I am probably in a bit of a bad mood right now.
“So? Have you made a decision yet?”
It’s precisely because of this that I address the people in front of me with a slightly intimidating tone.
This is our fifth meeting.
We’ve long passed the stage of remembering faces and have reached our limit in terms of reconciling our differences.
I bring it up at a point where there are no more concessions to be made.
Building friendly allied nations centered around dungeons is crucial for cooperation with surrounding countries, but they are taking too long to respond.
We have given them ample time.
I utter these words, letting a little of my magic power leak out to emphasize my seriousness, and pressed them for a decision.
“…”
They look at each other, still showing a hint of hesitation, and I let out a big sigh.
They still can’t decide, even with this much effort?
Even hinting that I’m losing patience, they still can’t decide.
It’s easy to dismiss them as indecisive, but I can understand their reasons for hesitating until the end.
“In the war with the allied nations, our army has been on a winning streak. This is an abnormal record for a defensive war. They have sustained so many casualties that they should have retreated and reorganized their forces long ago, yet the allied army continues to fight.”
That’s why I’m frustrated, wondering if they don’t understand this.
“Do you think you can win fighting like this?”
Even I, a Japanese person, can predict that Isal’s future will be a devastating era, etched into history, so why can’t they decide?
It’s a war of attrition for talent.
It sounds good to call it human wave tactics, but it’s a foolish strategy to deploy more personnel than necessary for fighting.
People are treasures.
With people, many things can be done, but it takes time to cultivate them.
It takes over ten years for a child to become an adult.
And it takes even more time for an adult to become capable of working magnificently.
The people of Isal act as if the talent they’ve nurtured can spring forth like water from a fountain, sending them into the dungeons in a kamikaze-like charge.
What remains after that are the weak old men and young children, and the women desperately defending their homes.
Although I say this as we are defending ourselves from their attacks, that place is hell.
I was dispatched to the front lines for a week as an instructor’s experience, and it was a hellish place that made me want to vomit.
What god?
I truly thought that a god who doesn’t even listen to prayers shouldn’t call themselves a god.
The soldiers, with their eyes crazed, looked at me. As soon as they realized I was human but belonged to the Demon Lord’s Army, their faces turned to anger, and they attacked me with their weapons.
Those who couldn’t think properly due to the drugs were screaming and trying to kill me without question.
I felt no fear in their actions.
What I felt was pity.
There’s no reason to spare an enemy.
These soldiers, who had lost the value of being saved, were destined for a future where they could only be cut off.
With pity for that fact, I took their lives in an instant, with as little pain as possible.
It wasn’t a battle.
It was annihilation.
“This is war. A war we must end.”
Even though I had been slaughtering them unilaterally, the instructor’s words, which weighed heavily on me after defeating the soldiers who didn’t show fear, didn’t retreat, and continued to attack out of madness, became clear.
That’s why seeing these indecisive people hesitating makes me even more irritable.
As someone who has experienced hell, as someone who has realized the preciousness of the time they are wasting hesitating, I want them to understand that there is no more time for indecision.
“Or perhaps…”
No, they understand too.
They understand that time is almost up, and that there is a reason why these nobles are prolonging the negotiations with us, the Demon Lord’s Army, by resorting to such foolish strategies.
“Are you perhaps relying on the Hero?”
I point that out.
As I mention the name of the existence considered the hope of humanity, the faces I see avert their gaze even more uncomfortably.
Seeing their attitude, I let out another big sigh.
The Hero is considered one of the strongest forces in Isal.
It is said that they have the potential to defeat even the President. That is the history and strength of a Hero.
The Hero’s strength is backed by history. No matter how many Demon Lords are born, the Hero will eventually defeat them, and Isal will experience a period of peace.
This is the kind of narrative that unfolds in Isal, like in a typical fantasy story.
That’s why the people of this world have been ingrained with the belief that the Hero will ultimately win.
Even if I logically explain with evidence that we are in a superior position and the opponent is in trouble, they refuse to listen, making excuses like “but.”
These nobles are intelligent and kind.
However, they are also bound by convention.
They are aware that if things continue like this, they will anger the Demon Lord’s Army and their own positions will become unfavorable.
But they believe that the Hero will win in the end.
Therefore, they have acted to prolong the discussions, caught between reality and convention, as a delaying tactic.
However, in the end, that delaying tactic was useless.
Even if rumors of the Hero’s appearance spread, if the Hero doesn’t appear in this place and save them, it’s as good as non-existent.
“If you won’t make a decision, then fine. I am here to persuade this country, but I can also resort to threats.”
And our time is also limited.
If they can’t be satisfied with the concessions, there’s no need to indulge them further.
There’s no need to expend unnecessary effort.
“I will withdraw the troops that were stopping the inflow of that medicine.”
I can see the nobles’ complexions change as they realize the threat of rule by violence.
