[Dolor Desert]
Located slightly southwest of the continent's center.
It was famous for the massive tornado that appeared once every thirty years, spanning several thousand meters in diameter and rising to a height impossible to measure.
It was an extremely vast desert.
Although resources were scarce, some areas still maintained a certain level of rainfall, allowing many races and monsters to live there.
For example, the great kingdom made up of [Pabilsag].
Or the small nation of Slutarn, formed by [Genies].
There were also countless nomadic tribes that wandered from place to place.
...
"So… you want to attack the Slane Theocracy and hope the Sorcerer Kingdom will cooperate from the inside?"
Naohara leaned back in his chair, one arm resting on the armrest, legs crossed, his hand propping up his chin.
Standing before him was a ferocious-looking Pabilsag.
As creatures with human heads and scorpion bodies, Pabilsags could stand upright like humans, while also retaining the instincts of scorpions.
They were not as intelligent as humans, but they possessed a certain level of intellect and could use simple low-tier Magic related to wind and sand.
They usually fought with scorpion-tail spears made from the tail stingers of dead Pabilsag. The venom on the spear tip would inflict continuous damage.
In addition, the stinger at the end of their own tails was also one of their weapons. If it struck, the victim would suffer severe poisoning.
Naohara watched the Pabilsag before him speak at length, trying to persuade him, and could not help feeling a little interested.
"That's right. This continent should have belonged to us noble Demihumans, yet those lowly humans have relied on the Six Great Gods to occupy it for six hundred years."
"This is an indelible disgrace!"
"Noble descendant of dragons, esteemed Dragon Slayer, I admire your strength."
"Now that the Six Great Gods are gone, I stand here on behalf of all Demihumans of the desert and sincerely ask for your aid in taking back everything that belongs to us from those lowly humans!"
As the burly Pabilsag spoke, he spread his arms wide and let out an impassioned cry.
In truth, when the Pabilsag first came to the Sorcerer Kingdom, he had intended to propose cooperation as equals. But the moment he saw the mountains of Dragon Meat piled up at the celebration, he immediately changed his mind.
Pabilsags worshiped strength.
Their kings and marriages were both decided by power.
So when faced with the Sorcerer Kingdom, which could hunt dragons at will and generously distribute Dragon Meat to its citizens, he willingly lowered his proud head.
"Can you really represent all the Demihumans in the entire desert region?"
Naohara could not help asking after hearing that.
"Of course. As early as a hundred years ago, all the races in the desert had already reached a consensus. The conflicts over the years were only meant to lull those foolish humans into complacency. We have been quietly building our strength, waiting for war to arrive."
The development of Demihumans on this continent had been entirely under the Theocracy's surveillance.
The Demihumans of the Abelion Hills had the Holy Kingdom standing against them, restricting their growth.
The Demihumans of the Azerlisia Mountains lived in the wild lands between the Empire and the Dwarf Kingdom.
Among the three human nations bordering the desert, only the Theocracy had the ability to restrain them.
However, the desert itself was a natural barrier.
Its harsh environment made it a realm humans could not set foot in.
As a result, the Theocracy had always known very little about it.
"Interesting. So what's your plan next?"
Demihumans were actually planning to attack the Theocracy.
How entertaining.
He wondered how the Six Great Gods would react once they learned of this. Perhaps he could use these Demihumans to test their current condition.
He could see just how limited this so-called Power of Faith really was.
Naohara was considering this, but the Pabilsag's next words made him freeze.
"The plan, if you agree, is for us to immediately depart for the Dragon Kingdom, invite the Dragon Princess, and use the opportunity to seek an audience with His Majesty the Brightness Dragon Lord!"
The Pabilsag spoke quickly.
If they could obtain the True Dragon Lord's permission, their odds of victory would undoubtedly rise by a great deal.
He did not think there was anything wrong with this.
The True Dragon Lord's power was invincible. Even knowing that the Sorcerer Kingdom had slaughtered hundreds of ordinary dragons, he still did not believe they could be a match for the True Dragon Lord.
He was even somewhat afraid that the True Dragon Lord might hold them accountable for it.
Thinking of this, the Pabilsag could not help offering a reminder.
"I saw that the Sorcerer Kingdom has quite a few beautiful females. You could bring a group of them to the Dragon Kingdom as an offering to please His Majesty the Brightness Dragon Lord, just in case anything unexpected happens."
"Seek an audience… offer tribute… please him…"
"Hehe… what a… fine plan."
Naohara lowered his head. On the surface, he seemed completely calm, but inside, his heart was like the sky before a storm, covered in dark clouds, flashing with lightning, and rumbling with thunder.
"Actually, I have a plan too~"
"What?"
The Pabilsag asked in confusion. For some reason, he suddenly felt cold.
"It's simple. I'll send you to meet your ancestors~"
With that, Naohara grabbed the Pabilsag.
Black flames flared up and instantly refined him into nothing.
"Tsk. What a waste of time."
"Forget it. I'll take care of some other official business."
A rather bored Naohara extinguished the flames in his hand, reached into the void with his right hand, and took out a stack of papers.
Wish lists.
These were items that had been specially distributed earlier to reward the NPCs of Nazarick.
"Let me see…"
Naohara leaned back into the soft chair and slowly began flipping through them.
These wish lists could help them better understand the NPCs' preferences.
Naohara and the other two would look through them from time to time, selecting a few easier wishes to fulfill.
As for some of the more troublesome wishes, those could only be set aside for now.
For example, Shalltear's.
"I want to have a thrilling romp with the Supreme One."
…Isn't that just a threesome?
Then there was Albedo's.
"I hope Momonga can help her experience what it feels like to be a mother."
It was phrased rather elegantly. To a point.
His subordinates all wanted to kiss their superiors on the mouth. It could only be called an old tradition of lower ranks rebelling against those above them.
"Hm? This wish…"
[I want the Doppelgänger's cup.]
A very simple and unadorned wish, signed by a Demon under Demiurge's command.
Naohara pulled out twelve sheets in a row, and every one of them said exactly the same thing.
After that, Naohara found the wish lists belonging to those two Doppelgängers.
[I hope my cup won't be stolen.]
"Those two really have made themselves hated lately."
Remembering what he had heard about those two showing off to everyone they met, Naohara shook his head.
Then, with a bit of malicious amusement, he checked the boxes beside those wishes.
If it had only been one person, that would have been one thing, but with twelve of them asking for the same thing, he truly had no reason to refuse.
Hopefully, in the upcoming Holy Grail War, the Doppelgängers would be able to protect their cups.
Then he separately pulled out Sephis's wish list.
[I leave everything to Father.]
Tsk. His own child was still the reliable one. Even at a time like this, he knew to think of him.
"Sephis, I hope you'll like the grand gift I prepared for you."
"Ruler of Catastrophic Thunder. That's a pretty good title…"