Chapter 416: Side 13: Drag Out the Leading Actor

To put it bluntly, a person like Emi-Lia does not possess the kind of personality that drags out grudges and resentment for as long as the people around her think she does.
She is simply a woman who believes that those who refuse to say 'I'm sorry' have no right to complain if they get punched.

"A castle in Tearplaten? Me?"

"Yeah, there's a rumor going around that Emi-Lia-san is going to take command and build it."

Inside Skull Azuchi, that rumor reached Emi-Lia's ears via a friend right around the time a certain half-naked man was blown away somewhere near the center of the continent.

"Hmm? Did I ever say something like that..."

Emi-Lia tilted her head in confusion as she traced her memories. She remembered saying she wanted paved roads during the middle of a "hunt," but she certainly didn't remember saying she was going to build another castle on the scale of Skull Azuchi.
Though, it's also true that building a castle in Tearplaten—which already has a foundation built upon cleared land—would be lower in difficulty than clearing out a Sea of Trees that had turned into a Jurassic world.

"So it's just a false rumor, then?"

"Probably. As of right now, I have no intention of building another castle on the scale of Skull Azuchi."

The Bone-Clad Keep, Skull Azuchi, was not just Emi-Lia's work; it was the crystallization of the efforts of all the production-class players who gathered together, sparked by her idea: "Let's build a castle on the New Continent that surpasses the Royal Castle!" Even though the driving force behind it was based on anger, Emi-Lia, who originally doubled as both a production and recovery class, still feels attached to it.

"That being said... developing Tearplaten itself is actually quite a pressing matter... To be completely blunt, that place over there seems much more capable as a base than here..."

This frontline base has now taken its first steps as a fortified city, but it's a fact that reinforcing Tearplaten—which boasts high performance as a natural fortress—would provide far greater safety.
In reality, although plans for building a castle in Tearplaten that don't involve Emi-Lia have been drawn up and then naturally faded away, it is a fact that Tearplaten is rapidly being paved.

"Well, it would be difficult to start building a facility that surpasses Skull Azuchi right now to counter Noirlind. After all, my paid time off has already been poured into this."

"It was low-key horrifying how every time I logged in, you were just swinging your hammer."

Currently, Skull Azuchi houses not only important NPCs like King Torvante and Princess Arfiliya but also Saint Iristella and others. However, because Emi-Lia holds the ownership rights to Skull Azuchi within the system, only she and those in her party are allowed to enter the main keep.

And exactly because of that...

"What a spectacular view... The mere fact that this is a sight not even royalty can see raises its added value."

"Hello, Deepthro-san. Thanks for everything before... I heard you had something to talk about today."

"Ah, yeah, I've got a top-tier scoop for you..."

Grinning with a smile that housed both amiability and creepiness, Deep Slaughter was also capable of using the main keep as a secret meeting place.

"And who is that over there?"

"Ah, don't worry about her. Um... she's my IRL friend, so she was going to find out either way."

"Heyaー"

"Hmph... fine by me... Well then, how about I try changing my voice to match the atmosphere? How's this?"

"Whoa, amazing, you really can change your voice freely. That sounds like a total ikemen's voice!"

While earning interest and affection points through her self-taught voice-changing technique, Deep Slaughter, with the conviction that the seeds she had been sowing all this time had finally sprouted, delivered the information 'without a single lie,' keeping strictly to the main points.

"I don't know if it's the influence of an EX Scenario or what, but all the colored dragons other than Noirlind are heading this way."

Noirlind. At that word, the air grew tense.
For a while, Emi-Lia remained perfectly still, her smiling expression not twitching in the slightest, until a few seconds later, her expression finally moved.

"...I see. We can't just do nothing about that."

"But what are we gonna do? It's not just one or two of 'em. Even just the ones we have confirmation on, every single colored dragon besides Noirlind is coming here, you know?"

"How did you even investigate that?"

"I have various methods. Though, they're far too strong to pick a fight with, so I just watched them from a distance."

If one were to think about it calmly, there were many holes in that reasoning, but the trust Deep Slaughter had cultivated prevented Emi-Lia from harboring any doubts.
The favorable interpretation—'She told me top-secret information before anyone else'—crushed any suspicion. It was the virtue known as trust... and also carelessness.

"I'm sorry, but I couldn't catch Noirlind. So I have no idea whether he's coming here or not."

