Editing Shinmai Maou no Keiyakusha:Volume 7 Chapter 2 (section)

===Part 6===

“They want to change the number of representatives in the decisive battle against the Moderates Faction from five to seven?”

In Gardo’s treatment room, Balthier repeated the news that Leohart had brought along. After Gardo was wounded in the operation to attack Wildart City a few days ago, he was hospitalised within this medical tower — currently, the three person group composed of Balthier, Luca and Lars had come here to visit him; and after Leohart had finished talking about matters related to the battle with the two key members of the Council, Belphegor and Mardones, he arrived here not long ago. Then, everyone heard about the newly changed rules from Leohart himself.

“To take advantage of the betrayal during the attack on Wildart City by making such a request, they truly have no sense of shame…moreover, they’re going to use their own people? To have the audacity to play such games in a situation like this, they really do live up to the reputation that they’ve built up over their long lives.”

“Indeed. But on the contrary, it also means that they’ve been forced into this and that they have no other choice.”

After Leohart calmly analysed the situation after dealing with them himself, Luca also nodded beside him.

“That’s right…it has already become a well-known fact that the members of the Council attempted to assassinate Gardo amidst the attack operation that they themselves advocated.”

Luca tensed up his childlike face, and Lars also half-closed his eyes as he said

“It’s not just the soldiers. The distrust of the Council will also soar up among the junior civil servants as well…they are rather terrifying to be able to counterattack so quickly.”

“The victim this time is Gardo-dono. If we just stay silent and do nothing, it’ll actually make things easier for the Council…”

Balthier shrugged as he said so. The scandalous rumours of the Council could be heard about even outside of the city, but this time it was not the same. Gardo was regarded as a hero among the demons, and the voices for him to succeed Wilbert as the new Demon Lord were even louder than those for Leohart. With the recent assassination attempt, it had become perfect material to cut down the influential power of the Council; in order to declare that Leohart was beginning to have the power to take down the Council, he couldn’t let go of this opportunity. That was why Balthier made full preparations before Leohart even issued the order, and when the time of the order actually came, he immediately spread the message to every corner of the city that the Council had attempted to assassinate Gardo in the most efficient manner. Then, Leohart closed his eyes and looked down as said

“I’m sorry, Gardo. I know that for a veteran hero like you, being hurt like this is highly dishonourable, and now it’s also being used as a weapon against them.”

Hearing that, the large man lying in bed laughed lightly as he replied

“I don’t mind…I am your subordinate now, Leohart. As long as my strength and my body can help you defeat the enemy, then you can use it as you wish.”

Moreover—

“I’m very sorry that I will be of no use in this battle.”

Gardo, who was smiling bitterly, had lost his entire right arm below the shoulder. That happened when he attacked Wildart City, and it was cut off by his opponent. —After recovering from other major injuries, generally speaking, severed limbs could be repaired with magic. But for some reason, the healers in the Royal Palace were unable to regenerate his right arm with magic, and even specially cultivated artificial arms were unusable. In theory, with such a clean cut, the connection should be particularly easy to combine, which indicated that the wound that Gardo sustained was extremely peculiar.

''…Toujou Basara, huh.''

The only son of Jin Toujou who was known as a God of War, the report stated that he was capable of using a strange kind of elimination ability; but according to Gardo’s own account, he was also capable of other things. However, since it was unable to regenerate or connect—

''…It will have to be regarded as a side effect of that elimination ability.''

This incurable wound meant that it would be impossible for Gardo to return to the front lines. Even if this injury could be attributed to Nebula, who was dispatched by the Council to attack their unity and reputation — losing the combat strength of Gardo was still a major loss. While Balthier was worrying over such things—

“Yes, Leohart — you wouldn’t have plainly agreed to the request to increase the number of representatives by the old demons on the Council without setting any conditions, right?”

Lars turned towards Leohart to ascertain his response.

“Of course. The situation with the Council is worse than it was before the attack on Wildart City, and heading onto the same stage with them could likely bring us down as well.”

Almost expressionlessly, Leohart said

“So not only did I allow the number of representatives to be increased from five to seven, I had them also agree to my terms that the five against five team battle would be changed into seven one on one battles.”

In this way, they could avoid the risk of the Council’s minions plotting against him amidst the disarray of the battle.

“That is quite a good approach…but how will we explain this to the Moderates Faction? We were the ones to propose a five on five team battle, so the representatives that they sent must be appropriate for that kind of strategy, which is why Ramsas wasn’t among them.”

Balthier continued his analysis.

“For our side where we have much higher individual strength, a one on one battle is naturally more advantageous, so it is rather vulnerable to their refusal; also, with a last-minute change of the rules to act in our favour, I’m afraid that it will rouse voices of criticism and discontent towards our side.”

