106. The Conference (2)
106. The Conference (2)
- 1 -
This was where the council of queens gathered.
It was a secret location built into the mountainside, structured so that from the outside, one could never imagine its interior was hollow.
Inside, there was a round table and six chairs.
"This is quite the proper place, isn't it?"
"Kamaya and Orea combined their skills. To be precise, Orea provided the labor, and Kamaya provided the aesthetic eye."
When I looked at Kamaya in surprise at Echidna's words, she turned her head away, hiding her embarrassment.
Well, considering the cave her tribe used as a dwelling, it was fair to say she had an eye for this kind of design.
That cave sculpted by sunlight and shadow was quite mysterious and beautiful, after all.
"Whose is the empty chair?"
- One of the two is yours, Libertas. They originally belonged to other leaders who lived in this region, but I heard you killed one of them.
"It seems that spider had the right to be here as well."
At Nirvana's words, I recalled Tigris.
Well, with that level of power and influence, he would have been worthy of claiming a seat even if he hadn't been here long.
If he had just stayed quiet and chosen a method of sudden ambush, the attack on Orea might have succeeded.
Though his power and standing were rendered meaningless when Shue and Evangeline killed him instantly while he was in an all-out war against the ant-human Clever clan.
"Hm. The other one died not long after this place was made, swept up in a human war."
"What kind of one was it?"
"It was strong enough to become one of us, but it was a bit... arrogant."
"It was a lizardman."
At Orea and Echidna's words, I momentarily looked at the lizardman chieftain standing beside her.
He, who kept his eyes politely half-lowered, briefly raised his head, made eye contact with me, offered a silent greeting with his eyes, then lowered his head again.
Echidna, noticing my gaze, confirmed.
"Your thoughts are correct. He is the former lizardman chieftain. Because their power was halved by that incident, I took in the survivors."
"I see."
Standing on either side of Echidna were a Lamia scholar like herself and the lizardman chieftain, and hearing the background, I understood why the lizardman had become her close aide.
It must have been Echidna's consideration, to maintain the status the lizardmen had held as a species in the vicinity.
'He's a loyal talent, but not one I should covet.'
I decided to abandon any greed for the lizardmen themselves.
In the first place, if I got Echidna in my grasp, I could consider him as coming into my hands as well.
'It seemed the others also each brought one or two such talents with them.'
Orea brought her younger sister and chancellor Etna, one ant general, and one of the two Arachne I had entrusted to her.
Kamaya brought only Serha, but before entering, she had positioned harpy sentries around the perimeter.
Nirvana, the only one of the four queens who had difficulty moving freely, had sent Ent—who had previously come to me as an envoy—a small woman who appeared to be a fairy, and the red Alraune I had seen before.
Next to me were Ran, Eve, and Shue, and Fortuna was accompanying me as well.
To make her the leader of the remaining spiders, I naturally had to make an impression on the other queens.
- The speed at which Libertas moves is astonishing.
"Is that so?"
Nirvana's current means of speaking to us was an illusion projected by a magic tool.
And right now, she was broadcasting an image of herself half-exposed, her body submerged in that swamp of hers.
Wondering if this was common sensibility among monsters, I looked around and saw that only the Ant Queen sisters were blushing.
It seemed it wasn't entirely common.
The rest were simply bold or accustomed to it.
- I've never moved myself, so I don't know, but I heard the travel time alone exceeds two weeks. Yet in less than a single month, you've called us all to this place.
"We are the weak in the human world. The weak must be diligent."
"I agree. In that sense, I shall assert this regarding the purpose of this council."
Kamaya, who had nodded heavily in agreement with my words, soon rose from her seat and spoke, looking around at the other queens.
"We have only been crouching until now, so now that we have begun to move, we must move faster than anyone else in this world."
- Weren't the Harpies and Myrmekians the only ones who had been crouching, in truth? I was interacting sufficiently with the human world.
"I also find it hard to agree with that. We Lamia have also been diligently accumulating power all this time."
The words almost seemed to express fierce opposition, but on the faces of Nirvana and Echidna as they spoke, there were only smiles, no hostility.
Kamaya responded only with gravity as well, not enmity.
