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Chapter 70. Everyone Gathered

"Thank you for gathering. Today, we have an urgent matter to discuss."

"…May I ask a question?"

"Yes, Ash."

"Why are Jeremiah, Hilalda, and even Elissa-sama here when this is supposed to be a faction meeting?"

"This time, I've gathered people I trust, not just the faction."

"I see."

Everyone from the Elixira faction, along with Jeremiah, Hilalda, and Elissa-sama, were gathered at a desk in the back of the second floor of the old library. Naturally, the topic was the Minister of the Interior, Frodil.

"Before we start, one thing: Ivy, Nina, and Ash, you can choose not to listen. What I’m about to discuss…might be considered treasonous."

"What about me?"

"You're already on this side from the beginning, so no."

It was Jeremiah who started this, after all.

"No problem."

"I'll stay as well. I believe it's something I wanted to hear."

"It's about that matter, right? I'm not going to run away now."

Wow… Nina is fired up because of the Massacre Knight, and Ivy and Ash seem to know what I’m going to say. Well… if Jeremiah is involved, there’s only one thing it could be.

"And me?"

"I dragged you into this personally, but I think it's not unrelated."

Hilralda tilted her head as she pointed at herself…but as a frontier marquis, she couldn’t avoid this. If she decides to side with Frodil after hearing this, I’ll have to detain her.

Since everyone seemed to agree, I explained everything at once: that the enemy Jeremiah and I had been chasing was Minister of the Interior, Frodil, that he was likely aiming for the annihilation of the royal family to pursue a policy of national prosperity and military strength, that according to Elixira's speculation, he intended to control both the Elgrant Empire and the Kloster Kingdom and wage war against the western nations, and finally… that his ultimate goal was the "Dragon of the End."

Everyone's reactions were, of course, varied. Jeremiah nodded as if she understood, Ivy seemed pleased by the unexpected story, Nina looked like her head was about to explode from the outrageous tale, Ash had a bitter expression, Hiralda's eyes widened at Frodil’s name, and Princess Elissa held her head in her hands at the mention of the "Dragon of the End."

"In short… the situation is dire… nearly hopeless."

"Indeed. To openly attempt to kill all the royals at the Founding Festival is insane. He must have half the Magic Knights and all the Royal Knights on his side to even attempt that."

"Exactly."

I can't believe that man would be so confident without having secured support. His confidence must come from having already set everything in motion years ago, with only the execution remaining, and then I suddenly became an unpredictable element. Of course… he’d be pissed.

"The situation is nearly hopeless, or rather, it's already over. It’s impossible to turn the tables from here."

"Hiralda is right, it's almost impossible. Unless our opponent is incredibly stupid, which he’s not. Frodil is much smarter than me, so we can't expect him to fail on his own. Fighting him directly is almost like suicide."

"Ha… this is unbelievable."

I understand how Princess Elissa feels. Frankly, it’s reckless to think of fighting the kingdom's top intellect and a powerful force with insufficient time and preparation. This is like going to our deaths from the start.

"But while there’s no way to turn the tables, there is a way to win."

"How? Even I, who am not very smart, know there’s no such convenient solution, Theo."

"If we can't win on the board, we just need to flip the board over."

"…Hey Elixira, doesn't Theo act stupid sometimes?"

"Isn't he like that from the start?"

I can hear you.

"Haha! No, that’s good, Theodor. I really like your idea."

"…Jeremiah really has eyes only for you."

The top-ranked guy laughing loudly and the second-ranked guy looking at me for some reason can shut up.

"Everything we've talked about so far has been part of the board set by Frodil. From the engagement between Princess Elissa and the Elgrant Empire, the conflict between the two princes, the absence of the chancellor, and the movements of the Magic Knights… there’s no way to win in a head-on battle! I guarantee it!"

"So you're suggesting a foolish solution? But how do you plan to do it, Theodor? Frankly, even if Jeremiah and I move, our strength is limited… there’s no other way but head-on."

"Then Ash, do you think Frodil trusts his allies?"

I see a chance here.

"…No."

"Exactly. That man doesn’t trust his allies at all. Even if he had drawn the division commander of the Magic Knights to his side, he’d likely consider them just pawns."

"So, what are you saying?"

"If that man is gone, all his plans will collapse. It’s simple, isn’t it?"

Fighting someone like that on the board is a mistake. If we know the mastermind, we just need to eliminate him before he acts.

Jeremiah seems to be the only one who agrees with me. Why are you always on my side? If you were a ridiculously beautiful blonde duchess, I might have fallen for you, but why are you a man?

"I think it’s impossible."

"Why?"

Ivy, who had been silent until now, spoke up hesitantly… it’s the first time I’ve seen Ivy use such weak words.

"Frodil is indeed a brilliant politician… but he’s also an exceptionally powerful Magic Knight. It’s just a rumor, but… it’s said he can single-handedly subdue the current First Division commander."

Really? That sounds incredibly fun.

"Ah, that’s not good."

"Theo says a lot about me, but he’s more of a barbarian, isn’t he?"

"He’s just pretending to be a commoner."

"Even Elissa-sama says that… this man… no wonder he didn’t take the test."

"Shut up, you who came in just one rank above last in the test."

"What!?"

It's the truth.