Editing Ultimate Antihero:Volume 2 Chapter 2 (section)

===Part 4===

Thirty minutes after that.

The first diplomatic negotiation between human and fairy, between mankind and demons, was opened.

The place was the board chairman’s room of New Tokyo Sorcery Academy.

With a table between the two sides, each representatives of the two camps faced each other.

The representative of the fairy race didn’t even need to be said, Elfiena who had finished changing her dress.

The representatives of mankind were Kinugasa Yoshinori, Joseph Franklin, and Wan Tairon, three names from the <United World Government>.

Behind those three names, the <Evil God User> Kamishiro Homura was standing by with his arms crossed. Similarly, behind Elfiena were the members of the 101st platoon that, the same as Homura, knew about the arrival of the fairy on the earth, Hoshikawa Sumika and Ichinotani Chikori standing by. And then at the left and right of the only entrance of the room were Onjouji Kai and Onjouji Shiori with their backs to the wall just like door guards. The representatives of both camps were staring at each other wordlessly.

The atmosphere was extremely strained.

It couldn’t be helped. This was the first time for everyone.

As it were, this moment could possibly become the turning point of human history.

At such a time,

“For Japan to share its time during such busy time, truly I give you all my deepest gratitude for that.”

Knowing that it was her role to break the ice as the one who dearly wished for this conference, Elfiena first expressed her thanks.

“My name is Elfiena. The person in the position that governed one race called the [Fairy race] in the demon world.”

She displayed her position.

The one who responded to this was Kinugasa who sat at the center of the three human representatives.

“Thank you for your courteous greeting. Elfiena-san.

I am called Kinugasa Yoshinori, the one who is entrusted with the administration of this country called Japan.

These two at my side are similarly like me the people in charge of two human countries that exists on earth, United States of America and China Republic Union, Joseph Franklin and Wan Tairon.

And then the one behind me, is the greatest battle power of us human race, the <Evil God User> Kamishiro Homura.”

With a truly tactful behavior, Kinugasa finished the introduction of all that gathered here.

But, Elfiena’s eyes turned wide open in shock from those last words of Kinugasa.

“My. So the one who kindly helped me before is that <Evil God User> you say-?”

“Nn? How unexpected. You know about me?”

“Of course I know. The hero of the human race who controls <evil god> and removed the valorous warriors of the demon race, Typhon and Jambure. The fame of the <Evil God User> is well known even in the demon world. However… I never thought that such a person will be a young gentleman like you, it surprised me a little.”

(…Hero of the human race, huh.)

For some reason it seemed the degree of his power was also circulated in the demon world, but Homura discerned that Elfiena didn’t grasp as far as the more concrete information of his appearance or the complexity of Homura’s distorted relation with the human race.

Well, though that was only something trivial in this place.

“<Evil God User>-sama. On this occasion you have saved me from danger, thank you very much.”

“No need for thanks. Saving you was mostly just by chance anyway.”

And then, when Elfiena and Homura were exchanging greetings like that―

“Gahaha-!”

Tairon raised a loud laughter with his hoarse throat that was offensive to the ears.

“What’s with that <Evil God User>. So you bastard is also famous in the demon world huh. Ain’t that great. You can just live at that side. That’s what suits you bastard.”

“Haha. Isn’t that a wonderful proposal of great wit from you. How about you seriously consider that, Homura-kun.”

Hearing Tairon’s words, Joseph too also agreed to that while making a sarcastic smile at the corners of his mouth.

“……”

But Homura didn’t even meet the eyes of those two.

The side of his face told that it was stupid to listen to them.

“Both of you. Please leave picking a quarrel with him for later. The talk won’t move forward like this.”

In place of Homura who decided to ignore the two, in the end it was Kinugasa who warned them.

In regards to that Joseph said “Excuse me for that” and shrugged his shoulders provocatively before drawing back.

But― Tairon was different.

“Keh!”

Along with a spitting voice, *GAN-!* he struck the reception table with all his strength using the heel of his white enameled boots.

