Bright, dazzling white light greeted El and Kayo as they entered the magnificent throne room.
The room was vast, with high ceilings adorned with gold and white carvings, depicting glorious royal stories.
Massive pillars of white marble stand tall along the sides of the room, accented with gold, giving the impression of unparalleled grandeur.
The shiny white marble floor reflected the light, decorated with symmetrical mosaic patterns in a mix of gold, white, and blue, symbolizing harmony and balance.
A long red carpet stretched from the entrance to the throne, providing a path of honor for special guests like El and Kayo.
At the far end of the room, Seintenshi sat gracefully on her throne, which was at the top of several marble steps with gilded edges.
Her pale blue eyes, which were actually disguised by special softlens, intently watched El and Kayo.
They were her secret choice, specially ordered to hide her original fiery red irises, a trademark of Demon Origin.
That color, while very beautiful and enchanting, also carried a menacing impression because in this world fiery red was the symbol of Gastrea, the enemy of mankind.
As a leader, Seintenshi did not want to cause unrest or anxiety among her people.
Another reason Seintenshi chose to hide his identity was because until now he had not fully mastered the Demon Blood Art he inherited.
She knew that revealing the truth prematurely would only bring chaos and distrust.
While maintaining her dignity, she sat elegantly, her dress reflecting the sparkling light from the crystal chandelier above, adding to the aura of majesty that enveloped her.
The mosaic glass window behind the throne, with its motifs of shining suns and silver lilies further exuded an aura of elegance.
The large windows are perfectly visible, letting in the soft, warm light of the sun into the throne room that is full of dignity.
In the corners of the room, large pots filled with lush greenery or fresh flowers add natural beauty to the formal setting.
Along the sides of the room, right in front of the windows, the Seintenshi's personal bodyguards, high-ranking officials, and politicians stand in neat rows, creating an atmosphere of respect and dignity.
Every eye was on El and Kayo, who were striding steadily on the red carpet, approaching the throne of their supreme leader.
In the presence of all this splendor, Kayo grew nervous. Her back felt cold with sweat running down it, afraid of saying the wrong thing.
This was the first time she had felt such pressure, being in the presence of a leader with such authority.
El, however, looked calm. His footsteps were light and steady, his expression cold yet calm, like a calm lake without ripples.
Every step was precise, and no sound could be heard as his feet touched the red carpet.
The Seintenshi officials and bodyguards watched with faint smiles, nodding slowly, marveling at El's composure.
As for Kayo, they could slightly tolerate her looking nervous; after all, it was natural for a youngster to feel anxious in the presence of the supreme leader.
After a few steps, El and Kayo finally knelt down in a respectful manner, like knights facing their king.
Seitenshi stood up from her throne and walked down the stairs with a faint smile, looking at El with authoritative eyes.
Finally Seintenshi arrived before El and Kayo. "You look very healthy, as expected of the strongest Hashira..." she said in a cold, yet respectful tone.
At the mention of 'the strongest Hashira,' everyone present, including Kayo, felt confused. They wanted to ask, but no one dared.
There was no right to ask, and so they chose to remain silent, taking it as light conversation intended to ease the tension.
The silence was finally broken by El who answered in a calm tone. "I always pray, and am grateful that you are well, and please do not praise me, O Queen of Virtue."
El's words, although they sounded like small talk, had a deeper meaning. He was indirectly referring to Seintenshi's current condition as a demon, although that fact was still a secret between them.
El just felt grateful that there was no chaos or weirdness happening around them, let alone in this city.
Seintenshi sighed softly, but a thin, authoritative smile remained on her face. "In any case, I've always taken care of my health. It's all for the sake of this city, as well as my citizens."
"But enough about that. I'm proud of you," Seintenshi said, his eyes serious and thoughtful, as if assessing every detail of El. "El Ira Adrian, Kayo Senju, will you two continue to fight for Tokyo Area?"
El smiled faintly, took a deep breath, and in unison with Kayo replied, "Yes," with clear conviction in their voices.
Seintenshi turned her head towards the door, just as a formally dressed woman approached with a tray, on which was a civil officer certificate.
With a graceful gesture, Seintenshi accepted the certificate. "After discussing with the IISO, I decided that you are one of the deserving veterans."
Seintenshi handed the civil officer certificate to El. "Therefore, I will raise your and Kayo's IP rank to 1,000."
El and Kayo stood respectfully, and El accepted the certificate from Seintenshi's hand. The entire room echoed with a standing ovation in congratulations.
However, on the other hand, as soon as El received the certificate, a system notification appeared in front of her.
A familiar mechanical voice rang in his ears, announcing that all the main missions in the Black Bullet world, filled with tragedies along the way, had ended.
Ding!
[System detected, Beyonder with serial number 120,000 has completed all Main Missions]
[You can return to the Rencarnation room, or stay in this world]
[If you choose to return to the Rencarnation room, then you will undergo Evaluation and reward calculation]
[If you choose to stay in this world, you can stay for 3 days]
'System, I choose to stay for 3 days in this world,' El said firmly, in thought as if speaking directly to an existence that only he could feel.
Meanwhile, Seintenshi was oblivious to the existence of the Reincarnation Room system, remaining focused on her surroundings.
Seintenshi smiled warmly, closed her eyelids for a moment, and then said with confidence, "I wish you all the best for the future. With this, today's meeting officially ends. Thank you to everyone who came."
With graceful steps, Seintenshi departed from the throne room, followed by her loyal bodyguards.
The important officials present also began to leave, while El and Kayo followed them out of the throne room, their steps quiet, but their minds full of contemplation.
***
That night, the sky was filled with stars, with the moon shining brightly, illuminating the magnificent palace where Seintenshi lived.
Inside the palace's most luxurious room, Seintenshi, dressed in her pajamas, was sitting on her bed, her face red like a ripe tomato.
Seintenshi's heart was beating erratically, but her body remained dry, considering that as an Origin Demon, she was no longer able to sweat.
In her right hand, she held a test pack with a single line, a sign that brought her some relief.
Seintenshi breathed a sigh of relief not because of the pregnancy, but because of the fact that the video that had made her uneasy was fake, and she had never done anything shameful as alleged.
However, the reason for her anxiety tonight was not just about that. Seintenshi was waiting for someone.
As promised, the cold man who had saved Tokyo Area was coming tonight.
The invitation had actually come from him herself, though El, the man in question, had not exactly shown great enthusiasm for this meeting.
In other words, El did not seem to have any lust for her naked body.
Seintenshi was grateful, but on the other hand disappointed and felt that her pride as the most beautiful woman was somewhat hurt.
Her eyes glanced at the large window that had been left open, revealing the spacious balcony that served as access to her room.
The cold night breeze blew strongly, fluttering the thin silk curtains around the window. Seintenshi closed her eyes for a moment, trying to calm herself down.
"So, you were really waiting for me, huh?" A cold yet familiar voice rang out, breaking the silence.