{"id":3679,"date":"2025-10-14T16:04:33","date_gmt":"2025-10-14T16:04:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novel.mdtaal-aminii.my.id\/?p=3679"},"modified":"2025-10-14T16:04:33","modified_gmt":"2025-10-14T16:04:33","slug":"prologue-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novel.mdtaal-aminii.my.id\/?p=3679","title":{"rendered":"PROLOGUE"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

THE CLOWNS\u2019 DECISION<\/a><\/h1>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>Word had yet to reach the Empire\u2026 But as far as the loyal subjects of that Empire were concerned, perhaps ignorance was bliss. The imperial generals who were supposed to be invading the Western Nations after storming their way through the Forest of Jura\u2014in other words, their beloved fathers, brothers, their very family\u2014were all killed without having any say in their fates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nearly a million troops had gone on the attack. Defeat was simply unthinkable. There was no doubt in anyone\u2019s mind that the Empire\u2019s long-cherished dream of conquering the West would be accomplished in all its glory, the entire land united as a single nation under the lofty name of Emperor Ludora. The Forest of Jura was a formidable obstacle, no doubt\u2014but now that the evil dragon Veldora had been weakened, there was nothing for anyone to fear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That was how things were supposed to turn out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And so in the reign of this greatest of emperors, the imperial army\u2014considered the strongest that history had ever known\u2014had finally begun its invasion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That, in essence, was how the imperial citizens felt. None of them expected a hard fight, let alone a stinging defeat. None had imagined that the Empire would never even reach the Western Nations <\/a>before their dreams of world conquest were crushed within the Forest of Jura. But that was exactly what happened\u2014the imperial army was wholly eradicated without accomplishing any of their goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thanks to an ambush at the hands of the Jura-Tempest Federation\u2014a strike that wasn\u2019t even on the Empire\u2019s radar\u2014these citizens would be reminded of just how vast and unpredictable the world could be. But now, for just a few more days, the Empire\u2019s subjects would remain blissfully unaware.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

In the headquarters of the Composite Division in the imperial capital was a large, ornate room where certain people were now gathering in secret. The meeting was chaired by Yuuki, with Kagali, Laplace, Teare, and Footman\u2014the Moderate Jesters\u2014accompanying him. Misha, one of the three leaders of Cerberus, was also present; her coleader Vega was not, as he was on a mission with the Magical Beast Division.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Laplace and Misha were currently delivering their reports, and their tales couldn\u2019t help but make Yuuki chuckle a bit. He had pictured several potential scenarios in his mind, but these<\/em> results were singularly unexpected. It was all too overwhelming\u2014and all too soon. The demon lord Rimuru and his band had pulled off such a mind-boggling performance that they would need to rethink their entire strategy urgently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The most astonishing thing of all, of course, was how the demon lord had actually expanded his army\u2019s power since their last meeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cImpossible\u2026 Just wiping out an army that size without breaking a sweat, you know? I figured he would win in the end, but suffering zero casualties? That\u2019s just too much.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s simply unbelievable. With the Empire\u2019s force, they could have taken on three demon lord factions at the same time and still<\/em> maintained equal footing\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWell, compared to the Ten Great Demon Lords, the so-called Octagram is on another level in terms of fighting ability. Guy still reigns over them all, granted, but Luminus and Daggrull have been <\/a>fighting for influence with each other for ages now, haven\u2019t they? We\u2019re all aware of Leon\u2019s power\u2026 And Milim, notorious for not even bothering to have anyone serve her, now has both Carillon and Frey\u2014each former demon lords themselves. That leaves Ramiris and Deeno as the last solo acts, doesn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kagali wanted to fire back against Yuuki. But as his analysis continued, she began looking increasingly convinced. Certainly, things were different from back when Kagali lived among the demon lord ranks. No need to mention Guy again, but Milim now ruled over a vast territory south of the Forest of Jura. Luminus and Daggrull both governed large forces\u2014armies that hadn\u2019t thinned out even after several clashes against angelic troops. There were wild cards like Leon, yes, but this crop of demon lords was nothing at all like when they were the new guys, back in Kagali\u2019s heyday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even if you had a decent-size legion serving you, after all, survival as a demon lord often came down to dumb luck\u2014and that was just as true for Kagali, back when she was Kazalim the Curse Lord. That was