Reincarnated as a random race, of course I got goblin.

Chapter 109 - Interlude

 I watch as the last person leaves, and it's just me, the King, the others leaders and Bunsen left. There's an awkward silence as the four others glare at Dervix.

Just as I'm considering speaking, Prime Minister Kalim speaks. "I want the truth about your relation to the Great Monarch. It's clear to us that if your claims were true before, you'd have no reason to create the Control Diadem." His voice is calm but stern.

Dervix is squirming internally, much to my delight. Good, little worm, feel the consequences of your actions. He takes a deep breath before explaining. 

"The Great Monarch was never tamed by me. She isn't even Named by me. By virtue of being the ruler of the Kingdom she was born closest to, I was able to leverage her good nature and desire to cooperate with humanoids to the benefit of the Kingdom." He pauses a moment before continuing.

"I'm sure she'd be in a similar position with your nations if she was born close to or within them, sans the Control Diadem of course." He glances over to me, and I nod in agreement. No matter which nation I would find myself in, I'd strive to be on good terms with it. 

"Because of my flawed understanding of Millibelle as a... person... I believed there was a chance she might become aggressive towards my Kingdom, unprovoked. The Control Diadem, the culmination of several generations of my family gathering and hiding away All-War-era literature, was my own decision to make." He almost flinches as the contempt issuing from the four other leaders reach a fever pitch.

"Y-you misunderstand me! The parts of the collection that comprises taboo knowledge like that is but a minuscule fraction. The vast majority of it is contemporary literature like encyclopedias and historical records." He throws up his hands as if to shield himself from the others. 

"Of the three hundred or so records, only a hundred of them are complete, and of them, there are only two complete schematics for items used in the war itself. One is the Control Diadem, the other the Magic Extractor." I hesitate for a moment, Magic Extractor? Like the one Millibelle was put in, way back then?

Things click into place. That's how he got his hands on the main component, a Magic Gem made from the magic of the monster intended to be controlled. My mind flashes back to that rainbow brilliant-cut gem in the place of honor next to the Tear of Ashala. 

Dervix gives a shrewd look to Prime Minister Kalim. "How is your daughter, by the way? I hope the device I gave to you was of help." 

I scan Dervix's memories. Kalim's daughter was born with malformed Arcanovascular Vents, meaning her body couldn't expel excess Magic on its own. The fate for those in that situation is usually a mercy killing, considering they eventually just explode from the buildup of Magic in their bodies.

Dervix gifted a Magic Extractor to Kalim in order to treat his daughter, much like one would give dialysis to someone with bad kidneys.

Kalim's face flashes between several different emotions before arriving at anger. "Don't you dare." He hisses. 

"Now, now, gentlemen. Let's not sour the diplomatic relations between your nations, hmm?" I cut in, perhaps rudely, but I can't allow Dervix's pettiness to put our plans in danger. 

"If I may ask, who are you? And why are you here? This is meant to be a closed meeting between the leaders and the Monarch." Matron Kantarra Argenfeather asks, her voice chiding. Seul glances from her to me, who's in my humanoid form. 

I take a step back, as to leave room for my true form, before returning to it. The three leaders not in the know stifle gasps as they realize just who I am. "I am the Great Monarch, Millibelle. It is a pleasure to meet you all. I prefer the form of a humanoid when mingling with them, I find it makes people more eager to speak their true mind about me."