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The council members had been decided, and they were ready to start the meeting. However, the top figure who was supposed to lead the meeting, Sally Jeffrey, postponed the agenda, causing murmurs among the nobles.

“Is Duke Jeffrey facing unfair pressure from the royal faction?”

“There are even rumors that the Hero is threatening the Duke to keep the agenda from coming up in the council.”

“No way! Even if an awkward recommendation is on the horizon, could they really intimidate a great noble and minister of the Empire over something trivial?”

“Why wouldn’t they? The Hero has staked everything on this Northern Expedition. While he won’t be dismissed from his position, if he needs to take responsibility, a considerable backlash is bound to happen. It’s only natural he’d want to stop it by any means necessary.”

Of course, those rumors were unfounded. Walter was prepared to use methods that were far more complicated and terrifying than such temporary measures should the issue be handled in that manner.

In reality, Jeffrey delaying the meeting stemmed from his slight whiff of those terrifying methods. Upon hearing that the Eramenia army had suddenly begun to garrison the unmanned mountain range, Jeffrey felt that Eramenia likely had other plans than just passing through Audrich to fight the Demon King’s Army.

However, given that it would be awkward to reach out to the Hero or Jenis at this point, Jeffrey had no one with whom he could share his ominous premonitions. Contacting those from the royal faction could potentially worsen rumors of him being politically oppressed, something he did not desire.

After all, such rumors could backfire, painting him as a malicious politician playing the “victim.”

Realizing that Jeffrey had no intention of convening the council for the time being, Jenis spent her time gazing at Rayna’s orb in the Magic Tower’s peak.

It wasn’t that Jenis had nothing to do; it’s just that now, without a sharp breakthrough in sight, there had to be a reason Jeffrey was dragging the meeting out.

Naturally, Jenis did not believe the rumors about Walter threatening Jeffrey. Her speculation was that Jeffrey had caught wind of some monumental damage resulting from his own actions or at least had received an ominous premonition, which was quite accurate.

It was a rather useful bargaining chip, but it wasn’t enough on its own. If she carelessly leaked ultra-classified information about the potential civil war to Sally Jeffrey right now, who knew what kind of incident could occur? Jenis needed a safer method than that.

“You shouldn’t underestimate the elves, Professor. If a civil war breaks out, they could become the most dangerous force.”

“Eramenia? But why are the Eramenia forces garrisoning outside the forest? Under whose command? Princess Margaret shouldn’t be able to command troops at the moment.”

“If it’s not Princess Margaret, then it can only be King Richard himself. Or perhaps a loyal general to Princess Margaret. In any case, that army is not assembling to fight the Demon King’s forces. They’ve caught on to the scent. The political crisis in the Empire and the suspicious movements of the Northern Expedition. Even their armament reaching the Magic Tower is noteworthy. Eramenia is quite quick to gather intelligence. Should the Empire’s rapid crisis escalate into battle, that army will surely mobilize.”

“For what purpose?”

“For the conquest and annexation of the Audrich Empire. From the elven standpoint, if a civil war were to break out in such a situation, humanity may be seen as entirely unreliable as allies and collaborators. In that case, they might seize the opportunity to conquer Caprice with their overwhelming fairy army and destroy the Audrich Empire.”

“Then they would establish a vassal state of Eramenia on that land…”

Jeongjae blinked as if trying to follow Jenis’s train of thought.

“They might crown Margaret as the queen of a small kingdom.”

“More so, it’s an idea of turning humanity into elven slaves to use against the Demon King’s army. My expression might be a bit extreme, but there’s a fair chance some factions in Eramenia are considering such a thought while mobilizing their troops. If the civil war were to start and the Eramenia army begins to advance, it would bring an unavoidable conflict with three formidable forces involved.”

“There’s no crisis like this one.”

“The Hero’s tyranny, the Magic Tower’s military rule, or Eramenia’s puppet forces. If a genuine battle breaks out, only these three grim scenarios are possible outcomes. In the worst case, if the fight drags on, humanity could face extinction with the Demon King’s army pouring in. Anything is possible. Thankfully, it seems Jeffrey is hesitating about something and has stopped moving for now. If we play our cards right, there may be a way to sway Jeffrey’s heart. We must find a clear breakthrough before the Southern Alliance moves on its own without Jeffrey.”

Jeongjae listened as Jenis presented futures that were all dark and grim.

Eramenia, which had effectively lost command of the army, could quickly transform from a trusted ally into a dangerous enemy.

For Jeongjae, who felt a humanistic fondness for elves, this was a challenging disconnect. He was in awe of people like Jenis and Walter, who could instantly flip their calculations and judgments based on self-interest. The game they were playing, the decisions they were making, were things Jeongjae could never bring himself to follow.

Accepting the fact that allies and enemies could flip in an instant due to necessity was something ordinary people like Jeongjae could never do. Although Walter wasn’t the type who could easily make such decisions, he was managing to do so anyway. Regardless of whether the results were positive or negative, he was playing such a game while taking on all his suffering.

What drives them so relentlessly forward?

