When the plot-skips players into the game world

In other words, the "King" is no longer irreplaceable!

"Parliamentary system?" Dr. Levique asked.

"...It should work."

Lady Marasia thought for a moment, but raised another question: "What about Laro and the Princess in our hands? That's also a card."

"Then let them coexist. We can have a King, but the King will hold no actual power, only serve as a symbol—such a nation can be called the Transcender's Country. It's even better than having no king at all, because at least we still have someone to transcend."

Master Walter spoke solemnly: "And then there's the Codex Book passed down through our Association, the 'Rose Codex'; the other, 'Bloodstained Codex,' which had previously been lent to the Noble Red Society—Miss Sprengel has already retrieved it from Avalon. Techniques for sealing the Demon Incarnation within oneself and bypassing a contract to directly kill one's contracted demon—they hold value for them as well."

"If we establish a nation, we must also find ways to turn these codices into techniques and make them accessible. They can become our core competitive advantage."

"I think it's possible... but will the Princess agree?" Lady Marasia didn't covet the two codices, merely raising another question.

"She's very weak-willed; she'll agree. Even the worst Order is better than chaos, and even the smallest power is better than being an ordinary mortal. If the nation truly collapses, a fugitive princess's standing wouldn't even match that of a commoner... She will come to understand."

Master Walter said without hesitation: "Otherwise, why do you think I insisted on rescuing her in the first place? Among the many children of the seventh generation, she was the easiest to control."

"Since everyone agrees—why don't we establish the nation first? That way, we'll have cards in hand to negotiate with others, and we can always reclaim things later."

"Currently, the cities under our complete control account for roughly a quarter of Star Antimony's heartlands. Although the territory is small, I believe it's sufficient."

"In this world, extraordinary abilities are the only truly tangible thing. As long as we're strong enough, we can recuperate the lands we've lost; conversely, if we're too weak, even with boundless territory, we wouldn't be able to hold onto anything."

"Then let us establish the nation."

Lady Marasia decisively said: "Go inform the Princess. We'll establish the nation on May 1st."

Meanwhile, on the other side.

Laro was still sitting before the mirror, frowning, idly plucking at his instrument.

"Illusory Blood..."

He murmured, his face uncharacteristically serious, devoid of its usual lightheartedness.

This ability...

...Why does it feel like a trap?

On one hand, it fulfills his desire to "dedicate everything to Star Antimony," enabling him to intervene in political affairs directly without having to ponder "how to make the Monarch listen to him."

After all, the endpoint of "persuading the Monarch" is simply "never mind, I'll do it myself."

And the Princess is filled with the desire to escape... This ability could entirely satisfy both of them at once.

No one attacks a Monarch, and precisely because of this, the flaw in such a transformation becomes nonexistent—he could permanently adopt the guise of the Princess, twenty-four hours a day, effectively becoming the Princess herself.

And it's precisely because of this... While the ability fulfills his wishes and resolves his troubles...

It would also inevitably draw out the evil within him.

But if he keeps using the Princess's guise... Isn't that equivalent to wielding ultimate power?

Yet as the Princess herself has said, she is currently gravely wounded, unable to act... Only Laro's treatment can gradually repair her soul.

This fact must not be discovered, or there will be more than a few who wish for her to remain bedridden forever.

As such, all "Princesses" seen outside for now must be played by Laro.

Conversely...

...As long as the Princess dies, no one will ever know that this "Princess" is actually Laro.

He wouldn't even need to kill her himself—if he simply does nothing, the soul-damaged Princess would die naturally.

"What an evil ability..."

Laro strummed his instrument a few times, murmuring to the mirror: "Do you so eagerly wish to see me in disgrace, God of Eyelessness and Egolessness?"

I will never yield.

I will never submit to the desires within me—

"I wager with you," Laro muttered under his breath, "that my current intentions will remain unwarped."

"No matter what I go through, I will never covet anything beyond 'myself'..."

The ordinary mirror, of course, remained silent.

Yet Laro saw his reflection within it lift its head, revealing a strange grin.

——Who knows?

The reflection of Laro mouthed these words, as if speaking aloud.