After a grueling period of training, Polaris’s heart overflowed with joy. She had finally clawed her way to the rank of a Count-class power. Her current abilities were so vastly superior to her old self that any comparison was laughable; she had even recently fought to a draw with Epsilon, one of the Six Kings' Executives.
With this, she finally possessed the strength to serve the Death King, Lady Isis, without bringing shame upon herself. At long last, she could pledge her life to the benefactor she had yearned for across the ages.
However, that joy was short-lived, quickly eclipsed by a darker emotion.
Through her millennia of self-refinement, Polaris had awakened a dormant potential, gaining a form of Limited Future Prediction that allowed her to witness the "result of her own actions" before they occurred. Naturally, she used this power to peer into her own destiny, seeking to confirm her place by Isis’s side.
"...Why?"
The future she saw was not the one she desired. Every path Polaris took to become a subordinate ended in the same tragic vision: Lady Isis, shedding tears of sorrow as she cast her away.
At that point in time, Isis had not yet met the one person who would accept her unconditionally—Kaito. Her heart was still brittle and isolated, lacking the emotional capacity to take on subordinates. Polaris, however, had no way of knowing this.
While Polaris could see the ultimate "result," the "process" remained a mystery to her. She could not fathom the reason behind her rejection. The thought of causing her great benefactor such pain was unbearable, and she threw herself into a desperate search for the cause.
She wondered if she was still too weak, so she pushed her training past all previous limits.
She wondered if she lacked something other than raw power, so she refined every auxiliary skill she possessed.
She wondered if her approach was flawed, so she tested every conceivable pattern of action, checking the results through her future vision one by one.
Still, the results did not change. After several centuries, she hit a complete standstill. Eventually, her life fell into a repetitive cycle: she trained relentlessly by day and spent her nights peering into every possible future her mind could conceive. She executed every plan she could devise, harboring a growing sense of frustration as the years marched on, yet she never let go of her unwavering dream.
Eighteen thousand years had slipped through the hourglass of time since she first began her training. Then, three thousand years after her duel with Epsilon, the future she saw suddenly shifted.
The vision of Isis rejecting her in tears vanished. In its place was a new result: Isis declined her offer to serve with a deeply apologetic expression.
On the surface, the outcome was the same—Polaris was still not a subordinate. However, the change in Isis’s expression was profound. It was no longer a cold rejection born of despair, but a gentle hesitation.
Soon after, rumors reached her of an Otherworlder who had grown close to the Six Kings. Drawing on her limited network of informants, Polaris gathered what she could. It seemed that, thanks to this man, a fundamental change had come over the Death King.
Polaris offered a silent prayer of thanks to the nameless Otherworlder and resumed her desperate search for a future where she could finally stand at Isis’s side.
Several months later, she finally found it.
By following a specific path—waiting on a deserted island—she saw a future where she became Isis’s subordinate alongside a girl with two-toned hair, a blend of gray and black.
She didn't know who the girl was. She had never heard of a powerful warrior with such a distinct look. The rumored Otherworlder was a man, so this had to be someone else entirely. But such details were trivial.
She had finally found her path. A storm of pure ecstasy raged in Polaris’s heart.
Suppressing her mounting excitement, she endured two years that felt longer than all the centuries before them. Finally, the visitor she had been waiting for arrived.
It was a night when the stars shimmered with exceptional clarity when Iris, having obtained information from Alice, arrived at the island. Alice’s intelligence had noted that Polaris trained during the day and spent her nights stargazing, so Iris had decided that the evening would be the most appropriate time for a talk.
Under a canopy of stars worthy of the Stargazing Witch, Iris found Polaris standing in the center of the island and called out to her.
"I assume you are indeed Polaris, the Stargazing Witch? I am Iris Illuminas. I must first apologize for this sudden visit—mm!?"
Iris stopped mid-sentence, her face twisting in shock. Polaris had turned toward her, and her eyes were brimming with tears.
"...At last. Finally... finally, the time has come."
