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Chapter 8: All-Faction Conference
THE All-Faction Conference officially began. All the attendees felt a certain tension as they waited to see how the event would unfold. If nothing else came of it, they wanted to know what led Witch Vagia to host the conference.
“Oh dear, are you all nervous, darlings?” she cooed. “Relax and let Vagia here lead you through it♡. Don’t be nervous just because it’s your first time. Only your nethers need to be stiff, ehe♡.”
Witch Vagia took her seat as she made those silly, lewd comments. Freesia and Goliath took up position behind her. Takuto was right to assume his two escorts held high ranks, seeing as they were allowed attendance directly behind Vagia. They fell into a similar position as Atou was to Takuto and Ai was to Yu. It was clear they had enough power to serve as a Witch’s guards.
Witch Vagia… Her Player still hasn’t shown up. Are they hiding? Or are they her puppet…? Takuto wondered.
Based on the trend up until now, it was customary for there to be one Witch to every Player. Takuto had Atou, and the GM Keiji Kuhara had Erakino. Even the defeated Player had a Witch called Worthless Witch Munin, and Ai seemed to fill that slot for Yu. If you went by the trend, then Players were male, and they all had a female Witch accompanying them. But Takuto didn’t have a big enough sample pool to guarantee that was always the case. He needed to keep in mind the possibility that someone else might be hidden among them.
Еṅu̇ m̂ а . id̈
Takuto remained silent as he observed Vagia and analyzed the situation. Her outfit is definitely straight out of a hentai game. He was exasperated by the Succubus Queen’s outfit, an inviting smile on her plump lips. She wasn’t completely naked, instead going for the sex appeal of exposing her skin in all the right places, making her more tantalizing than if she were fully exposed. Her curvaceous figure made it impossible to know where to look.
She was the perfect Succubus Queen, but he thought she lacked too much in class to head up the negotiating table. But even this woman who embodied sexual desire understood that this room had already become a battlefield. After realizing the attendees were waiting for the show to go on, she slipped into her role as host and proceeded with the conference.
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“What am I going to do with you lovelies? Since I’m the one who suggested this event, I suppose I’ll start off with the introductions. Ahem. How do you do, representatives of all the nations? And I haven’t forgotten about you adorable Players, either ♡. I am the sexy new ruler of this land! The Queen of the Succubi and King of the Elves! Chaste Witch Vagia, at your service!” Vagia announced, hopping to her feet and striking a pose that showed off her voluptuous bosom.
The two Succubi behind her clapped, and Vagia blew kisses to each attendee.
Are we going to go around introducing ourselves now? Will I be able to introduce myself without fumbling it? Takuto fretted, his mind straying for a moment until it was drawn back to an unexpected divulgence of crucial information.
“Oh, and just so you know, the game system I brought with me is ADV. My game’s name is Doki Doki ☆ Succubus World ~That Time Succubi Came to the Real World~♪!”
Ênū ṁа .їd
“You’re from DokiSuckU?!” Yu shouted aloud.
They’re from DokiSuckU? Takuto thought at the same time.
Affectionately known as DokiSuckU,Doki Doki ☆ Succubus World is a famous adults-only game. It falls under the adventure game visual novel genre. One day, Earth is conquered by Succubi who invade from another world, and the protagonist has to make out with all the different Succubi to save the world. It’s a gag-game targeting adult men.
The game system is nothing to write home about. Or rather, it would be unreasonable to expect a complex game system to be implemented into this type of adventure game, which is centered around 2d graphics, voice acting, and simply reading the story.
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In other words, DokiSuckU’s game system posed little threat. No matter what cheats or hidden tricks they employed, there was no way for them to directly attack Takuto’s group…
Still, I can’t believe we’re up against a hentai game…
Еṅu m а
Takuto honestly thought adult games were out of the question, so he was more than a little taken aback by its presence, which was so out of its league when it came to the battles being fought in this world. But realization quickly dawned, overshadowing his surprise.
Crap! That’s why they targeted the Seven God Kings’ deck! Damn you, Yu! It’s your fault for not eliminating the game system along with its Player!
The Succubus faction had no special abilities. The only thing they had going for them was coming from an adult game with a Succubus setting. Succubi are a powerful race that modern mankind cannot possibly defeat, and they have overwhelming numbers. That should have been their only weapon. But no longer.
They now had a powerful army, powerful abilities, enormous amounts of Mana from El-Nah, all topped off by the Seven God Kings’ system… There was no telling how much damage would be done if they set their sights on you.
“Ehehe♡! D’aw, it appears some of you know about DokiSuckU. I would love to get all hot and bothered talking up a storm about our favorite games, but we didn’t get together for that, so we’ll just have to save that for next time, lovelies. Now since we’re here, why don’t we get to know each other better? Freesia, can you introduce everyone, dear?”
“Per Her Majesty’s orders, I shall commence introducing each person in attendance…”
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Guess it’s only normal for everyone to be introduced first? Takuto was delighted by this turn of events. His primary purpose for attending was recon, after all. Now if only everyone would spill their guts and share in great detail about their abilities and game systems, my day would be made…
Takuto discreetly scanned the room. He could see several people seated at the table, along with the objects placed on the empty seats. At first glance, they looked like clay sculptures made by students in art class, but he narrowed his eyes when he noticed that one of them resembled dice.
I’m curious, but I’m sure it will come up in due time. As for the other attendees… I see Phon’kaven is participating like they said. Did the other neutral nations from the Dark Continent skip the conference because of its location? I thought Sutharland would send someone at least, but I don’t see anyone who looks like a Dwarf, so I guess not.
