My one remark brought silence.
The people gathered here neither raged nor were bewildered.
They just wanted to confirm whether they had heard correctly.
“So, this was supposed to be a gathering of great families? Looks more like a collection of fools.”
So, I repeated myself.
I moved forward, strolling around the round table.
“You say humanity must unite to fight against the demons, and yet you call this cowardly? Since when did courage and stupidity mean the same thing?”
“What did you say?”
“It’s laughable how you all talk about profit and magic. Anyone would think you were the creators of magic itself. You’re just parasites living off the legacy of your ancestors.”
“That bastard…?”
“The reason you’re called great families and live in luxury is simply because history and luck happened to favor you… not because you’re superior. Don’t act so arrogantly.”
One by one, Richelant, Altera, and Nervas frowned at my words.
The sheer killing intent in the air was enough to rip a person apart.
However, the first to step forward wasn’t one of the heads of the families—it was someone unexpected.
“Has this lunatic lost his mind?”
Gerold shouted from behind Nervas.
Like Nervas, Gerold was also a member of the Belpheron family and had come to this gathering.
He hadn’t spoken up until now, but it seemed he decided this was the right time.
“Do you even know where you are? Do you not realize that flapping that mouth of yours could wipe out not just you, but your entire family?”
“I’m merely offering some wisdom to a bunch of fools. What’s wrong with that?”
“This bastard still doesn’t get it. What are you all doing? Drag him out of here at once!”
Gerold, as both a participant in the family meeting and the captain of the royal knights, ordered the soldiers around us.
The soldiers surrounded me.
“Ah, hold on a second. If you take me away like this, you’ll regret it. Because I’ve brought some very valuable information.”
I took out a scroll and several photographs.
Gerold didn’t seem the least bit interested, but the heads of the families followed my movements with their eyes.
Of course, they’d be curious.
A lunatic was risking his life running his mouth—surely they’d want to know what gave me such confidence.
I unfurled the scroll.
“Do you know what this is? It’s a blueprint. A full structural map of the Demon King’s Castle, from the underground chambers to the very top.”
At that moment, everyone’s eyes widened.
The heads of the families, who had been indifferent to Baldric’s words, those who had looked at me with disdain—even Nervas and Gerold.
“With this, infiltrating the Demon King’s Castle would be effortless. Not only that, but we can also pinpoint the location of the underground treasure vault.”
“The treasure vault?”
“Don’t act like this is the first time you’ve heard of it. Surely you all know the rumors—the countless relics said to be hidden within the Demon King’s castle.”
“That’s nothing more than a legend.”
Nervas spoke.
But for someone who was skeptical, he was already ordering Gerold and the soldiers to stand down.
I held up the photographs I had brought.
“Take a look at these, and tell me whether it’s just a legend. These are just a few shots of the treasure vault. Do these look like fakes to you?”
“This isn’t illusion magic…”
“Of course not. It’s real. The Demon King’s treasures truly exist. Artifacts like the staff you’re holding—Silvaris—are piled up in there like mountains.”
Nervas gripped his staff tightly.
For a brief moment, greed flashed through his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by deep suspicion.
“You’ll need more than that to convince us. How do we know the blueprints and photographs you brought aren’t just elaborate fakes?”
“Wow, you really need a lot of proof. Do I really have to show this too?”
I reached into my pocket and pulled out a fist-sized ore.
The mysteriously glowing ore once again drew everyone’s attention.
“Everstone. A legendary mineral you’ve only seen in textbooks. How does it feel to see the real thing?”
“This can’t be… It’s real. It matches the records exactly. How did you even get your hands on this?”
“Everstone can only be found in the underground veins of the Demon King’s Castle. I snuck into the castle and took it myself. Do you believe me now?”
The conference hall buzzed with murmurs.
The heads of the families were struggling with how to process this revelation.
Everything I had presented was true.
I had read about it in the original story and personally verified it with my own eyes.
This should be enough to move even the most stubborn of them.
And indeed, two family heads shifted their stance in favor of forming a Demon King subjugation force.
That made it 4 to 3.
I just needed to convince three more.
“If everything you claim is true, then there’s certainly enough reason to form a subjugation force. But there’s one problem.”
“And what is that?”
“You know far too much.”
Nervas, still among the opposition, narrowed his eyes.
“You infiltrated the Demon King’s Castle, mapped out its structure, took photographs of the underground treasury… and then returned without any trouble? That seems rather suspicious.”
“Not really.”
“You just admitted you went there yourself, but no one of your standing could possibly achieve such a feat. Rather… wouldn’t it make more sense if you were a pawn of the Demon King?”
“What nonsense. If that were true, why would I openly invite suspicion upon myself?”
“Perhaps that’s exactly what you want us to think.”
At Nervas’ command, radiant spears of light filled the air above the hall, their sharp tips all pointing at me.
“So, you’re planning to kill me?”
