How to Survive as a Trash Extra Villain

Chapter 183

Lilac, who was taking the order, opened her eyes in surprise. Her eyes, trained in the constellation of the hunter, saw it. The smiling face behind the hood, as if amused.

“Lady Anette!”

“Haha! You recognized me well. It’s good to see you, Maid Lilac.”

“Please come in. Master! We have a visitor!”

Lilac hurriedly closed the door of the coffee wagon and started preparing drinks for the distinguished guests.

I greeted them, wearing a black apron over my white shirt.

“Aha, I wondered who it was.”

They were welcome guests.

“Isn’t it the Crow Empress, whose fame is renowned throughout the capital?”

Anette, who had taken off her hood, blushed.

“Ugh, please don't mention it, it’s embarrassing.”

“For someone who says that, I heard you introduced yourself quite confidently.”

“Th-that was because I thought it was cool at the time.”

Just then, Lilac brought a tray with drinks. I took two cups and handed them to Anette and her Red Knight, Verdi.

“Sir Verdi. I heard you saved many people as well.”

In fact, the lineup that stood out in this incident was all monstrous, but Verdi was an exceptional Gold Knight with skills that wouldn't lose out anywhere.

A person who wouldn't be strange to be called a genius. …Again, he just didn't stand out because there were even more monstrous people.

“It would have been impossible if Her Majesty Anette hadn't stopped the Demon Lord.”

Verdi praised the achievements of his lord, Anette.

The two of them were the same as ever. I had wanted to meet them as much as I had heard of their exploits, so this was great.

“I was so busy with the aftermath that I couldn't even say hello, so I'm happy you came to visit like this.”

“What are you talking about. Sir Martin, you seemed busy with your benevolent event, so I was worried I might be intruding by visiting.”

“Not at all.”

The aura emanating from Anette, who smiled shyly like a girl her age, was so powerful that even the Demon Lords couldn't be careless.

It wouldn't be enough for me to lick my tongue and recruit her as an ally.

“It's late to ask, but how was it on Fog Island?”

“Hmm! Both the World Tree and the Elf Queen were good people. Thanks to them, I was able to adapt to my new power while tasting the delicacies of Fog Island. Ah! The work of inheriting the power of the past emperors also succeeded smoothly. I didn't know if it would really be possible, but as you can see, my ego is also intact.”

Anette certainly looked more relaxed than before.

When the Defardly Liberation Army was annihilated, she had shown a considerable sense of desperation, but now there seemed to be no sign of it.

What should I say, it was as if she had secured both the dignity of an empress and the sensibility of a schoolgirl at the same time.

“Ah, this is the main point.”

As she said that, what Anette showed me was a metal plaque with the bust of a human engraved on it.

‘Humanity Alliance.’

A person who would be likely to approach Anette. It came to me at once. The head of the Humanity Preservation Agency.

“My knights and I were also doing volunteer work, like clearing the collapsed rubble, when a distinguished person whose identity I couldn't see through approached me. He introduced himself as the Director and said to go to you with this.”

“Ah, you met him.”

I have also been in contact with that person.

Surely… I had received a request to visit in the near future after the Founding Festival. It seems today is that day.

“You seem to know him?”

“Well…. I know what kind of person he is. He's one of the few people who will survive to the end even if the world ends. Do you have time?”

“With a Zazara Tea Relaxer, I could go all night.”

“…That’s not alcohol.”

We arrived in front of my house, pulling the coffee wagon with Anette and Verdi on board.

I was about to go up to the second floor.

‘Oh.’

People were lined up in the first-floor café, waiting for drinks. I could see Nerjin, Bianca, and Savo moving without a break.

Rather than go inside and bother them, let's just use it here.

“Let me help….”

“No, wait a minute.”

I grabbed Lilac's wrist as she was about to go to the café.

“We’re going to meet an important person now.”

It was late, but what could we do. We weren't idle people either. I just hope the Director isn't a dreamland child who goes to bed early in the evening.

I took out the movement artifact the Director had given me from my bosom.

“Everyone, gather around.”

[Woof!]