“-……!”

Elfiena’s shoulders jumped in surprise from the sudden barbarous act and her wings trembled.

Tairon glared with bloodshot eyes sharply at Elfiena who was being scared like that.

“Just where is the need to move forward the talk with a demon as your talk partner. There ain’t even a need to politely introduce yourself. Everything will get settled if I just rip off the head of this bitch right now. Yet even so, you bastards and that Innocentious gramps just kept prattling, try to listen to her story or whatever, ain’t that too sluggish. We ain’t going to respond to whatever a demon tries to negotiate anyway. Then what we gonna do won’t change. It’s only a matter of doing it sooner or later.”

“Secretary general Wan. Please put down your foot from the table. It’s an act that is just too lacking in dignity.”

Joseph presented a candid advice while looking amazed towards Tairon’s unreserved attitude, but,

“To be thought as undignified by vermin like demon, that’s just too humiliating for a human.”

As expected he too didn’t try to hide his hostility towards demons.

Well, after all these two were the representatives of the human race that had been thoroughly harmed by the demons starting from <Walpurgis Night> until now.

It was inevitable for them to be unable to come into contact with a demon in good will, but,

―As expected it was really childish for them to so frankly let out their emotions until this far.

Even though this meeting had been arranged after great trouble, but only kept getting rejection like this wouldn’t result in anything productive.

That was why Kinugasa was,

“Elfiena-san.”

“Ye, yes-“

“I beg your pardon for my compatriots’ behavior that are lacking in decorum. After all, until now, humans and demons are mutual sworn enemies. There had never been something like a demon that came wishing for peaceful dialogue, so they too are judging based on their position as humans with a position of responsibility what kind of manner they need to take in regards to you. Please forgive their behavior somehow.”

Saying that he apologized for the two’s impoliteness.

But even while apologizing courteously, at the same time Kinugasa was also clearly alluding to the stance of the human race and the animosity that they held towards the beings called demon, the way Kinugasa was taking a distance was ingenious.

“…Yes. I understand. After all, I too know clearly what the demons that crossed over from the demon world to the human world until now had done to all of you humans. It’s only natural for you all to hold hatred towards the residents of the demon world.”

Elfiena also showed her understanding towards Kinugasa’s words that was measuring their distance.

But on top of that,

“And then, it’s exactly this hatred that I think is the emotion that can connect us [Fairy race] and [mankind] together.”

Elfiena closed this distance saying that.

“What could you possibly mean by that?”

“Because us the [Fairy race] too, has had our residences burned by the demons whose eyes were blinded by the desire to rule, driven out from our birthplace, our brethren killed, they are [invaders] that we hated.”

And the Elfiena talked.

About the current condition of the demon world that she had told to Sumika and Chikori inside the public bath just now.

“Several years ago, a powerful demon with strong influence all over the demon world died.

And then, following that event, the powerful clans in every place began a struggle for hegemony where they washed blood by blood.

With Jambure who appeared on this side the other day and Typhon as the beginning, a lot of demons were defeated in this struggle for hegemony and unable to stay in the demon world any longer, and so they searched for a new land in the human world and invaded into this world.”

“…So the reason for the increasing frequency of demons’ appearance since a few years ago is because of something like this.”

“Really, what a bother. No matter what, demons will be nothing more but harm for the humans.”

Joseph who now understood the reason for the increase in the demons’ appearance rate in the recent years leaked a deep sigh from being fed up.

But in regards to this,

“But, even though we are all demons, we cannot be lumped together.”

Elfiena immediately put a denial at that comment.

“Demon races that are not interested in war or territory like the [Fairy race] also exist.

For us too, demons like Typhon and Jambure who trample other people underfoot only for the sake of their greed are also enemies.

…But, while unfortunate, the [Fairy race] is not a race that is strong in battle.

