It was a bold declaration. One could quite rightly interpret it as a formal declaration of war.
The opponent's advantage had become absolute. Takuto had anticipated a slim possibility of this, but drawing the absolute worst-case scenario here was somewhat startling.
(If this were 'Eternal Nations,' you'd call it an Alliance Domination Victory. I should have ignored the summit altogether... No, even if I hadn't attended, this alliance would have been formed. I should consider myself fortunate that I learned of it at this moment.)
"What are we going to do, King! They're talking about an alliance with the Orthodox Continent! We didn't predict anything like this!"
"It's not good to talk too much when you're agitated. Just be quiet for now."
"O-Okay!"
Yu also seemed to be caught off-guard by this situation, panicking alongside Ai.
He could be left alone for now. There were far more pressing matters at hand.
This situation, this declaration—conflict was now inevitable. So, should he try to gather at least some intelligence, or inflict some pain on the opponent...?
Since he had come this far, Takuto reasoned he wanted some kind of souvenir.
Even in this situation, Takuto had not lost his composure.
"Still, the Orthodox Continental Alliance has made a rather bold decision. Considering the disparity in military strength, it is somewhat daunting, but I'm surprised they managed to forge an alliance with Quolia."
"Hatred brings unlikely allies together in a tight embrace ♥ If someone hadn't been casting covetous glances at Renea's Holy Light territory, it wouldn't have been this easy, you know ♥"
"Ah, so your greed got the better of you. However, given your natures, eventually consuming everything was inevitable. Are the people of Quolia, and this 'H' you mentioned who isn't present here, truly agreeing in the truest sense? It would be foolish to take their talk of peace at face value. Succubi are formidable opponents."
"Your attempts to sow discord are futile ♥ We are bound strongly together, like a couple on their wedding night ♥ In other words, we've found a sufficient compromise point with each other to build this alliance ♥"
(Formidable... indeed.)
It seemed his attempt to provoke mistrust through words had ended in failure.
Of course, Takuto hadn't truly expected it to work from the start. The opponent's attitude contained various information. He was simply testing the waters, trying to discern what they might be hiding within.
The only fact he'd gleaned, however, perfectly embodied his own unpleasant premonition: this plan had been meticulously prepared over a very long time.
"This wasn't something cobbled together overnight ♥ It's a bit insulting to think our greed leaves such obvious openings ♥"
(Succubus hasn't been in this world long. She only started operating very recently. Yet can she really build such a splendid alliance? The Elven state's assimilation policy is one thing, but her actions are just too adept.)
Doubts swarmed one after another.
But they wouldn't be resolved here. Takuto didn't fully understand the game system his opponent wielded.
She might have used some ability to forge this alliance, or perhaps, depending on the situation, it was accomplished through her innate charisma alone.
Takuto gave a slight nod, then lifted his chin forward.
If you have anything else to say, go ahead.
"This alliance has my support, as Quolia."
"I also agree."
(No word from Kuribara... So he really is on the sidelines?)
They had either approached him beforehand and been refused, or he was simply not considered relevant.
Takuto couldn't judge which, but it was a piece of information that offered some relief. If this strongest lineup also included Kuribara, a TRPG player, it would be unbearable. While Takuto did enjoy games with difficult enemies or high-stakes goals, he certainly didn't like crap games.
"I shall commend you for your truly splendid performance. Gathering individuals whose natures are fundamentally incompatible, forming a major force that includes a player, a witch, and a saint—your skill is commendable. Well then? I have a fairly good idea of the words you propose next... So, please?"
He adopted an arrogant attitude, playing the role of the Ruined King, though inwardly, Takuto had already reached a state of "whatever happens, happens." In fact, at this point, Takuto was already calculating an escape route. There were several methods; he even steeled himself to the possibility of being forced to play his last, singular card.
Vittorio was fine, but "the good-for-nothing," the Hero party, and the envoy from Fonkavun would have to escape with him, or it would affect the future.