As anyone could have guessed, few nations from the Dark Continent—primarily the neutral nations to the south—chose to attend.
I understand the two smaller city-states skipping, but I’m surprised Sutharland, the most powerful empire on the Dark Continent aside from Mynoghra, isn’t here. I assumed they would send an envoy since Phon’kaven did… Then again, Phon’kaven must be wary if they sent one of the Staff Holders instead of Pepe.
Takuto assessed the Dark Continent attendees in an instant, then shifted his gaze to the participants from the northern Lawful Continent.
E n ům̃ а.іd
The Succubus faction members are a given, but I see the Elves have sent someone too. Doesn’t look like a Saint, though. A nominal stand-in, maybe?
The Saints were the holy nations’ most powerful fighting force. The El-Nah Alliance of Elementals naturally had Saints of their own. Takuto thought they would send a Saint or two to showcase their power, so it was strange to see neither the Succubus-dominated El-Nah nor the Holy Kingdom of Qualia had sent one.
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El-Nah has the Succubus Queen Vagia and an old Elf man for its representatives. And Qualia has a…clergyman. He looks pretty high-ranked, so maybe he’s one of the three Popes?
Noticing Takuto’s gaze, Qualia’s representative jerked back in his seat, fear stiffening his expression. For all his expensive-looking and ostentatious adornments, he seemed to be a coward. Takuto looked away to keep from scaring him too much. Then he contemplated his reaction and presence.
Is Qualia being as cautious of this conference as the neutral nations? That kingdom’s greatest strength is its Saints. They only have two Saints left. It’s possible they thought that sending either of them was too risky in case anything went wrong back home. Considering Mynoghra is also using doubles, it’s ironic that Yu is the only one honorable enough to participate for himself.
The Lawful Continent had equally few participants. Apart from the two major empires, the northern continent lacked the variety of smaller nations and races of the southern continent. It was an All-Faction Conference in name only—the number of attendees was far too few to represent all the factions on both halves of Idoragya.
Wе́bṅ о̂v̀ ê ľ Еn u m ä
Two factions from the Lawful Continent and three from the Dark Continent are here, huh? You could say all of the big names are present at least, but there’s something more important than that.
Introductions for each faction proceeded as Takuto analyzed and assessed the various information. The old Elf announced he was participating as the representative of his race, and the clergyman stated that he was indeed one of Qualia’s three Popes. The Phon’kaven envoy apologized for being just a representative and expressed their hopes to make friends with everyone.
Finally, it was time for the last person. Takuto’s turn.
“Introducing King Takuto Ira of Mynoghra,” Freesia introduced him.
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Sensing everyone’s eyes on him, Takuto carefully gave the self-introduction he had been repeating in his head since the conference started. “Nice to meet you. I’m Takuto Ira. Some call me the King of Ruin.”
Someone gulped loudly.
Е̌numа̌
His succinct introduction filled the room with a weird kind of pressure. The Qualian Pope and Elf representative scowled, and nervous tension rippled through the taut expressions of both Phon’kaven’s envoy and the two Succubi guards.
Takuto despised this awkward atmosphere and wished they could just move on, but no one said anything. His nervousness burgeoned.
Wait, did I screw up somewhere?! But I didn’t say anything weird… Takuto’s pulse raced. His face was about to turn scarlet with embarrassment, but he schooled his features to make sure he didn’t humiliate himself in front of the other leaders. Somebody hurry up and say something!
A few seconds of silence ended up feeling like an eternity. Takuto was about ready to say something—anything—to put an end to his misery, when…
“Is that…it? This is a gathering meant to deepen everyone’s friendships, so isn’t it a little naughty of you not to say anything else♡?” Vagia said to him.
Takuto was grateful she cut through the awkward atmosphere and continued the conversation, but it wasn’t in a way he could handle properly.
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“What else should I say?”
“…!”
Takuto’s terse reply rubbed Vagia the wrong way yet again. Even he could tell he’d upset her. He didn’t mean any offense. With so many non-allies in attendance, he wasn’t going to stupidly announce his god or game name, nor was he obligated to do so. On the other hand, it was tactless to string together words that insult the other party in a confrontational manner.
Sure, it would have been great if he could say something clever, but Takuto always struggled with proper communication. He’d shown some progress in his interactions with the Dark Elves and his subordinates, but his communication skills still scraped the bottom of the barrel.
His question was actually an entreaty. He wanted Vagia to take the conversation in a better direction because he was too nervous to speak. That was all he intended by it, but…his intentions were rarely conveyed correctly. Especially since, while Takuto himself wasn’t aware of it, he was currently perceived by others as fathomless darkness.
His presence as the King of Ruin inspired fear in all living things, so it was inevitable that he intimidated the attendees just by being there. He had spent so much time with Yu Kamimiyadera, who naturally dispelled the darkness around him and wasn’t bothered by evil auras, and the subordinates who already knew his temperament, that he had completely forgotten one crucial thing.
Ĕ n̄ ŭ m а
Takuto Ira remained someone who would bring ruin to the world.
“Yeah…that’s just the kind of person you are.”
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…What does she mean? That’s not a normal reaction.
Takuto noticed something was off, and it wasn’t the discomfort she was feeling in his presence. He’d locked onto the way she’d referred to him as if she had known him all along. As far as he was concerned, he had never had any contact with Vagia. Even before he came to this world, he’d never met anyone like her during his short life lived within the confines of a hospital. There was only a slim chance she was someone he had interacted with online through games.
