"..."
"..."
Silence lingered for a mont.
rmaid King Poseidon, with a kitchen knife aid at my neck, and , needing to answer his question.
- Why should he, who lost everything to the Everblack Empire, not harm , the third prince of the sa empire?
I steadied my breath and then smiled.
Isnt it obvious?
Because only I, in this world, can save them.
Only I can provide... what they truly need.
"I will stop all persecutions of different races by the human race."
"...What?"
rmaid King Poseidon let out a perplexed groan at my unexpected words.
But I didn't stop.
"I will return the lands that were originally yours."
"What...?"
"Driven from their holands, confined to autonomous districts, exiled beyond the continent, scattered around the world... Different races all harbor deep resentnt for their lost hos."
I placed my hand over my heart.
"I, Ash Born Hater Everblack, swear on my na."
"..."
"I will help you reclaim your hos. The land and seas you and your people have lost, and even your history and pride."
A tense silence filled the dimly lit parlor.
After a while, rmaid King Poseidon slowly opened his mouth.
"I don't understand."
His deep sea-like eyes pierced into .
"Why would you do that? What reason do you have to help us?"
"You have it backward, rmaid King Poseidon."
I adjusted my posture to sit more comfortably.
"To protect the world, we need everyone's strength... That's why I'm offering a price that would willingly make you risk your lives."
rmaid King Poseidon's brow furrowed at my words.
"Protect the world?"
"Crossroad is the front line that fends off monsters for all worlds."
I tapped the armrest of the sofa I was sitting on with my hand.
"But Prince Fernandez, the second prince, has given up the fight against the monsters and declared surrender to the King of Monsters."
"...?!"
"Thats why I intend to oppose him. And for that, I need as many allies as possible."
I spoke frankly.
It was a situation where it seed okay to do so.
"The Everblack Empire, located at the center of the world... but that doesn't an it's the whole world. Outside the empire, there are as many people as in the empire."
Small nations.
Different races.
Nomadic tribes. And those who don't even belong to these groups.
They are the 'Fallen Kings'.
"I intend to unite them as much as possible. And I know, between the victorious second prince from the imperial succession battle and the third prince who was dealing with monsters in the southern wilderness, which side has better odds. Most would side with the second prince."
"..."
"So, I'm offering a big deal. I'm raising the stakes because I want you to side with in this unfavorable situation."
I promise what the different races most desire.
In short - it's a blank check.
If you help defeat Fernandez, I will make sure you get such a reward.
A potentially victory-dependent, irresponsibly slick talk.
"..."
But still.
Despite all that, rmaid King Poseidon's face sank into serious contemplation.
The rope I threw might be flimsy. But until now, no one had even thrown such a flimsy rope in their direction.
100 years-
Since the racial wars, during which the Everblack Empire seized world hegemony and flexibly manipulated the continent under the sun.
The losers who had to hide in the shadows.
I am making them an offer they cannot refuse.
After all, if they remain passive like this, they will forever crawl at the bottom.
Rather than that, it would be better to gather all the remaining stakes with and try our hand at one last ga.
"...Let's make one thing clear."
After pondering, rmaid King Poseidon slowly opened his mouth.
"Do you truly have the capacity to fulfill that promise?"
"I do."
Strictly speaking, I will have that right soon.
After all... if a clash with Fernandez is inevitable,
And if I can defeat him, the likely next emperor after his victory in the imperial succession battle-
Of course. That right will belong to , the victor.
It's a simple choice. Either lose and let the world be destroyed by monsters, or win and steer the world as I wish.
And I have no intention of losing, not even the slightest.
I am a warrior who fights monsters. I didn't co all this way to be defeated in a civil war among humans.
I will win.
And for that, appeasing the whims of all the fallen kings... is a relatively easy task.
"..."
After a bit more silence.
Clunk-
rmaid King Poseidon, having emptied the bottle, placed it on the table with a light sigh.
"...I've heard about what you've been doing on land through various channels."
Huh?
He knew about ?
"The front lines you lead and your city treat all races equally in the face of monsters."
"..."
"Heard you took in that Dragon Lady. You also sheltered survivors from the beastn tribes... News like this has even attracted the attention of the Elven Queen and the Dwarf Lord."
Seems like I was more popular than I knew...
"Thats why I tested your true intentions. If it offended you, I apologize. I hope you don't take it too hard."
Rattle-
rmaid King Poseidon slowly withdrew the knife he had pointed at my neck and placed it on the table.
...But it wasn't a knife.
It was a long rod of ice.
Using his ability to manipulate water, he had turned the water from the bathtub into an ice rod and pretended it was a knife against my neck.