The sizes of most of the fairy race are nothing bigger than the size to the degree they can be put on top of the palm of a human. Even I, who has the strongest magic power among our race, has the size that is at best the same with a human. To face an opponent like the gigantic <Demon King> whose size completely covered and hid the sky itself, there is nothing we can do. …There is no other choice available to us [Fairy race] other than being trampled down. For that reason, we want to form a cooperation system with the human race, who is in the same position as us.”

“And this is where the alliance comes in, is it?”

Elfiena nodded towards Kinugasa’s words.

From there she started to talk again.

“Yes. Saying it more concretely…… we the [Fairy race] want to be accepted, as the compatriots of the human race.”

She was saying, that she was wishing for they, the [Fairy race], to live together with the humans in the human world.

But in regards to that, the three names from the <United World Government> who sat in front of Elfiena opened their eyes wide.

“I’ll confirm it again but―you said ‘accepted’, in other words you want to migrate to the human world?”

“Yes.”

From that affirmation, the expressions of the three were clearly showing agitation.

That was natural.

Even though they had already been surprised from a demon bringing up a proposal for an alliance, but to go as far as wishing for [coexistence] was just―

It was a talk that just couldn’t possibly be accepted.

“Oi oi oi oi. Don’t shit with me you bitch. Talking whatever you pleased while I’m stayin’ quiet. Askin’ for demons to get welcomed to earth, ain’t no way such thing is possible huh―. Besides, what merit is there for us humans to do such a thing!?”

There was more or less a problem in his choice of words, but that question of Tairon filled the minds of everyone present in this place.

That was why both Joseph and Kinugasa didn’t warn off Tairon and waited for Elfiena’s answer.

And then surely the side of the fairy race had also assumed that this question would be thrown at them from the human race’s side. An answer was returned back without hesitation.

“Of course we are not thinking of having this favor given to us without any compensation. The [Fairy race] intend to offer [production cooperation] and [military cooperation] as the compensation to be given to the human race.”

“…Hoo.”

The merit for the human race’s side from the alliance that Elfiena suggested.

Hearing that, Homura leaked out an admiring voice that couldn’t be heard by anyone.

(She was careless about the relation between mankind and me, but… it looks like she properly investigated any beneficial information for her negotiation with the <United World Government> before coming here.)

That was because the two points that Elfiena presented accurately caught the weak points that the current human society held.

As expected, Joseph immediately bit at the bait.

“―[Production cooperation] and [military cooperation] is it? How deeply interesting.

Both are matters that the human race feels uneasy about even now.

Only humans that can handle magic power can become magicians that are able to oppose the demons.

In addition with the attack of demons that continue everyday, that number is chronically insufficient.

And then from the lack of magician’s number, we are unable to expand the <life sphere>, because of that we are unable to perform large scale agriculture so our food supply circumstances are always pressured.

This negative spiral might be able to be resolved, is that what you are saying?”

“Yes. Exactly as you said.”

“Interesting. Let me hear your story.”

Joseph showed a listening attitude to Elfiena’s words for the first time since the talk began.

Although he didn’t say anything, Wan Tairon also pricked up his ears.

Towards those two, Elfiena explained the merit of the alliance that fairy race’s side proposed to the human race’s side.

“First, in regards to the [production cooperation], in the first place we, the [Fairy race], are existences that are truly close of being nature spirit, dwelling within nature like trees and flowers, soil or water. And then, in exchange for providing us with dwellings in [nature], we promise abundant harvest from plants, fertility in the land, and purity in the water.

In other words, with us the [Fairy race] residing in the land, the harvest will become abundant to that extent, and the land will be able to produce crops with extremely high nutritional value in large amounts.”

“In short, it will become possible to produce food using less land and time, is that what you are saying?”

“Yes. I have confidence that our power that fertilize no matter what kind of land, and grow in abundance whatever kind of crop, will surely become an assistance to all of you humans.”

“I see, that’s certainly valuable, and extremely worthwhile. I understand about the [production cooperation] now. …Then, next, I wonder what kind of [military cooperation] you can offer? It’s impolite but, from listening to the talk from just now, I cannot think of you [Fairy race] to be generally useful in combat though.”

