Kingdom of Dahm.

It’s a country in which s.h.i.+n stopped by the other day, and where the Church of Creation’s headquarters were located before the founding of Holy Nation Y.

During the Three Powers Talks, it was decided that the cabinet meeting of the World Alliance will be held at the Old Empire, a location right next to the “Demon Territory and is relatively close to the Three Powers’ countries.

When the “Demon Territory Recapture Strategy” gets approved, it will become the official signing of the World Alliance at the same time.

The contents of signing the World Alliance is almost decided.

[The fate of the human race depends on the cooperation of every country. In addition, we will act as one, and we will not ask for any kind of compensation during this operation.]

For example, if the troops of Country A were saved by a unit of Country B, Country B cannot demand a reward from Country A.

Yes, humanity is united against the demons and devils right now, but unless plans are made, there might be problems amongst humans after the war.

The “Demon Territory Recapture Strategy” is yet to be decided.

A large number of people have been selected.

Each nation’s army will subdue demons that spread throughout the demon territory, subjugate the devils living there and aim for the imperial capital.

With that as our goal, we a.s.sembled the coalition, but now the question is: “Which country shall we make our base?”

Supply chains. In particular, how do we supply Els and Ys whose borders don’t touch the demon territory?

What chain of command will the Alliance forces follow?

There is a lot of things that have to be discussed.

Right now, the devils aren’t making a move.

However, because there were two attacks in last time, n.o.body thinks they’ve given up. Instead, they think it’s a preparatory period for the devils’ next invasion.

Therefore, there are many things to discuss on the agenda, but there is not enough time to talk about all of them.

Every country representative racked their brains off trying to figure it all out.

Then, the representatives of seven countries: Earlshyde, Swedes, Dahm, Karnan, Kurt, Els and Ys have gathered in one of the temples in Dahm Kingdom. Finally, the meeting has started.

“I am the military head of the Earlshyde Kingdom, Dominic Gastaule. Thank you for answering Earlshyde’s call. Currently, we humans are in a position where our very existence is threatened by a ma.s.s outbreak of devils and their raids. However we humans aren’t hopeless. Based on that I would like to continue our discussion.”(Dominic)

For starters, the meeting began with a greeting by Dominic, the representative of Earlshyde Kingdom, which proposed the Alliance.

“Since we cannot predict the devils attacks, we only created a rough draft. I’d like you all to decide if you approve of it, is that all right?”(Dominic)

“That means you have already made a draft?”

A representative from another country asked Dominic a question.

“Yes. Obviously, if we haven’t done a draft, then the discussion would only be prolonged. I would like you all to take a look at the rough draft.”(Dominic)

When Dominic said that, the aides distributed doc.u.ments of the draft to the country representatives.

And the reactions of representatives who looked over it were divided in two.

There are expressions of consent and expressions of surprise.

“D-Director Dominic! Are you serious!?”

Remarked “Great” Bishop Makina, who was present at the Three Power Talks as the representativ

e of Ys.

Makina was a bishop at the time of the Three Power Talks, but was promoted to archbishop as a result of his predecessor Fuller’s failure.

That archbishop Makina raised his doubts about what is stated in the strategy draft.

“Of course I am serious, and I am convinced this is for the best.”(Dominic)

“But this is… Aren’t they only fifteen to sixteen-year-old children? That is…“(Makina)

Then his eyes drop to the strategy draft again.

“[Each national army will be in charge of suppressing demons, while the subjugation of devils and disaster cla.s.ses will be left to the Ultimate Magicians]!”(Makina)

However, only the representatives of Dahm agree with the remarks of Archbishop Makina while the rest of the representatives show no doubt.

“Uhm, you are?… Oh, that’s right! You’re Archbishop Makina. Have you not witnessed s.h.i.+n in battle?”

“Surely not… Has everybody here seen it?”(Makina)

“Ah. I have.”

“I also have.”

“Me too.”

“I too have seen it.”

The Karnan Kingdom representatives declared. As well as the representatives of Swedes, Kurt, and Naval from Els.

