Chapter 3: Persuasion
<Accursed Lands, Mynoghra’s Palace: Council Room>
AFTER receiving an urgent summons to the council room, the Dark Elves listened to Takuto’s explanation without masking their dissatisfaction.
“As far as this matter is concerned, I cannot fully agree with Your Majesty’s decision,” Elder Moltar said.
Takuto had filled them in on his arrangement to form a cooperative relationship with the RPG Player, Hero Yu. Elder Moltar’s response about summed up the council’s opinion on the matter. Takuto understood they weren’t protesting for show or on a whim and took their reaction in stride.
“Yeah, I knew you would object out of concern for me… What do you think, Vittorio?” Takuto tossed the baton to Vittorio, who’d shown up at a meeting and listened without kicking up a fuss for once. Takuto figured he might as well take advantage of the Gleeful Spin Doctor’s presence.
“Oh dearie me, is moi’s opinion even necessary? If the almighty Takuto Ira, who’s far mightier and more marvelous than moi, is present, I reckon there’s no need for my shallow thoughts on the matter. You don’t have to say it! I know Mynoghra doesn’t need moi… Woe is me, I’ll just slit my wrists…won’t anyone stop me? Oh, woe is me!!”
Vittorio made a joke out of everything, and that made him the ideal candidate to stir up trouble. Takuto had every right to make the final decision, but he felt it was wrong to bulldoze over the Dark Elves’ opinions right out the door. Not because he was concerned about their feelings, but rather because he didn’t want it to come back to bite him down the line. He wanted to persuade them using both the carrot and the stick.
Atou was not present. She was bound to side with the Dark Elves on this one, and with Vittorio there, they would go at it like cats and dogs and turn the meeting into a waste of time.
“You don’t have to slit them yourself, Vittorio. There are plenty of people here who would gladly do it for you. Like the Elfuur Sisters over there. You can let them cut your life short if you like. Anyway, back on topic. I believe this alliance has its advantages, but I’m open to hearing different opinions.”
“Ah non! Now those sauvage chats are staring at my wrists like they’re fantasizing about gnawing them off…” Vittorio said with great pomp before smoothly switching gears into the next topic. “As for this Hero, isn’t that just a pretty word for a murder hobo who curries favor with those in power to put food on the table and clothes on his back?”
“…I didn’t think of it that way. I see. Since they don’t have a kingdom backing them, they need to earn their own living.”
The plan was to have Vittorio bring up other advantages to the alliance and convince the Dark Elves, but he’d offered a surprisingly interesting take. From day one, Takuto had lived a comfortable life, wanting for nothing as the king of a burgeoning nation. He could even instantly prepare food and supplies with Emergency Production, so he couldn’t deny that he might’ve viewed what it took to survive in this world lightly.
“Defeating monsters where he comes from gets him gold, but it’s worthless scrap metal in this world, ha!” Vittorio chortled.
“Hmm. Maybe we should upgrade the inn he’s staying at and give him an allowance? I don’t know what kind of impact improving their opinion of us will have, but it’s a clever move.”
“Well fed, well bred, to get into their head, mon dieu!” Vittorio chirped. “Pragmatic needs are surprisingly important! Not everyone can stifle their primitive cravings to live by nobler intentions!”
The Dark Elves’ stance seemed to soften as they listened to Vittorio’s argument. Is that the reason? they began to wonder. They viewed Yu Kamimiyadera as a being from another world with inexplicable powers, just like Witch Erakino and her cohort. He was no different in their eyes from the Demon Lord’s Army and the TRPG forces who had put them through hell.
It was no wonder they stubbornly insisted that working together was out of the question. The hidden purpose of this meeting was to gradually ease their perception and lead them in the direction Takuto wanted. Although it went without saying Takuto was still fully cautious of the RPG faction…
“Besides, we’ve already accepted the Regalia,” Takuto said. “I’d rather not offend someone who’s paid every courtesy toward us. Treating him rudely just because he poses a potential threat would call my dignity as king into question.”
“Decorum, smecorum. Why not borrow and bilk?” Vittorio proposed.
“That doesn’t set a good precedent…”
Takuto wasn’t personally opposed to the idea. He shot it down because of the death glares the Dark Elves shot at Vittorio for even suggesting that Takuto should break his promise. Takuto viewed double-crossing and betrayal as facets of war. The same did not apply to the Dark Elves. They held Mynoghra’s King Takuto Ira up on a pedestal.
To them, their king was the evilest, mightiest, and most infallible absolute being. The entire race strongly shared this image, and that was the reason they had been fiercely loyal to Takuto. In a sense, they also had delusions about who Takuto Ira was. And any action that might shatter that illusion had to be avoided at all costs. Otherwise, the empire would crumble beneath their feet…
“Now that you mention it, why didn’t they go to another country for support?” Emle asked. “Wouldn’t El-Nah—the current Succubi nation—or Qualia have been just as valid as Mynoghra?”
