MEANWHILE, Takuto was forming a strategy hinged on Keiji’s involvement, none the wiser about the Game Master’s questionable mental state. He planned to form an alliance with Keiji Kuhara.
When Atou learned of this insane plan, it took her a while to process it. Keiji was someone they had fought with their lives on the line. She assumed he might join their enemy’s alliance, but she never imagined allying with him. In all actuality, she even thought that he needed to be eliminated on the spot, as he posed a risk for the future.
But Takuto was of a different mind.
Atou rarely opposed Takuto’s ideas. But would this one actually work out? She posed this frank question to her master.
“Is it really possible to win over the GM and Lenea’s Saints, even though we were once such bitter enemies?”
“Your guess is as good as mine. As for Kuhara, when I probed him during the All-Faction Conference, he seemed skittish and weak, so I think we might be able to do something about him if we go in tough.”
“…Is he actually usable in a fight?”
Takuto knew what Atou was getting at with her question, even if she didn’t say it in so many words.
Keiji Kuhara had been stripped of his Game Master abilities.
When he was settling the score with Keiji, Takuto used the TRPG game system to initiate a disciplinary motion. Through that, he had stripped away his opponent’s greatest weapon, his GM Authority.
In other words, Keiji Kuhara had been reduced to a mere TRPG Player who could just roll the dice.
Atou wanted to know if he would still be a useful ally in the fight ahead.
Takuto had naturally already accounted for that.
“There are plenty of ways to make him useful, just like how there was a way for me to strip Kuhara of his GM Authority then and there.”
“In which case, it all hinges on whether he will agree to join us or not.”
Takuto nodded in the affirmative. He wasn’t worried about the TRPG abilities. The problematic factor was how Keiji would react to the plan.
His idea was backed by what Yu had told him about each faction and god having their own goals. The TRPG faction was consistently trying to create a peaceful country when they infiltrated the Divine Nation of Lenea. Obviously, all the massacres and decisions they made during that process were questionable, but they had been acting with relatively good intentions.
If Keiji had a conflicting goal, he wouldn’t have allowed such actions. And yet, as the GM, he consistently cooperated and aided Erakino and the Saints in that venture.
If he, like Yu Kamimiyadera and Takuto, had even the slightest desire to live in peace with someone dear to him, then Takuto felt it was worth a shot.
“It’ll depend on what Kuhara is after, but I don’t think an alliance is entirely out of the question. There’s room for negotiation,” Takuto said.
But unfortunately, Takuto had defeated Keiji’s Witch, Erakino. That was the linchpin concern. If Takuto were in Keiji’s position, he would never forgive anyone who took away his Atou. They would need to find common ground…or Takuto needed to bring him the ultimate peace offering…
Guess I’ll have to think about that after I find him. And if I’m being greedy, I want the Saints too… But that might be shooting for the moon. They’re both sticklers.
Takuto would love to get the two Saints to join his alliance. But he had a feeling they would be harder to win over than Keiji. He decided he would be happy as long as they didn’t become the enemy.
“Teaming up with an old enemy is a classic move that’s bound to be entertaining. I’m not sure what the odds of it actually happening are, but if we can form an alliance with them, then our forces will definitely be on par with the enemy’s.”
The GM abilities were overpowered. With them in Mynoghra’s arsenal, they would have plenty of ways to take on the Lawful Continent Alliance. With Takuto, Yu, and Keiji, the Dark Continent Alliance would have more Players in its lineup…
“I see. So that’s your plan! Now that I think about it, that must be why you urged the Dark Elves to concentrate their investigation into people.”
“Yup. Of course, it’d be awesome if we dig up some interesting people to recruit as well.”
His all-or-nothing killer plan wouldn’t come into play until they actually found Keiji. He was likely somewhere on the Dark Continent, but if he had escaped to another continent through Sutharland, it’d be extremely difficult to find him within the year.
In any case, finding the TRPG faction’s location was the first step. All other plans would go from there.
“We’ll remain in obscurity for the year. At least it looks like it will be an entertaining year.”
The King of Ruin chuckled darkly.
War was on the horizon. That battle would be one of epic proportions that would shake this world to its very core.
Of that, there was no doubt.