kscans

Chapter 206 - The Cheat vs. the Villainess 2

Once the four of us came to an agreement, I immediately took a break. I was exhausted from my fight with the villainess and the massive time manipulation that followed. Then, around eight o'clock, I went to the Mutual Aid Society and shared the information with the world's most influential figures, regardless of whether they were from the Surface or Supernatural worlds, human or nonhuman. I have work today too, but I don't have time for that, so I sent a double made from a magic item in my place. I feel bad since it is the busy end of year season, but sorry, Mr. President, sorry, everyone. Please let me slack off to save the world.

"Satou-san, our preparations are complete, but what about your side...?"

"No problem. I am done here too."

The nonhumans were one thing, but the humans... the leaders of the Surface World all but collapsed the moment I shared the information. They begged me for a few hours to process it all and rest, and I agreed. That said, it would be a waste to do nothing in the meantime, so I used that time to explain my plan to the heads of each pantheon. They unanimously agreed to cooperate. They said they would not only help with my plan but also provide me with secret techniques and items from their respective myths, which is truly reassuring.

...They all look pale.

I was in a room inside the Prime Minister's official residence, a place I had visited before, prior to the invader subjugation. I had arrived with the chairman who came to pick me up, and the faces of the world leaders connected via remote feed were ashen.

"...Satou-san. I will ask you directly. Can you win?"

The prime minister posed the question on behalf of all the world leaders, their gazes fixed on me.

"What kind of idiot thinks about losing before the fight even starts. If I were a pro wrestler, I'd say that and give you a fighting spirit slap, but unfortunately for you, I'm just a salaryman. You got lucky."

The prime minister got to keep his head, physically speaking.



"Fine, I will answer seriously. There is no way I can declare with any certainty whether I will win or not."

If they want empty reassurances, they should have just said so from the start. I have something of a reputation in certain circles for being as dense as the protagonist of a romantic comedy sometimes.

<...You do not seem to be acting out of desperation.>


"What do you mean by that?"

What are they trying to say?



So why can I remain so calm? I understand what the bigwigs are getting at, but that is a completely misguided question.

"Win or lose. Live or die. A real fight always comes down to those two choices. It has been a long time since I have had one, I admit. But my battles as a human have been like that from the very beginning."

That day I first got dragged into the Supernatural World. I was in a truly desperate situation. The fights that came after were the same. The real battles were always a close call. I stopped having fights like that around the time I first beat up Hades... but still.

"Worrying about whether I can win is nothing new. But I can declare one thing."

Even if the outcome of the battle is uncertain.

"I have always fought to win. I have used every trick in the book and even pulled fortune to my side to keep on winning."

This time will be no different. That is why I ask you.

"Are you going to bet on me, or not? That is all there is to it."
<...I see. You are absolutely right. I apologize for our rudeness.>

The president offered a small apology and smiled.



Following the president's lead, the other leaders also pledged their support, so we could finally get to the main topic. On a side note, I just had a thought. What would happen if I intervened with the translation spell being used and gave all the important people funny verbal tics? I know it is a bad habit of mine, but I cannot help wanting to pull pranks in the middle of serious situations. If they all burst out laughing at once, it would completely ruin the atmosphere.

"Allow me to explain specifically what I will do to fight and protect the Earth."

It would be wrong to keep them completely in the dark. I plan to break it down as much as possible so that even the people of the Surface World can understand the bare minimum.

"First, let us discuss her position and mine. I have things to protect, and she does not."

Do you understand what this means? When I asked, everyone nodded.








It helps that they catch on quick.

"Exactly as you say. And of course, I have considered that as well. To explain it specifically, I plan to put a lid on the Earth."
<...A lid?>

"Imagine a dead end alley with only one way in."

There is a ball at the end of the alley. But a scary looking man is standing at the entrance. You cannot get the ball unless you do something about the man.



"That is just an image to make it easier to understand."

By fixing a fake Earth that I will create in the current Earth's location, I will shift the position of the real one. She will not be able to reach the real one without destroying the fake one first.

"So I will link the fake Earth to my own life. In other words, as long as I do not die, the lid cannot be removed."

However, I also need to properly protect the real Earth that I have moved. That is why I have arranged for the gods to supply the energy needed to protect the real Earth and maintain the fake one.

"And I will add another function to the fake Earth. It would be a waste to use it as a simple lid, after all."

The fake Earth's other role is to be an amplification device. I will build an enhancement spell into it from the creation stage to boost the power of those who will fight in this all out war. The energy supply I mentioned earlier includes this as well. If I connect our forces to the enhancement spell of the fake Earth, which is linked to my life, they should probably be able to operate outside the planet. They will be connected to me, even if it is indirectly.




What kind of reaction is that?

"For now, this is the general plan to allow me to fight without holding back. The rest concerns my personal strategy for how I will take down the villainess, so I will skip that part."

There is no point in telling the bigwigs about that, and I am still thinking about various things myself. They seemed to understand, giving me small nods.



"Please do. Yes, I will go drag that shut in from the west out of her hole myself."

The meeting ended and the communication lines were cut.

"Satou-san, when you say the shut in from the west..."

"You know who I mean, Chairman. The people in Kyoto. They need to cooperate at a time like this."

"Do you think they will make strange demands in exchange?"

"It will be fine."

Because I already have leverage on them.

"All I have to do is tell them, 'if you want me to lift the curse I put on you, you had better work yourselves to death'."

"...Ah, that is right. You did place a rather gruesome curse on their leader, did you not?"

How rude. It was righteous retribution.