Chapter 187 : Stirring Up a Fight - 1
Chapter 187: Stirring Up a Fight - 1
The monsters of the Second Territory's eyes flickered with greed.
Soon, one of them spoke.
“...Very well. If you hand over Goddess's Tears that will remain permanently, we'll overlook what happened this time.”
“Heh.”
“……?”
“Heh heh. Hahaha!”
I burst into loud laughter for everyone to hear.
Even I thought it sounded like a villain's laugh.
Stopping my laughter, I said,
“If you're going to act so high and mighty, it completely kills any desire I had to give them to you.”
“…….”
“Beg.”
“W-What did you say?”
“I said get on your knees, rub your hands together, and beg.”
“Then I'll give you Goddess's Tears that will last forever.”
Silence fell.
At first, they wore expressions that suggested they hadn't understood what I'd said.
Then—
“You crazy bastard!”
“Do you really have a death wish?”
“Where the hell does all that confidence come from?”
“I'll kill you!”
“I'll kill you right now!”
The atmosphere, already hotter than before, became even more explosive as I added fuel to the fire.
Shrugging my shoulders, I said mockingly,
“Then go ahead and kill me.”
“I've got powerful allies backing me up.”
“Allies?”
“You mean Lord Drod?”
“No.”
“Mr. Drod was just another victim I fooled.”
“To be honest, it was incredibly easy.”
That way, I preserved Drod's dignity.
Behind me, I could sense his satisfaction.
Then I finally reached the main point.
“My allies are the monsters of the Fifth Territory!”
“……? The Fifth Territory?”
“What?”
“You slow-witted fools haven't heard the news?”
“When this Cohort began, Magireta created the Fifth Territory.”
“The monsters who were once human now live there.”
“It's their homeland.”
“……!”
“And since I'm human too...”
“Of course the monsters of the Fifth Territory welcomed me with open arms.”
“They'll protect me.”
The monsters of the Second Territory snorted furiously.
The atmosphere had become a powder keg of rage and excitement.
Calmly, I took out the Teleportation Bead.
“Well then.”
“I suppose it's time to head back to the Fifth Territory.”
“If you don't like it, come find me.”
After saying that, I looked back at my companions.
They hurriedly took out their own Teleportation Beads.
I spoke.
“I want to go beside Jehar de Partikal.”
You heard that, right?
Come find Jehar in the Fifth Territory, you stupid monsters.
When I opened my eyes, Jehar was standing right in front of me.
Without panicking, he greeted us with a calm smile.
“What brings you here?”
“You've been quite busy campaigning lately.”
“Did you need something from me?”
“No.”
“...Excuse me?”
“I don't.”
“I have no business with you whatsoever.”
After saying that, I walked over to Jehar.
Then I lightly patted the shoulder of the utterly confused man.
“Do your best.”
“My best... at what?”
“I have a feeling the Fifth Territory is about to become a little noisy.”
“You're something like this territory's temporary MVP, aren't you?”
“I hope you'll manage to calm everything down.”
“I honestly have no idea what you're talking about.”
“Well, if it proves too difficult to resolve on your own...”
I grinned before adding,
“Come find me.”
“I'll probably be able to help.”
He looked as though he wanted to ask something else.
But I simply turned around and walked away.
The others glanced at each other before following behind me.
Once we'd turned a corner and left Jehar's sight, I spoke.
“Let's see.”
“My Listening Device is attached to Beat.”
“Her Highness's is attached to the Emperor...”
“And Aina's is attached to Edgar, right?”
“Hm?”
“Yeah.”
“Then, Brother.”
“Could I borrow your Listening Device?”
“Of course.”
Berseum handed it over.
Taking it, I pulled out a Transmitter.
Without another word, I draped the Invisibility Cloak over myself.
Then I returned to where Jehar had been standing.
He was still frozen there with a blank expression.
-Tap.
After attaching the Transmitter without incident, I returned to the others.
Removing the Invisibility Cloak, I said,
“Let's go.”
My companions looked full of questions.
But they probably thought avoiding the monsters' attention was the priority.
So they simply nodded.
We returned to the house Jehar had prepared for us.
As though she'd been waiting, Armelia asked,
“Mason.”
“Don't tell me you...”
“Yes.”
