Chapter 14: Checkmate
THE day of the Dragontan Cession Completion Ceremony had finally arrived. The sun was out and the sky was perfectly clear. Excitement and bustling activity breathed new life into the once-dying town. Bright smiles could be seen on the townspeople's faces, their lips uttering nothing but praise and gratitude for their new king. It was easy to forget Dragontan belonged to an evil civilization now.
Amid all the festivities, the King of Ruin and his confidant were…
"King Takuto… Y-You look n-nervish," Atou said, biting her tongue.
"Ha…haha… I-I'm not nervous. Y-You're nervous." …shaky from nerves.
They were waiting in a room within Town Hall that had been renovated exclusively for the king's use. What in the world had the Commander who rose to the top of the leader boards in Eternal Nations with his deep insight and ingenious strategies and the Hero who slayed endless enemies to cut a path for him so afraid of?
"I-I've never given a speech before," Takuto said nervously. "I'm not gonna trip and fall on my face or anything, right?"
"D-Don't worry, my king. Y-Your Atou will be there to hold you up."
Yes, these two transcendental beings people feared and revered were experiencing untold anxiety over whether they could pull off their part in the ceremony without botching it. Takuto's apprehension was flamed by his social anxiety and Atou's by her general clumsiness when it came to everything outside of fighting without Takuto to guide her. They were a lot alike in many ways, one of which was their shared desire to run away from potential embarrassment.
"Please set your mind at ease, great King Takuto Ira. Our preparations are perfect. There's not much you have to do during the ceremony. Please sit back and enjoy this joyful occasion," Antelise said as she entered the room wearing formal attire for the first time. It was odd for her to be here talking about taking it easy when she was the mayor, but she'd likely assigned her duties to someone else for the day because she was one of the key people partaking in the ceremony.
When Atou inquired about the remaining preparations, Antelise said she had indeed left it to her staff to handle so she could make time for the ceremony about to begin. Atou and Takuto were very satisfied with the competent Elf mayor, and they shared a smile over having obtained someone of her skill when they were so hard to come by. All the tricky and annoying details were completely taken care of when they left it to Antelise and Emle.
Atou felt a load lifted off her shoulders knowing they were on the job, because she was afraid Takuto would slip up and embarrass himself during the ceremony. Her tense expression melted away, and she lavished Antelise with praise.
"Now that's reassuring to hear! If anything went wrong at all, it'd be on your head, since you are the mayor. I certainly didn't want to lose such a talented worker like you over something like this," Atou said with an unreadable smile.
"Wha?! H-Hold it, what?!" Antelise sputtered.
The problem with Atou's taste in praise was that Antelise took it seriously. Atou was at fault for trying to pass it off as a joke when it wasn't funny. Antelise's confidence crumbled along with her rapidly paling face, and she started mumbling a slew of curses under her breath.
"…Excuse me," Emle said, entering the room after knocking on the door. "Your Majesty, everything is ready to proceed with the ceremo—" She paused when she saw what was on the other side of the door. "What happened?" Atou was all smiles and in the best of moods, Takuto was visibly trembling, and Antelise was sweating as she mumbled a litany of "It's okay, I'm okay, I'll be okay, it'll all go okay…"
What in the Elven Forest happened here? Emle thought as she informed them the time had come with a raised eyebrow.
◇◇◇
THE ceremony was held at the special venue erected in Dragontan's central town square. The venue consisted of a wooden stage with stairs and a simple awning on top, much like what might be seen during a high school graduation or an outdoor concert. They deliberately chose this central location over Town Hall to easily share the good and glorious news with all of Dragontan's residents. The stage had been constructed so everyone could witness this aweinspiring moment for themselves.
Many key government figures participated in the ceremony, giving it political connotations. Mynoghra's empire-management council headed by its king was naturally there, along with related parties from Phon'kaven invited to partake as a show of friendship. Pepe and Tonukapoli were important guests to show domestic and international players that the cession was based on friendly relations and negotiations.
Yes, they were putting on a show for the world at large.
This ceremony carried heavy implications for declaring
Mynoghra's existence to the world. Mynoghra's existence had already been exposed by informants and peddlers who did business in Dragontan, but that was in an unofficial capacity. Openly declaring the existence of one's empire is key to keeping up appearances and an essential part of being viewed as an equal in negotiations with other empires.
Of course, since they hadn't invited any guests from other countries besides Phon'kaven, the effect wouldn't be as strong as they had hoped, but the declaration alone was all that mattered now. If anything, Takuto wanted to keep things small to decrease the chances of unfortunate interference.
Funnily enough, the hotly anticipated ceremony that held so much importance ended without a hitch once they finally got to it.
◇◇◇
"I'M so glad it ended without incident…" Atou said with a relieved sigh, taking a sip of the drink served to her within the marquee tent set up at the ceremony venue.
They were worried for nothing when success was the obvious result—Mynoghra had put its full national power behind this ceremony. Guards armed with firearms patrolled every corner of the town, and countless snipers were on the lookout around the ceremonial venues to ensure that any trespassers who appeared on the rooftops could be dealt with instantly. They also had the Brain Eaters, with the latent ability to improve public order, check over visitors entering Dragontan for the ceremony.
It'd be harder for problems to happen with such tight security measures in place. While small incidents like petty theft and lost children happened throughout the day, the ceremony itself proceeded uneventfully. The treaty ceding Dragontan to Mynoghra had long since been agreed to, so it was actually weirder for them to be so on edge about things not working out. Atou felt kind of funny about it now.
"Same," Takuto said. "I can't believe speaking in front of such a large audience is this nauseating. I thought my heart was going to stop up there."
"Your speech was absolutely wonderful, King Takuto. Our people were deeply moved by hearing your impressive words and laying eyes upon your mighty visage. I witnessed their eyes shining with hope for the future!" Atou extolled her master with a dreamy expression.
Elder Moltar, Gia, and Antelise all nodded in agreement. They had also withdrawn to the marquee with Takuto and Atou.
Their praise was misplaced, however, because Takuto hadn't uttered a single word. He just nervously signed the cession treaty, queasily showed it to the people, and jitterily shook hands with Pepe. He'd planned to give a speech but totally forgot about it once he was on stage. Then again, the aura of darkness he gave off was so intense, almost no one could look at him directly, so his slip-up wasn't apparent…
Nevertheless, maybe it didn't matter he hadn't said anything as long as everyone had seen and acknowledged what a transcendental being he was.
Takuto had royally screwed up, yet he casually said "It's not easy being king" as if he'd done all the heavy lifting. Then he turned his attention toward Antelise. "So, what's next on the agenda?"
Completely relaxed now that he was free from public view, Takuto wanted to know what he had to do next. Antelise promptly listed off the agenda as if she'd been itching for him to ask.
"You have some time before the next event, so please spend it however it pleases you, King Takuto. The next big thing on the agenda is sharing a meal with our guests from Phon'kaven as a show of friendship. We were able to hire an excellent chef, so you can look forward to the food. We also plan to launch the fireworks you gifted us during the meal."
"Cool! Sounds like fun. Real royal-like," Takuto laughed.
"I'm looking forward to the fireworks, King Takuto!!" Atou exclaimed, beaming.
"So am I! I'm glad I used some Mana just to produce them."
The rest of the day was packed with fun festivities. Phon'kaven's state guests were all people Takuto knew, reducing the need for him to be nervous or on edge. He felt like a pressure had finally been lifted from his chest.
I can just leave the rest to my subordinates and have fun, he thought, his clammy hands drying, his shaking ceasing, and his narrowed view of things finally expanding to see what was around him again.
"Oh yeah, where are Caria and Maria?" he asked the room, searching for the girls.
The twins were around for the ceremony. They had the simple job of just sitting behind him as Mynoghra's council members. He'd completely ignored them as he reveled in being liberated from the duties that had been haunting him for weeks now, and when he finally thought to look for them, they were gone.
