The last person to enter made almost no sound at all.
She was wrapped tightly from head to toe, a heavy gray cloak completely concealing her outline, her hood pulled so low that not even the tip of her nose was visible.
Her steps as she walked in were neither fast nor slow—she bore neither the oppressive pressure of a Rank Nine powerhouse nor any visible signs of deliberately suppressing her aura.
It was as if an ordinary traveler had walked into an ordinary tavern.
Yet the vast majority of people present let out a sharp breath.
“Who is that...?”
Esper whispered to Noelle, who had just projected herself in beside her.
Noelle let out a yawn, her eyes half-closed.
“Mm. The Guildmaster of the Adventurer’s Guild. One of the Six Heroes. The Traveler. She’s lived even longer than Wald. Everyone thought she was already dead or unable to appear in a normal form. Even though there were reports before the meeting saying she would make an appearance, seeing her in person is still quite shocking.”
Judging from her attire alone, it was impossible to imagine that this was the person who controlled the entire Adventurer’s Guild.
“Why is she wrapped up like that?”
“Supposedly it’s a constitution issue. Supposedly an old ailment. Supposedly only she knows why.”
“You said ‘supposedly’ three times.”
“Because nobody knows the truth.”
The Traveler found an empty chair at the roundtable and sat down, resting her clasped hands on the tabletop without saying a word.
Wald adjusted his glasses, stood up, and tapped lightly on the table.
“Everyone is here. In that case, the pre-war joint conference for the upcoming Abyss Expedition shall now begin.”
The runic array in the center of the roundtable glowed once more, blue and white light tracing a map of the continent, with mountain ranges and rivers depicted in lines as thin as spider silk.
“First, let us confirm the foundational intelligence. Twenty-three years have passed since the last Black Tide subjugation campaign. Historical patterns dictate there should be an interval of at least fifty to seventy years after each campaign. This abnormal advancement indicates that the Abyss’s rate of recovery far exceeds our expectations.”
His finger drew a line across the map, extending all the way from the northern section of the World’s Spine to the eastern side of the continent.
“It is worth mentioning and praising that Miss Beatrice, Pope of Radiance, single-handedly killed a Rank Nine entity on the Black Tide’s side. The target was an archbishop of the Solar Cult, personally executed on charges of presumption.”
Wald’s tone remained flat and without inflection.
Beatrice sat in her chair, dangling her small feet, a faint smile curling the corners of her lips.
“Beya only did what needed to be done~”
No one responded to her.
Wald continued.
“For this expedition, according to information compiled by our intelligence department, the high-tier combatants confirmed on the Black Tide’s side are as follows.”
With a wave of his hand, several projections of light and shadow appeared above the roundtable, complete with brief labels.
The first.
A vague black shadow whose form was difficult to discern.
“Landon Colen. Formerly a Rank A adventurer of the Adventurer’s Guild, actually a death marcher bearing the Authority of 『Greed』. Records on him are extremely scarce; we only know he once held back the Wild Hunt King. His strength is estimated to be at Peak Rank Nine or even the pinnacle. His ability, 『Escape from the Promised Land』, presents an extremely high threat level, making him a priority target to keep an eye on in this battle.”
The second.
“Vivian Blackwood. Formerly a member of the Mage Tower’s Shadow School. Prior to leaving the tower, she was at Peak Rank Eight. She was sighted one month ago in the core region of the Black Tide’s corrupted zone. Her current strength is estimated between Peak Rank Eight and Rank Nine. Under the environment of the Black Tide, there is a chance she may break through further.”
Noelle did not look at that projection. She simply rested her chin on the back of her hand, quietly staring at the tabletop.
The third.
“Solomon. Rank Nine. King of Abomination Herders. Under his contract are Seventy-Two Demon God Kings, each possessing independent combat capabilities and able to devour one another to strengthen themselves. In the previous subjugation campaign, his true body never appeared on the front line; only the Demon God Kings were deployed. In the end, the Demon God Kings manifested as all seventy-two merged into one, reaching Rank Nine in power, but were severely injured by Gloom, the previous Demon King. By now, those injuries may have healed.”
The fourth.
“Judas. Rank Nine. Former cardinal of Esperfite. After King Arkham plunged into the Abyss, he defected to the Black Tide, providing equipment and technical support to their forces, and organized a fallen angel unit equipped with pseudo-engines. In the previous battle, he personally piloted a specialized model of a pseudo-engine to engage in combat and killed Esperfite’s former Conquest Knight.”