“Exactly what you saw.”
“I've pitted the monsters of the Second Territory against the monsters of the Fifth Territory.”
“No...”
“Why would you do something like that?”
“Because words don't work on idiots like the monsters of the Fifth Territory.”
Sitting down in a chair, I crossed my legs.
Then leisurely continued,
“They should've just obediently listened when I talked about love for humanity.”
Five days passed.
Now there were only two days left before the Popularity Poll ended.
'Though in reality...'
'There's only one day left.'
Jehar had said they'd cast their delayed votes one day before the game ended.
Everything had to be resolved before then.
Concealing my anxiety, I rubbed my palms together.
Just then—
“Hm?”
“What?”
“Seriously?”
Karin suddenly blurted out something strange.
Aina asked,
“What did the spirits say?”
“You're not even surprised anymore.”
“There's nothing more shocking than your face.”
Thud.
Karin kicked Aina in the shin.
Aina kicked Karin back.
Before the two could start another argument, Berseum calmly interrupted.
“You asked your spirits to scout on Mason's behalf.”
“What happened?”
That's right.
Ever since we'd arrived at this house, I'd asked Karin to have the spirits scout the area.
Specifically, whether anything unusual was happening near the borders of the Fifth Territory.
Now we had the results.
Rubbing her leg, Karin answered,
“They say an enormous number of monsters have surrounded the Fifth Territory.”
“Heh heh.”
“So they've finally come.”
“The monsters of the Second Territory.”
“The way you're laughing really makes you sound like a villain.”
“Come to think of it, last time you drove a wedge between Odline and Drod.”
“Did I?”
“I think you've found your true calling.”
“You should really make a career out of it.”
A career doing what?
Anyway, I turned to Berseum.
“Brother.”
“I'll leave it to you.”
“Understood.”
This had also been arranged in advance.
Berseum chanted a spell, erecting a massive defensive barrier around the house.
A defensive spell created by someone who had awakened Infinite Power.
No ordinary high-ranking monster would be able to break through it.
Relaxing into my seat, I said,
“Now let's wait.”
“For Jehar to come running over in a panic.”
“Um...”
“He's still my lover, you know.”
“Ah, my apologies.”
“He probably won't turn pale.”
“He'll turn red instead.”
“Haa...”
“That'll do.”
After that, we waited in quiet tension for things to unfold.
How much time passed?
Bang! Bang!
It wasn't someone knocking on the door.
It was someone striking the defensive barrier surrounding the house.
Opening the window, I looked outside.
“Oh.”
“Mr. Jehar.”
“Long time no see.”
“Mason Gear.”
My prediction had been correct.
His face was flushed bright red.
Looking more closely, I realized he hadn't come alone.
Many of the Fifth Territory's high-ranking monsters we'd met while campaigning were standing behind him, almost like his escort.
“What brings you here?”
“You seem awfully agitated.”
“So this is what you meant.”
“What you told me back then.”
“Hm?”
“You told me that if trouble arose in the Fifth Territory, I should come find you.”
“You said you'd be able to help.”
Pointing behind him, he said,
“Right now, our territory is surrounded by a group of monsters.”
“They claim they've come from the Second Territory.”
“Well now.”
“I wonder what that's about.”
“Perhaps it's some sort of inter-territory gathering?”
“Stop pretending!”
“I heard everything from them.”
“…….”
“They told me you carried out an enormous scam in the Second Territory.”
“And instead of showing remorse or offering compensation, you provoked them before fleeing here.”
“Is that true?”
I shrugged.
“I have no idea what you're talking about.”
“...Honestly, whether it's true or not doesn't really matter.”
“Either way, I intend to grant the Second Territory monsters' request.”
“And what exactly are they requesting?”
“They want you.”
“They said if I don't hand you over... it'll mean war.”
Good.
Everything was proceeding exactly as planned.
Putting on a grave expression, I replied,
“Surely you don't actually intend to accept such an absurd demand?”
“Mr. Mason.”
“The Fifth Territory has only just begun to establish itself.”
“…….”
“Furthermore, we're the youngest of all the races.”
“The most recent arrivals in Hell.”
“You could call us newborns.”
“We're lacking in both experience and military strength!”
I casually picked at my ear.
“So?”
“Just as I said.”
