"First, let's hear your name."
"Hati Skoll."
"I see. A pseudonym."
He saw through it instantly.
"…Yeah, pretty much."
"You have some reason to hide your real name. It seems you have circumstances, just like the princess knight."
"Lord Shibito."
Schweitz interjected.
"What is it?"
"I still cannot comprehend it. What exactly about that boy has caught your fancy?"
"It's peculiar."
Shibito answered.
"Even in the presence of the Five Dragon Warriors, he shows no fear."
"Is that so? To me, he appears frightened, drenched in cold sweat."
"No. That reaction is not fear. Look closely. He has not lost his will to fight. He is waiting for the slightest opening to make a move."
"Make a move against you, Lord Shibito? What could he possibly do? A chant-based spell would never finish in time, and no ordinary magical tool's attack formula would work on you either."
"He understands full well that any reckless action would result in me killing him instantly. Yet even in such a predicament, he smiles and expresses a desire to converse with me. Not surrender, not begging for his life—he simply wants to talk. To me, that was refreshing."
Schweitz made an expression as if to say, now that you mention it.
Shibito's lips curved slightly.
"A far weaker being is trying to devise some scheme to get through this situation. All while knowing I am called the strongest human."
...
He's sharp.
His powers of observation are keen.
"What do you think, Schweitz? Isn't it intriguing?"
"…Indeed."
"An unexpected breeze has blown into this stage from an unforeseen place. It is still too early to drop the curtain. I want to prolong this act with him a little longer. As for Seras Ashrain—"
Shibito spoke without taking his eyes off me.
"I have already lost interest in her as an enemy. Judging from her reaction upon recognizing me, she does not believe she can kill me…"
"She has also been shaken mentally after learning the true nature of Ortra."
Their conversation provided valuable information.
The more intel I gathered, the better.
Still, staying silent for too long would not help.
"…"
But still…
How does he keep his focus so unwavering?
I cannot find a single opening in Shibito.
The situation feels subtly different from when I faced the soul-eater.
…Don't panic.
One wrong choice—and it ends.
"I have something I want to ask."
Timing it carefully, I spoke up.
"Very well. Go ahead."
"You're searching for an enemy who can satisfy you. Right?"
"Correct."
"But aren't there plenty of beings out there with strength beyond human limits?"
"I can guess what you're about to list, but say it anyway."
"First, there's the Great Demon Emperor and his army."
"At present, clashing with the Great Demon Emperor's forces would be difficult."
"Why?"
"The issue is Magnhar."
That northern country.
The front line against the Great Demon Emperor's army.
"The king of Magnhar dislikes foreign armies entering his territory. Even though the Great Oath Wall has been breached, as long as the White Wolf Knights remain intact, he will likely refuse reinforcements from other nations as much as possible. Our Bakoss in particular is viewed with extra suspicion due to our invasion of Neia. That said, to speak my true feelings—I do wish to challenge the leader of the White Wolf Knights to a one-on-one duel someday."
"Then why not do it right now? You're the one claiming to be the strongest on this continent, aren't you? Just do whatever you want."
"Even so, I am technically the commander of a knight order. I am not without loyalty to His Majesty the Emperor. Considering the position of the Gaitland family, I cannot act too recklessly. Matters involving diplomacy with other nations make it even more so. Of course, it is regrettable."
Schweitz added,
"Relations between nations are exceedingly complex. Even we of the Black Dragon Knights, who claim to be the strongest in the world, cannot defeat the combined armies of every other country."
For example, if Shibito went around slaughtering powerhouses from other nations at will, Bakoss might face a full-scale attack in retaliation.
His attachment to his house must also serve as shackles.
Hm.
Even the strongest has restraints.
Conversely, that very lack of freedom may fuel his intense craving for worthy enemies.
I asked,
"What about Alion?"
"Hm?"
"How do you feel about the goddess of Alion as an opponent?"
I wanted to confirm his stance toward that shitty goddess.
"Goddess Vysis, you mean. For now, I have no intention of making enemies of the divine. Bakoss and Alion have, at least nominally, built a close relationship. Personally, though, I find that goddess rather distasteful… However—"
Shibito's eyes began to shine more brightly.
"I hold great expectations for the otherworld heroes summoned by the goddess."
The 2-C heroes.
So he was interested in them after all.
"Yonato's saint, Mira's mad beauty emperor, Ulza's 'Dragon Slayer'… There are other appealing opponents as well. But above all—"
Shibito smiled thinly.
"The otherworld heroes who, thanks to their divine blessings, explosively approach the seat of the strongest. I believe—and expect—that they will become the true archenemies of Shibito Gaitland."
I was starting to get a sense of it.
The man called Shibito Gaitland.
"But do you think the goddess will allow you to fight the heroes?"
"Once the heroes have fulfilled their role in subjugating the Great Demon Emperor, that goddess would probably sacrifice one or two of them if pressed. Of course—"
His voice took on a slightly excited tone as he continued.
"If the Great Demon Emperor defeats the White Wolf Knights of Magnhar, wipes out Alion's heroes, tears that goddess to pieces, and makes his way all the way to our Black Dragon Knights—well then, I would welcome that as well."
What emanated from him was absolute self-confidence.
As long as he could fight the survivors among the strong, it did not matter who they were.
All he thirsted for was battle against worthy foes.
Yet his position prevented him from freely fighting the opponents he desired.
Shibito had power to spare.
The power of one called the strongest.
At that moment,
"Come to think of it… Speaking of Alion, doesn't that make them a deeply connected foe for Seras Ashrain as well?"
Shibito murmured as if to himself.
Seras, who had been in a daze, lifted her head.
She furrowed her brow.
"What… do you mean? I have no deep connection with Alion…"
Hm?
What?
Seras reacted as though she had no idea what he was talking about.
Shibito exhaled softly.
"A parting gift for the dying. Let me tell you why the Neia Holy Kingdom fell."
With little apparent interest, Shibito continued.
"The reason our Bakoss, which had long refrained from invading Neia, suddenly changed policy and launched an invasion… was because of you, Seras Ashrain."