Chapter 74: The Meeting of the Human Leaders

The day Hero arrived at the Human Capital Evra, a meeting between the leaders was about to happen.

The defeat of a Paladin Legion was a massive blow to the human kingdom, and if they have an enemy who is capable of doing that, then they can't just sit around and wait for the enemy.

A rare meeting between the most powerful is always expected when a threat to humans' existence on the continent appears.

Hero got invited to the meeting, and he went straight there without going to his home.

By the time he arrived, everyone was already there.

Every guild leader in the city was present, and each leader in the meeting had their best bodyguards.

Naturally, all of the Paladin Lords—all but one—accompanied the Paladin Great Lord, Hero.

Ranger Guild Leader: "You're late again. Hero."

Headmistress Ebaba (Guild Leader of Magicians): "Oh, it's not that big of a deal anyway. I barely arrived on time."

Lord Yuan (Leader of the Knight Orders): "This is not a meeting to discuss small talk. We will be talking about preserving the human kingdom. Being on time is a must."

Headmistress Ebaba: "Hmph!"

The irritated Head Wizard ignored him.

Hero (the Great Lord of the Paladins): "It's alright. I am at fault. Please forgive me. The battle for the Orclands was hard-fought, and establishing a colony was not easy."

Archbishop Rand (Head of the Church): "And I assume that you defeated them and got something valuable in return?"

Hero: "Yes, although I am still verifying the value of the loot we got in Orclands, I will give each leader the accurate value after we finish checking everything."

Ranger Guild Leader: "Hiding something, aren't you?"

Hero: "Ah, your keen eyes let nothing pass by without inspection. However, I need your trust to let me handle this. I promise that this is for the good of humanity."

Ranger Guild Leader: "Hmm."

The bodyguards of the Ranger Guild Leader had their bows at the ready. Not hostile yet, but always prepared to draw their weapons.

The Paladin Lords are the same. They exchanged looks, and the atmosphere in the meeting hall intensified.

Lord Yuan: "Eherm. Let's not forget the goal of our meeting today. The forces that beat Paladin Lord Harb's legion are a threat worthy of our attention."

Archbishop Rand: "It's the Undead, right? They let us, the priests, handle it. They will be purged."

Lord Yuan: "Alas, it would not be that simple. As I have said, even the Paladin Lord, who is the bane of the Undead, got beaten convincingly. We cannot rely on the powers of the Holy Light alone. We need everyone's help."

Hero: "I agree. This enemy is not your ordinary undead rabble. I admit the Harb is not my strongest Paladin Lord, but he should have been enough to decimate a small undead army."

Headmistress Ebaba: "Hero's right. I was observing from a distance, and the leadership and quality of the undead soldiers are extraordinary."

Ranger Guild Leader: "Hmm. If you were nearby, why didn't you assist the Paladin Lord? Aren't you the ones underestimating the enemy?"

Headmistress Ebaba: "Grr..."

Hero: "You are not wrong with that thought, Guild Leader. However, I was the one who ordered her to keep her hand. I did it to test Harb's ability and the overall strength of the enemy army. I'm the one who underestimated the enemy, and the situation got out of control. I apologize."

Headmistress Ebaba: "Hero..."

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The headmistress blushed, thinking that the hero was protecting her.

Ranger Guild Leader: "So, that's it then. This situation was the fault of your failed plans. Our guild will not participate in this coming war. Our druids are predicting something far more dangerous than Undead, coming to attack the human kingdoms. We need to prepare for that."

Archbishop Rand: "We also need to tend to the emotional needs of the people, especially in these trying times. A threat looming over humankind disturbs the mental stability of the population, and we are the ones to keep them in check to avoid revolts and riots. We decided to abstain from this war.

Lord Yuan: "Hmm. The Holy Knight's order will always support the Paladins, but the other Knight Orders will be abstaining from the war."

Hero stood up from his seat and snapped.

Hero: "Are you guys that naive!? The enemy that your druids are foreseeing is the undead! If we let them be, they will come back stronger than before! When the undead burn the kingdom to the ground, your priests won't be attending to anyone's emotional needs.

Headmistress Ebaba: "I agree. The mages will fully support Hero's decision. You people need to look at the larger picture. Our lands will never know peace with enemies so close to us."

Ranger Guild Leader: "What if you guys are poking into something that we cannot handle? What if this new "enemy" appears while we are busy fighting the undead? Who will be the shield of humanity when that time comes?"

Archbishop Rand: "Also, underestimating the emotional state of a kingdom is a recipe for disaster. The people make up the kingdom, and if the people are unhappy, the kingdom will fall a lot faster."

