The Eminence in Shadow I Strived to Be

I soared through the blizzard on my Slime Wings, lost in thought.

My battle with Maximilian had ended only moments ago. When I’d used Atomic Rain to wipe that Detention Center off the face of the earth, leaving not even a trace behind, a sudden thought had struck me.

Was this really the right move?

Is this the "Eminence in Shadow" I’ve been aiming for?

I looked back on all my Eminence in Shadow moves up until now. I’d been playing the role exactly as I’d imagined it. At least, that’s how it was supposed to be...

But why did it feel so empty? Why did I feel like something was missing?

Had I drifted off course somewhere? Or—god forbid—was I just stuck in a rut?

"Hmm..."

I couldn't put my finger on the cause. But if one thing was crystal clear, it was that I was feeling profoundly unfulfilled.

I tried to remember: what kind of Eminence in Shadow had the old me—the me from my previous life—actually wanted to be? Thinking back, I realized something.

Honestly, anything worked. As long as it felt like something an Eminence in Shadow would do, I was happy. That meant I didn't actually have a concrete "vision." I didn't have a final "form" to strive toward. I was just vaguely going through the motions of things that seemed cool.

Maybe that was the root of this hollow feeling.

Is it okay to keep going like this?

I didn't know if this was just a phase or a permanent slump. One thing was for sure, though: I couldn't truly enjoy being an Eminence in Shadow as long as I was carrying this baggage.

"I have to do something..."

I needed to sit down and organize what actually mattered to an Eminence in Shadow. I had to strip away the fluff and find the core essence. The answer had to be out there somewhere.

And that's why... I was going to become a "mob."

Luckily for me, the Oriana Kingdom was still a total mess. I’d look at things from a background character’s perspective. How did an Eminence in Shadow look through the eyes of a common mob? What should my next move be?

For the first time in a literal age, I was actually using my brain to think.

I was so focused on my deep philosophical journey that I didn't notice something approaching.

"Hebugh!?"

Splat. Something suddenly slapped onto my face and stuck there. I peeled the object off and tilted my head in confusion.

"Paper? Must've blown up here in the storm."

There was something written on it. I traced the words with my finger, trying to make them out through the snow-blurred ink.

『NOW RECRUITING: ROYALIST FACTION SOLDIERS! Rise up for your country, young patriots!! It’s an easy job—just kill enemy soldiers!! Beginners welcome! Our friendly veterans will support you every step of the way!! You can start a rewarding career today!! Some recruits even became squad leaders in just three days?! Starting salary is zero, but the sky's the limit for your earnings! After all, dreams and fulfillment are priceless!! Future heroes, assemble!! ※ Includes Enlistment Aptitude Test; you will be assigned to the optimal unit to maximize your talents.』

I gripped the paper tight and threw a fist into the air.

"This is it!"