As the newly formed Divine Council dispersed—the Awakened goddesses retreating to discuss their veto strategy, and the Servants heading off to assess the Domain's existing resources—Akira found himself alone with the core leadership team of Strategists/Observers. The tension in the room remained, but it had shifted from divine pressure to keen, analytical scrutiny.
Yukari Yakumo was the first to speak, a subtle, knowing smile playing on her lips. She had watched the negotiation with the detachment of a playwright viewing a successful, but dangerous, performance.
"You made a spectacular mess, Akira. But you also turned a cage into a coalition," she observed, adjusting her umbrella. "You confirmed their worst fears about your selfishness, and yet, by ceding authority, you ensured they would defend the asset—the Domain—as their own."
♟️ Kurumi's Calculation
Kurumi Tokisaki stepped out of the shadow of a pillar, her expression a mix of admiration and contempt. "You gambled everything. You showed them the knife you held to their throats—the end of the world—and then offered them the sharpest end of the blade to hold against your throat. A reckless move, but effective."
She held up two fingers, summarizing the outcome:
The Gain: "You secured the unconditional, non-sacrificial use of the highest-tier power in the multiverse. They will pour their divine energy into fortifying and sustaining this Ark, because now, to them, it's not your survival plan; it is theirs."
The Cost: "You are now a constitutional monarch. The veto power means your ability to make fast, ruthless decisions is gone. You are officially their resource administrator, not their king. Try to lie or exploit, and you will find your Domain spontaneously dismantled by beings who literally control fate."
🛡️ Kotori's Concern
Kotori Itsuka, still in her Commander guise, struck a more cautious note, worried about the immediate security implications.
"Hestia's 'Redemption Clause' is the most dangerous part," she warned, tapping her lollipop lightly. "The military and the Candidates are still operating on the 'farmer with lucky card' lie. If the Divine Council, with its newfound veto, decides your next order to the military is 'exploitation' or 'unnecessary sacrifice,' the chain of command breaks immediately. You've given a handful of powerful, morally-driven deities the power to overthrow your regime instantly."
Sona Sitri adjusted her glasses, offering a cool, pragmatic assessment from the perspective of an allied power. "Their collective veto prevents you from committing suicide-by-arrogance, which is a net gain for our long-term alliance. By extending the veto to the Servants, you've not only guaranteed their loyalty through self-interest but also introduced a calculated schism—the Awakened's morality versus the Servants' pragmatism. It's brilliant political engineering."
🌟 Akira's Rationale
Akira walked over to the grand window, looking out over the Domain now bathed in the clear, serene moonlight of his manipulated reality.
"The lie I gave the military was necessary to keep the Root from focusing its attention here. The lie I gave you all—the 'Mixed Truth'—was necessary to secure the loyalty of the ones I truly trust," he said, turning back to his core team.
"The final truth, the one I just gave the pantheon, was a tactical necessity. My own ability is the Gacha, the summoning engine. Their ability is reality stabilization, concept manipulation, and mass sustainment. I cannot survive without them, and they cannot escape without the Ark. I didn't give away power; I created a peer review system for absolute power. We are all now equally shackled to the success of this Ark."
He smiled, a tired but resolute expression. "Now that the engine is built and its primary users have been given the keys, it's time to chart the course."
The negotiation was a success, but Akira's work is just beginning. The Divine Council is established, the rules are set, and the world is still ending.
The next logical step is to utilize this new power structure to address the critical vulnerability of the Ark.