Deliphiros straightened his posture and faced Rumpelstiltskin.
"Yes. I also have much to discuss. Shall we move to a quieter place first?"
Despite all that commotion, his demeanor was full of composure. It was as if the crisis that had nearly killed him just moments ago couldn't be felt at all.
"I'd like to hear it right now if I had my way."
Her golden eyes turned toward the mass of filth that was slowly being purified. Although it was being eliminated by Osian's power, she didn't want to stay in such a place for even a moment longer.
"I also agree with the option of moving locations. Let's move quickly."
Naturally, the two turned to look at Osian. More precisely, they seemed to be waiting for his answer.
Osian was currently disposing of the filth that Solenon had summoned with the flames of the Sun Ring. That wasn't ordinary filth. That tar-like substance overflowing as if suddenly backflowing from the sewers was clearly eroding space.
Traces of an Outer God. Something different from the Red Eternity, something fundamentally more dangerous.
Osian's eyes behind his helm, gazing at the burning filth, had sunk deeply.
Because of that ominous atmosphere, neither mayor dared to suggest leaving first.
Mother Goose's attack ended in less than half a day.
For a witch's assault that had made the nation tremble with fear, it had ended rather quickly. Moreover, it was such a witch who had led an alliance to attack.
It was a fight that should have lasted more than a week unless one side completely fell. The fact that it ended in half a day meant only one thing, a one-sided victory for one side.
Naturally, the one who secured victory was Tirna.
Tirna had recently experienced numerous turbulent incidents. Originally, Tirna was a city where accidents never ceased, but the scale of recent events had been extraordinary.
The Candy Castle attack in District 34, the District 17 terror by followers of Outer Gods, plus the baptism of fire involving the Red Liberation Army. And most recently, there was even the attack by the Sea Dragon.
Any ordinary nation would have already been destroyed and it wouldn't have been strange. However, Tirna experienced such incidents, overcame them, and became even stronger.
They united internal discord and became more firmly bound together while recognizing external enemies. And they prepared with the conviction that the Great Witch Mother Goose would come knocking someday.
Thus occurred the Wilde Jagd attack. An alliance of witches, familiars, monsters, and giants. A large-scale air raid by entities hostile to all humans.
The attack was full-scale. The Queen of Hearts who could fight an army single-handedly. And the Evil Queen who could carry out simultaneous terror across space with her Witchcraft. And even Mother Goose who could destroy a nation alone.
If they had been hit without knowing anything, Tirna probably would have been destroyed.
However, Tirna didn't just stand still and take it. Tirna was already prepared. From the Sea Dragon incident—no, even before that—the signs that Mother Goose was targeting Tirna were clear.
So they strengthened security and maintained the military's vigilance. They hunted down pieces of the Evil Queen's mirror and discovered and dealt with as many fragments as possible in the city.
Even so, there were things they couldn't find, but the fact that they did their best didn't change.
As a result, although Tirna staggered from the sudden Wilde Jagd ambush, it didn't fall. Rather, they responded as if they had been waiting. The Tirna city government, guards, military, the organizations and people residing there were the same.
As a result of such efforts, Tirna was able to achieve victory against Wilde Jagd. Mother Goose died, and the familiars she commanded disappeared along with Mother Goose's death. What remained were monsters and giants, but they could be dealt with quickly when firepower was concentrated.
'Of course, the damage will be great.'
Osian recalled the aftermath of the battle. The city hall where Deliphiros stayed had collapsed, and many casualties occurred due to the attacks of familiars and all kinds of monsters.
If they hadn't prepared, the number of casualties could have increased by at least 100 times from here. It was true that the casualties were few compared to the incident that occurred. However, they couldn't greatly rejoice about this fact.
'Nothing else, but the fact that Districts 10 and 20 were attacked was too big.'
District 30 also suffered considerable damage. But the damage to District 20—no, even more so District 10—was too fatal.
'Wealthy people mainly reside in those districts. Unlike other people, they were living peaceful daily lives. They were far removed from such violent incidents.'
