In a dark room without light, Iris was sweating profusely and muttering incessantly.
“The Abandoned Land, yes, there, good.”
Alone, she seemed to be in conversation with someone.
“At that time… the plan… for Chase…!”
Iris opened her eyes wide and exhaled deeply.
Just now, Iris had exchanged messages with Chase’s aide who was far away. Simultaneously, she had planted a suggestion in him.
Doing two things at once had consumed an enormous amount of physical strength and mana. However, Iris wasn’t worried.
There was someone who could heal her body and mind.
She sprawled on the floor, waiting for that being to descend upon her, to dwell within her.
“Please come, Lord Ragnaros.”
Iris spread her arms wide. As if responding to her call, a black whirlwind rushed in.
The black whirlwind started swirling from Iris’s feet and moved upwards. Soon, it completely enveloped her body.
Iris trembled with ecstasy. A powerful force was filling her body. It was a force so strong that it made her fingertips and toes tingle.
This intense sensation was more thrilling than any drug that induces hallucinations.
The pleasure given by men couldn’t even compare to the tip of this feeling.
“Mmm.”
A heated moan escaped through Iris’s teeth. Iris twisted her body, eagerly absorbing the power Ragnaros was giving her. She greedily desired his power.
However, Ragnaros didn’t fully satisfy Iris’s greed. He always disappeared when she was left wanting more.
Today was no different.
Before Iris could be completely enveloped in satisfaction, the whirlwind that had embraced her suddenly vanished through the open window.
Iris raised her body with eyes full of lingering desire.
“Lord Ragnaros…”
When would he give her complete satisfaction? Iris knew when that time would come.
When she killed the one who destroys order.
Ragnaros had promised Iris.
The one who destroys order was, without a doubt, Elise.
There wasn’t much time.
Iris began to formulate a plan based on the information she had obtained from Chase’s aide.
****
First meeting of the Continental Allied Forces.
The atmosphere inside the large tent was surprisingly cheerful, unlike what one would expect from people facing a crisis.
“It’s been a while, Miss Elise.”
Ilaria, who had arrived earlier, rushed over as soon as she saw the person entering the tent.
It was, of course, Elise.
She hugged Elise tightly. Karan, who was pushed aside by this, inhaled sharply as if in disbelief.
“I hope you’ve been well, Your Highness Karan.”
David, who wasn’t particularly welcome to Karan, approached.
“Yes. I’ve been fine. I trust Your Highness has been well too?”
Karan halfheartedly inquired about David’s wellbeing while shaking his offered hand. His tone, indifferent to everything except Elise, remained unchanged.
David nodded with a smile.
“Let’s all take a seat.”
David suggested. Ilaria, who had exchanged warm greetings though not enough, seated Elise next to her.
Karan immediately frowned at this.
The table was circular, and while the chair to Elise’s left was empty, it was closer to Ilaria.
He couldn’t pull Elise’s chair towards him, as her expression was too bright.
One would think she had met her best friend, if they saw.
Karan grumbled inwardly as he pulled out his chair. His movements were so rough that David couldn’t help but laugh.
David found it surprising and amusing every time this man, known for conquering several Gates and for his cold demeanor, acted so childishly.
Clockwise from David sat Ilaria, Elise, and Karan.
They left one empty chair for someone who hadn’t arrived yet.
“It seems the Ivory Tower representative is late.”
David made an excuse for the tardy participant.
“Let’s start the meeting without them. From what I saw at the 3rd Gate, the magicians weren’t much help anyway.”
Ilaria, who had struggled greatly due to the magicians during the conquest of Magnus’s Gate, immediately snapped.
“Agreed.”
Karan just raised and lowered his hand slightly. David, who was in charge of conducting the first meeting, looked troubled.
The Ivory Tower had power equivalent to a country. It was a force that minor countries couldn’t challenge.
It also had symbolic significance. People would feel reassured just knowing that magicians were included in the Continental Allied Forces.
To minimize civilian casualties, they needed to avoid increasing people’s anxiety.
If people became anxious and didn’t follow the army’s instructions, or suddenly started evacuating, it would complicate matters.
David pondered how to persuade the hot-tempered Ilaria and Karan, who held great antipathy towards magicians.
However, he didn’t need to worry.
“Let’s wait a bit longer.”
“Alright, let’s do that.”
“Well, if it’s just for a moment.”
With Elise’s single comment, Ilaria and Karan withdrew their opinions.
David fervently hoped that Elise would take charge of conducting from the second meeting onwards.
As silence fell, the curtain fluttered with a whoosh. A strong wind blew, and when they opened their eyes after closing them, the empty seat was filled.
The magician’s entrance was flashy from the start.
“I’m late.”
Without apologizing, the Ivory Tower representative, Ember, just slightly bowed his head. He was a magician who had quite a close relationship with Iris.
