Reborn as an Extra

Chapter 781: In the wake of Disaster... Part-7.

Although people wanted to argue about Ashtel’s decision, Ashtel left no reason to argue anymore, as his deploying Rio and Riya to solve the human empire’s problems first before anyone else’s was an understandable move.

Rio and Riya were both humans before anything else, and thus, of course, they would help their own people first before any other nation.

Arguing against this decision was pointless; moreover, they couldn’t forcefully just snatch the two kids away for themselves with someone like Ashtel standing behind them as a guardian, so they could only accept this arrangement.

The meeting soon came to an end with most SS-rankers leaving with complicated and concern-filled expressions on their faces.

The future was getting more and more uncertain, and they all had to adapt to these changes; if they couldn’t, then it wouldn’t take long before they would cease to exist.

’I have put the matter of the invasion to rest for now... But we can’t always just keep waiting. I need to come up with a solution to that strange power of the Demon King too...’

Ashtel wasn’t the type to rely on others for combat prowess and safety.

Although he knew that Rio was a direct counter to the Demon King and would likely become an SS-ranker soon, Ashtel was still going to prepare for situations where he might have to fight the Demon King again!

’A power to bend the very strings of fate... how is something like that in the possession of the most corrupted being, the literal demon king himself? Just thinking about this gives me headaches...’

With a tired look on his face, Ashtel leaned his back against the chair and sighed.

"This is the first time I am seeing you so tired and concerned. The Demon King must have really been quite strong to make you so dissatisfied..."

Most of the SS-rankers had left; only Ryul was left in the room, as he wanted to talk to Ashtel in private.

"With how dissatisfied you look... it appears that you couldn’t get an upper hand on the Demon King..."

Hearing those words, Ashtel shook his head lightly and spoke,

"You know me quite well it seems... Sigh~"

Ryul nodded his head at those words and replied with a smirk,

"I have known you for years, and with how simple you are, it’s pretty easy to understand your emotions. Unless, of course, you don’t use that signature ’calm’ look of yours to hide everything behind a mask."

Ashtel smiled lightly at those words, took a deep breath, and replied in a concern-filled voice,

"The Demon King is strong, too strong in fact if you ask me. I did not make him retreat, Ryul; he retreated on his own."

"He’s too difficult to understand, and I can’t seem to grasp his motivations either... If we jump into a war against him prematurely, we will suffer heavy casualties."

"The Demon Race has an endless supply of low and high-rank demons that are ready to act as powerful troops; we don’t."

Ashtel’s words carried many implications behind them, and even Ryul was surprised by how dire the situation was after hearing those words.

"To think even you would feel this unconfident against him... I guess this Demon King really is something..."

"Well, he’s been living for a thousand years; it would be idiotic to underestimate him..."

Ashtel wanted to tell Ryul more, but he stopped himself from doing so, as it was better to keep the matter of Rio a secret for now.

"By the way, your decision earlier was pretty smart; by putting Rio and Riya in the human empire first, you have made the right choice."

"The human empire didn’t get hit as badly as the other nations this time; you can deal with the situation there pretty fast and then can send Rio and Riya to the Elven Empire without making others think that the deployment is unfair..."

If Ashtel had directly deployed Rio and Riya to the Elven Empire, everyone would think he was playing favorites, and disagreements would erupt instantly; putting the duo in the human empire first was a better choice.

’My main motive to take them back home first wasn’t because I was going to get them busy with work though...’

Riya and the others are free; they can be deployed for work, but Rio... I have a feeling that he’s got more important things to do right now; I just bought him time by delaying the matter of helping the other nations...’

’If all goes well, Rio would have completed his important matters before the other nations start clamoring for his help again...’

Ashtel couldn’t flat out deny the other nations and say that he wasn’t going to lend them Rio and Riya’s help, as that would affect the integrity of the world alliance itself and might even cause a major rift in the alliance.

The World Alliance was already divided enough; anything that could jeopardize the integrity of the alliance needed to be avoided at all costs.

Otherwise, the world will lose its only effective resistance against the demon race if the alliance collapses.

"Sigh... I have no idea about the direction this world is heading in. I have a nagging feeling that something is about to happen soon..."

Ryul’s words brought Ashtel back to his senses, and he got up from his seat.

"Whatever might be about to happen, we just have to be prepared for it."

"Let’s go; we have a lot of work to do; there’s no time to sit around leisurely and keep chatting..."

Seeing Ashtel return to his usual calm and collected self, Ryul nodded his head and got up from his seat too.

"Syvis has been clamoring to see Riya for a while now."

"But due to this incident, now it might take a month or two before Riya can visit the Elven Empire... sigh, what a hassle..."

At those words, Ashtel just shook his head.

"As founding members of the Alliance, we need to follow the rules more accurately than other members, or the alliance will lose its meaning..."

"We are bound by duty; no matter what happens, we need to keep moving forward..."