"They are out and about enjoying the festival stalls," Elder Moltar said. "They departed dragging a comically large bag of gold behind them, so they won't be back for a while, I'm sure. I instructed them to greet you first before setting off, but alas…"
"I don't mind. But gaaah! I wanted to check out the food stalls and stands too!!" Takuto griped, clenching his fists to keep his desire in check.
Today's ceremony was just as much of a celebration as it was an official event. Mynoghra planned to make this date a holiday for Dragontan from now on. That was why they allowed merchants from Phon'kaven to Qualia to the neutral nations to set up shops in town to celebrate the occasion. And set up shop they did…except, there was a certain problem stopping Takuto from joining the festivities.
"Y-Your presence will put too much of a strain on the surroundings, Your Majesty…" Elder Moltar reluctantly pointed out.
"I know," Takuto conceded, throwing a fit on the inside.
Even Takuto could tell from his experiences thus far that his presence as the King of Ruin incited fear in people. He believed that was a consequence of becoming Mynoghra's Commander, which made it hard for him to go where he pleased when he pleased. He was okay with it until just the other day. He used to think: I don't care. I've always been a shut-in, so it's nice that people stay away from me because of my kingly aura. But he changed his mind on this day because he realized he would never be able to live out his dream of enjoying a festival. One of the many dreams he had and could never fulfill in his sickly past life.
"My sympathies, my king…" Atou whispered, sympathizing with Takuto's disappointment.
He really wanted to enjoy the festive night with the girl who hurt when he hurt.
"Maaaan, I really wanted to experience my first-ever festival together with you, Atou," Takuto told her telepathically.
"Aww… I wanted to explore the shops with you too, King Takuto. Now that you mention it, I guess this would be your first time going in any life, huh? Considering the condition you were in before, you probably couldn't go out much, could you?"
"I could only enjoy the festivals through my TV screen before… Ah, but I probably wouldn't have had any friends even if I was healthy, so not much would've changed, would it? Ahaha…"
"My condolences, my kiiiiiiiiiiiing!!"
They telepathically chatted about things only they could understand and shed tears for reasons that only made sense to them. Takuto couldn't enjoy festivals in his past life because he was sick and forever a loner, and he couldn't in this life because of his position and intense evil aura. As fate and two worlds would have it, Takuto would not be allowed to enjoy a festival…ever.
Atou and Takuto wept when they realized that cruel, cruel fact.
Takuto wept, knowing a dream of his was just out of reach yet again. Atou wept, knowing a festival date with Takuto would have to remain forever a fantasy. There was no end to their sorrow. The fact nothing showed on their faces as they conversed just went to show how polished their telepathy skills were, but it was hard to be proud of that accomplishment when it only happened because they constantly used the skill to whine and gripe to each other.
To everyone but Atou, it looked like the king was interested in the festivities but nobly kept it to himself to avoid inconveniencing others.
"Let's send someone out so you can enjoy the festival through their eyes," Elder Moltar proposed, a wry smile on his face as he watched Takuto. "I'm not sure if it will be enough to satiate your curiosity, Your Majesty, but I hope we can at least bring a piece of the festival to you even if you can't go to it…"
"I like that plan, Moltar," Takuto said, his mood improving a smidge.
What do you think of when there's a festival? The various stalls.
And what comes to mind with festival stalls? Food you can only buy and eat there! The flavors aren't as elaborate as what you can get at a restaurant or bar because they don't have all the equipment, but there's an extra spice known as the mood that makes the food taste a thousand times better than anywhere else.
Plus, Takuto had prepared all sorts of ingredients for this very moment that could be used to make Japanese festival foods and local traditional dishes too. He even used Emergency Production to produce recipe books for everyone. He deserved to at least enjoy the festival through someone else's eyes.
As he discussed what he wanted to see most with Atou, he also asked Antelise and the others about what to expect at the festival. According to Antelise, the festival stalls also sold handicrafts and rare curios. He requested they pick out and buy whatever looked interesting and bring it back to him. Takuto supplied his own pocket money for the errand. He'd saved up all his earnings since there was nowhere for him to spend any of it within Mynoghra.
I'm not as bad as the twins, but maybe I'll splurge a bit today?
Takuto's mood improved some more.
"Then I, your humble servant Gia, will take on this honorable task, Your Majesty!"
Gia eagerly raised his hand when they started debating who to send on the king's errand. He seemed awfully bored just standing in the corner with nothing to do. Everyone looked at him when he spoke up, and he even earned a heavy, judgmental sigh from Elder Moltar. Gia seemed to have forgotten that he was standing in that corner to ensure Takuto's safety.
"Can you be more witless, boy?! The head of security can't leave His Majesty's side to run an errand!" "Ah, Saints!" Gia cursed.
"Honestly, this is why you're forever a child… But enough of this. Is there anyone else around who can take on this errand?!" Elder Moltar called out, looking for a better candidate.
They were all convinced it was relatively safe, but it still didn't do for there to be a gap in the king's security. While they could relax a bit, Mynoghra's guards weren't there to play.
The Dark Elves and Beastmen on guard duty in and around the king's marquee exchanged looks. None of them were suitable for the job. Elder Moltar contemplated their options as he stroked his beard. It didn't seem right to send out another member of the security team right after he'd scolded Gia for offering to go.
Emle had left to speak with their Phon'kaven guests. Elder Moltar was trying to ignore Atou's intense gaze that seemed to beg him to pick her for the job. He'd never admit it out loud, but he was certain she would get lost if he let her go. He hated to rely on someone else, but felt it might be best to have Antelise pick someone from the mayor's office…
"Aye, aye, sir! I'm your girl for the job~♪!" trilled an unfamiliar voice out of nowhere.
Who? Elder Moltar thought, turning to look at the person. There he saw three Dark Elf women dressed as servers.
"Hrm…? Servers? You came at just the right time…but…hmm…" he trailed off, unsure.
Odd. Did I assign these ladies here? the wise sage wondered, but their presence proved they were meant to be there. For a moment, he thought they were intruders in disguise…and yet the aura they gave off insisted they were clanswomen. And if they were, he needn't view them as the enemy. After all, there weren't enough Dark Elves in the world for them to be hired assassins for another empire.
They shouldn't be a problem, Elder Moltar nodded, somehow convinced. They came at an awfully convenient moment, but that didn't change the fact they appeared exactly when needed. Even Elder Moltar was baffled by his own lack of caution, but he went ahead and pulled out a notepad to scribble down what Takuto wanted to buy…
"Wait… Who are you?" Takuto asked, his voice booming through the tent.
Tension crackled through all his subordinates. Atou stepped protectively in front of Takuto, a tentacle rising from her back.
"Who do you serve?" she asked, her tone sharp. "Make your station known—"
They had struck at the optimum time—for them. Too many factors had stacked in the enemy's favor.
First, Mynoghra had let down its guard because it had such perfect defenses.
Second, Mynoghra didn't see a reason for their potential enemies to strike at this stage.
Third, the enemies' Dark Elf Disguise was too impeccable to be seen through.
And lastly—
"Ahaha! OMG, people! I can't believe it went THIS freakin' easaaaay~♪! It's Slurp time!"
[GM: Message
Exercising Game Master Authority.
Outcome is a success regardless of the roll.
Outcome: Critical
]
—Erakino and co's operation was guaranteed to succeed by the system.
"Agh…!"
Atou slumped forward and Takuto jumped from his seat in surprise.
"ENEMY ATTACK!!"
Takuto's subordinates responded at once. Elder Moltar, Gia, and Antelise drew their respective weapons. The guards lifted their guns and the Snipers stationed all over town locked onto the enemy. Mynoghra's monster units rushed in at tremendous speeds to protect Takuto.
However—
"Kill Erakino and co's enemy, Sludge Atou~♪!"
—all of their efforts were rendered useless by that single command.
