I had forgotten, but Ranga is sleeping inside my shadow.
In a low-power state (sleep mode), it seems she is conscious but cannot move.
We cannot measure her abilities, but it seems she is evolving in some way.
Well, if I am in danger, she will come out.
Though she doesn't seem interested in the meeting, she seems to be listening to the conversation.
Shall we begin, then?
Just as I was about to announce the start of the meeting,
"Excuse me, I apologize for interrupting your meeting!
Sir, a visitor has arrived.
They have an urgent matter to convey, no matter what, they want to pass it on..."
A guard entered and reported this.
Rigld was about to get angry at the guard who had run in, but Kaijin calmed him down.
Since the meeting hasn't started yet, it's fine for now. But it's a problem that anyone can just walk in so easily in the future.
"Rigld, it's a task for the future."
"Yes, I am ashamed."
"No, no, just the fact that you can think of such things shows that everyone is making an effort."
He consoled him.
Indeed, while there are still shortcomings, things are gradually improving.
If we think about it in the long term, it will be fine.
He had the visitor brought in.
"It's been a while, Duke Rimuru.
This time, I've come to support you. Fortunately, I'm not too late."
Saying this, Hughes, the branch master of the Free Guild in the Kingdom of Brumund, entered.
He was fully equipped, dressed for battle.
Huh? Hmm?
Thinking about it, it has been about 10 days since I evacuated about 50 adventurers and merchants, right?
And he must have received the report and rushed here to support us.
It's a touching story, but is it really okay for him to take our side?
"Sorry for the trouble, but you're busy preparing for battle.
However, your preparations are lacking. Has the main force from Palmas not arrived yet?
According to our information, it's a 15,000-strong army.
It's not a situation where you can be holding a banquet to boost morale.
I will not hesitate to offer my humble assistance."
He spoke with a fiery gaze, as if prepared to die.
Yeah. The battle is over now, but it's hard to say.
Moreover, he continued,
"This is a good town.
The town is well-planned, the houses are elegantly built.
The stone-paved roads are as good as the imperial road.
I was surprised.
I don't want to make this place a battlefield. I advise a surprise attack to take out the enemy's leader in one go.
We heard that you are supported by the Church of the Holy Light.
Therefore, only 50 adventurers of B-rank or higher have come here.
The country cannot openly support us. I hope you understand...
However, we 50 will attack the main force of Palmas, and take advantage of the confusion..."
He spoke passionately, but the officers of Tempest were stunned.
Well, for us, it's an old story, you know.
But I thought Brumund had abandoned us, so I never expected them to send reinforcements.
Even with the contract, there was a way to run away, depending on how it was interpreted...
I felt a little happy.
But, well, that's aside.
"Uh, I appreciate your intentions, but it's already over."
"Over? What do you mean?"
"How should I put it...
In short, I wiped them out!"
Huh? He made a voice that didn't sound like a voice, and was speechless.
Yoim hit Hughes on the shoulder, and Kabal offered words of comfort.
Eren and Gid said, "Well, we can't believe it!"
Of course, they can't.
However, it hasn't been two weeks since the declaration of war.
They probably expected the main force to arrive in a week, buy some time with field battles for 2-3 days, and prepare for a siege as a last resort.
They probably thought the war had already started, and since we were living peacefully, they must have mistakenly thought the main force was delayed.
It was too peaceful, and suspicious, but...
In any case, it seems they understood the situation through Kabal and Eren's explanations.
He ordered the 50 people waiting outside to be guided to their accommodations to rest.
And he decided to have Hughes join the meeting.
While it may not represent the Kingdom of Brumund, the opinions of humans are valuable.
Now, let's start the meeting! Just as he was about to declare this,
"Excuse me, is it okay?"
Vesuta raised his hand and spoke.
What's the matter?
"What? Is there a problem?"
When asked,
"Yes, actually, a new long-distance communication device has been completed...
So, it's now possible to have a conversation with someone far away through video."
Hmm.
It's a great invention, but why is he starting this now?
Thinking about it,
"When I reported the current situation to the Dwarf King, he said he had something to say...
