— The Holy Amelia Kingdom, First Conference Room
"Do you really intend to go through with that ceremony?"
In response to this question from the King of Amelia, Edward Roto Amelia—
"This signing ceremony is being held at the request of General Chairman Gilbert, the current sovereign of Fiesta, who petitioned Babel for mediation. Multiple nations, beginning with the Dwarf Nation, Dvelb, have already declared their attendance. Given the circumstances, do you truly believe it possible for our country, the suzerain state of Fiesta, to be absent?"
Johannes, the Prime Minister of the Holy Amelia Kingdom, countered with a question of his own. Anger welled up within Edward at such a painfully obvious retort.
"I am a king as well! I know that full well without you pointing it out! But even so, what possible reason is there to permit Knut or that Hero to attend?! It will inevitably lead to conflict!"
Knut placed no stock whatsoever in bloodline supremacy like the high nobility; he was fundamentally a meritocrat. However, his ultimate goal was a Human Race-centric utopia. He harbored the twisted notion that other nations had to be managed and controlled as subordinate states. This younger brother's ideology was rooted in the thoroughly warped premise that the Human Race was an exceedingly weak, untalented, foolish, and irredeemable species—and for that very reason, they had to be saved. For some reason, this seemingly contradictory philosophy enjoyed near-fanatical support from the young knights and officials of that era. From Knut's perspective, this Monster Nation would be utterly intolerable.
No, if it were only Knut, it might still be manageable. That Hero was the real danger. She harbored an intense grudge against monsters and the demon race. Grudge—even that might not be entirely accurate. At this point, the fierce emotion the Hero directed toward monsters and the demon race felt like an inexplicable obsession that went beyond mere hatred. She would never acknowledge Fiesta. There would almost certainly be turmoil.
Above all, Kai Heinemann's camp was bound to attend the ceremony as well. Knut, the Hero, and Kai Heinemann. Bringing those three together in one room was a guaranteed recipe for absolute chaos.
"That may well be. However, handling this in secret will only breed friction down the line. To prevent lingering animosity, it is best to settle things clearly once and for all."
"Even if it leads to an irreparable rift?"
"They were like oil and water to begin with; they would never mix. The rift has existed from the very start."
"That may be true, but why go out of your way to pour fuel on the fire?!"
Knut, who had become the figurehead of the high nobility, and the legendary Hero Mashiro, the hope of humanity. Both commanded fanatical followings, and their abilities were second to none. By nature, neither could ever accept the other. Yet, for some reason, they maintained a tacit understanding and avoided overt conflict for the moment. Edward had a good idea why: the root cause of all this commotion, Kai Heinemann. That young man was an anomaly. Not merely in raw strength, but in his decisiveness, intellect, leadership, and charisma—by every measure, he was far beyond a mere Royal Guard. He possessed the unmistakable caliber of a true ruler. And the other two possessed the qualities of a king in full measure as well. If those three gathered in one place over the founding of Fiesta, a nation of monsters and demons, the outcome was clearer than day. If war erupted among the three of them over this, the Holy Amelia Kingdom would be plunged into a massive civil war. The ones who would suffer the most were the people of Amelia. As a king, that was the one thing he could never allow.
"It is, of course, to formally reset the Throne Succession War."
"Then why summon Mashiro as well?! With Gil dropping out of the race, she should no longer have anything to do with the Throne Succession War!"
"I told you it was a reset. That is what I said, is it not?"
Without breaking his usual stony expression, Johannes answered as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"That is why I am asking what this reset has to do with summoning Mashiro?!"
"At present, the disparity in strength within the Throne Succession War has grown far too wide. As things stand, the game can no longer function. Therefore, I took the liberty of making a move."
He dropped that bombshell with utter nonchalance.
"Johannes... are you telling me you intervened yourself?!"
It was unbelievable. For this man, who was practically integrity personified, to interfere in the Throne Succession War was completely beyond comprehension.
"Well, it amounted to nothing more than a piece of advice offered to a specific camp."
"And you claim that is related to the Hero attending this ceremony?"
"Indeed."
"I take it you have no intention of sharing the details with me?"
"My deepest apologies."
Johannes straightened his posture and bowed his head.
Just as expected. Still, for Johannes to step in personally, the gap in power must have grown so vast that individual effort alone could never bridge it.
A single question lingered in Edward's mind. It had been stuck in his throat like a stubborn fishbone for quite some time. Namely—
"Is this so-called game currently being played truly meant to choose a king?"
Johannes had previously remarked that the purpose and very nature of the Throne Succession War had changed drastically. Edward could not shake the feeling that the current game used the name of the Throne Succession War merely as a pretext for some other grand objective.
Johannes curled the corners of his mouth into a slight smirk for the first time.
"I swear to you, this game is a solemn contest where each stakes their soul and pride to choose the true king."
He stated it with absolute conviction.
"To choose the true king, you say..."
If that were true, something still did not add up. Johannes had previously referred to Gil as a true king. If he was truly worthy of the title, there was all the more reason to keep him in the Throne Succession War.
"The purpose and nature of the war have fundamentally changed, have they...? No, surely not..."
There was no way something so absurd could be true. Shaking his head vigorously, Edward banished the thought that had crossed his mind.
"Your Majesty. May I take it that I have your leave to arrange the ceremony on my end?"
"Yeah... do as you wish."
Either way, once this man set his mind on something, he would see it through regardless of Edward's objections. Johannes's fixation on this particular Throne Succession War was stronger than it had ever been. Stopping him was an impossible task.
Johannes offered a polite bow and left the room, followed in turn by the other ministers.
Such commanding presence and charisma. If Johannes took the throne and governed, this nation would be far better off. Edward thought this often. Yet, in the end, the man always remained behind the scenes, never seeking the spotlight for himself.
"Things never go the way one hopes..."
Edward muttered the words, sounding just like the countless admissions of defeat he had uttered so many times before.