– I think we succeeded! The Elf cavalry has given up the attack and is retreating!
Communication magic from Erica flew in.
You must’ve been keeping an eye on the barricade with observation spells.
Luckily, Jin doesn’t seem to have scammed us after all.
“It seems the rebellion is slowly being suppressed.”
Trie, looking out with a spear, smiled in relief.
The asylum wasn’t even a rebellion they believed would succeed from the start.
They just struggled because they were cornered.
With this commotion, they probably aimed to push the human and elf relationship to its worst by inviting the elves.
Of course, I predicted all of that.
The elves hate humans more than humans can imagine, so they would never miss this opportunity.
Among the elf chieftains, there was one involved with the asylum, but I had intentionally let him go after hearing his name from Count Vigenburg.
It was for today when Jin would disguise himself as that very person.
Jin ordered the fanatics to attack our allies, and the fanatics charged without a shred of suspicion.
As a result, we were able to prevent a direct clash between humans and elves.
Also, the elves would now realize the seriousness of the asylum.
Until now, the asylum had deliberately avoided conflict from the desert side, attempting not to stir up elven enmity, but today, that all turned to waste.
In the midst of a power that could rise to high positions, including the chieftain, and instigate war at will…
Now that I had seen the reality of the asylum with my own eyes, the elves and we could share the same goal.
The war against the Majin and the eradication of the asylum.
Now we could join hands for this common purpose.
“But are you really okay? Aren’t you going to check it out?”
“……”
Trie stared at me blankly and then grabbed my hand.
I just realized it.
That my hand was trembling.
“We need to conserve our power.”
I wanted to go out.
It would’ve been much easier to stabilize the situation just by enlarging Vafe.
People would have died less, and we could have finished the rebellion.
But I couldn’t do that.
If my prediction was correct, a much greater threat awaited us today.
I had to save the 5 seconds… no, the 4 seconds of ‘Selection and Concentration.’
“Your Excellency……”
At that moment, the door opened again, and Mahmed appeared.
He seemed to have finished his discussions with the chieftains.
He was sweating and looked confused but soon gathered himself and sat down calmly.
“Did you have enough time to think?”
“Yes. It was sufficient.”
“Then can I hear your answer to the alliance proposal?”
“……”
Mahmed’s sharp gaze turned toward me.
His expression was very different from earlier when he dismissed my offer.
Just moments ago, humans and elves were sworn enemies who could never join hands.
But now we had a common enemy in the Majin and the asylum.
I could only hope that he wouldn’t make a decision harmful to the future of the elves just to protect useless pride.
“I am willing to form an alliance. However, I would like to change the terms.”
“Go ahead.”
“I won’t allow the Imperial Army to be stationed in the desert.”
“I accept that.”
“And… huh? Did you just say you accept?”
“Yes. Please tell me the next condition.”
“Also, regarding the extradition treaty and trade treaty, and…”
After that, the conversation grew tedious.
Until now, humans and elves had almost no formal diplomatic relations as states.
So they treated each other as if they didn’t exist as countries while only interacting on a civilian level.
That’s why Mahmed bringing up a potential state-to-state treaty was a positive sign.
While humans and elves wouldn’t instantly shift from enemies to friends, it at least showed a willingness to lay the groundwork.
Of course, this was merely the establishment of basic diplomacy.
The relationship went from negative to zero.
I didn’t want to be satisfied with that.
If we were to ally, we might as well offer something that felt more friendly.
“Is that all?”
“Yes. That’s everything I want to change.”
“I will accept all of that. However, I have more to add.”
“What is that? I’ll listen and decide.”
“It seems the elves are entirely defenseless against the asylum’s attacks.”
“That’s correct, but why does that matter right now…?”
“I will share the analysis of the asylum executives’ main traits and attack patterns to help deal with them. I’ll send an expert over soon.”
“Y-yes…?”
“Furthermore, there are changes needed regarding food exports. The export ratio to the Great Desert from the Development Area has reduced to 5%, supposedly due to ‘sanctions’ not codified by law… but that’s hard to accept, so this time, I’ll make a law. At least 50% of the food produced in the Development Area must be exported to the desert each year.”