“I intend to hand you over and preserve the peace of the Fifth Territory.”
“Go ahead.”
“You think I won't?”
“You're letting your guard down because Sienne is with you, but—”
I cut him off coldly.
“I already know that Sienne doesn't mean nearly as much to you anymore as she did when you were alive.”
“…….”
“If you had to choose between the monsters of the Fifth Territory and Sienne...”
“You'd choose the former.”
“Wouldn't you?”
Gulp.
Someone behind me swallowed hard.
It was Sienne.
After hesitating for a moment, Jehar answered,
“That's correct.”
“So immediately—”
“Hah.”
“Why are you laughing?”
“You've changed so much.”
“In your previous life, you chose Sienne over the Kingdom of Partikal.”
“You wished for Sienne to be revived rather than your fallen kingdom.”
“…….”
“Everything changes.”
“At least Sienne hasn't.”
By now, Sienne had begun quietly sobbing.
Armelia gently wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
Shaking my head, I said,
“Well.”
“Let's stop with the sentimental talk.”
“My conclusion is simple.”
Hoo...
Taking a deep breath, I changed my tone.
“We're not leaving.”
“……!”
“If you want to break through that defensive barrier, then go ahead.”
“Surely there were mages among you when you were alive.”
“Though you've become monsters now and can't use mana anymore.”
“…….”
“Try your very best.”
“See if you can make us move even an inch.”
“Tch.”
Jehar bit his lip.
I continued firmly,
“I'd wager my entire fortune that you can't.”
“……Why are you doing this to us?”
“If you really want us gone...”
“There's one way.”
“Tell me.”
“It's nothing difficult.”
“Very simple, in fact.”
Leisurely, I continued,
“Immediately cast one vote each for every Ordinary participant.”
“Do that, and we'll leave.”
Silence followed.
Jehar ground his teeth for quite a while before speaking.
“You seem to be under a misunderstanding.”
“Hm?”
“Right now, I'm showing you consideration.”
“Only because Sienne is among your group.”
“Consideration?”
“I have no idea what you mean.”
“Instead of trying to settle this peacefully...”
“We could simply bring the Popularity Poll Quest to an immediate end.”
Well, he wasn't wrong.
Once the overall Voter Turnout exceeds 30 percent, if the gap between first and second place becomes at least twofold, the game ends immediately. In that case, only the first-place participant passes, while everyone else is eliminated.
And the current standings were—
■ Popularity Poll in Progress
※ Overall Voter Turnout: 70 Percent
1st. Edgar Tyler (43 Percent)
2nd. Mason Gear (27 Percent)
In other words, if the monsters of the Fifth Territory cast all their votes for Edgar, the game would end immediately.
According to the rules, everyone except Edgar would be eliminated.
From the Fifth Territory monsters' perspective, they could simply say,
'We dealt with Mason on your behalf.'
'However...'
I'd anticipated this response from the very beginning.
That was why I'd stopped Karin when she'd suggested threatening them with Kanesella.
I opened my mouth.
“Well, if that happens, then my companions and I will certainly be eliminated.”
“And you'll be able to appease the monsters of the Second Territory.”
“Exactly.”
“But the monsters of the Second Territory aren't simply after my head.”
“What do you mean?”
“One of the first-place rewards I possess is called the Replication Bag.”
Leisurely, I continued,
“The monsters of the Second Territory want that Replication Bag.”
“Why...?”
“If you want the details, ask the ones camping outside.”
I'd told them that the Replication Bag could create Goddess's Tears that would remain permanently.
Of course, it was a lie.
But the monsters of the Second Territory had believed it.
Which meant they'd want it.
Not merely revenge against Mason.
They'd want an enormous amount of Goddess's Tears—enough to swim in again.
By seizing the Replication Bag.
“I've hidden that Replication Bag somewhere inside the Fifth Territory.”
“……!”
“If you cast all your votes for Edgar and eliminate me along with my companions...”
“You'll never find the Replication Bag.”
“I hid it very carefully.”
“…….”
“So what do you think the monsters of the Second Territory will do?”
“Do you really think they'll politely go home saying, 'Well, we didn't get the Replication Bag, but at least Mason is dead, so that's good enough?'”
Crunch.
Jehar bit down hard on his lip.