“Didn’t Naval meet them for the first time the other day?”(Makina)

“Didn’t I stop by Earlsyhde on my way back? We b.u.mped into a flock of demons on the way.”(Naval)

“Is that so?”(Makina)

“Moreover… Disaster cla.s.ses were mixed in.”(Naval)

“Disaster cla.s.s!? You’re unharmed!”(Makina)

“That’s right… The Ultimate Magicians subjugated them in the blink of an eye.”(Naval)

“I-In the blink of an eye!?”(Makina)

“It felt like they were playing a game…”(Naval)

He probably recalled that time. Naval couldn’t believe it because he was so far away.

“I am a shepherd from Karnan. This summer a ma.s.s outbreak of demonic sheep occurred. I was prepared for a certain amount of sacrifice… Thanks to the help of those fellows, they were all quickly cut down.”

“You’re also saying in the blink of an eye…”(Makina)

Galland is a shepherd. However in the kingdom of Karnan, a national shepherd is a highly prestigious position, and among them, he is the one that bears the responsibility of nurturing the nation’s sheep, and in addition, he is familiar with s.h.i.+n so he was chosen as Karnan’s representative.

“There is no mistake. We’re used to hunting disaster cla.s.ses from time to time. They decided on who will subjugate them by drawing lots.”(Galland)

“D-D-drawing lots!?”(Makina)

“Normally the loser would be made to subjugate the disaster cla.s.s, right? The child that won the lots was ecstatic.”(Galland)

Those who knew them wore bitter smiles since they could easily imagine the sight, but there was one person present that didn’t know them at all.

“A drawing lots to subjugate a disaster cla.s.s, something that needs an entire military to subjugate!? How imprudent!”

Ralph Portman, representative of this meeting’s host country, Dahm Kingdom.

“Why would you place such imprudent people at the center of this vital strategy? I object!”(Ralph)

Ralph of Dahm Kingdom opposed the strategy that focused on them because they drew lots on the battlefield.

“What did you say Ralph? Does that mean you have an alternate plan?”(Dominic)

“If we stand united, we can overcome any hards.h.i.+p!”(Ralph)

“No, I will only consider a grounded plan based on concrete reasons.”(Dominic)

“T-that is…”(Ralph)

“You don’t have any?”(Dominic)

“B-but! Does everyone else agree with making such unscrupulous people the center of our strategy!?”(Ralph)

“I agree.”

“Emilio!”(Ralph)

The next to speak was the Representative of Swedes Kingdom, Emilio.

He and Ralph knew each other from an exchange in the upper echelons concerning a neighboring country.

“Have you ever met them?”(Emilio)

“No… I didn’t…”(Ralph)

“I met them in person. They rushed to our crisis before anything else and repelled the devils. However, they regretted the fact there were victims and issued an apology. Even if they’re from another country, I am unable to see an unscrupulous person there.”(Emilio)

“…”(Ralph)

Emilio is the military head who accompanied s.h.i.+n to his audience with the Swedes king.

Ralph can’t say anything to Emilio’s remarks for he has met them in person.

“I also met them in person and didn’t get that impression of them.”(Kurt rep)

Consequently, Kurt’s representative follows up.

“I saw them fight myself… To be honest I understand what representative Naval says.”(Kurt rep)

“You can understand!? What do you mean by that!?”(Ralph)

Ralph bites at the words of Kurt’s representative when he says he can understand why they drew lots.

“Disaster cla.s.s demons aren’t even worthy opponents to them. Is that how it actually is?”(Ralph)

“It was instant death. If I didn’t witness that scene, I would think it was dangerous as well.”(Galland)

“I guess.”(Ralph)

“I think so as well.”(Kurt rep)

Although he said it was instant death, Galland, the representative of Karnan, managed to convince the representative of Kurt. If you look, Emilio is nodding as well.

“For them, a disaster cla.s.s is not an opponent worth despairing over. It’s an opponent they can stop with one hand. When you see them fight, you will be convinced.”(Emilio)

“Disaster cla.s.s with one hand…”(Ralph)

The words of Kurt’s representative sent Ralph into thought.

And when he found a breakthrough, he grinned.

“…Those who wield such dangerous power… Can you trust them? Aren’t the partners to ones we must defeat?”(Ralph)

The meeting place stirred to that extreme remark.

Certainly, the power to indifferently instakill a nightmarish opponent would seem incredibly preposterous.

Ralph regarded the Ultimate Magicians who held such power as dangerous.

Dominic understands the magnitude of their powers, and Dominic is also aware of how much Disseum and Augusto struggle to keep their powers from being dangerous.

