精品一卡2卡三卡4卡乱码

The grave expressions on their face reflected the atmosphere inside the room.

“Thank you all for gathering here today.”

The atmosphere was heavy with the presence of the highest-ranking individuals from various fields.

The stifling pressure was enough to make an ordinary person unable to even breathe.

Representing these people, a girl seated at the head of the round table began to speak..

“As you all know… I am Limia Solar Sunrise. I stand here in place of the absent Third Princess Clana.”

Despite its rotting state, the Sunrise Empire was still the most powerful nation across all continents.

Even in its diminished glory, it could still go to war against half of the nations represented here.

“D-Do any of you have objections…?”

It was only natural for the representative of such a nation to preside over the conference of rulers. However, the expressions of the rulers as they looked at Princess Limia were far from pleasant.

“Hmph.”

“Tsk…”

The reason was simple. In a meeting composed entirely of rulers and top-tier individuals, Limia was seen as lacking in stature.

Even having Clana, who had not yet been crowned and was still a princess, would be uncomfortable enough, but Limia, who was far down the line of succession, was even more so.

“… No.”

“Let’s get started.”

However, it was not the time to stand in ceremony.

The situation was far too urgent.

“U-understood… Then…”

Relieved that the power struggle ended inconclusively, Limia wiped her sweat and began her report to the rulers of the entire continent seated at the round table.

“What we will discuss today is… as you know, about the Demon King and the Hero.”

Limia sighed and snapped her fingers as she spoke.

- Zing…!

The magic crystal in the center of the round table began to project the devastated state of the western continent.

“Ugh…”

“This is…”

- Creak…

Starting from the completely frozen Cloud Kingdom, ice was spreading across the entire western continent, invading neighboring kingdoms and accompanied by relentless blizzards sweeping the entire region.

- What’s that floating in the sky?

- D-Demons?

- Crash, crackle…!

- D-Damn it! We’re under attack!!

Aishi led the Demon King’s Army in battles across the Western Continent.

“That’s… the Demon King.”

“The Cloud Kingdom’s princess… She participated in this council with her father a few times. Who would have thought she was a demon?”

The rulers watched the scene with grave expressions.

Soon they began to murmur one after another.

“Was she hiding such power all this time? Even the elite troops are no match for her.”

“Impossible. If that were the case, we would have noticed something.”

“Freezing an entire kingdom, and now she’s trying to freeze the whole world…”

“But there is something strange.”

Amidst the increasingly serious atmosphere, someone raised their hand.

“The World Tree of the Great Forest hasn’t withered at all.”

All eyes turned to the Elf Queen, who had not been seen in decades.

“The World Tree hasn’t been affected by the cold?”

“No. We’ve been blocking the cold with magic at the Great Forest. I don’t know how long we can hold out, though.”

The Elf Queen frowned and shook her head at the gruff voice of the representative of the Western Continent’s beastkin tribes.

“But our World Tree is very vulnerable to the ‘death of life’.”

“The death of life… you say?”

“Yes, with an entire kingdom frozen, the number of deaths must be significant… but the World Tree hasn’t withered at all. It’s a rather strange occurrence.”

“I can explain that.”

Everyone’s attention turned to the person who had stood up to speak, drawn by the Elf Queen’s curiosity.

“According to our analysis at the Magic Tower, there have been no casualties so far.”

It was none other than the Master of the Magic Tower, the teacher of Irina and Glare.

“That’s right!”

“Quiet, you.”

“Ow.”

“Didn’t you promise to behave if I let you come? Are you trying to embarrass me now?”

As the Magic Tower Master began her briefing, she gave a gentle knock on Glare’s head, who was agreeing enthusiastically beside her.

“Ahem, my apologies.”

- Sss…

“Anyway, please take a look at this.”

Pointing to the image reflected from the crystal ball Glare took out from her pocket, the Magic Tower Master continued.

“

“The people are trapped in the ice?”

“Could they still be alive?”

The image showed people frozen with their eyes closed, encased in massive blocks of ice.

“Exactly. Everyone who has been defeated by the Demon King so far is unconscious and trapped in ice.”

“Oh my…”

“We don’t know what kind of magic it is, but they are definitely alive. No one has died yet.”

Staring intently at the image, the Magic Tower Master muttered with a cold expression.

“The fact that the Demon King doesn’t kill people… I have no idea why.”

The silence that followed her words was thick and heavy.

“Uh, um… but it’s a good thing, right?”

Princess Limia, trying to break the silence, forced a smile and continued.

“They’re not dead yet… so there’s still hope!”

Her tone-deaf statement instantly soured the atmosphere in the room.

“Uh, so… um… I have a proposal for everyone…”

Just as Limia was nervously glancing around and trying to continue, a cold, low voice interrupted.

- What a joke.

- There is no hope for you.

“W-What…!?”

“W-What is this?”

The magic crystal that had been projecting images suddenly flickered with a mixture of sky blue and purple demonic energy.

The Magic crystal soon displayed Aishi’s figure in midair.

.

.

.

.

.

- You all know well that it will take me just one month to conquer the entire Western Continent.

“S-Shut up!!”

“Communications officer! What’s wrong with the magic crystal management!!”

“Cut the connection!”

Fierce voices echoed through the room, directed at Aishi who had intruded into the conference of rulers. It was understandable given that half the leaders in the room were from the Western Continent.

