Chapter 731: Forming an Alliance
Chapter 731: Forming an Alliance
In any case, after my girls finished getting ready, I headed straight for the Arachne Clan House.
To be honest, I still didn't want to go, thinking it would be uncomfortable, but what could I do? I had to.
And contrary to my expectations—no, perhaps I should say it was just as I expected?
No one tried to pick a fight with me the moment I arrived at the Arachne Clan House.
It seemed that just as I felt awkward, the members of the Arachne Clan felt just as awkward seeing my face.
Besides, I had Diana and Matilda with me.
No, even if they weren't here, I was the Saint, a man known as the Goddess's messenger.
It was unthinkable that some rank-and-file clan members would jump me just because I’d dumped one of their executives.
No matter how beloved Alicia was.
So, although a rather awkward atmosphere hung in the air, we passed safely through the main gate and were guided to the room where the clan leader was waiting.
“Oh my, look what we have here. You’ve got some nerve showing your shameless face after making our Alicia cry, don’t you?”
But my assumption that no one would dare confront me only applied to the low-level members; it was a different story when it came to the executives.
No, actually, I think that even for an executive of a massive clan, behaving this way toward the Saint in front of Diana and Matilda would be impossible unless you were incredibly audacious.
So, was it the tight-knit bond between the executives that made such a comment possible?
In any case, the very first thing I heard from the first executive I met upon arriving at the Arachne Clan was, as expected, a taunt.
“And to top it off, you brought them here to flaunt them… Hey, kid, are you trying to provoke us? Should I take this as a challenge?”
Lutia-nunim scanned my girls with a deeply displeased expression, a vein pulsing on her forehead.
…I knew I’d hear something like this.
Seeing Lutia-nunim’s attitude, I couldn't help but sigh.
And for good reason. My girls were dressed to the nines right now.
No matter how you looked at it, we did not look like people who had come to form a cooperative relationship with another clan.
It all started with a simple thing.
My comment during our meal about the beautiful women of the Arachne Clan must have seriously gotten on Sara’s nerves, because she came downstairs looking absolutely stunning.
No, to be precise, the trouble started when I complimented her.
But I couldn't help it. She showed up in an outfit completely different from her usual style.
Not that her usual casual style of form-fitting skinny jeans was bad, of course.
In fact, I think it suits her very well.
But seeing her all dressed up, even wearing a skirt, had its own unique charm.
Anyway, that one compliment from me triggered a light sense of competition among my girls, and this was the result.
It was only after we arrived at the Arachne Clan House that I finally realized how this would look to other people.
My eyes were so blessed that it took me a while to notice, but this was a total provocation, wasn't it?
It was like we were saying, ‘We’re this beautiful, so of course Alicia got dumped for not being up to our level.’
Of course, we had no such intention, but my girls, all dolled up, were just too damn pretty.
“No, no! That’s not it. The reason my girls are dressed like this is simply because after this, we’re going on a da—.”
Wait a minute. Barging into the home of the woman I dumped and announcing we’re going on a date right after is the ultimate provocation.
“This is just how they normally dress….”
Hold on. That could be interpreted as, ‘You think this is pretty enough to be a provocation? We didn't even dress up. We’re just naturally this beautiful,’ couldn't it?!
Damn it! They’re so beautiful that anything I say sounds like a provocation!
“…A provocation? Not at all. I’m well aware that people like Alicia and you, ma’am, are second to none when it comes to beauty.”
In the end, after much deliberation, I managed to come up with an answer that was close to perfect.
Boost the other party’s ego by complimenting them. It’s a basic negotiation tactic. Yep. I’m a genius.
“……”
Although, seeing the look in Sara’s eyes, I was already terrified of what I’d have to hear when we got back.
“And showing my face shamelessly? What are you talking about? You’re the ones who summoned me here.”
“…Oh, did we?”
At my composed response, Lutia-nunim, who had been wearing a cold expression, finally relaxed her face and shrugged nonchalantly.
Phew. So she wasn't really angry.
Well, I had briefly faced this woman right after I’d left Alicia.
She let it go back then, so I’d acted nonchalantly, figuring she wouldn't be angry about it now.
Though, there was a small possibility she might have gotten angry at me all over again after seeing Alicia’s expression right after that.
In any case, my gamble paid off. In that sense, it was fortunate that the first executive I ran into was her.
If this was her reaction, the other executives probably wouldn't be much different.
Well, if they thought there would be a problem, they wouldn't have invited us in the first place.
“Shall we go, then? Miriel is waiting.”
As if she’d never worn an angry expression, Lutia-nunim led us to the clan leader’s office with a serious look on her face.
“You’ve arrived. Then, regarding what Alicia told us. First, I want to confirm. Is it certain that you can go beyond the 6th Floor?”
The moment we arrived, Miriel stood up, and as soon as we exchanged greetings, she cut straight to the chase.
She’s in quite a hurry. Judging by Alicia’s tone before, why are they so obsessed with what’s beyond the 6th Floor?
“Hmm. I believe we showed Lady Alicia sufficient proof. Did she not relay the details?”
When we spoke with conviction, a fire ignited in Miriel’s eyes.
“No. She didn’t tell us what she was shown, which is why I wanted to get a firm answer again. Now, about the conditions. The part about reporting to the Saviors Clan before touching anything new you discover—am I to understand this is related to the Goddess’s mission?”
