“Road!”

“Sword, is it?”

Kenya stepped into the military headquarters’ central command room in the imperial capital.

This room rightfully belonged to the emperor—the pinnacle of the Earthguard Empire.

It was under tight security, guarded by numerous sentries.

But Kenya got a free pass.

The world’s strongest knight was also Road’s blade.

No one in this country could stand in his way.

“I came to hear what you’ll do next. I’ll do anything I can. But I won’t forgive anything that hurts Kaguya.”

Kenya slammed his hands on Road’s desk as the prince scanned his documents, unleashing a torrent of words.

“What’s this all of a sudden…? Did something happen?”

“…I want to stop the war.”

“…I see. Well, calm down. I could use a break myself.”

Road stood from his seat and prepared some tea.

He had Kenya sit at the guest table and took the seat across from him.

Road slowly poured the tea—and some grapes as well.

“Do you even grasp the current state of the world, Sword?”

“No clue!”

Kenya shot back energetically.

He had a vague idea, but it didn’t match Road’s clarity.

So he plainly admitted what he didn’t know.

Road then spread a world map across the table.

It resembled Earth’s, but the geography wasn’t identical.

Road pulled out chess pieces and began placing them.

“First, our Earthguard Empire—the world’s largest nation… and now, the enemy of the world.”

He placed a king atop the Earthguard Empire.

“Next, its foe: the World Union, formed by the merger of the EU and Asia Union. In landmass, it rivals ours—surpassing it, even—as the greatest collective.”

He positioned a queen next to the real power behind the World Union: Nakatake.

“And the final piece. Do you get it?”

To Road’s question, Kenya replied by picking up a rook from the side and placing it beside the king.

“Odin, right? No idea where he is, though…”

“Yeah, even I don’t know. Where on earth has our big brother hidden his forces?”

Road then captured the rook Kenya had placed and moved his own pieces.

That rook slid right next to the king.

“Earthguard?”

“Our country is vast. Frankly, we don’t have eyes everywhere. We’ve seized plenty, but governing it all? Far from it. Japan was the same, wasn’t it?”

“Yeah, everywhere outside Tokyo was pretty much abandoned…”

“Exactly. But I’m convinced he’s holed up somewhere in this nation.”

“Got it… So right now, these three powers are locked in a standoff?”

“Yeah. Militarily speaking, it’s about 4:3:7. Earthguard, Odin, World Union.”

“Pretty balanced, huh? Though the World Union’s got the edge.”

“Yep. That’s raw KOG numbers, mind you. They’re merged into one, while we’re split. But we’ve got me and you, Sword. Plus the Three Heroes and our elite pilots. My rough estimate puts the actual power balance at… 5:2:5.”

“Can’t we just make more KOGs? With all these people around, mass production should—”

“It’s the pilots… and the budget. You know how much a KOG costs, right?”

“…”

Kenya fell silent, and Road sighed in exasperation.

“In your old country’s currency, a mass-production model runs about 5 billion. Custom jobs top 100 billion. That Takemikazuchi of yours? Nearly 500 billion in R&D.”

“Wha!?”

The sheer scale drew a weird yelp from Kenya.

Way beyond imagination. Compared to 500 trillion yen… nah, still insanely pricey.

“Every machine you hacked apart is worth more than a single lifetime could cover. That’s why we need to train pilots.”

Kenya had sliced down 100 units that day.

In Japanese yen… that was 50 trillion in scrap.

His head spun.

“For real…? That’s nuts. I’ll be more careful from now on.”

“Nah, keep doing you. You’re our ace. Don’t sweat the gold.”

“Don’t put that much faith in me. I’m just one pilot. I can’t turn the tide of war…”

“Every card has a counter. You’re the Joker—the most versatile play there is. Even if you just rampage solo, you’d throw the battlefield into chaos.”

“That serious, huh?”

“Dead serious. Pit you against their generals or aces, and you’ll win regardless. Their command crumbles instantly. You saw it yourself in Japan—the massive impact of Zeke’s presence.”

Kenya recalled it.

He’d heard later: despite the odds, Zeke’s morale boost alone held the line for three days.

Missiles and bombings? Morale doesn’t factor.

But with KOGs, it directly amps the army’s strength.

Max morale versus minimum? Road said the high side wins even doubled odds.

Knight combat hinged that much on spirit and skill.

That’s why Earthguard invested more in knights than any other nation.

“Yeah… I get it. To end this war… I’m ready to kill. I’ve already taken plenty of lives.”

“Yeah… you have.”

Road’s face grew subtly complicated at Kenya’s resolve.

But Kenya couldn’t read what it meant.

“Back to it. Say you’re Odin, Sword. What would you do?”

“Odin’s spot… With this balance, charging head-on’s suicide. Hm… no idea. Hide?”

“Hiding to survive? Fair play. But that’s not him. He’ll chase sovereignty or die trying—mundane life bores him to death.”

“So what’s his move?”

“Sword, the world balances on threes. Legs for a stool. Rock-paper-scissors. Judiciary, executive, legislative.”

“Got all philosophical. The three branches of government, right?”

“You know it? Color me shocked.”

“Don’t talk down to me.”

(I only know the term…)

“Point is, three keeps equilibrium. The world’s shaky but stable now. Say the World Union and Earthguard keep slugging it out—who benefits? Final winner?”

“Odin, right? Classic fisherman’s profit. The fresh guy swoops in on mutual ruin.”

“Exactly. The two who move lose. But there’s a way to break it—and I figured it’d happen, so I prioritized restructuring the army and bulking defenses. Even if it meant losing Japan worst-case.”

“Quit teasing and spill.”

“Right, it’s—”

Then a soldier burst in, gasping for breath.

He knocked and shouted through the door at Road.

“Lord Road! The World Union just started a global broadcast! You must see it now!”

“…Understood.”

Road switched on what looked like a TV.

A set that caught the World Union’s worldwide signal—no censorship.

An unbelievable scene played.

Kenya lost his voice, but Road just pressed his brow, glaring as if expecting it.

“So it came to this…”

“That’s Xuanwu, Asia Union’s rep, right? But… who’s that next to him…?”

The feed showed Xuanwu addressing a massive crowd.

And beside him stood another familiar face.

The speech began.

“Today, we welcome a new ally into the World Union!”

Xuanwu bellowed.

“To battle our greatest enemy, we’ve joined hands with a former foe. To slay the massacre emperor Road Earthguard—who nearly crushed the EU—and usher in world peace! Our biggest comrade yet!”

“No… way. Why…?”

Kenya gasped in disbelief.

Xuanwu gestured grandly to introduce him.

There stood…

“People of the World Union! I am Odin, first prince of the Earthguard Empire: Odin Earthguard.”

His serene features and sculpted physique drew instant affinity.

He exuded charisma—an aura you couldn’t ignore.

“The world teeters on the brink, thanks to my brother Road Earthguard. He exiled me—the one craving peace—for his own ideals. Now he spills blood worldwide. Therefore, people of the World Union…”

The traitorous prince flashed a false smile at the world.

“For world peace, fight alongside me!”