(Umm, first, shall I have Vittorio cause a disruption? Or would it be better to have Yu use a movement spell from Brave Questus? No, since the Fonkavun envoy is here, maybe asking for a area-of-effect teleportation spell would be faster...)
Taking advantage of his opponent being intimidated by his "Ruined King" role-play, Takuto rapidly formulated his strategy.
The situation was dire, but it wasn't as if he hadn't anticipated something like this.
Everything would work out somehow. That was the judgment rendered by Ira-Takuto, ranked first in the "Eternal Nations" world rankings.
"As you can see, the time for settling things through battle is over now, heart. No matter how you are the King of Mynoghra, Takuto Ira, the one who commands the evil legions at will, you have no moves left in this situation, do you? Don't worry—it's not like I'm going to eat you or anything... I just want you to accept our expansion, heart."
That's totally going to end with us being eaten.
Takuto almost blurted out. Next to him, Yuu started to say something, then got her mouth covered by Ai.
He felt a strange mix of emotions about the scene, but right now he was grateful that at least no one was making light of the situation, so he decided to ignore it for the time being.
"What do you think? It's not like we're going to kill anyone, heart. It's simply that lots of sexy big-sister Succubi will move in, and everyone will get along and live decadently lewd lives together every day, heart."
"Still, what am I to do... I have my purpose, and so does Yuu Konoji here. I can't say for certain since I haven't heard it from him directly, but I'd imagine Kururu has one too. To ask us to abandon that and submit to you—that alone isn't something we'd agree to, even setting aside everything else."
"You don't need to worry about the patron gods, heart. My patron god, the 'God of Expansion,' will work things out. —In the first place, gods don't obsess over the outcome of battles. Nor are they narrow-minded enough to punish pieces based on whether the result is good or bad. They operate on a different scale entirely, heart."
(What a lie...)
Coming from the enemy, there was no way he could simply accept such words at face value.
Worse still, Takuto had already been penalized once for attempting to seize GM authority during combat with the TRPG faction.
Using pleasant-sounding words to entice was all well and good, but this was a rather crude negotiation.
"There's no need to suffer, heart. Forget about the complicated things and just relax, heart."
Valgia pushed her voluptuous chest upward with both hands, appealing to them as she demanded their surrender.
Other factions were present as well, yet she behaved as if Takuto were the only one in her field of vision—that was surely an expression of her sense of crisis.
In truth, Takuto caught sight of irrepressible anxiety and tension beneath Valgia's flirtatious expression.
(She's made a huge gamble here too, hasn't she? Given the disparity in forces, the fact that she regards me as this much of a threat is almost flattering—but what exactly does she know?)
Valgia's attitude already presumed Takuto as though he were the reigning hegemon of the Dark Continent. In terms of military strength, that was arguably the case—no one on the Dark Continent could rival him.
But setting aside the neutral nations, the hero Yuu was right here, and even if his whereabouts were unknown, GM Kururu was somewhere in play as well.
And yet her eyes never wavered from Takuto.
A knot of unease. In the past, he had failed to act on this instinct, and it had nearly cost him everything.
I will not walk the same path again. Takuto carefully stored the unease he had gained from this meeting deep within his heart.
"So, everyone here—well, I suppose since we've formed an alliance on the legitimate continent, it works out that you're all from the dark continent now, doesn't it? ♥ Consider this your final warning. Surrender to our alliance. You cannot overcome this disparity in military power."
The final declaration.
A clear declaration of war. An absolute demand seeking nothing less than affirmative compliance.
The moment a negative answer was thrust against this offer, a new battle would begin.
That said...
(There's no helping it. Should I just make a run for it?)
Takuto's decision was exceedingly straightforward.
==Eterpedia===
Heart-Pounding Succubus World
~The Case of Succubi Appearing in the Real World~
Release Date: April 1st, Year 000
Release Price: 9,800 Yen
Publisher: Rabbit Software
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