Side Story 50: The Storm That is Approaching.

Side Story 50: The Storm That is Approaching.

The plan failed.

No, it succeeded.

Sitting on top of the Ankoran bridge, the natural rock formation connecting the western Inkong and the eastern Tazlok mountains to form what was known as the Ankoran mountain range, were two individuals. One was an elderly man with a walking stick, sitting down on the air itself as if some force was holding his body up with barely any effort, while the other was a younger man with a floating bed, sitting cross legged while writing notes on his party bracelets blue screen.

The elder had long, glimmering black hair, looking so full with vigor that it contrasted with the mans wrinkly skin and trembling fingers, too fragile to even rest properly on his stick. Two straight horns stuck out of the mans head, long enough to act like antennas, and glowed a dim gold as mana surged through them. The mans refined black fur coat was filled with gemstones while all ten of his fingers wore a different ring set with a different priceless jewel, but even all of this couldnt detract from his black, void-like eyes, and his one forked tail holding up a bejeweled gold crown.

On the other hand, the ghostly pale younger mans appearance was on the other side of the spectrum. While the elder looked dressed for the highest society, the slothful man gave no heed to his looks. His white coat was spotted with dirt and grim, with little bits of food bits here and there giving it some personality. Meanwhile, his shirt and shorts were ragged and filled with holes, seemingly rough and old enough to use as cleaning rags. Regardless, just like the elder, though, his clothes did little to hide his demonic features like his hooked prehensile tail or the two curved horns framing his ears.

How? The young man raised his scale-like brows, wrinkling his mouth open, showing off his vampire-like canines. You lost your second-to-last aberration, your minion, our dragon killer, and were also now in trouble with that dwarfs speech. Enlighten me, Lord Greed. Is it worth being on deaths door for all of this?

Because I have gained results in the form of progress and testing, the elder replied with a raspy voice. The mother of all success is failure. Isnt that what you and your fellow researchers always say, Lord Sloth?

Wasted time is wasted time. The pale man lazily shook his head, before pulling up a set of three scrolls, opening them all up to analyze the blueprints on them. Copies?

The elder nodded. My aberration always made a backup copy of all their blueprints. A genius artificer with access to the knowledge of Chihiro; I sacrificed one of my aberrations for it, I would not let it go to waste.

You told us you would deliver a dragon killer, but that dragon killer not only failed to kill a single true dragonkin, it was destroyed in the ensuing battle. The others will not be happy.

The others will be happy that it or that dragonslayer didnt accidentally kill Aurenas hound before the dragon killer is rebuilt. Imagine her dead and a rank SS dragon forgetting to follow Eltharions decrees and enacting revenge for her lost daughter. That would have been the worse scenario.

Wasted time! Time I could have used to sleep or do my own task; what a drag He threw the parchments on his bed before falling onto his build, yawning as he was starting to lose interest. I dont understand how you think, old timer. You're supposed to be the greediest person in BoleTaria, but you seem to like losing your gains here and there. Always an investment, but most fail to see fruition.

But if a single one of them blooms, I and our country will reap the produce for years to come. Like our plan to summon the otherworlders, or how I still managed to give you the near perfected blueprints to solve your issue in reconstructing Castle Fatalisas dragonators. Money, wealth, gems they are all resources. What I desire is progress and survival for our race. His black eyes widened until two golden dots appeared in them, giving this man an even eerier alien demeanor. Listen, well, sloth. For we greeds do not understand your lack of desires.

We slothies do not lack desires, we understand what we need and what we want, unlike you dessies, the lazing demonkin addressed his conflicting interests to a desire demonkin, or dessy. Explain, then. What is going on in your head? Why did you need me to puppeteer a corpse only for you to waste it like this?

The demonic power of a demonkin of sloth was the power of control through puppeteering, allowing them to stay away from the issue at hand by using proxies to solve their problems. All to allow them to laze and sleep without any worries.

On the other hand, greed was all about gravitational pulls. If there was something they wished to obtain, then even physics would grovel before their will. At least, only if their desire and control over it was strong enough to fight back against the whole world.

While not directly opposites of each other, both of these demonkin Princes of Sins could not fully see eye-to-eye. One preferred efficiency for the sake of not wasting ones time, while the other did not mind risky ventures as long as they would eventually yield results. Even if they didnt, as long as one of the many investments produces an acceptable outcome, to the Prince of Greed, it would have been worthwhile. To become rich, one must be willing to pay.

