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“Jade, is the production of… Woah.”

Crim let out a groan the moment she set foot in that room. She was visiting the alchemy workshop of Castle Seyfert, which was looked after by Lua Cheia’s head of supplies, Jade.

That room…currently looked like a tornado had gone through it, scattering everything randomly around.

“…Oh hey, is that you Crim?”
“Wh-What happened here..?”

Jade’s hand emerged and waved from a nearby pile of junk and industrial waste, and Crim doubtfully went to pull her out of there.

“By the way, you’re here early. Is it finally exam season for you?”
“Yes, we only have school in the mornings now. The actual exams start next week, so our enemy will be getting serious soon enough too…”

Crim said that while looking around dubiously to the messy state of the room, as if pondering if things would be ready. In response, Jade grinned and gave a firm nod.

“Don’t worry, I’ve already crafted everything you asked for. You really should go thank the other crafters and material gatherers as well. They should be here soon!”
“I’ll do that.”

After letting out a sigh of relief, Crim got in contact with Adonis, so the servants would start preparing tea, and then… Various footsteps rang outside and a group entered the workshop.

“Welcome back, Sara!”
“Thank you Jade. I think we got everything you asked for so far, do you need anything else?”
“Not at the moment, I have plenty. Just take it easy for now.”
“Mm, roger that.”

Jade and Sara’s long friendship was evident from their conversation. Meanwhile, Crim spoke to the other people who were with Sara.

“Sara, and also Suzaku and Haru…thanks for helping with everything.”
“Don’t mention it. We can’t take part in the fight, so gathering resources is the least we can do to help.”
“And things could get hairy for me if people found out I’m helping you.”
“I see the Holy Kingdom refuses to abandon its attempts to recruit thee. Pray tell, for what reason are its high lords so fixated upon thou?”

Crim asked out of pure curiosity…but Suzaku looked clearly uncomfortable with the topic.

“It’s more like the top guy of the Holy Kingdom is after me… I guess it’s because he tends to be really naive and easy to deceive.”
“Hm… so thou art acquainted with him, then, Suzaku?”
“Well, something like that. I guess you could say we’re in the same profession…”
“…So that essentially means he’s also a professional gamer?”
“Yes. I think he tends to name his characters Theodolite.”

Theodolite…that was the name of a device used to take measurements. And Suzaku looked really uncomfortable just saying that name, so they likely did not get along at all.

“He’s definitely a skilled gamer. But if I’m being honest I don’t like him at all.”

Suzaku’s grumbling continued as he said that.

There were not many people who could make a living off playing games, and due to the nature of the job, those few tended to be really young.

Many of them would be flung into their job before they fully integrated into society, that would push some to develop and mature much faster, while others would never get a chance to mature, and would remain in a state of arrested development.

That led to many problematic people amongst professional gamers and…

“If I had to describe him in one word…he’s lawful, and in two words, lawful evil.”
“ “Lawful evil?” ”

Crim and Haru both tilted their heads, urging him to explain more despite his distaste for the topic.

“Yes, he’s always all full of himself, thinking he’s the only one in the right, and will use any means to achieve his goals, even if he ruins everything in the process. He’s just a stupid troublemaker.”

…As it turned out, he was the problematic type.

◇◇◇

At around the same time, over in the Starting City Wyndham, in a corner of the poor district…

“I’m always surrounded by useless idiots…!”

A man strutted through a dirty alleyway that reeked a bit like sewage, mumbling all sorts of curses to himself. His golden hair was clear like sunlight. On a good day, he would have looked like a friendly young man, but now his eyes were downcast, scowling with annoyance.

Normally, he had a strong sense of justice, but that was just a mask, under which hid a tyrant that would use whatever means to get rid of anyone he disagreed with.

His name was Theodolite Schwertrot, the young man who was being *propped up* as the king of the Holy Kingdom Schwertrot.

At first, he believed that could be convenient for him so he went along with it, only to be let down time and time again by the results.

Especially because of the second server players. They had barged in full of confidence, claiming they could defeat anyone, only to constantly fail. They really did not seem to know anything outside of the fierce PvP environment they were used to.

But the biggest thorn on his side was that Demon Lord, Crim Lua Cheia. He had assumed she was just some girl who knew how to fight in the frontlines and charm those around her.

That assumption backfired on him right away, as she remained unbothered by all the obstacles he threw at her, like a malleable but resistant willow branch.

*If I mobilize all my men we should outnumber them.*

But if he went to war without doing anything else to prepare, he would lose… That was how he, Theodolite, the king of the Holy Kingdom, saw things.

*If that’s how they want it…I’m going to free this server from the monopoly those three Demon Lords have subjected it to, even if I have to make a pact with the devil for it.*

“Alright, I’ll accept your offer… Give me your strength, Bifrons.”

At the end of the alley, he spoke to a robbed man sitting on the ground…