Without knowing their hards.h.i.+p, he started becoming angry at Ralph who spoke thoughtlessly…

“You don’t know anything that he right to say that.”(Naval)

It was Els’ representative Naval that responded.

“To be frank, I had that impression too.”(Naval)

“That’s right! Then…”(Ralph)

“I asked them about it myself. Do you want to conquer the world? Please tell me.”(Naval[2] )

To those Naval’s words, the venue stirred again with shouts of [“What did he say!? What!”]

“He just casually answered: [“I don’t want to do something so troublesome.”].”(Naval)

To those words, a collective sigh of relief leaked out.

Because most people here have seen a glimpse of s.h.i.+n’s power, ant they are well aware that if he had such ambitions there would be no way of stopping him.

“He also said that [“It’s our mission to make a peaceful world for the children that will be born in the future.”].”(Naval)

“Is that so?… He said something like that.”(Dominic)

Dominic heard about s.h.i.+n’s true intentions for the first time.

He is the General of the Knight Order and thus has little contact with the magician s.h.i.+n.

They are not wielding their power for the sake of selfish desires, but for the sake of the future generation of humans.

The resolve that resonated through Naval’s words calmed the anger he felt from Ralph’s thoughtless words.

“It’s sophistry! To entrust yourselves to such a flimsy remark!”(Ralph)

“Ralph! What the h.e.l.l is wrong with you!?”(Makina)

“Ma-Makina…”(Ralph)

“I haven’t seen them in battle, but I have met them in person. I recognize that they have an excellent personality. He considered the evil deeds of the great criminal Fuller as Fuller’s own responsibility and didn’t refer to it as Ys’ crime. It was a case so serious, that he would’ve been able to antagonize Ys.”(Makina)

“S-surely it’s a part of his calculations…”(Ralph)

“In the first place, Dominic. Aren’t they the hope of mankind?”(Makina)

“That’s right. A devil is stronger than a disaster cla.s.s. There seems to be… Around 50 of them left.”(Dominic)

“There are 50 existences stronger than the disaster cla.s.s… This is really a crisis for humanity…”(Galland)

Galland seems to have gotten dizzy from the estimated strength and number of devils, while Emilio added a comment.

“But… When I saw them for the first time there were around a hundred of them. Given that…”(Emilio)

“To reduce them by fifty…”(Ralph)

The devils who originally numbered a hundred decreased by half.

It’s because s.h.i.+n subjugated them.

“To that number of those opponents, you can only feel despair. However, if we leave it in the hands of the Ultimate Magicians cutting them down, then it is not a pipe dream. Indeed, they are the hope for humanity.”(Dominic)

“Hope of humanity… Certainly, it’s just like that…”(Makina)

Dominic spoke, and Makina was convinced.

“But! Makina, you were initially against this strategy at the beginning!”(Ralph)

“What I objected to was pus.h.i.+ng the heavy responsibility onto 15 to 16-year-old children while we adults take it easy, wasn’t it? It was.”(Makina)

“Well… Honestly, it’s a deplorable tactic.”(Ralph)

“Even if there is a gigantic gap between our abilities…”(Emilio)

Galland and Emilio, who have lived for almost twice longer than s.h.i.+n, wanted to express their frustration but Naval spoke.

“However, since fundamentally only those children can solve this problem, can anyone else find a solution?”(Naval)

“It’s like the Els merchant says. But that would mean we’re using them…”(Dominic)

“Naturally. If we hold back, will it end in human extinction or a funny story?”(Naval)

Naval says that if s.h.i.+n has the ability to solve a problem it’s only natural to rely on that ability.

At the time of the trip to the Three Power Talks. He was only thinking of how to drag out favorable conditions from Earlshyde. However, after witnessing s.h.i.+n’s ability and determination on the way to Earlshyde, and from business talks with the Walford Company tied with Earlshyde, he seems to now back the Ultimate Magicians.

And Makina was hesitant to leave the core of the strategy in the hands of young people, but he was not saying s.h.i.+n was dangerous.

Ralph, who believed Makina would oppose the plan, had a face as if he was betrayed.

