Regardless of Oknodie’s eerie instruments, the Butler was able to wrap up all the proposals from the executives at the executive meeting in one round.
“I hereby declare the conclusion of the individual proposals from the executives. Next, there will be guidance and establishment of a major strategy as the direct Third Command under the Foundation. Originally, the strategy of the high-ranking executives of the Foundation is a glorious opportunity that only a few chosen executives are permitted to hear.”
Pasible Yep looked with a dull face at the skull’s blue glaze, as if saying, “Oh, I see.”
Oknodie and Darknodi showed curiosity at the mention of a new event, but they seemed relaxed, as if they were about to witness a show.
Garlic Fried Chicken, who had stopped pretending to be dead, was a guy that felt uncomfortable being recognized as an executive, dirt from his knees being dusted off.
‘There isn’t a single executive I can trust to share this with.’
If his faction had been stable, he wouldn’t be having such worries.
Generally, it was common to kick out other factions and allow one or two executives who could present useful proposals or demonstrate their capability to participate in the executive meeting.
However, this executive meeting had the mourning of executives along with a battle against strong enemies and the attack of the Dark Princess Oknodie.
“Especially as a gesture of goodwill, I’ll share the major strategy with everyone. If the Dragon Principal presided as the direct Third Command holder, the assassination of the leader of the spirit contractor faction, threatening mankind, would be the main agenda, and if the Secretary Office Head presided, a large-scale operation to fulfill the Director’s special request would be executed.”
“Ugh, this is boring. It would have been better if the Secretary Office Head held the executive meeting. Can you tell Uncle to come back instead of me right now?”
“…Right now, considering everything, it’s assumed that there is leisure in the Middle Realm. Under my auspices as Butler, we have established a strategic offensive against otherworldly entities. And now, the most threatening otherworldly entity to humankind is the [Fire Spirit Realm].”
The Butler deliberately ignored Oknodie’s dissatisfaction and continued with his own words.
“Due to the atrocious [Weekly Event] orchestrated by the Dragon Principal of the Gift Academy, Evil Dragon Omoshiroi, the connection points with the Fire Spirit Realm have vastly increased across the continent.”
“Recently, they captured a Supreme Fire Spirit as a magic tool, causing damage, but due to the emergence of unidentified risks, all the territories occupied by the Foundation were swept away.”
At that remark, Oknodie, who had been jeering, shut his mouth.
Unaware of Oknodie’s rolling eyes, the Butler was too engrossed in his speech to notice.
“Sure enough, there have been traces of a gigantic aerial life-form bombarding from all directions, indicating that they’ve begun internal enforcement in the Fire Spirit Realm. They’re likely to invade as a final resistance before the connection with the Middle Realm weakens.”
Bam!
Is this my fault?
Oknodie, who was uncertain, realized belatedly that it was indeed his mistake.
A moving mana disaster and an aerial ruler.
The runaway airship Airodilon.
The result of carelessly dumping a ruler-level wandering boss from Professor Robert Elahim’s [Responding Strategy to the Five Alarm Emergency] lecture returned in this manner.
Even though it was an event that happened after Darknodi had already been created, considering the same dimensional gate dumping against the Mayor of the City of Pleasure, Asmodeus, it turned out that both the original and the clone behaved exactly the same!
“Of course, the spirit realm won’t allow our invasion to proceed without a fight. There’s a considerable chance that they’ll retaliate fiercely against our invasion as they see us as mere prey.”
“What are you going to do?”
“If the one doing the trouble and the one diffusing it are separate, that’s not fair. We’ll open the dimensional gate to invade, and the location will be inside the Gift Academy.”
Wham!
Shockingly, the Butler boldly proposed to infiltrate the Academy directly alongside the Foundation executives!
Oknodie, who was normally fearless, even showed signs of worry at that reckless decision.
“Isn’t that too dangerous?”
“Hah. It’s nothing to worry about. I thought the Foundation’s Dark Princess was an evil demon who wouldn’t understand human hearts, but look at all this concern you’re showing. Do you have an inkling that the Foundation is mine and that my life is too precious to waste?”
“No, if the Butler dies at the hands of the Principal, the already strong Principal will become even stronger, which is way too risky!”
“…”
It’s not concern for the Butler or the executives, but rather concern about the backlash!
“Can you sneak in without being noticed?”
“I have a method.”
The Foundation wasn’t a fool either; they could plant people worldwide and manage scholarship students.
But to Oknodie’s eyes, he seemed like an NPC boasting bravado, akin to a newbie on the first playthrough sprinting toward a bad ending.
