The invitation arrived two days later, sealed with the crest of the Karsten house.
Crusch Karsten, the military candidate, requested a private meeting with Emilia and her strategist.
The location was to be her estate—a fortified manor on the outskirts of the capital.
“It’s a trap,” Puck said immediately.
“Crusch is too smart to invite us to her home without an ulterior motive.”
“Of course it’s a trap,” Ayanokoji replied.
“But it’s also an opportunity.
Crusch has information and resources we need.
If we can negotiate an alliance, even a temporary one, it would strengthen Emilia’s position significantly.”
Emilia looked uncertain.
“But what if she’s working with the Cult?
What if this is a setup?”
“Crusch is many things, but she’s not a Cultist.
Her hatred of the Witch is well-documented.
She’s more likely to be suspicious of us than hostile.”
“More likely isn’t certain,” Rem pointed out.
“No, it isn’t.” Ayanokoji met her gaze.
“That’s why you’ll be coming with us.
If things go wrong, I need someone who can fight.”
Rem nodded, her expression grim.
The journey to the Karsten estate took half a day.
The manor was exactly as Ayanokoji had expected—a fortified structure that prioritized function over form, with high walls, watchtowers, and soldiers patrolling the perimeter.
Crusch greeted them at the gate, her expression neutral but her eyes sharp.
She was dressed in military attire, her green hair pulled back in a practical style.
“Lady Emilia.
Ayanokoji-san.
Thank you for coming.”
“Thank you for the invitation,” Emilia replied, her voice steady.
Crusch led them into the manor, through corridors that were clean but sparse.
The Karsten estate was a place of discipline and order, reflecting the personality of its owner.
They settled in a small conference room, where tea was served by a silent servant.
Crusch sat across from them, her posture rigid. This chapter was taken from g.com without permission.
“I’ll be direct,” she said.
“I asked you here because I believe we can help each other.”
Ayanokoji raised an eyebrow.
“In what way?”
“The Selection is a competition, but it’s also a battle against a common enemy—the Witch’s Cult.
I’ve been fighting them for years, and I’ve learned that they’re far more dangerous than most people realize.”
“We’re aware of the threat,” Ayanokoji said carefully.
“I’m sure you are.
But awareness isn’t the same as preparation.
I have intelligence on the Cult’s operations that you don’t.
I have military resources that could be decisive in a conflict.
And I have a proposal.”
“What kind of proposal?”
Crusch leaned forward, her eyes intense.
“A temporary alliance.
We pool our resources, share our intelligence, and work together to destroy the Cult.
Once that threat is neutralized, we can return to competing for the throne.”
It was a bold offer—and a logical one.
The Cult was a threat to all the candidates, not just Emilia.
An alliance would benefit both sides.
But Ayanokoji knew there had to be a catch.
“What do you want in return?” he asked.
Crusch smiled, a thin expression.
“I want access to the archives.
The same access you were granted by the Council.
I believe you’ve discovered something important, and I want to know what it is.”
Ayanokoji’s eyes narrowed.
“You’re asking us to share our research.”
“I’m asking you to share information that could save lives.
If you’ve found something that could help us defeat them, you have a moral obligation to share it.”
The words were calculated to appeal to Emilia’s idealism.
Ayanokoji glanced at her, seeing the conflict in her expression.
Crusch knows exactly what she’s doing, he thought.
She’s playing on Emilia’s compassion to get what she wants.
But she was also right.
The Cult was a threat to everyone, and cooperation could be beneficial.
The question was whether the benefits outweighed the risks.
“We’ll consider your proposal,” Ayanokoji said.
“But we need more information.
What intelligence do you have on the Cult’s current operations?”
Crusch studied him for a moment, as if deciding how much to reveal.
Then she nodded.
“The Cult is planning something big.
Something that will happen during the Selection.
I don’t know the details yet, but I know they’re mobilizing resources on an unprecedented scale.”
“We’ve noticed similar patterns,” Ayanokoji admitted.
“Then you understand the urgency.
If we don’t act soon, it may be too late.”
The meeting continued for another hour, with both sides sharing limited information and testing the waters.
By the end, nothing had been decided, but a foundation had been laid.
As they left the estate, Emilia turned to Ayanokoji.
“What do you think?”
“I think Crusch is dangerous.
She’s smart, she’s prepared, and she’s playing a long game.
But she’s also right about the Cult.
An alliance could be beneficial—if we can trust her.”
“And can we?”
“I don’t know yet.
But I intend to find out.”