I thought it would be a good opportunity if I could do it here, where all the officers are gathered."
Indeed.
If that's the case, there's no problem...
"Vesuta, it's not a big deal, but is it a secret?
There are people from Yoim and the Brumund Guild here, is it okay?
If it's a personal matter, we can make time later?"
"No, no. The Dwarf King said it's also about the future relations between countries...
I told them about the meeting today, and they said they would gather their representatives as well."
"If that's the case, are they waiting for us now?"
"Yes, that's right."
That's right. The Dwarf Kingdom hasn't officially declared diplomatic relations.
The conditions they agreed to are a non-aggression pact and a mutual technology exchange agreement.
If our country were to disappear, it would lose its meaning. But this time, we won.
Given this result, it can be inferred that it has become an issue that they cannot ignore.
After all, we have proven that a country can defeat a 15,000-strong army.
They will either formally establish diplomatic relations or, as enemies of humanity, be destroyed.
"Vesuta, I have a question, did you tell them I became a Demon Lord?"
"Yes, I told them everything."
Ah, as expected.
The confirmation was done this morning, and the fact that they are gathering representatives so quickly shows that they are taking the situation seriously.
After all, if you declare that a new Demon Lord-class monster has built a village and become a Demon Lord, it's normal to be shocked.
But anyway, it will be exposed soon. On the contrary, it's better.
Given this, there's no problem with holding a conference now.
After all, we were going to decide on a policy and hear their opinions.
"Understood. Bring that communication device and set it up.
Let's use it to set up an emergency conference."
He declared this.
It's a sudden situation, but it turned out well.
After all, it's an important conference to decide on future policies.
Thus, the meeting was changed to a conference and scheduled to start in an hour.
Once the break was announced, Hughes approached in a flustered state.
And,
"Did you just say something I shouldn't have heard?
I got the feeling that you said you became a Demon Lord?"
He asked, trembling.
Are you holding your pee? You can go if you want.
"Huh? Ah, Demon Lord.
Is that it?
Before you faint, why don't you go to the bathroom?"
"Are you an idiot! This isn't the time for that!
Demon Lord, what the hell! What's going on?"
Eh? It's annoying.
From the beginning? Do I have to explain from the beginning?
Well, just by saying I wiped them out, it might be too much to expect them to understand everything.
I decided to give a brief explanation.
Just as I was explaining to Hughes,
"Excuse me! Another visitor for you, Rimuru.
What would you like to do?"
The guard asked me.
What is it? It's a day with many visitors.
Muttering and talking to the air, I ignored Hughes and decided to meet the visitor.
I headed to the room where the visitor was waiting.
When I entered the room, there were about five people, including a gentleman in fine attire and what seemed to be high-ranking officials.
One gentleman was sitting on a sofa made in this town, and the five officials were standing on both sides, guarding him.
They looked well-trained.
The gentleman sitting on the sofa had a well-groomed face, and I imagined he must have been quite popular when he was young.
His squinting eyes were a distinctive feature.
"Ah, I kept you waiting.
Nice to meet you, I'm Rimuru, the king of this town.
Pleased to meet you!"
I greeted him casually.
Even though I became a Demon Lord, I am still unfamiliar with manners and formalities.
No one knows much about such things...
Well, I plan to learn from someone who knows soon.
Hearing my greeting, the squinting man stood up.
And, with a loud "Kuang!" he opened his eyes,
"Are you the demon who bewitched my daughter?
Are you prepared?"
He immediately activated a high-level fire spell and began to chant.
Hey! This guy is out of control.
In my knowledge, a high-level fire spell is the most difficult spell to cast.
Its power is so great that it could cause significant damage to a town, even in a simplified form.
After all, it's a military-grade spell.
What's with the sudden outburst? I don't understand.
What does he mean by bewitching his daughter?
Just as I was about to get confused,
"Wait, Dad! What are you doing here!!!"
Eren burst in.
And, in an instant, she seemed to understand the situation and hit the squinting gentleman on the head.
A satisfying sound echoed, and the gentleman seemed to regain his senses.
It seems this gentleman (uncle) was Eren's father.
