DID YOU KNOW? YOU CAN NOW READ THREE TO SIX CHAPTERS AHEAD. CHECK MY PROFILE FOR THE LINK.
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On a balcony overlooking a garden overflowing with blooming flowers, three figures sat around a round stone table.
A young girl.
A young man.
And an old man.
Maribel Rosso quietly sipped from a cup of tea while Yuuki Kagurazaka sat beside her, leisurely observing the scenery beyond the balcony. Across from them, Johann rested comfortably in his chair with a glass of wine in hand, the silence between the three lingering for several moments before anyone finally spoke.
The recent gathering of the Western Council had ended in complete failure.
Not only had they failed to suppress Rimuru Tempest in any meaningful way, let alone eliminate him, but the situation had somehow turned completely against them.
Rimuru had exposed and broken Maribel's control over the council members she had painstakingly placed under the influence of [Avarice]. Instead of leaving the meeting wary of Tempest, the representatives now regarded the Demon Lord with a mixture of admiration and fear.
It would only be a matter of time before the reports of negotiations and trade agreements began arriving.
Official relations between the Western Nations and Tempest.
The very outcome Maribel had sought to delay.
"We made a mistake," Maribel said quietly, her gaze remaining fixed on the garden below. "We botched it."
Despite the words, there wasn't the slightest trace of frustration in her voice.
She wasn't disappointed.
If anything, she had already anticipated this possibility long before the council had even convened.
Johann slowly swirled the wine inside his glass before taking a small sip.
"What a disaster for Gaban, though," he said with a quiet sigh. "After all the devotion he showed you."
There was little affection in Johann's voice. Sympathy, perhaps, but not grief.
Count Gaban had been one of the Five Elders, just as Johann himself was.
Or perhaps... Had been.
His downfall had already begun the moment he failed.
Maribel's expression didn't change. "Gaban was incompetent." She spoke as though she were commenting on the weather. "After spending so many years living in Englesia, perhaps he grew attached to their king. Otherwise he would've brought the country under our control long ago."
Johann gave an awkward laugh. "Now you're being unreasonable. Even the Rosso family hasn't managed to reach the true heart of Englesia yet. Gaban couldn't possibly have..."
"No." Maribel calmly interrupted him. "You're mistaken."
Johann blinked.
"It's actually very easy to seize the heart of a nation." She lifted her teacup. "Simply kill everyone of importance and leave behind a single infant."
Her crimson eyes remained perfectly calm. "If that infant shares Gaban's bloodline..." She took another sip. "...Then all the better."
Johann opened his mouth before slowly closing it again. "...Well... yes. If you describe it that way..."
He rubbed his forehead. "...But that's far easier to imagine than to actually accomplish."
Englesia's royal capital wasn't undefended.
Its security wasn't so fragile that someone could simply massacre the royal family and walk away unhindered.
Maribel, however, appeared completely uninterested in that objection. "But I'm more interested in those magical inquisitors."
Johann tilted his head. "...The unusual people serving the king?"
"Yes." Maribel nodded once. "They're rather impudent." Her fingers lightly tapped against the porcelain cup. "Far too impudent."
"They've clearly been raising that force specifically to oppose the Rozzos." Johann shrugged. "What do you make of them?"
"Mmm..." She thought for only a moment. "They're fairly strong. Gaban told me as much after encountering them himself."
Maribel's Unique Skill, [Avarice] allowed her to perceive fragments of the experiences gathered by those under her complete domination.
Anything her puppets learned... She could learn as well. That was precisely why Gaban had become disposable.
She had deliberately allowed him to orchestrate a crime so outrageous that Englesia would have no choice but to respond with its hidden forces.
Everything surrounding Rimuru Tempest had simply served as the perfect catalyst.
As an Englesian noble, Count Gaban was guaranteed to attract the attention of the kingdom's magical inquisitors.
And just as Maribel had expected... He did. Through him, she had watched everything.
She now understood exactly what those inquisitors truly were. The answer, in the end, proved somewhat disappointing.
There was no ancient mystery behind them. No secret cultivation method.
They were merely humans infused with enough monster essence to temporarily transform into Magic-Born.
Unlike Razen of the former Kingdom of Farmus, they hadn't refined themselves through decades of training or painstaking magical research.
Instead, they had simply been altered. The process granted them remarkable strength. Each possessed combat power exceeding the A-Rank.
Unfortunately... The monsterization came with a flaw. Once transformed, they lost nearly all higher reasoning.
Their minds became little more than obedient weapons.
Only after returning to their human forms did their intelligence fully recover.
Still... Depending on what kind of monster components were implanted into them, they could be customized for different roles.