Sebastian, who had come out of nowhere, stood right next to my leg.

When I imbued it with mana, the cube-shaped artifact vibrated and glowed, and then it flashed brightly. After blinking, we were in a completely different place.

‘This place is.’

The lights were on, but it was dark. It was because the metal that made up the walls was black.

Anette's red eyes scanned the surroundings. She furrowed her brows slightly and recited her impressions.

“…Are we sure we came to the right place…? It's not like we came to some evil organization. Our hideout is brighter and more hopeful-looking.”

“For now, we’ve come to the right place.”

I pointed behind me and showed her the emblem. The bust of a human was exquisitely engraved. The Humanity Alliance. The symbol of the Humanity Preservation Agency, which is said to be its core.

[Welcome.]

Just then, a mechanical sound rang out, and lights came on here and there. On the black wall, a white halo of light gathered like grains of sand… like a universe.

[We will guide you, who have come to the Humanity Preservation Agency.]

Soon, a shallow light was cast on the floor, marking the path. We walked forward without a word.

‘Is this place a maze?’

All sides looked like a universe, and the path was lit with lights, so it might seem like a straight line, but in reality, it was a series of forked paths. Wild Instinct had already detected over a hundred paths.

Soon, ‘clatter’, the universe in front of us split, and a door opened.

“Welcome.”

It was a dining hall. At the end of a long table, three people were sitting.

“Please have a seat. It would be perfect if you haven't had dinner.”

At the head of the table was the distinguished person in the mask whose identity was still unknown. The Director of the Humanity Preservation Agency.

“You are….”

“We’ve met before.”

The other two were beings I could never have imagined.

Normally, it wouldn't have been enough to bow and show respect, but my current status didn't require me to be so formal with the two men in front of me. I gave a light nod and said.

“…I didn't know there were previous guests.”

“It's alright. In fact, it's good. It's a dinner party, so let's introduce each other first.”

Anette and I awkwardly sat down. Lilac stood behind me, and Verdi stood behind Anette.

[Woof!]

Sebastian also took his place in front of the food bowl under the table. It was a banquet.

‘Did he know I would bring Sebastian?’

There was no time to worry about that. First, introductions.

“It is an honor to meet such noble people. I am Martin von Targon Ulvhadin.”

Introductions between nobles are customarily started by the person of lower rank. However… Anette is a special case.

“I shall introduce myself. I am Anette, the Empress of Defardly.”

An empress without power. The two men were not surprised by Anette's introduction and were calm. First, a muscular and sharp-looking middle-aged man. ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ novel✦fire.net

“Greetings. I have wanted to meet you two for some time. I am Layton von Halsa Amulrent. The head of the Blue Spear Amulrent.”

Head Layton had an overall sharp impression. In contrast, the man next to him exuded a heavy presence like a great mountain.

“Karok von Ketar Tauforos. The head of the Shield Tauforos.”

I had seen them at the Founding Festival banquet hall, but this was the first time we were formally introduced.

‘So I've met all Four Great Ducal Families now.’

Just as I was about to say something more, the Director began to lead the conversation.

“Now that the self-introductions are over, let's get down to business.”

A notification in the form of 'we will do this' rather than 'shall we do this?'. It's a part that shows how much power the Director has.

“Duke Karok of Tauforos is for the enemies outside the Empire, and Duke Layton of Amulrent is for the enemies inside.”

It's a famous story. The story of the shield and spear that protect the Empire.

“Sir Martin of Ulvhadin hides in the darkness and confronts the demons, and Empress Anette of Defardly has decided to protect humanity.”

The commonality of those gathered here is that they are fighting for humanity.

“Originally, Duke Wilhelm of Harmadun should have been here as well, but unfortunately, his injuries are severe, so I couldn't call him. Elidore is not yet an official ducal rank, and he is not a Platinum Knight, so it can't be helped. Ah, Sir Hectia has already received it.”

That's right. Wilhelm, who was caught in Kragach's grasp, had all the bones in his body shattered. At least…, he wasn't branded.