"GHH! AGGHHH!" Takuto choked out.
…He didn't know what hit him.
"YOUR MAJESTY!!"
His subordinates' horrified cries went in one ear and out the other. He felt a rush of heat course to his core, while his limbs went icily numb. Alarm bells blared in his head, and the spectacle before him played out slowly as if time had been stopped.
Takuto wrestled to understand the situation.
It all happened so fast, he couldn't even register he had been attacked. Even if he had noticed the attack before it happened, Takuto couldn't have prevented it. Erakino's victory was ensured by the system, after all.
Takuto sluggishly tilted his head down to confirm the source of the attack. What he saw there was Atou's tentacle pierced straight through his chest—straight through his heart.
"A…tou…"
She didn't answer his strangled utterance. The Hero he loved more than anything else stood there with empty eyes, her tentacle sticking right through him.
.
-------------->
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Chapter 15: Powerless
ELDER Moltar felt as if time had stopped. He was too thunderstruck to accept what he was witnessing as real, and at the same time, berating himself to get a better grasp of the situation and do something about it. All the Dark Elves, including him, had frozen as a deluge of emotions fought for supremacy.
"Pft! Ahahaha! What a noob! You got me worried for nothing!"
Indecent laughter shattered the stunned silence. An amused sneer twisted the Dark Elf woman's face they had all believed to be a clanswoman a moment ago. Before any of them could wonder why, they realized they had been deceived and immediately got ready to fight.
"Okay, remove Disguise! Make way for sweet lil' Erakino, peons~♪!"
The space around the three young women, the culprits behind this earth-shattering development, seemed to warp and change. What appeared next was their enemy wreathed in palpable darkness, wearing a clownlike attire and an even more laughable, innocently sinister Cheshire grin…
Slurping Witch Erakino was in their midst.
"Pump her full of lead!!" Elder Moltar bellowed, and the shooters took aim.
A cadence of gunfire followed. Several dozen guns fired at once. The marksmanship honed by unrelenting training and fanatical loyalty unleashed a volley of bullets on Erakino and her cohort from all directions, creating a deadly killing space. Death was inevitable, and yet…
[GM: Message
Exercising Game Master Authority.
Attack rejected.
]
Even Mynoghra's unrivaled weaponry from another world was powerless before the Game Master's Authority. The Outcome decided in another dimension erased the inescapable shower of bullets from existence.
"What the seven Saints?!" Elder Moltar stared on in utter shock.
They had fired upon their enemy—that was an undeniable fact. Even if the enemy had some sort of special ability to deflect the bullets, there should still be some trace of the attack. Bullet shells, the smell of gunpowder, ringing in the ears—something. And yet what they had witnessed happen with their very own eyes had no outcome whatsoever, as if the action had never occurred.
"AHAHAHAHA!" the girl cackled, her lips curling into a wicked smile. "What the heck? That was sooooo easy! Easy-peasy! A walk in the park! What, are we playing on easy mode or somethin'?!"
The apocalyptic darkness that hung over her like a cloak and her peculiar way of speaking and dressing shared more than a few similarities with Takuto Ira, the King of Ruin. Sensing those similarities, Elder Moltar gritted his teeth as he finally realized they were up against one of the Witches Takuto had warned them about.
"Way to go, Game Master! Ain't nothing in this or that world is capable of beating you when you get to decide all the rules and outcomes! What a cheat!"
They were up against three people: the cackling girl who babbled on and on about how their plan had been a huge success and the two women standing a step behind her, warily keeping an eye on their surroundings like they were her attendants. One look at the women's clothes immediately identified them as Qualian clergy or
Paladins. It was a mystery why Qualia would've joined hands with a Witch, but they could think about that later. Dealing with this unexpected disaster came first.
Elder Moltar swiftly inventoried his surroundings. Aside from the guards, Gia and Antelise were Mynoghra's primary fighting force on the scene. They were both leaps and bounds more skilled than an ordinary soldier. They had drawn their pistols—gifts from the king— faster than anyone else, but even their attack had been rendered null. Now they kept their eyes peeled to find any opening that could turn the tides of battle and defeat their enemy.
Elder Moltar only took a few seconds to assess the situation, but even that felt like an eternity. Every second counted now because directly between them and their mysterious foe was Atou, standing like a motionless zombie robbed of her soul, and their king, lying in a pool of his own blood. Every passing second ticked down to the moment when this nightmare would end and was accompanied by a maddening sense of dread and urgency.
"Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock! It's time to roll the dice! Roll, and who knows, you might get a Natural 20!"
"Ignore her! Don't stop firing!"
Another round of bullets was fired from the Snipers positioned on top of the nearby buildings. Since their pistols didn't work last time, Gia and Antelise switched to throwing knives and Spirit Artes. Elder Moltar ordered them to continue attacking despite expecting their efforts to end in vain. He wanted to lock his enemy in place with the downpour of bullets to buy time for Mynoghra's defenses to kick in.
Elder Moltar made the right call. The Long-legged Bugs rushed out from the back alley at a tremendous speed to attack the Witch.
Brain Eaters and other subordinate monsters joined the fray and wielded their respective weapons a step behind them, not caring for a moment that they were also exposed to the hailing bullets.
All of Mynoghra's strength came down like a blazing hammer on the enemy.
[GM: Message
Exercising Game Master Authority.
Mynoghra's units aren't allowed to attack.
]
…And it all ended in failure.
The bullets, the knives flying straight for the enemies' eyes with absolute accuracy, and even the blast of Spirit Artes vanished before their foe. If that wasn't bad enough, even the Long-legged Bugs and other combat units that had lunged to rip off their heads disappeared with what sounded like someone clapping their hands. All that remained in the wake of their attack were three unharmed women and hopelessness for Mynoghra.
"I-Impossible… What sorcery is this?!" Elder Moltar sputtered, unable to hide his shock.
He could have chalked it up to some unknown magic or arte if only the bullets and knives had been erased. He could even accept it as the work of some hidden treasure from the Land of the Gods yet unknown to them. But even the mighty minions of darkness created by the King of Ruin had their lives reaped in an instant. An instant!
This wasn't even a fight. There was such an overwhelming difference in power no words could express it.
"But hey, I didn't expect the guns! Smart move directing us to attack here and now, Soali!" Erakino, the Witch sporting an eccentric dress reminiscent of a female jester, cackled some more as she turned to her compatriot. She was acting like the Dark Elves were air.
But Mynoghra's remaining forces didn't have the power to prove her wrong and make her pay for her arrogance.
"…Overconfidence will be your downfall…" Elder Moltar muttered.
The enemy had completely relaxed their guard after realizing they had the overwhelming advantage. Elder Moltar believed exploiting that overconfidence could be their one way out of this pinch. Gia immediately guessed what he was thinking from his quiet utterance and signaled his Warriors to move out.
Several Dark Elves leaped into action. They rushed into the tent—their target was the unconscious king, not the relaxed Witch.
An empire is its king, and the king his empire. It didn't matter how many sacrifices it took, Mynoghra could rebuild as long as they recovered their king. Even if every last Dark Elf was laid to rest here, as long as Takuto Ira survived, he would settle the score. Mynoghra's citizens chose to prioritize helping the king escape, even if it cost them their lives.
But the enemy was having none of that. Just as Takuto's survival was the Dark Elves' highest priority, his elimination was the invaders' raison d'etre…
"Too easy."
"GUH! GAAAAAH!"
"URPH!"
It wasn't the Witch but her companions who responded first— the two holy women who obediently followed the child of darkness. The woman who stood with her back hunched and her face hidden under a veil muttered something under her breath and lifted her head, blowing the soldiers away with an invisible burst of energy.
The violent impact wrenched the soldiers' limbs in impossible directions, ending their lives.
These three women plotted to assassinate the King of Ruin by entering his domain alone. Obviously they each possessed extraordinary abilities.