The bickering of the leaders is non-stop. No one would conclude the issue. Every sound argument is countered with another equally rational argument.

However, Hero would not let them bypass the issue of the undead easily.

Hero: "The Undead had made an unholy alliance of monsters and demi-humans. Dwarves, Sea-Folk, Ents, and Zombies—even Dragons—are part of their multi-racial coalition. If we ignore them, they will recruit other races that view humans as enemies and food, and we will then cease to exist."

This point made the other leaders quiet.

Hero: "This surprised you, right? However, it doesn't end there! The charismatic leader that made all of this possible is an Undead! A new skeleton king is in the making!"

Gasps and sighs could be heard all around the meeting hall.

Ranger Guild Leader: "Are you saying the Undead are capable of improving themselves!? How is that even possible?"

Hero: "Here are the reports."

Hero threw a stack of documents in the middle of the meeting table. Leaders read them one by one.

Lord Yuan: "Skeleton soldiers conducting training drills? Evolving undead are also spotted in their ranks. If all of this is true, then it is terrible news."

Headmistress Ebaba: "I have seen it myself. It is true! One of the most significant advantages of humans is that improving themselves is not exclusive to them anymore! Our enemies are evolving rapidly."

Hero: "This is why I'm begging everyone to help us end this threat once and for all. Before they become an unstoppable calamity that will end us all."

Everyone became quiet and started to weigh the odds. They could lose this time, and if they don't move right away, they won't stand a chance.

Ranger Guild Leader: "You have made your point. I will participate in the war; however, you should reveal what it is you're hiding after we claim our victory."

Archbishop Rand: "The priests belong to the people, and if this war protects their happiness, I am willing to participate."

Hero: "Thank you."

Now an alliance has been made to combat an enemy that is as dangerous as the vanquished demon, beast, and skeleton king.

The full might of the humans will bear down on the undead army, and it will be another battle for the ages.

This time, though, the victor is uncertain.

Will they seek out a battle with the enemy in time before they improve (level up) to a point where the humans can't beat them?

(The meeting was adjourned after signing the documents of the alliance.)

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(Ranger Guild Leader POV)

The bodyguards of the Ranger Guild Leader also act as his advisors in a similar way that the Paladin Lords are to Hero.

Ranger Advisor 1: "Guild Leader, the druids, are warning us that these Undead are not the prophesied destroyers of humankind."

Ranger Guild Leader: "I know that, and I will only provide them a small amount of help in the coming war. I participated because we need to know what Hero and the Paladins are hiding."

Ranger Advisor 2: "I see. The fact that they went to an Orcish island and invaded it. Saying it was to find an ancient treasure of their holy order. It's suspicious."

Ranger Guild Leader: "Now, now. Quiet down; I can feel someone watching us from afar."

The guild leader has the best senses in the entire kingdom, maybe even the whole continent. He could sense if someone was observing via magic or eavesdropping from a safe distance.

Guild Leader: "Hero, what is it that you're hiding? Are you the person who will make the gears of fate run amok and ultimately end the human race?"

The guild leader whispered to himself as his group went out of the meeting hall.

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(Lord Yuan POV)

Lord Yuan of the Knight Orders is actually the twin brother of Paladin Lord Yuon (Katana Wielder).

Lord Yuan was relieved to hear that his brother had returned safely. And most importantly, he wanted to know the real purpose of their invasion.

Lord Yuan: "So, did you find out? Tell me, brother, is it as I've predicted? He's trying to ascend to something higher than a human being."

Yuon: "I cannot confirm if that is his plan, but there is no evidence of that. He said something far more interesting than that."

Lord Yuan: "What is it?"

Yuon: "He was looking for an artifact that could turn an undead back into a human."

Lord Yuan: "Is this the truth!? A servant of the light, wanting to do something as blasphemous as that."

Yuon: "He didn't say much about it. He said, If a human can turn into an undead, why can't it be reversed?"

Lord Yuan: "This news is definitely intriguing. And if he's proven to be harboring such thoughts, he will be cast down from his position."

Yuon: "But wouldn't that weaken the Human Kingdom by a lot? He's the strongest human."

Lord Yuan: "We won't need to do that. We just need him to owe us some favors."

Yuon: "I see. I will be leaving now. I can't stay here for too long; they might suspect me."

Lord Yuan: "Ah, yes. Tell them it was just an afternoon tea with your dear brother."

Yuon: "Hmm."

Yuon nodded and left Lord Yuan's residence.