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When I set foot inside the Explorer Guild in Celest, the capital of the Hitia Duchy, a staff member noticed us immediately and hurried over.
"I am Lucila N. Edelweiss. I have come as the representative of the Nohitant Kingdom, in response to the Explorer Guild's invitation."
Upon hearing my name, the clerk bowed with practiced humility.
"We have been expecting you, Lady Lucila. However, we must ask that you refrain from bringing guards or weapons beyond this point. It is regrettable, but please proceed to the inner chamber alone."
In ordinary times, such a demand would be quite arrogant. Yet, considering the current state of affairs and the gravity of the upcoming talks, it was a reasonable compromise.
"And my self-defense magic tools? May I keep them?"
"Yes. As long as they are not devices designed to actively harm others, you may retain them."
"Very well. Loretta, the rest of you will wait here in the building. Be mindful of your conduct and avoid any unnecessary friction with the delegations from other nations."
"As you wish, Princess Lucila. We shall await your return."
Having complied with the clerk’s terms, I gave my final instructions to Loretta and the guards before heading toward the designated room.
It was hard to believe how quickly time had passed. Nearly two months had gone by since the Labyrinth Stampedes erupted across the globe—and since Orun and Beria clashed in our Royal Capital.
Initially, the world had been plunged into chaos by the sudden upheaval. Yet, for better or worse, humans are creatures of habit; the panic had slowly ebbed away as people adapted to their new reality. Of course, life was still far from the way it had been before the magic beasts emerged.
When I reached the meeting room, I found nearly ten individuals already gathered inside.
A truly illustrious assembly, I thought as I scanned the room.
The people gathered here were the representatives or proxies of their respective nations. We were here for a summit meeting to discuss countermeasures against the magic beasts that now overran the surface. The Explorer Guild had orchestrated this gathering under the pretext that humanity had to transcend national borders and join hands to survive.
Such a feat was likely only possible because the Explorer Guild had maintained its neutrality for so long. Had any single nation attempted to host this, historical grievances and diplomatic friction would have prevented the discussion from ever beginning.
Even so, the Guild is certainly playing a bold hand.
The Hitia Duchy was essentially the heart of enemy territory for the Explorer Guild—or rather, the Cyclamen Cult. To choose such a location for a summit showed remarkable audacity. It was perhaps a testament to just how much the global power balance had shifted in favor of the Cult.
Officially, my standing was that of an operative for the Amunzaas faction who had successfully infiltrated the Cyclamen Cult. Following the incident in the Royal Capital, Philly Carpenter had used her Perception Alteration to supposedly brainwash me. I was meant to believe that Orun had murdered the Grandmaster, and I was supposed to harbor a fierce hatred for him while feeling a deep affinity for the Cult.
In reality, the brainwashing had failed entirely thanks to the nullification function Orun had installed in my self-defense magic tool back in Daluane. However, Philly Carpenter undoubtedly believed I was under her control. I could not allow even a hint of the truth to escape.
Orun kept his promise to save our people. Now, it is my turn.
Because Amunzaas had been secretly hunting the magic beasts within our borders, our casualties had been kept to a minimum. Without their cooperation, the Nohitant Kingdom would still be drowning in chaos.
"Lady Lucila, it has been quite some time."
As I was renewing my internal vow to fulfill my duty, a blonde man—one who could best be described as a "pretty boy"—approached me.
"Lord Lyle. It is good to see you again. Am I to understand you are representing the Sutris Kingdom?"
"Indeed. I've been run ragged lately, quite literally rushing from one end of the continent to the other."
This was Lyle Hayward, a man belonging to a ducal house in the Sutris Kingdom, our neighbor. He was the same man who had answered my call and represented his nation three months ago in Daluane, when we gathered the neighboring countries to discuss the war with the Empire.
Within the regional alliance of the Nohitant Kingdom and its neighbors, our nation held the most influence due to the Great Labyrinth of the South, but the Sutris Kingdom was a close second. In Daluane, it was Lord Lyle’s prompt support that had allowed the Allied Forces to be formed so quickly.
"Hehe. We should both be careful not to collapse from exhaustion."
"Yes, you're right. Though... if I may be so blunt, I'm honestly relieved that we've entered a ceasefire with the Empire. Had we been forced to fight both the magic beasts and the Imperial Army, our nations would have surely been bled dry."
As Lord Lyle noted, the Stampede had forced a pause in the war. Faced with the existential threat of magic beasts overrunning the world, not only the Explorer Guild but also several major powers that had previously remained neutral had stepped in to mediate.
In my own country, there are many who still harbor a burning rage toward the Empire for the death of my father, His Majesty the King. Unfortunately, the Nohitant Kingdom—which had struggled even when fighting the Empire alone—simply does not have the strength to fight a war on two fronts.
Personally, I am not without grief for my father's passing, but the relief that my country has found a path to survival is far stronger. If we had allowed our pride to dictate our actions and refused to cooperate with the other nations, we would have been isolated. Nothing but hell would have awaited us.
...Perhaps I am lacking in common human emotion, given that I prioritize cold calculation even when a blood relative has been murdered.
"While it is frustrating that we cannot yet avenge His Majesty, the current situation leaves us no choice. Let us continue to stand together as allies and navigate this crisis."
"Yes. You have my word."
Soon, representatives from the other allied nations arrived, and we began exchanging information on the status of our territories. Just as our group of allies had clustered together, the room was divided into several distinct circles, silently illustrating the shifting allegiances and political landscape of the world.