She just used an offensive spell that strikes whoever the spellcaster looks at. I'm familiar with this kind of spell, unlike the Witch's abilities, but I've never heard anything about Qualia's clergy being capable of using such powerful offensive Miracle Artes! That can only mean these women are…!!!
Elder Moltar obtained a critical piece of information through his comrade's sacrifice. The woman's attack proved they weren't omnipotent or a god, even if their resilience to attack was still a mystery.
"Those clothes! That power!" Elder Moltar roared, furious to learn just how much danger their king was in when he realized who they were really up against. "I've heard all about you, woman! You're one of Qualia's Saintsssssss!" he spat, vitriol oozing from his words.
"What?! A bloody Saint?!" Gia hissed.
"No way… What's a Saint doing here?!" Antelise shrilled, her voice trembling with fear.
If the veiled woman was a Saint, then that made it highly like the other woman was one too. It'd be optimistic to assume she was anything else. There was nothing to gain from dragging an ordinary nun into the den of wolves. They should have realized that sooner.
…The Holy Kingdom of Qualia's Saints were the holy gods' playthings created solely to eradicate evil. Just one Saint was considered the Ultimate Weapon capable of taking on whole armies. And then there was the Witch, who was said to be the Saints' only equal.
They weren't just up against three lone women. The enemy had come to Dragontan with the equivalent of three full armies to take the king's head.
"Finally caught on, have we? Or did you know all along and just didn't want to accept reality?" the Veiled Saint asked mockingly.
"Curse Sage Moltar and Gia the Assassin…to think two of the Dark Elves' most wanted criminals were hiding in the King of Ruin's shadow… We made the right call coming here, after all," the other Saint said coldly.
"Curse you!!"
No longer trying to hide their holy aura, the two Saints assessed Elder Moltar and the Dark Elves like they were superior. The overwhelming difference in strength between them allowed the Saints to leisurely express their opinions, implying that the victor was already decided.
Mynoghra was a powerful little empire with mighty Heroes and combat units made all the more terrifying by the King of Ruin's expert strategies. However, the source of this empire's power relied heavily upon Takuto Ira to guide it. All the parts came together and worked as a smooth machine with him at the helm, giving Mynoghra the power to push back any enemy.
Takuto was Mynoghra's greatest strength and greatest weakness. The empire rose and fell with him. That fatal fragility was proven the moment he was downed by the enemy.
"It looks like you have no way to fight back. We win. It's time for us to completely annihilate our target and head home," the Veiled Saint said.
"We won't let you!" Elder Moltar thundered. "FIRE! Pump them full of lead! Secure His Majesty's body at any cost!!"
Gunfire cracked the air, representing the Dark Elves' grief and fury with its deadly force.
"It's futile. You can't do anything even if you try," the Veiled Saint said.
"Save him! We can still save him!"
"It's futile. You can't save him even if you try."
The Elite Mage Squad finally unleashed the destructive ruin spell they'd been chanting, and it, too, vanished with a puff before the strange magics protecting their enemy.
"Lady Atou! Please come to your senses! His Majesty is in peril!" The Hero did not answer. She merely stood there, motionless.
"Your Majesty! Please wake up! Please destroy these heretics for us!!"
It wasn't very likely Takuto was still alive.
"Where are the Elfuur Sisters?!"
Elder Moltar's words rang out in vain. No one answered any query.
"Give up. Resign yourself to your fate instead of struggling like a maggot," the Veiled Saint said.
"Our king and Hero won't be done in by your measly attempts!"
Elder Moltar snapped back. "Don't get cocky, Qualia doll!"
"Anything you do will end in futility," the Veiled Saint responded dryly. "My eyes deny falsehood and unrighteousness. Falsehoods are impossible before Arlos's grace."
The power Arlos bestowed upon the Veiled Saint, upon Fenne, resided in her eyes. Everything she looked upon revealed its truth— misinformation was impossible before her. Fenne discovered the enemy's plan before they could enact it, Erakino and the Game Master prevented them from pulling it off, and Soalina reduced their enemies to ash. This assassination plot was pulled off with the perfect team—resistance was futile from the start.
"Wowwie~! I love it! I love it! I loooove it! Hearing the losers howl and whine is just delish! This is about as refreshing as taking a hot bath after a hard workout! I feel like I just won the jackpot, it's so exhilarating! I feel about as godly as that one time I finished all my summer homework on the first day of vacay and shoved it in my friends' faces! Mm-mm-mmmmm!! Erakino is at her best right now, bitches~♪!"
Erakino was enjoying the highs of victory and reveling in the guarantee of crushing her enemy underfoot. Mynoghra had fallen hook, line, and sinker into their trap, letting them win without a fight. If that wasn't exhilarating enough, Erakino learned that the Gamer Master's ability was so overpowered that not even beings from another world could stand up to it. Who wouldn't enjoy a good laugh over that? Who wouldn't enjoy the thrill of trashing weaklings?
"Ahahahahaha!" she roared with laughter. "Our army is the bomb! A three-woman army that can't be beat~♪!"
Most people call modding a game to give yourself overpowered abilities cheating. Many complain that cheating reduces the entertainment value, but that's subjective. People like Erakino get the biggest thrill out of the game when they can crush the enemy with overwhelming power.
Erakino couldn't stop laughing.
"We're taking too much time. You can gloat after we finish our objective," the Veiled Saint urged, her tone unforgiving.
"Aw, c'mon! You're such a spoilsport, Fenny! We're on top, baby! Gotta act like it! Our victory's guaranteed. It ain't any fun if we don't savor the moment!"
"Unplanned actions invite defeat, and arrogance provokes death. It doesn't matter how superior you are to your opponent—nothing good comes from underestimating the desperate. Never let go of the reins of power yourself… Are you in need of another lecture?"
"Ick… Spare me! Okay, okay, I'm convinced. Time to go on our merry way, ladies?"
Casual banter in enemy territory is a leisure granted only to the overpowered.
Mynoghra's elite evil forces had no way to fight back, much less rescue their king from the brink of death, despite Fenne's caution. Erakino, Fenne, and Soalina had already achieved their objectives: securing Sludge Atou and vanquishing Takuto Ira. Retreating now would result in overwhelming victory on all fronts.
"We can't!" Soalina cried. "We must destroy every remnant of evil here and now!"
Soalina's suggestion to completely annihilate Mynoghra while they had the chance was equally valid. Greed leads to ruin and destruction. However, they had every advantage and no disadvantage. Soalina believed they needed to finish the job instead of leaving seeds behind to sprout a new threat.
The final decision was left to Erakino.
"Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!" Erakino hummed, pondering their options.
"Your Majesty! Our king! King Takuto Ira, heed our calls!"
The Dark Elves' desperate attempts at resistance had been reduced to only what the Game Master would allow—nothing. Still, they repeated their attempts despite knowing it was futile, insufferably clinging to a baseless hope that their king would rise and save the day.
"Aaaah, gawd! Do you ever stop squawking?!" Slurping Witch Erakino made up her mind. "That's it. It's settled. Let's slaughter every last annoying Dark Elf. Master loves having the power of life and death over NPCs! Better luck next game, suckers!"
The elimination of all the Dark Elves and Dragontan's residents became a done deal. Erakino determined it'd be better to tie up all the loose ends now rather than having to worry about anything coming back to bite them later. It wasn't a reckless decision by any means. After all, they still had a perfect pawn to put to use. Yes, they were about to try out the excellent pawn they had just obtained.
Erakino raised her hand high in the air like a child about to show off her new dolly and ordered, "M'kay, Atouy~♪! Go kill every last one of your precious, precious lil' friends for—"
Her lips curled in a sadistic, self-satisfied smile—the nauseating visage of someone who knew they were superior and wanted to rub it in the inferior's face for kicks. She was in the middle of declaring the death sentence for an entire town in a voice husky with euphoria as she imagined the Dark Elves being mercilessly slaughtered and betrayed by the Hero they so dearly trusted, when—
—a wisp of a voice poured freezing cold water on her power trip.