It was a tad disconcerting, but Takuto set it to the side as he had nothing else to go off of. All that mattered right now was that his self-introduction was done and over with. It wasn’t the smoothest interaction, but Takuto was just glad it was over.
“This now concludes the introductions of everyone present.”
Ẃ ѐ bn̂о̂vе l̄ Е̃ ṅ üm̀а
Freesia executed a crisp bow, drawing the introduction phase to a close. Tension returned to the room.
The attendees had indeed finished their meet-and-greet. Normally, this was where Vagia or her two Succubi attendants would act as the MC and announce the agenda for the conference. However, everyone in the room vaguely sensed that the introductions were not over yet.
Their gazes naturally drifted to the mysterious objects placed on top of the empty seats. A strange stone statue sat there, clearly placed for some purpose.
“Okay, it looks like everyone present has finished their introductions. Buttsies, aren’t all you lovelies just writhing with curiosity? Worrying those dirty minds of yours about those who are not here ♡! Naughty, naughty! Relax, darlings. I will properly walk you through it, so don’t get pushy! Sex is an art that requires proper etiquette. The ladies don’t like it when you breathe down their neck.”
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“Good pointers,” Yu mumbled, becoming convinced about the wrong things.
Takuto cut him a look before readying himself for what he assumed was the heart of this conference.
Е n u m̌а
There were three objects. One resembled dice. If Takuto’s prediction was correct and these objects represented the missing Players, then the dice was a stand-in for the TRPG Player, Keiji Kuhara. Takuto had defeated but not killed him during their fight. He had neglected to follow up on what had happened after that, so he was a little curious.
It seemed Keiji had indeed survived. Takuto was certain Keiji would hold a grudge after what happened, but he likely wouldn’t resort to petty revenge so soon after being put in his place. Still, Takuto couldn’t be too optimistic with how overpowered the Game Master abilities were.
Takuto turned his gaze to the broken object next. It had been shattered into pieces, symbolizing the Player behind it had been defeated. The Player who fit this description was Masato Kigou, the one killed by Yu Kamimiyadera. He was the first elimination, the Player who came to this world with the Seven God Kings system.
Looking closely, Takuto saw that some of the shattered pieces resembled card designs. It didn’t seem like a long shot to assume that it was Kigou’s.
Which leaves the last one as the real problem…
The final object had a strange design. An orb filled with weapons, shields, necklaces, and other items. It was unclear what kind of game it represented. The sword and shield gave it away as some sort of fantasy game, but Takuto didn’t want to form any preconceptions, so he withheld drawing definitive conclusions.
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What mattered was the fact that there was a new force he knew absolutely nothing about—another Player, hidden from him.
“As you know, a lot of powerful beings called Players have come to this world♡. I’m sure you have noticed by now, haven’t you? All the people with incredible powers! This event is being held to let the world know about these Players and for them to meet. Although it seems a few deigned not to participate, ehe♡.”
Gasps rose from the Qualia and Phon’kaven representatives. This news must have been a bolt out of the blue for them. Qualia had suffered much at the hands of Erakino and Mynoghra. And although Phon’kaven had allied with Mynoghra, the threat posed to their existence by the Demon Lord’s Army was still fresh in their minds. They also witnessed firsthand the insane powers possessed by Mynoghra.
These almost godlike beings were lurking in far more corners of the world than they could have possibly imagined. Learning this naturally sent them into shock and despair. However, they already understood that they were no longer the major powers at the table.
The Players. They had gathered here to strike some kind of deal. Although Qualia and Phon’kaven were allowed to participate in the conference, it was as if they were being blatantly told they were nothing more than a sidepiece. As if to drive home that point, Vagia spoke before Qualia’s Pope could voice his complaints. She was clearly addressing the Players instead of him.
“These little stone statues represent those who declared they wouldn’t participate or couldn’t come. Personally,” Vagia drawled, “I wanted to meet them in the flesh and get to know them better♡. They said they were just too busy, so I prepared these in their stead.”
Ẅé_b̃ n.öṽе̇ l̇ Е̂ṅ ú m̈ȧ
I wish she would’ve told us that was an option… Or maybe it was prepared as a last-minute compromise for anyone who was too stubborn to come? That would make sense at least… I wonder how they work?
Vagia seemed inordinately invested in this conference. Apparently, it was essential that all the Players participate in one form or another. Since nothing was done to represent the neutral nations that chose to skip, it was clear that they didn’t matter as much as the Players did.
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“So does that mean those strange objects connect the audio between the absent Players and this venue?” Yu asked. “Can they hear us too?”
“That’s right! All the secret little conversations we’ve been having up until now are being listened in on, hun♡! They can hear us with the clarity of the highest quality wiretapping device♡.”
“Hmm,” Yu hummed and fell silent.
If they were following the general order of these things, it should have been the absentees’ turn to be introduced. Yu probably wasn’t happy that they remained silent. Even if one of the objects had been destroyed and its Player was no longer in this world, the other two should still work. Was there a reason why there was no reaction from them?
Ẁebnȯ v̄е̇ ĺ Еn ü m̄ а́
Hmm… Should I prod them here? I’m not great at these things, but now’s not really the time to whine about that.
“Then would you introduce them to us?” Takuto requested. “It would be cruel to leave them out of the conversation.”
Takuto wanted to know their names at least. Keiji he could leave or take, but the other statue represented an unknown Player. He hoped one of Vagia’s subordinates would step forward and introduce him like she had done for the others in attendance, but…
“You heard him. What would you like to do?”
