Hello everyone, I've been expecting you.

'Bout time you showed up!

Oh my, Seria, were you waiting for a chance to see me?

So you've finally decided to accept my love!

I have not! I just want to get the annoyances out of the way early on!

Ha ha ha, there's no need to be bashful.

Mind you, you're still delightful even when you play hard to get.

You really are disgusting...

So, Bertz, what brings you here this time?

Karl! Finally, I can hear your voice!

Since you didn't say anything when we met before...

...I was worried that you might hate me!

Cut to the chase already!

Just get to the point!

Ha ha ha, what's wrong, Lugina?

Could it be that seeing me act friendly with everyone else is making you jealous?

Don't be in such a rush. There are still others I wish to talk with.

Paris, and Hans.

And...this charming young lady that I haven't met before...

I will cut you down where you stand if you say anything weird to Tilith.

Ha ha ha, it's alright, my dear Seria.

As you can see, I am but an honest man.

We just keep gaining worthless information...

So, everyone, we're finally almost to the decisive battle, aren't we?

With all of your powers, you might not need to worry even when facing the Holy Emperor...

...but just in case, please let me provide a note of caution.

Holy Emperor Karna Masta's power exceeds the scope of human imagination.

We know that.

Not even two Summoners of Old could do anything against him.

My, my, I hadn't heard that.

But even as Summoners of Old, they were just two humans.

Karna Masta's power is even greater than that!

For example, take the ruins you can see in this forest.

These belonged to a clan of beastmen that used to live here.

The beastmen had great power, but when they arrived in this land...

...Karna Masta wiped them out in an instant.

......

The power to annihilate an entire race.

That's what you're planning on challenging.

Bertz, what are you plotting?

You wound me!

I'm simply worried about all of you. That's all.

Aren't you just trying to prevent these guys from getting tangled up with Karna Masta?

Yes, that's exactly right.

That's why I'm so earnestly explaining the threat that Karna Masta poses.

......

And Lugina, surely the thought has crossed your mind by now...

...about what happens to summoning after Karna Masta is defeated.

What do you mean?

Did I capture your attention, Seria?

Enough of that, keep talking!

Ha ha ha, what a wonderful day! To think that Seria might be rushing me along.

Thinking this and that over each day certainly does pay off in the end.

Hurry up!

My apologies. I was just so happy!

So, a question for you, Seria. Who created summoning?

It was...Karna Masta...

That's right.

Karna Masta's curse to bring down the gods. That's what we call summoning.

So, when Karna Masta is destroyed, what happens to summoning?

Do you mean summoning will just vanish?

I want all of you to think about the answer to that question.

I have my own circumstances to consider, so there are things I can't tell you.

Oh, why must you all belong to the Akras Summoners' Hall?!

I could tell you so much more if you only belonged to the Elgaia Federation, like me!

I don't care about that.

Tilith, do you know anything?

Hmm, not really...

I see...

What about the two Summoners of Old, then?

The Akras Summoners' Hall will lose much of its reason for existing if summoning vanishes.

Do you think they want to destroy the Summoners' Hall?

My, my, it is quite the tricky situation, isn't it?

Those two...

Oh! I was so caught up in the conversation, I completely forgot!

I came here because there's someone I want to introduce to all of you!

Someone you want to introduce us to? I hope they're not as annoying as you are.

No, no, it's someone you're all acquainted with.

I'm sorry to have kept you waiting. Please, come on out!

Liomerg! Why are you with him?!

Lord Karl, I must thank you...

...for freeing Lord Barion from Mora's magic.

I underestimated your power, and that of your companions.

Yeah, it was all because Hans and loaned me their power.

But Liomerg, please tell me...

...why are you with Bertz?

Well...

Allow me to explain!

Liomerg will be cooperating with us in the Elgaia Federation!

Huh?!

What do you mean?!

He sympathizes with our ideas, and has sworn to provide us with assistance.

A cooperative relationship that transcends the humans and demons. Isn't that splendid?

Liomerg, what is this about?!

......

Summoner Karl, don't get ahead of yourself.

I've just introduced Liomerg to all of you as a courtesy.

I'm very sorry, but I can't share any details with you. They're tied to top-secret Federation affairs.

So, reluctant as I may be to do so, I will be making my exit for now.

Everyone, you really should abandon this plan to battle Karna Masta.

I pray that you will heed my words of caution.

......

What on earth was that all about?

Lugina, you're friends with him, aren't you?

Don't you know anything?!

How would I?

No matter how hard you might try, it's impossible to figure out what Bertz is thinking.

I mean, now he's cooperating with people from this world? There's no way I can make sense of it.

Karl, are you alright?

Yeah, I'm fine.

Everyone, I think we should follow Lugina's example here and not worry about trying to figure things out now.

But...

It's fine. Liomerg's a decent person.

Unlike me, he's not someone Bertz can manipulate.

He probably has his own goals in mind, and is acting towards them.

He'll tell us about it eventually.

Karl...

The more important problem is summoning.

Do you think it really will vanish when we defeat Karna Masta?

That's the thing that's really pointless to worry about.

How many times I gotta tell you? Don't listen to Bertz.

But...

I understand how you all feel, though.

Unlike me, you're all weaklings who can't do anything if summoning goes away.

Especially you, Hans, you've been getting so overconfident lately...

...it scares you, doesn't it? Being unable to do anything for yourself...

It's okay, Lugi!

Hans is amazing, even without summoning!

What kind of baseless... Anyway, obviously it is pointless to worry about it.

Yeah, you're right.

And Gramps and his faction probably have their own thoughts on the matter, too.

I can't imagine that it hasn't occurred to them, after all.

That's very true...

Anyway, Tilith, you were really quiet for a while there.

I guess even you can't stand people like Bertz?

No, it wasn't that. I couldn't help but be curious.

Curious about what?

Well, that Bertz kid. I have no idea what kind of person he is.

I don't either. It would be weird if you did.

No, that's not what I mean.

I can't put it clearly, but it was a completely different sensation from when I met all of you guys...

......

Sorry.

I don't mean to bad-mouth Lugi's friend!

We're not friends!

*Sigh* Fine, whatever...

Hans! Don't just stand there, it's time for us to get moving!

We've got to find Ark soon as we can and talk over a lot of things!