"I expect you all want to return to your master, and I won't hold you back, but I won't send you away." By raising my hand, the noise dies down in the mess hall.

Come on, System. So far I handled it like a pro. You can praise me.

[Notice: You're not done yet.]

True. And they are waiting, so another deep breath, and let's go over it.

I'll mention everyone one by one, transparency is key. I don't want any misunderstandings.

"For all I care, Lambert must stay, because he's both dangerous and in danger." Let's get this out of the way first.

The Court Wizard nods, and there are no protests.

He's a coward but he's smart and values his life.

He won't cause any trouble if I have someone to watch him. Next.

"The Princess should also remain, otherwise I can't guarantee her safety." This upsets both the Goblin and her bodyguard.

"Catherine is also welcome to stay, but I won't force you."

"I would like to see you try." The blue-haired girl hisses.

As petite and cute as she is, she could cause the most issues here.

I disarmed him in a split second, but the monsters fear her.

It's a testament that she's stronger than she looks. It's no wonder even the First Bride is wary of her.

Keeping her as a friend would be nice, but I'd like to avoid her otherwise.

"As for the Champions, you are all free to go. But. It would be beneficial if one of you stayed as an ambassador. Any of you would do." And I know that more than one considers staying.

Omerta is still scared of me, which is good, that means I could handle her with ease.

She's a witch, meaning her magic could be useful for the Orcs, and she's even motivated to help.

She's Hana's little sister after all.

Even if she still knows them as Hank and her older brother, I'm happy to support a family reunion.

But there is another one.

Fang and Fenna Silberwulf. One is a seasoned adventurer with a silver mane and wolf-like features.

I haven't seen him fight, but from what Charlotte told me, he's strong.

The other is an adorable fox girl who's also the leader of the nearby Beastfolk village.

And that place is leaps and bounds ahead of every other settlement in the area.

Allowing them to stay together could lead to a powerful alliance.

I'm sure that little Goblin, Dioneras wouldn't want to stay, and he'd be the least useful to me anyway.

He's weak, and can't cast spells, how did he end up as the Thirteenth Champion?

Even as I roleplay as the Thirteenth Bride, I can't sympathize with him.

He is the strategist of the Demon Lord, a wise man. But I saw how that elite force got wiped out under his leadership. I can make my own terrible mistakes without his help, thank you.

There is a third option though, and it's a surprising one.

That huge Ogre, Bastion got very close to Lambert.

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He's a huge monster with terrifying strength but friendly and tame.

His presence would benefit the tribe, and it would please the wizard.

If that makes it less likely that he'd stab me in the back, it's an option worth considering.

But the decision is not up to me. I can encourage them, but forcing it would only backfire later.

The mess hall is quiet now, only the Demon Lord's men whisper as they discuss their options.

I can tell that Hana, Fenna, and Lambert each hope for one specific outcome.

I wouldn't mind even if all three stayed, but Dioneras would never accept that.

He can't return to Omega alone, a lone Goblin isn't suitable to travel these dangerous lands.

I'd offer him a lift, but the System refuses to give me access to teleportation.

And teleporting into the Demon Lord's fortress sounds like a terrible idea.

I want to be on good terms with that asshole, but even Alex warned me not to give myself to him.

When they make their decision, the Goblin clears his throat.

Failed strategist or not, he knows how to be diplomatic, and stands up to bow before he says anything.

"We are grateful for your consideration. We also wish to establish diplomatic ties between you and the Demon Lord."

He pauses, glancing at his men before continuing.

"The decision we made is to leave Omerta in your care, as she is capable of long-distance telepathy." Hana's eyes light up as he speaks, and the other two look disappointed.

He passes it off as it's the most beneficial for diplomatic reasons, and I won't argue.

But the truth I gathered from the witch's confession is that she was too ambitious.

This is the perfect opportunity for the Goblin to get rid of her. And also push the failure to confront the First Bride at her. Well, at least he didn't send her on a suicide mission.

"While I'm certain Lady Fenna would be happy if her father stayed behind too, he is too valuable for us to let go. He is one of the best warriors serving the Demon Lord."

The fox girl looks sad and proud at once, but she nods, accepting the decision.

The Goblin doesn't address the Court Wizard's wishes, since they are still enemies.

"All right, we reached a decision then." With a nod, I'm ready to move on to the next point. "As for how to deal with the situation, we have more things to consider."

"Situation?" Fenna raises her head, and I'm glad I got her attention.

"Yes. The Demon Lord will likely set out to reconquer his lost Empire." This seems obvious to everyone. "But we have to deal with the First Bride too. She also wants to rule over everyone."

"Until I learn their intentions, I won't side with either party."

It's not like I could side with the First Bride at this point.

"And I know that if they clashed over these areas, it would only cause suffering and death. I recommend a mutual protection pact between the nearby tribes."