'So Jago was somehow watching this battle, and like before, he is gathering powerful subordinates.'
Enrico had just received the news from Renzou, who had just returned. He was thinking about what Jago's next move would be. He was a bit separated from the others, who were being treated by Sayaka, while Renzou checked whether his children were badly hurt. Lisa and Karyu had already been released from the cage by him and were talking privately.
[He's not trying to make another Kairom-rank appear, right?]
'No, it's quite possible that won't happen for at least fifty years.'
Kairom-rank Nartheis are so unique that they can add a rule of their own to the world. But that isn't by choice; it's done by the supreme god, who limits it by placing a rule that Kairom-rank Nartheis cannot be born in equal ways unless through their own evolution.
[I had forgotten about that rule.]
'You shouldn't forget a rule like that.'
[First of all, that rule was only mentioned once, and second, I slept a bit during that arc.]
Enrico made a discouraged face because he couldn't say anything against her, since he himself didn't like that arc very much either—where there was no fighting, no development, nor any fun from the characters.
'I can't believe the author made an entire arc of just conversations without much importance.'
The reason he said it wasn't very important was that most of the information dropped in that arc was already known by all readers, and worst of all, it took a long time to end.
'That damned arc was responsible for several readers dropping my favorite story.'
Clenching his fist with a small tear in his eyes, he turned to rejoin his companions. He already had a plan on how to eliminate Jago, but for that he needed to reach the eighth circle, because that damned Nartheis was certainly at the maximum rank of Ranvil.
'To make matters worse, he has the potential to reach the Kairom rank, and honestly, I can't let that happen.'
The Kairom rank was an absurd level for Nartheis to reach. It could take up to a hundred years for them to reach that level, and for those born at the Ranvil level, like the one in Enrico's mind, it would take ten years.
'At least that was the number of years it took the fourth to reach it.'
The fourth was the penultimate to reach that rank; the last was the one that appeared two years ago, and to make matters worse, a Ranvil-rank that would reach that level in the original story would be the sixth.
'It's best if I eliminate him quickly and keep only five.'
He could try to convince him to join him, or at least have his alter ego do the same thing he did with Basilisk, but honestly, it would be difficult, since he was the type of being who would kill himself before following someone else's orders.
'So the best way is to kill him outright.'
[That's cruel, but I totally agree.]
"So your name is Enrico…"
As he approached everyone, Lisa was the first to speak to him, while Karyu stayed behind her like a guard. Honestly, the Nartheis's face looked a bit happier now that she had returned to faithfully follow her friend.
"Hello, Lisa. I think we can introduce ourselves properly now."
"Yes… I would like to thank all of you for defeating all those Nartheis…"
She made a small bow along with Karyu, who bowed a bit deeper. Both were grateful that these people had appeared and that they had finally been freed.
'I didn't think there were humans this strong.'
These people in front of her, especially this emperor, had the power necessary to save her continent if they could come with them. Enrico approached with a serious look.
"You must be thinking about going back, right?"
"Yes, I wanted to return quickly so I could try to gather the humans who received the blessing of magic in my world."
"Then it's better if you two don't go back."
"Why, Lord Enrico?"
"Of course, because Gideon will go after you, or did you forget that he escaped just a few minutes ago?"
The two trembled with a bit of fear; he was right. If they were alone now, they would be killed quickly by Gideon if he found them. As Renzou approached, he made an ugly expression, because it was because of him that that Nartheis had escaped. If he had a second chance, he would kill him outright instead of torturing him.
'I got too angry about him almost touching my daughter. I have to stay rational in moments like these.'
"Honestly, Lisa, my opinion is that you make a deal with us."
Her expression became a bit hopeful, because if he was talking about forming an alliance, then they could receive help from the warriors of this world.
"What kind of deal?"
"It's simple. You were planning to try to take this castle with you, right?"
"Yes, it would be something difficult to do, but if we had time—"
"The deal is simple: your world and this castle will be the most important allies of Tsuyokuni."
The Akirama family behind him clutched their hearts with satisfaction at Enrico's words. This was a dungeon that, from the very first moment, they wanted for their strategies and future development. But if these girls, who were possibly the owners of the castle, took it to their world, Emperor Renzou's plans would be thrown into the trash.
"How do you know so much about us? And from what it seems, you must have promised that this castle would be theirs."
Lisa looked at the people behind Renzou with a bit of suspicion while they pretended that nothing was happening. Seeing that he would have to explain anyway, Renzou decided to simply reveal the truth.
"Yes, we planned to take this castle for ourselves, since my son-in-law said we could have this dungeon with us, but he didn't say we had to make a deal with someone."
"Sorry about that, I had a lot on my mind."
Renzou seemed to understand, already imagining that it must have been because of the confusion of so many memories coming from the future. With an expressionless face as his lie was accepted so easily, Enrico turned his head to Lisa.
'Actually, I just wanted them to owe me a bit more.'
[You monster.]
"I don't even need to think about it; of course I accept."
Nodding, Enrico quickly mentioned his plan. From now on, both Karyu and Lisa would live in Tsuyokuni along with the Akirama family. That way, Renzou and his wives, who were all eighth circle, could protect her from Gideon, and from time to time they would return to her world together with the strongest of Tsuyokuni to gather the nine mages of her world and reclaim their lands.
"I like this plan; this way Miss Lisa will have more protection."
"It's good that you liked my plan, Karyu. I also think you could take the cage with you; it might be uncomfortable, but it's a good way to get a solid hiding place, since only I can open it."
"You have excellent ideas to protect my lady, Lord Enrico."
Before he could make a proud expression, Enrico felt a touch on his shoulders. Behind him, Rina was holding a syringe, which left Lisa surprised.
"My Ketsumei, I got this for you."
"Oh, that's very good, Rina. It's just a bit unfortunate that it doesn't work at full potential with humans—"
"What?"