"This is not the time for wordplay. Queen of Alraune and Queen of Lamia. The power we have accumulated has only been to fulfill the conditions of survival alongside seclusion. But now, we have the opportunity to stand proudly in the world before our eyes."
It was a strong statement that could have wounded their pride, but Echidna and Nirvana showed no reaction to it.
Nirvana shrugged her shoulders playfully, but it didn't seem like she was disagreeing with Kamaya's words.
"I think we all know there is one condition necessary for us to display the power we have built up, survive, and become free."
"You mean a focal point for the alliance."
"That is exactly it."
After Kamaya nodded at Orea's words,
the eyes of the queens all turned toward me, then looked at each other again.
"Perhaps... it seems no one is opposed."
- You showed will, and also the power to match it. There's no reason to oppose.
"She is prudent, yet also cool-headed and decisive. One could say she is well suited to be the representative."
"Above all, she is the figure who made us see hope."
The women, each having spoken a word, looked at me again.
And I responded in turn.
"We cannot end with shallow relationships like mere cooperation or alliance. Queens."
In order to demand something deeper.
Now I had a firmly established goal, and I had no intention of being tied down by them, even slightly, and stopping what I had to do.
For that purpose, leaving them—still accustomed to the role of 'recluses'—in a mere cooperative relationship was difficult.
Because if they encountered a situation where it was somewhat difficult to exert their power and tried to ignore my request and hide as they pleased, many things would go awry.
- Libertas?
"What do you mean by that?"
Therefore.
"It means that with an ordinary cooperative relationship, it will be difficult for us to even survive, let alone make our power known."
I had to become their master.
In my heart, I wanted to say, 'If I don't grab your leashes and swing them, won't you just run wild as you please the moment we go out into the world?' but saying that would be tantamount to asking for a fight, so I held back.
"Does that mean you're telling us to come under you?"
"Hmm."
- ...
"I don't know what you're thinking."
Echidna was rather displeased, Kamaya showed no reaction, Nirvana didn't seem to mind—though her expression said she didn't care either way—and on Orea's face, quite clear opposition had arisen.
Their reactions ranged from mild to strong, roughly in line with who had initially supported or opposed me, but in truth, there was no full agreement from anyone.
"I'm not telling everyone to give an answer right now. Ran."
"Yes, my lord."
However, I had one method to turn all this opposition into affirmation.
At my signal, Ran, who had come closer, placed an object on the table.
It was shaped like an hourglass, but instead of sand, there was a viscous liquid inside.
"That is?"
"It is a timepiece that measures a set duration according to how it is configured. It is an object made with sorcery from the Western Continent."
"I can roughly tell. The issue is why you are showing it to us."
Facing the queens' faces filled with questions, I put on the gentle smile I always wore.
While tracing the tip of my finger along the wide plate atop the hourglass.
"This timepiece has been set for a maximum of two weeks. And before this liquid runs out completely. I will bring a Sacred Fruit. Let's talk once you see that."
- ... Something to look forward to.
"Understood. Let's do that. Let's open the council again in a week."
Now that a minimum cooperative relationship with the queens was guaranteed and I was ready to spread my influence everywhere,
I was now thinking of pulling out the single stake deeply driven into this region.
Right now, if the four who had been acquainted from the start gathered, it would be possible to oppose me, but by that time, it would become completely impossible.
'Once that happens.'
This region would completely fall into my hands.
- 2 -
"What do you think she intends to do?"
At the council Libertas had just departed, the first to speak was Orea.
Among the four queens, Orea, the Queen of the Myrmekians, was particularly strong in her wariness toward Libertas.
It was fortunate for all of them that it didn't reach the level of hostility.
'The Arachne King died without even fighting a proper battle. I don't know what trick she used, but it's right to be wary.'
The Arachne King was a mighty one possessing strength comparable to one of the queens.
Libertas was clearly showing a moderate stance, different from other Dungeon Lords up until now, and they were also in a situation where they had received a favor from her. However,
to Orea, she was still a powerful being whose inner thoughts she couldn't grasp.
Unlike the other queens, she hadn't even had a proper conversation with Libertas, so that sentiment was even stronger.
"Who knows. Whatever it is, it seems clear it's something we currently find hard to imagine."