Hearing those whispered words, Iris recalled her previous conversation with Alice. She remembered Alice mentioning that Polaris often said "the time has not yet come." Looking at the woman’s emotional state, Iris deduced that her arrival had fulfilled the final condition for whatever Polaris had been planning.
Polaris turned her tear-streaked face toward Iris.
"I have been waiting for you to come here."
"I see. Am I to assume that knowledge comes from your future vision?"
"Yes, that is correct. I have a form of Limited Future Prediction that lets me see the consequences of my actions. But let us save the detailed explanations for later. More importantly... take me to her. Take me to Lady Isis Remnant."
Iris narrowed her eyes, her mind racing. Until she had arrived, she had been prepared to spend hours persuading Polaris, who was known for refusing every invitation. The reality of the situation was a far cry from her expectations.
After a brief silence, Iris spoke softly.
"I can see that your desire is beyond question. In that case, I will keep my own inquiries to a minimum. Do you harbor even the slightest ill intent toward Lady Isis?"
"Not a shred!"
"Very well. I shall trust your words."
Iris had a mountain of questions, but judging by Polaris’s current state, it was clear that she wouldn't be able to hold a calm conversation until her objective was met. Iris asked only the bare essentials required of a subordinate of the Death King.
As Polaris answered, Iris scrutinized her. Iris was naturally sensitive to the emotions of others and possessed high levels of insight; from her perspective, Polaris was telling the truth. More than that, she could feel a profound sense of reverence for Isis in every word the woman spoke.
Realizing that this had turned into a very different mission than the one she had planned, Iris took Polaris’s hand and teleported them both to Isis’s castle.
Iris led her straight to the study. Polaris was visibly tense now, her expression grave and her lips sealed tight as they reached the heavy doors.
When Iris knocked and entered, she saw Isis as she always was, quietly reading a book. Isis looked up as they entered and offered Iris a warm smile.
"Welcome back, Iris. Is that girl... a friend of yours?"
Isis had sensed Polaris’s presence the moment they arrived. She knew the newcomer possessed immense power, but she didn't ask the reason for the visit, trusting that anyone Iris brought would be fine.
"I have returned, Lady Isis. Regarding her, well..."
Iris hesitated, wondering how to explain things. She herself didn't fully understand why Polaris was so desperate to be here. But before she could find the words, Polaris took the initiative.
"Lady Isis!"
"...W-What is it?"
Polaris called her name with the force of a shout, stepped forward, and dropped to her knees. She bowed her head so vigorously that her forehead practically struck the floor. Isis and Iris both stared at her in utter astonishment.
"I am the witch whose life you saved eighteen thousand years ago!"
"...Eh?"
"Despite receiving the incredible gift of my life from you, I was a coward. I fled without a word of thanks. I am a fool beyond redemption, but I have spent every moment since then dreaming of the day I could see you again!"
"..."
"Please, allow me to apologize for the rudeness of that day, and for the disrespect of being so late to offer my gratitude! I am deeply sorry!"
Polaris cast aside her hat and bowed repeatedly, tears streaming down her face. Isis looked bewildered, her gaze darting between Polaris and Iris.
"...Eighteen thousand years ago... A witch... Oh... Were you that girl? The one being attacked by monsters?"
"Yes! That is me! I am alive today only because of you... Thank you. Truly, thank you so much!"
"...I see. You have grown into such a splendid woman... I didn't recognize you at first. But... I'm so glad you came to see me. Hearing you say thank you... it makes me very happy. I should be the one thanking you for coming."
Isis smiled with a gentle radiance. Overcome with emotion, Polaris covered her eyes and wept.
In truth, Isis had never held a grudge against the young Polaris. Being feared and fled from was her daily reality back then; it was simply how things were. But to have someone seek her out after all this time just to say thank you was a joy beyond words.
Polaris continued to cry for a while until she eventually composed herself. She turned her reddened eyes toward Isis.
"Lady Isis Remnant. Today, beyond my apology and my thanks, I have come with a final request."
"...A request?"
"Yes. I have always wished to dedicate the life you saved to your service. It took me far too long to gain enough power to be worthy of you, and I apologize for the delay. But please... would you allow me to become your subordinate?"