why she tried to keep her wits about her back then and build cooperative relationships with the other demon lords, taking every measure possible to ensure she stuck around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even Roy Valentine, the Bloody Lord, was nothing but a stand-in. The One God Luminus was the true demon lord, and even Luminus couldn\u2019t fully put down Daggrull\u2019s force. I used to be so jealous of people like that\u2014people who could rip me to shreds. Carillon and Frey played it smart by comparison. Would that I were that intelligent\u2014then I wouldn\u2019t have saddened so many others, and I wouldn\u2019t have lost Clayman\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking back, all the effort Kagali expended forcing so many magic-born under her command seemed pointless now. Playing the numbers game didn\u2019t really matter against someone who had more than a certain level of strength; Clayman\u2019s failure made that pretty obvious. What Kagali\u2019s side really needed was more friends she could\u2019ve had frank, honest discussions with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2026Ah, but I can only say that now, can\u2019t I? As many times as we\u2019ve all been betrayed, it\u2019s all but impossible for the likes of us to trust in others.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was true. If she had never met Yuuki, she\u2019d probably still be <\/a>holding a deep-seated grudge against the whole world. But, she thought, it was too late\u2014so she bottled up the regret in her heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the conversation continued, regardless of how she felt about it deep down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve had a hard time, haven\u2019t you, Laplace?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBoy, you said it. And it sure didn\u2019t get none better this time, either.\u201d Laplace nodded, looking fatigued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHa-ha-ha! You had to fight for ten days straight, I heard?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYep. That Treyni lady\u2014lemme tell ya, she\u2019s gotten crazy strong. If I went easy\u2014or hell, if I let up at all\u2014she woulda killed me, no doubt. And I was fighting her in the middle of the forest, too! I think I put in a real good effort, if you ask me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Laplace continued to whine for a while longer. It was a likely story, coming from him\u2014he couldn\u2019t help how fishy he looked and acted\u2014but for once, maybe he was actually right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yuuki raised a hand to assuage him. \u201cBut she believed you in the end, didn\u2019t she?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah, right. They had me bound up so tight that I couldn\u2019t move an inch! The demon lord Rimuru\u2019s own officers were watchin\u2019 over me! You call that believin\u2019 me?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet despite that, Laplace had negotiated his way out of there and brought back some truly valuable information. Talk about living up to your reputation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m amazed they let you go unscathed, actually.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWell, supposedly, the demon lord Guy pulled a few strings for me. Not really trusting you<\/em>, Boss, so much as takin\u2019 advantage of the situation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If they were still clearly enemies, there was no way the captured Laplace ever would\u2019ve been released. More to the point, Laplace wouldn\u2019t have gotten that involved in the first place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After Laplace finally stopped complaining, Yuuki breathed a sigh of relief. But it was too soon to be relieved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd I<\/em> had a hard time myself,\u201d Misha added. \u201cThis has been so<\/em> exhausting. My job was to incite Commander Caligulio into prolonging the war, and I knew what I was getting into and all, but I <\/a>swear to you, I seriously requested a withdrawal right in the middle of all that. When he turned me down, I was just about to really kill him and desert, even\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bitterness was evident in Misha\u2019s voice. Of course, by the time she made that suggestion, it was already too late. Misha had only been spared because Yuuki had built a war alliance with Rimuru. If not, Diablo would have personally seen to her grisly death by now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWell, we\u2019re all lucky, aren\u2019t we? Lucky that Rimuru\u2019s the type to keep his word.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat slime is just the most extraordinary thing. Because I remember some people in the Armored Division being demon lord caliber in their fighting skills, but\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019re right. Of course, Rimuru\u2019s forces dispatched them before he even had to lift a finger\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a still-shocked Misha explained, the demon lord had not just one, but several Demon Peers under his command. Not even she seemed convinced of the truth she was speaking, but there it was. The very height of the demon hierarchy, right here on the ground\u2014fully unleashed\u2014and still wholly devoted to serving a single demon lord.