Elfiena honestly returned a nod towards Joseph’s words without hiding anything.

“It’s exactly as you said. We are not specialized in battle. That’s exactly why we were driven out from the demon world. Because the body of a fairy is really small, we are disadvantaged in battle no matter what. ―However, until the end that’s only in the case if it’s the fairy itself who fights.”

“What you are saying is?”

“Just as I said before this, we are existences that lives inside material of nature as spiritual body.

In other words… similar with living inside a plant, we can also live inside a weapon.

And then if we reside inside a weapon, the weapon will not only be a mere lump of iron, it will become a magic sword or a magic spear clad in magic power that makes it possible to hurt a demon.”

“So you’re talking about <{{furigana|Enchant|Magic Power Endowment}}> ―”

Suddenly Tairon vigorously stood up from his chair while raising a loud voice.

The displeased expression on his face from before had disappeared somewhere, now he was being really excited.

The reason was because <Enchant> was a technique of dreams for mankind.

It had been said before, but the battle power of the human race was constantly insufficient.

The reason was mainly because of the devastating damage from <Walpurgis Night>, but… the most fundamental reason was the fact that the great majority of the human race couldn’t control magic power.

Those who could oppose demons were limited to the extremely small part of the human race that could control magic power.

Due to that, the battle power of mankind was always pressed for more.

But, a technique that made magic power resided inside a weapon―if there was this <Enchant>, this premise would be overturned.

Even humans that didn’t have magic power, if they made use of a weapon that was enchanted with magic power, they would be able to fight equally against the demons which couldn’t be injured except by magic power. In short, humans that until now couldn’t be counted as fighting strength would be able to made use of as fighting strength from then on.

That was why in this one century, the whole of mankind had striven for the research of <Enchant> until now, but… this technique still couldn’t be established yet.

Although mankind had reached the stage where they could create <Sorcery Machine> that assisted sorcery operations of the magician using electronic circuits, the way to make magic power that didn’t have substance to stay for a long time inside substantial material still couldn’t be established yet.

But, Elfiena said.

That they the fairies could do that.

That they possessed the method to resolve the difficult problem that mankind encountered.

“Currently the remnants of the [Fairy race] are two million fairies. Even if we generously filled a weapon with ten fairies each, it will be possible to increase the manpower of mankind by two hundred thousand at maximum.”

“I wonder if this enchanted weapon can chant sorcery in the place of the one equipping it?”

“Of course it’s possible. That’s right. I think any fairy can use sorcery without trouble until the <third grade> sorcery in human standards.”

“…That’s, amazing. Not just a mere enchant. That’s already reaching the level of an {{furigana|Intelligence Device|Stand-alone Sorcery Armament}}. Furthermore, even among humans there are many magicians that cannot use <third grade> sorcery to satisfaction from its difficulty. Form the view point of mankind, this battle strength augmenting… has a really large merit.”

“―Gahaha, then it’s decided.”

It was a term that would make mankind water in the mouth.

Joseph and Tairon showed a positive reaction that they hadn’t showed until now from this compensation for alliance Elfiena presented that was great beyond their imagination.

Like this, wouldn’t the talk go well with this development?

Such tinge of hope was born inside Elfiena’s heart.

But,

 

“Yosh! Let’s capture this bitch alive right now and dissect her thoroughly!”

 

―Such thinking was just too naïve.

“Eh……?”

“Good idea. Let’s quickly finish the arrangement for the research lab and the researcher. If we just understand the mechanism of fairy’s Enchant, we have no need of anything from this filthy demon.”

“That’s how it is! Oi you magicians over there, capture this demon right now-!”

“……-!”

Elfiena was astonished from listening to the words that Joseph and Tairon spouted out while they were wearing fiendish smiles.

But the two were serious.

Joseph was the head of the United States of America―the large country that once reigned over calling itself the justice of the world.

From the beginning he was not a human of a country with a quality that would compromise with the enemy.

After all since the founding of their country, they were a nation that removed all obstacles standing in their path.