"…Appeal outcome. Remove Atou's Brainwash status based on Trust level."
[SYSTEM MESSAGE
Initiating Appeal to Remove Brainwash Status: Confirmed Success
]
Everyone heard that fading voice.
<-x-X-x->
Chapter 16: Immortal
THE tides were turned in an instant. Everything changed when Takuto Ira, the king everyone thought was dead, muttered those two key words: Appeal Outcome. Only a few people reacted fast enough. It was a miracle they were even able to react at all.
Various elements intricately intertwined at that moment, resulting in the scales of battle leaning imperceptibly in one side's favor: Erakino's.
"MASTER!!" she shrieked, and her master threw down his verdict from his hiding place.
[GM: Message
Exercising Game Master Authority.
Outcome rejected.
]
Sludge Witch Atou's Brainwash status remains in effect.
Silence hung thick in the air, only broken by the sound of heavy panting.
"Haaa…haa…haa!!" Erakino gasped for air, her eyes bulging from fear and shock, her hair sticking to her sweaty forehead. Her heart pounded louder than a drum, her legs and hands trembled uncontrollably. "Shit! Haa, haaa…! You piece of shit!!!"
All her playfulness went out the window as she bristled with rage and frustration. How could she remain aloof when one of Atou's tentacles had stopped a quarter inch from her skull? She narrowly survived.
If her master had been a second slower, her brains would've been splattered all over the floor.
Mental fatigue washed over her like a tidal wave. She felt as physically drained as if she'd just run for her life.
Fine, I'll admit I underestimated them. I did let down my guard, thinking we'd already won. But I didn't think for a second that they'd use our own system against us!!
"…Dammit!" she cursed, fuming. "How dare you skip the dice's outcome to lift Brainwash based on trust levels!!" "Erakino!" Fenne called after her.
"A-Are you all right?!" Soalina cried.
The two Saints rushed to make sure Erakino was okay, their reactions too delayed to have saved her. Erakino was too frantic trying to think her way out of this mess to placate her worried friends. The King of Ruin had used their own gimmick against them when they had absolute confidence in it never being figured out.
Erakino and her friends hadn't said much since entering Mynoghra's territory. She couldn't remember saying anything that would give their abilities away, and she never even taught the two Saints any of the terminology that'd doom them if they slipped up.
And yet…despite taking every precaution, the King of Ruin had deduced from Erakino's limited words and actions that her abilities were governed by a tabletop role-playing game's mechanics and turned the tides of battle completely in his favor with his very first move.
Tabletop role-playing games, called TRPGs for short, are multiplayer games in which each player acts out the role of a single character through a fictional campaign setting. Players act out their role by deciding and describing what actions their characters will take within the rules of the game. Many campaigns use weighted statistics and dice rolls or other random elements to determine the outcome of these actions. Tabletop role-playing games have been around for decades and still have a solid fanbase to this day.
In most games, a specially designated player—typically called the game master—proceeds over the session, describing the game world and the outcomes of the players' actions. The Game Master is the storyteller, so they tend to have absolute authority over the setting, outcomes, and story progression.
This was how Erakino and her Game master were able to use his Authority to progress the battle entirely in their favor. However, TRPGs revolve around the players using their words to advance the story, and the outcomes of some actions are determined by the game itself, not just the game master. Determining the outcome usually involves rolling dice and adjusting the result for the character's statistics and environmental factors to see whether the action was successful. Typically, the higher the character's score in a particular attribute, the higher their probability of success. In other words, the player also has the ability to appeal an outcome based on their stats and the campaign's rules.
Takuto Ira did just that—he appealed the system as a player and forced it to adjust the result based on his stats with Atou. Rolling the dice and input from the Game Master would typically take place before the outcome, but the Trust levels between the King of Ruin and his Witch were so high, they negated the need to roll.
The rules for this particular campaign stated that a player must roll a 98 or higher to remove Brainwash status with dice that only go from 1 to 100. But Takuto's appeal made the system take his and Atou's Trust into consideration. It divided their Trust value by 2 and added 200 to his roll. Having 200 added to his roll meant he would exceed 98 no matter what and succeed. He won by using Variable Values.
Takuto had figured out he was up against someone from a TRPG just by hearing Erakino talk about dice. Then, based on his experiences testing the limits of Eternal Nations' system, he speculated that the Game Master's rendering of the outcomes worked within TRPG mechanics and could be appealed.
He used what he knew would be the overwhelmingly Fixed Values between him and Atou to undo the Brainwashed status and return her to his side. And he didn't need to tell a liberated Atou anything for her to immediately unleash a deadly attack to kill Erakino on the spot.
Even on the verge of death, Takuto launched an all-or-nothing counterattack aimed right at the Northern Witch's cranium.
Game masters can only see and influence the world through their characters. While game masters typically know everything about the campaign they are enacting, that didn't apply when the larger world wasn't created or selected by Erakino's Game Master. In other words, losing Erakino meant losing his ability to meddle with Mynoghra. Their attack would've ended in failure and given Mynoghra time to come up with countermeasures.
But fate was on Erakino and her Game Master's side.
In that split second, they realized Atou's status change and succeeded in narrowly rejecting the outcome. Thus, Atou's tentacle stopped a quarter inch from Erakino's forehead, snapping Slurping Witch Erakino out of her revelry and causing her heart to race—not with glee over being the winner, but for coming dangerously close to death.
Erakino chewed her lip as she processed all that had happened during that few-second exchange. Rage colored her features as she audibly ground her teeth. She didn't know to what extent the enemy had discovered their secrets. She couldn't tell how much the King of Ruin knew. Maybe it was just a coincidence? Or maybe he exploited her greatest weakness, knowing full well what he was doing. "Master! What should I do?! Tell me! Direct me, Game Master!!" she cried out to him telepathically.
The Game Master did not respond. Did the sudden turn of events rattle him? Or was he just thinking up their next plan? Either way, Erakino thought giving their opponent time was a bad idea.
She glanced down at the entity that made her blood run cold— the King of Ruin. Was he dead? Was he alive? Was he a zombie? She couldn't tell anymore. Her pale face was reflected in his lifeless eyes. She couldn't shake the feeling that endless darkness beyond her comprehension flickered within those nebulous eyes.
"Haaa…! Haa…!" she panted some more. "A-Ahahaha! T-Too bbad, s-so sad! Th-Thought you got us there, didn't'ja? Your counterattack ended in big fat failure~♪! Poor, poor baby~♪! Ahahahaa! …Haa…haa!!" Erakino retreated a step as she squeezed out dry laughter between her gasps for air. She only just realized she was trembling from fear. "Just die already, you piece of shit!!!!"
"Your Majesty!!!"
She resorted to violence, pure and simple, to vent her anger. Erakino hadn't once taken direct action before now, but she ran up and kicked Takuto, lying in that pool of blood, with all her strength to release the storm of emotions brewing within her. There was a loud crash as the king's body, worshipped by the Dark Elves and darkness itself, went flying and crashed into the nearby stage created for the festival. The shattered wood frame came crumbling down on top of Takuto as if to stop the blood from gushing out of his chest.
"Erakino, calm down," Fenne instructed. "Losing your head here will only bring about more problems. What is your Master telling you?"
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!! What the hell!!! He's not responding! Master! Master! What should I do?!" Erakino screamed hysterically, stamping her feet on the floor like a child.
Veiled Saint Fenne watched her tantrum with cold eyes. Meanwhile, Saint Soalina of Blooming Burials sidled close to her friend to show her support and raised her Holy Staff.
"It will be all right, Erakino. I was also taken by surprise by that attack. But I shall put an end to it all now… I entomb ye now in a blooming burial!"