Ann’s face turned visibly paler by several shades.
Beside him, Riddell discreetly handed over a handkerchief, his own expression remaining unchanged.
The fifth.
A giant pitch-black dragon silhouette projected into the air above the roundtable.
“The Black Dragon. True name unknown; we only know she harbors intense hatred toward the Allied Forces. Rank Nine. Her dragon breath is sufficient to burn through the mana barrier I construct, and the power of her claws and fangs can easily destroy the defenses built by Fibores.”
“Ah, I know her! Milu Novich Kar Selius Jesidun...”
Ignis’s crisp voice rang out.
Wald scanned the surrounding crowd, who all had troubled expressions.
“...Let us simply call her the Black Dragon.”
“She used to be such a nice dragon... Why is she doing this kind of thing now...”
Ignis muttered, her voice so soft that only those right beside her could hear.
The sixth.
“Bishops of the various Abyss Cults. Forty-seven bishops have been confirmed, including those from the Weavers’ Association, Solar Cult, Twilight Convent, and Brotherhood of Silent Mourning. Their strength generally reaches Rank Eight, with some having reached Rank Nine. Detailed lists have been distributed to each faction’s intelligence officers.”
The seventh.
“The Human Ancestor. Pinnacle tier. Pope of the World-Forging Cult. Due to her strength, she is listed separately.”
Esper subconsciously tightened her grip on Eladia’s hand.
“She did not appear on the front line during the previous subjugation campaign, but our intelligence department has confirmed that she maintains a collaborative relationship with the Black Tide.”
And Kaylar was currently in that woman’s hands.
And then came the final one.
All the projections disappeared.
In their place was a pure black, formless entity.
It hovered above the center of the roundtable, churning slowly like a living vortex.
“Arkham.”
For the first time, Wald’s voice faltered with a barely perceptible pause.
“The strongest existence in human history, wielder of 『Strength』, founder of Esperfite, the Primordial Machine God, the one who submerged his physical body and willpower into the Black Tide to fight against malice for a thousand years and bring peace to the world.”
He adjusted his glasses.
“Now, he himself is the Black Tide.”
Silence fell over the hall.
Ann did not speak. But on his face, pale with fear, something far more complex emerged at this moment.
Riddell patted his shoulder, a hint of complexity finally surfacing on his face as well.
The emotion on their faces was not entirely fear.
There was also sorrow.
“...The above concludes the known high-tier combat forces on the Black Tide’s side.”
Wald closed the projections.
“Next, we shall proceed to the second agenda item: organization of the Allied Forces and the allocation of command authority.”
The discussion began.
The various factions began debating issues such as troop deployment numbers, supply line arrangements, front-line base locations, and the installation of magic communication relay stations.
“Fibores can supply a large quantity of advanced machinery and equipment to assist the operations. The price is negotiable; out of respect for the Allied Forces, I’ll give you a ten percent discount...”
“The Forest of Star Whispers will provide recovery potions made from the Holy Spring and World Tree leaves for free, along with supplies matching the scale of the last expedition. For free.”
“Tch.”
Nephelia’s lip twitched, but she did not argue further, simply recrossing her legs.
Fenrir slammed her hand onto the table with immense force while discussing troop deployment, startling Esper.
“My Crescent Guard and I will take the vanguard! I’ll slash every last one I see!”
She was then suppressed back into place by a flat gaze from Rihanna.
“The vanguard arrangement requires a comprehensive consideration of both mobility and endurance.”
“My mobility is super high! Believe it or not, you can’t outrun me!”
“Indeed, I cannot outrun you. That is precisely the problem.”
Fenrir’s ears drooped for half a second before pricking back up.
“Then I’ll slow down a bit! I promise! Let me take the vanguard!”
Rihanna looked at her expressionlessly.
In her fifties, Rihanna was not particularly old compared to others present, but she was at least someone who had participated in an Abyss Expedition during her youth.
Fenrir, on the other hand, was a thirty-seven-year-old wolf pup... Hm? Maybe that wasn't actually that young?
“...Fine, I won’t charge too far ahead,” she spoke dejectedly.
Astra proposed that the winged race’s aerial superiority made them suitable for reconnaissance and air strike missions. Wald agreed and assigned them to the mobile force.
Icarus, meanwhile, picked up a mirror and began admiring his own looks, leaving everything to his daughter.
Esper offered a second of silent sympathy for Astra.
