Chapter 281 - 278 ~ Throne of Myths

Before stepping beyond the boundaries of the massive, concealed residence granted by the multiverse group chat, Yuuji, Lelouch, Satoru, and Semiramis stood at the edge of the courtyard, eyes lifted toward the sky-bound titan—the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.

Their task was precise: to cloak the colossal flying fortress in layers of enchantments and magical barriers, ensuring it could traverse the skies of this world without being seen, sensed, or interfered with. Both physical and magical perception had to be rendered moot.

Fortunately, the process was made significantly easier thanks to the magical artifacts and knowledge drawn from Yggdrasil. Satoru summoned the Phantoms of several guild members of Ainz Ooal Gown—legendary spellcasters and artificers who once built great wonders in the game’s world. Their skill in crafting high-tier concealment wards and magical enchantments proved invaluable.

Lelouch contributed by optimizing the tactical placement of sigil cores across the garden’s underbelly, while Semiramis herself—mistress of the fortress—imbued the structural veins of the flying citadel with her own magic. As the weaver of poisons and illusions, her influence allowed the very presence of the Hanging Gardens to shimmer, blend, and dissolve into the sky like a mirage.

And finally, Yuuji.

He poured an immense surge of the [Descendant of the First Light]’s magical power—limitless in potential—into the spell latticework, jump-starting the enchantments before they could begin drawing upon the ley lines of this world and self-sustain.

By sunset, the task was complete. A radiant pulse passed across the surface of the Hanging Gardens, then vanished entirely—along with the fortress itself.

It had disappeared.

No spell could detect it. No eye could trace its outline. The sky above remained unbroken, even as an empire drifted through it.

In addition to the mana he spent to use the Akashic Records, the strain left Yuuji winded, but with the rate of mana regeneration, he’d recover by next morning. A small price to pay. After briefly confirming everything was in order with the others, he opened a shimmering [Gate] and stepped in.

He reappeared just outside Rias Gremory’s mansion, where her peerage was still locked in rigorous training under Aika and Erika’s supervision.

Meanwhile, back within the veiled fortress that now floated high above the clouds, Lelouch, Satoru, and Tatsuya remained inside. The three had begun methodically exploring its endless halls, deciphering the secrets of its construction, magical flow, and battlefield utility. While Semiramis, Albedo, and C.C had vanished into a room for a... more private conversation related to Yuuji.

As soon as he arrived, Aika and Erika turned toward him with warm, welcoming smiles. In the next instant, two small figures—Alice and Aria, the adorable Yin Yang Slimes in their little girl forms—came rushing forward with bright eyes and excited grins.

"Master~ Welcome back~!"

"Master..."

Yuuji’s expression softened. With gentle hands full of affection, he patted their heads, his touch comforting and warm.

"I’m back. You both did well today. Thank you."

"Uhn~"

"...Uhn. Anything for Master."

He took their tiny, delicate hands in his own, their fingers warm and soft against his palm, and together they walked toward the training field, where the rest of the group lay sprawled across the ground—sweaty, dirtied, and utterly exhausted.

Yuuji’s gaze fell on Issei first, who was gasping for breath and covered in bruises and scratches. He looked like he had just survived a war.

"Hm? Issei, did you go fight off a horde of Fallen? You look absolutely wrecked," Yuuji teased, smirking as he looked down at the battered young man.

"Shut... up... I wouldn’t look like this... even after fighting a horde of Fallen..." Issei groaned in between ragged breaths.

Honestly, he would’ve preferred facing Raynare’s group over and over again rather than going up against that deceptively innocent-looking black-haired little girl. At least with them, he had a fighting chance.

But this training? This wasn’t training—this was hell in disguise. No matter how much he boosted himself, he couldn’t even touch her. She would vanish the instant his fist neared her, only to reappear behind him and land a humiliating kick square on his backside.

Yuuji’s grin widened before he turned to Asia, who was kneeling dutifully beside Issei, her hands glowing with soft healing magic as she tended to his wounds.

"You’ve come a long way, Asia. You’re healing faster now—more efficiently. But don’t forget, you’ll need to learn how to heal from a distance and manage multiple injuries at once. Keep practicing, alright?"

"Yes! I’ll do my best!" she replied eagerly, her eyes sparkling with determination.

Yuuji offered her a warm smile, proud of how far she’d come, before moving on to Kiba, who lay nearby in a heap, panting amidst dozens of shattered magical swords scattered around him.

