The Holy Sword’s repair finished surprisingly smoothly.
In exchange for Himik’s fatigue, the repaired Holy Sword shone brightly, unlike when the President brought it, and one could immediately tell it held considerable power.
However, the price for its overuse had been paid, so it wasn’t in perfect condition even now.
Therefore, other preparations were necessary.
“Demon Lord.”
“…Yes, seeing everyone gathered like this, I can roughly guess what you want to say.”
I brought Eshlee back to the company temporarily.
From there, we intended to go to the company’s item storage, also known as the treasure vault, but Evia was waiting there.
No, it wasn’t just Evia; behind her were Suella, Memoria, and Keiri – an immediate understanding of the group.
“That was faster than expected,” said the President.
“I have something I’d like to ask regarding the rescue of the Undead King.”
Evia, standing resolutely to block our path, began to speak on behalf of the group.
“We don’t have much time for a protracted discussion, so please be brief.”
“Then, briefly: I have prepared 358 death row inmates with healthy bodies, athletic abilities, and magic aptitudes of four or higher, as well as 1,158 magic swords from my assets that enable life activities within chaos. I wish for Jiro to be exempted from participating in the Undead King’s rescue.”
“That’s just like you to approach this with risk management rather than appealing to emotions.”
“The death row inmates and magic swords can be replenished. However, securing talent that can become a General cannot be done quickly. It’s clear which is the wiser choice.”
Her personal feelings weren’t zero. With Suella and the others in tow, there was no attempt to hide them.
If she were only considering risk hedging, she would have faced the President alone.
And the fact that she hinted at her emotions indirectly, rather than displaying them openly, was to persuade effectively with both emotion and logic. She was speaking to the President, not meeting my gaze, because she knew that since the President held all command authority, persuading him would allow her to withdraw her request.
Yes, she was completely furious. More furious than I had ever witnessed.
I remembered being scolded by her a few times before, but it was with a sigh of exasperation mixed with acceptance. This time, however, she was truly, genuinely angry.
There was no way I didn’t understand the reason. It was also clear who was in the wrong.
For the company’s profit and to repay a debt, I was neglecting my family. Even if I declared my intention to survive and return, I was about to do something that drastically increased the chances of me not coming back.
I knew that at that point, anger would ignite in their hearts.
Evia knew Instructor Fushio was alive from the President. Suella and the others had heard it from me. They had likely also sensed, to some extent, that Valse-san’s ability was searching for him, and my intention to save him.
Because they knew I loved them, I understood they couldn’t bear the thought of me going to certain death.
“Evia, you understand better than anyone that this plan isn’t guaranteed to succeed, don’t you?”
“…It’s not zero.”
“Ah, well, if it had a chance of success, I wouldn’t complain. But without the Spirit of Time and Space’s navigation, without the risk of lending the Saintess and the Holy Sword to death row inmates, and furthermore, without an absolute powerhouse in case of emergency. Evia, you know what the chances of success are in a state lacking these three points, right?”
At the same time, these members understood the necessity of rescuing Instructor Fushio. Nowadays, the scent of war grows thicker.
Anyone who naively believed the current situation was sufficient would likely not survive the aftermath. This war was predicted to escalate to an unprecedented degree in history.
The Isal Continental Alliance was steadily increasing its military strength, expanding its forces against the Demon Lord’s Army, and furthermore, deploying Angel soldiers with the full cooperation of God. The Holy Sword was also being provided. We had also received information that the training of abducted individuals from Earth was complete, and they were to be deployed as Heroes.
In this situation, there were voices expressing anxiety about whether the Demon Lord’s Army could fight effectively with one of the original Seven Generals missing, leaving only six.
The President was the strongest. But he was not invincible. This generation’s Generals were hailed as the strongest in history, a lineup of Demon Lord-class individuals. However, the enemy was also anticipating this.
Moreover, in a situation where victory or defeat was uncertain, there was the presence of anti-Demon Lord factions intent on snatching up post-war spoils. They were aiming to benefit from the conflict. They were orchestrating plans to weaken the President’s forces and the Isal forces under the guise of logistical support, ultimately aiming to stand at the apex themselves.
We had received this information, but there was no concrete evidence. Furthermore, as they held positions responsible for the nation’s governance, even the President couldn’t act rashly.
If Isal weren’t preparing for war, we could have focused our efforts there and solidified our foundation. But there was no longer time for that. The anti-Demon Lord factions would continue their machinations until Isal launched their war. For their own self-preservation, they might even support the enemy and hinder the Demon Lord’s Army’s movements from behind the scenes.
In such a dangerous state, for the most convenient outcome to be realized, the return of Instructor Fushio, who was counted among the Demon Lord’s Army’s strongest forces, was absolutely essential. There was no time left. We needed to eliminate waste in this situation. Evia understood this.
“…”.
“Evia, you understand and accept the necessity of this move, and I suspect you also understand why you can’t entirely suppress your emotions. You also understand that what you are trying to do is wrong.”
“…Yes.”
To protect the country, she was trying to achieve the greatest return with the minimal risk. Although I was a General, I was a newly appointed one. My influence wasn’t that great, and my ability to affect the army itself was low.
“On top of that, you understand that your opinion won’t sway me, right?”
“Yes.”