That was the truth. The random teleportation Deep Slaughter used to warp into untrodden territories obviously couldn't have its coordinates fixed by her own will.
Sometimes she would warp near the Giants' settlements, and other times she would warp right into the middle of the frontline base and be met with strange looks. And through some coincidence, despite being able to make contact with the Red, White, and Green Dragons, the Black Dragon Noirlind was the only one she couldn't catch no matter how many times she used Random Teleportation.

If there were someone capable of viewing this place—and the entirety of this world—from a bird's-eye perspective, they would surely marvel at the sheer, absurd luck of a certain girl.
Because in truth, she herself was one of the Jokers (Uncertain Factors) in this Great Dragon Calamity War.

"We definitely need to inform the other players about this. I refuse to suffer another surprise attack like before."

Descending from the main keep, the three players exchanged words.

"Well, that was my intention. I just figured I'd let you know first. By my estimation, it'll be about ten days at the earliest..."

And then,

"───No, it will be eight days from now."

A voice rang out clearly. Precisely because no players other than Emi-Lia were allowed into the main keep, she was waiting on the floor below, accompanied by players.

"...Well, if it isn't the Saint. I hope you are having a wonderful day."

"Yes, Deep Slaughter-san..."

The fact that an NPC (Saint) she was meeting for the first time—and whom she certainly hadn't given her name to—called her name perfectly caused Deep Slaughter's expression to slip for just a fraction of a second. However, she immediately reattached her mask of amiability and floated a smile.

"Eight days... is it?"

"Yes... I cannot say so with absolute certainty, but... I saw a vision, clearer than ever before."

Emi-Lia and the others widened their eyes involuntarily at the words of the NPC, 'Iristella, the Saint of Affection,' which sounded like future prediction. However, judging from the attitude of the Holy Knight (Josette) waiting behind her, they reconsidered, realizing this wasn't just some eccentric remark.

"They... are coming. The black dragon who is the root of your anger, Emi-Lia-sama... and also, the Golden Sovereign of Dragons, to this very place."

In other words, excluding the Blue Dragon Eldranza—who had for some reason been dead from the very beginning—all the dragons, as well as the Unique Monster 'Siegwurm the Heavenly Sovereign,' were coming here.
At that fact, some broke into cold sweats, some floated smiles... and another threw a question at the Saint.

"Why on earth are they gathering here now of all times, I wonder, Saint-sama?"

"Fufu... If it is you, Deep Slaughter-sama, I am sure you already know."

"...Heeh."

An ambiguous answer. A message that the surrounding players wouldn't understand, meant only for Deep Slaughter.
Involuntarily letting out a sound in her natural voice, Deep Slaughter floated a dark smile before once again donning her mask of amiability.

"We can't just stand around then, Emi-Lia. If we mess this up, it wouldn't be weird for this whole area to get leveled into a vacant lot."

"No, that won't happen this time... I built this Skull Azuchi for exactly this purpose, after all."

"Emi-Lia, should I tell the others?"

"Yes, please do."

From this day onward, following the declaration of Saint Iristella, Emi-Lia and the Anti-Noirlind Faction, along with the Pioneers of the frontline base, would begin moving frantically in preparation for the decisive battle.

"Hmm... I wonder if she's referencing the logs or something... Did she see through the fact that I was the one who instigated this? Well, whatever."

In the empty hallway of Skull Azuchi, Deep Slaughter muttered to herself alone.

The Red Dragon excitedly began moving after she played along with its ego a bit.

The Green Dragon was easily swayed by feeding it some appropriate flattery and a few lies.

The White Dragon made the decision to 'relocate' after being given false information and new hope.

The only concern was the Black Dragon she couldn't encounter, but its appearance was guaranteed by the NPC known as the Saint.

If that was the case, the stage was set. The woman who had guided calamity to the frontline base purely to drag a single person onto the stage peeled off her mask of amiability and floated a smile.

"Now then, I have hyped things up this much for you, you know? Sunraku-kun... make sure you show me something amazing again, okay?"

Eight days until the decisive battle.

Author's Afterword
Deepthro: "Since the colored dragons are going to kill each other at the frontline base, if you attack them afterwards, you'll be the sole winner, right?"
Red Dragon: "My 'I am the Strongest' legend is finally here!"

Deepthro: "Say, I heard this guy named Tottori is talking smack, saying the Green Dragon is pathetic?"
Green Dragon: "What a mannerless youth! I will crush him!!"

Deepthro: "The Giants are so persistent, right? I totally get it... If you want, how about the eastern edge of this continent? It's a great place to live, you know?"
White Dragon: "Guess I'll move then!!"

By the way, Siegwurm deployed because the dragons started gathering. And in conjunction with Siegwurm's deployment, Noirlind also began moving.