"Well, at least the island wasn't destroyed, right?"

"..."

At this point, they were speechless.

***

"..."

Velraeth watched this exchange with growing interest.

The way the others immediately responded to his words.

The way even significantly powerful individuals like that white tiger beastwoman showed him respect.

The way The First Valkyrie herself looked genuinely guilty about disobeying him.

Her ember eyes narrowed, that signature glow intensifying as she studied Nero more carefully.

There was something about him.

A familiarity she couldn't quite place.

Something in his presence that resonated with her on an instinctive level.

With the way her eyes tried to see through him, she could feel a sort of connection between them.

'Is this what he meant by a summon?'

It's definitely an odd feeling.

And then there's also the question of,

'Is she also summoned then?'

The way the First Star Valkyrie seems to be significantly affected by what the human boy said to her made her think about the insane probability that she's under him.

A probability that seems likely the only answer.

'Interesting... really interesting.'

The crazy woman was intrigued.

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

Her maniacal laughter erupted suddenly, startling everyone present.

She lowered her warhammer, letting it rest on her shoulder as she grinned with genuine excitement.

"You! You're really an interesting human!"

"..."

Complete silence fell over the assembled crowd.

Nobody quite knew how to respond to the sudden shift from deadly combat to enthusiastic laughter.

But...

"..."

Only Nero had a faint smile before it immediately disappeared and looked at her as if he's also confused just like the others.

*Step...*

Velraeth strode forward, her imposing frame moving with predatory grace until she stood directly in front of Nero once again.

"You're really the master?" she asked, though it sounded more like confirmation than a question.

"Yeah." Nero confirmed with a nod.

Her grin then widened, showing all those razor-sharp teeth.

And then,

"I've decided."

Putting her hand on his shoulder, she said...

"You will not be my master... not until you're worthy enough for me."

Everyone's eyes narrowed, especially Aurelia's who became exceedingly cold.

But oddly enough,

"And so?"

Nero calmly questioned as if he knew that it wasn't the end.

And true enough,

"..."

A nasty grin that made everyone shiver was plastered on her face,

"I will train you."

The declaration came with absolute finality, as if the matter was already settled.

Her ember eyes gleamed with something between approval and predatory interest.

"With my own hands, I'll give you an opportunity to become worthy of me."

And to that,

"Heh."

Nero gave his own wild grin that showed his canine.

"Are you sure about that?"

He asked as if saying if she's sure about her decision.

"Heeh? What do you mean?"

"I'm asking if you won't regret your choice? I'm quite capable, you see."

"Getting cocky now are we?"

And to that,

"..."

Nero just smiled mysteriously.

"Wait, what... just happened...?" Frila had to ask.

She felt like she skipped a page or two, as she felt like she's missing the main context here.

*RUMMMBBLLLEEE!!!*

Suddenly, the artificial sky above Waifuria darkened dramatically.

Storm clouds that definitely hadn't been there moments ago began gathering with unnatural speed.

The temperature dropped sharply.

Frost began forming on nearby surfaces despite the temperate climate.

And then...

"You...!"

A voice.

Cold, furious, and carrying the kind of barely-restrained wrath that promised suffering.

"You all...!"

*CRACK!!!*

Lightning struck nearby, the bolt so close everyone felt their hair stand on end.

A portal tore open in the air above them, frost spreading from its edges.

Luna emerged, her heterochromic eyes glowing with ominous power.

Her usually composed expression twisted with fury that made even Velraeth pause.

Ice began forming at her feet, spreading outward in geometric patterns.

The temperature continued dropping as her magical aura leaked out in waves.

But despite that,

*Crack...*

Nero only popped his neck with a laid-back expression as if he's not affected by the tremendous power coming from Luna.

'Now that the 1st phase is successful, it's time to start the 2nd phase.'

Glancing at the enraged petite tsundere, Nero couldn't help but find her cute.

'But with that being said...'

It seems like the real adversary has arrived.

And unlike Velraeth's straightforward violence or Aurelia's divine fury...

It's an angry Luna who was a force of nature that didn't care about any reasoning or excuses.

What a dire situation he is in right now, huh?

***

The frost spreading from her feet accelerated, geometric patterns racing across the ground like living things.

"You...!" Luna began, taking a step forward.

The single word stopped pretty much everyone cold.

Her heterochromic eyes fixed on Nero with laser focus, the pink one glowing so brightly it cast shadows across her face.

"Just what is this all about?!"

Looking at the catastrophic mess that pretty much changed most of the topography of the area they were in made Luna tremble.

From peaceful greeneries and now it has turned into a dead wasteland.

