Takuto sat alone, deep in thought.
He was considering the current state of Mynoghra, and which strategies to pursue from here, which to discard.
Countless plans—both clean and foul—existed in Takuto's mind, but the options that were actually viable, actually possible given the current situation, were not so numerous.
This was due to several external factors: the sentiments of allied nations like Fonkavun and Sutherland, the hopes of the Dark Elves and the heroes, and other constraints that could be called shackles that had never existed within the game.
Yet even swallowing all of that down, Takuto's thoughts refused to stand still.
(First, let me celebrate securing Sutherland. If I'd stumbled here, recovery would have been extremely difficult, so I'm honestly relieved it went smoothly...)
Conquering the Dark Continent—he didn't feel it so keenly since most of it was accomplished through alliances, but securing this land was fundamentally a task that had to be checked off.
With Sutherland brought on board and a framework essentially in place for the Dark Continent to unite under Takuto as its leader, he now had to look ahead and act on the next step.
Namely, military strengthening on a scale sufficient to rival the Orthodox Continent Alliance.
(I need to sweep the treasuries and assets of every nation to bolster our forces. Luckily, the combination of Mynoghra's market and emergency production means I don't have to worry about manufacturing times, which is a relief...)
That said, selecting which forces to strengthen, building a management structure for them, drilling for concrete military operations, and aligning the various nations—all of this demanded fundamental reform.
The enemy's forces were vast. Unlike the opposing side, which commanded player-aligned armies and elite units like holy knights, their alliance consisted of nothing more than ordinary soldiers.
No matter how cheat-like a military asset firearms might be, it still put them at a disadvantage.
To prepare forces capable of standing against the enemy within a one-year timeframe was an exceedingly difficult proposition.
(I'll have to put research into buildings and technologies on hold for now. I want to funnel every resource into military strengthening. Fortunately, Mynoghra's subordinates are excellent. Focusing on expanding the Headhunter Insects, Spirits of Ruin, and the Defective as much as possible should work fine...)
Mynoghra's subordinates were already a formidable threat to the enemy as things stood.
The Headhunter Insects could exploit their mobility for rear-area disruption. The Spirits of Ruin could wield military magic to drastically affect both armies on the battlefield.
The Defective needed no explanation... and yet.
And yet Takuto was painfully aware that it still wasn't enough.
Clashes between each side's subordinates and rank-and-file soldiers were, in the end, nothing more than a prelude. The common sense of warfare as generally understood did not apply to conflict in this world—this was, after all, a battle between players.
Even in 'Eternal Nations,' there was this tendency, but because of the vast differences in individual unit combat capabilities and their range, conflicts ultimately tended to devolve into clashes between the highest fighting forces on each side.
In other words, it comes down to how many powerful ultimate weapons you can prepare.
Saints, witches, players, heroes.
These super forces, distinct from the common rabble, would decide the outcome of the battlefield.
Ordinary soldiers—the troops of any nation—could serve as rear guards or support at best.
That was why Takuto clung to Kurifukaiji. A being with power like his was too valuable to leave idle. Their relationship was practically at the nadir, but since outright enmity wasn't yet confirmed, some hope remained.
Of course, Takuto, who always planned strategies anticipating two or three moves ahead, wouldn't stake everything on a low-probability alliance with Kuri.
Naturally, that method was selected, and naturally, that work was conducted in secret.
...The strengthening of Takuto Ira.
Something stirred at Takuto's feet.
That lump, which looked like a tattered rag balled up and hurled aside, began to move about in strange, rustling motions before starting to whimper.
To some, it would be a shock; to others, just another wearying sight.
It was none other than one of Mynoghra's heroes, the blissfully garrulous Vittorio.
"H-h-hih... I... I'm crying where anyone can see. Because I'm a girl, you know!"
Reduced to a crumpled wreck, writhing on the ground, Vittorio drew a brief, sidelong glance from Takuto. Cracking his knuckles, Takuto murmured as if confirming something.
"Good thing I didn't bring Atou here. If she found out about this, I can't imagine what she'd say..."
"Oh? Keeping secrets from your own woman, are we? My God has truly embarked on the path of the philanderer! See, I told you you need big breasts for that!!"
"..."
As a player of 'Eternal Nations,' Takuto possessed the power of the 'Nameless Evil God.'
But simultaneously, this was also a highly unstable double-edged sword. Because he was nothing, he had the power to become anything. The power of mimicry easily blurred the definition of the self. Although Takuto's quick thinking and thorough preliminary preparations had won him the battle of wits against Vittorio, this fundamental truth had not changed. By cloaking the personality of Takuto Ira over the setting of the "Nameless Evil God," he was managing to achieve a momentary stability, but Takuto was neither so ignorant nor so foolish as to leave that situation as is. On the contrary, he was plotting to utilize the deliberate Evil God manufacturing system of the Ira faith, which shaped the Divine Being according to the beliefs of its adherents. Now was the final touch. The sermons Takuto, despite his social anxiety, had delivered to the followers of Ira were having precisely the effect he had anticipated. The blade that was Takuto had returned to his side in a sure and definite form. Takuto's wisdom was superior to that held by Vittorio. It seemed this fact was about to be demonstrated once more, but...