Kamaya, the Harpy Queen who had first spoken with Libertas and discerned her qualities, simply smiled slightly with satisfaction, her arms crossed.
Because Libertas had subtly given her a hint about what she was going to do from now on.
'It was probably both a courtesy for the first alliance and because she needed a supporter among these friends to back her and block dissenting opinions.'
Kamaya intended to faithfully perform that role entrusted to her without words.
For her part, she had a desire for Libertas to secure her standing quickly without having to fight her, if possible.
This was for two reasons.
One was that the better Libertas did, the greater the influence of the queen who had recommended her would become.
The other was that she believed Libertas was the person who would grant her wish.
'I want to escape seclusion and become free.'
...that wish.
If it came to a position where she had to fight the Dungeon Lord, she would side with the other queens, who were longer-standing colleagues, but...
until then, she intended to definitely support Libertas.
Even for her own sake.
Therefore, she strongly expressed her opinion based on such feelings, but it did not receive much response.
- Calling it a backwater is purely a human standard. Can a place where I can obtain everything I want and enjoy everything I can enjoy truly be a backwater to me?
While she held goodwill toward Libertas, Nirvana was a cool-headed enough queen to separate personal feelings from business.
However, Kamaya didn't pay much mind to her opinion, which was close to opposition.
Because she knew that Libertas would surely bring a Sacred Fruit, and if so, Nirvana would flip her stance and quickly agree.
"Kamaya. I understand that this place is a suffocating location for you as well. But change always accompanies danger. As one who leads a group, I can't help but worry over the safety of the group."
So the opinion to focus on was Echidna's conservative one.
Having personally witnessed the downfall of the former lizardman chieftain, she naturally had an even greater desire for the safety of the group she led.
To such an Echidna, an offensive against humans could only be a sign of danger. And
at the same time, Kamaya knew what the cause of that feeling was.
"Wouldn't revenge against his father, their former chieftain, be necessary? Echidna."
"That is..."
Echidna, sensing a flinch beside her, wore a troubled expression for just a brief moment before composing herself.
The loyalty of the current lizardman chieftain was beyond doubt.
But since the root of that loyalty had begun from the downfall of those lizardmen, the duty to tend to that wound as his queen also existed.
"You struck a blind spot. Those words are correct. Kamaya. But that is only a matter for after Libertas brings results."
"I know."
Echidna also had no intention of avoiding it, and Kamaya knew that well.
"But I am trusting her. That she will show us something even more amazing than what she has shown us so far. When that time comes..."
"If she brings good results, then this time, I too shall properly support her."
- I feel the same way.
The eyes of the three queens who had thus gathered their opinions turned to Orea, who had not yet answered.
'I should have a conversation with her sometime... I don't properly know her. It's ambiguous whether to agree or oppose. Right now, all I can say is let's be cautious...'
"Sister."
"Huh? Ah."
She, who had been deep in thought while clutching her chin, came to her senses when Etna, standing beside her, poked her side, and confirmed that the others' gazes were on her.
Fortunately, because her younger sister was quite sharp, she was able to catch the conversation that had just passed.
"Ahem. I agree as well. That the result she brings might be shocking."
"Then?"
"If all the other queens support her, I will naturally support her too. I, too, have clearly seen that she has ability."
"Good."
Although Orea took an attitude of stepping back once more, Kamaya decided to be satisfied with that.
Because the Queen of the Myrmekians always maintained a safety-first stance, but once a situation was decided, she was someone who would step forward more loyally than anyone.
"Then, are there other agenda items?"
- I have some imported goods taken from the humans, and I've sent one to each of you. They'll arrive soon, so check them out.
"Thank you. Nirvana. And I have no other business."
"Always grateful. Nirvana."
"If there is no other business, we shall adjourn."
Since this council was not a regular meeting but one to decide their stance toward Libertas, the council ended there.
However, one common curiosity remained in the inner thoughts of those queens.
Curiosity about what Libertas would show next.
It was exactly the level of reaction she wanted.
'It would be good if I could see you again soon. Libertas.'
'Hehe. What is she going to show? I'm looking forward to it.'
'Ah... I didn't get to talk about that massage.'
'I don't know. She's a mysterious being.'
Except, those thoughts also included a 'fondness' toward her that she was not aware of.