“Good morning. Did you three get a good rest?”

“Yes!”

Called by Isshin, they headed to the training academy.

Tanaka and Isshin were seated there.

“Glad to hear it. I pulled an all-nighter repairing Takemikazuchi, so I’m dead tired.”

The researcher clutched his coffee, dark circles under his eyes.

He was the kind of guy whose face suited exhaustion perfectly, but this disgraced postdoc had nothing but their gratitude.

“Thank you so much, Mr. Tanaka. Now we can fight anytime.”

“It’s the only thing I’m good for.”

“Well then, shall we begin?”

A camera was set up, and the feed appeared on screen.

On the other side were the faces of the World Alliance leadership.

“Mr. Xuanwu, thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule today.”

“No problem. That said, I wish the World Alliance had gotten its act together…”

Xuanwu’s gaze shifted to Kenya.

That face from Road’s knighting ceremony, and the artificial silver hair.

“So you’re the knight in question.”

His piercing eyes fixed on Kenya, sizing him up from behind narrow slits.

Behind him stood two other knights with equally sharp glares.

“Sword God Sword-Silfield. A Japanese guy, huh? I still can’t believe it. Kaguya, this is the man you were talking about?”

Byakuren, the World Alliance’s strongest knight and supreme commander.

“I’d love to cross swords with you once. Honestly, I’ve been a fan.”

Number two, vice commander Thor.

“See, Byakuren? He’s a better man than you, isn’t he?”

“Hate to admit it, but yeah, he’s the real deal. I lost without even clashing blades back then, and I doubt I’d stand a chance.”

Byakuren affirmed Kaguya’s words.

That day, the hierarchy had been decided in his mind.

“Pleased to meet you. I’m Kenya Mikazuki. Not sure what to say… but I’m sorry about what happened back then.”

“Stopping ten thousand troops and all… surprisingly humble attitude. But that’s fine. Water under the bridge, no deaths even.”

“I’ve heard the gist from Isshin, but I want to hear it from you. Are you on our side?”

Xuanwu widened his eyes, pressing Kenya as if peering into his soul, allowing no lies.

“…I’m the only one who can stop Road.”

“That’s not an answer, Sword God.”

Byakuren shot back at Kenya’s response.

Ally or enemy—the question was simple, yet Kenya couldn’t answer smoothly.

“Let me rephrase. Are you Road’s enemy or ally? You were operating as his knight, right?”

Seeing that, Xuanwu changed his question.

Everyone turned to Kenya, waiting for his reply.

“I am Road’s…”

His answer came straight—the words of the resolve he’d made yesterday.

“knight. But I’ll fight Road. I’ll defeat him, stop him, and end the world war. That’s why I’m here. So I’ll fight.”

Xuanwu’s lips curved into a faint smile at those utterly earnest eyes.

(After dealing with all those sly liars… this guy’s so straightforward it’s almost ridiculous.)

Even probing for deceit through Xuanwu’s gaze felt foolish; raw emotion infused every word.

“Understood. Then welcome aboard. Defeating Road and ending the world war—our goals align, so that’s good enough.”

“Father, is that really okay? He says he’s Road’s knight!”

“Yeah, we’re the ones on the brink. But let me ask one thing, Kenya.”

Xuanwu always cut to the core with certainty.

And this question was the most effective way to truly know Kenya.

“What is it, Mr. Xuanwu?”

“What kind of world do you want? What are you fighting for?”

Kenya’s face showed a flicker of surprise, but he smiled anyway.

“With these two.”

He pulled Kaguya and Reina close.

“Just a world where we can laugh.”

Xuanwu eyed the two girls. He knew Kaguya, ace pilot of Asia’s Thirteen Gods.

The other one…

“The Silver Ice Princess, Earthguard Empire’s ace pilot.”

“Yes. I’m on Kenya’s side. And I want the same world—one my father, Zeke Silfield, dreamed of.”

Byakuren’s expression grew complicated at her answer.

How did it feel to ally with the man who killed your parent?

“…I judge there’s no falsehood in those words. From today, I recognize Kenya Mikazuki and Reina Silfield as members of the World Alliance Japanese Forces. Fight with us. Got it, Camille? And you two as well.”

“No issues here.”

Camille, Thor, Byakuren.

The World Alliance’s top brass publicly acknowledged Kenya as one of their own.

“Looking forward to working with you.”

Kenya and Reina bowed their heads.