"Vittorio."
"Yeees~♪"
"Judging a woman's chest in such a manner is not to my taste."
"Eh? Am I going to be killed for that~?"
In that instant, countless blades pierced Vittorio's body. With an indescribably light death cry, he faded away, vanishing almost imperceptibly. Vittorio was a deathless hero. To be precise, he was a hero with the capability for infinite resurrection, but... It was only natural he would return after a while, but the man Takuto was not someone who would recklessly mete out violence upon his subordinates. That he received such a severe punishment showed just how grave the offense Vittorio had committed was...
………
……
…
At the very edge of the Great Cursed Realm, gazing out at the vast ocean visible from the cliffs at the western end of the continent, Takuto was lost in thought.
The next operation, the operation after that, contingency plans for failure, alternatives when predictions go wrong. Countless strategies flow through his mind like an endless torrent, yet not a single detail of this muddy information stream escapes his scrutiny.
Before long, Vittorio returns with a light step from the palace—where he had just been revived—casually nibbling a snack pilfered from someone along the way.
"My God! That was incredibly painful!"
"You revive quickly enough. Besides, isn't there a saying about subordinates who displease the king... something like that?"
"Before that, you killed me numerous times, did you not? I never imagined I'd be used as a mere sparring dummy!"
"Confirming how the ability operates is necessary. Fortunately, the strain was within expectations. The only exception was that time-delayed trap you set."
"Trap, how unkind of you. I'd prefer you call it a countdown to the happy ending, if you please!"
"The Ira-tact that the faithful of the Ira religion believe in... is it?"
Takuto holds his palm toward Vittorio, considers for a moment, then shifts his target to the tree behind him. Without warning, the trunk violently explodes, and the massive tree collapses on the spot.
Hmm... Takuto muses.
It's a formidable ability. The Nameless Evil God has no name, and therefore can mimic the powers of any existence. However, it also subconsciously absorbs their influences, weakening one's sense of self and making one's very existence indistinct.
The last time he used the ability, overuse left Takuto's self-awareness blurred, and he paid the price by losing consciousness.
Vittorio had been summoned in advance as a countermeasure for this. And he solved the problem by overwriting the Nameless Evil God with his own idealized image of Ira-tact.
But therein lies the trap.
"If the previous abilities were called the Nameless Evil God, would this new one be 'God Ira'? Or do you prefer 'Ira-tact'?"
"I'm not particular about the name... no, actually, it is important."
He'd wondered if "Ira-tact" would be inconvenient, but stopped himself. If he didn't use a different name, it would be extremely problematic. Ira-tact as perceived by Vittorio and Ira-tact as believed by the Ira religion are technically the same person, yet in reality, there are subtle differences. The scriptures Vittorio prepared contain his idealized version of Ira-tact, and the believers accept it completely.
In short, overusing the power of the "Ira God" causes the existence known as Takuto Ira to be pulled toward the "Ira God."
This was also why he was conducting a pilgrimage that doubled as a pacifying visit to his governed and allied territories, which was quite exhausting for the socially anxious him.
It was to make people re-recognize Takuto Ira as an existence, in a legitimate way, leaving only the convenient parts.
(The Ira God's power, fully calibrated here, was incomparably powerful. Unlike before, there would be no personality pollution causing loss of consciousness—)
Thus, the completed Ira God ended up granting abilities that could be called absolutely perfect.
As a god, all divine authorities were guaranteed, and incomparably powerful force could be wielded.
Regarding personality pollution, there was almost none now, thanks to people no longer holding excessive misunderstandings about Takuto.
Except for one unique, absolute, unchangeable, utterly abysmal demerit.
(...If I use it too much, I end up having to marry the clumsy, cute, rabbit-eared beauty Vittorio. It's truly a hellish ability. I hate it so much.)
Despite Takuto desperately revising the scriptures—the Heretical Texts of Ira—confiding in Yonayona, and deepening bonds with the faithful to educate them as he wished, this one clause could not be erased from the scriptures no matter what.
'The only trusted, irreplaceable subordinate of Takuto Ira is none other than Vittorio.'
He understood the reason, and so did the culprit. The problem was that no means to stop it could be found.
Furthermore, a liberal interpretation held that Takuto and Vittorio were destined to marry in the future.
The faithful argued it wasn't a problem since Vittorio would eventually become the cute, clumsy, frilly-dress-wearing, rabbit-eared beauty too, but they failed to grasp the enormous problem sitting right before him like a mountain.
Takuto pressed his fingers to the bridge of his nose and shook his head slightly.
Even now, a subtle awareness would bubble up, thinking that "Vittorio is difficult to handle, but a reliable subordinate." This was too dangerous.
It was terrifying that he couldn't tell if this feeling came from his own legitimate judgment, or if it was the result of progressing pollution as the "Ira God."
Like this, it would gradually erode him, and before he knew it, he'd find himself at a wedding altar.