Their stern expressions instantly turn to a deathly pallor.
Naturally so.
When they confirmed the truth of a mere rumor and understood how dangerous it was.
“That’s!?”
As a man knocks over his chair and stands up, I ask with my gaze, “What is it?”
“Is that good? It’s the salvation by the Hero that you’ve been seeking. We, the Demon Lord’s Army, have continued to obstruct it. In other words, we are enemies with conflicting interests. There’s no need to send more salt to the enemy. However, we have no intention of ruling by violence. If that’s the case, then we will no longer provide assistance.”
I am well aware of their desperate hope for the Hero to come to their aid, but this is their reaction when confronted with reality. The existence of a Hero is no longer a beautiful thing like a fairy tale.
A Hero that exists in a world that no longer cares about means or scandals in their creation. A Hero who is nothing more than a killing machine to defeat the Demon Lord.
The Demon Lord’s Army has been preventing the church from infiltrating this land to create such a Hero. If that is withdrawn, this land will have no means of defense.
There is no one in this land who can defy the command of God. If they disobey, they will be recognized as enemies of God and persecuted by the world.
Yet, obeying them leads to no good. All their meager military strength will be taken away, productivity will plummet, and their resources and labor will be confiscated, depleting their national strength.
If the Demon Lord’s Army leaves, that is the future that awaits them. They know this.
The methods of creating Holy Swords and Heroes are all born from sacrifice. They know the darkness of the Hero.
“From now on, you will handle the church’s response. Oh, I will proceed with the handover of information manipulation. You can do as you please with continuing or revealing the cover-up operations we’ve conducted. Based on that, decide your country’s future policy.”
As long as this matter was handled behind the scenes, we were able to remain carefree.
However, this time the Demon Lord’s Army was too strong.
The battles have escalated to the point where I feel it is too much trouble to continue covering up the dirty parts and constantly extracting only the clean ones.
We can no longer pretend to be in the process of creation and have become desperate.
“We will withdraw from this country.”
It’s as clear as day what they would do if they found a country that could be managed properly.
What I am considering is still a mild imagination.
They only take people.
They haven’t taken the name of the country.
“W-wait a moment!!”
As I stand up to choose the option of taking a step towards ruin, my Ogre Champions, following my lead, attempt to open the door.
A voice stops them.
“We have waited long enough. You are the ones who did not give an answer. Or perhaps? Can you give an answer here and now?”
They are well aware that this is just a means to buy a little time.
And they probably know that the next words will be their last chance.
“…We will fight alongside you.”
A moment of conflict.
“Lord Ismal!?”
However, in the end, the representative uttered those words with resolve.
“Are there any objections? Are you going to tell me to wait while you persuade them?”
“Then, let me rephrase: my house of Ismal will walk with you. With my territory, my subordinates, and my people, I will devote myself to the coexistence with the demons that you have proposed.”
A noble who was trying to stop him, after receiving a glance from me, let out a big sigh and rephrased his cooperation to assist them alone.
In a sense, this is close to betrayal.
One person they thought was an ally, and a prominent one at that, has broken ranks.
“Hmm, then I promise to support that area. Of course, only if you can prove it’s not just talk.”
“Of course, we will prepare the documents and sign them immediately.”
The land ruled by that prominent figure is, if I recall correctly, adjacent to a dungeon and quite vast.
Furthermore, it boasts one of the largest military forces in the country.
His wavering has caused significant damage to the other nobles.
That’s why the impression of betrayal remains even stronger.
Resentment fills the room.
“Very well. Then let us move to another room. From here on, it’s a conversation between you and me.”
At this point, no one inquires about the others or casts glances.
The Ogre Champions move to protect only the nobles who have become allies, and as if indicating a boundary, we leave the room.
“I-I will also cooperate!!”
“Me too!”
“So will I!!”
The nobles, realizing they can’t be left behind, raise their hands and shout to get attention.
The time for opportunism is over. I see in their eyes the resolve to see it through to the end if they’ve made a decision.
Therefore, I give a nod to the Ogre Champions, signaling them to allow crossing the boundary.
Those remaining are those who are still hesitating, their inability to decide hidden in their expressions.
Half, no, about sixty percent remain.
The results are sufficient.
Forty percent of the territory has agreed to cooperate.
The results are sufficient, and it is an appropriate territory for preparing defensive measures.
There’s also the matter of accepting refugees.
And the report from Ann.
This is about the right time to call it quits.
Confirming that no one else raises their voice, I turn around and leave the room.
I do not deny their choice of clinging to hope until the very end, as a future option.
All I can say is that our paths have now diverged… that’s all.
Let’s not hear what they are discussing beyond the door that the Ogre Champions have closed.
A word for today:
Let’s end the worst.
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Pandora Pandemic Panic – Pandora’s Box has been opened again, but we are fighting back with various things in our secret base!!
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