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut the real surprise was seeing two Single Digits defeated before my eyes like cows at a slaughterhouse. Honestly, it\u2019s silly to even think of challenging monsters like those.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyone listened on in disbelief as she laid out the whole story. Yuuki felt it proper to change the subject.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBernie\u2019s and Jiwu\u2019s identities were another big surprise, weren\u2019t they? Knowing that I\u2019ve been dancing in the palm of Damrada\u2019s hand is so<\/em> frustrating.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yuuki fully meant that. Now he was sure that Damrada was a traitor, and that revelation was a great shock to everyone in the chamber. He had been Yuuki\u2019s close confidant for many years, earning his sincere trust over that time, and he served as a top-level leader at the core of Yuuki\u2019s camp. He had even entrusted him with the Cerberus secret society, their main foothold inside the Empire. His turning traitor required them to redraw their entire game plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>Two of the Empire\u2019s most powerful fighters had been attached to Masayuki, someone they dismissed as a peon to be ignored. That, too, showed just how much foresight Damrada had. He was influencing Yuuki and his cohorts, likely seeing matters from a much broader perspective than anyone else\u2014and realizing that cut Yuuki\u2019s pride to tatters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt certainly is,\u201d Kagali added, lost in thought. \u201cThinking about it, I suspect Damrada was involved in Clayman falling out of control as well.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yuuki nodded. \u201cI don\u2019t think I can deny that, no. It\u2019s really kind of strange, looking back, how all our plans have failed. But I don\u2019t think Damrada benefits from that. It\u2019s only with his help that we\u2019ve become so powerful, after all. If he wanted to take it away from me, he shouldn\u2019t have given it to us in the first place.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what I\u2019m wondering. I believe Damrada was quite fascinated by you, Sir Yuuki. That much wasn\u2019t an act, I don\u2019t think\u2014the loyalty he showed you was the real thing. And think of all the projects we have<\/em> completed, thanks to his assistance.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs a former colleague of his, I can tell you that Damrada really was working hard for our organization. He had some impressive accomplishments, and I imagine his loyalty to you really was sincere, Boss. But that man did have his more ruthless, coldhearted side. His obsessing over money is evidence of his more pragmatic side as well. So perhaps it\u2019s possible that he could\u2026betray you, for some reason.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Misha seemed convinced. But Yuuki shook his head at her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe betrayed me, no doubt about it, but\u2026 You know, I\u2019m not sure if that\u2019s what he really wanted. Or maybe he did?\u201d he asked, grinning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI agree with you, Boss. If all of it was just an act, then why would Damrada have done everything he did?\u201d Kagali seemed to reach the same conclusion as Yuuki. \u201cAllow me to explain. It was Lord Gadora\u2019s report that made us aware of Damrada\u2019s betrayal. Gadora was killed within Emperor Ludora\u2019s palace, and the man he saw standing before him was Lieutenant Kondo\u2014the man hidden behind the Empire\u2019s shadow.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>\u201cThe palace\u2026? I see. So Damrada had enough status to be allowed in there?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yuuki nodded at Misha, adding more information of his own. \u201cThat\u2019s right. And based on the intel you brought back, I have an idea of who Damrada really<\/em> is, too. There\u2019s only a few people out there besides the emperor who can give orders to the Single Digits.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyone looked taken aback.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah\u2026 Yeah, I\u2019ll bet. It just takes a little thought, and it\u2019s so obvious, huh?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRight. I don\u2019t think it was Damrada betraying us\u2026so much as following the emperor\u2019s orders.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMaybe he didn\u2019t intend to do any of it\u2026 But it doesn\u2019t matter much at this point.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perhaps he was an enemy of Yuuki\u2019s from the start. Perhaps not. Right now, all that mattered was Damrada\u2019s traitorous behavior, and Laplace and his cohorts were out for blood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah, you\u2019re probably right, Boss. But y\u2019know, if he was tryin\u2019 to trick that idiot Clayman, too, then don\u2019tcha think we oughtta make him pay for that?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRight! Right! Let\u2019s go and kill him right now!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHoh-hoh-hoh! For fixers like us, trust is our most valuable asset. No mercy must be given to traitors!