“I hope you won’t keep others waiting next time.”
When David pointed this out, Ember replied nonchalantly.
“Understood. Everyone looks worried. Let’s start the meeting.”
Ember immediately changed the subject, and David let out an inaudible sigh.
“Let’s start with brief introductions.”
Exchanging greetings, even if just formalities, was necessary. After all, they would be seeing each other’s faces often from now on.
They exchanged basic information like names and what positions they came representing.
The last introduction was Elise’s. While Elise was introducing herself, Ember stared at her intently.
It wasn’t exactly a kind gaze. Noticing this disrespectful look, the area under Karan’s eyes twitched.
Elise also noticed Ember’s gaze but pretended not to.
“Let’s work together respectfully to resolve this. I’m sure everyone knows why we’ve gathered. I’ll explain the current situation right away.”
David shared information about the Gate situation in each country and the unusual signs indicating that Ragnaros’s active period was imminent.
“So it’s a given that Ragnaros’s active period is coming soon. Understood. This is the Ivory Tower’s plan to respond to Ragnaros’s active period.”
As soon as David finished speaking, Ember gestured. Suddenly, rolled-up documents appeared in front of everyone with a pop.
Ember had been using magic unnecessarily from the start. His intention was too transparent. He wanted to assert his uniqueness to gain an advantage over others.
It was a waste of the title ‘sage’ to feel competitive towards potential allies when they should be cooperating fully in this dire situation.
“Since he’s prepared it, let’s read it for now.”
At David’s suggestion, Karan and Ilaria reluctantly unrolled the documents and began reading.
Ilaria, who had been snickering throughout her reading, tossed the document onto the table after finishing.
“You expect us to accept this kind of plan?”
Elise, reading the document belatedly, let out a sigh.
“You want us to be shields for the magicians? Karan, you’re not agreeing with this plan, are you?”
Provoked, Ilaria forgot her agreement to use honorifics during the meeting.
“Of course not.”
Karan, looking straight at Ember, held up the document.
With a loud rip, he tore the document in half for all to see. Ember’s brow furrowed deeply.
“This plan is better suited for the trash can. Take it back to the Ivory Tower.”
Karan replied calmly.
When Karan compared the Ivory Tower to a trash can, Ember clenched his fist. A small wind stirred inside the tent, which had been sealed tight against any light.
“Wait, everyone, please calm down. It’s just a draft, after all.”
Elise stepped in to defuse the situation. If Ember used magic here, Karan would have no choice but to respond with magic as well.
She had to prevent a clash between the two great magicians.
Elise gripped Karan’s thigh tightly. Karan flinched, met Elise’s gaze, and then rubbed his forehead.
“Let me retract my previous statement. Just the trash can part. The plan being garbage remains unchanged.”
‘Karan,’ Elise mouthed, calling his name silently. Karan quickly turned his head away.
Elise shifted her gaze from him to Ember.
“Sage, our enemy is Ragnaros. Is there any need to be hostile towards allies who share the same enemy?”
Hearing these sensible words, Ember calmed down for the moment. After the wind subsided, Ember spoke.
“What’s wrong with this plan? I don’t understand. Is there a more efficient plan than this?”
The plan Ember brought was so simple it was hard to believe it came from the Ivory Tower sages.
Soldiers from Magnus, Bedrokka, and Tetris would surround Ragnaros to immobilize him while magicians attack from afar.
“Isn’t it the basics of tactics to neutralize the enemy and then attack?”
When no one agreed with his opinion, Ember added.
“Then let’s do the opposite. The magicians will immobilize Ragnaros, and we’ll pour in the attacks.”
Ilaria countered. At this, Ember snorted.
“While it’s not difficult to hold him down, can you subdue Ragnaros in that time? Do you have that level of offensive power?”
Ilaria’s face reddened at the blatant disrespect.
“Hey! What makes you so great? We already know your true abilities. We all know you couldn’t do anything at the 3rd Gate!”
Mentioning the 3rd Gate incident was taboo within the Ivory Tower.
The carefully selected magicians sent by the Ivory Tower had died, but the esteemed higher-ups of the Ivory Tower had erased even their existence from memory.
They were extremely displeased that the incompetence of those magicians could be linked to the incompetence of the Ivory Tower.
So Ilaria’s recent statement was enough to infuriate Ember.
“Don’t insult the magicians! If not this plan, we won’t help.”
Ember glared at Ilaria and then stormed out of his seat.
As Elise sighed, looking at the place Ember had left, Karan muttered indifferently.
“He walks out when he leaves. Seems like it was a big hit, Ilaria. Please do well next time too.”
Elise playfully slapped Karan’s thigh.
This Continental Allied Forces meeting was much more of a mess than in their previous life.
