The Psychopathic Beast Emperor

Bahamut slowly opened his eyes. For a brief moment, he couldn’t understand why he couldn’t move. He blinked in confusion and looked down, only to see Alana.

"Alana."

"Mmm..."

The black-haired beast-kin answered instinctively without opening her eyes. She had somehow wrapped herself around him during the night. One arm rested over his chest while one leg was comfortably draped over his waist. Her face was buried against his shoulder, and from the peaceful expression she wore, she had absolutely no intention of waking up.

Bahamut stared at the ceiling.

"How does this keep happening?"

The bedroom remained silent. Outside, birds chirped cheerfully as sunlight filtered through the curtains. Bahamut carefully tried moving, but Alana only hugged him tighter.

"Alana."

"Mhm..."

"We have a mission."

"Five more minutes."

"We’re investigating kidnappings."

"The kidnappers can wait five minutes."

Bahamut couldn’t help but chuckle.

"You’ve been spending too much time with Ren."

That finally made one black eye peek open.

"Morning."

"Morning."

She smiled sleepily before suddenly realizing their current position, her face immediately turning bright red.

"I-I..." She hurriedly rolled away and nearly fell off the bed. "Ow!"

Bahamut laughed.

"Smooth."

"I wasn’t awake!"

"I can tell."

She quickly fixed her hair while refusing to look at him.

"I-I must’ve..." She paused. "...had another nightmare."

Bahamut’s smile softened.

"I figured."

She looked down.

"Sorry."

"You don’t have to apologize." He stood, stretching leisurely, before weirdly looking at her. "Why are you even apologizing?"

Alana turned her head in embarrassment when she realized it. She and Bahamut were already a thing, and she was acting as if they hadn’t crossed cuddling. The fear from last night hadn’t completely disappeared, but the dark circles beneath her eyes had become noticeably lighter. That alone made Bahamut feel yesterday’s conversation had helped.

...

Less than an hour later, the entire team had gathered once more inside Prince Victor’s private strategy room. Unlike yesterday’s relaxed atmosphere, today’s room felt much more serious. Maps covered nearly the entire central table, red strings connected various districts, while small wooden markers indicated confirmed disappearances. Blue markers represented suspicious sightings, and black markers represented unknown incidents.

Victor stood before them with several officers dressed in simple civilian clothing rather than armor.

"We’ve finished organizing every report from the past three years."

He tapped one area.

"Aurora alone has recorded seventy-four disappearances."

Another marker.

"Thirty-two recovered."

Another.

"Forty-two..." He paused. "...never found."

Silence filled the room. Victor inhaled slowly.

"We’ve already established one important fact, as you all know by now. The kidnappings aren’t random." He looked toward Bahamut. "Thanks to your observations yesterday."

Bahamut simply nodded.

Victor continued.

"The victims differ in age, gender, and race, but... they all disappeared within districts that possess unusually low military presence."

Apollonia folded her arms.

"So they’re watching patrol routes."

Victor nodded.

"Exactly. The perpetrators understand Aurora, perhaps better than we do."

He moved another marker.

"So today, we divide."

Several eyes narrowed.

"No group larger than four. If one group attracts attention, the others continue investigating unnoticed."

He looked toward Bahamut.

"As mission leader, the final decision belongs to you."

Bahamut looked around the room, and everyone quietly waited. He thought for only a few seconds.

"I’ll take Lily, Exildra, and Alana." None of the three girls objected, for obvious reasons known to everyone, maybe not Victor. In fact, Lily looked delighted; Exildra simply smiled, and Alana looked relieved.

Bahamut continued.

"Sel. You go with Apollonia."

Sel nodded immediately, forcing himself not to smile, which he succeeded in doing, but that couldn’t be said for Apollonia, who looked as if she’d been caught stealing meat from a pot of soup.

"Understood," she answered rigidly.

"Gabi. You’ll be with Rakia."

The lizard-kin quietly nodded.

That left Ren and the Black Fang Prodigy.

Ren looked around. "...Uh..."

Before Bahamut could speak, the veiled girl calmly raised one hand.

"I’ll go with Ren."

Everyone looked at her.

"...You sure?" Ren asked, his eyes narrowing. He somehow knew why she accepted. It was time to settle things between themselves.

She nodded.

"I believe we’ll make an effective team."

Bahamut studied her for a second. He knew she had another reason. She wanted answers.

"If you’re okay with it."

"I am."

Ren shrugged. "Works for me."

Victor quickly rearranged several documents.

"Excellent." He gestured toward the waiting civilians.

"As discussed, each team will receive local support."

Four individuals stepped forward.

"They’re not soldiers. They’re investigators. They know Aurora’s streets, noble customs, merchant routes, and underground rumors."

He pointed toward Bahamut’s group first.

"Alya."

A young woman stepped forward.

She had chestnut hair tied into a practical ponytail and sharp amber eyes. She wore ordinary merchant clothing rather than anything military. She bowed politely.

"I’ve lived in Aurora all my life. I know every marketplace, inn, and residential district. I’ll help your investigation while making sure nobody suspects you’re outsiders."

Bahamut nodded.

"Nice to meet you."

She smiled.

"The pleasure is mine."

Victor continued.

"Sel and Apollonia."

A middle-aged man with spectacles stepped forward.

"My name is Cedric. I handle city records. If something exists on paper, I’ll find it."

Apollonia gave a respectful nod.

"Gabi. Rakia."

An elderly woman with silver hair smiled warmly.

"I’m Mira. I’ve spent forty years treating patients throughout Aurora. If someone disappears, families usually talk."

Finally, Victor looked toward Ren.

"And..."

The last guide stepped forward. He couldn’t have been older than twenty. Messy blond hair, freckles, and a carefree smile...

"My name’s Finn." He looked directly at Ren. "I’ve heard you’re fun."

Ren blinked.

"Who’s spreading rumors already?"

Finn grinned.

"I asked around. I like rabbits."

Ren slowly looked toward Bahamut.

"Can I switch guides?"

Everyone laughed. Even the Black Fang Prodigy’s shoulders shook slightly beneath her veil. Victor smiled.

"One last thing."

The room became quiet again.

"If anyone uncovers something significant... Do not pursue alone." His expression turned grave. "We still don’t know the enemy’s true strength. If this truly connects to the Oasis District incident..."

He glanced toward Bahamut.

"...then we may already be dealing with an organization rather than individuals."

No one argued. They had seen enough already. Victor looked around one final time.

"You’ll report back here this evening whether you’ve found nothing or uncovered something."

He placed both hands on the table.

"Your investigation officially begins now."

The room erupted into movement. Maps were rolled up, notes distributed, while guides exchanged introductions with their assigned teams.

Within minutes, the safe house emptied as four separate groups quietly disappeared into different parts of Aurora. None of them noticed that from the rooftop of a distant building, a hooded figure watched them leave.

The figure’s gaze lingered longest on Bahamut’s group. Without a sound, they vanished into the morning crowd.