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Once again, his plan didn’t unfold the way he’d hoped. Vagia had redirected his question to the absentee participants instead of fulfilling the request. Silence was all that answered her. Apparently, the statues had no intention of naming themselves. They were quite the cowards compared to Yu and Takuto, who had ventured into the Succubus’s love den despite the danger…
Takuto was exasperated by their cowardice, but didn’t think it was the wrong move. Cowardice can sometimes be a rare gift.
Е̃nu m̂ȧ
Still, I’m opposed to giving out information without getting any in return after going the extra mile myself.
Takuto’s primary goal was to collect as much information as possible. Information on the Players was of the highest priority. It was worth the risk to get what he could.
His mind made up, Takuto prodded things along in Yu’s place, since he was sullenly sitting back in his chair, arms crossed.
“The silent treatment, is it? But the dice more or less gives you away. It’s been a hot minute, hasn’t it, Kuhara? I see you also chose to attend this All-Faction Conference. Where are you right now? Have you been eating well? Are the two Saints in good health? Won’t you be kind enough to let me hear your voice?”
“…!” A sharp inhale.
“It’s so mean of you to give me the cold shoulder after all we have been through, Ku-ha-ra.”
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He got a reaction from the object. Takuto was all smiles on the inside. It was only the slightest of inhales, but it more than conveyed the other person’s fear. Keiji had to be wary of this conference if he wasn’t willing to talk. Plus, his reaction when Takuto spoke to him proved he had an aversion to him.
Kuhara’s GM abilities scare me, so I’m happy to learn he’s terrified of me. I might be able to use this to my advantage later…
Just as Takuto had deduced, the Player known as Keiji Kuhara had a visceral aversion toward Takuto Ira. One could even say he feared him. Keiji’s spirit was utterly crushed during their battle. Takuto’s side also felt a certain aversion toward Keiji, as Mynoghra’s victory had been a narrow one…
“…! ––!!!!”
Signs of an argument came through the dice statue. Was someone else with Keiji? Takuto assumed it was the two Saints. Their whereabouts were unknown, so it was natural to assume they were hiding together.
I’m curious, but I’ll leave him be for now. Kuhara doesn’t seem interested in saying more, so focusing on the conference comes first. Takuto decided, shifting his focus away from Keiji just as a question was directed his way.
Е n u ḿ а . і́d
“…Who’s that?” Yu asked, sullenly seeking an explanation about Takuto’s little exchange.
Oh yeah, I asked Yu about the time he defeated Kigou, but I didn’t tell him much about when I took down the TRPG forces, Takuto realized. I’ll fill him in, though just on the parts I don’t mind everyone else finding out…
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“The tabletop RPG Player. I killed his Witch, but he escaped.”
“Oh, the guy who cuckolded Atou? Too bad you couldn’t kill the bastard!”
“He did not cuckold Atou. Word it better if you don’t want to piss me off.”
Takuto was about to lose his temper, but he knew if he snapped here, Vittorio, who was standing behind him disguised as Atou, would be utterly delighted. He suppressed his mounting rage to prevent that. If he had a stat for stress resistance, it just leveled up.
Ĕ n̂úm̃ а
“Ack!” Yu panicked. “Sorry! I’m seriously sorry, man! You’ll just laugh it off, right? Hahaha! Anyways, we now know one is this Kuhara guy, but is there actually a Player behind the other object? Haven’t heard a peep from it. Is it defective?”
“Kuhara is a shy guy, so we can write off his silence as a given. But I was wondering the same thing myself.”
“Hmph,” Yu snorted. Ai said nothing behind him.
Yu’s unusual display of annoyance seemed to indicate he disliked people like Kuhara and the other Player who kept themselves hidden and made their move behind closed doors.
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He definitely won’t get along with Kuhara, who stayed concealed during his whole fight with me. Fortunately, there are no plans for the two of them to meet any time soon, but I’ll pair Yu up against him if we ever clash again, Takuto decided.
“Is that guy playing the silent game, too?” Yu accused the unknown Player. His voice brimmed with irritation. While his attitude wasn’t exactly explosive, it didn’t help the tension.
Е nu m̄ā
Takuto glanced at Vagia. She watched over the proceedings with an amused expression. She seemed to have no intention of mediating or intervening.
After what felt like forever, he actually replied. “I can hear you… But I don’t intend to share about myself. Sorry, but I ask that you respect my decision.”
“Uh-huh, sure…” Yu replied dryly.
The unknown Player’s voice sounded like that of an adult man. He sounded older than the rest, but not on the level of an old man or someone who would be their fathers’ age. He sounded like a man in his twenties or early thirties. That would be a safe assumption as long as he wasn’t making use of a voice changer or some sort of disguise skill.
He sounded cautious. At this rate, Takuto’s party would be one-sidedly handing over information without gaining anything in return. Takuto decided to put on the heat to see if he could squeeze out anything more.
“You could at least tell us your name. We can’t just go around calling you Anon,” Takuto pointed out.
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“That’s truuuue. Then why don’t we just call him Mr. H? That’s what I call him, ehe♡!” Vagia answered in place of the final Player. That was a bad sign.
Takuto instantly guessed the position this Mr. H held. I figured they wouldn’t give much away with him being their ally, but they’re even hiding his name? They must be very close allies if the Succubi are prioritizing his privacy even when it means worsening their standing with us.
It would have been one thing if the Player had told them to call him Mr. H—but it came from Vagia. And they were even keeping his name a secret. This strongly suggested that the Succubus faction was saving this mysterious Player known as Mr. H as a trump card.
If nothing else, this made it clear that the conference host had no intention of revealing their hand and engaging in friendly talks. Takuto realized that the possibility of this being an enemy trap was far higher than he initially thought.
