Contact at this time, this timing.
Human God's apostle.
A change in history.
There was no way this wasn't related.
Now, what kind of favor will you ask for.
Something that will lead to my downfall.
Otherwise, to now allow Ariel to become queen, Human God's first strike.
"With us...will you not consider working together with princess Ariel?"
Hearing those words, I couldn't help but be confused.
What do you mean.
You will let me cooperate?
Not the opposite?
"Your magic skill and your conversation ability, allowing you to deepen friendship with people that are hard to deal with. Surviving a fight with the Dragon God, as well as enough combat ability to be welcomed as a subordinate. They are something frightening."
I felt a little itchy from being praised that much.
"But if we involve you, Sylphy's happiness will be destroyed."
Luke hesitated, then looked up.
"That's why, it can't be said now that you haven't actively cooperated with us that much. I, and also Ariel-sama, don't wish to involve Sylphy any further in the dispute of the Asura Kingdom."
I believe that was said before.
It was during the time I dueled Luke.
"But..."
Luke looked down.
The pose of an ikemen's shadow.
It seemed that somehow women would suddenly be deceived by it.
"Ariel-sama has given up on persuading Perugius-sama."
"Well, given the situation, I suppose so."
"Over these 6 years, by promoting ourselves in the Three Great Magic Nations, we have managed to win over many nobles and technicians. Among them are nobles from the Asura Kingdom and those who possess great political power in the country, but...it's not enough for a decisive blow. After all, they are people who are outside of the Asura Kingdom."
"Hm..."
"But, Perugius-sama is a person, who could become that decisive blow. He possesses overwhelming political power, forcefulness of speech and combat ability in the Asura Kingdom. If that patch existed, Ariel's path to become queen would make a great leap forward. Of course, it could still not be said with certainty..."
Luke was serious.
At the least I could not feel that he was deceiving or telling lies.
A necessary person that was needed in order to make Ariel queen, Perugius was thought of highly.
"However, originally it was a plan that came down. Even without Perugius-sama, we believe that we can manage one way or the other. The time of preparation would take a few years more...But even so, I believe that the chance of victory was still there."
I wasn't so sure about those words.
According to Orsted's story, the news that the king fell ill should still take 20 days.
If you had heard Human God's advice beforehand, I think the words [Just a few more years] wouldn't have been said.
"And then...I want you to lend me your strength, in order to become the decisive strength to ensure our chance to win."
"...I have absolutely no understanding of politics? There's also the possibility that I won't be useful for anything."
"You are a man of a much larger caliber than we thought. I'm sure that just by being yourself, you will become an appropriate strength."
"I'm not that great of a person in particular."
"Even without being someone great, your military power is dependable and you have personal connections. Perugius-sama, Dragon God, Demon Lord, a foreign prince, the grandson of Holy Milis Pope, Dorudia tribe, Silent Seven Star. Just your personal connections as an individual is quite something. I won't ask to allow us to use those personal connections. But, a person with those personal connections possesses 'something'. I want that 'something', no matter how small, to turn towards Ariel-sama."
"..."
Thinking that there was something lying underneath all those words of praise, was probably because my association with Luke was rather shallow.
But still, which way was it.
Was Luke an apostle of Human God or not.
There were also Orsted's instructions, so even without Luke asking for a favor, I intended to support Ariel.
But was it within Human God's expectation or not...
...For now, should I see how he reacted?[10]
"Was that...on whose instructions?"
"Instructions...? No, it is not Ariel-sama's will."
"...Were you given advice by someone else?"
"It was on my own judgement."
"Does the name Human God sound familiar?
"Human God...I heard it at Perugius-sama's place, what is that?"
Well, supposing he was Human God's apostle, he wouldn't honestly answer me.
During my time I didn't say a word to anyone...
I wrote it down in the back of my head that Luke had a mysterious face.
"Indeed, it may sound contradicting. We also want Sylphy to be happy. If we involve her in the dispute of the Asura Kingdom, that happiness will be destroyed. If treated as a insurgent by the Asura Kingdom, even the Three Great Magic Nations will probably not offer protection."
That was also scary for me.
In the diary, Zanoba was killed by the Holy Milis country.
To make an enemy out of a country means you didn't know what they might do.
I was certain that I would be able to fight all right.
If I hit them seriously with magic, I could annihilate a rather great number of enemies at once.
If the magic armor's repairs are finished, to a certain degree I would be able to overwhelm them in close combat.
Even Orsted said that he didn't intend to go all-out.
On the other hand.
It would be all right to be hostile if you can win in a head-on fight, that was the logic of children.
There were idiots, who would challenge a wrestler to a fight with empty hands.
Being stabbed in the back with a knife, being poisoned or otherwise use money to apply pressure.
If you couldn't defeat someone by using force, it was fine to win by ways other than force.
The me in the diary was strongly linked with the country and had self-protection.[11]
Fortunately I wasn't chased by the Asura Kingdom, but when asked by Milis to hand me over, they were told [No], because to an extent I was useful to the country.
I wonder how it will turn out this time.
Because Leo was here, I wonder if they will refrain from laying their hands on us, because other countries feared their relationship with the Beast race would deteriorate.
I wonder to what extent Leo will protect my family.
Orsted said that it would be fine if I had a guardian magical beast.
He said something along the lines of letting a guardian magical beast with a strong fate try to protect them, my family would be protected.
But I still wonder if just one dog would really be all right...
"...But if it's you. I think that even if we involve you, who has the backing of the Dragon God, wouldn't you be able to keep Sylphy happy."
I wonder about that.
Orsted had weak influence in various places.
Even though all people living in this world knew of the existence of the Seven Great Major Powers, they didn't seem to completely understand exactly how strong or amazing they were.
"Even if I have the backing of the Dragon God, there still exists personal danger to my life."
"...Well, that's true."
Luke said in a single breath.
He looked straight into my eyes.
"That's why, right now, this is nothing but an appearance for appearance's sake. I want to make Ariel-sama queen, even if Sylphy's happiness will be destroyed."
Luke was staring at me with glaring eyes.
I received his gazes without averting my eyes.
Strangely enough, I didn't think of it as unpleasant that Sylphy was slighted.
Luke's eyes might have been unexpectedly strong.
From the strength of his glinting eyes, that was enough to make you think that to achieve his objective he would throw everything away, I could feel a sense of ghastliness that reminded me of Ruijerd.
"I ask of you, will you not lend Ariel-sama your strength?"
Since there wasn't a talk about what would be awarded if Ariel became the queen of the Asura Kingdom, it was probably because this talk was not through Ariel, but based on his own judgement.
That's why it was [Ask of you].
"..."
Thinking back.
For example, even when I was manipulated by Human God, I was still myself.
On top of receiving advice, I also desperately thought to go towards a better direction.
Luke might be the same.
In his own way, Luke might be frantically giving his all.
Thinking about it, I do want to lend them my strength by all means...
But what I'm fighting against is neither the Asura Kingdom nor Ariel.
It was Human God.
If I went to Ariel's side, there was the possibility that it was according to the expectations of Human God, and in that case, I must definitely consult with Orsted.
"Let me consult with my surroundings for a bit."
Having said so, Luke made an expression as if he wanted to cry and laugh for an instant.
He must have thought he would be refused.
And then he slowly stood up.
"....Understood. I'm sorry about it, saying something impossible."
"No, the official answer will be at a later date. I will definitely give a reply."