The Eminence in Shadow, Vol. 1 (Light Novel)

by Daisuke Aizawa

  Whatever, it’s fine. The girls have prepared this huge prop for me, so I can’t complain.

  But if I could just have a little slice of the pie.

  “Um, I hope you don’t mind me asking this, but could I borrow a few zeni?”

  I’ll pay her back someday…maybe.

  “Yes, I’ll prepare it right away,” Gamma responds quickly.

  She gives orders to the woman who brought me here.

  A few moments later, a wheelbarrow full of coins rolls into the room, as tall as a mountain. I’ve never seen this many sparkling coins in one place. This is easily over a billion zeni.

  “Th-this is a bit…”

  I can’t borrow all this. I could never pay them back.

  “—gh! Is this not enough? I’ll send for more right aw—…”

  “No, it’s fine.” I stop Gamma midsentence and reach toward the coins, making a big show of thrusting my hand into the mountain.

  The coins loudly clink together.

  Now I’ve got their attention locked on my right hand. I concentrate with all my might.

  “Hmph!”

  I take about fifteen coins in my right hand and show it to everyone in the room, before slowly putting it into my right pocket. I’ve just gotten one and a half million zeni richer.

  And I have another one and a half million zeni in my left pocket, too.

  While focusing their attention on my right hand, I snatched some coins in my left at top speed, stuffing them into my pocket before anyone could notice. Alpha or Delta might have picked up on it, but Gamma never stood a chance.

  “I-is that it? You can have all—…”

  Watching her is hilarious to me. She thinks I’m only borrowing one and a half million zeni, but I actually pocketed three million!

  “That’s enough for now,” I say, holding back laughter.

  “All right. Take this back.” Gamma claps, and the gaggle of women roll the wheelbarrow away.

  Gamma kneels before me. “My lord, I think I know why you’ve come today. It must be about the incident.”

  “Yes.”

  I nod. What incident?

  “My sincerest apologies. We’re currently investigating the matter but haven’t caught the culprit. Please be patient. I’ll hunt down the slasher in the capital—the fools in ebony, pretending to be in the Shadow Garden.”

  “Hmm…”

  This is the first I’m hearing about this.

  “Hmm…”

  Gamma gazes at Shadow as he trails off and begins contemplating. Somewhere in her blue eyes, there’s a hint of unease.

  A tear streams down from the corner of her eye without warning. Seeing those blue-violent rays reminds her of her past.

  Gamma’s life began with a light of the same hue.

  If he’d never come, she would have died a rotting mound of flesh. She was abandoned by her family, chased out of her home country, stripped of everything in her possession. She fell into an abyss of pain and fear and disappointment—and the one who rescued her was the boy who produced the blue-violet light. She would likely never forget that glow for her entire life. To Gamma, it represents the light of survival.

  Alpha once told Gamma there was life in it, and Gamma agreed, not for logical but for instinctual reasons.

  It didn’t just heal external wounds—but a much deeper part of the soul. When she touched the bluish light, it was as if she was released from her shackles, liberated from something holding her back. She finally felt like she had reclaimed her identity.

  On that day, she was reborn. The moment she received the name Gamma, she vowed to devote her new life only to him.

  While her intentions were sincere, she was the least powerful member of the Seven Shadows. She was defeated and surpassed by newer members, left crawling on the ground and deeply humiliated. Somewhere along the way, Gamma realized she couldn’t beat her peers. It didn’t matter how hard she trained.

  She was in anguish. What was she worth? She would rather die than display her stupidity and bring everyone down. But he randomly called out to her the day she planned to end it all. And he imparted his Shadow Wisdom to her.

  That insight showed her how to fight with her intelligence over strength, and she dived headlong into his ways. And since she thought this was her only chance at survival, she literally put her life on the line to re-create his Shadow Wisdom.

  When Gamma looks back on it, she’s certain he recognized her pain—that he shared his knowledge because he knew she was hurting and had foretold the path she would walk in life.