But the conference only just started. I should wait and see how it plays out. I’m not the type to point these things out myself, anyway. Of course, he wouldn’t hesitate to speak up when necessary, but that was another matter. His current policy was to see how things developed.
“Well, all that’s left now is for us to deepen our bonds through this conference♡. I eagerly welcome us getting extra close, darlings.”
Е̃ n ú m a . і d
With those unsettling words from Vagia, the floor was open. Who would be the first to talk? Takuto settled in to be a spectator, while a certain someone who must have been feeling irritated by the whole situation fired the first shot.
“Tell us what you want first. What’s the purpose of this conference? I’m not convinced it’s just to become all buddy-buddy. I know that ain’t happening with you at least,” Yu Kamimiyadera spat at Vagia, unable to hide his displeasure.
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A predictable reaction given his impulsive personality. Vagia didn’t take offense either.
“Ehehe. Don’t be such a spoil sport. Our goal is what we have been saying all along: permanent peace. And to build a new order♡.”
“Peace, you say? Ain’t that impossible? Has the world ever been free of war? I mean, our world.”
Never, Takuto answered internally.
W̆е b.n̄ о̃ v̈ѐl Е̇ n um̃ а̌
Since the dawn of time, the world has never been free of conflict. When people gather in large numbers, conflict on some scale is inevitable.
Yu was just pointing out reality. What Witch Vagia spoke of was too idealistic and premature. It was dangerous to take what she said literally.
“But even more people will become victims if we allow conflict to continue like this, darling♡. What do you have to say about that? Don’t you think you are at least partially responsible? It’s not like you can’t have known what the Demon Lord’s Army did.”
“Ha! You can’t blame me for what the Demon Lord’s Army did when they ain’t my subordinates,” Yu spat. “Do you honestly believe they’ll do what I say?”
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“Don’t you think the same tragedy will repeat itself if you don’t decide to do something about it?” Vagia pressed. “Leaving them to their own devices can be viewed as you neglecting your duty, darling♡.”
“You think that’s my fault? Lousy argument from the faction that crushed the Elven empire. I had nothing to do with the Demon Lord’s Army, but you went and invaded a nation and dare to claim it was for order with a smug look on your face? A little convenient, don’t ya think?”
Е̌nu m̊å
“Let’s just say it was unavoidable and leave it at that, hun♡. Oh, but there wasn’t a single victim, you know? With our abilities, it’s easy-peasy to take over and rule a country without any casualties, ehe…♡.”
Their verbal exchange continued.
As far as Takuto was concerned, they were both at fault. In that regard, so was he. All of them had built their current standing upon the sacrifice of others. Takuto felt this wasn’t a matter to be criticized.
All living things take from others in one form or another in order to survive. Many of the ingredients making up their meals had come from living things at some point.
Vagia’s argument rang hollow. Takuto mentally cheered Yu on, hoping he’d draw more information out of the Witch as he devised a plan to walk away with the most gains from this conference.
“Whatever you say, I don’t like you guys,” Yu asserted. “Besides, do you honestly believe your new order and all this peace stuff will actually work out?”
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“I believe that the people here have the power to decide that, ehe♡.”
“We’re going in circles here!” Yu threw his hands up in frustration.
Takuto took a moment to consider what Vagia said. It was true that the Players possessed powerful abilities. With the game system and the existence of subordinate NPCs, the nations that originally existed in this world were no match for them. In fact, El-Nah had been captured and Qualia was in dire straits.
Still, could peace truly be achieved if all the Players agreed? It sounded an awful lot like a snake oil pitch to Takuto.
“People are capable of understanding each other♡. No matter how painful and suffocating the wounds in their hearts, they can support each other. All is possible…with sex!”
“I hate myself for almost agreeing for a moment…” Yu groaned.
Ŵ е́ b̂ n ӧv̌е l̇ Е́ n̄.ū m а̂
“Boo, bad Master!”
She’s awfully fixated on peace. Putting aside the intent behind it, does the word peace embody Vagia’s psyche or something? Takuto observed Vagia without losing focus on the lambent conversation. The way she spoke in circles and how she communicated with Yu made it clear she had ulterior motives. But she also seemed impatient. Panicked, almost.
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If they truly sought peace, they should simply conclude this conference as a meet-and-greet and sign a provisional pact of nonaggression. From there, they could take their time interacting until they improved their relationships enough to tackle creating a new order together.
It was far too soon to try to force everyone to sign on to a new order and vow for peace.
Something else is at play… Takuto had a bad feeling. Could it be… Catching onto something, Takuto finally decided to voice his opinion, partly to back Yu as well.
“Seeking peace is important. But what he—what Yu Kamimiyadera is saying is also logical. Even if everyone here is sympathetic to your cause, that doesn’t mean that others will agree to your policy. Especially since we have sponsors.”
Énu m ӓ
“Right that. I know my god will throw a right fit,” Yu agreed.
Takuto was concerned about the existence of the gods. Yu declared that the purpose of this game was in the journey, not the victory. But he also said that it was unclear what the purpose was. If the journey was what mattered, then the gods should prefer more dramatic developments.
Perhaps it was death and conflict the gods sought rather than victory?
And that was why Vagia was so hung up on peace. That’s what it looked like to Takuto.
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“Is it really possible for a new order to exist that satisfies everyone? In a way that everyone is satisfied,” Takuto repeated.
Vagia’s pretty lips uttered the answer that wasn’t all that far off the mark from his guess.
Е́num̊ а̄
“Ultimately, by ending this game.”
Tension jolted the room.