Remember, Lord Sloth, our mission as Princes of Sins is to ensure the survival of the demonkin race and the elimination of the Empire of Humans at any cost. Lord Greed raised his left hand up, stretching it to the horizon to envelop his hand over the sun. All of this? A threat to us demonkins? Nonsense. What can this alliance of theirs do if they cannot reach us? For even levianewt boats cannot pass the southern sea due to Plesias damage!

The Twin-Elemental Lake, the same area where VifiYok received her powers, was the end product of the destruction of a dungeon core and Goddess Plesias divine wrath upon the taboo breakers. The resulting explosion and divine curse crushed the land, making it uninhabitable aside from the monsters who spawned inside the area. Located to the north of BoleTarias borders, the influence of fallout affected the sea northwest of it, causing such intense turbulence that made it impossible to sail through it.

To reach BoleTaria, one must enter through the south desert area of the Empire of Folschreck, through the Great Desert of Evida. One must then sail over to the main BoleTarian kingdom through an ocean gap separating the continent Altrust from Numerus.

In context, if Hestia were to sail from the Kingdom of Artoriass Port Annencia directly south, she would reach the conquered war-torn lands BoleTaria had stolen from the Empire of Folschreck. This mountainous area was used as a war camp, and would mean little to the demonkin if they were to lose the lands.

However, from Kargryx and Caedhul, directly south would be this Sea of Turbulence, forcing any seafarers or flies to either go around it or through the same route as mentioned before. Despite knowledge of the world being a sphere being spread by the Caedhulens due to their naval and explorer lifestyle, the path to Numerus through the northern sea routes would be ill advised due to the glaciers and cold.

This was something the Princes of Sins knew. If one wished to launch a war into BoleTarian land, one must move through Folschreckian land.

Meaning, we use Folschreck as our shield. If the dwarves, elves, and dragonewts must fight the humans to reach us, then we will rid ourselves of the humans earlier than we wished. Do not forget, the elves and dwarves might have defeated the Empire in the War for the Faefolk, but they never managed to breach its capital. They had to capitulate, as losing to them was preferable over Carmaniate and us, the Prince of Greed continued. It doesnt matter if Aurenas new dog manages to change something in the Church of Aurena, our influence is already solid enough within Folschrecks shadow to counter anything she does.

The Prince of Sloth said nothing, for silence showed his agreement.

The otherworlders possibly knowing the truth now? It doesnt matter. We control the cards, they must hide theirs. Fools, listening to monsters in sheep clothing; returning to the Empire means we have the power. Even if they manage to outsmart us, they will create chaos, and that is what we want. The elder stood up, walking over to the younger man with a hunched back. Those are my answers. What say you?

He only wishes for the destruction of the humans The Prince of Sloth lazily stared into the old mans black eyes, showing no inkling of the emotions he was holding back.

Train? Yes, you may and should. But at your current levels, youll be just like Takuma and Kyouya, desperately trying to keep up with Hestia to make yourself useful. At the very least, those two are showing progress, even if its not fast enough. Helps theyre around my little troublemaker, Franz smirked. But that doesnt include us. For better or worse, we are strangers to her party. None of you trusted her when it mattered, and you think everything would be all good after we join them? That I wouldlet you all just shake hands and become friends, despite the fact Yuukos mistake nearly allowed the dragonslayers to kill her?

Yuuko flinched, on the forefront of receiving Franzs rage. Ichijo, her party member, tried to cover for her, but was quickly silenced.

I have said all I needed after Takumas coup detat. None of you tried to speak with her, you all believed the church that she could brainwash you. She couldnt even defend herself before all of you attacked her! If she had died there, if I hadnt been able to learn she reincarnated, if Franz stopped himself, noticing he was rambling to the point his head felt warm. I will make all of you work. After all, some of you even still have some animosity. I know you Takuma. I can see it with Aiko too, right now. All of you will have your grievances and will have trouble fitting in at first, because they already have Asakas and Tamaes parties.

H-hey, you cant make that choice for us! If I made a mistake, then you should have given me the chance to apologGuys? Yuuko tried to argue back, but fell silent when Takuma suddenly nodded. She stared at him, her face twitching, asking why.

Thats my issue. He dodged the question However, Franz was quick to backstab him.

