During Misako's slumber, Farkonia and Aris went to have a versation with Lynne.

  “So, yreeing to assist us?”

  “Indeed. Misako should have made her decision by now. To prevent her from ging her mind, we agreed first.”

  “...I see.”

  Earlier, Farkonia had shared part of Misako's past with Lynne. In fact, within the "Alliance of All Living Things," there were many individuals who had gohrough experiences simir to Misako’s. Lynne uood the pain she had endured.

  “By the way, I received a message from Momo. The people and moemporarily staying in the backyard have already been pacified. They’re no longer showing signs of aggression or refusing to eat. I must thank you once again for your efforts.”

  Lynne said this while standing from her office chair and bowing towards Aris and Farkonia.

  “There’s no need for that. We haven’t done much. It’s you who will have to tinue g for them,” Aris replied.

  “Mm, I’ll do my best to help them live normal lives, ensuring they’ll never have to face such hain...”

  “Mm...”

  Suddenly, a cute little groan broke the moment.

  Farkonia gnced down to see Misako, the pink-haired fox girl, now awake and lying on her p.

  “Awake, are we? It’s perfect timing. We were just talking about how to hahe people and monsters you rescued.”

  “Mm... huh!?”

  As she gradually became more scious, Misako suddenly realized she was resting on Farkonia’s p. While she wao stay in this fortable position a bit longer, she felt awkward with others around. She couldn’t just keep napping.

  “Cough! So, what did you discuss while I was asleep?” she asked, trying to sound nont.

  “Mm... We agreed to help the Alliance of All Living Things...”

  “Haah!?”

  Misako couldn’t help but let out a strange sound. What had they been doing while she was asleep?

  “Is that a problem?” Farkonia asked, looking at her with a hint of .

  …You don’t have to worry with me around.

  Suddenly, the words Farkonia had said to her earlier echoed in Misako’s mind.

  "...Fine."

  “Well, that settles it.”

  “…So, where did we leave off?”

  “We were discussing the rescued people and monsters. Lynne, how do you pn to hahem?” Farkonia asked while expining the current situation to Misako.

  “We’ll first ehat their physical aal states return to normal. Afterward, we’ll usually follow their individual wishes. Some might return to normal lives, while others may choose to join us. The tter is the more on choice,” Lynne expined.

  Those who had suffered such trauma often carried psychological scars. Even if they chose to hide away, they’d live in stant fear. Fag their fears directly, however, gave them the ce to overe it.

  ‘...It seems I’m still too timid...’

  Hearing about so many choosing to face their fears head-on, Misako couldn’t help but refle her owatioe her great power, she was still afraid to front her fears.

  “Everyone’s personality, past, and capacity to bear pain are different. You don’t o feel inferior.”

  Farkonia’s gentle voice seemed to sense Misako’s iurmoil as she softly reassured her.

  “…I have an idea for my own work.”

  Misako smoothly shifted the topic.

  “I’m thinking of f an alliance.”

  “An alliaell me more,” Lynne said, intrigued by the proposal.

  “I want to create an allianarginalized races—uniting the demi-humans, monsters, and even the yokai .”

  “The Yokai ? What is that...?” Lynne furrowed her brows in fusion. She had never heard of this ra all her decades of life.

  “Lynne, what do you think my race is?” Misako asked, a slight smile pying on her lips.

  “Well... you’re likely a demi-human? Or maybe a monster, given Momo...”

  “I’m half and half. Though everyone knows me being a 'humanoid' demon or as you called them- demi-human, I belong to the specifi called Yokai, a race simir to both.”

  With that, Misako’s form was enveloped in a soft light, shrinking until she turned into a pink fox with ails.

  “This... This feels simir to how Momo ges, but also a little different...” Lynne said, surprised.

  “I serace of the same essence from her. It seems that during Momo’s evolution, she may have chosen to evolve toward the Yokai ,” Farkonia expined.

  The Yokai resembled monsters closely and leaned more toward the tter, making it easier for Momo to evolve into something akin to the Yokai.

  “Is that so? I didn’t know such a race existed... But why have they been so hidden for so long?” Lynne asked, her curiosity piqued.

  “That’s something you’ll find surprising and I held this secret for a very... very long time,” Misako replied, and then began reting the story of how the Yokai had lived in seclusion before, only to be discovered and forced to participate in the "Demon War." Eventually, they were sealed away.

  “…Damn those vile gods! I swear, I’ll have my revenge!” Lynne suddenly smmed her fist onto the table in frustration, then quickly realized her outburst, looking embarrassed.

  “Sorry, that was inappropriate,” she muttered, retrag her hand.

  “So, your pn is to form an alliahat provides prote to races like the demi-humans and monsters while also giving the Yokai a ce to return?” Lynne asked, summarizing the idea.

  “That’s correct.”

  While the monsters were oter, the demi-humans were undeniably one of the most vulnerable races in this world. Their magic was retively weak pared to other races, and their societies were underdeveloped. They faced stant infighting and suffered uhe cruelty of sve traders.

  Acc to Misako, the Yokai , being closer to monsters, had stronger abilities and could serve as unifying force.

  “I’m definitely on board with this... But this is no longer something that just I, or the Alliance, handle.”

  Despite the vast influence of the Alliance of All Living Things, Misako’s proposal had reached the level of “nation-building.” The Alliance, after all, was more of a charity anization, generally staying out of political affairs.

  “…I’ll reach out to some people I know. They should be able to help.”

  Lyhoughts turo her former cssmates from her student days. Each of them was a formidable presence, far strohan the average charity anization founder like herself.

  Lyook a peculiar, otherworldly unication device from her desk, a magical tool resembling a phone. She pressed a few buttons in a specific sequence.

  “…Hello. Long time no see, it’s me. Yes, I have a request. …Uood.”

  After a brief versation, she hung up the devid turo Misako and the others.

  “I’ve made tact. They’ll be arriving in the capital soon and will discuss this matter further with you.”

  “Mm, thank you.”

  “...By the way, have you found aodatio? We have some guest rooms here that are just as good as those outside. You stay here for now.”

  “Well, we ’t refuse such a kind offer.”