura.

"Here's what we do: Laplace, you and Tear will eliminate one of the Ten Great Paladins. But make it look like it was done by a monster."

Laplace (grinning): "Oho~ a little performance, huh? Alrighty then. Who's our lucky paladin?"

Yuuki: "One loyal to Hinata. Someone she'll take personal vengeance for."

They selected Sir Gralven, a devout and respected warrior who had once led missions against monsters in the forest. That night, Tear wept a soft lullaby as Laplace disguised himself as a beastly monster using illusion magic laced with magicules — not mana.

Sir Gralven was ambushed and slain just outside the Holy Empire's borders, and before his corpse could cool, Tear placed forged evidence — claw marks, corrupted monster blood, and fragments of Storm Kingdom armor — at the scene.

When Hinata received the news, her face turned to stone.

Hinata: "I knew it… monsters don't change. It's only a matter of time before they reveal their true nature."

Kigali stood nearby in disguise, watching her reaction quietly. The trap was tightening.

But the most subtle strike would be the final one.

Clayman sent ten cloaked agents — all disguised as wandering human merchants — into the Storm Kingdom. Using an ancient curse spell from the underworld, they injected an illusion rune onto a lower-ranked goblin guard. The rune would send a powerful pulse of hostile magicules to make the goblin hallucinate.

In front of a crowded Storm Kingdom market, the goblin suddenly screamed in rage and slashed one of the "human merchants." Blood spilled. Panic spread. The scene was staged perfectly — with hidden crystal recorders capturing it all.

Merchant Spy (pretending to bleed out): "T-they… they attacked us! Monsters are turning on humans again!"

Citizens screamed. The soldiers quickly intervened and captured the goblin — who returned to normal and burst into tears, confused about what had happened.

Later that evening, back in Clayman's chamber, the projection orb glowed with excitement. All pieces were falling into place.

Clayman: "Now the world will have proof — fabricated, but convincing. With Gralven dead, Ruberios will march. With the 'attack on humans,' Falmuth will justify a strike. And when the world rises up in outrage… we strike."

Yuuki: "And no one will suspect a thing."

They all clinked their glasses together — victory seemingly within reach.

Unbeknownst to them, far away in the Storm Kingdom, a glass of jelly trembled slightly as Saiki Kusuo sipped it, his psychic eyes glowing faintly.

He had watched every step.

Every lie.

Every whisper.

And behind him, Testarossa and Souei, cloaked in shadow, nodded.

Saiki: "Yare yare, Let the rats come. The storm doesn't need to chase the vermin. The lightning finds them on its own."

In Ruberios...

The candlelit hallway outside Lady Luminous' chambers seemed unusually long as Hinata Sakaguchi paced back and forth, her armored boots echoing in the stillness.

She paused, took a breath, and knocked sharply.

Hinata (voice steely): "Lady Luminous, may I come in?"

Inside, the chamber was warm and elegant—a stark contrast to the tension between them. Lady Luminous sat at her vanity, brushing her hair, her expression cool and composed.

Luminous: "Hinata, to what do I owe this visit? You sounded urgent."

Hinata stormed in, armor clanking, face flushed with anger.

Hinata: "One of the Ten Great Paladins—Sir Gralven—has been murdered! Murdered outside the Empire, with evidence pointing directly at the Storm Kingdom's monsters!"

She slammed a parchment onto the desk, complete with crude sketches of claw marks, fragments of goblin armor, and the dying paladin's blood-stained cloak.

Hinata: "The signs are clear. They have crossed a holy line."

Luminous held up a hand and sighed.

Luminous (softly): "Let me see."

She examined the evidence, her brow furrowing.

Luminous: "It's gruesome, yes. But… tell me. Why would the Storm Kingdom kill one of our Paladins openly? Without subtlety, without risk?"

Hinata's eyes narrowed.

Hinata: "Because they're monsters. Because they're mentally unstable. Because—"

Luminous (interrupting): "This feels too obvious. Too convenient. This... has the markings of a trap."

Hinata clenched her fists.

Hinata: "You doubt them? After everything? We should strike before they strike us!"

Luminous stood, moving closer to Hinata. Her voice was firm.

Luminous: "I do not doubt their strength—but I suspect this is a provocation."

They stared quietly at each other, the spark of conviction in Hinata and the cool reasoning of Luminous.

Meanwhile, Yuuki summoned Clayman's conspirators in a secret chamber.

Spells shimmered in the air as Footman handed Edmaris' advisers small glowing orbs.

Yuuki: "These orbs contain the Barrier of Weakening. Very simple—when used against Storm Kingdom monsters, magical resistance will drop. Great for self-defense, not so great for offense."

He handed one to each adviser with a charming smile.

Yuuki: "Give them to your king, arrange a 'peace mission.' They'll use it, you record it, and—boom: proof of aggression."

Rudra, Emperor of the Eastern Empire, received the news in his grand chambers. Velgrynd looked over his shoulder at the report.

Advisor: "Our sources in Falmuth… Paladin slain, evidence points to Storm Kingdom. They are preparing for a strike."

Rudra leaned back, his regal posture calm.

Rudra: "They speak lightly of monsters… but this is serious. Still… I do not believe they would act so rashly. I want to see how their dragon handles a crisis."

Meanwhile, in Dwargon, King Gazel ordered:

Gazel: "Reinforce all defenses! Patrols double-capacity! If Falmuth is attacking Storm, we must not be vulnerable."

In Sarion, Queen Elmesia stood on her balcony, gazing at distant stars.

Elmesia (thoughtful): "Falmuth's greed… it blinds them. I suspect a plot. I fear how Veldora will respond… but… if Falmuth strikes first… I can't stand by."

And across the world, the word spread: Falmuth prepares to invade Storm Kingdom.

Yet, inside the Storm Kingdom, life was unchanged. Soldiers drilled, markets buzzed, festivals glowed. Children laughed. The scent of fresh bread wafted through the streets.

That calm was no accident—it was control. The storm knew a tempest was brewing.

In the throne room, Veldora, gorgeously regal in his storm-patterned robes, listened as his council reported the world's panic.

Benimaru: "Falmuth's moving troops. Barriers are crossing. They have the—orbs."

Testarossa: "Ruberios is shaking with hallowed anger. Hinata has called for Paladin uprising."

Veldora leaned forward, gold eyes glowing.

Veldora: "Excellent... They have framed us. They have forced their hand. Perfect."

Behind him, Saiki, floating invisibly, munched coffee jelly.

Saiki (telepathy): Yare yare, you realize what this is, right? A trap laid for us to fall... but they made it big. If we respond now... we appear reactive. We'll make them look stupid.

Veldora smirked.

Veldora: "The storm does not rush out of a cloud, Saiki… It waits… and releases."

Testarossa bowed slightly.

Testarossa: "This will be the Storm Kingdom's greatest test. But we are ready."