Because Takuma, as I said before, has an overinflated ego because of the circumstances he was born into. Now, he doesnt need to follow in his fathers footsteps in this world, he can make his own fame and wealth. He can become his own man. He wants to be the hero in this world, and I know he wont accept Hestia as the person to actually change things.

Takuma glared at Franz, ready to swing his blade at him, but stopped himself when he remembered how cramped the wagon was. One bad swing and he could hurt one of the others instead.

So, instead, he fought with words. And you dont? This is the reason you dragged us here, right? To make use of us to impress your cousin. You think the church will just accept us back?

Yes, they will, because my connections will assure us. Dont forget, the demonkins want us to cause trouble for the Empire, they dont care what we do as long as we dont directly inconvenience them, Franz replied.

We also have to make sure the Prince of Greed doesnt talk about VifiYok, but I can rely on Streiga and the Boss for that. Even if Franz had things planned out, there were still cracks he had to fill up. He composed himself and continued.

After all, the reason why I am bringing all of you along with me is that you will be more useful alongside me, instead of with Hestia. Here, you cant just leech off her party because I am not a dragon with the power to defeat a rank S dragonslayer.

As if she could. Have you see Galg fight? Your

Yes, she will, Franz swiftly cut off Takuma, showing full confidence in his cousin. Even if she couldnt, she has something none of us havepowerful, trustable allies. Unlike you, she faced disasters that could destroy cities and countries. She has faced enough trials to steel her. My cousin had always been a bundle of energy, but confidence had always been something she never managed to obtain but now as Hestia, she has grown into a person we can entrust our faith in.

Franz drew his face closer to his classmates. But that also means we need to pave a road for her to walk in. For her armies to solve our issues. We dont get to sit on the side lines, working in the back like some spoiled children. No. We are Shiroko High students; our parents sent us there to become their successors. Heirs. Elites of the future, if you want me to use the words of our principal!

He stood up and went out of the wagon, standing on the coachman seat next to the coach. He turned his head to the wagon next to it, noticing his second-in-command, Ryuji, was already there. There, he also saw the Hand of Heaven, Lautrex von Cashim, looking at him, before he nodded.

Ryuji! Franz called out.

They agreed! Lautrex will work with us, he replied, causing Franz to smile.

He then turned his head back to the people in the wagon. I will right the justice system of the Empire of Folschreck. I will assure that my cousin will have the easiest way into the Empire possible through me. A storm is coming soon for the Church of Aurena. All of you have a choice, no matter how insane they are. Once we make it back to the Empire, all of you may choose what to do. Return to Hestia, work with me, or find somewhere to sit all of this out.

He reached his hand out. I am Franz Akabane, and I am the newest rank eight of the Yanderu Eluseuss. The eighth underboss of this black mercenary company. Will you join me and help me fight for us to return back home?

I will. Ichijo, the only boy from Yuukos party, stood up. He hadnt forgotten the promise Hestia fulfilled. We were tasked to assassinate another otherworlder. Another Earthling! But despite all of that, she still was nice enough to correct our mistakes. Yuuko-chan, we should help. This is the only way.

Yuuko sighed, but shrugged, prompting the other members of her party to stand up in unison. Her conflicted feelings for what she did to Hestia and what the latter did for her made her act. As long as I dont end up nearly dead again. Can you do that, Franz?

He nodded. I have our cover story already planned, in addition to a trump card that will allow us to survive. Even if they dont trust us, I have a way to make sure they cant get rid of us without ruining their plans. We need to work with the demonkins to the point that resummoning another set of heroes will only slow them down. If we can do that, we can make sure my cousin will be able to handle the rest.

[The Light] of the west, and the Light of the east. Family members who no longer share blood with each other, but possess memories that kept their bond tight.

Once again separated, the young mans conviction was hardened into steel and his eyes were glued to the east where his duty awaited him. The Empire was huge, but the sway of both power and words could turn things into his favor. With connections both in the shadows and now in the light, the young man clenched his hands, already formulating the people he had to target to bring his revolution of the justice system to life.

However, with his formal entrance into the stage of history, the leeches he wanted to take away from his beloved cousins would now cling to him. The burden they brought would now be his problem.

I am useful, right? I am more than just a pretty face for people to use, right? I am. I am! I am an idol, just like her! I can shine just as brightly! Aiko bit her lips, staring at the ground with a reignited fire.

Franz. You wont be the only one to do something about our problems. Dont underestimate me! Takuma glared at Franzs back, his hand around his sword handle softening.