After listening to Eren's lecture for a while, he finally calmed down.
He's a noisy guy.
"Ah, ahaha, sorry.
I heard a report that my daughter was kidnapped by a Demon Lord, and I was in a hurry!"
He said with a cheerful laugh.
Still, using a high-level fire spell in a town is not acceptable. He's a pretty intense father.
"No, Your Excellency. I reported the situation properly, but Your Excellency jumped to conclusions."
"Of course, Dad is the worst!"
The father, scolded by a secretary-like person and Eren.
Though he's pitiful, I can't sympathize. After all, he brought it upon himself.
Since he has calmed down, I introduced myself again.
Eren's father, the squinting gentleman, introduced himself as Duke Erald of the Magic Kingdom of Sarion, a great noble.
He is a relative of the emperor, his uncle.
In short, he is one of the top three most powerful people in the Magic Kingdom of Sarion.
I couldn't hide my surprise.
E, Eren is a top-class lady!
She is in a position that could be called a princess. For her to be an adventurer is too free.
It seems I'm not the only one who thinks that stopping is the right thing to do.
Now, she doesn't care at all. Probably, there are people protecting her from behind.
I was confident that the information had been exposed.
Kabal and Gid, and the two high-ranking officials accompanying them, must have had a hard time. I should comfort them this time...
But now,
"So, is your business only about Eren?"
That's not the case.
Thinking about it, I looked at Duke Erald,
"Hehehe. Of course not.
I wanted to see your country with my own eyes, thinking about the future relationship.
There's no need to worry about my safety, as I am a homunculus."
I realized it when I heard it.
Compared to the name of the Magic Kingdom, the magic power in his body was too little.
The officials seem to be real, but this gentleman came in a fake body.
Indeed, a great noble. He is cautious.
But more importantly,
I want to teach the method of making homunculi this time.
That would be a bonus.
Duke Erald and his party decided to join the conference.
It was about an hour later.
It was time for the conference to start.
When I returned to the conference room, everyone was already seated and waiting for me.
I guided the dukes to the empty seats.
It might have been better to introduce ourselves first. After all, among the participants, there are not a few representatives of major countries.
For that reason, the conference started with self-introductions.
First, the representatives from countries other than Tempest.
The Dwarf Kingdom, the armed nation of Dwalgon.
The representative is King Gazel Dwalgon. Though it's a magical image, his authority cannot be hidden.
The small country of Brumund.
Unfortunately, no official representative of the country came.
However, there is Hughes, the branch master of the Free Guild in Brumund.
And it seems he has a connection with one of Brumund's ministers, Baron Belyard.
Though not a full representative, it seems we can hear valuable opinions.
The sudden participant, a great noble of the Magic Kingdom of Sarion.
Duke Erald is a doting father who loves his daughter blindly, but he also has a cold, noble face.
He is a senior figure in the Magic Kingdom who can stand up to the council.
He cannot be ignored.
Looking around at the guests, it's clear that a distinguished group has gathered.
If it were a meeting of only monsters, we might have fallen into a runaway thought process. Thinking about it, it was a relief to have these human representatives participate.
Next, let's move on to the introductions from the Tempest side.
Oh, before that.
"Ah, right.
There's someone I want to introduce to everyone.
I think you've all heard of him.
Please don't be surprised.
I'll call him out!"
I said beforehand.
Gabil, who knew the identity, swallowed hard and had a tense expression.
Feeling the change in the atmosphere, the room was enveloped in silence.
And,
"Kuahahaha! Called out, I, Beldor, make my entrance!!!"
Beldor appeared through "Storm Dragon Liberation."
A handsome man based on my clone appeared.
I introduced him with a sidelong glance,
"This is my friend, Beldor. Everyone, please take care of him!"
"Hi, I'm Beldor, known as the 'Storm Dragon.' Nice to meet you!"
Beldor also greeted.
The room was enveloped in silence.
No one moved.
And, with a thud, Hughes and Eren's party fainted, and the goblins in Rigld's party were in a state of shock...
The room fell into chaos.
It goes without saying that the conference was temporarily suspended.
...But, even though it didn't start, there was nothing we could do about it.