"The Great Sage is waiting for you inside."
The attendant who had guided us to the massive doors spoke as they reached for the handles.
Glancing at Nyau, I could see the tension etched into her face. Apparently, Great Sage Agrippus was just beyond these doors. I found myself wondering what kind of man he would be.
"You have done well to come, Sage Nyau."
A raspy, hollow voice echoed through the room.
"It has been far too long, Great Sage Agrippus-sama," Nyau replied, bowing her head deeply.
So, this was the man. To be honest, he looked far too wretched to be called a Great Sage. His long hair was a tangled mess, deep dark circles hung under his eyes, and his beard grew in patches. His cheeks were pale and gaunt, leaving him looking as skeletal as a man on his deathbed.
Even his attire was out of place—a simple black robe that seemed far too plain for the leader of a nation. Yet, the throne he sat upon was a magnificent piece of craftsmanship adorned with shimmering gold, creating a jarring sense of imbalance.
"There is no need for titles with me. You have been promoted to Master as well, have you not? That makes you my equal."
"No, Nyau is still far too inexperienced. Nyau must decline such a courtesy."
"Hmph. Fine. Sage Nyau, we must speak in private. Come to the reception room."
The Great Sage stood up, clearly intending to move the conversation elsewhere.
"U-Um!" Nyau’s voice rang out, stopping him in his tracks. "Great Sage Agrippus-sama, Nyau has a request. Nyau wants him to be present for our discussion as well."
She pointed directly at me.
"Eh?" Agrippus let out a grunt of displeasure, his eyes narrowing as he fixed his gaze on me.
I hadn't expected to be thrust into the spotlight so suddenly, and the weight of his stare made me feel a surge of nervous pressure.
"It is a pleasure to meet you. My name is Kiska," I said, offering a brief introduction.
"Sage Nyau, who is this man?"
"He is the one who played the most vital role during the recent Kataroff Village Incident."
"And is he trustworthy?"
"He is the person Nyau trusts more than anyone else."
"I see. However, I fail to see why he must be privy to this discussion."
His point was perfectly valid. Compared to figures like them, I was just an adventurer without any notable standing. I wasn't even entirely sure why Nyau was insisting on my presence myself.
"This is just Nyau's intuition, but Nyau believes Kiska-san possesses enough value to warrant a seat at the table."
Nyau made the declaration with absolute certainty, her eyes never wavering. I couldn't help but feel she was overselling me just a little.
"I see..."
Agrippus nodded slowly, his sharp, piercing gaze scanning me from head to toe. It was a stifling experience, being scrutinized so thoroughly.
"I cannot see this value you speak of, but I will take Sage Nyau at her word. I shall permit him to join us."
It seemed I was going to be allowed in after all.
"Please, excuse me."
In the reception room, a servant placed several cups on the table and bowed before exiting the room. Great Sage Agrippus sat directly across from us, with Nyau seated by my side.
"I am not a man for idle chatter, so I will get straight to the point," the Sage began. "The Hero is dead, I take it?"
"Yes... Hero Eligion has passed away," Nyau answered, her expression clouded with grief.
"Is that so? Then things do not add up. Why has my rank not increased?"
Agrippus summoned his Status Screen for us to see. There, the word Master was clearly visible, along with the title of 9th Seat.
If the 7th Seat, Hero Eligion, had truly died, then the Sage's rank should have logically shifted upward.
"Nyau does not understand the reason for that either."
"Well, no matter. Even if the Hero were somehow still alive, if he cannot show himself before us, he is as good as dead."
From there, Agrippus and Nyau began to exchange the information they had.
They discussed the details of what had transpired in Kataroff Village. They spoke of how Holy Knight Kanaria and Warrior Golgano had turned traitor, and how Hero Eligion had fallen by their hands.
They confirmed that the Royal Capital had been lost to the Demon King Army, and that the same army was currently marching toward Larichmond, the capital of the Sage Empire of Ritz.
The consensus was grim: war would likely break out by tomorrow.
"I found it strange that the dragons would lend their strength to the Demon King. By nature, dragons are solitary, prideful creatures that refuse to serve others. Indeed, during the Battle of Arianne, the Demon King did not have a single dragon under his command."
I remembered the Battle of Arianne from the stories—a total war between the Hero Army and the Demon King Army that ended in a dramatic victory for humanity.
"I had my scout unit investigate, and they returned with a most intriguing piece of intelligence. It appears there is a man within the Demon King Army who commands the dragons."
"A man who commands dragons...?" Nyau whispered.
"Yes. A most inexplicable individual. Apparently, with a single shout, countless dragons flock to his side. He calls himself the Dragon King."
"The Dragon King," I repeated. A man who could control dragons at will—the title certainly seemed appropriate.
"The Dragon King and the Demon King entered into a secret pact. If the Hero were successfully slain, the Dragon King promised to bring his forces under the Demon King’s banner."
So that was how the Demon King had managed to bolster his forces with such powerful monsters.
The conversation shifted into a tactical consultation on how to repel the invasion. Whether the Sage Empire of Ritz survived or fell would likely depend on the combined efforts of Nyau and Agrippus.
"Regardless, losing the Hero was a devastating blow," the Sage remarked.
"Nyau is so sorry..." she murmured, looking utterly dejected.
"Is the Hero truly that essential for defeating the Demon King?" I asked, finally breaking my silence. I wanted to shift the focus away from Nyau’s perceived failure before the Sage pushed her any further.
"Indeed. The Hero carries the Divine Protection of the Supreme God Pyutos."
Even I knew that legend.
"I have heard it said that the Hero's Divine Protection ensures victory no matter the adversity. Whether that is literal truth or mere legend, I cannot say. But the Hero's presence alone is enough to bolster the hearts of men."
Victory no matter the adversity, huh?
I wondered if my Skill: Save & Reset was a form of the Hero's Divine Protection. Then again, if I fail, I fail—and having to reset didn't exactly feel like "grasping victory." It felt more like a desperate struggle against fate.
"Great Sage Agrippus-sama, there is one thing I would like to ask you."
"Hm. Speak."
"Does the name Ageha mean anything to you?"
Agrippus paused for a moment. "...No, I have never heard it. Is this Ageha someone of importance?"
"Yes. She is a companion I trust deeply. I’ve been searching for her for a long time, but I haven't been able to find a single lead."
"I see. I hope you find her," the Sage said, his tone turning somewhat dismissive.
Even someone as knowledgeable as the Great Sage didn't know her name. Ageha, just where the hell are you?
"Disaster! It's a disaster!"
The interruption was sudden. Someone threw the doors open with violent force and stumbled into the room. Their face was pale with terror as they screamed at the top of their lungs.
"The Demon King Army! They have invaded our territory!"
It seemed the time for talk was over. The war had begun.