“Welcome.”(?)

We were welcomed as soon as we entered. The hall was extravagant and big, but there was only one person. I could feel an eerie aura coming from that person.

“The king is waiting for you inside this room, but he wants to talk to the nightmare in private. I would like to ask you to leave your retainer to wait here with me.”(?)

“Sure, why not.”(Me)

I said before Sandra could spit out any complains or insults. She probably didn’t notice, but the person in front of us was strong. He would still lose against me, but he could beat Sandra, I was 100 percent sure about it.

“I’d like to know who you are first though.”(Me)

“I have no name. I am the shadow of the king himself and act as his personal assassin as well as his personal guard.”(?)

“So Mister Shadow is the strongest and most trusted person under the king? Something like the number one court magician or a pretty strong general in public, I guess.”(Me)

“The king doesn’t like waiting, if you’d please go ahead.”(Shadow)

He wasn’t shaken nor was he nervous. The person in front of us remained calm and continued talking normally. To me, he felt like a mountain that could not be shaken no matter how much you’d try.

“Buh. No fun. I want to listen to what the human king has to say too.”(Sandra)

As always that girl only said what’s on her mind.

“Sigh. If she tries anything funny just knock her out. I think you won’t have much problem with it Mister Shadow.”(Me)

I was heading towards the next door.

“Wait, you are really planning to play right in their hands, big brother? What if it’s a trap? All of this is strange. If he is the strongest person under the king, why should he not stay with the king and protect him? This has to be a trap.”(Sandra)

“I can only tell you that this is not a trap. If you believe me or not, is up to yourself.”(Shadow)

I stopped before the door.

“I know that it’s not a trap.”(Me)

I made a short pause to turn around. My blood started boiling again and I couldn’t hold back my excitement.

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“And even if it is, there is no one who can stop me and I will just kill everyone who dares to confront me.”(Me)

I turned back, opened the door and entered the next room.

It was a dining room with a table at the centre. The king sat in one of the two chairs. Behind him stood another hooded person. I closed the door behind me and took the other seat.

“Thank you for coming, Nightmare.”(Arthur)

“Thanks for receiving me Arthur.”(Me)

“Let’s skip the unimportant things and get right to the point.”(Arthur)

He was probably referring to introduction and such things.

“Sure why not. It’s about my offer right?”(Me)

“Yes. In your letter, you said something about a peace treaty. Before you tell me what it is about, I’d like to know what moved you to the decision of cooperating with the weakest of all 5 races.”(Arthur)

“Simple. It’s obvious what would happen if I’d help someone else.”(Me)

“Yes. They would try to take advantage of you to conquer the world.”(Arthur)

I wouldn’t allow it, but something similar would happen.

“However, you could have gone to the beastmen. They aren’t that smart and strength wise inferior to everyone except us humans.”(Arthur)

“Isn’t that exactly what I’m doing?”(Me)

Arthur was smart, but even he was, he wasn’t perfect. He couldn’t know an answer to everything.

“Hahaha. That’s right, I totally forgot about it. You aren’t as bad as I heard.”(Arthur)

“Unfortunately, you are exactly the same as Sepp told me.”(Me)

“Ho. When exactly did the two of you meet up? Talking about me behind my back is certainly not nice.”(Arthur)

The battle of wits has just begun, but I had to admit he was a formidable opponent.

“Ask him yourself.”(Me)

“I will do so later.”(Arthur)

“You can do it now. I mean he is standing right behind you.”(Me)

Both of them were surprised for a moment, but in the end, the king told Sepp to take down his hood.

“Don’t look at me like that. Who else should have been standing there? Shadow is outside and I don’t think that you have that many strong people under you, if you have to accept an alliance with me, which is only based on a letter saying that I want a peace treaty.”(Me)

“It’s quite depressing.”(Arthur)

“Why do you think I came to you first?”(Me)

“Sigh. Tell me what you want; I’ll let you know my answer later.”(Arthur)

I went into black form and took down my hood. I did my best to not put any pressure on Arthur.

“Eh? Even if you’re the king of humans, I think I am the one who decides in this conversation.”(Me)

“What do you want?”(Arthur)

He was able to stay calm even in this kind of situation. His willpower was fascinating.

“I think Sepp knows that I am the real Nightmare. I want a conversation with only you.”(Me)

I just wanted to test how far Arthur would go to get my support.

“Sepp please leave this room.”(Arthur)

“Yes.”(Sepp)

With no hesitation, they followed my will. Arthur had to be in a big pinch, if he’d need my help that much.

“Don’t worry, Sandra is out there to talk to.”(Me)

“Guh.”(Sepp)

After Sepp left, it was only Arthur and me. I could finally talk freely about what I wanted.

“I have two things I want from you.”(Me)

“Speak. I will do my best to not let you down.”(Arthur)

Even if he was the weaker side, he still tried to act like a king.

“First, you are not allowed to tell anyone anything about me. My name and Sonya academy will stay a secret.”(Me)

“I mean I already knew you’d say that, but still I am interested, why should I know your name and where you live?”(Arthur)

“Wasn’t one of the reasons you accepted Kylie’s request that you’d get me as an ally later on?”(Me)

It was only a guess, but Kylie did many things, I didn’t know about and Arthur would have somehow got to know my name and place to stay anyways.

“As far as I can see, she gave me quite the reliable ally.”(Arthur)

I was surprised that I was able to hit the mark with my guess.

“As long as you accept my second condition.”(Me)

“Yes.”(Arthur)

“I want you to send me 50 children under 15 years every month.”(Me)

“Am I allowed to ask why?”(Arthur)

“Building up the population of my continent.”(Me)

“And why children under 15 years?”(Arthur)

“Cause they will listen to me, without questioning me.”(Me)

“Last question. 50 children under 15 years every month. These are the only requirements.”(Arthur)

“Yes. I’ll leave it up to you, in which condition you send them to me, but they have to be alive at least.”(Me)

He took out a sheet of paper.

“I accept. Just put your signature here and you’ll get what you want.”(Arthur)

It was a binding contract. It about using my name, or that I had to help him out in times of war. What surprised me was that there were already two signatures.

Ho. This contract is from Kylie. I guess she did way more than I expected.

I put my signature on the contract. With it the alliance between the human continent and the Dark continent was established.