Even if guards or district defense forces came to such people and told them this place was dangerous so they should evacuate, it wouldn't properly register.
War was a story from a distant world to them. They probably didn't even care about it in the first place. Because the world they lived in was peaceful and safe. Because Tirna was such a perfect city. Rather, they even vented their anger at the guards. Saying shouldn't you protect us if something happens?
Foolishly, they didn't recognize that such death approaches everyone equally. The delusion that they would be different. The misjudgment that they would be fine.
Because of such safety insensitivity, when the incident occurred, the damage to those districts was particularly severe. And District 10 residents were people with influence over the economy or society in general, whether large or small. One of their lives was more precious than the lives of 1,000 workers residing in District 30.
The deaths of such people were no small blow to Tirna. As a result, Tirna's economy was now largely paralyzed.
The collapse of the city hall, the mayor's residence, was also a big blow. Although the only place attacked among the mayors' residences was that of Deliphiros, one of the five mayors, the city hall was a place with considerable symbolism.
The fact that it was attacked and completely destroyed was enough to cause shock in public opinion.
As a result, Tirna was now in a considerably chaotic state, and neighboring kingdoms were also watching Tirna's movements with keen attention.
"They must be watching Tirna's state closely. If a lion that was so strong has weakened, opportunities come even to hyenas. Perhaps they think the wounds are so severe that now would be fine to wage war."
A voice was leisurely explaining.
Osian gazed at that man quietly. White suit and matching white hair. Everything was mysterious yet somehow aroused wariness. It was Mayor Deliphiros.
"That won't happen. We blocked this incident without major damage. This is an objective fact. If foreign intelligence isn't mistaken, they will immediately recognize that Tirna is intact."
The one who answered those words was the woman shining with subtle golden light, Mayor Rumpelstiltskin.
"Even so, it's not like Tirna wasn't hit. It will take at least a year to quell this chaos. The damage to the city near the city hall was especially great."
Aspirex said and Osian unconsciously cleared his throat.
He recalled that more buildings had collapsed from the aftermath of his own fighting than what Mother Goose had attacked and destroyed.
Of course, if left alone, more would have collapsed by Mother Goose, so it wouldn't be strange to receive gratitude instead. But he couldn't erase the thought that he could have controlled his strength a bit more.
"Still, I think this is a successful defense. I can't say the damage is small, but considering who the opponent was, we paid a cheap price."
Mowen Helianus picked up the conversation. And there were also several people around nodding their heads in agreement.
Osian looked around.
The location was the Violet Fox tavern, familiar to him. But inside it, not one but four city mayors, whom one would have difficulty meeting even in a lifetime, had gathered in one place.
It was truly unbelievable even seeing it. Nothing else, but the city's highest power holders crowding into a fixer office?
"Hic."
Perhaps because that pressure was considerable, even now, Ena, bringing out food, was hiccupping while being conscious of others. Her hand holding the plate was even trembling. Naturally, Lupona glared at the mayors with fierce eyes. How dare they frighten Ena?
Of course, the guards protecting the mayors had a standoff with Lupona. How dare you glare at the mayor? The atmosphere was about to become heavy.
"But where is the remaining one?"
At that moment, an innocent voice that didn't care about the surrounding atmosphere rang out. It was a question from Diolan.
"Aren't there originally five mayors? Since we've gathered anyway, it would be better to gather everyone and talk."
Everyone looked at Diolan as if what he said was absurd. Four mayors gathered was already amazing, and now asking to call the remaining one?
Diolan looked back with eyes asking what the problem was. Having died once seemed to make him even more fearless than before.
However, thanks to Diolan's brazen question, the atmosphere that had been full of tension cleared with a snap.
"Hehehe. This is something. If you had tipped me off beforehand, I would have been truly grateful. Didn't my heart almost drop?"
Ronan Rolland, the owner of the Violet Fox tavern who had been watching that situation, smiled as if troubled. The four mayors looked at Ronan with interest.
A broker who contracted with special-class fixer Basilio and even had Osian working under him. Truly a man worthy of being called a legend in the broker world.