"...Eh? Me? You want to be... my subordinate?"
"Yes!"
"...Oh... um... that makes me so happy... but..."
Hearing Polaris’s plea, Isis looked troubled and stole a quick glance at Iris. Seeing the King’s hesitation, Iris offered a faint smile of encouragement.
"I think it is a wonderful idea. She is here of her own free will, and she clearly understands what it means to serve you. Given that she can converse with you so easily, her compatibility with your magic power is obviously not an issue."
"...Yes... you’re right. Then... um..."
"My name is Polaris."
"...Well then, Polaris... I look forward to having you with us."
"Yes, my Lady!!"
And so, after eighteen thousand years of challenging the wall of talent through sheer effort, the girl’s labor was rewarded. She had finally achieved her dream of serving the King she loved.
One might think this was the end of the story, but it was not quite over yet.
"I apologize for the summons, Iris Illuminas."
"I don't mind the travel, but what is this about? I'm not so bored that I enjoy standing around for no reason."
A short time after Polaris joined the household—on a day when Isis had gone to the beach with her lover, Kaito—Iris had been called to the deserted island where Polaris used to live.
"It isn't a particularly grave matter. I simply wish to confirm something. At present, you and I are Lady Isis’s only subordinates. Is it correct to assume that you are considered the 'First among Subordinates'?"
"...I see. Are you saying you find that 'dissatisfying'?"
"No, I have no complaints. The Master is the one who decides who stands at the head. By watching Lady Isis, I can see quite clearly who her most trusted aide is."
"Then what is your point?"
Iris crossed her arms, growing impatient with Polaris’s roundabout phrasing. Polaris had a smile on her face, but it felt provocative.
"As the head, you will likely be giving me orders in the future. It isn't strange for me to want to know the strength of my superior, is it? I was hoping you would indulge me in a mock battle. Just a light sparring session."
"...I understand. Very well."
"I appreciate it. Don't worry, I'm not suggesting we change our ranks based on a single duel. Think of it as a recreational exercise to get to know one another."
"Recreation? Fufu... Why don't you be honest? You’re annoyed that you aren't the head."
Iris matched Polaris’s provocations with a fearless smile of her own, cutting straight to the heart of the issue. The smile vanished from Polaris’s face for a split second.
"...Well, I would be lying if I said I didn't feel a certain way about it. But that is merely personal sentiment. My primary goal is to gauge your strength. To be frank, you are a mystery to me. I've never heard the name Iris Illuminas before, and I find myself doubting whether you truly possess the power to lead."
Polaris was being sincere. She did want to be Isis’s primary subordinate, but more than that, she was genuinely skeptical. She couldn't understand how a complete unknown could be deemed worthy of leading the Death King's household.
Iris’s smile only deepened.
"...I’ll make you a deal."
"Oh? And what would that be?"
"If you defeat me in this mock battle, I will step down. I will tell Lady Isis that you should be the First Subordinate in my place."
"...Heh. That is more than I could have hoped for. Are you sure?"
"Yes. You’ll fight better if there’s something on the line, won't you? As a bonus, I’ll give you one more advantage."
Iris snapped her fingers, and a massive clock face with ticking hands appeared in the sky above them.
"As I said, I have other things to do. We will set a time limit of thirty minutes. If you are still standing when that clock strikes zero, I will concede. You win."
"...Goodness. Such confidence. Or am I simply being underestimated?"
"Hmph."
Iris ignored the twitch of Polaris’s eyebrow. She took a step back, her arms still crossed.
"I have tasted a truly bitter defeat recently."
"Hmm?"
"Because of that, I had to bow my head and beg for instruction from the person I least wanted to ask. But thanks to that, my fangs are sharper than they have ever been."
"..."
"I am Iris Illuminas, the First Subordinate of the Death King. If you intend to challenge my title—then bring every ounce of your strength and try to take it!"
"...Challenge accepted."
Thus, on a deserted island, the two who would later be known as the "Black Tyrant Star" and the "Northernmost Star" clashed.