  It made her feel forlorn. It saddened her to know he was out of her reach.

  Does Shadow need me? Tears well up in her eyes whenever she thinks about it. But that’s why she needs to wipe the tears away and keep fighting.

  She’ll make the Shadow Garden bigger and stronger, a more suitable organization for Shadow…and on that day, she believes her wish is certain to come true.

  “I see. Very interesting.” His voice pulls Gamma back to reality. “I think I know who did this. I’ll take a look around.”

  Gamma’s chest tightens when she hears his omniscient tone.

  She’d failed to help him once again. He could surmise the correct answer with a snippet of information. Even if she mobilizes all her subordinates, he could easily find hints she never could.

  But Gamma refuses to give up. One day, he’s bound to notice her…so she has to persist.

  “Nu, come forward.” Gamma calls over the dark brunette who brought him here.

  “This is Nu. She’s number thirteen.”

  “Wow.”

  He peers at Nu through narrowed eyes. His gaze seems sharp enough to see to the depths of her power.

  “Even though Nu only just joined us, even Lady Alpha has recognized her for her strength. Feel free to use her as a liaison, for chores or whatever you like.”

  “I’m Nu. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Her voice trembles slightly from nerves.

  “I’ll call you if something comes up.”

  “Understood.” She bows and steps back.

  “I guess I’ll be going now.” He stands. “Oh, almost forgot. I’d like to buy some chocolate—the cheapest kind. If you could give me a friends and family discount, that’d be great.”

  “We prepare our best chocolate in-house.”

  “Um…how much will that be?”

  “With the friends and family coupon, that’ll be one hundred percent off.”

  “One hundred percent… That makes it free! Yippee, it’s my lucky day! In that case, I’ll take three of ’em.”

  “Thank you for your business.”

  Gamma smiles when she sees him return to the role of Cid Kagenou the normie.

  “We’re not gonna make curfew!”

  “That’s ’cause Cid took too long!”

  “I said sorry and gave you chocolate.”

  The three of us sprint down the pitch-black streets of the capital.

  I’m definitely one of the two reasons we’re late. But Skel’s and Po’s constant questions about that lady are the other reason. Nu—was that her name? Either way, I just batted away their interrogation with a bunch of maybes.

  That said, I never would have pinned Alexia as the type to become a real-life serial killer. If Delta’s not the culprit, it’s got to be Alexia. I knew it was her the moment I heard about the recent crimes. She’s a princess who has it all. What could have possibly set her off…?

  The woman’s heart is an enigma.

  You know, I don’t look down on mass murderers. That’s a way of life. But sullying the name of the Shadow Garden is a whole different story. Those unfortunate souls won’t be getting away with this.

  “Hey, did you hear that?”

  “Nope, nothing.”

  Skel and Po are running ahead of me as they talk between themselves.

  It doesn’t seem they heard it well, but to me, it was crystal clear.

  It was the sound of two blades colliding, whic
h means people are fighting nearby.

  I stop in my tracks.

  “Yo, what’s wrong?”

  “We’re gonna miss curfew!”

  The duo pause shortly after I do.

  I point to a back alley. “I’m gonna go take a shit.”

  They look like they can’t believe I’m for real.

  “If I don’t go now, it’s gonna stream down my legs when I run.”

  “That’s an emergency.”

  “A question of curfew or pride.”

  Their faces turn serious.

  “You guys go ahead. I don’t want anyone to see me…”

  “Ew… Gotcha! I won’t tell anyone you took a dump outdoors!”

  “No matter what anyone says…I think you made the right decision!”

  “Oof, I can’t hold it in. Hurry… Just leave me behind!”

  “Cid… We’ll never forget you!”

  “Cid… Even if you poop outside, we’ll always be friends!”

  “Go! Goooooooooooo!!”

  The pair turn on their heels and book it out of there.