Additionally, fixing his own mode of existence as the human Takuto Ira and taking countermeasures was also difficult. While that method might protect the player, Takuto Ira, from the pollution of the "Ira God," he would simultaneously lose the blessings of the "Ira God" as well.
Given the reality of immense battles ahead, it was clear that choice could not be taken.
Truly, the lowest and worst hero in Eternal Nations history. The things he does are savage.
Who was the Eternal Nations creator who gave this guy such absurd extra settings?
Takuto nearly hurled curses at someone not present, but knowing it wouldn't change a thing, he wept silently in his heart.
Then again, as far as Vittorio was concerned, this was the one point he truly would not yield on, so no matter how hard Takuto tried, it would likely be in vain.
Setting aside the marriage, the man genuinely believed he was the follower most suited to serve the gods...
"I shall name this power the 'Authority of the Ira God.' Neglecting the distinction seems like it could lead to painful consequences. I've had quite enough of tasting what it feels like to lose sense of who you are."
"I, for one, would be quite happy if you experienced some pain... Oh, I know! How about we explain every last detail of this to that flat-chested woman from scratch?"
"You better not do that. Seriously, I have no idea what would happen!"
"But you'll have to tell her eventually, won't you? That habit of putting off unpleasant things is a real flaw, I'm telling you!"
"At the very least, I'll explain it when you're not around..."
Thinking ahead, despite the risks, not using the Authority of the Ira God was not an option. If anything, having limitations placed on it had actually sharpened his strategic thinking.
In one corner of his mind—that of a born gamer—another version of himself was clutching his head over how to explain things to Atou.
It was obvious there would be a massive uproar.
He was aware he was kicking the can down the road, but for Takuto, provoking Atou's wrath truly took courage.
Would she accept it if he prostrated himself and promised to do whatever she said?
He'd used the "I'll do whatever you say" card on Atou so many times that he suspected it had lost its effect...
Even so, all Takuto could do was bow his head sincerely and beg for forgiveness.
A pathetic display for a king of ruin, perhaps, but no matter what anyone said, terrifying things were terrifying.
Takuto wept quietly in his heart, bracing for the great storm that was surely to come.
"Still, God... This power that I prepared and you refined—it's not half bad, is it? Without a doubt, it should give us the upper hand in future battles."
That statement is correct. This power holds a dreadful potential.
In short, it grows stronger the more it is left unchecked.
As a hero, Takuto possesses the ability to grow stronger over time.
Furthermore, as his followers increase and his faith deepens, the power and authority he can wield expand—Takuto's power was of an even higher order than that.
"That said, it doesn't make you completely invincible. Even setting aside the foolish risk you're stubbornly clinging to, there are still concerns."
But regardless, this world demands constant vigilance.
The "Divine Authority of Ira" might at first glance appear to be an invincible cheat ability. Indeed, ordinary attacks couldn't wound Takuto, and even if they did, he would recover instantly.
However... whether that was truly sufficient was another matter.
Flooded Takuto's mind were the factions he had fought until now. Each and every one was not to be underestimated, possessing absurdly abnormal abilities.
Among them, however, there was one existence that shone above the rest—a true threat.
"A tabletop RPG, is it? Is it really something to be that wary of? Granted, the ability sounds troublesome, but from what I've heard of the man's personality, he seems to radiate an overwhelming aura of being a total coward..."
Vittorio turned a skeptical gaze toward Takuto.
Sensing the unspoken question—Am I overthinking this?—Takuto explained his reasoning to ensure Vittorio wouldn't suffer a pathetic defeat through carelessness.
"A person who possesses an ability, understands it correctly, and is thoroughly cowardly to the very end. That type is always troublesome. Our friend the stomach-slitter was certainly cowardly before, but he had a habit of being intoxicated by his own power. That opening is what allowed us to outmaneuver and defeat him..."
"And he no longer has that?"
"He might still be the same coward, or he might have become an even greater threat to us."
The impression from the all-factions meeting was still one of cowardice, full of openings—a weakness born of a certain fragility. But, as the saying goes, after three days apart, one should reevaluate.
It paid to be cautious. Only by layering vigilance upon vigilance could one hope to contend with other players.
Takuto knew of the existence of something like latent strength, often displayed by the defeated.
He understood all too well, from direct experience, just how threatening that could be.
That is precisely why I must not let my guard down.
That is why I am trying to hold back the urge to slash my belly open at this stage.
The first encounter was a clash of mutual hostility.
How will the second one turn out, I wonder?
"I wonder how he's doing... Mr. Slash-His-Belly," Takuto mused, his thoughts turning to a being he had not yet met, but who was a definite threat.
=Eterpedia===
"Ira's Divinity"
-Grants a bonus to combat ability based on the propagation status of the "Ira Religion."
-Allows the acquisition of abilities based on the propagation status of the "Ira Religion."
-Using a Divinity power increases the "Marriage Counter" by +1.
※ An ability exclusive to "Takuto Ira."
※ The "Marriage Counter" decreases over time.
※ When the "Marriage Counter" reaches a specified value, the "Marriage Event" will trigger.
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