“Hmm. That is correct.”
“…If it’s not too much to ask, could you tell us the details of this mission?”
But even with her obsession with what lay beyond the 6th Floor, Miriel didn't agree right away.
Her attitude seemed to say that reporting everything to us first would be problematic.
Well, I admit it’s a rather harsh condition.
“We ourselves have not yet heard the full details from the Goddess. We have only been told to head beyond the 6th Floor. That is why we presented you with such a vague condition—to report anything suspicious first.”
“…I see.”
“This is merely our speculation, but we believe something that can never be defeated through combat, like a Demon God or an entity of comparable overwhelming power, lies dormant there. The reason we asked you to report anything suspicious without touching it is not solely for the sake of the mission. If our guess is correct, no matter how powerful you all are, you will not escape unscathed the moment you touch it.”
“Overwhelming power…”
If it had been any other clan, they might have gotten scared after hearing Diana’s words, given up on going beyond the 6th Floor, and the negotiations would have broken down right there.
But Miriel’s reaction was different.
Her eyes shone as she muttered Diana’s words, her expression one of exhilaration.
Well, Diana probably said it because she knew Miriel wouldn't be frightened by something like that.
“Even after I’ve told you this much, it seems reporting first is still a problem for you. So then, what is your purpose for wanting to go beyond the 6th Floor?”
Watching Miriel, Diana’s eyebrows furrowed slightly as she posed the question.
Yes! That! I was curious about that too!
“…That is.”
But Miriel, the one who was asked, couldn't easily open her mouth, as if she found it difficult to answer.
“Hmph. It seems you find it difficult to speak of it to us?”
“…No. That is not it, but.”
Diana posed a meaningful question to Miriel, who muttered in response, looking even more troubled.
She closed her eyes and thought for a moment, then opened them again and answered in a serious voice.
“The martial path.”
“Hmm?”
“My purpose is the martial path.”
The martial path? She can’t be talking about a radish to eat, so given the context, she must mean the ‘mu’ from ‘muryeok’ [martial power], right?
“In other words, your goal is to become stronger than you are now?”
“Yes. My reputation doesn’t even hold a candle to yours, Lady Telluna, but I am aware that as the leader of the strongest clan, I have made a name for myself through martial prowess. But even so, my strength is still far from enough. I once had the chance to fight a Hero, and it was then that I realized just how lacking my own power was. So…”
Ah. Come to think of it, that trash… I mean, the Hero, said something like that.
That he was strong enough to not lose out to the leader of the Arachne Clan.
So that wasn't just empty boasting.
Well, seeing what Sara can do these days, I’m well aware of how broken the Hero job is.
He must be incredibly strong too. Though, he still lost to me.
“And so you seek even greater strength?”
Diana herself, despite already possessing magical knowledge and mana that no one else could hope to match, was a being who constantly researched the path of magic, even using reincarnation magic on herself.
Because of that, she probably understood Miriel’s feelings better than anyone.
Nodding in admiration, Diana looked at Miriel as if she were proud of her.
“Yes. There is a limit to what I can achieve by fighting the monsters of the 6th Floor. I want to improve my skills by fighting stronger monsters. That is why the Saviors Clan’s proposal is, for us…”
So the proposal to report to us first if she finds something, because the enemy might be too strong, is naturally not to her liking.
It certainly makes sense. Miriel’s attitude until now was perfectly understandable.
But despite all that, I had a feeling Miriel was lying.
No, she was probably seeking strength. That part was true.
I just had a feeling that her method wasn't simply to fight strong monsters.
And for good reason. If that were her only reason, it would be strange for her to be so certain that something existed beyond the 6th Floor. It was entirely possible that there were no stronger monsters beyond it.
But considering the situation before I came to this world and what Alicia had said before, Miriel’s attitude suggested she was certain from the start that a new area existed beyond the 6th Floor.
If that’s the case, the question is how she intends to become stronger….
Huh? Wait a minute. Hold on. There’s supposed to be something related to a Demon God beyond the 6th Floor.
And that Demon God is a War God.
Wanting to go beyond the 6th Floor to get stronger. This is completely…
And she mentioned a Hero earlier, too!
Could it be that this woman harbors some incredibly dangerous ideas?!
“Hmph. Then how about this? For now, you will report to us first, as I have said. In exchange, when the time comes to face the powerful enemy we anticipate, I will permit you to accompany us. After all, your purpose is to fight a strong foe.”
But for some reason, Diana threw out that proposal.
There’s no way Diana hadn't thought of what even I had figured out.
Could she be thinking that it’s enough if we’re there to keep an eye on her?
No. No matter how I look at it, that’s not right.
If we go together and she turns on us… Hey, Diana. Don’t you think you miscalculated this time?
I wanted to object immediately, but I couldn't say it out loud. For now, it was all just my speculation.
‘It’s alright. Trust me.’
But just then, Diana’s voice resounded directly in my mind.
I knew it. Diana was thinking something similar to me.
“……Very well.”
Miriel, perhaps thinking that accepting too quickly would arouse suspicion, or perhaps genuinely feeling the pressure of Diana’s surveillance, or maybe even truly just thinking about the chance to fight a strong enemy, hesitated for a moment before nodding her head.