＜Infinite Dendrogram＞

Episode Four: Point of No Return

□ Wangdu Althea, Royal Castle and Executive Office

On that day, Ultimia had received a report of a water flavor incident that had disturbed the King's capital.

Integra is continuously investigating, but no health hazards to Wang Du residents have been identified at this time.

I'm happy with that in itself, but I wonder at whose hands one of these prank-like, fatal concerns was conceived... Ultimia was guessing.

It was then that the Empire gave me a hotline diagnosis.

"It's been since the pageant."

"Well, you never hung up before either."

The top of the two countries were exchanging words through the hotline that had been turned down since it was the trigger of the earlier war.

The Kingdom is the First Princess, Ultimia A. Alter, acting for the King.

The Empire is the King, Claudia L. Drife.

Precisely...... her political personality Reinhardt is talking.

"First of all, I'd like to ask you straight in."

'Yes, it was at my behest that the water in the king's capital was sweetened'

…………

Without delusion, Reinhardt responded instantly to the incident that caused the King's Capital to noise.

That was exactly what Ultimia expected.

Unlike trade, a false ban in the hotline would not be bluff either because it is still in force.

"The cause of this phenomenon is a preference manufacturing device developed for areas suffering from hunger."

"Hobbies?

'There are no nutritious crops per se that can be described as sweet, especially in the worst parts of the empire. So I made a device that would change the nutritional value, or at least the flavor. "

…………

Taste-changing mechanisms are not a major problem in themselves.

The question is, how does that affect the water supply throughout the King's capital?

And the bigger problem is......

"The Empire is suffering from starvation"

Rheinhardt went on to say things faster than Azwright asked about matters of concern.

You already know that, don't you?

"... Yep"

Imperial famine. Even Ultimian investigates and grasps it.

To the kingdom at the time of the last war, information that for some reason had not been passed on.

The kingdom now knew it and even struck a hand on it.

'So I snuck in and sent in personnel to (...) improve the Imperial farmland'

"... you were aware"

Along with Integra and the others, Ultimia was moving the strategy behind the tournament.

Study of soil improvement with Integra.

He also secretly moves followers of the Luning-based Agricultural Master and the Lunar Party.

corner of the empire...... if soil improvement in the kingdom was effective on the depleted earth, it was meant to be widely publicized and spread.

from a kingdom that should be an enemy nation, as humanitarian aid (...).

Because that is the only way to put an end to the dispute before it leads to war.

That is nothing... only humanity is not the basis.

"The vast majority of the Imperial < Master > today is a single rock. That's because the worlds and the plays have the same purpose. To protect the people of the Empire, who have made friendships with themselves. Players are for the rewards they get from the war. They will fight all together for the Empire '

Reinhardt grasps what lies ahead of Ultimia's attempted measures.

The Kingdom's most effective counterattack, ahead of this humanitarian aid.

'But without the precondition of famine... many of the worlds lose their reason to fight. Instead, there will be some who complain that we should not have an extra war. There is also a fear of developing into crushing each other with the playwrights who seek war for rewards. It's a tougher hand than being sent in.'

"... Nor can kingdoms be merely driven by imperial plots"

Instead of attacking the Empire, saving it strips the Empire of its power.

Given the number of starving deaths that occur by the time we improve and get food, many, but not all, worlds may still choose war, and it certainly cracks their opinions.

In that case, the difference in power between us and the kingdom can also be overshadowed... even when it comes to war, winning is diminished.

Players will recall the fairy tale of The North Wind and the Sun.

But this story itself... is by no means a bad story for the people of the Empire.

"If you're known, you talk fast. Join forces in both countries to solve the causes of hunger in the country.... are you willing to get on with this proposal?

Last option, not least, before the war.

Ultimia... created a kingdom that remained flowing.

If Reinhardt... Claudia chooses that, the bi-national feud will end.

That's why Ultimia asked, wishing, reaching out for salvation.

But......

'If I just wanted to save my country, if I just wanted to protect you, there was no other way to get on it. I wouldn't have hated to apologize for what I've done so far. "

That's indisputable, it's what she meant.

Save the country as a royal family.

Protect her as a friend.

If that's all it is, what Ultimia is trying to do is nothing more than save her.