Only the Players accurately understood the meaning of her words. They all already understood that their situation was created by the gods for some purpose.
But is it truly possible to end the game? Not to mention…
“Hold on. How exactly do we do that? That’s important here.”
Yu shared Takuto’s same misgivings. He immediately questioned Vagia. Takuto wanted to ask the same thing. Not that the Succubus faction hadn’t already prepared a pretty sounding answer…
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“End the game, silly. It’s a smidge complicated, but not impossible. Simply put, all we have to do is surrender without deciding a winner♡.”
“Surrender… Are you trying to kill the game early?” Yu asked.
Eternal Nations also had a surrender system. In the game, surrendering means you lose, but what would happen if every Player surrendered at the same time?
Takuto didn’t know what refusing to play the game would entail. He didn’t take Vagia at her word, but still found the concept fascinating. He shifted his gaze back to her and gave his chin an upward jerk to signal she should continue. He wanted her to present why she believed she could convince the gods to play along.
“The game can end if the Player wishes, darling. Although this world is run by the gods, there are rules in place. Common rules that must be adhered to, defined by the governing god known as The Board God. Consequently, none of the gods can overtly intervene with the world♡.”
In other words, they can intervene if it’s not overt.
E̊ n ů m̀ а̀
It was impossible to examine everything that had happened around Takuto until now to see how much divine intervention was involved, but Vagia’s theory was somewhat convincing. If the gods had been able to intervene unchecked, things would be far more chaotic. Besides, if the gods valued the journey over victory, then they would want to avoid needless large-scale intervention.
“And one of the most important things in this board game is to respect the Players’ decisions. The gods will have no choice but to agree if everyone desires it from the bottom of their hearts.”
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Takuto replayed what Yu had told him back in Mynoghra. It was highly probable that the gods were so-called game “enjoyers.” They were probably getting a kick out of observing how each of their Players—their pawns—danced in the world. If that were the case, then abandoning the game and ending in peace with everyone should also be an acceptable route. It lacked excitement and thrill, but if viewed as a piece of entertainment, it could be accepted as one of those anticlimactic endings that crop up sometimes…
“It’s not like you’ll die or disappear or anything because we suspend the game♡. Why not just ask your assigned god? You have all spoken with your gods, even if it’s at different frequencies, right?”
Yu nodded, so Takuto rushed to do the same. His hands grew cold and clammy with the worry that they would find out he was lying, but they didn’t notice. Now he had another, very important problem to figure out.
I haven’t spoken to my assigned god…
W̃е b̈ n_о̀v̇ е l Ӗnu m ã
This was where Takuto was faced with his greatest handicap. If he could just communicate with his assigned god, his problems could be solved by talking to him. He would have to think about how to handle this later. Things should be okay as-is for now. Since, unfortunately, his assigned god never tried to get in touch with him.
Maybe he sucks at communicating like me? Takuto mused idly before lobbing his next question at Vagia.
“Just because we end the game doesn’t necessarily mean peace will be achieved after, does it?”
“You just poked my soft spot, aah♡. But can’t you just feel it? As long as the game on the board continues, fate will forever direct everything toward us fighting, darling.”
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That makes sense… Her comment made everything clear.
“I’m sure you can both think of situations where that applies, no, little Hero boy and boy-king Takuto Ira?”
En ú m̂ ӑ
Takuto thought they had run into an incessant amount of trouble since coming to this world, so it made sense if that was all due to yet another mechanic of this world. Mynoghra’s initial plan was to increase its national power through Domestic Affairs without letting anyone know about its existence. Their starting territory, the Accursed Lands, was the perfect environment to remain undiscovered. Yet despite their attempts to stay out of things, they were dragged into various events and enemy encounters, and now they were faced with a conference that would decide the fate of the world.
People often say that too many coincidences is not a coincidence at all, and it appeared that what was happening to and around Mynoghra was no coincidence either.
Going by that logic, the incidents with the Demon Lord’s Army and the TRPG faction were all intentionally set up from the start? No…the way she phrased it makes it sound more like the odds of us clashing are increased. So, they directly influence the probability variation…RNG. It figures beings that call themselves gods would mess with things on a grand scale…
Every Player who came to this world had been involved in some sort of conflict right out the gate. Takuto had his fair share of conflict, Yu had his fatal run-in with the TCG Player, and the TRPG Player, Keiji Kuhara, also fought Qualia and Mynoghra. The Succubus Army immediately invaded the Elven empire. Only the mysterious final Player’s experiences were a mystery, but as far as Takuto was aware, every Player had experienced conflict in one form or another.
It was almost as if they were fated to clash, as Vagia claimed… And that same Witch was also alleging that they could void that fate if they so wished.
“That’s why my proposal isn’t merely an ideal or a pipe dream,” Vagia insisted. “Big changes will happen to us if you accept. That’s our guaranteed future, darlings♡.”
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Simultaneously resigning from the game would cancel out their fate to clash. And then the creation of a new order and peace would follow.
It sounded good on paper. If only his god were there to give their stamp of approval, but Takuto had to give up on that prospect. He could have always had Yu confirm the situation with his assigned god, but the credibility of third-hand information wasn’t even worth considering.
At any rate, Witch Vagia’s brand of peace was clear. Takuto now understood why she opted to hold an All-Faction Conference. Everything would be over if all the Players could reach an agreement.
“And for all you lovelies who haven’t been able to keep up, you should consider this proposal a godsend for your people♡. Allying here will significantly reduce the likelihood of further pointless conflicts arising. At the very least, neither me nor my ally, Mr. H, want to fight, ehe.”
