D-Day, Five.
“Hmm… Melinus, do you share the same opinion?”
Carpe Diem Lord, who had been clicking his tongue quietly for a while, finally shifted his gaze. Whether it was because the other was a renowned prophet or because he sensed the tense atmosphere, his tone was noticeably more composed than before.
After a moment, Melinus, who had been staring in the direction where Natalia disappeared, slowly averted his eyes.
“As I said at the start, this gathering is not just for us, but to hear the reactions and opinions of the lords.”
“Is that so? I’m fully in favor.”
“Why?”
“Because I agree with Ian’s explanation. Honestly, watching Odin’s actions all this time has been frustrating more than once… Ah, don’t misunderstand. I’m not saying he’s wrong, just that I had my complaints.”
Carpe Diem Lord hastily corrected himself, clearing his throat.
“What struck me most was what was just said: before anything else, we are users. Yes, users. Players operating in the Whole Plane.”
“Ah, of course, I’m not suggesting we give up being human. But didn’t Ian say the same? That this isn’t just for our own benefit, but something to look at from afar, ultimately for the good of the entire Southern Continent.”
“Morality? Of course, that’s good!”
“Then consider this: if, as Ian says, competition around the center is inevitable, and in a few years today’s speculation becomes reality, sparking a war across the four continents—if it comes down to killing and being killed—what then? Who would you blame for missing this golden opportunity?”
Carpe Diem Lord spoke rapidly, as if racing through his thoughts.
“Well, I understand if some feel uneasy. After all, you are all people of principle.”
“I also partially agree with Carpe Diem Lord.”
At that moment, a voice suddenly cut in, causing the man who had been speaking passionately to widen his eyes—not because he was interrupted, but seemingly for another reason.
“…Yes?”
“Why?”
When he asked blankly, a woman draped in a loose violet robe smiled gracefully.
“Olivia… or rather, Elphin Lord?”
“Yes?”
“You said you agreed with me just now?”
“No, not completely. I said I partially agree.”
Carpe Diem Lord looked around awkwardly at the sly remark. The knights at the round table looked surprised as well. Knox and Carpe Diem were from aggressive clans, so their agreement was expected. But no one had anticipated Elphin Lord agreeing.
“That’s right. If war is inevitable, then waiting for your rivals to grow stronger isn’t the best choice. Attacking now is the smarter move. Logically, there’s no problem with that. But—”
Olivia’s voice softened, hinting at a twist.
“The problem is, all of this is still just speculation.”
Indeed. No matter how likely a prediction, if it’s not certain, it’s meaningless—especially when it comes to something as grave as war. Perhaps in the Western Continent, soaked in blood and plunder, this might have been enough.
But the Southern Continent values reason over emotion. Simply saying “because we’re users” isn’t enough. It might pique curiosity, but it’s easily dismissed as baseless conjecture.
“So I thought it over carefully. Why did this topic suddenly come up? Then I remembered something that stuck with me from the start of the meeting.”
“You mean what was said at the beginning…?”
“The purpose of the angel summoning us, and our relationship with each other. That’s what I want to focus on.”
“…”
At that, Ian’s previously stern face softened into a mysterious smile.
“In other words…”
Olivia glanced briefly at Eldora, who had kept her eyes closed the entire time, then turned to Melinus.
“I think Odin’s true purpose lies elsewhere.”
“…”
“For example… you could call it a test, perhaps?”
“Heh heh…”
Melinus chuckled, his mouth forming a playful grin as if caught in a prank.
“I suspected as much, but still. Elphin Lord is unbeatable.”
He shook his head a couple of times, then slowly stroked his beard.
“So it seems.”
“Wait a minute. So you’re saying it was just a guess? Why has the mood shifted so suddenly?”
Olivia nodded quietly, and Carpe Diem Lord quickly jumped in.
“No, that’s not it.”
Ian, who had regained his usual gentle expression, calmly sat down and shook his head.