With that brief incantation, a pillar of hellfire that reached the heavens engulfed the stage where Takuto's body was pinned. The pillar of hellfire swelled up like a spiraling tornado, spreading a torrent of hot air through the area and turning everything within its reach into ash.
"Y-Your Majesty! Someone stop that fire! Stop it!" Elder Moltar shouted.
"W-We can't! The force of the flames is too strong! You can't get close to it, Elder Moltar!"
The Dark Elves cried out in sorrow but were powerless before the Saint's purging flames. Its momentum rejected everything, making it difficult to even approach, let alone touch. Nothing could survive within the tornado of fire. Seeing that for herself, Erakino felt liberated from the confusion and panic overwhelming her. Knowing her friend lent her a hand calmed her more than anything else.
The torrent of flames continued to burn even after Saint Soalina ceased using her Miracle Artes. Looking at those crackling flames, Erakino was convinced that the battle was finally over.
"Erakino, the rest of his monsters are coming. We should retreat," Fenne recommended.
Erakino hesitated. The creatures that served the King of Ruin were not their target. While it occurred to her that it'd be better to eradicate them all before they could become a problem in the future, it was too risky to stick around for long when they didn't know how many or what kind of forces remained. There was also the potential mind control and other actions would fail without the Game Master to adjust the roll. Erakino didn't enjoy wasting time picking off every last small fry, so it was time to leave.
Besides, they had achieved both their objectives. After almost botching their success once already, they were better off leaving while they were still ahead. They still had much to do to create their ideal country—they didn't have time to waste on cleanup.
"…We good here, Soali?" Erakino asked.
"…Yes, we are. Evil has been vanquished. Nothing is alive within those flames."
"You agree, Fenny?"
"Yes, I do. Nothing is alive within that pillar of fire. I can say with certainty that the King of Ruin has been purged by those holy flames."
Both Saints agreed. There was no room for doubt if their superhuman senses confirmed the King of Ruin's annihilation. And after much delay, Erakino finally received word from her master. At long last, she was able to act like herself again.
"Okay~♪! Master contacted me too. Sounds like we're done here, girls! I'd hate to turn into a pumpkin, so we'd better get home before the clock strikes midnight, ehe~♪! With that, I bid you ado,
Mynoghrans! Slurping Witch Erakino is checking out, baby~♪!"
Erakino and friends roll to escape—
[GM: Message
Exercising Game Master Authority.
Outcome is a success regardless of roll.
Outcome: Erakino, Soalina, Fenne, and Atou succeed in escaping.
]
And just like that…Erakino and co's invasion ended in success due to mechanics unknown to everyone they left behind. Theirs was a sorcery that ignored all logic and the rules of nature to bring about the outcomes they wanted.
The Dark Elves could only watch in horror as things drew to their inevitable conclusion.
◇◇◇
A chilly lull settled over Dragontan in the wake of those tumultuous events.
"Aaah…it's over…all over…"
An elderly man stricken by grief stood alone in the town square dyed red by the setting sun. He was a man with a long history of achievements that earned him the title the Cursed Sage and who now stood as the last remaining pillar holding up Mynoghra's government.
"It's finished…we're all finished…"
He'd lost any trace of the vigor that kept him looking younger than his age as the oldest living Dark Elf, now reduced to a tottering old man about to crumble and wither away for good. His tears had completely dried up and no wise words or ingenious schemes came to mind. He fell to his knees, clinging to what was lost, stunned by how old and useless he'd truly become. He'd knelt in the exact spot where the holy flames had reduced everything to ash, including their king.
"Why did you leave us behind, Your Majesty?" he lamented. "Why didn't you take us with you…?"
It was a miracle he was even able to give orders and command others in his state. He had the town square cordoned off and the townspeople ordered to return home until further notice. Their state guests from Phon'kaven were confined to a single room assigned to them within Town Hall, making it evident Mynoghra was in no position to cater to their allies.
Strict gag orders were imposed on everyone who knew about the death of the King of Ruin and Hero Atou's Brainwashed state. No one uttered a peep about it. No one even fanned the flames of gossip.
The Dark Elves and Mynoghra's creatures were in turmoil due to the loss of their leader—they couldn't take satisfactory military action. It was all Elder Moltar could do just to get the situation under control and put their people on alert. He couldn't even fathom what to do next or what they should be doing now.
"Please guide us, Your Majesty…"
They had lost the ruler who made those decisions for them.
The divine flames unleashed by one of the intruders, a woman he believed to be a Saint, had to have been a Miracle Arte granted by a holy god. Not even the King of Ruin could've survived that pillar of hellfire that consumed all within its reach. Was he even alive before those flames touched him? He'd had his heart pierced straight through.
Even the most powerful, inexplicable beings die when death comes for them.
It was unclear whether death in the truest sense existed for a being like the King of Ruin, but Elder Moltar hadn't fallen so low as to hold on to the impossible hope that Takuto Ira would come out of that unscathed.
"I need to find His Majesty's remains…"
Elder Moltar rose on unsteady feet and staggered closer to the spot where his king was incinerated. The wood had completely carbonized, and the piles of debris on top of Takuto had been reduced to ashes. Perhaps it was a part of the Saint's powers, but flowers bloomed profusely in the burn site after the flames went out, as if they were left as an offering to the deceased, further unsettling Elder Moltar.
The man feared throughout the lands as the Cursed Sage sifted through the still-warm mountain of ashes and flowers, looking more like a vagabond than a wiseman. Truth be told, Mynoghra had already conducted a search for the king's remains. But the devastation was too great, and the sun was beginning to set, making it impossible to find anything.
Everyone who saw what was left of the spot where the king had been engulfed in flame lost all hope of finding him alive. They believed the Saint's hellfire had burned his corpse to nothing, consuming even the ashes. The Dark Elves had already drawn that embittered conclusion. Elder Moltar's actions were nothing more than an old man clinging to what had been lost—penance for failing to save his king.
"…No. This doesn't make sense…" Elder Moltar muttered under his breath after combing through the ash heap for a while. The light of lost wisdom gleamed in his tired eyes as he frantically rummaged through the debris in search of something. "It's not here! Nor here!
Or here! It's nowhere…!"
He threw aside whatever he could get his hands on, leaving no rock unturned, his nails turning black with soot. He flung aside the torch he was carrying because it was dark out and scavenged in the dirt like a madman.
"Why? How? Impossible! There's nothing left of the king!
Nothing!"
He could find logical reasons to explain why the King of Ruin's corpse had disappeared without a trace. It wasn't unreasonable to assume the king's fleshly body had been purged and reduced to nothing by the hellfire. Besides, they were talking about a transcendental entity known as the King of Ruin, who came from the Land of the Gods. It was entirely possible he wasn't made of blood and flesh like mortals. His death could come in the form of vanishing like a vapor in the wind.
But there was one strange factor that couldn't be so easily explained away. Every single piece of clothing and accessory Takuto Ira wore was made and gifted to him by the Dark Elves. Elder Moltar knew pieces of those items were made of metal, so it was strange that there wasn't even a trace among the rubble and ashes.
Elder Moltar frenetically dug up the spot he believed Takuto had been buried and burned. The search already conducted by over a hundred Dark Elves didn't turn up anything—not even a speck of gold. Still, Elder Moltar continued to dig around, as if digging for the answers to the questions arising within him.
"His Majesty…is alive."
What reason led him to that conclusion? If he'd stopped to calmly think about it, he would've realized how illogical he was being. It was quite conceivable they simply overlooked Takuto's charred items amid all the wreckage. Even more likely, the Saint's flames were so hot that even metal was reduced to nothingness. That would actually be the most accurate conclusion. They'd be better served to resume the search once the sun rose rather than in the dead of night with no light.
"His Majesty is alive! Alive, I say!"
Those were the shouts of a man who'd lost his mind. Elder Moltar was sinking into insanity. It was a pathetic end to an elderly sage who'd lost his ability to face reality.
