From Trash to Villain Master of Card: With Harem of Evil women-Chapter 77: Storm on the Horizon

War Room — Dawn, Five Days After the Moment of Intimacy Between Adelheid and Kaito

The map on the table showed an undeniable threat.

Three troop concentrations. Three different colors marking their origins.

Red for Avernor. Blue for Meridia. Green for Kalthor.

All converging toward Neudämmerung’s borders.

Drake pointed to each position with a somber expression.

"Intelligence confirms: three thousand combined troops. Officially listed as ’mercenaries’ in public records."

"But their composition, equipment, and coordination suggest regular military forces in disguise."

Kaito studied the map with an expression that didn’t reveal the cold feeling in his stomach.

"Timeline?"

"Avernor: fifteen hundred soldiers. Two weeks from reaching the southern border."

"Meridia: eight hundred soldiers. Three weeks, western border."

"Kalthor: seven hundred soldiers. Two and a half weeks, northern border."

Adelheid traced lines on the map.

"If they attack in coordination, they force us to divide our forces on three fronts."

"Our eight hundred soldiers against their three thousand."

Naporia slammed the table.

"Then we don’t divide. We concentrate on one, destroy it, then move to the next."

"Tactically sound," Adelheid admitted. "But that assumes the other two don’t advance while we’re fighting the first."

Lilith had been silent, processing.

Finally, she spoke.

"This isn’t just an invasion. It’s a trap."

Everyone looked at her.

"If we attack first, we violate the Council’s verdict. We become aggressors."

"If we wait for them to attack, they overwhelm us with superior numbers."

"And if we do nothing, we look weak. Other kingdoms conclude that Neudämmerung can’t even protect itself."

Her golden eyes gleamed with frustration.

"Avernor has put us in a position where every move is a losing one."

Valeria spoke with a flat voice, but everyone listened now when she spoke.

"Function: identify variable that breaks the equation. What changes the mathematics?"

"Reinforcements," said Drake. "If Stahl sends troops..."

"I already asked," Lilith interrupted. "Stahl can send two hundred. Useful but insufficient."

"Other allies?"

"The kingdoms that support us are small or distant. They can’t mobilize in time."

Kaito had been silent, looking at the map but not really seeing it.

His mind was elsewhere.

In a small chest kept in his room.

In cards that glowed softly with ancient power.

In an option he had sworn not to consider again.

Unless there was no other alternative.

"Commander?" Adelheid asked, noticing his expression.

Kaito blinked, returning to the present.

"I need time to think. Everyone rest. We meet again in six hours with proposals."

It wasn’t a question.

The council dissolved, each to their tasks.

But Aria stayed.

When they were alone, she spoke.

"I know what you’re thinking."

Kaito didn’t deny it.

"The math is simple. We need power we don’t have."

"There are other ways."

"Which ones? Diplomacy? Avernor will ignore words. Strategy? Adelheid already said numbers are the fundamental problem."

Kaito turned to her.

"Tell me, Aria. What option do we have left?"

Aria didn’t have an immediate answer.

And that said everything.

---

Kaito’s Room — Midnight

The fortress slept.

But Kaito was awake.

The chest rested on his desk.

Dark wood. Faintly glowing inscriptions. Sealed with magic that only he could open.

Inside: the remaining cards. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

He had used four. Dozens remained.

Each representing a different villain. Different power. Different cost.

He opened the chest slowly.

The cards glowed with soft light—golden, silver, blue, red.

Each whispering promises.

Power to protect your kingdom.

Strength to crush enemies.

Guaranteed victory.

His hand moved over them, feeling their energy.

One glowed brighter than the others.

He picked it up carefully.

Aurelia Nobelford — The Architect of Absolute Progress

The image showed a young woman with pink hair in pigtails, practical clothes covered in stains, a smile that was half joy and half something darker.

Text appearing as he held it:

"Summoned from a world where alchemy and technology merged. Creator of marvels and horrors alike.