The pink-haired mage was really furious this time.

And considering the amount of times she has been tolerant of all the things that he did...

'It's a miracle that she hasn't exploded much earlier...' Nero calmly mused at her petite figure overflowing with violent mana.

But this time... he was sure that they had definitely crossed the red line.

"Ms. Luna..." Felt's voice came nervously from behind the Great Sage. "Maybe we should..."

"Go back to the lab, assistant."

"B-But...!"

"Now."

The command carried no room for argument.

Felt vanished through a portal, leaving Luna alone with the assembled crowd.

The temperature continued dropping.

Velraeth watched with obvious interest, her combat instincts recognizing a different kind of dangerous opponent.

Not physically threatening in the same way, but carrying power that operated on fundamentally different principles.

"You know what the worst part is?" Luna asked, addressing all three of them specifically. "It's not even the destroyed research. I can recreate that with time and effort."

She took a step forward, frost crackling beneath her feet.

"The worst part is that I specifically requested, multiple times, that any combat testing or training exercises be conducted in designated areas away from the laboratory complex. There are SEVEN suitable locations across this island. Seven places with reinforced barriers and structural support designed to contain high-energy conflicts."

Another step.

"And yet somehow, SOMEHOW, you ended up having a fight between two SSR-tier entities within tremor range of my workspace. Do you understand probability? The sheer statistical improbability of accidentally choosing the worst possible location?"

"T-That's..." Aurelia started.

"Not an accident," Luna finished coldly. "It's negligence. Criminal negligence of basic safety protocols."

"..."

The gathered summons watched nervously.

Even Aurelia, who'd faced Luna's displeasure before, looked uncertain about how to defuse this situation as she was left speechless.

Nero, however, maintained his calm demeanor.

His mind worked through the situation with crystalline clarity, analyzing Luna's fury and the perfect opportunity it presented.

'Mhm... it looks like she's at her breaking point.'

His mind felt perfectly clear within him, stripping away any sort of hesitation and doubt.

… He could see it clearly now.

The exact sequence of actions needed to turn this catastrophe into opportunity.

*Step…*

Nero walked forward, closing the distance between himself and the furious mage.

"Lord Nero?" Aurelia called out warningly.

But he continued forward until he stood directly in front of Luna.

Close enough that the frost spreading from her feet began coating his shoes.

Close enough that her magical aura pressed against him like physical force.

And then, without hesitation or ceremony, he bowed deeply.

"I'm sorry."

"..."

A series of gasps rippled through the assembled crowd. Several summons looked genuinely shocked at seeing their master bow to anyone.

"L-Lord Nero! It's my fault! Y-You don't need to...!"

Aurelia's voice cracked with panic as she instinctively moved to stop him. The sight of her lord bowing sent waves of guilt crashing through her chest, threatening to drown her in self-recrimination.

But before she could take more than a step, Helya's hand settled firmly on her shoulder.

"...?"

The white tiger shook her head gently, her expression calm but insistent as she gestured for Aurelia to simply observe.

'Again... It's all my fault... I made an assumption and let my emotions control me. I should have verified the situation. I should have remained calm. I should have...'

The angel could only grit her teeth, her fists were clenched at her sides as dark thoughts spiraled through her mind.

"I won't make any excuses…The destruction my summons caused is my responsibility as their summoner. I should have stopped this before it escalated to this point."

Nero's head remained bowed as he continued speaking, his voice carrying across the clearing with steady conviction laced with genuine regret.

"...",

Luna's eyes narrowed with suspicion, but something in her expression flickered.

"Stopped it? You..."

"Haaah... If only I wasn't so weak," Nero continued, his tone carrying what seemed like genuine frustration with himself. "If I had more power, I could have intervened before things got this far. But I didn't… Or rather, I couldn't. And your research paid the price for my weakness."

He raised his head to meet her heterochromic gaze directly.

"I know how important that work was to you. Three days of intensive research, destroyed because I lacked the strength to control the situation. That's on me and no one else."

"..."

The admission hung in the air.

But behind his carefully maintained expression of sincere regret,

'Hook, line…'

Nero's thoughts were frighteningly cold.

For he knew exactly what he was doing.

He's weak enough?

Oh, please!

The forced command option had always been there!

The Waifu System gave him absolute authority to compel obedience.

Just one word and both Aurelia and Velraeth would have frozen mid-strike.

And as for his life being at risk?

Pfft! Yeah, right!

The summon can never kill the summoner.

And so, he could've stopped all of this chaos, albeit forcefully, using just a single command.

"..."

… But he ultimately did not do so.

A playful chuckle almost escaped his lips.

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