Of course, I thought it was a knife! In my half-asleep, drunken state, and just after he had been slicing sashimi with a real knife, when sothing cold was pressed against my neck... naturally, I assud it was a knife! But it was ice!
"...I still hate the Everblack Empire."
rmaid King Poseidon murmured calmly.
"I still despise humans. But as the leader of my race, I know your offer is an opportunity that won't co again."
"Does that an..."
"Ill consider it positively."
Putting down the bottle, the knife, the ice.
With empty hands, rmaid King Poseidon showed a bitter smile.
"After all, we have nothing more to lose."
***
After rmaid King Poseidon XIII had dragged his portable bathtub to the guest room.
Alone in the empty parlor, I gulped down cold water and, looking up at the ceiling, exhaled deeply.
"It's safe to co out now, Elize."
No sooner had I spoken.
Whirl- Thump!
A shadow moved from the ceiling of the parlor, and a maid with navy blue hair agilely dropped down.
Serenade's exclusive guard and housekeeper.
Sword Master Elize.
Elize scanned the area where rmaid King Poseidon had exited with sharp eyes.
"...I was ready to intervene if the situation escalated, but it seems to have resolved amicably. So, I remained hidden."
"Well done."
Serenade, having finished interpreting and returning to handle rchant Guild affairs, left Elize to monitor rmaid King Poseidon in case of an ergency.
- Our rchant Guild has been trading with the remaining rfolk for so ti. The blue coral I presented to you before was also acquired from them.
Serenade earnestly cautioned to be careful.
- I heard it from them back then. The current king of the rfolk is quite violent and emotional...
- ...
- Please be careful, Your Highness. I'll leave Elize here to monitor, just in case.
So... although it seed like I was having a royal showdown with rmaid King Poseidon, in truth, I had the insurance of Elize.
If things had gone south, Elize would have imdiately intervened to protect .
Even if rmaid King Poseidon is a formidable opponent, Elize, an SSR-rated swordsman, could certainly protect .
"It's always best to have a safety net when possible, right?"
There are tis when one must gamble everything on a single move. But the best strategy is always to operate within a realm of certainty.
The more insurance, the better!
As I smiled, Elize cautiously observed .
"...Excuse for asking, Your Highness. I overheard your conversation while hiding above."
"Huh?"
"You said you would fight Prince Fernandez."
"..."
"Really... to gather the divided kings of different races and challenge Prince Fernandez, the victor of the imperial succession battle? Even Lord Lark, leading the elite first Imperial Army, was defeated."
Elize seed quite worried.
That's understandable. Her mistress, Serenade, had committed her family and even her life to .
And here I am, planning to face off against the victor of the imperial succession. It's natural for her to be concerned.
But.
"I just said it, Elize. 'If there's a safety net,' then I'll use it."
It's the sa as the negotiation with rmaid King Poseidon today.
I will prepare thoroughly and then challenge Fernandez. But before that, I'll prepare another 'insurance.'
Insurance to tilt the odds of victory in my favor...!
"I've devised a plan while wandering in the darkness. If things go as planned, the battle with Fernandez might be surprisingly easy."
I rubbed my hands together and grinned wickedly.
"Just watch. I'll give my smart older brother a taste of his own dicine..."
"..."
Elize looked at with complex eyes.
She trusts , but still, its undeniable that Fernandez is a formidable opponent.
Well, what can I do? I prove myself with results.
"You've worked hard on overti, Elize. Let's go to the central square."
"Huh?"
"It's the night of the victory banquet. It would be a sha to end it just watching from the rooftop, wouldn't it?"
I led Elize out of the mansion and headed towards the central square.
Despite the late hour, the square was brightly lit, filled with the sounds of singing and lively conversations.
"Ah, Your Highness!"
"Why are you only coming now, Your Highness? All the alcohol is gone!"
"We've almost finished all the fish!"
The soldiers noticed and erupted into noisy laughter.
Having just co from another battle of negotiations for alliance after the fight with the monsters... but no need to ntion that.
"I ran out of drinks, so I ca to refill them, you bastards!"
Just then, the Silver Winter rchant Guild appeared, carting expensive alcohol stored in their warehouse.
Serenade, having finished her backlog of work, was leading them.
"Your Highness!"
Seeing and Elize safe, Serenade showed a relieved smile.
I smiled back and thought to myself.
rmaid King Poseidon is just the beginning.
Now, I will gather the fallen kings scattered across the world here in Crossroad.
I will make them an offer they cannot refuse.
Even if I have to borrow the rights of the victor, even if I have to bluff and mix lies, I will bring them all under my command.
In the end, it's a simple choice.
Either let the world be destroyed by monsters in defeat, or win and steer the world as I desire.
I no longer fear or hesitate before this choice.
The dice have already been cast.
I will move the world.
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