- So noisy. Should I freeze the kingdom of the loudest one first?

But Aishi’s gaze silenced the room instantly as she glared at the rulers of the Western Continent, releasing a sinister, demonic energy from the crystal.

- Hmph… It would be troublesome if everyone were too quiet.

She smirked arrogantly, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the room.

- Maybe I should invade the Great Forest first?

The Elf Queen’s face paled.

- Or perhaps, I should put the frozen beastkin in my castle as a decoration? That would be amusing.

“Grroowll…”

The beastkin tribe leader, who had been glaring at Aishi with a fierce expression, let out a menacing growl.

- After that, maybe I’ll head to the Eastern Continent?

The leaders from the Eastern Continent, including the martial alliance leader and the fox beastkin warrior, began to look uneasy.

“W-We can’t cut the connection. It seems the Demon King has used some kind of trick.”

“W-What do you want?”

Limia gritted her teeth and asked, her expression twisted in frustration, prompted by the anxious whisper of the communications officer.

- Heh… it’s simple.

Aishi smiled coldly as she spoke.

- I’m going to invade the ‘Academy’ of the Sunrise Empire soon.

“W-what did you say?”

- I want none of you to help the Empire.

All eyes turned to Princess Limia, her face now ashen.

- All I want is the ‘Academy’. There’s no need for you to interfere.

“L-Lies…”

- If any nation or organization dares to assist the Empire, be prepared. After I conquer the Academy, I’ll crush all of you with all my might.

“Ugh…”

- Hehehe…

Aishi’s mischievous grin widened as she stared at Limia.

“Everyone, you haven’t forgotten the oath from a thousand years ago, have you?”

“You all have a duty to cooperate. Don’t say you’ve forgotten…”

Limia, sensing the unfavorable turn of events, tried to speak forcefully.

“There are always loopholes in oaths.”

“We should convene a meeting as soon as we return.”

But the rulers had already dismissed her, whispering among themselves.

- Pathetic. They crumble so easily…

Aishi watched them with a triumphant smile.

- Urk…?

Her expression suddenly twisted in pain.

- I won’t… let you do… as you please…

A pained voice began to echo.

- I won’t let you kill anyone… never…

Grabbing her head, Aishi muttered for a while before suddenly lifting her head, eyes blazing.

- Annoying. How long do you plan to do this meaningless resistance?

Her voice, cold and hostile, echoed once more.

- Anyway, think carefully about my proposal.

“Wait…!”

- Don’t interfere, less you face the consequences.

With those final words, Aishi’s image disappeared from the room, leaving a chilling coldness in its wake.

The room fell silent, the cold lingering ominously.

.

.

.

.

.

“Everyone? Surely… you’re not falling for such cheap tricks?”

The room was bustling with communication officers running in and out, preparing for any possible follow-up intrusion.

In this chaotic atmosphere, Princess Limia spoke urgently.

“She’s trying to divide us. Don’t be fooled.”

The response was lukewarm at best.

“E-Everyone, have you forgotten that we have the Hero in our Empire?”

Growing increasingly desperate, she stood up, trying to speak to those who were starting to leave.

“The Hero, Ruby…”

“Hmm…”

“Indeed, she is strong. Last time, she turned the Ten Thousand Mountains upside down just to find an elixir to restore a soul.”

The rulers nodded, intrigued by the mention of Ruby.

“However, there have been some strange rumors about the Hero lately.”

“What rumors?”

“Well, you know… about someone named Frey?”

A ruler from a kingdom in the Western Continent brought up the rumor that had been circulating.

“Now that you mention it…”

“Yes, it’s hard to ignore.”

“Our kingdom’s intelligence also picked up on that.”

Several rulers began to nod in agreement.

“Ah, those rumors?”

Seeing their reactions, Limia smiled and gestured to the soldiers behind her.

“Knowing that, I prepared something in advance.”

- Creak…

“Let them in.”

As the doors opened, a group of people entered the room.

“The Hero Party…?”

“Why are they here…?”

The Hero party, with somber expressions, lined up in the meeting room.

“These individuals will help clarify the false rumors.”

Limia addressed the puzzled rulers with a smile.

“Now, everyone. Please, tell the truth.”

“…I will get straight to the point.”

Vener stepped forward, her eyes dark as she looked around at everyone seated at the round table.

“Frey is…”

“Sometimes rumors get exaggerated. It’s just a simple misunderstanding–”

“…the Hero.”

“What?”

Hearing this, Limia widened her eyes and stared at Vener.

“Young Master Frey is… the ‘real’ Hero.”

Ignoring her, Vener gritted her teeth and continued.

“Hehe.”

And then…

Recording in progress…

Glare quietly extended her hand forward, watching the scene unfold.

Would you like to broadcast all recording  worldwide?

[Y]/N

.

.

.

.

.

Meanwhile, at the Starlight Mansion.

“What is that…? What’s happening?”

“What’s going on…?”

Inside the mansion’s main hall, the servants stared in bewilderment at the massive screen floating in the sky outside the window.

“Hmm…”

At that moment, a small groan came from behind them.

The servants turned around, eyes wide in shock, and gasped at the sight.

“…Haha!”

“Master…?”

“My son… has finally succeeded!!”

Abraham, smiling brightly, exclaimed as he looked at the astonished servants.