Barton of the dwarfs spoke only once throughout the entire meeting, stating he would use the forge to produce sufficient enchanted armaments over the next three months, before shutting his mouth to continue drinking.
Brynhild added from the side that the Fine Forging Division’s production capacity could double if raw materials were delivered in time.
Veronica gave a detailed explanation regarding the deployment plan for the Imperial legions. Her logic was clear, and her tempo moderate.
With Riddell’s assistance, Ann stammered through Esperfite’s military commitments.
“W-We can dispatch three angel squadrons... one hundred and twenty Type II pseudo-engines...”
“Your Holiness Ann, it is one hundred and forty,” Riddell softly corrected.
“Ah, right, right, right, one hundred and forty!”
Naga of the sand sea patted her chest, declaring that the Taboo Guardians and the Grand Elders of the Golden Council would march alongside them.
Beatrice announced that all diocesan knight orders, including the Holy Spirit Knights, would deploy for this campaign, along with coordinated combat support from the College of Bishops.
“Beya is going too~ After all, Beya went last time as well.” She even winked at Esper after speaking.
Esper gave no reaction.
Her attention had actually never been on the meeting.
After all, these were not matters she could participate in or alter.
So she kept her attention focused on the opposite side of the roundtable.
Rafina sat there, her silver-white twin pigtails resting quietly against her shoulders.
She was analyzing something.
Ever since Wald began presenting intelligence, she had been speaking up.
Her voice was not loud, her tempo steady, every word striking right at the core.
Just like when she was managing government affairs.
While analyzing, her crimson pupils remained fixed on the map in the center of the roundtable, never once looking toward Esper.
But her tail betrayed her.
That tail had not stopped moving since the moment she sat down.
Swaying left, swaying right.
Thwack.
It struck Eliza’s thigh.
Eliza’s brow furrowed slightly, but she said nothing.
Thwack.
It struck again.
“...Your Majesty.”
“Hmm?”
“Your tail.”
“Oh. My apologies.”
Three seconds of silence.
Thwack.
“...”
Eliza’s lip twitched slightly, yet she still remained silent.
Esper turned her gaze away.
A strange feeling welled up in her chest and stuck in her throat, making it hard to tell whether she wanted to laugh or sigh.
Then Eladia’s hand gently touched her fingers.
“...You’ve been looking over there the whole time...”
“...Yeah.”
“Mm...”
Eladia’s tone was very flat.
She did not pry, nor did she show any dissatisfaction. She simply slid her fingers between Esper’s, locking them gently in place.
Esper’s eyes finally pulled away from Rafina completely.
She looked down at her own hand.
The hand intertwined with hers was warmer than anything else.
The meeting lasted for nearly four shichen.
By the time Wald announced, “The first meeting concludes here. The time for the next meeting will be notified separately,” most of the people around the roundtable showed varying degrees of exhaustion.
Ann was practically hoisted to his feet by Riddell.
Ignis had fallen asleep on the table at some unknown point, a thin line of drool hanging from the corner of her mouth.
Fenrir let out a massive yawn, her tail swishing behind her chair.
The crowd stood up and left one after another.
Esper was also preparing to exit her projection.
Then, a voice rang out.
“Miss Hero.”
It was a familiar voice, stripped of all disguise—the gentle, delightful voice that had revealed itself before her countless times.
Esper stopped in her tracks.
“Do you have a moment to talk? Regarding the subjugation campaign, I was thinking... perhaps we could discuss whether there might be a better path forward, or a different solution.”
She spoke very earnestly, her voice devoid of any other emotion.
Yet Esper knew her tail had to be swishing non-stop.
Eladia gripped Esper tightly.
“Esper...”
Just as Esper was about to speak, the voice behind her turned several degrees colder.
“M i s s H e r o .”
“...”
“W h a t d o y o u t h i n k ?”
Esper sighed.
She turned around.
She caught Rafina’s gaze for a single split second.
In that split second, Rafina stared fixedly at her and Eladia’s intertwined hands. The emotion within her eyes was something Esper had never seen in Rafina’s eyes before, yet had long understood what it was.
In the very next instant, Rafina’s gaze shifted from their hands up to Esper’s face.
Time seemed to stand still.
Everyone else had left. Although they enjoyed drama, what Rafina brought up was clearly far too personal to be part of ordinary gossip.
Eliza had left as well.
She departed without looking back the second the meeting ended.
Now, only three people remained.
Eladia, Esper, and Rafina.
Esper took a deep breath.
“Please.”
Rate on N.U.
