May I Ask for One Final Thing? (最後にひとつだけお願いしてもよろしいでしょうか)

The monsters are still on the move.

Quickly, evacuate the citizens of Snowind!

We'll head for the capital.

Speed up the preparations!

Sir!

While I was sleeping, monsters invaded, and two nations declared war.

I was hoping to restore Saint Diana's blessing as soon as possible...

But it seems I have more important things to do right now.

Prince Julius?

I had heard you'd gone to the capital.

When did you arrive?

Not long ago.

I got enough work done that I could head back.

Shall we play a game of catch to lighten the mood?

This must have been quite hard on you.

Would you like some head pats?

You'd do that?!

I'm not a pet dog.

Do you really think such a thing would please me?

What's this? I see another black-hearted Prince Julius behind you...

What?!

I made sure he wasn't—

I'd heard that beastkin were skilled with illusion magic,

but it's a naughty servant who tries to deceive his own master, Nanaka.

I'm sure she manipulated you with her charm power.

I'm glad to have you back safe.

Where am I?

You're awake?

We're almost to the castle.

Scarlet...

I'm sorry.

She got me with her charm blessing...

Scarlet!

The Palmians are working with our neighboring realms!

They also took out the Holy Gem—

Take it easy, Nanaka.

We're about to attend a strategy meeting to discuss the threats to Pallistan.

Terenezza, the Palmians, and the countries working with them...

So many people deserve a taste of my fist.

May I Cook This Thick Cut of Pork Through With Body Punches?

Our kingdom, Pallistan, is surrounded on all sides by other nations.

The northern principality, Falconia.

The western holy empire, Eldrand.

The eastern empire, Vankish.

The southern republic, Lindberg.

All are quite formidable, with superior territory and militaries to ours.

In the past, they've always kept each other in check.

But the moment the Holy Gem of the north was destroyed,

Falconia and Eldrand declared war on us.

In addition, monsters from the other lands

came through the hole in the barrier to invade our territory.

The monsters number about 50,000.

Even with our entire military, we might not be able to beat them.

They're making a beeline for the capital, as if something is directing them there.

And the armies of Eldrand and Falconia are at our borders.

Though they haven't shown signs of invading just yet.

They're waiting for us to exhaust ourselves fighting with the monsters

so that we'll give them little resistance, I'm sure.

Now that we all see how hopeless the situation is,

I'd like to begin the conference...

Why are you all acting like we're at a funeral?

Whose fault do you think that is?

Well, then let me give you a bit of good news.

Good news?

The other day, a particular faction contacted me in secret.

They seem to want to exploit our desperate circumstances to get us into their debt.

Please welcome the proposer of this alliance, crown prince of the Vankish Empire—

Alflame Rare Vankish.

What is the meaning of this?

This is the man who incited Godwin and nearly destroyed our kingdom!

Prince Julius! You must reconsider!

Prince Julius!

May I speak?

I am sure this is a logical decision

made after weighing all potential merits and demerits, Prince Julius...

but those of us who were present for the events in question

will find this difficult to accept.

May I ask why you want this alliance?

I understand your feelings, but I fear I can't take them into account.

An alliance must be forged between the nations in question.

I think there's been a misunderstanding.

The Vankish Empire itself is not involved in this.

It's me who's offering to help you!

Were you expecting our entire army to come to your aid?

Wait, Sigurd.

Let's hear his excuse before you kill him.

Sir Sigurd, in cases like this,

it is best not to slay in a single strike,

but to pummel the body from all directions.

If I may...

Having expected this asshole, Prince Alflame, to ruin things,

I came here to serve as negotiator.

My name is Jinn.

Did you just call your own prince an asshole?

You be quiet.

Our empire, Vankish, does not have hereditary succession.

Rather, the strongest fighter in each generation takes the throne.

There's always a violent battle for succession.

I wouldn't lose in any battle between individuals.

But taking the throne comes down to far more than a single fighter.

It could even mean a war.

In other words, you want to do us this favor,

so that we'll back you in your battle for the Vankish throne.

That's right.

I understand your reasoning,

but the enemies are too great in number for you alone to make the difference.

I'm not the only person who'll be coming to your aid.

What?

Report, sir!

Numerous dragons have been sighted in the skies above the capital!

They number about a thousand!

Be at ease! They're on our side!

Our country's elite air force,

the Redsky Dragoons!

They can take out 50,000 monsters easily!

The Redsky Dragoons...

That's the greatest air force on the continent!

The famous dragoons are going to side with us?!

So you didn't come empty-handed after all.

But even if they're the strongest on the continent,

how much can your thousand dragoons handle?

They've been battling the terrifying monsters

flooding in from the Demon Continent day and night.

They're not the weak warriors of Pallistan who've gone soft from living inside a barrier.

Indeed.

Monsters can't be negotiated with, and we lack the force of arms to oppose them.

But we do have a strategy that should grant us victory with other nations—

to avoid war entirely.

You have a plan to talk down the two nations on your borders and Lindberg?

I've already sent a messenger to Lindberg.

They've replied that they'll remain mere observers in this affair.

Regarding the two nations that have declared war,

I was hoping you'd have some good intelligence for us.

You noticed we took a detour to the north to do some scouting, did you?

Such level-headed thinking in a situation when most men would lose their nerve...

I see I made the right call coming here.

No, Jinn told me about your scouting efforts.

What?!

Your Moronic Highness had a very optimistic view about the alliance,

but I knew it wouldn't be that easy.

I volunteered the information to earn his trust.

Whoa, nice thinking!

He doesn't get angry when his own men disparage him.

He seems like a very generous master.

Or perhaps he's simply a moron.

Be silent and listen, everyone!

We sighted the forces of Falconia in the forests of the north,

but their numbers were small.

It seemed to be a mixed band of elves and beastkin.

It was almost certain to be a scouting team,

but for a nation about to wage war, it seemed rather cursory.

That is all!

He's exhausting.

Falconia has shown no interest in expanding their borders before.

There's a good chance their invasion was instigated by outsiders.

They're likely open to negotiations, then.

If Falconia drops out, it will change the situation,

and Eldrand may also reconsider their plan.

In other words, while dealing with the monster invasion,

we should negotiate a ceasefire with Falconia?

Yes.

The question is, who should we send to negotiate?

Is that why you brought me along?

Very sharp of you.

You've proven skilled at infiltrating enemy territory, haven't you?

Former inquisitor Dios...

That one kind of hurt.

I'm going too.

Some of my kinsfolk might be there.

Beastkin generally don't like fighting.