“We’ve already obtained the structural map and treasury information. Eliminating you now would be the safest course of action—there’s no reason to leave behind unnecessary risks.”
“Fools. Do you all agree with him?”
I turned to the two others who had yet to be convinced.
The warrior Richelant conjured an axe made purely of sword energy and aimed it at my neck.
The spirit mage Altera had summoned dozens of high-ranking spirits.
It seemed they, too, agreed with Nervas.
I chuckled lightly.
“How foolish.”
“If you have anything left to say, speak now. We’ll at least hear you out in exchange for the information you provided.”
“Those who have ruled over others for too long eventually stop looking up. They start to believe the entire world lies beneath their feet.”
“For someone about to die, you’re rather talkative. Or do you actually believe we’ll let you live?”
‘A lot has happened. Not just in the Empire, but across the entire world.’
I looked around the conference hall.
No one here had any intention of helping me.
As Nervas had pointed out, my death wouldn’t be a loss to them.
If this meeting ended here, the so-called great families would each prioritize their own interests and ultimately divide.
That was not what I wanted.
“One day, in the eastern continent of Asperand, the Beast King, who once hunted nobles and royalty, suddenly declared he would no longer harm humans.”
“In Miracia of the southwest, the Primordial Witch drove away an endless winter and ushered in spring, while in the northeast region of Lumentis, an unknown darkness suddenly vanished.”
The shadow beneath my feet stirred.
The gathered figures struggled to make sense of my sudden statements, their heads tilting in confusion.
I asked them,
“Have you never wondered? Why have all these historic events occurred back-to-back in the same era?”
“What are you trying to say?”
“Anyone with intelligence might have considered this—‘What if there was someone going around resolving each continent’s problems?’”
They wouldn’t know.
That before entering the Academy, I had spent my time eliminating the seeds of destruction scattered across the world.
I had resolved every issue mentioned in side stories and spin-offs, things the original main plot didn’t delve deeply into.
I had honed myself endlessly to ensure no unexpected variables would disrupt the story.
“Hah!”
Nervas let out a dry laugh.
Richelant scoffed as if he had never heard something so absurd, while Altera simply stared at me in silence.
“So you’re claiming to be some kind of transcendent savior who has saved the world multiple times?”
“Not quite. But I am closer to it than anyone else.”
“You’re insane.”
That was the end of the conversation.
The three family heads, unwilling to waste any more time, unleashed their attacks at me.
Or at least, they tried to.
“…Huh?”
But the spears of mana that should have moved at Nervas’ command remained frozen in midair.
Richelant’s axe was the same, and even the spirits Altera had summoned remained completely motionless.
Not just the three family heads—every other head in the room was equally stunned.
A torrent of overwhelming power crashed down upon them.
It wasn’t an offensive spell. It wasn’t some special technique.
All I did was fully unleash my strength.
And yet, all the family heads found themselves pressed flat against the floor.
“This… This can’t be?!”
“Ghhkkk! Aaargh!”
“Impossible!”
They couldn’t even muster a proper resistance as they were crushed to the ground.
The round table shattered under the force.
Cracks spread across the once-sturdy hall.
I gazed down at those who had opposed me.
“I gave you justification. When that wasn’t enough, I offered you practical benefits. But if even that doesn’t satisfy you… then fear will have to do.”
“Just… what are you?”
“Who I am doesn’t matter. What matters is that you lot are letting your selfish desires stand in the way of the Empire’s fate.”
The magical spears Nervas had conjured, Richelant’s axe, and Altera’s spirits—now they all moved according to my will.
Thud.
Sensing the anomaly, the palace guardians stirred—but instead of raising their weapons against me, they knelt.
Seeing that all the mana in this place was under my command, terror flickered in the family heads’ eyes.
I turned to Richelant.
“You spoke of overwhelming strength. Show me—do you understand what that truly means?”
“…I would not dare.”
“Then follow my orders.”
Next, I addressed Altera.
“You claimed there was no magical enlightenment to be gained from fighting the Demon King. But do you want to witness a glimpse of truth, closer than anyone else?”
“Yes…”
“Then follow my orders.”
Finally, I approached Nervas.
“You said you didn’t want to mix with the lowly. Now… do you understand who the truly lowly ones are?”
“I will… follow your will.”
The three family heads bowed their heads.
With that, the formation of the Demon King subjugation force was unanimously approved—9 to 0.
In the original story, Kalian won unanimous approval by moving everyone with his sincerity.
But this is my way.
I know this method will invite resistance and danger, but I don’t have the time or patience to imitate Kalian.
Now that I’ve stepped into the light, I will move as swiftly and effectively as possible.
This time… will be the final trial.
“Gghhh… ghhkkk…”
“Hm?”
I glanced behind Nervas and saw Gerold, who had been lying on the floor, his face drained of all color.
Foaming at the mouth, he had passed out completely.