Chapter 248: Reinforcements to the Wolf Strife: Submission, or Exile?

A certain voice call log on a certain day.

"Ah, hello? Momo-chan? Sorry, sorry. The photoshoot dragged on a bit. What's up? Are you calling about the arrangements for the meeting?"

<<You really haven't changed since high school, have you... It's about ShanFro.>>

"Oho... What business might the esteemed top clan currently taking the world by storm have with a minor clan like ours?"

<<That matter we discussed previously... I have made my decision.>>

"...Heeh. I was fully expecting you to refuse."

<<I was planning to... Ah, yeah... things got a little, you know.>>

"Nn~... Well, I won't press for details, but you do realize that if we do this, we're going to do it thoroughly, right?"

<<I am fully aware. Weakening 'Black Wolf' will be unavoidable, but... Hmph.>>

"?"

<<You guys have already proven twice that it is possible to defeat Unique Monsters with a small group, after all.>>

"Ah~... Well, that's true."

<<The current 'Black Wolf' is certainly strong, but... I would rather not say this openly, but...>>

"Well, he's basically just a nuisance, isn't he? Liberios-kun."

<<I acknowledge his charisma in rallying the younger demographic, but individuals who possess that kind of ambition are nothing but a cancer when it comes to managing an organization.>>

"Oh my, listen to you. Or rather, Momo-chan, are you actually pretty pissed right now?"

<<Hm? Ah, that is a separate matter. I had a slight spat with my sister.>>

"Ah............ By any chance, the younger one?"

<<Obviously. If I picked a fight with Sen-neesan, I might not be able to cross the threshold of my family home for the next three years.>>

"Right~... But still, are you sure about this? You said you want to join us, but it's not like we're planning on maintaining this inner-circle dynamic forever, you know."

<<...Regarding that matter.>>

"Nn~?"

<<You may take this as a formal proposition from 'Black Wolf' to 'Wolfgang'.>>

"Please allow me to be blunt. I believe hunting Unique Monsters is far too heavy a burden for a minor clan with fewer than ten members."

How should I describe this situation?
For example, if ten goats are attacked by a wolf, and one goat willingly steps forward to be caught as a sacrifice, that is what you call a scapegoat.
But in this case, considering a secret pact had already been formed with the "True Black Wolf," Psyger-100, calling it a scapegoat feels slightly too premeditated.

"But we are different. We have powerful equipment, abundant items, and connections with important NPCs... Leaving it to a minor clan like yours... Oops, excuse me, a clan lacking in capability... That would simply be..."

This discussion is ninety percent farce. The ten percent that isn't is the guy standing right in front of me currently speaking with a smug look on his face.
He's shamelessly spouting arrogant lines one after another, but for those of us who know this is a farce, well... yeah.

Psyger-100 remained completely silent. She merely gave the appearance of listening to the words of Libe... Libe... Liberius or whatever, while staring intently in our direction.

"If you are willing to provide your information to us, 'Black Wolf', we would not be averse to absorbing 'Wolfgang'..."

"Nn~, Liberius, was it?"

"It's Liberios. Do you have a problem?"

In this farce (discussion), the four of us present were all assigned different roles.
Pencilgon was the overall facilitator. Kyou-timate acted as the witness for the PK issue while simultaneously provoking the clan members of "Black Wolf". OiKatzo remained entirely silent for a specific reason, and aside from talking about Unique Monsters, I had one other role to play...

"I get that you guys at 'Black Wolf' are a massive clan, but that just makes me want to ask: what the hell have you guys been doing this whole time?"

"...What do you mean, 'what have we been doing'?"

It's precisely because I'm the primary party involved that I am the perfect fit for this. Precisely because I've defeated two—no, three Unique Monsters, I have the track record necessary to fulfill the pathetic role of "the guy who taunts the Liberios faction into oblivion."

"I'm asking why a clan with so much supposed capability hasn't managed to defeat a single Unique Monster yet, you idiot."

"...Ah?"

With a pishiri, the atmosphere froze.
A perpetually smiling powerhouse is somewhat of a standard trope in fiction, but if you're only smiling on the surface while spouting lines that reek of a third-rate extra, there's really no saving you.

"I heard you guys challenged Lycaon about three times and got wiped out every single time? I cleared it without any continues, though?"

"...That was merely a fluke. This game is not that lenient."

"That's a funny joke. If I could defeat not just Lycaon, but Wethermon and Ctarrnid by pure fluke, my real-life LUC stat would essentially become the ultimate weapon... And?"