"You look just as bad. Are you holding up okay?"

"Barely... hanging on..." the blonde knight gasped, giving a weary smile. His Sacred Gear, the Sword Birth, had clearly been pushed to its limits. "But... Chiba-san’s training... it’s been incredibly helpful..."

Yuuji nodded in approval. "You did well. The quality of your swords has definitely improved. Keep refining your technique."

"Thank you..." Kiba murmured, but the smile that crossed his tired face shone with pride at the praise.

Then Yuuji’s gaze shifted to a familiar silver-haired figure lying not far off.

"Koneko..." he called gently.

The petite girl stirred and slowly opened her golden eyes. Her small chest rose and fell with shallow breaths as she struggled to stay upright. She was soaked in sweat, her gym clothes stained with dirt and dust, and her pale hair clung to her forehead.

"You’ve worked hard," Yuuji said softly. "I can tell you’re growing stronger. But right now, you’re focusing too much on your physical strength. You need to learn to channel the energy and magic within you—use it to enhance your body."

Koneko stared at him in silence, her heart skipping a beat. Did he know? Could he have uncovered the secret of her bloodline—something she had only ever confided in Rias?

But after a moment, she calmed herself. No... he must’ve meant her demonic power. That had to be it.

"Uhn..." she replied quietly, nodding her head in understanding.

"Good. I’ll be baking macarons tonight," he added with a smile. "You can look forward to it."

Her golden eyes immediately lit up, brighter than before. She gave a small, eager nod, her exhaustion momentarily forgotten.

Yuuji chuckled and left the three to rest. He made his way toward Aika and Erika, who now stood beside two more collapsed figures: Rias and Akeno.

"Hubby~ You’re finally here~!" Aika squealed with joy as she launched herself at him, wrapping her arms tightly around his torso.

Despite having Alice and Aria still holding onto his hands, Yuuji leaned down and placed a loving kiss on top of Aika’s head. She let out a soft mewl of happiness, nuzzling into his chest like a cat curling into its favorite spot.

"How did it go?" Erika asked, her tone calm and composed as she crossed her arms beneath her generous chest.

"It went well. I used up a bit of magic, but I’ll recover soon. The others are there now."

Erika’s brows lifted slightly in surprise.

Yuuji’s magical reserves were well-known to be near inexhaustible. With all his SSRs and the abilities granted to him by the Multiverse Group Chat, running out of magic was something almost unheard of.

So if he said he used "a bit," it meant the summoning—and whatever happened afterward—had taken a truly extraordinary toll.

"Are you sure you’re alright?" she asked, worry lacing her voice.

"I’m fine," he reassured her with a soft smile, before shifting his gaze to Rias and Akeno.

"Good work today, Rias-san. Akeno-san."

The two girls instinctively straightened their backs, fighting to maintain their elegance despite their utterly worn-out appearances. Their hair was a mess, their clothes torn and stained, and their bodies slick with sweat and dirt. But even so, they wanted to look composed in front of him—the man they were beginning to feel something for.

"T-Thank you, Yuuji-kun..." Rias replied awkwardly, trying to smooth her crimson hair into some semblance of order. Akeno, meanwhile, wiped some dirt from her face and forced a small, composed smile.

Yuuji didn’t bat an eye at their disheveled state. If anything, he admired it. Their appearance wasn’t a flaw—it was proof. Proof of their commitment, their resolve, their strength. To him, they looked beautiful.

"I’ll prepare dinner," he said gently. "Go ahead and wash up. Once you’ve rested, we’ll continue with lessons in magical theory and strategy."

"Alright," the two girls responded in unison.

With a final nod, Yuuji turned and headed back toward the mansion, Aika and Erika walking beside him, and the two slime girls holding his hands.

As his figure slowly disappeared into the distance, Rias and Akeno remained behind, their eyes fixed on his back.

The physical exhaustion from their training had dulled... but in its place, a different kind of thumping filled their chests.

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Nightfall.

The moon hung high in the velvet sky, draping the world below in silver and shadow. As silence settled over the Gremory estate, Rias and her peerage finally surrendered to exhaustion, their bodies and minds pushed to their limits by the day’s grueling training.

At the stroke of midnight, Yuuji, Aika, and Erika slipped away into the stillness, moving like shadows between worlds. Their destination was not the safety of their hidden residence, but the mythical throne that now floated unseen above the Earth—the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.

