Forging a guardian gun for Lemuel—Exusiai—wasn't difficult for Felix. He still had plenty of rare metals in stock, and after crafting one before for Mostima, making another was practically effortless.
His feelings toward Lemuel were complicated. Putting aside the "works" of his past life, Felix had no intention of dragging her into Tomorrow's Development. She was still too young, too naïve, brimming with Sankta-style romance and charm. He hoped she could preserve that innocence.
Better to hand her over to the Emperor for courier work, just like in his previous life. Fighting and battlefields weren't for her. Her sister Lemuen, however—that silent title she bore was not earned without blood.
With Lemuel's matter settled for the time being, Felix buried himself in seclusion. Aside from training his Originium arts, all he did was hammer steel. The only times he appeared before the players was at the company cafeteria.
Tomorrow's Development's cafeteria had three floors. It had to be big enough to feed a thousand people at once, like a school dining hall. Both players and Terrans received meal subsidies, so most ate on-site. Only those too busy running missions ate out in Lungmen.
And Felix refused to cut corners on food. During his retreat, only two desires tugged at him: the urge to forge, and appetite. For appetite, he had hired chefs from across Terra, skilled in cuisines from every region. Each day, by noon, savory aromas wafted through the cafeteria halls, drifting all the way to the Lungmen Guard Bureau across the street, making their stomachs growl.
The Guard Bureau's cafeteria wasn't bad—customized nutrition plans for every operator. But compared to Tomorrow's Development's spread? It fell short. Their chefs never stopped innovating, serving up dishes that filled both Terrans and adventurers alike.
After enduring this torment for a while, Wei Yenwu could no longer sit still. "Tomorrow's Development" spoiling their people like this was eroding the Guard Bureau's morale. Could the Bureau do the same? Of course not. They were a law enforcement agency, not a corporation. They couldn't blow funds on fancy meals. Besides, overfed guards would only laze around.
Felix had offered a "compromise." I understand, Lord Wei. Then let's open our cafeteria to your Guards. But they'll need to pay. No subsidies for them.
Wei Yenwu had reluctantly agreed. Still, he couldn't shake the feeling that Felix was openly poaching his men. That night, he brooded with a drink, standing at his door, letting the cool night wind wash over him.
The players, meanwhile, loved it. They always ate in groups, like back in school, and especially enjoyed sitting with Terrans, chatting, joking, gleaning intel while building rapport.
The cafeteria was liveliest when the Pioneer cadre came down to eat. Around Loughshinny gathered a flock of female players, glaring daggers at any man who dared approach the Vouivre maiden. Loughshinny herself, however, saw no problem talking with male adventurers, perfectly comfortable in conversation.
The Sankta women had their own entourages. Most of the players drawn to them were Sankta or Liberi, their corner of the cafeteria practically glowing from all the divine radiance.
The knight group was ringed by fans too—players who had chosen the knight sub-class, competitive knight enthusiasts, or simply admirers. Degenbrecher and Verdant, both strikingly beautiful and strong, drew their share of fans. Foam, older and gentler, carried himself like a mentor. He often sparred with female adventurer teams, earning a reputation as approachable and dependable.
As for Margaret Nearl—the shining jewel of the Nearl family—her stern nobility paired with her adorable looks made countless players glance her way. To them, she embodied the true meaning of a knight: polite yet firm, answering every greeting with grace and respect. And she could fight—really fight.
A pretty face might stir protective instincts. But a beautiful girl who could also beat back foes? That set hearts racing. Margaret, with her strength and dignity, was the perfect elder-sister figure.
Put in modern terms: finding a cute girl is one thing. Finding a cute girl who'll play games with you? That's one in ten thousand.
The players even founded a Protect the Radiant Knight Fanclub. Men and women both joined.
Whenever Felix showed up in the cafeteria, it always triggered a small commotion. Players scrambled to sit at his table, eager both to build rapport and to test whether proximity might unlock a hidden quest. But beyond opportunism, they genuinely enjoyed talking with the Pioneer himself.
At mealtimes he didn't act like a lofty leader at all, but more like an ordinary adventurer. Not quite like the players themselves—he still carried a measure of dignity—but he happily joined their conversations, offering his thoughts and listening in turn. For the players, it was a rare chance to understand him better.
In another corner sat the Sargon contract assassins. They almost always moved in groups, and their stealth meant players rarely spotted them outside mealtimes. Even at the table they radiated a keep away aura, but their small foxlike figures and fluffy ears and tail inevitably drew curious glances. They really were rather cute.
Rosebloom, however, knew she had been tricked. Or more precisely, from the moment she set foot in Tomorrow's Development headquarters and heard Loughshinny's introduction, she realized that what Felix had called a "date" was nothing but a linguistic trap.
And yet—looking at the warm rooms, the comfortable beds, the delicious meals, the daily spa treatments and massages—she and the other assassins couldn't help but waver. They had never lived like this. Now that such fruits were placed before them, they didn't know how to take the first bite.