“Why does Ralph oppose this strategy to this extent? Speaking of the Ultimate Magicians, among their members are Ms. Claude hailed as the [Saint] and the Magic King Walford who is now being called the [Messenger of G.o.d] is that it?”(Naval)

“I…!”(Ralph)

I don’t like it! Ralph swallowed the words he wanted to say.

Because it’s an emotional argument, clearly a personal matter, what’s more Makina the Archbishop of the Church of Creation begun to accept the plan.

Dahm and Ys are different countries, but in the past, the main temple of the Church of Creation was located in this country, and the influence of the church is strong, Dahm is in a subconscious va.s.sal relations.h.i.+p to the top echelons of Ys.

Ralph the representative of Dahm, used to use honorific [Mr.] when addressing Makina as the representative of another country, but he understands their positions. (TN: Since I generally don’t include honorifics this kinda doesn’t make much sense.)

Thinking about Archbishop Makina’s intentions of a spiritually superior country, Ralph swallowed his words.

But Ralph doesn’t like the t.i.tles of those two Ultimate Magicians.

The t.i.tle of [Saint] attached to Sicily was the t.i.tle a.s.signed to the current pope before she rose to her position, it’s maddening to call someone by the former t.i.tle of the pope her reveres, as for s.h.i.+n’s [Messenger of G.o.d], a G.o.d who is an absolute existence. The t.i.tle [Messenger of G.o.d] should not be a t.i.tle given away so thoughtlessly.

However, people began calling them those names without their consent, and in fact the [Messenger of G.o.d] was the impression Sieg once felt, and as did other people, those t.i.tles spread rapidly.

Ralph couldn’t forgive anyone who isn’t a part of the Church of Creation’s clergy to be called those names.

To place s.h.i.+n as the cornerstone of the strategy goes against that, as well as the unscrupulous att.i.tude of having a lottery during battle, but the largest reason was the two t.i.tles.

He couldn’t accept s.h.i.+n’s [Messenger of G.o.d] in particular.

However, within the Church of Creation, there is a general approval of those two t.i.tles.

Regarding the Saint, as a former saint, the pope cared for her as her own child, and the unprecedented declaration that, she will take care of her wedding as soon as the crisis is over.

As for the Messenger of G.o.d. In time where humanity is in need, where a lot of devils showed up, he suddenly appeared with the ability to compete against them, could it be that s.h.i.+n actually is just that?

There are many in the Church of Creation that seems to think so.

[When humanity is facing extinction Our G.o.d sent a messenger]

However, [many] are saying that not [all].

Ralph wasn’t a priest, but a pious believer, one of the minorities that couldn’t tolerate the t.i.tles of Saint and Messenger of G.o.d.

“It’s too much responsibility for that youth to bear… But there’s certainly no other trump cards we human beings have… It seems like I have no choice but to approve of this strategy…”(Makina)

“So we all agree on the rough draft of the strategy? After that is the matter of supplies, placements…”(Dominic)

Archbishop Makina ended up accepting the strategy after all and Ralph wasn’t able to say anything anymore.

Thanks to the draft prepared by Dominic, the meeting negotiations went smoothly.

Because a consensus was reached, the troop placements, supply lines, etc… the “Demon Territory Recapture Strategy” was approved.

At last, it was time to finalize the World Alliance.

Finally, a sense of relief was felt upon reaching the starting point, relaxed atmosphere swept over the meeting room with only Ralph left in a bad mood.

Makina was concerned about his att.i.tude throughout the meeting, so he came up to Ralph.

“Ralph. What on earth were you thinking? You were pouting the whole meeting. You are sent here on the behalf of your country, is that the proper att.i.tude to have?”(Makina)

“…I’m sorry. I’ll be careful from now on.”(Ralph)

As he said that, Ralph left the conference hall in a hurry.

His aide and escort hurried after him with confusion visible on their faces.

They accepted the t.i.tles of Saint and Messenger of G.o.d. It seems they couldn’t believe it was their representative who opposed the Ultimate Magicians involvement.

“Good grief… To be that reckless…”(Makina)

By his reaction to the words Saint and Messenger of G.o.d, Makina understood Ralph objected to those two t.i.tles.

However, the majority of the church tolerates it, and the Dahm King should tolerate it as well.

Ralph’s behavior at this meeting could be seen as going rogue.

“I hope he doesn’t cause unnecessary problems…”(Makina)

Makina sighed while looking at the door Ralph went out of.