“I’ve found you, Kenya-kun.”
Lord looks directly at Kenya.
“Me?”
“Yes, your control skills surpass even those of the Holy Knight Captain of the homeland. I’ve never seen a Knight as strong as you. To think you could overwhelm a hundred against one. Right, Zeke?”
“Indeed, Mitsurugi is already among the strongest in the world… on par with the White Lotus of the Asian Union and Thor of the EU. He is comparable to those called the strongest in the world, and of course, he is in a different league than Jillian or even the retired Holy Knight Captains, the Three Heroes. No, he might even be beyond them.”
“I see… That’s why, Kenya-kun.”
Lord stands up and extends his right hand to Kenya.
“Won’t you become my Knight, and help me become Emperor? To make the world a better place. You have the ambition and the power to do it. So, will you take my hand once more?”
Lord’s invitation.
He had decided since they met at the training school.
From the day he watched the match, Lord had decided to bring Kenya into his fold.
And today, he saw him active as a resistance fighter.
If his goal was for Japan, and he had the high ambition to risk his life, then he was the only one.
Kenya’s will to risk his life to achieve something was the most invaluable talent of all.
Kenya stared at the outstretched hand.
He couldn’t take it right away.
“Will that hand truly make the world a better place?”
“I swear, I will bring peace to the world.”
Kenya looks into his eyes.
Lord returns the gaze directly.
Why is it, he wonders, that he believes him?
In those burning eyes, he feels a strong and fervent will.
“A blood-soaked hand, it’s heavy.”
That hand Lord had called blood-soaked that day.
Kenya understood what it meant.
To take that hand meant to participate in the battle to decide the ruler of the world’s largest country.
The blood that would flow was unimaginable.
Perhaps it would be more than today’s amount.
Because this was a battle to decide the apex of this world.
“Promise me just one thing.”
“I’m listening.”
Kenya stands up.
And looks at Reina.
“Promise me that Reina, and Kaguya, who fights as a resistance fighter, will both live in a world where they can be happy. If you swear that, I’ll take your hand.”
“Hmph, I see. Those two, huh… That’s your reason for fighting. I understand you a little better now. Understood. I promise. As the 100th Emperor of the Aasgard Empire. I swear on my life.”
Hearing that reply, Kenya firmly grasped his hand.
“If you betray me, I’ll kill you.”
“Ah, in that case, you can kill me.”
“Hmph. You’re a really strange guy, even though you’re royalty.”
“Ha. I could say the same to you, you irregular.”
The two laugh, their hands clasped tightly.
Kenya and Lord join hands.
Two geniuses who met on the battlefield today.
Tactics and strategy, macro and micro.
The two strongest who reached the pinnacle joined hands.
Lord’s goal was to become Emperor.
To change the world.
Why Lord was so determined to change the world, Kenya didn’t know.
But strangely, Kenya could easily believe Lord’s words.
And Kenya’s goal was to protect his two heroines.
Lord promised that if he became Emperor, he would create a world where they could live happily.
Then, he might stop the world war, or it might not even happen in the first place.
That’s why.
“The contract is complete, Lord. You and I are equal allies.”
“Yes, of course. We are equal contractors, Kenya.”
Kenya formed an equal relationship with Lord.
The two called each other by their names, like friends, and were truly equals.
“And, Zeke, Reina, and Tanaka Issei, was it? What will you do? Will you cooperate?”
“I… I owe you a debt for saving me in the EU. Besides, there is no one more suitable to be Emperor than you. Please, so that no more blood flows in the world…”
Zeke kneels and lowers his head.
That meant…
“Thank you, Zeke.”
Zeke had joined Lord.
“I… I don’t really understand about Lord Odin. But if Papa chooses that path. And…”
Reina looks directly at Kenya.
“When I thought I was going to lose you today, I was very scared. I don’t know what that is. So, I want to know the reason. By your side.”
“Reina…”
Reina also joined the ranks.
And the last one.
The developer of Kenya’s unit, Takemikazuchi.
A world authority in the field of technical support.
All eyes turn to Tanaka Issei.
“Personally, I agree with that opinion. I also want to support Kenya-kun. But there is only one thing we Japanese must accomplish to cooperate.”
“I want your support for that unit, and your technical skills. So, I would like you to join the ranks. Let’s hear it. What do you want?”
“What we want has never changed since long ago. What we tried to protect in the past, and what we are trying to take back now, has not changed at all.”
Tanaka looks directly at Lord and declares.
“Return Japan… return this stolen country to us!”
Tanaka’s wish was only one, and that was why he became a resistance fighter.
The war that took away the only person he loved.
The flames of revenge would never die unless he took back what was stolen in that war.
The flames of revenge of the Japanese people overflowing in this world would not die.
That’s why Tanaka’s wish was only one.
The independence of Japan.
“…”
Lord pondered, calculating several obstacles in his head.
But Kenya opens his mouth.
“To make Kaguya happy, that’s also a condition, right? Lord. Without any loss or gain.”
Hearing that, Lord raises his hands in exasperation.
“It seems I’ve agreed to a very difficult condition. Understood. Very well, if I become Emperor, I will recognize the independence of this country.”
“Really!”
“Yes, I swear on my life.”
“Understood. Then, I will cooperate.”
Tanaka and Lord also join hands.
“Then, I declare the alliance of the five people here today, Lord Aasgard, Mitsurugi Kenya, Zeke Sylphid, Reina Sylphid, and Tanaka Issei.
Let’s call it the Nichia Alliance, shall we? The ‘Nichi’ from Japan and the ‘A’ from Aasgard. It’s simple, but that’s what alliance names are like.”
The Nichia Alliance was formed here.
No documents, no witnesses, a midnight alliance, but an alliance to change the way the world is.
“Let’s decide the details tomorrow. It’s already late at night. Even I’m sleepy, so you guys who were on the battlefield must be even more so. We can’t make proper judgments like this.”
And that day, they adjourned.
“Ah, and Kenya-kun, Tanaka-kun.”
“Hmm?”
“I’ve made it so that you’re dead, so please keep that in mind.”
“Huh!?”
“It can’t be helped, Tanaka-kun’s name has been exposed, and Kenya will be my Knight from now on.”
“I understand about Tanaka-san, but why me too?”
Kenya asks, unable to understand Lord’s statement.
“Hmph, think more. Kenya, if you can only think on the battlefield, you’ll be tripped up.”
“You’ve suddenly become foul-mouthed.”
“Haha, this is my true self. Think of it as a sign of trust. This is what an equal relationship is.”
(Something feels different…)
Lord, who doesn’t have a single friend, his loneliness due to his status.
Kenya himself was a loner in his previous world, so he doesn’t really understand the feeling of having friends.
He thinks he had friends when he was in elementary school, though.
The two don’t really understand what friends are.
But why is it, perhaps because they were enemies who tried to kill each other?
There is no hesitation, and there is no wall between them.
Like old friends, they can exchange frank words.
“First, from today, you will act as an Asgardian. It’s more convenient for you to be my Knight that way.”
“That… I understand.”
“For that, we’ll make it so that you, who were once in the military, are dead. It’s fine if you just suddenly disappear, but it’s easier if you’re dead, and we can deceive them, right? There are other reasons too…”
“I see… If you’ll take care of the procedures, I understand. It’s not a problem.”
“Ah, and Zeke. Can I ask you one thing?”
“Yes!”
“Make it so that Kenya is your secret child.”
“Huh?”