“Now, Kenya Mikazuki. Sorry to rush you, but the world’s situation is beyond imagination—dire. With Road pulling back from the front lines, I’d like you out there immediately.”

Just as Xuanwu was about to order Kenya to the battlefield in Road’s place…

“Mr. Byakuren! Th-there’s something urgent I need to report!”

A soldier cut into the comms.

“Speak freely. Everyone here is an ally.”

The soldier hesitated, scanning the room.

But he relayed what he’d planned to say per orders.

“…Yes. It’s that Earthguard—no, Road Earthguard… just now, through an envoy…”

Words unbelievable even to him, let alone the world.

“…wants to negotiate a ceasefire.”

…

“We’ll designate the old Japanese 13th District Military Academy as the site. Consider it a major concession?”

Xuanwu and Camille conversed via video feed.

Their counterpart was a boy a decade or two their junior.

But neither Xuanwu nor Camille underestimated him in the slightest.

His every word carried weight, exuding pressure.

Road’s envoy had proposed ceasefire negotiations.

They’d contacted immediately after, now settling the venue.

(So this is Road Earthguard. A league above Odin. And not even twenty yet…)

“That’s a very welcome proposal on our end… but why so sudden? I can’t believe you’d seek a ceasefire.”

“Don’t get the wrong idea. It’s negotiations, not surrender. If you don’t accept our terms, the war continues. I’ve reflected that I was too one-sided before. First, you need to understand my goals. I’m no pleasure killer.”

Xuanwu furrowed his brow at the statement.

Unbelievable. Yet waiting for global massacres wasn’t wise either.

Honestly, the World Alliance was on a path to defeat.

The war was bogging down, billions dying a clearer future.

“…And one more thing. Sword—no, everything’s out in the open now. I’ll request Kenya Mikazuki’s presence.”

Kenya, listening silently behind, met Road’s eyes through the feed.

“Pardon me, Representative Road, but I can’t trust your every word. So we’ll bring commensurate forces to the talks too. Any issue? Of course, Kenya will attend, mounted in a KOG.”

Xuanwu proposed bringing forces to the venue.

Betrayal could come anytime, so Kenya would join.

Road pondered, closing his eyes.

“Fine. Both sides limit forces to 100 KOGs. No other forces from World Alliance or Earthguard Empire enter Japan’s former economic zone.”

“100 units…”

Road proposed 100 KOGs each.

Meager to topple a nation, but solid deterrence if things went south.

“Sounds good. With me there, no problem. Leave it to you, Mr. Xuanwu.”

Kenya stepped forward.

He’d stayed silent during the leaders’ talk, but Road’s words pulled him in.

Their eyes met across the feed.

“Right, Road?”

Road merely glanced over, saying nothing.

Xuanwu mulled it over.

Even if talks failed, with the world’s strongest knight, they could capture—or kill—Road on the spot.

100 units limited even the top commander’s options.

(Is negotiation really the goal…)

“Very well. Let’s set the talks under those terms.”

“You set the date and time. That’s all… I’ll await contact.”

The feed ended.

“As discussed. Kenya, Reina, Kaguya—you three in Japan now count as forces. We’ll adjust to 100 KOGs. Byakuren, Thor—guard other borders meanwhile. Can’t have a fake negotiation turning into invasion.”

“Understood.”

As Xuanwu said, the talks were in the far eastern island nation, Japan.

Gathering general-level forces there would thin other borders, inviting seizure.

(That might be the aim.)

Xuanwu’s greatest fear: a feint to conquer the world in an instant.

Road had the power for it.

Vigilance was key.

Earthguard Empire felt the same.

Forces worldwide, the superpower’s defense no joke.

Key defenders spread evenly globally to protect the homeland.

Including preparations, talks set for one week later.

Media invited, broadcast worldwide.

If Road lied, shatter his credibility globally—preparations thorough.

…

◇One Week Later

“Kenya, we’re counting on you.”

Xuanwu and Camille headed to the talks.

Kenya, Reina, Kaguya, and the World Alliance Japanese Forces provided escort.

And then.

“He’s here.”

A lone boy descended from the floating airship.

This day, the negotiations to decide the world’s fate began.

★Afterword

Posted on Narou too as we head toward completion.

https://ncode.syosetu.com/n6329hr/

If you support us, please bookmark with ★ on Narou as well.

Aiming for publication—please cast your pure vote.

★Afterword