“When will you come to the Academy?”
“Immediately after the Four Kings are eliminated.”
Ugh, I shouldn’t have revealed the timing.
Seeing Oknodie’s face filled with regret, the Butler felt a sense of stress that had been resting on his chest evaporate for the first time.
The reason was a little different, but it made him realize that this troublesome young lady was, after all, aware that there was something to be afraid of in the world.
“Then the executive meeting has concluded, so let’s execute the proposals. The deadline is typically within a maximum of four years. Of course, resolving the situation through the extermination of the Demon King’s Four Kings is urgent, and it will probably be wrapped up within days since we have an excellent informant.”
“…”
“I hope what was said in the meeting isn’t an empty promise. If that’s the case, the next reason I meet you won’t be for an executive meeting.”
As the Butler left, it seemed as if the long confrontation was finally coming to an end. However, it got slightly prolonged due to Oknodie’s interruption of the Butler’s mystical departure.
“You must deliver the gift promised to Papa when we catch the Four Kings!”
“Of course. I will ensure it is delivered.”
“Actually, I’d recommend delivering it before capturing the Four Kings!”
“We can’t afford to do that before addressing urgent matters.”
“Hmph. Didn’t I tell you in advance?”
Oknodie lost the chance to avoid the 50% reduction effect of the Rune of Misfortune, not realizing the Butler’s genuine goodwill.
*
“So, what now?”
Darknodi probed Oknodie’s intentions.
The executive meeting had ended, and she had made a promise with Oknodie.
Let’s switch places for a while.
Driven by the desire to personally experience a relationship she had only kept in her memory, Darknodi pretended to be Oknodie as she returned to the Academy, while Oknodie was set to satisfy her curiosity with the fallen sinners of the modified army.
Though they had made a promise, when it came to actually implementing what they had verbally committed to, feelings could change.
Fortunately, Oknodie, being a veteran player who had spent a long time as a [Marine who Specializes in Strength All-in], was not quick to break promises.
“Don’t worry. I’ll switch soon!”
“Right now, I’m more worried about the other meaning of going to the Academy. You’re not planning to run away outside after the Butler gets into trouble, right?”
“……I have no idea what you’re talking about!”
“So, what does ‘soon’ mean? You said you’d switch immediately, but now it sounds different. Is there still something left to do?”
“If the Butler arrives at the Academy too soon and causes a ruckus, Darknodi might not get to enjoy campus life before it’s all over!”
“That is true.”
“So I thought: how can I delay the Butler’s return to the Gift Academy?”
Oknodie recalled a brilliant idea.
“I can give early warnings so I can keep running before getting caught by the Butler!”
The Flying Skeleton Pasible Yep, who was eavesdropping shamelessly on the side, was shocked enough to rattle his skull.
“Oh my God. The Dark Princess saving the Demon King’s Four Kings? Is this daughter of the Foundation, or the Demon King’s daughter? At this rate, she might even aim for the Demon King’s daughter position!”
“Oh really? I’d be interested in that! But it’s too late. You’ve already captured the Four Kings El Niño!”
Darknodi, the clone, realized right away.
If she hadn’t captured him, she would have genuinely aimed for the Demon King’s adopted daughter position, looking full of regret.
“…You seriously sound like a dark shadow.”
“What do you mean?”
“You understood everything but are still playing dumb.”
“Hehe.”
While everyone else was aghast at Oknodie’s plan to send a signal to the Demon King’s Four Kings, one person felt serious about a different subject.
‘Wait… what did I just hear? Oknodie is going to switch roles with Darknodi for a while?’
It was essentially the same as beggar and prince planning to swap their statuses, wasn’t it?
Sing felt an immense sense of aversion.
No matter how much she was a clone, she was just another being who looked infinitely similar to Oknodie.
‘Because the situation is different, their way of thinking is different, and the relationships that Oknodie built would be unilaterally inherited by a fake. That fake could just replace where Oknodie should be?!’
Sing realized two paths awaited him.
“You all can go ahead! I have to stay behind in case I save the Four Kings. What about Darknodi? Should I lend you my uniform?”
“I don’t need it. Once I touch it, I can modify the spell to create a uniform myself.”
One way was to inform everyone at the Academy that the evil Darknodi was not the real Oknodie but a clone.
The other was to remain with Oknodie, who was satisfying her curiosity and goofing off with the modified army, refusing to let her slip away.
“Isn’t it time to go? We should be on our way.”
As Pasible Yep urged him on, Sing made his decision.
Which path he should take.