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Laplace was ready to stage the purge today, Teare and Footman eagerly agreeing to the idea. But Yuuki stopped them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHold your horses. We know Damrada is actually a high-ranking member of the Imperial Guardians. Rest assured he\u2019s a lot more dangerous than your run-of-the-mill demon lord. I\u2019m not sure even you<\/em> guys could beat him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c\u2026True. I hate to admit it, but even in my own demon lord prime, I don\u2019t know if I could have beaten Lord Gadora. And if Damrada\u2019s good enough to stage a sneak attack on Gadora, I think it\u2019s safe to assume he has the talent to back his reputation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOkay, maybe, but\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd also\u2014I think there might be a message hidden in everything Damrada did.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The words came from Yuuki after a few moments of deliberation. <\/a>He began outlining his thoughts, cautioning that it was all hypothetical for now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDamrada is a cautious man. He knows us well, and he also knows about the demon lord Rimuru in close detail. Someone like him would certainly have known about the Resurrection Bracelets.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI mean that I think he was aware of the possibility that Gadora could\u2019ve resurrected himself all along.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut then\u2026 Wait. Do you mean\u2026?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now it dawned on Misha as well. What if Damrada wasn\u2019t trying to kill Gadora at all? What if, instead, he was offering him a way to flee the Empire?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe last man to speak to him was Lieutenant Kondo, right? The \u2018stalker of the halls of information,\u2019 as they say. If Gadora had been left alive in there, he would\u2019ve fallen right into the lieutenant\u2019s hands. Then he would\u2019ve been able to extract every bit of information Gadora had\u2014by any means possible.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd then all our objectives would\u2019ve come to light, you think?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cProbably, yeah. But there\u2019s still a few things I don\u2019t understand. Keeping Gadora\u2019s mouth shut ensured that the Empire remained oblivious about Rimuru. The Empire paid gravely for that, as we all know. But I don\u2019t think Damrada dealt all that damage to them just because he wanted to do us a favor, you know?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yuuki grinned. \u201cThat, sad to say, I don\u2019t have much explanation for.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think that Damrada is more faithful to Emperor Ludora than you, Sir Yuuki,\u201d Kagali replied. \u201cThere\u2019s no doubt about that. But at the same time, he also saw all of us as friends\u2026or not. What if he thought he could use us or have us play some kind of role for him?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMm-hmm. Go on.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a chance, perhaps, that the defeat of the imperial force was in accordance with Emperor Ludora\u2019s wishes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s absurd!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo way, man. That\u2019s crazy talk.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Misha and Laplace immediately denied it, but Yuuki was piqued by this hypothesis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>\u201cWhat purpose do you think Damrada would have in this scenario?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s quite simple. A large number of deaths is essential for the performance of any large-scale ritual. The awakening of a demon lord requires many souls. Could it be that Damrada and Ludora were using the imperial army itself as a sacrifice?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s feasible, yes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd if that\u2019s the case, it\u2019d make sense that they\u2019d want to meddle with Lieutenant Kondo, given how he was expecting to win this war. And that also gives me a vague impression of why he wanted us to survive\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gadora was visiting the emperor in order to give him a warning. Damrada kept him from doing so. But what if Gadora\u2019s information had been passed on to Kondo? The imperial army wouldn\u2019t have been nearly as devastated, for one\u2014and even before that, they would\u2019ve taken on a far different battle strategy against Rimuru and his band. It was easy to believe that a man of Damrada\u2019s intelligence would have noticed this, and thus it was safe to assume his actions were intentional.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But what was his purpose?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMaybe he was testing the waters?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPerhaps, yes.\u201d Kagali gave Yuuki\u2019s suggestion a satisfied smile. \u201cYou have to tolerate a lot of sacrifices in order to create someone truly strong. Perhaps he was trying to use us as pawns for the creation of this force as well?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOr maybe he was trying to take us in.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou know how Kagali and I were pretty much the only people Clayman accepted orders from, right?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUh-huh.