"It's true! His Majesty shan't be beaten so easily! Not the King of Ruin we worship! Not the one who is destined to bring the end to this world! The apocalypse-bringer is above death!!"
Such was the senile babblings of an old man. No one believed him, they only thought he'd gone delusional. His was a wish for the impossible that lacked all sense and any grounds in reality.
Takuto Ira had been annihilated. Everyone who'd witnessed the tragedy that day could come to no other conclusion.
However…
"His Majesty…our king…King Takuto Ira is absolutely alive—" A hand suddenly rested on Elder Moltar's shoulder.
"Correct you are, sage," the King of Ruin whispered in a penetratingly cold voice that seemed to reach in and caress the hearts of its listeners in an icy embrace.
"O-Oh-Oooooooooooooooooh!" Elder Moltar spun around faster than any elderly man could and laid his eyes upon that chilling figure.
No dream or illusion could reproduce his wicked aura. There stood his king, the king they all believed in, completely unscathed. Calling it a miracle would be too weak. This was the one and only ending Elder Moltar knew would come to pass.
"O mighty King of Ruin, Takuto Ira!!"
"Lovely night, isn't it, Elder Moltar?"
Elder Moltar's mind and body reacted as one, and he prostrated before his king. With tears pouring down his sooty face, he rejoiced over Takuto's safe return.
Mynoghra and the King of Ruin Takuto Ira were immortal yet.
"Indeed! Indeed! Made all the lovelier now that my undying wish has come true!" Elder Moltar bellowed much louder than intended, stirred by the powerful emotions of relief, shock, and exhilaration.
Takuto offered him a wry smile and held a finger to his lips to shush him.
The king was alive and well. Even after having his heart pierced and then being engulfed in hellfire, he yet lived.
Everyone was filled with despair and could think of nothing other than his death when they saw him struck through and consumed by fire. And yet here he stood, looking as if he hadn't sustained any damage whatsoever. He was uninjured.
What divine magics brought about this miracle? Speculation was pointless. After all, it was impossible for a measly elderly Dark Elf sage to comprehend the depths of his king's inscrutable powers.
It was already past midnight. Darkness loomed, and a few meager watch fires dimly illuminated the area. Silence reigned as though the whole town was in mourning over the chaos and tragedy of the daytime hour.
Elder Moltar knelt in silence, awaiting his king's orders. His role was to act as the hands and feet of the one who would take control of everything—Takuto Ira. They were about to embark on an epic quest for revenge. As one of the key figures in the epic about to unfold, Elder Moltar was determined to bring down the hammer of wrath on those foolish invaders.
Elder Moltar lifted his gaze to look upon his king. Darkness so deep it had to have come from another realm paused to think with a very mortal gesture.
"I've got a lot of work ahead of me," the King of Ruin, nay, Takuto Ira, muttered to himself. The embodiment of the end of times loomed there in silence, plotting its next move—its vengeance would be most divine.
-x-X-x-
Chapter 17: Questions
IN the center of town, once shrouded in sadness and confusion, Elder Moltar experienced a wave of overwhelming emotions and indescribable shame. As one of the king's closest advisors, he had failed in every way during the enemy invasion. Not only had he allowed the enemy to get near His Majesty, he even stood by and did nothing as they attacked him. Nothing short of betrayal would've been more inexcusable than his failure.
"Your Majesty, I cannot apologize enough," he said, needing to apologize and atone for his mistakes. "Our incompetence led to this failure—"
"I don't need your apologies."
"…Yes, sire!"
Years of experience earned over his long lifespan helped Elder Moltar immediately grasp what his king was telling him through that statement. His ability to catch on quickly was one of the many reasons he directly served the king as a key player in Mynoghra's government. Put simply, King Takuto was saying: "Put your energy into resolving the issue rather than trying to find who to blame for it."
King Takuto was absolutely right. Apologies were a dime a dozen. Punishment could be meted out whenever the king wished. The results would be the same whether Elder Moltar worried about it or not, so he was better off putting his energy toward resolving their problems. The King of Ruin might've been alive and well, but Mynoghra was still experiencing a crisis. Things were still dire with the enemy out there with Atou under their spell.
"G-Give me any command, Your Majesty, and it will be done. Your vassals are prepared to offer our lives up to serve you," Elder Moltar declared, unable to take the silence a moment longer.
As painful as it was to admit, the Dark Elves were no match for their invaders. Unfortunately, it was going to be extremely difficult to come up with countermeasures when they still didn't know what sorcery gave the enemy such an overwhelming victory. What good was it to enthusiastically offer up their lives when that did nothing to change the situation? What else could they do on their own against an illogical enemy?
Thus, the Dark Elves' only option was to rely on their king. To rely on the overwhelming power belonging to the King of Ruin.
Takuto silently nodded in response to Elder Moltar's plea. And then, he began to think about where to take his empire from there.
The current circumstances were far from favorable. The best outcome to come out of the whole thing was that Takuto was alive, and his opponent was none the wiser about it. However, he didn't feel much like rejoicing when Atou was still lost to him. Atou was the girl he trusted with all his mind and soul. In his past life, she was his favorite character with whom he spent years of his life campaigning. In this life, she was the most important person to him, and they had promised to achieve their dreams together.
The woman he cared about on so many levels had been ripped away from him. Stolen from under his nose.
Takuto felt more than a little skeptical about the fact he hadn't yet lost his cool over the whole thing and gone on a mad rampage, but he shoved those doubts aside and concentrated on solving the problem. And then he began to speak in an impassive voice…one that sounded like he was incapable of emotion or never had any to begin with.
"Letting them take Atou is the greatest blow. I didn't think there would be any way for someone to gain control of her like that. I thought the RPG mechanics were a pain…and now there's this."
"Lady Atou is too important to our empire to lose. We'll do everything in our power to get her back."
Making such a bold claim didn't discount the fact they lacked the power to make it happen. They might be able to corner their opponents using the combined powers of the Elfuur Sisters. But what good would that do them if they just ended up instantly Brainwashed like Atou, who was leaps and bounds more powerful than the newly minted Witches?
They also had to consider they were up against an invisible force capable of repelling all their attacks. The odds of successfully recapturing Atou were slim if they just tried to march into enemy territory with an army and nothing more. Takuto was aware of that.
He simply nodded in response to Elder Moltar's declaration. The whole situation discomforted the elderly sage. Until now, his people had enjoyed living in peace by relying on King Takuto's benevolence, but when their king was in need, they couldn't do anything to help. But it wasn't just the mix of negative emotions he felt over their helplessness that made him uncomfortable.
Spirits… His rage is heavier than gravity…
Elder Moltar felt like a large boulder had been dropped on his back, the pressure exuding from Takuto was so great. Takuto's tone was calmer than a still lake, but the whirlpool of emotions he felt just under the surface was seeping out and dragging Elder Moltar under.
The King of Ruin is a transcendental being beyond mortal comprehension.
Elder Moltar always thought as much, but he was starting to doubt his own understanding when faced with Takuto Ira in his current state.
Silence fell over them.
Darkness thicker than a starless night and more nebulous than the black ocean depths enveloped Takuto, and to Elder Moltar's eyes, he felt like he was staring into the abyss through a dimensional rift.
Takuto Ira's safe return should be the most joyous occasion. However, Elder Moltar couldn't stop shaking with fear.
A few minutes passed in what felt like an eternity.
Takuto gathered his thoughts during that time and quietly looked at Elder Moltar. Then he lifted his gaze to the sky to confirm the waning moon before crisply laying out his plan to get Atou back and enact revenge on the invaders.
"My first orders for you are to keep my existence a secret, okay? I don't mind if you let a select few people in on it, such as Gia and Emle, but no one else."
"B-But, Your Majesty! Your people are in mourning! They may not recover mentally if we don't inform them of your safety!" Elder Moltar promptly objected.
