A Choice

After the round table meeting ended, Ars handed communication and teleportation magic tools to the leaders of each nation.

His stated purpose was to improve relations between nations, but setting aside communication, teleportation magic tools were not something easily crafted. This served to demonstrate to the various influential figures just how advanced the Demonlands' technology truly was.

One was placed before Ria as well, who remained seated, and Ars spoke to her in a surprisingly gentle tone.

"If by some chance you think of a better method, please contact me."

Ria watched his retreating back with emotionless eyes.

After a while, she leaned back into her chair.

"Ria."

Carla gently placed a hand on Ria's shoulder and called out to her.

"Let's go home. And let's think about this."

She whispered close to Ria's ear.

"We still have time left."

 

*

 

The two flew back to Manesh at full speed and had Serge use his magic to gather the kingdom's key figures.

This included the Ogre King, as well as the beastkin and dwarven chiefs. The most striking among them was an elf with faintly glowing golden hair.

"It's a pleasure to meet you all, humans and demi-humans."

The elf bowed gracefully in greeting.

"My name is Labyrinth. I am the one who manages Labyrinth City's labyrinth."

Yes, this was the true form of Labyrinth, who normally appeared as a fairy.

"So our opponent is Earth, huh…"

"This is troublesome…"

Serge and Labyrinth, both reincarnators, murmured, but that wasn't even the main issue.

"What does it even mean for two worlds to collide?"

When Guinevere asked about the crucial point, Ria prompted Serge with a glance.

"Ah, well…"

Serge began explaining from the faint images remaining in his memory, and the hall filled with murmuring for quite some time.

"So, can we actually win?"

The Ogre King, probably the most hot-blooded person present, posed the question.

"We should be able to win. After all, Earth doesn't have any weapons capable of destroying an entire planet… right?"

At Ria's confirmation, Serge and Labyrinth nodded.

Earth's weapons, with nuclear arms at the forefront, likely surpassed this world's standard in destructive power.

But destroying an entire planet like Valis could should be impossible for them.

"At the very least… the armies of the country that heroes are summoned from could defeat anything other than dragons. Magic would change things, of course. But to face their armies with just your body, you'd need strength on the level of Nee-chan or Carla-san."

The power of automatic rifles would riddle even ogre warriors with holes.

"With anti-tank rifles, even a single person could probably take down a giant. And they have tens of thousands of those. Our country's soldiers wouldn't stand a chance."

When Serge explained with a shrug, murmuring filled the hall once again.

If they were up against the combined military forces of Earth's advanced nations, this world's armies wouldn't stand a chance.

Even against America alone, they would probably be defeated.

That was excluding the demon army, of course.

But there were existences that could overturn everything.

Dragons. The Divine Dragons in particular.

How could anyone possibly contend with beings capable of destroying planets?

 

*

 

The briefing finished, everyone took a break.

When Ria entered her office, she flopped down onto the cushioned sofa.

"Nee-chan, what are you going to do?"

Those who entered the room were Carla, Guinevere, Serge, Labyrinth, and Irina. It was beside the point, but most of them were women.

"What do you think?"

"Honestly… as long as I can save the people close to me from my previous life, I don't really care if Earth is destroyed."

Even as Ria stared at him wide-eyed, Serge's expression was serious. He wasn't joking or being evasive.

"Same here. My home is that labyrinth."

Labyrinth agreed as well. Two of the three reincarnators present considered the destruction of their homeland unavoidable.

No, if you included the Demon King and the others, Ria was the only one on the opposing side.

Was she the one who was strange?

"But Nee-chan, if you choose another path, I'll be on your side. Probably."

Serge said with a carefree smile. He was unreliable, but a definite ally.

"Ria, as you said back there, I believe that if we initiate The Millennium's human-demon war, we can still avoid the Great Collapse even now. If Ogress stands against the demons, Casalia and Lemdria might rise again as well."

Carla was aware of Ria's inner turmoil. That's why she said such things.

"I don't think that would work."

But Guinevere disagreed.

"Both King Hollyn and King Neyas should understand which choice is best for their countries. I don't think humans could win against the current demon army. And besides, Ria."

She looked at Ria not with her usual teasing manner, but with sincere eyes.

"Right now, you carry this country on your back. Regardless of your previous life, the lives of Ogress's people have been entrusted to your judgment."

Ah, that's right.

The spirit that was herself. What made her who she was.

What did Ria stand upon? What lay at her very core?

Even in this world, it was what had led her to leave the royal palace and venture into adventure.

It was a thirst for strength. A will to survive.

That was something cultivated in her previous life. That's what made her different from the other reincarnators.

Unless she did something about that, Ria would never be able to abandon her attachment to Earth.

She was torn.

Regardless of her previous life, what composed her present self was of this world.

Yet she couldn't discard this hesitation either.

She needed something to sever her indecision. What did she need?

In the end, Ria chose to fight.

Ria picked up the communication device she'd received from the Demon King.

Absurdly, it was shaped like a cell phone. Perhaps he lacked the technology to make it a smartphone.

Using an operation method she had nearly forgotten, she managed to contact her target.

"Yes, this is the Demon King speaking."

"It's me."

"That was quick. Did you come up with a good idea?"

"Fight me."

A long silence followed.

"… Why?"

"In the end, I'm the kind of person who can only think in these terms."

That was the conclusion Ria had reached.

"No way. There's no benefit for me in that."

"If you win, the Ogress Kingdom will fully cooperate with you. That includes Carla and Guinevere."

She could tell Guinevere was agitated behind her but ignored it.

"That's still not enough. If I die here, there's a possibility the demon army will collapse. Then the various races will rampage freely and might cause a human-demon war. There's too little benefit on my end."

"If you refuse, Ogress will use everything it has to eliminate the demon army. You can't deny the possibility that Casalia and Lemdria will follow suit, can you?"

"… That possibility is low."

"But it's not zero, is it?"

Another long silence followed.

"… Why are you so stubborn…? Even if Earth was your previous life's homeland, you're a person of this world now, aren't you? Since you know which side will win, shouldn't you protect your own country?"

"Sorry, but that's just who I am. I can't help it."

The silence continued. Ars let out a deep sigh.

"A one-on-one duel, then?"

"That's right."

"May I specify the location and time? Also, anything goes with weapons and magic?"

"I don't mind, but I want it soon. Please decide now if possible."

"Such an impatient person… We'll probably never understand each other as humans, you and I."

"Sorry. This is the most I can concede."

That was Ria's decision.

To determine not just the fate of the Ogress Kingdom, but the destiny of both Earth and this world, through a duel.

Ria mocked herself, thinking she was just that kind of person.

"Three days from now. Noon, standard time. Above the former Imperial Capital. Two witnesses each. How's that?"

"Understood. That's fine. Thank you."

"… You're welcome."

And the communication was cut.

"So that's what happened."

When Ria turned around, each person had their own thoughts clearly displayed on their faces.

"I'll accompany you."

Carla said with a calm smile.

"Honestly, do whatever you want."

Guinevere held back her anger and shrugged.

"Then I'll go as the other witness."

Serge was as casual as ever.

"Even if you win, nothing will probably change, you know?"

Labyrinth furrowed her brow.

"Ria-chan, why are you going to fight?"

Irina tilted her head, seemingly unable to understand human behavior.

To that, Ria replied:

"Because the mountain is there."