A message was sent.

Moments later, the air before them rippled like water disturbed by a single drop, and from that ripple bloomed a portal wreathed in shifting darkness—a [Gate].

Without hesitation, they stepped through.

The world shifted.

They emerged into a vast and towering chamber—a breathtaking fusion of luxurious vanity and natural wonder.

Above them stretched a high, spherical dome of flawless glass. Through it, the star-swept heavens shimmered in full glory, uninterrupted and eternal. Clawed spires of obsidian and gold curled upward around the dome’s edge like talons cradling a cosmic jewel, as though the very fortress itself sought to grasp the night sky.

The floor beneath their feet was smooth white marble, veined with gold, and patterned in swirling, ancient Assyrian motifs. Elegant vines of flowering flora crept up the pillars, breathing life into stone and steel—an eerie harmony of nature and grandeur.

At the heart of the chamber lay a circular reflecting pond, still as glass. It encircled a grand, raised platform like a moat surrounding a sacred island. Upon this island, at the top of a long flight of stairs, stood a majestic throne, ornately carved and draped in deep crimson and violet silks, fit only for a sovereign.

At the base of the stairs, they could see Albedo, Lelouch, and Tatsuya conversing with the Queen of Assyria. While Satoru and C.C, off slightly to the side, enjoyed the strange, yet somehow calming, mix of luxury and lush nature.

As Yuuji, Aika, and Erika stepped into the chamber, their presence was immediately noticed.

They all turned.

"You’ve returned," she said, her voice like silk laced with poison and perfume. A smile touched her lips—elegant, calculating, and... pleased.

Aika and Erika stepped forward slowly, the heels of their shoes tapping softly against the marble floor, their eyes scanning the chamber with open wonder. The grandeur of the Hanging Gardens exceeded even their expectations, and the blend of architectural majesty with wild, flourishing nature made it feel less like a fortress and more like a temple raised for gods.

But their attention quickly shifted—drawn, as if by gravity—to the unfamiliar woman who stood in the midst of their friends.

The Queen of Assyria.

Semiramis stood poised like a painting given life. Her long, raven-black hair cascaded down her back in waves, and her golden ornaments shimmered under the chamber’s ambient lighting. She was still, yet not inert—like a coiled serpent basking in the sun, relaxed yet perpetually ready to strike.

A pleasant, if faintly curious smile tugged at her lips as she watched them approach.

Erika’s breath caught subtly in her throat as she took in the woman’s appearance. Her mind, honed by both martial experience and social awareness, instinctively analyzed her. Words came to her without effort:

Seductive. Cunning. Sharp. Regal. Cruel. Merciless.

Each trait echoed in her mind like echoes in a hall of mirrors.

Yes, this was undoubtedly the woman who once ruled from the shadows of an ancient empire, who dabbled in poisons and plotted coups from perfumed palaces.

A Queen and a weapon both.

Meanwhile, Aika studied her with a more nuanced gaze. She wasn’t blinded by Semiramis’s stunning appearance or by the practiced elegance of her every movement. Instead, Aika watched how she looked at Yuuji.

Her golden eyes were calculating, yes, but in their depths was something more.

Not love—no, Aika would have recognized that in a heartbeat, especially when aimed at him. But there was a warmth, however subtle, buried beneath the layers of imperial pride and icy poise. It was a flicker of interest, a trace of respect, and a budding sense of belonging.

Even if the Queen herself hadn’t yet realized it.

’So, even a heroic spirit isn’t immune to my hubby, huh...’ Aika thought with a soft smile.

She had read about the bond formed through Yuuji’s Akashic Record—[Bond Weaved by True Light]—a sacred link that inspired unwavering loyalty. But this interest... This wasn’t simply compulsion. It was organic. Authentic.

A delightful development.

Perhaps, Aika mused, it wouldn’t be long before the proud Queen would not only stand beside Yuuji as a loyal retainer, but beside them—as another cherished sister in their growing family.

Semiramis regarded the two girls standing by his sides. She had heard of them from her conversations with Albedo and C.C.

She offered them a smile, a gesture of utmost acknowledgement and respect the queen could give. And it was only because they were the wives of her "master".

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AN: I hope you guys enjoy this Chapter~! Please comment your thoughts~! I would love to hear what you think about it~!!!!

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