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo doubt about that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo if he managed to set Clayman loose like that, maybe he had some kind of secret trick to accomplish that?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTrue. Brainwashing, for example?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yuuki nodded at Kagali. \u201cI think he might have cast a Thought <\/a>Guidance spell on him, even if it wasn\u2019t all that powerful. Maybe that spell was driven by a magic item like what we had\u2014or for all we know, he had some kind of mind-domination ability like Maribel\u2019s.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The reasoning hardened the faces of everyone in the room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSounds like trouble,\u201d Misha said to a nodding audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking at them, Yuuki smiled. \u201cI wouldn\u2019t worry, though. That kinda power doesn\u2019t work on me. So what I\u2019m gonna do right now is touch each of you in turn. Is that all right with everyone?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They all agreed to it. Refusing would be akin to confessing that you were someone else\u2019s puppet. Yuuki was giving everyone a chance to prove their innocence, and none of them were about to turn it down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWell, it looks like nobody here\u2019s brainwashed anyway. I mean, I would\u2019ve noticed if you suddenly started talking differently. I knew you\u2019d all be fine, as long as none of you were out there alone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo I was in even more danger than I thought, huh?\u201d Laplace said, standing up and looking around. But Yuuki and Kagali both spoke up to deny it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNah, nah, you\u2019re fine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRight. You\u2019re the last person who needs to worry about that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That brought the grouchy Laplace back to his seat. \u201cWhat the heck? You could at least pretend to worry a little more about me\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was more than enough to quell the chamber\u2019s gloomy atmosphere. Everyone shared a laugh, their thoughts shifting away from darker topics. Yuuki, appreciative of that, spoke up to guide the conversation back his way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo regardless of what Damrada\u2019s motivations are, the question is: What should we do now?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes\u2026 I\u2019d like to ask him about how much our plans have been compromised.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhoa, whoa, ya sure we have the time for stuff like that? He knows exactly what we\u2019re up to already, don\u2019t he?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah, I told Damrada everything we were planning to do. We didn\u2019t exactly keep it a secret.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOkay, so shouldn\u2019t we be gettin\u2019 outta here?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>\u201cWell, that\u2019s not too possible, either.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yuuki\u2019s faction was now soundly based in the Empire. He still had a few people undercover in the Western Nations, but that was only a tiny handful. There was no way he could lie low over there, and preparing a new hideout wasn\u2019t a very easy thing even in the best of times. Most of all, they had neither the time nor the right preparation to allow all the members of his faction to escape safely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOne thing I can tell you for sure is that I can\u2019t run Cerberus by myself,\u201d said Misha. \u201cI relied heavily on Damrada\u2019s work skills for that, and I don\u2019t even know everyone he had working for him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vega, the third leader of that group, was good for little more than wanton violence. It was very unlikely that he could serve in any kind of managerial capacity. Misha\u2019s point seemed valid there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh, I know that. This is one Cerberus that\u2019s gonna have to make do with less than three heads. We can get rid of all of Damrada\u2019s employees, maybe, but the biggest headache is the Composite Division. It\u2019d be a real shame to let go of that force\u2014or rather, to lose all its associated bases.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They could cut their losses and run, maybe, but the losses were just too great to contemplate. There was no place in this world that could accept a force of one hundred thousand out of nowhere. That meant Yuuki would have to leave them all in the lurch\u2014and that, in turn, meant those who didn\u2019t escape somehow would doubtlessly be purged. Besides, given what they could guess about Damrada\u2019s intentions, it didn\u2019t seem like he was telling people about Yuuki\u2019s secrets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOkay, so there are a few reasons why Damrada wanted to keep Gadora quiet, but I think one of them was to keep Kondo from learning our information. The Imperial Guardians probably aren\u2019t a monolith, you know. And the coup we\u2019re planning in the capital\u2014I think Damrada wants that to succeed, right?