Rosebloom reminded herself: a Sargon assassin's blade must never dull. Luxuries might tempt, but only so long as they never interfered with their missions. They were Felix's hidden knives within Tomorrow's Development—she could not allow them to rust.
And so, half-resigned, half-accepting, Rosebloom led her assassins into this new arrangement. Still, she felt lost. Was bringing them into Tomorrow's Development, breaking centuries of tradition, truly a good thing?
Among the recent recruits, the only one openly snubbed by the knight group was Centaurea—Platinum. Loughshinny and the others treated her kindly, even warmly, and after arriving in Lungmen she had taken a short leave to relax. Felix had even assigned Loughshinny to accompany her on strolls around the city. That simple arrangement sparked a fragile trust and friendship between the two.
But work at Tomorrow's Development inevitably put Platinum into contact with former competitive knights. Foam and Verdant loathed the Armorless Union—Foam especially, whose family had nearly been killed by their crossbows. Margaret Nearl had once passed Platinum in the hallway; their tense silence rattled Platinum so much she ran crying to Felix, convinced Nearl was about to cut her down. Nearl herself later came to him quietly, asking how she should treat this new colleague. Felix soothed both sides with patient words.
Degenbrecher, however, bore no such grudge. To her, the Armorless Union were just flies buzzing around Kazimierz's rot. She had long accepted the consequences of her battles, and would not waste hatred on them. In fact, after hearing of the Light Knight's ultimate fate and choices, she even told Felix over drinks that she'd like to face him again one day—this time as a true opponent. That, she mused, was the Black Knight way.
By February, two Sankta for the first time stepped into Lungmen's bustling modern city. At customs, they presented Laterano identification, which passed without issue. The guards on duty didn't even bat an eye; after weeks of seeing Sankta and Sarkaz working in squads, what novelty could surprise them anymore?
"Big sis, where do we find Brother Felix?"
"All you ever think about is him."
Lemuen tapped Lemuel on the nose, smiling helplessly when her younger sister giggled. "Felix's a busy man now. With Mostima and Fiametta out on messenger work, we'll just have to read the map ourselves."
"No need," came a voice, cutting smoothly into their chatter.
Both sisters turned toward the exit gate. There stood a young man in a standard coat, smiling warmly at them.
"Brother Felix—!"
Like a swallow diving into the nest, Lemuel threw herself onto Felix's shoulder, clinging there with a bright, beaming smile.
"Brother Felix came to pick us up?"
Her elder sister Lemuen was far more composed. Carrying their luggage in both hands, she walked up with a sigh, ruffled her little sister's hair, and turned to Felix.
"Thank you. You're so busy, yet you still found time to meet us."
"It's really not that busy," Felix replied. "All the small, tedious matters are handled by my staff. What's left for me is just decision-making."
Most of that work he shared with Loughshinny. Not only did it lighten his own load, it also gave her a chance to absorb experience and grow. That had been her request from the start.
"I see…" Lemuen murmured.
"—Hey, look over there! What a sweet family. That Sankta child is adorable~"
The passing remark drifted into their ears. Felix glanced down at Lemuel, clinging to his arm like a little girl, then at Lemuen, who turned her flushed face away in embarrassed silence.
"…"
"Why am I the child?!"
Inside the car, Lemuel sulked with puffed cheeks and folded arms. She was an adult, a proper lady already! And yet, to passing strangers, her sister was the "wife," while she was just the "kid."
"Because you're so cute, that's why," Lemuen teased gently, patting her head.
Lemuel propped her chin on her palm, sighing with mock despair. Under her breath, she muttered, "If only I could be the mom instead…"
Felix and Lemuen both pretended not to hear, letting the words pass. Soon enough, Lemuel's attention was stolen by the vast, bustling city rolling past the windows.
In the front seat, Felix used the moment to glance at the rearview mirror, locking eyes with Lemuen.
"Any new instructions from the Notarial Hall?"
"Mhm. Lord Ers asked me to give you my full support. Although… right now I'm technically considered auxiliary staff. After… that incident, the Hall reassigned me to clerical duties to recover from my injuries."
"I haven't joined another squad or formed a new one. I've found I'm rather suited to paperwork, so Lord Ers hasn't sent me back into field operations."
She was careful with her words, since Lemuel was sitting right beside her, but she had explained enough.
"How's Laterano these days?" Felix asked.
Lemuen thought for a moment before answering.
"The capital is currently open to adventurers, but only those uninfected. They're granted temporary tourist status, not the right to settle permanently. Still… before I left, Lord Ers seemed to be preparing a new policy."
"He'll allow adventurers to join the Notarial Hall and work for Laterano," Felix stated calmly, as if it were fact.
"…That possibility exists," Lemuen admitted softly. "But some cardinals in the Papal Chamber may oppose it."
"They'll agree in the end," Felix said evenly. "With other nations racing to recruit adventurers, how could Laterano afford to lag behind?"
In his past life, it had indeed been Ers who first opened that door to players. But this time, the move was coming much earlier.
Fall behind, and you're left behind. Laterano had long stood among Terra's leading nations. There was no way—and no reason—it should lose ground here.