And similar with them, Tairon too was a man that cleared open his path using only his own strength for his whole life.

He didn’t even respond well when talking with fellow humans, he was a politician that crushed ideology and forced those that opposed him with strength.

In the first place he was not someone which one could negotiate with.

Pushing away Kinugasa who tried to stop them in panic, Tairon deployed his own <Arms> that was a large halberd. He approached Elfiena just like that.

But against Tairon’s barbarism,

“Wha…! Yo, you must not do that you know!”

Chikori jumped over the sofa and stood in front of Elfiena blocking Tairon’s path.

Looking at this act of Chikori, Tairon’s eyes’ gleam that was like a wild beast became even more severe.

“Haaa? What is it you brat? You bastard, are you plannin’ to become an ally of the demons even though you are a magician?”

“I, I don’t plan to do something like that, but-”

“Then why ain’t you acting like what I commanded, huh, you trash-! Just who the hell do you think I am! I’m the secretary general of the great China Republic Union, one of the S-rank magicians that protect mankind, the great Wan Tairon-sama! Incompetent underling bastards like you just need to follow my decisions-!”

Tairon opened his mouth loudly, that even spit were spewed out with his rough voice.

Most people would completely wither down just from facing that scary look of Tairon.

However, Chikori didn’t back down.

Her face paled and her eyes projected fear, yet

“No, no way…-“

Because this petite girl, possessed a gentle bravery.

And then as if to back up such a girl,

“Then maybe you should face the same S-rank magician as yourself.”

Sumika smoothly went through Chikori’s side and declared that to Tairon while looking at his eyes.

The same S-rank magician.

With the entrance of an opponent that would be difficult to subdue with just his violence, Tairon ground his teeth in vexation.

“What d’you say?”

“I’m saying that I cannot approve of such an extremely savage decision. Even if what is behind me is a demon, but apprehending a person that visited as an emissary and killing them is not something that a civilized person will do. Secretary general Wan. Do you not have this thing called dignity?”

“Now you really said it <Grim Bullet>. Then what? Are you sayin’ to accept the fairy? That they can live on this earth!? Are you thinkin’ something like that can just be DONE―!?”

Sumika shook her head towards that question.

“…No. That’s impossible. We humans have had too many of our brethren killed by the demons. After all, even I still sometimes see the <Walpurgis Night> in my dreams… at the very least, while our generation who had experienced that night still live, harmony between humans and fairies is surely impossible.”

Even though inside her heart she felt sorry towards Elfiena for saying this, but that was Sumika’s point of view.

“But, capturing the unresisting Elfiena-san, then treating her like a guinea pig… such behavior where I cannot understand which side is actually the demon, there is no way I as a human cannot approve of that.”

“……-!”

Using strong words, Sumika rejected Tairon and Joseph’s method.

In the first place this was the reason why she attended this meeting.

In this negotiation, no matter how attractive the terms that Elfiena presented, there was no way the human race’s side would accept her demands, Sumika understood that.

The gulf that existed between the human race and the demons was just that deep.

And then in that case, surely the <United World Government> wouldn’t let Elfiena live.

They would undoubtedly try to harm Elfiena.

Well, such development was only natural in a certain meaning.

After all, humans and demons were a mutual sworn enemy.

Even Sumika, if it was before she had met Elfiena, then she might not have stopped Tairon’s act here.

But―Sumika had already met her.

Elfiena, who for the sake of her comrades was desperately fighting the unreasonable reality.

And then Sumika knew.

Elfiena’s smiling face that had no difference at all with humans.

Sumika was already unable to lump all demons as one and consider them all as evil.

She didn’t and couldn’t have any intention to overlook Elfiena being killed unreasonably.

That was why Sumika attended this meeting.

For the sake of protecting Elfiena.

In order to let her get back home to the demon world safely.

(For that sake―)

“Prime Minister Kinugasa. Elfiena-san. I have a proposition.”

Sumika talked to those two.

“This encounter between mankind and fairy, can you treat everything as if it never happened?”