CH 188

Chapter 188

When Peaceful Times Cease To Exist : Each Choice, Part 10 — Further Intrigue

Translated by KaiesV

Edited by KaiesV

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At that time, what was Lifeless doing after he was forced to retreat from Alfiris? Lifeless, along with other associates, had already returned to one of their workshops. They were all gathered in the new workshop, which was put into operation today to serve as a new base of operations.

Lifeless, however, was not satisfied with his stomach, and he couldn’t hear what Anomaly had to say as he explained the outline of the workshop. Finally, he ran out of patience and took it out over Aurangzebul.

「Master!」

「What is it, Lifeless?」

「I am still not convinced. Why do you leave that woman alone!?」

「Hmm, about that… Well, I’ll tell you why later. But for now, I need to tell everyone about their jobs. Is everyone here?」

「There are two people that’s not here. Calamity and the boy you know.」

Hidden quickly replies. Everyone is stunned by his words.

「Again～ Calamity can’t be helped, but that newbie is slacking off too much, isn’t he?」

「That’s true… what on earth is he doing?」

「Oh, he was looking down at us from the top of the building earlier.」

「Uwwah, how cheeky～」

「Better than you, Doom.」

「Tch.」

Doom swoons at the mention of Anomaly.

「By the way, Master…」

Anomaly opens his mouth.

「Aurangzebul is fine. A little earlier than planned, we had a chance encounter with a True Dragon. Now that my true identity has been exposed, there is no longer any need for us to hide my name and existence.」

「Well then, Aurangzebul-sama, let me ask you. Who was Calamity and that boy? As for those two, I don’t know them. I have a rough idea of the rest of the group.」

「Calamity is an acquaintance of mine.」

But before Aurangzebul could answer, Bloody Maria did.

「Me, Dragleo, and Calamity are all from the southern continent and are related to each other. The southern continent was divided and ruled by us almost in thirds.」

「I mean, you were ruling over each other, or rather, you were killing each other until there were no others left.」

「Shut up. The three leaders of the southern continent are all in the same boat. I hope you can count on them.」

「Well, then again…」

「The rest of us are all from this continent, aren’t we?」

Bloody Maria looks around at everyone with a lecherous gaze. It’s a look so glamorous that it’s hard to believe it’s the look a girl would give. All of them looked at each other as if they couldn’t bear the look in her eyes. Perhaps finding the situation amusing, Bloody Maria chuckled and continued the conversation.

「Strangely enough, no one from the eastern continent, Aurangzebul?」

「Umu. I thought it would be more chaotic and interesting to leave that place alone than to bring it into our ranks. The appearance of one person completely destroyed our plans.」

「That person is?」

「It’s Jōgi Hakuraku.」

Aurangzebul answers Hidden’s question.

「In the eastern continent, humans dominate the west side, while the east side is dominated by fiends, especially those known as the『Oni Clan.』Until recent years, the Oni Clan had always been dominant, and 80% of the continent was controlled by the Oni Clan. It was thought that this would eventually end in a complete victory for the Oni Clan, but about 30 years ago, a genius appeared in Touma Kyoukai.」

「That must be Jōgi Hakuraku then.」

「Yes. Ever since he started fighting, the Touma Kyoukai has been undefeated. In fact, in the last 30 years, the power structure between humans and Onis has evened out. Furthermore, he united Touma Kyoukai in what could be described as a forceful manner and launched a campaign of rebellion at once. After becoming the head of the organization, he defeated three of the Ten Lords of the Oni Clan in the past few years. Now the Onis are so frightened that they are finally forming an alliance. If so, a major battle may soon take place on the eastern continent. It took over 100 years to destroy the six Great Archfiends on this continent, and at this rate, the east will be unified during his lifetime.」

「Heh, he’s that strong. I’d like to meet him, that boy.」

Bloody Maria laughs happily. Aurangzebul speaks to her.

「So you want to meet him?」

「Oh, is it alright?」

「I would rather not have this conversation without you. Listen to me.」

Aurangzebul overhears Bloody Maria. When she heard the story, Bloody Maria grinned.

「That sounds interesting. Well, I’m off to the eastern continent. If all goes well, should I come back once? Or just keep going east?」

「For now, stay east. We’ll talk about what happens after that.」

「Roger～ Well, let’s hurry up and do the right thing. I’ll be there as soon as I can.」

Bloody Maria leaves the place with a flutter of her hand. When she is out of sight, Aurangzebul spins around and looks back at all of them.

「All right, everyone. We will now begin in earnest our actions for the liberation of the truth of the world. Nevertheless, we had originally planned to negotiate with the True Dragons after more actions had been surfaced. We don’t want to get into it with them just yet… so we have to hold back a little bit on our outward behavior for now.」

All of them listen to his words in silence.