“Hmm… Huh?”

As Jenis peered into the orb, her eyes widened with surprise.

“Right now, Duke Jeffrey is holding Baron Koesernis up in the city of the Empire, creating quite a fuss. While I can’t hear the sounds, it seems Jeffrey is trying to persuade Koesernis about something…”

“Is there a disagreement between those two?”

“It seems that way. Baron Koesernis is a power in his own right, and even if he agrees with Jeffrey’s principles, he may have his own reasons that prevent him from completely aligning with Sally Jeffrey…”

In that moment, Jenis froze as if caught in a bind spell. Jeongjae looked at her in confusion, but soon his heart began racing with anticipation.

There was only one reason Jenis had to freeze at this point.

She had come up with a breakthrough. Something so vivid, safe, and certain that Jeongjae had yet to notice. Jenis grabbed her staff, slammed it into the ground, and stood up.

“What reason should Douglas Koesernis have to agree with Jeffrey’s principles, Professor?”

“Hmm, perhaps it’s due to the interests of the South? After all, Koesernis is a lord from the South…”

“Koesernis’s territory has always lacked resources. And given its strategic importance for mountain defense, it was already recognized that they didn’t need to pay much tax to the center. The only thing Koesernis cares about is military strength, and since the agreement between his father and the Hero has resolved the matter of additional troops, it means that military strength is the very reason from the start! They’ve been dreaming of the same thing, both of them!”

“Uh, I don’t really understand what you mean.”

Jeongjae made a puzzled expression. But Jenis seemed so overflowing with joy that she barely heard Jeongjae’s words.

“Why didn’t I think of this from the start? Did I really get tricked by the idea of Jeffrey’s principles? I was under the delusion that to solve this issue, I had to persuade Sally Jeffrey and stop her. I was so stuck on that thought that I couldn’t see anything else. Oh no, how could I be so foolish? I was close to ruining the country over such a simple method…”

Jeongjae didn’t even need to ask more questions. Jenis was exuberant, and that was enough.

Her face, which had been dull for days, was now filled with life. The eyes that had lost their sharpness for a long time sparkled once again. Her voice, which had lacked energy for a while, was now high-spirited.

Jenis leaped up from her spot, clenched her fist, and exclaimed.

“This is the best opportunity I’ve ever had, Professor!”

“Wasn’t it just a maximum crisis until a moment ago?”

“Well, it’s the same thing. Because this opportunity could too easily turn back to a crisis!”

“I can’t keep up with what you’re saying, Jenis.”

“Thank you! It’s all thanks to you, Professor! Even if you didn’t do anything in particular, I feel like it’s still thanks to you!”

In her excitement, Jenis suddenly hugged Jeongjae, who felt embarrassed and gently pushed her away. It seemed like she was so absorbed in the strategy she conceived that she was completely oblivious to their physical intimacy.

Since Jenis was unaware, Jeongjae didn’t feel a pressing need to comment either. As without any particular reason, Jenis clasped Jeongjae’s shoulders and shook him side to side before pulling out her blue robe from her embrace and draping it over herself as she began to dash down the steps of the Magic Tower.

Jeongjae hurriedly followed her, asking,

“Where are you going?”

“To meet someone!”

“Who are you meeting?”

“Koesernis. Douglas Koesernis! I should have talked to him from the start! I can provide him exactly what he desires!”

“Oh, Great Sage…”

As Jenis shouted and leaped down, someone grabbed her. Jeongjae immediately recognized that witch. Both he and Jenis identified her simultaneously. It was Jeminia Koesernis, the wife of Douglas Koesernis and the lady of Koesernis territory.

“Are you looking for my husband? I thought I just heard that…”

“Perfect timing, Lady Koesernis. Would you take on a mission that could determine the fate of the continent?”

The Great Sage spoke at lightning speed. Jeminia looked a bit surprised but did not refuse Jenis’s proposal.

“If it’s within my power, I must surely help you.”

“I will approach your husband with a suggestion. Then, please persuade him to agree unconditionally to the position of Baron Koesernis. It’s a very important mission to save the fate of this continent.”

Jeminia made a slightly perplexed expression. However, despite being so young and having the critical issue of partially being of the demon race, the status and trust that the ‘Great Sage’ held within the Magic Tower were quite high.

Wizards are collectively a peculiar group of beings that are somewhat different from humans by nature. The half-vampire noble Great Sage, who had been a loner during school days. It seemed that these titles, when put together, appeared to be a manifestation of heroism among the wizards.

Jeminia had lived a long time in the South, but she too was a wizard among wizards. Refusing the command from the Great Sage asking to save the world was not an option to begin with.

“Of course. I will use all methods available to persuade him. Even if the Great Sage asks him to lay down the title of Baron and retire!”

“That’s not such a harsh demand, my lady. But truly, I’m grateful. With your support, I will be invincible, and we will surely succeed. And Professor!”

Jenis glanced upward at Jeongjae, who was following closely.

“Just observe. Watch as the era of Jenis Harker begins to unfold upon this continent!”

 

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