“Haven’t I said the purpose of this meeting several times already?”
Melinus agreed, speaking gently to Ian, then turned back to Olivia.
“You’ve seen it well. Of course, that’s not all, but it’s undeniable that it’s one of the key points. The main goal of today’s meeting is to uncover the angel’s true intentions.”
“Good thinking. They might be using us as puppets, but we have to hear the angel’s side of things.”
“Exactly. Just because you flip a false premise doesn’t mean the opposite is automatically true.”
“Wait, wait. Am I the only one who’s lost here?”
As the discussion went back and forth, Carpe Diem Lord asked with a dazed look. But unlike before, those quick-witted among them now had a glint of understanding. Seeing some still confused, Olivia spoke up.
“As I said earlier, it’s still speculation. What we want is certainty. The angels hold the answers. And to get those answers, we’ll use a certain method. Personally, I think it’s better to catch them off guard than to ask directly.”
Seeing some still puzzled, she clicked her tongue and continued.
“Just think of it this way: we’ll decide based on the angel’s reaction and attitude.”
“Hah, really.”
“Still don’t get it?”
“No. So, are we doing this or not? What exactly do you want us to do?”
Some gave wry smiles, as if realizing the conversation was going nowhere. Then—
“…Ian.”
A sudden, quiet voice drew all eyes to one spot.
Eldora, who had been silent until now, opened her eyes. Her irises shone as if they contained all the light in the world, glowing fiercely like they were aflame. As her gaze swept across the table, the restless murmurs quickly fell silent.
After a moment—
“Then let’s end the meeting here… Before you leave, I have something very important to share.”
The man addressed by Eldora spoke up.
“Something important?”
“In other words, a request.”
At the cautious question, Ian smiled faintly.
“For this plan to succeed, I need your help.”
Knock, knock.
A light tapping sound echoed. Not loud, but in the stillness of the room, it was unmistakable. Yet no response came from inside. The person outside waited a moment longer, knocked again, then gently pushed the door open.
“I’m coming in.”
The elderly man who entered was Melinus. He walked in, clutching his cherished white beard as if it was a nuisance.
Inside the room was another figure. Though human in appearance, there was a strong sense of otherness—a woman with long black hair.
“Lord Thanatos, the meeting just ended.”
Thanatos, seated at a cluttered desk, was fiddling with something, deeply focused. He glanced up briefly but quickly returned to his task. Still, he added a word.
“How did it go?”
“If you mean the reaction… it was very poor.”
He glanced around cautiously, but Thanatos’s expression remained unchanged.
“Lord Pax stormed out, calling it nonsense, and Natalia left during the meeting.”
“…”
“Most of the knights at the round table didn’t voice objections, but I think the majority were displeased. Olivia managed to push it through by stepping in at the right moment, but…”
“…”
The calm explanation suddenly faltered. Melinus averted his eyes. Outside the window, dusk was settling, the sky still tinged with red.
But inside, an unnatural darkness hung heavily. Perhaps feeling the oppressive silence pressing down, Melinus dared not speak and waited quietly for Thanatos to continue.
How much time passed?
In the suffocating stillness that crept over them,
“I see.”
Finally, a detached voice broke the silence.
“So, then…”
Melinus realized he had been holding his breath as soon as he opened his mouth.
“This is… too rushed.”
He exhaled, struggling to finish his sentence.
“So?”
“…Yes?”
“So, what do you propose?”
“J-just that we take more time…”
Melinus’s voice trembled as if he had committed a grave mistake. At this moment, they were no longer Melinus and Thanatos, but Belial and Satan.
Granted, they were trusted among the fourteen demon lords, so they could speak like this. If they were mere creatures, they wouldn’t dare utter such words.
“I thought the orders were already final. Have I ever said I enjoy repeating myself after gaining this body?”