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t know what his intentions are, but if he wanted to keep us hidden, that would be the only reason why, yes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yuuki and Kagali seemed to be anticipating each other\u2019s thoughts. The rest of the group looked on in confusion. Then, as if unable to bear it any longer, Laplace interrupted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>\u201cWhoa, whoa, whoa, wait a sec, Boss. The whole idea that he let Gadora go on purpose is just a guess on your part, huh? Ain\u2019t it more likely that Damrada and Kondo are all buddy-buddy, and we\u2019re gettin\u2019 them all wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That sounded like common sense to most of them. But not to Yuuki.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI doubt it. Look, the whole reason we planned this coup was because of the deal we made with the demon lord Guy. Damrada knows that, too. So instead of trying to meddle in our plans, wouldn\u2019t he think it better to sow chaos in the capital and pull one over on Guy?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMmm\u2026 Is that even possible?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI sure don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHoh-hoh-hoh!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Teare and Footman looked pretty lost, instead focusing on some juggling balls they had on hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut would someone so close to the emperor want to see the capital in chaos?\u201d Misha asked after organizing her thoughts. But she still failed to understand Yuuki and Kagali\u2019s point of view.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a way, that was a totally normal reaction. After all, Yuuki\u2019s train of thought was feasible only from an absolutely rational perspective, where any sacrifice is fair game if it achieves your goals. It allowed Yuuki and his band to leverage their abilities in any way they wanted, and from Misha\u2019s outsider view, it was as contradictory as it was insane. Asking her to understand it was ridiculous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDon\u2019t think too hard about it, Misha. The important thing is to understand who Damrada had his eyes on as a potential hostile element. Damrada, you know\u2026 He never saw Sir Yuuki or Rimuru as his enemy from start to finish. For him, that was Guy Crimson\u2014and nobody else. And once you realize that, it makes sense that he\u2019d look the other way while we ran wild all over the capital.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah. And Kondo\u2019s different. To him, the enemy\u2019s not just Guy, but anybody else who\u2019s against the Empire. He serves Emperor Ludora with a completely different perspective from Damrada\u2019s.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That, Yuuki concluded, probably meant they were in conflict over assorted matters. It made sense to Kagali.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>\u201cWell, all right. If you and Lady Kagali say so, Boss, I\u2019ll believe ya.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Laplace was unhesitant in his agreement, Teare and Footman nodding along. Then Misha looped back to the core question.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo, Sir Yuuki, what are your plans for the future? If Damrada turns out to be an enemy, then obviously we can\u2019t trust him, regardless of his true intentions. So should we call off the coup and force our way out of here, consequences or not? Fortunately for us, we\u2019ve got sixty percent of the Composite Division blockading the Dwarven Kingdom\u2019s eastern city. Add the remaining forces in the capital to that, plus as much support as we ourselves can provide, and it\u2019d be easy to seize a regional city or two. Use those as a base, and\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c\u2026And the conquered nations with a beef against the Empire will rise up and form a grand anti-imperialist coalition?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cY-yes. Wouldn\u2019t that be the best way to secure an army and give us the highest chance of victory?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNot a bad idea, no. You don\u2019t need to look for long to find regions oppressed by the imperial nobility. Maybe we could style ourselves as a liberation force instead of a rebellion in those areas.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut sadly, the answer is no.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Misha was about to ask why. Yuuki continued before she could open her mouth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe only way for us to survive is to stage the coup as planned. Isn\u2019t that right, Damrada?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before Misha could comprehend what he meant, the clowns immediately readied themselves for combat. Then the heavy chamber door opened, and in walked a man.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWell said. I\u2019d expect nothing less from you, Boss.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was Damrada, dressed in his usual merchant garb. But his demeanor was pure military, and he had no interest in hiding that. The air in the room grew tense. Laplace attempted to make a move, but Damrada stopped him with a quiet command.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDon\u2019t try it. My men have already surrounded the building.