  After I watch them skitter away, I head down the back alley, following the sounds of a duel. When I trace it to its source, I’m in the heart of the dark alley.

  Two dark knights are in the midst of a fierce battle.

  There’s no doubt in my mind that the one in the school uniform and short skirt is Alexia. But the other is a masked man dressed entirely in black.

  Something obviously isn’t right. I could understand if Alexia wore jet-black, pretending to be in the Shadow Garden, but not the other way around. I climb to a rooftop and covertly watch them from above.

  “Give it up already. There’s no way you can win,” says Alexia.

  She seems to have the upper hand. The man in black isn’t necessarily weak; he just can’t touch Alexia, who greatly improved with her recent training.

  His black coat is torn and tattered, and his blood is dyeing the cobblestones a dark crimson. One final push will determine the winner.

  “Why do you kill the innocent? Is that why you fight?”

  “We are the Shadow Garden…”

  Just now, the man in jet-black definitely said, “Shadow Garden.”

  “Is that the only thing you can say? Is that what the man Shadow seeks?”

  “We are the Shadow Garden…” The man in jet-black repeats himself.

  Without a doubt, this man is the Shadow Garden impostor.

  Sorry for doubting you, Alexia. It looks like you’re innocent. My sincerest apologies.

  But why is this guy impersonating the Shadow Garden?

  That is the obvious next question, and I know the answer all too well. I can fully understand him, because I am who I am.

  The answer is adoration.

  This man is enamored by the Shadow Garden…and secret masterminds. I can’t say I blame him. I mean, my whole journey began because I loved shadowbrokers. I fell in love with the hidden commanders in movies, anime, and manga and started imitating them.

  This impostor walked that same path and found the Shadow Garden. Yes, he’s the Shadow Garden’s first follower in the world.

  A warm feeling rises in my chest. I’m just happy to know a total stranger accepts us and our ways. I’m glad to know I’ve chosen the right path.

  But this is unforgivable. Why? Because I’m a mastermind. If I forgive those who tarnish my organization’s name, then I no longer am one. Right now, we can both call ourselves shadowbrokers, and I won’t stand or settle for that.

  “It’s over for you.”

  When Alexia thwarts his counterattack by knocking the sword out of his hands, I feel another energy drawing near.

  “It’s over for you.”

  Alexia sends his sword flying, which clangs onto the cobblestone road.

  “…Hngh!” Alexia tumbles, evading a sudden attack from behind.

  She blocks another rapid strike, drives her foot into the assailant’s stomach, and swiftly backs away. Glaring at her new opponents, she steadies her breath.

  There are two more dark knights dressed in jet-black.

  Alexia clicks her tongue as she watches the first man lift his sword.

  This makes three, and she guesses they’re all strong, too.

  Against one of them? She could win easy. She has a good chance of taking two down. But to fight against three opponents is…

  “It isn’t very nice to pit three of you against a dainty girl.”

  I pray they humor her with an answer.

  “How about three one-on-one battles? Or is that no good?” she suggests.

  They’re slowly surrounding her from all sides. She’s making sure her back is covered as she inches away.

  “Hey, look behind you. The moon is beautiful tonight.”

  One man nears her back, and she keeps him in check with her eyes. Their swords dart around with small movements as they attempt to gauge the other’s intentions.

  “Oh my. You’re not going to look? I think you should.” Alexia smiles. Her red eyes glisten in the moonlight.

  “Because there’s a lovely lady behind you.”

  “—gr…!”

  She gets him.

  Alexia moves instantly, swinging her bare blade down to slice her blockheaded opponent who turned back to check it out.

  Die. She doesn’t say it out loud but sneers at him instead. She rips through the black cloak, spraying fresh blood.

  But the cut isn’t deep enough. She just needs one more hit to finish him…

  And in that moment, Alexia suffers a blow to the abdomen.

  “Augh…!”

  A black boot sinks into the side of her body, and she can hear her ribs snapping under impact. As she spits blood and slashes her weapon, she jams her sword into the black boot.