Vagia apologetically directed the conversation toward the nations that had been left out of all the Player talk. The subject matter was utterly incomprehensible to them. Only confusion lingered on their frowning faces. But they picked up on the most important factor: whether they reached an agreement today or not would greatly affect the course of the world…
And there was one person who would determine that fate sitting at their table…
W̌ė b̄n̄o v̊èl̂_ .Ė n̈_umа̇
“What are your thoughts on this? Dear King of Mynoghra, Takuto Ira♡,” Vagia purred.
“My thoughts?”
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“Yes, you. What exactly is your goal? Isn’t peace appealing to you? This is reality, not the world of a game♡. No matter how much protection you have from the gods and the game, once you die, it’s game over for good. No reloads. I don’t know if there’s an afterlife or not, but one definitely isn’t prepared for the losers.”
This was the second time since the conference started that Vagia drew attention to Takuto. Perhaps he was the only natural choice to ask for an opinion at this point in the conversation. The general atmosphere seemed to indicate that the other Players, including Yu, could eventually be persuaded. Mr. H had already allied with Vagia, so he was likely on board with her plans.
The greatest loose thread and threat to Vagia’s plan was none other than Takuto Ira. And unfortunately for her…she was right to worry about him.
I might have considered it earlier on…
Ẃӗb ñ о v̀е́ l Enůmā
Takuto didn’t want to die either. He had come to a new world with a healthy and fit body. If agreeing guaranteed peace, then he would have happily picked the route that led to him living it up with Atou in Mynoghra.
But that route had been blocked off already.
Takuto wasn’t naïve enough to change his mind now, nor was he weak of will to waver.
“Now that I think about it, I never did ask about your goal,” Yu chimed in. “Since you teamed up with me, I guess you’re more of a peace seeker than I thought?”
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“Seeking peace isn’t wrong,” Takuto said, reiterating his earlier comment.
“Oh! I see! They call you the King of Ruin, so I thought you’d be thinking more about bringing ruin and all.”
Еn̈ ũm̌_à
“I’d get defeated by the Hero if I was thinking such things.”
Takuto chose words that deflected away from his true answer. He meant what he said to Yu; it’s just that his priorities had changed. And what had taken the slot of his number one priority was unlikely to be unseated.
“Then you agree to our terms?” Vagia asked.
“No,” Takuto said without missing a beat.
With just one word, he refused. Firmly.
Sometimes it’s easier to get your point across by being clear-cut instead of clumsily beating around the bush. Vagia’s vicious scowl proved he made the correct choice.
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“Can I ask why?”
“No particular reason. If I had to give one, perhaps it’s because I’m the King of Ruin and an evil being? I’ve become a bit interested in destroying the world.”
Refusing would result in open hostilities. In which case, he had no reason to give information to his enemies. Takuto had already gathered a great deal of valuable information from this conference. He didn’t need to make unnecessary excuses and expose his weaknesses.
Takuto glanced to his side. He couldn’t read Yu’s expression. Yu had made it clear from the start that he was opposed to this proposal. Seeing how he listened to Takuto’s words, which could be interpreted as a declaration of war, without complaining, it seemed they were on the same page.
You can’t underestimate a Hero’s intuition. My other, unstated reason is that this whole proposal is shady as hell.
People who present you with a great opportunity and give all sorts of reasons to force you into making a hasty decision are generally con artists. Takuto was familiar with those tactics. He wouldn’t have accepted Vagia’s deal either way, even if he wasn’t thinking about Isla and the Ascension Victory.
Е̇nǔm а
“And you can’t be convinced to change your mind? I’m willing to compromise where I can.”
“Then how about you all lose and come under my dominion? Don’t worry, my kingdom is kind to its vassals.”
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“We…can’t do that.”
See, there’s the truth, Takuto snorted.
If the goal was just to end the game, then it shouldn’t matter who won in the end. The result would be the same whether it ended with everyone’s surrender or a single person becoming the winner. The supposed goal here was to prevent things from ending in bloodshed. No matter who wins or loses, if no blood is shed, then it’d be peaceful.
But Vagia was quick to shoot down his counterproposal.
Е̃_nŭ mа̂ . ï_d̄
Either she absolutely needed to end the game with everyone’s surrender, or she didn’t trust the man known as Takuto Ira. Whatever her thoughts might be, they mattered not to Takuto, who’d already decided to be enemies.
“Too difficult for you to fall under Mynoghra’s umbrella, eh? Then how about this? Why don’t you tell us Mr. H’s name and game as a gesture of good faith? I might consider it if you do.”
“Not happening,” the orblike statue suddenly spoke.
Takuto was knocked off-kilter by the sudden interjection, but laughter bubbled up within him when he realized the voice belonged to Mr. H himself.
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“Pft! Bahahaha!”
“…What’s so funny?”
Ĕ ǹ um̀а .i d̃
“Sorry, sorry. I was surprised you joined the conversation, is all. Um…Mr. H, I presume? I apologize if I offended you.”
Not much information can be gleaned from words alone. The meaning behind the words can change significantly when looking at the other person’s face and gauging their expression.
Regardless of that, Takuto could easily guess just how angry Mr. H was from his remark.
“I wasn’t making my proposal to a coward who doesn’t have the guts to come here himself. I was speaking to Witch Vagia.” Takuto intentionally provoked him.
Anger leads to recklessness, and recklessness leads to mistakes. Mistakes lead to confusion, and confusion plus mistakes lead straight to death.
Since Takuto had already decided they were his enemies, he set out to provoke them as much as possible to see if anything amusing came of it.