Since it was not easy to finally reduce the cohesion of the Council, they naturally had to do their best to avoid losing the advantage that they had gained — after all, their own battle would only just begin after defeating the Moderates Faction. At that time—

“—There’s no need to worry about that.”

Leohart said

“I will give them a relative handicap…as long as they can defeat me, it’ll be the equivalent of winning three rounds.”

The showdown consisted of a total of seven duels — which meant that the Moderates Faction originally would have had to win four duels, but defeating Leohart and two others would be equivalent to getting five victories, so even if the Current Demon Lord Faction won the other four matches, they would still be victorious. Even if they were only able to win two matches, as long as one of those was against Leohart, then they would obtain four victories. If there was a tie with four wins on each side, then each side would send another representative for a final face off; and if there was a tie for more than two matches, then the Moderates Faction would also win that battle.

“The six of them that have already arrived in the city…was a group elected for the original purpose of a team battle; after changing it into individual matches, the representatives are likely to change dramatically, right?”

Luca asked worriedly.

“No matter how much it changes, I don’t think our adversary in the previous Great War, Jin Toujou, will participate; as for Ramsas, who crushed the high-class spirit that that traitor Nebula was manipulating, that is a vague possibility—”

“—It doesn’t matter. In fact, that is more to my liking.”

Leohart didn’t seem shaken at all by Luca’s concerns. With a tone embodying his role as the Demon Lord, he said

“This is our showdown with the Moderates Faction, and Ramsas is the current leader of the Moderates Faction; if we don’t defeat Ramsas himself, all that we’ll get is an incomplete victory. If we wish to truly unify this Demon Realm, then we must thoroughly defeat the Moderates Faction, otherwise it will be meaningless…in order to achieve that objective, if Wilbert’s brother Ramsas is willing to set foot in arena, then that will be a good thing.”

“I see…that makes sense.”

If they were to completely defeat the Moderates Faction, then the situation that Leohart desired was truly the best approach to victory.

''…In addition.''

The Council was afraid of their influence being transferred over to Leohart. In the situation that he could lure Ramsas out and successfully win the decisive battle, Leohart’s power would certainly exceed the Council’s, to the point that they would be left almost powerless. Even if they were willing to take tough measures, from the perspective of Gardo, whom they tried to eliminate due to his high influence, he believed that Leohart could break free of their control and fight back; inevitably, using the arena of the decisive battle to push the blame onto the Moderates Faction was an unparalleled choice. Simply imagining the possible outcomes, if the Council made any dishonest actions—

''…Then.''

It would be their turn to punish the Council, and they would be able to eradicate those old bastards in one fell swoop. Being somewhat overbearing wasn’t a problem, after destroying them, any of the reasons they could come up with wouldn’t pose a problem.

''…Moreover.''

Arranging such a duel was good enough in itself as a form of insurance, since they would also be able to lure out those after Leohart’s life who were working under the Council. If they won the decisive battle, Leohart would become a target for the Council’s assassination — in the slight chance that they lost, the Council would think that he had lost his value and would attempt to clean up the mess. Either way, it was a form of self-defence. Right now, Leohart shouldn’t be thinking about what would happen afterwards if they were to be defeated, but—

“Your Majesty…you’ve foreseen all of the possibilities, so that’s why you proposed that condition to the Council for a change to the format of the battle, right?”

“I’m not optimistic about the current situation to that much of an extent, and I’m neither optimistic nor pessimistic.”

In a low voice, Leohart answered Balthier

“However — the opportunity to eliminate those old bastards in one fell swoop is only a fleeting one. Even if I’m able to seize this opportunity, and even if I take a risk of this level, it comes at a cost.”

“As your subordinates, we understand…a little later, I will personally explain the situation to the Moderates Faction. In regards to Wildart City, I will send out a formal letter by magic in the same manner that we initially informed them of the format of the decisive battle. Such conditions are highly favourable for them, so they should agree to it.”

After Balthier saw the firm determination in the eyes of his superior, he nodded as he said

“In fact, not long ago, they hoped that we could a certain thing for them through the maids who were responsible for catering to them…I will notify them at the same time that I give it to them.”

Luca listened in a puzzled manner and then asked

“Prepare something…what is it? Wasn’t that guest house prepared with adequate supplies for ten days’ worth, so everything should be perfect, right?”

“It’s because what they want is something that has a rather peculiar purpose…Lars, I have something to ask you.”

“Something to ask me…?”

Being addressed to, Lars suddenly turned around, and asked in surprise. Balthier then said

“Yes — it is regarding something in the playground that was owned by Zolgear.”