Wobbling my salmon head in a deliberately exaggerated manner, I spoke in a tone so infuriating I wanted to punch myself, questioning Liberius... no, actively mocking him and every single player following him.

"You're acting sooooo high and mighty, but tell me, how many Unique Monsters has the clan 'Black Wolf' actually defeated so far~?"

"Uwaa, disgusting... Wait, Sunraku-kun, I'm kidding! I'm going to burst out laughing if you stare at me with those dead fish eyes!"

You're the one who told me to do it "in an infuriating way that makes people want to punch you"!? Haaah!?
I stood up from my seat, approached Liberius—whose paper-thin mask of a smile had peeled off entirely, leaving a deadpan expression—and lightly slapped his cheek with a pechi-pechi sound, stepping even further beyond the realm of simple taunting.

"Hey, hey, please tell me~? I'd loooove to hear what the esteemed top clan, who didn't even know Unique Scenario EXs existed until recently, has been doing all this time~?"

".........!"

"Come on, tell me~. Powerful equipment~? Abundant items~? Connections with important NPCs~... Even though you're such a powerhouse... Oops, excuse me, a clan overflowing with capability, riiight...?"

Thrusting my salmon head right up to him, bringing those murky fish eyes uncomfortably close to Liberius, I delivered a full-force taunt that wouldn't be an exaggeration to call my greatest masterpiece this year.

"Oh, I know! If you're willing to become the errand boys for 'Wolfgang', we wouldn't be averse to absorbing 'Black Wolf', you knoooow!?"

Putsu.

Because this is cyberspace, did the system react to his emotions and play that sound effect, or was it just an auditory hallucination on my end...? Regardless, I definitely heard the sound of him snapping.

"Don't you dare speak to me with... such insolence, you piece of trash!"

"Fuhaha, your monster hide is way too thin."

I easily dodged the hand that tried to grab me, and while taking a backstep to create distance, I taunted, taunted, taun...

"We could cut off trash like you whenever we please...!"

Ah, the landmine word.

"I see. Shall we cut the alliance then?"

Speaker Switch. The role passed from me—who was tasked with taunting him until he uttered that specific word—to Pencilgon.
To achieve the goal of "stripping the Liberios Faction of their calm judgment," the firework planted by the final boss is finally ignited...!

"Ha, haha! Are you sure about that? Terminating the alliance means you will also be severing your alliance with 'Library' and 'SF-Zoo'! You will be throwing away every single benefit you have acquired, you know!?"

Liberius... wait, was it Liberias? Well whatever, hey Libe-kun... Didn't you ever find it strange that your leader hadn't made any behind-the-scenes maneuvers regarding this matter?
To begin with, didn't you find it suspicious that, despite this being a discussion about the Alliance, neither Library nor SF-Zoo was invited?

"Ah, regarding that matter. We from Wolfgang have an announcement for Black Wolf..."

With a pachin, a sound demanding Black Wolf make a choice echoed, and acting as the signal, several players walked into the Black Wolf Mansion.

For example, a magical girl wearing an outwardly adorable, frilly outfit.
For example, a knight adorned in golden armor, yet harboring the sorrow of a disposable pawn.
For example, a curse doctor wearing an incredibly awkward expression, having come as a proxy for a certain woman who was supposed to be here.
For example, a divine female paladin carrying a distinctive platinum shield on her back.

Their types were different, and their playstyles were different. The only commonality they shared was that they were all players who either led a clan, or held a position close to it.

"Once again, we 'Wolfgang' formally notify 'Black Wolf'. We plan to terminate the previous 'Four Clan Alliance' and forge a new 'Six Clan Alliance' by adding the 'Shining Knights of the Holy Shield' and 'Team 10PM' to our ranks... but I'll go out of my way to ask you, Liberies-kun."

The spider's web had already been spun. Has Liberetas realized it yet?
The fact that this new alliance is something completely and fundamentally different from the previous Four Clan Alliance.

"If you want us to include you, there's a proper way to ask, isn't there? Like dogeza, or perhaps dogeza."

"Are you a demon?"

"She's a Demon Lord."

"Definitely fits into the category of evil ogres and rakshasas, doesn't she."

"Areh~? Why am I getting hit with so much friendly fire from my own members~?"

Because of your daily conduct.

Author's Afterword
Liberios-kun is essentially a sheep in wolf's clothing in a bad way, or rather, he doesn't fully grasp why he isn't being targeted by the wolves.

It's like someone who is great at making a schedule to finish summer homework, but their actual execution capability is... lacking.

Sa(lmo)nraku: "That's the face I wanted to see... The face of you feeling jealous of me...! (While performing bizarre movements)"