episode_0052

“When you first saw me on the mountain behind the village where you lived, Eucal, you immediately recognized my identity. To be precise, even before turning around, just by hearing my voice. How did you know me?”

“Just a moment, there’s something I want to address before that… uh.”

Feeling uncomfortable with the pressure from Cineria, who seemed to be trying to use formal language while maintaining tension, he quickly changed the subject.

“The terms of the contract with Laica state that I must attend at least one negotiation session where we can discuss and decide on my future path after graduation together with her. I have decided on these two things.”

“Hmm~ So?”

“Negotiations aim to find common ground through dialogue by exchanging opinions on what each side can offer and how far they can compromise. We need to clearly define these aspects. Right now, it’s just one-sided questioning from Laica.”

“Yes, Eucal is right. Negotiation is about aligning what each party wants. The conversation you mentioned is also a necessary tool in this process.”

Upon hearing me speak, Cineria burst into laughter, making me slightly uneasy as she looked at me as if finding me cute.

Gracefully sipping her tea, she closed her eyes for a moment.

“But the most important thing is missing. You lack the essential power in negotiations. Specifically, Eucal, you don’t have the power to negotiate with me on an equal footing.”

As soon as Cineria opened her eyes, a sense of pressure enveloped me.

If I hadn’t been suppressed by Iris’s magic recently, would I be able to breathe properly here and not have lost control of the negotiation?

‘I should ask for relevant training to be able to confront Cineria when I meet Iris in the future.’

No need for strange psychotherapy.

Taking a deep breath and calming my mind, I looked straight at Cineria and spoke.

“I don’t have the practical power to negotiate on an equal footing.”

Cineria, seemingly intrigued by my mention of lacking negotiating power, continued to watch me.

‘She probably wants me to elaborate.’

“Instead, I have the time and information to negotiate with you on an equal basis.”

“Hmm~ What could Eucal possibly know?”

“If it becomes known that I am active in the Empire, it would be problematic for you, wouldn’t it? Aren’t you waiting because you think I haven’t grown strong enough to engage in full-scale conflict with the Empire yet?”

As she lightly tapped the table with her finger while listening to me, she soon stopped and spoke.

“What is your basis for such judgment?”

“If you want to know how I obtained that information, set negotiation terms and ask. But I might be able to tell you something about power. It’s clear evidence that Laica contracted me for my recruitment, knowing that I possess the power to overthrow the Empire.”

Cineria, who was tapping the table with her finger again, seemed to be digging deeper compared to before.

‘Sorry, Laica. You’ll probably be criticized heavily for this.’

With a pointless thought that the leader of the Fourth Division might change soon, I expressed a hint of regret.

“Hmm~ Alright. Can you tell me your negotiation terms, Eucal?”

“Fortunately, I’ve succeeded in getting to the negotiation table.”

From now on, all I have to do is get Cineria to accept my proposal and have her tell me conditions I can agree to…

“All students, teachers, staff, and others affiliated with the Ardent Academy, including all members of the Black Moon Guild, shall not cause harm directly or indirectly. It would be good if they could support protecting their lives within the scope that the academy can take in times of crisis.”

“Does this only apply to people within the academy? In case of what if situations, what happens if they involve family or acquaintances, or have already caused harm?”

“Just a moment, isn’t it unlikely?”

Bringing up this conversation now suggests a high possibility that someone within the academy students or others has been involved.

Who could have been involved?

“Could it be to flip the situation in a similar scenario, or for staff to slowly extract information to the employees?”

We can only hope that they haven’t harmed the students.

“…It seems reasonable to think that way. If they have already done what was mentioned later, there’s no choice, but I hope they won’t touch unless they express hostile intentions first in the future.”

“Understood. Hmm~ Is it my turn now?”

Seeing Cynerea’s cheerful smile, it felt like a chill ran down the spine.

“Since you proposed two things, I will also state two conditions. First, you must answer questions until my doubts are cleared. Next, you will join under my affiliation. That’s all I need.”

“The conditions are excessive. From my perspective, I cannot accept it.”

It might be risky to leave questions so ambiguous until Cynerea’s doubts are resolved.

Considering the uncertain situation where graduation for everyone is in question, it may not be wise to hastily decide on affiliations.

“If we limit the questions to five and change the affiliation negotiation condition to when graduation is imminent, I can accept. Of course, I won’t affiliate elsewhere before that, so rest assured.”

“Then, until your graduation from the academy, I won’t cause harm, and regarding supporting you, we will negotiate each time or follow my judgment.”

“For now, this seems to be the best option.”

Accepting conditions beyond this point might be difficult.

Still, as long as Cynerea keeps her promise, it should be a profitable deal to prevent the latter part of the academy attack incident.

“Understood. I will accept Nuna’s proposal. Let’s base the negotiation on the conditions we just discussed.”

Likewise, nodding as if satisfied, Cynerea picked up a cookie and spoke.

“So, how did you immediately recognize my true identity when you first encountered me, Yukal? That’s my first question.”

“Alright. With this, I can steer the remaining questions in a direction favorable to me.”

After taking a sip of tea and calming his mind for a moment, he calmly looked at her and spoke.

“Hundreds of times, even thousands of times, I’ve seen you and heard your voice, yet not recognizing you anymore is more strange.”

Having faced Cynerea hundreds of times, and adding all other playable characters, he had fought against her thousands of times.

Her voice had become so familiar that it was hard not to recognize.

“Hmm~ I don’t recall seeing you before that, Yukal. How can I believe your words?”

“If I answer that, will you consider it as the second question?”

After a brief pause, she nodded in agreement.

“I have fought against you enough to forget you to the extent that you are unrecognizable to me now. How could I forget an opponent of that caliber?”

“I’ve never seen you before, how can I believe what you’re saying-”

I quickly interrupted Syneria, who seemed to be trying to raise her voice slightly, thinking that I was teasing her with wordplay, and continued.

“My real name is Syneria. I lost both of my parents at the age of six, starving on the brink of death, when the former Black Moon Guild Master recognized my talent and took me in, enabling me to survive. With overwhelming talent, I reached the strongest core force within Black Moon before turning twenty. I succeeded the former guild master, but many members questioned the process, leading to a coup. However, by eliminating opposing factions, I established the current Black Moon. While there were losses in terms of power, it actually helped completely reshape the forces with those who follow me, bending the underworld to my will.”

“……”

“Currently, Black Moon is comprised of eight divisions from 0th to 7th, each consisting of one leader and fifteen regular members. The lower the number, the stronger the force. However, due to the decrease in power at this point, it is estimated that difficulties are being faced in overturning the original goal of the empire, leading to the recruitment of talents and the execution of various projects… Is that enough?”

Seeing Syneria for the first time looking bewildered and unable to respond to my words, muttering to herself, caught my attention.

“Are there remnants of the former guild master’s faction? No, that can’t be true. We definitely wiped them all out.”

Seizing the opportunity while she was flustered, I added further to drive the point home.

“Oh, and she stands at 171cm, which is quite tall for a woman, and her age is in her twenties-”

“That’s enough.”

Syneria, holding a dagger whose appearance I couldn’t discern, pointed it at me, blood trickling down slowly.

“No matter how much Yucal likes you, if you say more than that, even you might get hurt, you know?”

Under her intense pressure, I closed my mouth, sweat running down my back.