'But those are not the only two things I need. So I don't choose.'

But the third mission she carries… [Evil God] Crusade does not allow it.

"Claudia......!

'Cause then you can't fulfill what I want. And that's the answer this time.'

Because there are three things she wants, she can't shake the hand of salvation where the third failure becomes decisive.

"Can't I help you with that desire, too!?

"I can't."

Reinhardt answers immediately.

I don't know why Ultimia refuses to work so hard for a peaceful solution.

But Claudia can't ride Ultimia's proposal.

Because if Claudia L. Drife's speculation is correct... the [evil god] that should be defeated is something close to Ultimia.

Zeta witnessed [evil gods] during the attack on Wang Du and thought they existed.

Guess from its appearance...... not.

I almost certainly assumed that the appearance information was deceptive information (...), so out of consideration from the start. The power of [evil gods], or the protection of administrators. Either way, there is deceit.

That's why Claudia put the emphasis on time and place.

The time Zeta engaged [Evil God] was the same time [Flaming King] and [Dragon Emperor] were bumping into each other in the basement.

The place is on the upper level of the Royal Castle, the opposite of the basement.

The Second Princess and the Marquis of the Belly were in the underground shelter, many knights marched out to intercept the [Fire King] and [Raptor King], and the workers, including the princess's maiden, also took refuge or acted with the Second Princess.

At that time, those who were on the upper floors.

others and those who had not acted together.

Or if that's the case, some knights, such as Liliana, who were hit by a search on the spot, also apply.

But if we add to that the condition that 'those who have so far faced a lesser number of crises connected to the awakening of [evil gods]' … there is only one such person.

Claudia reads - Third Princess Theresia is the [evil god].

If that's the case, there are a few things that get through the muscles.

After the kidnapping by the [criminal king], changes have also occurred around the Third Princess. A remarkable example is the fact that we started to move around the castle on odd creatures.

If that is to do with the first awakening in times of crisis, no wonder.

There is also a risk that Zeta's gesture was taken in by [Evil God] as a "relative” during the attack on Wang Du. Zeta's testimony that he was attacked by a man who was the [Surprise King], even though he said he had a vacancy in [Surprise King] 's job.

If we organize the information, it makes no difference that the most powerful candidate is Third Princess Theresia.

[Evil God] also weaved some nearness to completion. It can be said that the King's Capital raid was successful.

Let's go back to the waters of the king's capital.

…………

Claudia, who is putting Reinhardt's personality on the surface, tried to bring the story back to the first topic without changing her expression.

'You will already be concerned too, but there is not one trick against the water in the King's capital'

Ultimian concerns.

It is equally, or more easily, if a trick can be applied, such as sweetening the water of the King's capital...

"And the second is -- it's toxic."

- I can plant poison.

Just as one switch turned the king's capital's water into juice, it would also be able to turn it into a poison drug and turn it into the capital of death.

The first reason I changed the taste of water is because it is a slight change that does not touch the safety of [evil gods].

That being the case, because it can also be expressly stated that it is an obvious anomaly and that it is possible to cause further damage.

Reinhardt then took out the remotely operated switch to show it.

As in one occasion at a former conference on harmony.

Ultimia immediately guessed what the switch was.

That's... that's the switch on how the poison works.

"Claudia!"

'I won't push, and I'm not even thinking about ruling the kingdom with this. This is to make the time limit explicit to you. If I don't even press the switch, it will be detoxified after a certain amount of time'

"Time Limit......?

That's what Reinhardt says, puts the switch down, and takes out a piece of paper instead.

That is the same thing I once deposited with Ultimia at the end of the struggle of the Conference of Reconciliation.

"- It's time to carve out the" War "

- It's the [pledge] of her proposed "Just the Master."

Taste of water incident is a threat...... explosion.

To go to war before Ultimia's measures take effect and the Empire breaks.

To make Ultimia make up her mind.

'We and you will have been well prepared. And I did not accept your last mercy, and put even the king's capital on the scale. No longer hesitate, but decide to crush me as an enemy in War.'

Turning away all avenues to avoid, Claudia proceeds to War.

Claudia never only tells her about Ultimia's sister's potential to destroy the world.