For military operations... They were useful. Nothing more.
"They're interesting enough," Maribel concluded.
Johann raised an eyebrow. "So..." He leaned forward slightly. "You approved of Gaban's entire scheme even knowing it would fail... simply to uncover that information?"
Maribel slowly shook her head. "No."
"My primary objective was to strengthen your relationship with Rimuru Tempest."
Johann's expression stiffened. "...Mine?"
"Yes." Maribel set her teacup down with a soft click. "Out of everyone attending the council, you alone never openly opposed him."
Her lips curved into the faintest smile. "So when Rimuru finally lost patience with the others..."
"...You remained someone he could still negotiate with."
Only then did Johann fully understand. The agreement he had reached with Rimuru during the council meeting...
The goodwill the Demon Lord had shown him... Neither had been accidental. They had both been arranged from the very beginning.
"...You mean..." He stopped himself. He already knew the answer. Her original objective had always been the elimination of Rimuru Tempest.
Learning about the magical inquisitors had merely been an additional reward.
Her true expectation...
Was that Johann would eventually become her source of information regarding Tempest's internal affairs.
A chill quietly crawled up his spine.
'...And if I refuse...' His grip unconsciously tightened around the stem of his wine glass. 'I'll disappear just as quickly as Gaban did.'
He liked to believe he was considerably more capable than the late count.
Yet despite that confidence...
Johann found himself unable to suppress the quiet fear he felt whenever Maribel spoke.
'One of the Five Elders...' He forced a smile onto his face. 'And I'm being directed around by a little girl.'
Naturally... He never allowed that thought to leave his mouth.
"What do you think about using those magical inquisitors against the Demon Lord?" Johann asked after a brief silence. "Perhaps we could pin some sort of crime on Rimuru and force Englesia to move against him."
Maribel immediately shook her head. "No." Her answer came without even a moment's hesitation.
"We can't." She folded her hands neatly atop the table. "All that would accomplish is provoking Rimuru Tempest."
Her crimson eyes remained calm as she continued. "Yes, the magical inquisitors are powerful."
"But that's all they are."
"There isn't a single one among them capable of standing against a Demon Lord." She gave a small sigh. "The idea itself is foolish."
Johann frowned. "...That much of a difference?"
"There is." Maribel nodded. "For all their strength, they're merely useful weapons. Nothing more."
Johann leaned back in his chair, quietly contemplating her words. "...Then perhaps cooperating with Rimuru would be our best option."
Maribel looked at him. Then slowly shook her head once more.
"That won't work."
"It won't work at all."
Her gaze drifted beyond Johann, toward the countless flowers blooming beneath the balcony.
"Besides..." She smiled faintly. "With the exception of Grandfather... Every single one of you is suffering under the same misunderstanding."
Johann blinked. "...A misunderstanding?"
"Yes." Maribel nodded. "The misunderstanding that humans and monsters stand on equal footing."
Johann remained silent.
Maribel continued. "Do you understand why I originally proposed to Grandfather that we eliminate Demon Lord Rimuru?"
Johann answered almost immediately. "Because Tempest is creating a new economic bloc."
He rested one elbow on the arm of his chair. "And eventually it'll become a financial threat to the Rozzos."
"Correct." Maribel nodded approvingly. "But that's only the explanation we present to everyone else."
Her smile disappeared. "The economy has never been my true concern."
Johann's brow furrowed. "...Then what is?"
Maribel looked directly into his eyes. "The future."
Her answer was simple. "If we allow Rimuru Tempest to continue growing... There will eventually come a day when humanity can no longer oppose him."
Johann felt a strange unease settle inside him.
He had witnessed Maribel remain perfectly composed throughout the entire Council incident.
He had seen her dismiss Gaban's downfall as though it were nothing.
Yet now... There was something resembling caution in her voice.
"What do you mean?" he asked quietly.
Maribel answered without hesitation.
"Among all the Demon Lords... Rimuru Tempest possesses the greatest military force."
Her fingers lightly traced circles across the surface of her teacup.
"A force capable of erasing over half a million soldiers ...In a single night."
Silence settled over the balcony. "What do you suppose happens..." She looked toward Johann again. "...When someone possessing that level of military strength sits down at a negotiating table?"
Johann's eyes widened. Only then... Did he finally understand.
Wars between the nations of humanity were exceedingly rare. Not because mankind had become peaceful. But because they couldn't afford them.
Every nation needed its armies to defend against monsters.
The Western Council existed precisely to prevent conflicts from escalating into open war.
As a result... Influence wasn't determined by military might.
It was determined by economics. The wealthiest nations held the loudest voices.
