◇ ◇ ◇
Footsteps echoed with a sharp click through the hushed, dimly lit corridor.
The owner of those footsteps, one of the Cyclamen Cult executives known as the Rakshasa, Stieg Strom, stopped walking and turned his body.
Before him stood a massive door that stood out starkly in the dim space, blocking his path.
When Stieg held up a card-like magical tool, the door slowly began to open.
The interior of the room was enveloped in a faint, hazy light, bright enough that there was no trouble seeing.
At its center sat a huge rectangular table with eight chairs arranged at equal intervals. At the far end was the master's chair, decorated differently from the others.
Four people were already seated in their chairs.
The first to notice Stieg's entrance was the elderly man who held the second seat in the Cyclamen Cult, the Thunder Emperor, Gunnar Stern.
"Rakshasa, you did well disposing of the Doctor."
Gunnar offered words of appreciation for Stieg having killed Ozwell in Daruane the other day.
"Your ears are quick, Thunder Emperor."
"That thing had outlived its usefulness and was an eyesore. I was paying attention once I heard you were moving."
"I see. So that is how it was."
"Huh? Disposing of the Doctor? I didn't hear anything about that at all."
As Stieg spoke with Gunnar and took his seat, the man with both feet propped up on the table raised his voice.
He had a clearly wild temperament and was named Dimon Ogle.
He held the fourth seat in the Cyclamen Cult and bore the alias Battle Ogre.
"It is only natural you did not know. You were given the important task of annihilating the Amunzaas remnants roaming the eastern continent. We made sure not to feed you any information that might get in the way."
At the beginning of this year, at the same time Shion attacked Farm, Amunzaas had carried out simultaneous strikes on cult bases across the entire continent.
Their operation had succeeded on the western side of the continent but could not be called a success on the eastern side.
The reason was the existence of the Battle Ogre.
He had appeared on every battlefield and interfered, causing considerable damage to Amunzaas as well.
"Ah, I see. So a lot was happening behind the scenes. The killing spree with those guys was the absolute best! There are still remnants left, though. It pisses me off to follow your orders, but I'll devour every last one of them as instructed!"
Dimon, who had a bold personality for better or worse, decided to let the matter of not having been told about Ozwell's disposal slide after hearing Gunnar's explanation.
Once their conversation had settled, the door opened once more.
A woman with flowing deep green hair, the Guide Philly Carpenter, entered the room.
"The Necromancer is still absent as usual."
After moving to the chair closest to the head seat, she commented on the remaining executive who was not present.
"Her presence or absence makes no difference. Belia-sama probably would not mind either."
Gunnar responded to Philly's murmur.
"That is true as well. ...Incinerator, it is almost time. Wake up soon."
Philly, who had nodded in agreement with Gunnar's reply, took her seat and spoke to the red-haired girl sleeping face-down on the table beside her.
"...Still sleepy..."
The girl lifted her head in response to Philly's voice and rubbed her eyes while letting out a small sound.
She looked about ten years old, and her behavior made her seem nothing but a child.
The third seat in the Cyclamen Cult, the Incinerator, Ruari Welt, was a girl with such an adorable appearance.
After confirming that Ruari had woken up, Philly looked away from her.
Philly's eyes, which reflected nothing, were utterly cold, unlike the friendly gaze she had directed at Ruari moments before.
She turned those cold eyes toward the master's chair. Reddish-black mist appeared from somewhere and began to gather.
Before long, a man in his mid-twenties missing his left arm and wearing an eyepatch over his right eye emerged from the mist. He was the leader of the Cyclamen Cult, Belia Sans.
"It seems two seats are empty. ...Ah, the Doctor and the Necromancer."
Belia let out a questioning voice at the empty seats, but upon recalling the individuals, his tone changed to one of understanding.
"As you already know, Belia-sama, I disposed of the Doctor the other day. As for the Necromancer, I believe she is absent by her own will. Shall I bring her here by force if necessary?"
Stieg responded to Belia's murmur.
"No. That one is, in a sense, the heart of the cult. There is no need to drag her out unnecessarily."
"Understood."
"Now then, the reason I called you all here is none other than this. After years of preparation, the magic density has finally exceeded the prescribed value."
After confirming that all necessary members were present, Belia began to speak.
The words he was about to utter would greatly change the nature of the Cyclamen Cult.
Everyone in the room seemed to understand this, as tension ran through the space.
"From this moment, we will move the plan to the second stage. First is the cleanup. Stieg, I leave the Tsutrail matter to you."
"Understood. In that case, I will carry it out together with the Battle Ogre."
"Huh? Why the hell do I have to follow orders from a newbie like you? I refuse."
"Please do not say that. It is a proposal that holds benefits for you as well, Battle Ogre."
"...Benefits for me? I'm holding back on hunting the Amunzaas remnants and sitting here, you know? Are you saying you can prepare a stage I can enjoy more than devouring those guys?"
"Yes, of course. I would like to ask you to take on the Sword Princess."
"...Heh, the Sword Princess, huh."
Dimon's eyes gleamed at Stieg's statement.
After confirming that his words had caught Dimon's interest, Stieg continued.
"Yes, that is correct. She is the princess of the Far East and the compatible user of that demonic blade. She is not the primary target this time, but she is undoubtedly an obstacle, so it would be best to eliminate her. This is something only you, who can rival her swordsmanship, can handle."
"Hahaha! That's the absolute best! Fine, if I get to fight the Sword Princess, I'll follow your orders. But if I don't get to fight her, you know what that means, right?"
"Yes, I understand completely."
Dimon directed his ferocious killing intent toward Stieg, but Stieg showed no concern at all and answered lightly with his usual innocent-looking smile.
"The discussion is settled. Rakshasa and Battle Ogre, seize control of Tsutrail. Guide, Thunder Emperor, and Incinerator will join me in exterminating the traitors. I leave the war between the empire and the kingdom to you, Hero."
Belia once again gave instructions to the executives. The last one he addressed was the young man seated in the seventh chair from the head.
He was the crown prince of the empire, Felix Lutz Kreuzer.
"...That was the plan from the start. For the empire to proclaim dominance over the world, the Nohitant Kingdom must be crushed. I will cooperate with you as long as our interests align."
Felix, who had been sitting in the executive chair with his eyes closed as if in meditation, opened his eyes upon hearing Belia's words and replied.
The light in Felix's eyes was clouded, proving that he was not looking at the correct future.
Belia, aware that things were progressing smoothly, showed a dark smile.
"At last. The starting line has finally come into view. I will have you all work hard to return the world to its proper form."
And so, the Cyclamen Cult began to move in earnest.