“Ah non!” Vittorio answered without a moment’s delay. “If a boy his age went to a kingdom of sexy succubi, he’d be gobbled right up. Nom-nom-nom. And don’t even mention Qualia! It’s a religious state, full of extrême restrictions!”
Emle didn’t bring up any of the neutral nations because they lacked national power. By process of elimination, Mynoghra, which had established peaceful relations with the neutral nations, would be the safest bet for the Hero duo to seek aid from. Looking at the facts that way, Takuto started to feel like Yu was in a surprisingly difficult position himself.
“It’s too early to make a judgment call either way,” Takuto said. “Keeping an eye on them at all times and our guard up is an absolute must, but otherwise, would you guys mind going along with this plan for now?”
“I have my concerns, but they can be set aside for the greater good of the nation,” Elder Moltar responded on behalf of his people. “The Regalia he brought as an offering to our king is essential to achieve Mynoghra’s greatest wish. All that remains is for us to be extra vigilant to ensure nothing happens to His Majesty.”
The Dark Elves were leaning toward being in favor of the plan now. They had given reluctant approval, but Takuto didn’t care as long as they approved. Besides, there was no knowing how their relationship with Yu would turn out in the long run. As long as Mynoghra was united on its decisions, all was good.
“In that case, my king, please allow me to add Lord Vittorio as one of Hero Yu’s watchdogs,” Gia requested.
“You want Vittorio? Why?”
Takuto could understand the rationale behind adding Vittorio to the guard detail, but he was more intrigued that the request came from Gia, who despised Vittorio with a passion. He pretended not to understand why and received an amusing response in return.
“It frustrates me to no end, but Lord Vittorio’s abilities are the real deal. His observational skills and eye for reading people are unmatched by all but you, Your Majesty. Taking that into account…I believe he’s the optimal choice for monitoring such a dangerous person.”
“I see…”
A very reasonable request, indeed. Vittorio’s various abilities specialized in disrupting cities and confusing and brainwashing units. However, his own backstory of possessing the art of winning people’s hearts made him well suited to identifying people’s subtleties. He wasn’t quite a spy unit, but it wasn’t a tall order to have him find and identify suspicious activity. He came across as reliable as ever, pushing aside his personal interests and advocating choices that benefited the country and the king during this meeting.
However, as well and good as that all sounded…
There’s no way in hell Vittorio himself would take on watchdog duty like Gia wants, so there’s no hope of this request going through! Takuto had to stifle a laugh.
Gia still had much to learn. His first mistake: trying to include Vittorio in the plan from the outset. It was better to modify the strategy later if Vittorio’s interests just so happened to conveniently align with theirs. That was the best way to handle the Gleeful Spin Doctor.
Unfortunately, Gia’s amateur attempt at wielding Vittorio resulted in him becoming Vittorio’s newest plaything.
“I’m moved to tears! Oooooh, how you’ve touched moi’s hearrrrt! What loyalty! What trust! Sir Gia! Oooooh, Monsieur Giaaaaaaaa! I’ve been wrong about you all this time!”
“Gah! Stop shouting! Stop spitting! It’s gross!”
“Does this mean it’s a-okay to bury the hatchet between us, Monsieur Gia? Are you and moi besties now? Mon poto? Friendsies forever? Bros before hoeeeeeeeeees?!”
“Seriously, stop spitting everywhere! Did you even hear what I said?! You’re capable of keeping watch, right?!”
“Hm, hrm, hummmmmm? Who knows? Do you think I can? Non, it might be c’est impossible for moi! Yup, no can do, Monsieur Gia. And soooo, it’s all up to you. He who suggests it, ingests it!”
“Stay still! Today I’m going to slice off that face of yours to stop it from spouting any more gibberish!”
“Oh dearie me! Such violence!”
Gia and Vittorio began bickering. Elder Moltar and the others looked on in exasperation.
Now that it’s come to this, I doubt we’ll be able to resume the meeting any time soon… Takuto was resigned to matters not proceeding. Then he realized he’d already achieved his main objective for the meeting, so he stood to end it.
He’d managed to sweep the problematic matter under the rug. He’d been worried about backlash from the Dark Elves, but he’d been able to convince them of the most difficult part, so the rest should fall cleanly into place.
“…All right! Why don’t we take a break? I’m heading back to my room, so call for me once things are settled here.”
Takuto withdrew from the room, leaving the chaos for the others to handle. The Elfuur Sisters, who’d jumped on the opportunity to sneak out when Takuto did, took up positions on either side of him and voiced their opinions.
“What do you think will happen this time, Your Majesty?” Caria asked.
“You look like you’re having a blast, Your Majesty,” Maria commented.
“Hmm, good question?” Takuto’s expression as he gave that vague reply was one of someone who was having the time of their life, just as Maria had observed.