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yuuki, observing the situation, relaxed his body and sank into the sofa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>\u201cDo you have time to talk a bit? If so, why don\u2019t you sit down, too?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBoss, we can\u2019t just sit here all day\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s fine, it\u2019s fine. You just take a seat, okay?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yuuki enjoined the dubious Laplace to return to his seat, then eyed Damrada with a bold smile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo what do you want?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m afraid you\u2019ve misread my behavior, Boss, so I\u2019ve come to explain that I have my own problems to consider as well.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Damrada took a seat as instructed. Seeing his perfectly calm, collected demeanor made Laplace\u2019s crew nervously chuckle. Then, leaving everyone else in the room behind, Yuuki and Damrada began conversing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cProblems, huh?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes. My thoughts, you see, are that I truly do wish you success in this coup, Boss.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOkay. Then why did you let Gadora go?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHeh-heh-heh\u2026 He\u2019s safe, then? I took a gamble on that one, but he always was a very cautious man. I assumed he\u2019d find a way to survive.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd you did it to keep Kondo from getting his information?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s right, yes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDidn\u2019t you swear an oath of loyalty to the emperor?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI did, yes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou did<\/em>? Then what about now?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ve said this many times before, and perhaps you may choose not to believe it, but my loyalties are to you, Boss.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLike I can trust you in that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI suppose not.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both of them smiled as they let their tongues do the fighting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI can tell you that burying Gadora\u2019s information has effectively destroyed the Armored Division. In addition, the Magical Beast Division is now outside the capital city. Even if word of the Armored Division\u2019s status has reached them, it will take some time for them to turn back. The forces currently guarding the capital are greatly reduced in number. The time is now, don\u2019t you think?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>\u201cI do. It\u2019s so convenient for us that it almost feels like it\u2019s been set up.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes. I\u2019ve been spending years setting this up for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDamrada, are you\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLook, Boss, I have lived my whole life in order to defeat Emperor Ludora. That is the only path left for saving him. The best way to achieve that was by having you take over the Empire. My thoughts on that have not changed, and now everything has been put in place. The rest is up to you to decide.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPfft\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yuuki snorted, not enjoying this topic at all. Everything was going the way Damrada wanted it, and he was deeply uncomfortable with that. But was rejecting him out of hand the right way, either? Just as Damrada said, the situation couldn\u2019t possibly be better right now. The only question was whether to trust him on that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLet me ask you something.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGo ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhy did you use Clayman like a pawn without consulting me?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yuuki and the Moderate Jesters had sworn to each other that no one would betray the other. To the members of this band, there were few others in the world they could even think about trusting. Clayman was one of them, a vital friend to Yuuki, and the question brought Kagali, Laplace, Teare, and Footman all to attention. Their gazes were focused on Damrada, as if they\u2019d never allow him to deceive them. But despite the near-murderous atmosphere, Damrada remained calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI had nothing to do with what happened to Clayman. I have an idea of who did it, but I hardly expected him to go to such lengths\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There was a moment of silence. Then Yuuki broke it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIs that Tatsuya Kondo?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou seem to know a lot about Kondo. There\u2019s a lot of secrets around, you know? So don\u2019t you think us trusting in you is a little too convenient?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Damrada listened to Yuuki\u2019s theory silently, a pained expression on his face. Then, after Yuuki was done, he spoke up softly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>\u201c\u2026I cannot tell you everything, because it would be against the law for me. All I can divulge for the moment is that not even I am aware of all of Kondo\u2019s capabilities. But even so, I still want you to believe me. His Majesty\u2019s salvation is at stake, you know.