  But the enemy evades her attack at the last second, and her blade bounces off the cobblestones.

  The men are too far to attack.

  Alexia hacks up blood and wipes her mouth. Her hand is stained red.

  At this point, she successfully distracted two of them, but there is one left—the one who kicked her to stop her from killing the other man. Alexia glares at him spitefully.

  Three against one. The numbers haven’t changed.

  But the situation has gotten worse. Two of them are unharmed, and the other is severely injured but capable of using his sword. She can’t ignore the last man.

  On the other hand, Alexia’s lungs are punctured by her broken ribs. They’ll kill me, she thinks. I guess this is it.

  Alexia extracts a red pill from a pocket on her school uniform. She secretly nabbed the drug before the warehouse burned down. She’s against brutish swordplay, but she prefers it to death. Alexia brings it to her lips. While praying that her impromptu strategy will work, she raises the pill to her lips.

  At that moment, something inky comes down from the sky, landing as silently as an owl gliding through the night.

  The black blade bisects one opponent, from which blood erupts. The suffocating stench of gore penetrates the alleyway. With a sharp swing, the man in ebony, Shadow, splatters the blood off his sword in a red line along the wall.

  “To the fools who mock the name of the Shadow Garden…”

  This is Shadow, the strongest being in existence. He’s the one who demonstrates perfect swordplay—and the one she could never forget.

  Is Shadow…fighting them?

  That’s what it looks like.

  “Pay for your sins with your lives,” Shadow continues.

  In the next moment, the men in jet-black are set in motion, making an instant decision to spring from the cobblestones, bound off the wall, jump onto the rooftop, and flee.

  “How pathetic…” Shadow moves to pursue them.

  “Please wait…!”

  Her voice stops him in his tracks. He turns back slowly, fixing his eyes on her.

  Her sword trembles violently. She realizes…she is doing something stupid.

  “I am Alexi
a Midgar, one of two princesses in this kingdom.”

  Shadow just stares at her. She knows he can take her life if he feels like it.

  “State your purpose. What are you fighting for? Who are you fighting against? And…do you pose a threat to my country?”

  Shadow turns his back to her.

  “Stay out of it. Ignorance is bliss.”

  “Wha—…?! Wait, if you’re saying you oppose the kingdom…!”

  “And what would you do if I did?”

  She’s taken aback by his bloodlust.

  Faced with an insurmountable force, she instinctively cowers. But defying our instincts is what makes us human.

  “I’ll fight you. I know you’re going to try to kill my big sister, and I can’t let that happen.”

  Shadow lets his coat billow behind him.

  “I understand your swordplay. I may not be able to now, but someday, I’ll…”

  “Kill me?” he guesses.

  With those parting words, Shadow vanishes into the darkness.

  Alexia murmurs in the dark to herself. “Yeah, that’s right…”

  Silence returns to the night. Deserted and alone, Alexia clutches her stomach and huddles into herself. Her sword falls from her quivering hands. She knows she’s done something stupid. But she’s recently discovered a reason to fight: to protect the few things she holds dear—her only sister and her one friend.

  “This isn’t good…”

  Alexia is about to pass out.

  She knows something bad will happen to her if she blacks out in the alleyway. She tries using the wall to lift herself up.

  “Alexia… Alexia!” A voice calls to her in the distance.

  “Hey, Iris… Iris! Over here!”

  “Alexia…!!”

  The footsteps draw closer. Something soft catches Alexia in midair before her body hits the ground.

  “Alexia! What have you done…?!”

  “Iris…” Alexia buries her face in her sister’s chest.

  “Prepare yourself. I’ll have you fill me in on all the details later.”

  “…Okay.”

  “Including this.”

  “Huh…?” Alexia sees the scattered red pills on the cobblestone road, where she dropped them. “Listen, Iris. I don’t know anything about them.”

  “Quiet.”

  “I don’t know. Honest.”