“Ah, no. As I said earlier…”
“The dice were cast the moment we stepped into this world. We agreed to accept the chaos that follows.”
“…”
“Or do you prefer to just wait around, hoping to be caught off guard one day and executed on the spot? Honestly, I can’t think of anything more ridiculous than that.”
“I’m aware of the situation. But we just need to be careful. As long as we don’t get caught, it’s fine. I’m not asking for a repeat of what happened in the Western Continent. I just want… just a little more time…”
Melinus squeezed his eyes shut at that point.
“To be honest, I’m a bit disappointed too.”
The voice from ahead was surprisingly conciliatory. But when Melinus opened his eyes, still half in doubt, he caught sight of a cold smile—and it was unmistakably a sneer.
“By the time that happens, the Northern Continent will probably have reached the Temple of Promise. So all we have to do is sit back and watch from the Southern Continent, which managed to change course late, twiddling our thumbs?”
“Th-That’s not—”
“Or maybe we’ll be scrambling to catch up, unable to control the chaos, and end up utterly crushed.”
“Sa-Satan!”
At that moment, a loud thud echoed through the room. Melinus flinched and instinctively lowered his gaze.
“It’s Thanatos.”
The cold, chilling voice filled the once-quiet room.
A suffocating silence followed, broken only by a faint rustling sound that didn’t last long.
“The plan remains unchanged. D-Day, the conquest of the Eastern Continent—all will proceed as scheduled.”
Thanatos’s harsh, unyielding voice cut through the tension. Then, suddenly, he tossed something he was holding. It was a small, ordinary bag—nothing special.
Melinus barely caught it, eyes wide with surprise. The clutter that had been scattered around the room was now somewhat tidier. It seemed the things that had been strewn across the desk were now inside the bag.
“This is…”
“I saw it with Lucifer last time, but the angels really made something interesting. Just hand it to Eldora on D-Day. I trust she’ll know what to say.”
A flicker of hope crossed Melinus’s eyes.
“Could it be… you succeeded? Is that why you’re moving the plan forward?”
“This power alone wasn’t enough. So I used a bit of my own strength. If you put your heart into it, an angel’s detection is nothing…”
At that moment, as he spoke, Thanatos’s eyes suddenly flickered. Seeing that Melinus was distracted by the bag, he quietly lowered his hand.
Melinus didn’t see it—the trembling forearm beneath the desk, shaking wildly far beyond any normal tremor.
“Wait, you said you used Thanatos’s power?”
A moment later, Melinus asked, a bit slow to react after inspecting the bag’s contents.
“Hmm. By the way, what about Erwin? He’s been gone quite a while.”
“Most likely, he’s caught up in the fairy queen selection. From what I’ve heard, he’s been staying there for quite some time.”
“The fairy queen… Is she really that important?”
“Yes. For reasons unknown, the fairy race holds their queen in extremely high regard.”
“I see. Come to think of it, I heard the Southern Continent and the fairies are allies.”
“That’s right. I believe we even received indirect support during the Orc Castle assault.”
Thanatos fell into thought for a moment, then tilted his head.
“Hmm… The fairy queen, huh? Somehow, I feel she could be of some help.”
“The moment you earn the recognition of the Thorned Crown, all the spirits bow their heads… According to legend, the first queen, Alceste, struck with such force she split the sea in two.”
“Heh, that sounds like quite the exaggeration.”
“Legends tend to be. Still, since she’s recorded as a one-person army, it might be worth considering leveraging that alliance.”
“Definitely. We can’t afford to lose even one ally right now. But for now, we need to focus on D-Day.”
“Then…”
And so, the conversation naturally shifted toward involving the fairies.
—Of course, they had no idea how this plan, this choice, would unfold in the days to come.
---------------------------= Author’s Note =---------------------------
Writing this brought tears to my eyes…
Ah, Episode 5 only has two or three chapters left now.
I’ll do my best to wrap it up within two more chapters. (__)