「As I just told Bloody Maria, now that the workshops has completed the required number of pieces, it is just a matter of putting them into action. There are a few things we need to do first, though. First, Doom.」

「Yes, yes～」

Doom moves forward.

「I leave you in charge of continuing to pollute the earth.」

「Do you still need soil to produce Archfiends?」

「Oh, it is still necessary. If you, an evil spirit, go on a rampage, the earth will be polluted by it. Go ahead and do your thing.」

「Hahah, this is going to be fun! Then, Godspeed!」

Doom disappeared as a haze as when he said it.

「Next, Silence, Titania 」

「「Yes.」」

「The two of you will retrieve the object in question. As soon as it is recovered, Titania will return here with the weapon. It will be up to Bloody Maria to take care of another case. Silence is back to his old duties. Is the matter that Silence is working on going to be ready in time for the occasion?」

「Eighty percent of the time it was not a problem, but Doom’s raid will make it more certain.」

「Umu, then act as planned. Go.」

「「Hah!」」

Silence and Titania then also disappeared.

「The next is Dragleo.」

「Ahhn?」

Dragleo’s answer seemed tedious. Seeing this, Aurangzebul also chuckled.

「Have you had not enough violence?」

「Of course! More crunchy, that’s what I’m hearing!?」

「Don’t worry, I’ll let you go all out in the near future. Bloody Maria may or may not work. So sleep on it for now, for when the time comes.」

「…Very well, that’s a promise, huh?」

「Don’t worry. I’ll let you wield your power to the fullest.」

「Then I’ll get some sleep. I’ll take the last room.」

And so Dragleo left with a grand lack of enthusiasm.

「Anomaly.」

「Yes, yes.」

「I’m told the workshop is complete and operational, but honestly, what about the materials?」

「Yes, that one doesn’t seem to be a problem either. Calamity and Silence are going to help as much as they can, so I think we can make it work. My current research is going well, and I’m thinking of starting a new study.」

「Hohoh, then what about those you named Hecatoncheires?」

Anomaly grins at the question.

「It’s almost finished. The problem was the loss of intelligence, but I have already found a solution to that problem as well. However, this method would still have a drawback in terms of the number of materials, so if Hecatoncheires, which is currently in operation in Central Plains, is considered the second generation, the third generation and beyond would be a select few. This will inevitably reduce the number of hands, but we are currently conducting research to compensate for the number of hands. We have already put in an experimental phase in Central Plains, and the results have been excellent. So I was thinking that future research should be done on increasing the variation of individuals.」

「What do you need?」

「I would like to get biological samples from the southern continent if possible. And also that Oni Clan in the east.」

「Very well. Let them be collected one by one. Then, start your research.」

「Yes, yes.」

And so Anomaly slunk out.

「Hidden, how about you?」

「I’m almost done with what could have been a major move. I don’t know how effective it will be, but I am planning to go back to Alexandria to see what I can do.」

「Didn’t that country take care of this once?」

「Yes, but there were unexpected circumstances. Besides, that country is a country of warriors. As far as military personnel are concerned, there is an abundance of talent, and even today, because of the frontier, there is no shortage of warfare, so even if left unchecked, competent people will be born. I am gradually reducing the power of the country, but above all, that Spirit Knight couldn’t be put away so easily.」

「She was a Earth Spirit Knight, as I recall.」

Hidden nods silently to Aurangzebul’s question.

「I don’t think we can win this war, but if we fail to kill her, she will be aware of our presence.」

「Is there a move to be made?」

「Yes, I am. No matter how good she is, there are always fools around her in an organization. We have already found someone who might be able to make a breakthrough.」

「Umu, I’m counting on you.」

「What a waste of words, then I’m going then.」

Then Hidden disappeared from the scene. Only remained was Lifeless.

「Now then, Lifeless. You are…」

「But first, let me ask you to answer my question. Why did you miss Alfiris on the spot?」

Lifeless stares at Aurangzebul with a look that says, “This time I won’t be fooled.”

「What’s in it for that woman?」

「That’s what this is about. What are you worried about?」

「…Alfiris will still be strong. So much so that it will reach us. If we don’t kill her now, we will surely regret it. As far as I’m concerned, it’s perfectly fine to be able to fight the strong, but to be our enemy would be a setback to our plan, wouldn’t it?」

But upon hearing the question, a sneer began to spill out from Aurangzebul. Lifeless watches the situation suspiciously.

「…What’s so funny?」

「No, that girl cannot be our enemy. It is impossible, Lifeless. And that girl can never defeat me.」

「How can you be so sure?」

Lifeless looks at Aurangzebul as if he were an enemy. Aurangzebul gives Lifeless a warning as if he were teaching a child.