“That’s…!”
“Is that what you want to say? This isn’t negotiable.”
Every one of my additional conditions was beneficial for the elves.
However, it was clear I couldn’t omit them.
If the elves collapsed under the asylum and opened up the eastern front, the burden on the empire would increase.
So supporting the elves to fight the asylum on their own would be beneficial for the empire too.
This way, I could put the elves in debt to me and gain some favor at the same time.
“Think of it as a favor from the empire.”
“……”
Mahmed examined the finalized treaty multiple times with a careful glance.
He seemed fearful that I had written some suspicious conditions in tiny text.
But after confirming it wasn’t an unequal treaty, Mahmed placed the treaty down, still looking bewildered.
“I’ll sign first.”
“Yes, please do, Your Excellency.”
Mahmed pushed the treaty back towards me.
Then he used flash magic to inscribe my name in the signature space.
Now it was Mahmed’s turn.
Once this is finished, humans and elves would officially form an alliance.
I would gain comrades to fight against the Majin.
Just as Mahmed picked up the pen and I swallowed hard from nervousness,
*thud…* *thud…* *thud…*
“Your Excellency?”
“Just wait a moment.”
A small tremor was felt from afar.
It seemed Mahmed didn’t notice, but Trie had already caught on.
As she pulled back the curtain to look out the window, she quickly recognized what it was.
“Anti-air cannon…”
The warning shots that were fired when we first arrived at the Development Area.
Now, it was spewing fire into the sky.
I could see the shells bursting from the cannons, flying toward the pitch-black sky.
“Mahmed.”
“Yes?”
“Evacuate.”
“Where to?”
“To the bunker underground the fortress.”
“R-right now we-”
“Yes! Right now!”
The air defense network of the Development Area was the only one on the continent, and it could be said to be the best.
Due to the high customs and tolls, many who wished to bypass this area set sail in airships or balloons.
To catch every single one of those, the air defense had naturally become quite thick, and now it was locating something in the dark sky and firing.
If something could fly that quickly at such a high altitude… as far as I know, there was only one.
– Your Excellency! It seems a Majin has appeared over the Development Area!
Sure enough, a communication from Count Damien confirmed my thoughts.
After seeing Mahmed hurriedly head underground, I went outside with Trie and looked up at the sky.
“Count. Evacuate all ground troops.”
– I can’t do that, Your Excellency. We have elite soldiers trained to face the Majin…
“No need. Withdraw them all. If you don’t, you’ll witness a tragedy.”
– ………..
It wasn’t that Damien’s elite soldiers would be a hindrance.
They could probably at least buy some time against the Majin.
But they would definitely not escape death.
It was crucial to prevent the casualty count from rising and amplifying the fear of the Majin.
They were a threat strong enough to threaten humanity’s existence, yet reasonable enough to be faced.
That understanding needed to sink in for both humans and elves.
“Trie.”
“Yeah… I’m ready.”
Every time a shell burst in the clouds, a small shadow appeared and disappeared.
In that fleeting moment, it was hard to see, but it was definitely a human shape.
That small stature and build…
It had to be Tiltitz.
[Quest: Survive for 10 minutes from the attack by the Majin Tiltitz.]
[Difficulty: ★★★★★]
[Reward: 10 Shop Coins]
The quest appeared.
It really was Tiltitz.
Five-star difficulty…
“Here she comes! Erica! Get ready!”
At that moment, I made eye contact with Tiltitz.
I quickly pulled one leg back and drew Vafe from my right hand.
In an instant, that bright blue pillar of light illuminated the area and transformed into a longsword held tightly in my right hand.
And then, I unsheathed the sword at my waist with my left hand, preparing for the shock.
“Hah…”
Tiltitz’s new model began to plummet at breakneck speed.
The anti-air guns hadn’t detected her yet and were still firing at the empty sky after she had vanished.
She was coming down.
At a speed I could barely track with my eyes.
Straight toward me.
“You’ve just walked right into my trap.”
A smile crept onto my lips.
I’ve got you.
That was the certainty I felt.
“Uh…?”
Before that bright flash engulfed the sky.