Therefore, I was chosen as the minimal risk, and it was said to be the reason with the highest probability of success. However, even if she understood and accepted the risk of potential sacrifice, it was only from her public position.
“But!”
Seeing Evia’s eyes flare and becoming more emotional than she ever had, I instinctively took a step forward. However—
“Evia.”
A presence that radiated through the space stopped my movement.
“Do you understand who you are giving your opinion to?”
It was the President. His usual gentle expression was gone, replaced by a cold, heavy voice and magic that filled the space, as if he had a mask-like face.
“…”.
“I will hear your previous statement as advice from a loyal subject. But will the words that follow be from a loyal subject?”
He had completely seized the initiative, silencing her. In the face of such overwhelming aura, attempting to appeal to him with emotion became the most foolish of strategies.
“…”.
Understanding this, Evia, though suppressing the surge of emotion that had threatened to erupt, managed to regain her usual demeanor. However, her usual sharp, intellectual response faltered. The risk management that allowed for decisive cutting if necessary was beyond her grasp now.
“Evia, stand down. This is a royal command, a final decision.”
Sensing this, the President issued the royal command not with disappointment or exasperation, but with understanding and empathy. It was an imperial order that no one belonging to this Demon Lord’s Army could defy. It was an absolute authority that no one was allowed to resist.
It had been wielded. Declaring that she would bear the responsibility for any anger, dissatisfaction, or the potential resentment born from them, he rejected their opinions.
“…Understood.”
To resist it would be to let her reason prevail over her emotions at the very last moment. Suella, Memoria, and Keiri remained silent until the end. They lowered their eyes, forced to endure for the greater good, compelled to accept it and give up.
“Then, let’s go. Jin’ō, Eshlee, ah, Himik, you’ve done enough for today. Thank you for your hard work.”
The President walked past them without hesitation. My heart, watching them unable to stop him, was filled with complex emotions. The fact that the President was pushing me forward gave me confidence that what I intended to do was not wrong. However, the reality of trampling on their feelings to achieve that goal was a stark reminder that my perspective had been too naive.
“Control your expression,” I told myself internally. But as I tried to pass by them, creating an awkward atmosphere for what felt like the first time, a voice without the right to be here echoed.
“Oh? What’s with that gloomy face, Jiro?”
It was the instructor’s voice, coming from far away, from the entrance of the treasure vault. I had my back to him, so I couldn’t see him. But as if he could see me, he walked towards me with a displeased expression.
“Oh, Raidou. What are you doing here? What about your post?”
“I pushed it off onto my subordinates. After all, I heard that the Nōraifu guy was alive, so I came to confirm if it was true.”
Our steps towards the treasure vault were halted, and the President, I, and indeed everyone turned their gaze to the suddenly appearing instructor.
“Is that so? That is indeed the truth. He received a divine oracle.”
“That’s great news. So, Commander, you’re definitely going to fetch that guy, right?”
“Ah, naturally. He is necessary for this war. I declare it as the Demon Lord.”
His displeased face was directed only at me, but when he spoke to the President, he returned to his usual defiant and fierce expression. The President responded with a smile.
“So? Who are you sending?”
“I’ll ask Jin’ō. He has the highest chance of success.”
“Hmm, I’d like to go myself, but Jiro certainly has a better chance than me.”
Understanding the situation from the atmosphere, the people present, and the brief conversation, the instructor nodded and then—
“Hey, Jiro.”
He called out to me.
“Grits your teeth.”
He gave me one second of leeway, an unthinkable amount for him, and then his fist, with no hesitation, struck my jaw.
“Don’t make the women sad!! I’m not going to lose to someone who shows such a pathetic back at a time like this!!”
The impact was surprisingly weak compared to his usual attacks. But more than any attack before—I felt pain. An attack I couldn’t even think of dodging, despite it not being a surprise. As I rolled on the floor, landing on my back, I heard footsteps approaching.
“How is it? Are you awake now?”
“Yes.”
That single blow blew away all my anxieties. The instructor’s eyes, looking down at me, scrutinized me.
“Hmph, you look a bit more presentable. My fist doesn’t come cheap, you know.”
“In that case, I’ll treat you to the next banquet celebrating Instructor Fushio’s return.”
“You said it?”
Ah, I’m always being taught by this brute. What was I so anxious about? I was told by God to perform a miracle, told by the President it was a rescue operation with low odds, and unconsciously had been building up apprehension and anxiety. The odds didn’t matter. All that mattered was succeeding. It was simple, wasn’t it?
Finally, my hardened expression softened, and a smile appeared on my lips.
“I’m looking forward to it.”
Seeing my face, the instructor, satisfied, said nothing more.
“I’m heading back to the front lines. I have some work to move up.”
“Is that so? I seem to have plans that have moved up as well.”
Such conversation between the President and the instructor. His back conveyed that he had nothing more to say to me, and he left as quickly as a storm, having said all he needed to and encouraging me to show results.
Today’s word: It’s not easy to consolidate opposing opinions.
Thank you for your continued feedback and for pointing out typos. If you found this interesting, please leave a review, rating, bookmark, etc. I am also currently serializing another work, “Pandora Pandemic Panic: Pandora’s Box Has Been Opened Again, But We’re Fighting Back with Various Things at Our Secret Base!!” Please check that out as well!!