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The clowns\u2019 cold gazes pierced Damrada. The looks on everyone\u2019s faces proved it\u2014he was well below their trust. Yuuki was among them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, there was no denying that the current situation wasn\u2019t exactly rosy for them. Damrada\u2019s forces were waiting outside the building; they all felt a presence from outside the room that couldn\u2019t be ignored. He must have brought along some of the most talented Imperial Knights with him. Neither Yuuki nor his friends would have an easy time breaking through this siege.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If it were only me, I think I could manage it\u2026 But I don\u2019t think I can bring everyone else to safety. That leaves accepting his proposal as our only choice, huh\u2026?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yuuki calculated his options. Then, suddenly, he noticed Damrada\u2019s gaze pointed straight at him, unwavering. Those eyes hadn\u2019t changed at all from the day they first met.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yuuki closed his eyes, thinking back to the past. Ever since that moment, Damrada had been nothing but fearless and brazen, willing to accept any request\u2014for the right price. But he was also a man of contradictions, willing to invest hordes of money for the sake of his friends. \u201cI\u2019m willing to make any sacrifice for the sake of those I believe in<\/em>,\u201d he once said. But who was Damrada picturing in his eyes when he said that?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It wasn\u2019t me, I\u2019m sure. But I really did like those eyes of his\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

He called Yuuki his boss, swearing his loyalty to him. But there was always something about Damrada that made him seem somehow untrustworthy. Looking back, Yuuki realized, it made him feel unconsciously sad for his comrade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So he opened his eyes, looking toward him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI sense lies in your words. Your allegiance is to me, but at the same time, it\u2019s always been to Emperor Ludora. That much hasn\u2019t changed, am I right?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHeh-heh\u2026 There\u2019s no pulling the wool over your eyes, Boss.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>That murmured affirmation was, in its own way, motivation enough for Yuuki to trust Damrada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAll right. Instead of fighting you guys here, why don\u2019t we go out there and make this coup a success?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nobody expressed any dissatisfaction with this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWell, our hands are tied. If Sir Yuuki\u2019s made that decision, it\u2019s up to us to obey him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah. But if you two-time us, Damrada, I\u2019ll see that you pay for it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou have our support, Damrada!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHoh-hoh-hoh! Don\u2019t forget about me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So the clowns made their decision. They opted to trust Yuuki, their boss\u2014a sign of their bonds of friendship, as true as ever. And Damrada was just as much a part of those bonds.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

THE CLOWNS\u2019 DECISION Word had yet to reach the Empire\u2026 But as far as the loyal subjects of that Empire were concerned, perhaps ignorance was bliss. The imperial generals who were supposed to be invading the Western Nations after storming their way through the Forest of Jura\u2014in other words, their beloved fathers, brothers, their very […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3679","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-tak-berkategori"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/novel.mdtaal-aminii.my.id\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3679","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/novel.mdtaal-aminii.my.id\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/novel.mdtaal-aminii.my.id\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novel.mdtaal-aminii.my.id\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novel.mdtaal-aminii.my.id\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3679"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/novel.mdtaal-aminii.my.id\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3679\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3680,"href":"https:\/\/novel.mdtaal-aminii.my.id\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3679\/revisions\/3680"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/novel.mdtaal-aminii.my.id\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3679"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novel.mdtaal-aminii.my.id\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3679"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novel.mdtaal-aminii.my.id\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3679"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}