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The Player known as Takuto Ira often described Vittorio, his direct subordinate, as a troublesome person who thrived on riling others up. But did the pot really have the right to call the kettle black? He was currently living up to his title as the one true master of the Gleeful Spin Doctor, as he was currently spinning his own way right under his opponent’s skin.
“How about it? If you tell me Mr. H’s name and game right now, I will happily accept your proposal. I will surrender for the sake of peace and deepen our ties for a brighter future. A truly marvelous plan, indeed. You have won me over with your genius.”
Takuto clapped his hands, amplifying how suspicious he came across. Anyone should be able to tell at a glance that he wasn’t serious, but Yu—the only one who did take him serious—immediately raised his voice in opposition.
“Hold your horses there, King Takuto! I ain’t willing to join them for that!”
“Now, now. Just remain my silent partner for now, Yu.”
Takuto found he really was an easy guy to work with because that’s all it took for Yu to shut his mouth and go along with him. He seemed to have much stronger feelings about his alliance with Takuto than even Takuto had realized. Or maybe he was just acting in accordance with his plan to leave everything to Takuto when it came to politicking because that wasn’t his strong suit…
Е̊n û_m̂_а̄. і d
Takuto buckled down on his strategy to provoke them. He was going to dig in until he dragged out their ulterior motives. They were obviously looking down on him.
“Witch Vagia. You seem to have viewed me as a threat from the start. I am incredibly curious to know what made you deem me a threat, but please trust me. I am trustworthy,” Takuto said, looking straight into her eyes.
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Vittorio’s enthusiastic remarks loudly pierced his brain through their telepathic link, but Takuto ignored them to concentrate on Vagia. If you are going to do something, do it thoroughly. That was Takuto’s motto.
“I can’t accept your proposal. It is an appealing one, though♡.”
“Oh? And why’s that?” Takuto asked, feigning surprise to an exaggerated level. He figured as much. He would have answered the same in her shoes.
Still, he deliberately put on a show. As if to prove just how much of an untrustworthy farce her peace proposal was.
Е ń ümа̀
And that finally got a clear rejection out of Vagia.
“Because…you have already decided to annihilate us all, haven’t you?”
“…Who knows?”
Takuto hadn’t decided that part just yet, but he sensed the necessity for it. Not only did he not trust Succubi, but this Vagia person was as troublesome as they came. She was the type to plan her next move. Make strategies. She wasn’t the type to make decisions on the spot like Keiji. She was no amateur. She was a huntress who slowly, vigilantly kept her fangs hidden until she’d already devoured her prey. Sensing her nature was what led Takuto to decide he needed to eliminate the Succubus Army—the ADV faction.
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“So long as there is an axe left to grind between us, we won’t be coming to any kind of agreement.”
“I love me some good ol’ grinding action though, aahn♡. I hope it goes on forever,” Vagia said in a sultry voice.
Е̊ n um а̇
“And it’s those types of comments that make you untrustworthy.”
The talks broke down just as he’d predicted. The only thing left to do was to return home safely, but that was unlikely to happen as predicted.
Vagia seemed to have finally accepted that her plans had ended in vain, for she let out a long, long-suffering sigh, her voluptuous breasts bouncing with the soft movement.
“But I want to understand you,” she said with all seriousness to Takuto. “Those are my true, unadulterated feelings.”
“The idea that we can understand each other by talking sounds beautiful at first, but in reality, it’s just arrogance, Witch Vagia.”
“What a shame…”
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Thus, the curtain closed on their peaceful negotiations. If the rest played out as Takuto predicted, then his opponent would play their next card now. He really hoped he was wrong this time, but he understood the odds were against him. So he shifted gears and prepared to deal with what came next.
“But I think you will change your mind when you hear what I have to say next, darling♡. For you see, I’ve prepared a surprise that will make even THE Takuto Ira say yes, ehe♡.”
“Now that’s intriguing. Do tell.”
Yup, here it comes, Takuto thought, relieved he hadn’t misread the situation. It would have left a horrible taste in his mouth if Vagia had proposed peace with nothing but good, pure intentions. But obviously there was no chance of that. Just as Takuto had suspected, they had prepared to screw him and the others over.
Takuto signaled Yu with his eyes and sent telepathic instructions to Vittorio.
Witch Vagia was a Succubus. As long as that was the case, it would be nigh impossible to suppress the Succubi instinct for excessive expansion… Moreover, since time immemorial, Succubi have excelled at deceiving and screwing men.
W̄.eḃn̈ о̀ v̌ ёl Еn̊ û m̃ а
“We, the El-Nah Alliance of Elementals, will now enter into a permanent alliance with the Holy Kingdom of Qualia and the Player Mr. H♡. And as the leader of the alliance, I, the Witch Vagia, hereby declare the establishment of a new order, the Lawful Continent Alliance.”
Mr. H and the Elves were a given, but even Qualia was in on it, huh…?
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Judging from the bitter demeanor of the Pope of Qualia, it seemed that not everyone had agreed to it, but the kingdom had obviously approved joining.
The power balance of the entire world had been decided at this moment.
What an incredibly dirty and solid move, Takuto thought idly despite the tense atmosphere. They had cut their opponents off at the heel and advanced the situation in their favor. He wanted to give them a hundred points if this was a test. If only it had been his ally instead of his enemy who had scored here…
“With that settled, as the leader of the alliance, I propose that all the nations on this continent embrace a new order and peace, woof♡,” Vagia declared triumphantly.
Е n̊um̄а.і d̆
Takuto just stared back at her expressionlessly.
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