Even great powers such as Englesia and the former Kingdom of Farmus couldn't afford to make enemies of every member nation.
Money, not armies, moved the Council.
"And that's only one part of the problem," Maribel continued. "You understand what rules truly are, don't you?"
Johann frowned slightly. What was she getting at now? "...Rules?"
She nodded. "Being forced to follow rules means surrendering your freedom." Her voice remained calm. "But... If you're the one writing those rules, then you've surrendered nothing at all."
Johann felt another chill.
At first... Tempest would undoubtedly follow the regulations established by the Western Council.
That was simply the practical approach.
But... What happened after that?
Once Tempest's influence continued growing. Once enough nations became economically dependent upon Rimuru... Who would possess the authority to tell him no?
The other Demon Lords?
Maribel quietly shook her head before Johann could even voice the thought.
"They won't interfere. They never have."
"The affairs of humanity have never interested them." She paused. "...Rimuru Tempest is the weird one."
Rimuru wasn't dangerous because he despised humanity. He traded with humans. Negotiated with them.
Even going so far as to offer his protection.
This was different from the other Demon Lords who ruled from outside civilization.
Johann finally spoke. "But isn't that exactly why the other Demon Lords would oppose him?"
"If everything develops the way you predict... He would possess the backing of nearly every nation in the West." He slowly set his wine glass down. "And with Tempest's military strength..."
"...Wouldn't that eventually make him the most influential Demon Lord alive?"
Maribel remained silent for several seconds. The morning breeze drifted across the balcony, carrying the fragrance of blooming flowers with it.
Maribel closed her eyes for a moment. "...Which is why," she said quietly, "we cannot wait."
Johann looked at her.
"We simply don't have that luxury." Her fingers traced the rim of her teacup. "Every day Tempest continues to exist, its influence grows."
Yuuki, who had remained silent throughout the discussion, finally spoke. "So..." He folded his arms. "What exactly are you planning?"
Maribel's lips curved into a faint smile. "Tempest is about to hold a summit." She looked toward the garden below. "They'll be meeting with the Nation of Dhistav."
"The talks will take place within Blumund itself."
Johann frowned. "...How do you know that?"
Yuuki's expression also changed. That information should have been known only to the countries directly involved. This was the first even he was hearing of it. Not even Laplace knew and he was meeting with Sally.
Maribel calmly lifted her teacup. "Our connections are far more extensive than either of you realizes."
She took another sip.
Neither Yuuki nor Johann believed that was the full explanation. Neither chose to question her further.
She set the cup back onto its saucer. "The Kingdom of Blumund serves as neutral territory."
"It is the perfect place."
Yuuki narrowed his eyes. "For what?"
Maribel turned toward him. "The Free Guild will naturally be asked to assist with security during a gathering of this scale."
Yuuki frowned. "...That worries me."
"Oh?"
"Rimuru is still suspicious of me." He sighed quietly. "I've only just begun repairing that relationship."
Maribel remained unconcerned. "You'll be there in your official capacity."
"The Free Guild exists as allies to all nations. Providing security for an international summit is perfectly natural."
Yuuki remained unconvinced. "...Maybe." He wasn't reassured in the slightest. Rimuru Tempest wasn't someone he could predict anymore. Every encounter with the Demon Lord seemed to end with another surprise. The Rimuru he had once believed easy to manipulate no longer existed.
Maribel shifted her attention toward Johann. "As for you."
Johann straightened slightly. "I want representatives from the Merchant's Association present."
"You'll attend as one of the official witnesses."
Johann slowly nodded. "...That won't be difficult to arrange."
Trade agreements between nations almost always involved the Merchant's Association.
His presence would draw no suspicion whatsoever.
Maribel seemed satisfied. "Good."
Silence settled over the balcony once again. Eventually, Yuuki spoke. "...You still haven't answered my question."
Maribel looked toward him.
"What exactly is supposed to happen during this meeting?"
"Defeating Rimuru Tempest is out of the question. But if we can take rule over him, all of our problems will be solved."
Johann unconsciously tightened his grip around his wine glass.
Yuuki immediately shook his head. "How exactly are you going to do that? We'd basically be against three nations. And Rimuru himself is powerful enough to qualify as a disaster."
Maribel listened without interrupting.
Only after Yuuki had finished did she respond.
"I know." She rose from her chair and walked toward the balcony railing. "The trap has already begun taking shape."
"There are only a few remaining pieces left to place."
Yuuki watched her quietly. "...What about Demon Lord Sally? What does she play in all of this?"
Maribel remained silent for several moments. Then she smiled once more. "You don't need to concern yourself with Sally."
"My plans regarding her..."
"...Are already underway."