Anyway, so the original lineup was the Four Great Ducal Families, Hectia, Anette, and me.

“There are a few things I would like to ask of you four. First, please take a look.”

A screen comes down behind the Director. Then, a magical light is shone, and a video plays.

[Hoo, are we still far?]

[Not yet.]

A rainstorm is raging.

Soon, tilt, the screen tilts to the side and then shakes up and down.

After stumbling several times, someone grabs a railing to regain balance.

'On a ship.'

It was a video filmed on a swaying ship at sea.

'But for the storm to be that fierce.'

It looked like a rare large ship, but it was swaying like a kite in the wind.

The cause soon revealed itself. The sea swelled up like a hump, and then, giant 'legs' revealed themselves.

It might be more correct to call them tentacles, with their suckers. The tentacles slam down on the ship. The magic barrier is crushed like paper, the deck collapses, and the keel breaks.

What happens next, I didn't even need to see to know.

'Kraken King!'

The tyrant of the sea who possesses the Heart of the Sea, one of the Nature Five.

“This video was filmed a week ago in the South Sea. The ship sank, and the person filming died. We were barely able to retrieve the video.”

The original story has been twisted again.

'Why is a creature that should normally be staying put in the depths of the sea...?'

What else caused a butterfly effect.

“Take a look at this too.”

The Director showed another video after the Kraken King.

On a completely frozen ice floe… undead were swarming. Corpses are rising, breaking through the glacier.

“…This is video data sent from a team that was studying the arctic's permafrost.”

The Necromancer of the Arctic. He also possesses the Wrath of the Snow, one of the Nature Five.

'Of course, he's a creature that should only move at the very end of the original story….'

That appearance now looks like nothing other than him trying to wake from hibernation.

“Thanks to these two, the bill was passed.”

A strange tone. The Kraken King and the Necromancer. Two continent-wide disasters, as if he's saying they are subtitles, not the main topic.

The Director handed out a pre-prepared artifact to everyone. What floated up and arrived in front of us was....

“Buster Order.”

Humanity's strongest weapon.

“The bill almost didn't pass even after two Demon Lord terror attacks. It was difficultly established based on the fact that other disasters have begun to be active.”

The best choice to counter the disasters.

“All Platinum Knights are required to wear it, and this also applies to powerhouses who are beyond the standard. There is only one person who can issue a Buster Order. Me, the Director of the Humanity Preservation Agency.”

The total military power of humanity.

“When a Buster Order is activated, the wearer must immediately rush over and join the fray with all their might, no matter where they are or what they are doing.”

“…!”

I couldn't help but be surprised. This Buster Order... was the ultimate firepower concentration command that hadn't even appeared in the original story.

“Well then, I look forward to working with you all in the future.”

I had a feeling that the Director was smiling behind the mask.

'He's not normal….'

In other words, with just one word from the Director, the strongest military forces of humanity scattered across the continent would concentrate their firepower.

Rationally, I thought it was the best measure to prepare for disasters, but the thought that it was a crazy bill to the point of being unbelievable didn't leave my head.

“That's not all. There is something else I would like to ask of you.”

An additional request. This one feels more immediate than the Buster Order.

“To the two Dukes, I would like to ask you to foster the naval forces of the North and South Seas.”

The naval forces of the north and south. The Kraken of the South Sea, the Necromancer of the North Sea. The meaning was clear.

“I don't know when it will be, but someday, we will definitely have a battle.”

“I understand.”

“So be it.”

Layton and Karok replied. Then, the Director looked at Anette and me.

“To the two of you, I would like to ask for some cleaning.”

Cleaning. It surely wasn't actual cleaning.

The Director let out a deep sigh and circled his index finger on the table.

“The pantry has been too dirty lately….”

“…”

“I'm joking.”

I'm willing to laugh it off up to the first verse.

“Did you know that it's difficult to catch mice normally? The cleaner the house, the more so.”

The Director's hand hides in the corner of the table like a squeaking mouse.

“Mice come out when it's dirty. When there's plenty of food to take.”

The right hand snatches the left hand that was pretending to be a mouse.

“Right now.”