Under normal circumstances, the only correct answer would've been "Yes, sire," but the situation was too grave not to object. The Dark Elves and Mynoghra's unique creatures were reeling from shock over the loss of their king. Mynoghra's inhuman units didn't really experience emotions the same way, but the Dark Elves' depression couldn't be overlooked. If things were allowed to stay this way, they risked domestic turmoil from people acting out of desperation. Elder Moltar thought it wisest to make the king's well-being known as soon as possible to prevent issues from arising.
"I know. Don't worry. I don't need long," Takuto reassured the old man. "I'd say keep it under wraps for…a few days at most. I just need a little time for my plans to work."
"I believe I can manage that, Your Majesty…" Elder Moltar said, a burden lifting from his shoulders.
From that brief explanation, Elder Moltar determined his ruler wanted time to work out his strategy. Grasping and controlling the flow of information is critical during times of confusion. Announcing the king's survival would only pour fuel on the confusion, which was the last thing they wanted when they still didn't have a firm grasp on who they were up against. There was no telling where their spies or Brainwashed drones had infiltrated.
Mynoghra would lose the upper hand if word of the king surviving leaked. Their enemies still believed the King of Ruin was dead. They needed to make the most of that advantage.
"Good. Glad to hear that."
"I-Is there nothing else we can do for you? We will do everything in our power to fulfill your orders."
"Hm, yeah, I guess there is something else I need from you specifically, Elder Moltar. I want to speak with the Elfuur Sisters first.
I assume they're sleeping?"
Elder Moltar had informed the twins about what had happened to their king. He'd notified them through a messenger, so he didn't know how they'd reacted to the news, but there was no way they weren't on edge and ready to lash out. They were the last elite fighting force left in Mynoghra. Their importance just skyrocketed.
"It's kind of late to put them to work, but it's the perfect time of month."
A waning moon hung high in the sky.
Night was their hour.
◇◇◇
NIGHT turned to day and Dragontan welcomed the morning. Elder
Moltar accompanied Gia and Emle to one of the meeting rooms in Town Hall at first light. After their king requested to speak with the Elfuur Sisters in private, he sequestered himself in the meeting room.
During that time, Elder Moltar busied himself informing Mynoghra's empire-management council of the news and laying the groundwork for them to decide their next move. He then planned to discuss everything with Takuto and the council members after having established a solid grasp on the state of things domestically, but…
"Wha?! What the seven Saaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaiiiiiiintssssssssss?!" Elder Moltar's shriek echoed piercingly through the building.
The situation he faced was completely different from what he'd imagined coming there, and above all, it was absolutely unforgivable. He trembled uncontrollably, his mouth shutting and closing like a fish out of water as he struggled to come to grips with reality. Gia and Emle stared wide-eyed in response to the same news.
Twin sisters Caria and Maria watched their reactions like they had expected as much.
"I-Is what you just said true? His Majesty set out on his own?!"
The news was this: the King of Ruin had set out to rescue Atou from the Holy Kingdom of Qualia alone.
The twins nodded profusely in response to Elder Moltar's stupefied question.
This was exactly why Takuto chose to only consult the twins last night. Having already decided the general gist of his strategy, he explained everything to the sleepy girls at the speed of a bullet and quickly left town. It was a very unconventional choice that no one could've predicted.
"Wh-Why didn't you tell me?! His Majesty must never leave without a retinue!! Even you girls must understand that!"
The girls were promptly subjected to a scolding. Naturally even the Elfuur Sisters understood and agreed with Elder Moltar. They had warned Takuto of the dangers and tried to stop him, saying he was being reckless and was walking into a trap. But the king had staunchly decided to launch a solo attack. He would not be dissuaded from marching into the heart of enemy territory alone.
"His Majesty said he's gonna show everybody how awesome possum he is!" Maria said.
"We also warned him against it, but we can't disobey orders," Caria pointed out. "He forbade us from telling anyone. Told us we have to keep quiet till morning."
"It's the duty of a loyal vassal to disobey orders and advise their king against his own stupidity!!"
The twins covered their ears with both hands to protect them from Elder Moltar's explosive shouting. They knew this was coming. They dreaded this inevitable moment.
They believed King Takuto's blindsiding strategy had a certain degree of merit. And merit or no merit, this was the king's decision— no one in this world had the authority to tell him no.
However, his plans had a decisive and fatal flaw: the twins would receive all the flak for following his orders. Caria still harbored a grudge against Takuto for dismissing her complaints on that front with a casual "Just do your best to make it work." However, the twins must've gotten through to him to a degree, because he'd prepared an impromptu gimmick they could use to take the heat off of them.
"Caria, Caria, now's the time to whip it out!"
"You've got it, Big Sista!"
Caria pulled a piece of note paper out of her pocket at Maria's signal.
"Are you girls listening to me?!" Elder Moltar screeched, about to launch into another deafening tirade, but he shut his mouth when Caria told him it was a message from King Takuto.
"I've got a riddle for Grandpa Moltar from His Majesty," she said.
"His Majesty said it's very important, so everybody needs to put their heads together to solve it!" Maria added.
Caria placed the paper on the table so everyone could see it. The contents were…just as baffling as everything else that day.
"What the Saints?!" Gia sputtered.
"How…?" Emle stared at it in disbelief while Elder Moltar gasped.
Scribbled on the paper was a riddle asking them to solve how King Takuto survived. Written on it were the following seven true statements in the king's own words:
1. I took a direct hit from Atou's attack and died on the spot.
2. Saint Soalina's flames also caused my death.
3. I don't have any recovery skills to heal my injuries.
4. It was me, not a body double, an alter ego, another organism, or an illusion that was attacked.
5. I didn't die and resurrect or loop.
6. I escaped this crisis without the intervention of a third party.
7. All of these events actually happened.
"'So, how did I survive?' Figuring this out is your homework," Caria said.
"Once you solve the riddle, we'll give you His Majesty's orders."
A hush fell over them. Silence was the only natural reaction to this unbelievable information.
Elder Moltar hadn't whiled the night away without contemplating how the King of Ruin had made it out of the day's events unscathed. He'd run through various theories about what methods could've gotten Takuto out of that pinch while he took care of his workload before sunrise. But Takuto's list disproved each and every theory he'd come up with, leaving Elder Moltar baffled by the impossibility of it all.
The wisest sage had been reduced to such a state, so obviously, both Gia and Emle frowned as they stared at the words on that piece of paper.
"Booyah, they're quiet!" Maria said telepathically to Caria.
"Let's slip out before they notice, Big Sista."
"Right foot, left foot, quiet foot~♪!"
This was the ultimate counter Takuto had given the twins. Presenting this riddle to the council members was guaranteed to buy them some time. With time, Elder Moltar's indignation should subside, and his calmness would return. Once it did, they could discuss how to handle what was to come rather than waste time on what had already passed. The twins could then convey the king's orders to them.
Yes, the Elfuur Sisters had received various instructions from Takuto. They weren't ordered to sit and wait for the results of his invasion. On the contrary, they had a mountain of tasks to get done within a set amount of time. They had much to do to fulfill their side of King Takuto's stunning Operation Rescue Atou …
The twins snuck out of the meeting room and dashed away at full speed.
"Things are going to get festive!" Maria exclaimed as they raced down the hallway.
"They sure are. Everybody'll get to see for themselves… His
Majesty's true power."
Everyone was in for the shock of their lives. And they were going to learn that the King of Ruin was not just a kindhearted, magnanimous ruler who doted on his people. Rather that he truly was the one destined to bring about the end of the world…
The twins' first reaction when they heard of the king's death was: "Impossible." The King of Ruin couldn't die. He'd promised to resurrect their mother—there was no way he'd bite the dust. Most of all, their supernatural intuition as Heroes assured them King Takuto couldn't die.
It was time for them to prepare what Takuto had asked of them. The Elfuur Sisters busied themselves preparing their side of the operation.
<-x-X-x->