Shota's Isekai NTR Adventure Chapter 1931: There’s still a use

Still, I had no intention of simply surrendering Dorothy and permitting them to treat her however they pleased.

My reasons went beyond the simple fact that I had formally adopted her as my daughter.

It was rooted in the information Nox had shared with me regarding her.

Nox was a deity; even if they weren't considered a major god, they still possessed divine authority far exceeding that of any mortal.

I was inclined to trust Nox's word if they claimed Dorothy would hold a vital role in our future.

Consequently, I would not abandon her so easily unless every other option had been exhausted.

"I don't believe that's how things are," I stated.

The moment I spoke, every representative from the racial alliance shifted their gaze toward me. It seemed as though most of them had actually been waiting for me to voice my perspective on the situation.

In matters of this magnitude, I was the one everyone looked to for guidance.

Ultimately, I argued, "If they had the capacity to act, they would have done so by now. Since none of us knew their true intentions, they could have easily succeeded in their goals if they truly wanted to."

Hearing my words, the representatives all took on awkward expressions.

They recognized the logic in my statement, yet they were also aware that they couldn't match my capabilities when it came to resisting the forces of Destruction.

This was the primary reason they deferred to my judgment in these affairs.

Nevertheless, the fact remained that the forces of Destruction could bypass our defenses at will, a reality recently proven by War.

It was also obvious that their upcoming attacks were aimed specifically at capturing Dorothy.

That was the sole reason they had branded her with that mark in the first place.

For the racial alliance, it seemed far simpler to just "deal" with Dorothy now rather than face the forces of Destruction while unprepared.

In their minds, "dealing" with Dorothy naturally implied one thing...

If the racial alliance had their way, Dorothy would be eliminated, and that was a conclusion I refused to accept.

"For the time being, they are unable to take action, otherwise they would have already struck—they even admitted as much themselves. Therefore, there is no reason for us to fall into a panic right now," I told them.

However, the representatives of the racial alliance were not so easily swayed.

They stared at me as if they were waiting for a more substantial explanation.

Their eyes demanded to know exactly why I was so set on protecting Dorothy at all costs.

After all, I had kept Nox’s revelations a secret from them.

Sighing, I explained, "She is destined to play a crucial role in what's to come, making her far more valuable to our cause than she is a threat."

Even after saying this, skepticism remained etched on the faces of the representatives.

I couldn't really blame them, as my explanation lacked any real weight.

I was withholding concrete evidence and simply asking for their blind faith. But when the issue at hand involved the survival of the entire world...

As leaders responsible for their own nations, they couldn't afford to just take my word for it.

They had their own people to safeguard, after all.

"I understand that asking for your trust is difficult, but this matter will shift the entire tide of the coming war. I cannot disclose the details right now because doing so would jeopardize our entire strategy," I said, using the firmest tone I could muster.

Once I framed it that way, several voices finally rose to support me.

"The Holy Son is correct. There are variables we cannot yet perceive, and we must not be reckless. A single mistake now could lead to catastrophic consequences for everyone later," they argued.

Unsurprisingly, the Holy Empire was the first to take my side.

Because of my phrasing, they assumed I was acting on divine knowledge granted by the gods—knowledge too sacred or dangerous to reveal. Anything involving the divine would earn their immediate backing.

That was simply the nature of a nation composed of fanatical devotees.

As for the others...

"Very well, we will place our trust in you for the time being."

Though they lacked the religious fervor of the Holy Empire, they ultimately chose to listen and follow my lead.

This was mostly due to the personal rapport I had built with them over time.

The only ones still showing hesitation were the representatives of the smaller nations with whom I had no prior connection.

But with the major powers falling in line behind me, there was very little the smaller countries could actually say.

They had no choice but to concede to the majority, as they couldn't risk fracturing the racial alliance—especially since these smaller states relied on the alliance for their very survival.

Still, it was obvious they wouldn't just remain passive.

It was clear they were already plotting ways to ensure their interests were protected, perhaps by forming their own internal bloc.

There was nothing I could do to stop them, however.

Despite their size, they were still essential members of our coalition.

Internal infighting would only lead to the alliance's downfall.

Yet, for the first time, an unprecedented level of tension began to permeate the racial alliance.