Moreover, even though four mayors had come, his face was full of leisurely smiles and even made jokes in this situation. He wasn't just an ordinary person with great courage.
"Mm. The food is delicious too."
Mowen said while chewing on the omelet Ena had made. The owner was bold, the food was delicious. Moreover, since the skills of the fixer belonging here were remarkable, it could be called a very interesting place.
"That's not the important thing."
Deliphiros shook his head.
"You asked where one mayor is? He ran away."
"What?"
At the words ran away, Loraine, who had been quietly listening to the conversation, asked back in shock. She wasn't the only one surprised.
"Why, why?"
"Why? Of course he ran away because he didn't want to die."
"B-but he's a mayor."
Loraine couldn't understand. If he's a mayor, shouldn't he stay to the end even if the city is ruined? Like a captain guarding a sinking ship. At least for Loraine, who was a former soldier who took responsibility for her subordinates to the end, it was incomprehensible.
"The dying part isn't about dying to the enemies who invaded Tirna. It's the opposite. After all this ended, he was afraid of dying at our hands."
"I, I understand even less now."
Deliphiros smirked. It was natural not to understand. Anyone would have been the same.
"He was the city's traitor."
Allen Hutton was the city's traitor. Although he was Tirna's mayor, he betrayed Tirna.
"More precisely, he was one of king Solenon's pawns."
When the name of king Solenon came up, the atmosphere became heavy. In this place, there was no one who didn't know that name anymore.
"Solenon has a personality so thorough that it's like an obsession. He didn't trust me. So he had the Puppeteer monitor me. But that alone wasn't enough."
Solenon also reached out to Allen Hutton. No, perhaps it had been that way from long ago. Allen's election was probably also due to Solenon's influence.
Therefore, now that Solenon had stepped down, Allen realized his position was dangerous and fled in haste. Although he was Solenon's puppet, since he was also someone who had risen to the position of mayor, he wasn't completely without sense.
"To think such things were happening in the city without us knowing."
Aspirex seemed quite surprised by the fact that he didn't know this.
Who would have thought that someone who was a mayor would be a traitor? Not only that, but Solenon's existence was shock itself.
"Actually, I'm also one of the humans Solenon raised. If I say this, it's funny, but I'm like an experimental rat. Even the color is the same, right?"
Deliphiros said with a laugh. It was a joke that couldn't be laughed at.
"Well, somehow I gathered forces secretly to escape his grasp and attacked, but. Who would have thought that the old monster would join hands with another existence?"
Now was the main point.
"King Solenon. No, that monster whose name is now shameless to call by such a name has joined hands with an outer existence. That existence is more dangerous and terrible than the Red Eternity that the former Eternal God Church served."
"Taiheo."
Osian spoke that name.
The Primordial Void. The Devourer of Stars. The most fearsome Outer God who absorbs light and brings darkness to the world. Solenon had become his minion, and Taiheo was trying to devour this world.
"We must prepare. Not just Tirna. We must make requests to other neighboring countries too."
Rumpelstiltskin said. However, even if they agreed mentally with those words, it was difficult to agree realistically.
"Will they listen to our story?"
Kingdoms were in relationships of mutual restraint and hostility. Right now they smile and get along, but the moment the other weakens, they stick in a dagger.
National affairs were like that. Especially Tirna had many enemies. The moment the weakened Tirna suddenly mentioned an Outer God called Taiheo and talked about an alliance, they would judge that Tirna had weakened.
"And where the disappeared Solenon went is also important."
Originally, Solenon had tried to summon Taiheo in Tirna. Although he made a deal with Mother Goose, the more fundamental alliance was with Taiheo's army.
Although it ultimately failed, given Solenon's nature, he probably already prepared countermeasures.
"If we somehow find and stop him."
"It's only a matter of time anyway."
Osian answered. The approaching destruction cannot be avoided. It would have happened even if it wasn't Solenon.
It had only been accelerated. No, perhaps this was the predetermined course all along.