If Theresia is an [evil god], then there can be no [evil god] crusade to Ultimia.

It is Ultimia who is hurt to know the facts, and her sister cannot be slashed.

No, if you can't slash it...... if you just carry a load on your heart, it's still fine (...).

In the worst case scenario, you might risk your life trying to settle for yourself.

Lose your life at the price of righteousness, like the former [Holy Sword King] and [Evil God].

Claudia will never get on Ultimia's suggestion because the [evil god] 's identity has almost been confirmed.

I have already made the decision that I have no choice but to settle for my own thought [evil god] killing.

Then...... I'm also prepared to be hated and killed by Ultimia, who killed my sister.

So Claudia doesn't work hand in hand with Ultimia, she does < war >, which is the final preparation for [evil god] killing, and she has to win.

That it is also the least sacrificial path after getting everything she wants... because her brain is calculating.

…………

Ultimia doesn't know why Claudia's stubbornness is or what she wants.

Or I wondered if it involved the administrator I spoke to after the harmonious meeting or the presence of < end >.

But she has no knowledge of them, and the [Great Sage] 's leap up to her predecessors leaves no information in the kingdom relating to [Evil Gods] or < End >.

So Ultimia doesn't get it.

Still, I could understand Claudia not bending herself...... as a friend.

'The pledge of a false ban in the hotline is still in effect, isn't it?

"Yes."

Reinhardt also mentioned that Ultimia confirmed before this call...... keep the word.

'On top of that, let me assure you. There is nothing trapping about this. Like a peace conference, there is no surprise attack to match the war. I will bet all the fate of the Empire on the next victory and defeat. "

In a false non-existent conversation the King of the Empire, who has staged numerous plots, declared… so.

'The rules are fair. The only difference is the touch of each other's faces. Ask for both < masters > within the rules and aim to win. That's all.'

"Why try to entrust the future of both countries to that instrument?

Tian's not intervening, only, nothing is lost.

It's like a game. Besides, why entrust everything?

Ultimia still doesn't know what that intent is.

But Claudia L. Drife was certain.

"Once, in Gideon, Mr. Terrorism perpetrated by Franklin. That was a shooting."

Abominably for the kingdom, the incident became a cut-off to flip the anti-flag.

It is also an incident in which Ultimia learned of the existence of a single Master.

'That was a plan to break the hope that remained in the kingdom'

…………

'The people of the kingdom have not given up hope. What the people of the kingdom make their last stronghold is not the [Holy Sword Princess (Your Highness)] who has been kept secret of inheritance. “Irresistible" that has overthrown the Golden Dragon ([Gloria]) and the many tragedies... Quite a few of them. They are what sustain the hearts and minds of the people and are hope'

Ultimia also thinks that would be true.

No people know that Ultimia is the [Holy Sword Princess], and only the [Great Sage] and [Heavenly Knights] of his predecessors, the majority of the Knights, and the death of the King are known about the power of Tian.

What the people believe are the masters who have saved them from the existential crisis.

[Gloria] and the cases of Gideon, the village of Torne and Carcellatan are not the only ones.

Tens of thousands of Masters have solved various incidents (quests) across the kingdom to protect people.

The pile is in the kingdom of today.

'The people are not convinced that their defeat in an undefeated way, which is hope. It's the same as the Empire that won once by the power of the

Reinhardt cut the words there,

- That's why it's a head-on fight.

- I switched my personality to Claudia, my master, and I said so.

"It's not terrorism, it's not an ambush, it's not a trap, it's not non-participation. The base of kingdom and empire, the pure bump between each believer. That's the last way to settle. '

Claudia said with certainty that the heart of the kingdom would no longer be broken if it were not so.

"Claudia."

Words of friends who want battle.

The words...... Ultimia took the words she was prepared for with a quieter heart than she had assumed.

I was searching for a solution that didn't lead to battle.

But I had a feeling it wouldn't.

That's why... I was also ready to fight.

Unlike the previous ones, I've been laying my mind on them… getting ready for the battle.

That's not just Gideon's “tournament”.

The kingdom is also... ready.

"Let me just ask you one last time.... nothing more than this, huh?

'There isn't. If you don't accept this, I will press the switch... and I will attack the kingdom with the Behemoths.'