Power: Synergist. Fuses impossible materials. Builds the unimaginable.

Warning: Her love for creation does not distinguish between beauty and destruction."

Kaito studied the card for a long time.

With her, we could build defenses that three thousand soldiers couldn’t break.

Weapons that would level the battlefield.

Victory.

But then he remembered.

The fourth summoning. Valeria.

The cost had been... subtle. Not obvious at first.

But now, months later, he noticed.

Moments where emotions he should feel were... muted.

As if part of his humanity had been diluted.

Not much. But noticeable.

What would a fifth summoning take?

More empathy? More connection with others?

How many summonings until I stop being Kaito Yukimura and become... something else?

A knock at the door.

"Come in."

He expected Aria.

He found Adelheid.

Still dressed despite the hour. A worried expression.

"I couldn’t sleep. I saw light under your door."

Her eyes moved to the open chest. To the card in Kaito’s hand.

"Are you considering...?"

"Yes."

He didn’t lie.

Adelheid approached slowly.

"May I see?"

Kaito handed her the card.

Adelheid studied it, reading the text.

"Synergist. Construction. Sounds... useful."

"Very useful. With her, we could completely change the tactical equation."

"But?"

Kaito touched his own chest.

"But each summoning takes something. The fourth took part of... I don’t know what to call it. Emotional capacity, maybe."

"And the fifth?"

"I don’t know. But something else would leave. Something I might not be able to afford losing."

Adelheid set the card on the desk.

She sat beside Kaito on the bed.

"Do you remember what you said after the battle against Eldric? When I almost summoned more soldiers until it killed me."

Kaito nodded.

"You said: ’Your life is worth more than victory.’"

Adelheid touched his hand.

"The same applies to you. Your humanity is worth more than victory."

"Even if that humanity costs the kingdom?"

"The kingdom is nothing without you being you."

She paused.

"Kaito. I would rather die fighting as we are than win by turning you into something I don’t recognize."

Kaito felt something tighten in his throat.

"What if there’s no other way?"

"There is always another way. We just have to find it."

Adelheid stood.

"Now put those cards away. And rest. Tomorrow we think with clear heads."

Kaito obeyed, returning Aurelia’s card to the chest.

Sealing it.

For now.

But both knew.

If they didn’t find an alternative soon...

That option would remain on the table.

Tempting. Dangerous. Inevitable.

---

Balcony — An Hour Before Dawn

Kaito hadn’t slept after Adelheid left.

Instead, he came out to the balcony.

Looking at the kingdom he had built.

Lights flickering in houses. Guards patrolling walls. Life continuing.

All of it depending on decisions he would make.

Aria appeared silently—she seemed to have a sixth sense for finding him at these moments.

"Still awake."

"I can’t sleep."

"Thinking about the fifth summoning?"

"Yes."

Aria stood beside him, looking at the same landscape.

"Kaito. Listen to me carefully."

She waited until he looked at her.

"I know the math seems impossible. I know a fifth queen seems like the solution."

"But there’s a line. And once you cross it, you can’t go back."

"Where is that line?"

"I don’t know exactly. But I know you’re close."

Aria touched his cheek, forcing him to maintain eye contact.

"The fourth summoning changed you subtly. The fifth could change you fundamentally."

"And the sixth, seventh... eventually, the person who arrived here from Japan will disappear completely."

"And what’s left?"

"A powerful king with no humanity to guide him. That’s what’s left."

Aria lowered her hand.

"Promise me something. Before you use that fifth card, try everything else. Every strategic option. Every diplomatic alliance."

"And if it’s still not enough..."

"Then we talk again. All five of us. You, me, and the four queens."

"Because if you’re going to sacrifice part of yourself, we deserve a voice in that decision too."

Kaito nodded slowly.

"You’re right. I shouldn’t decide alone."

"Exactly."

Aria smiled sadly.

"Now really try to sleep. Two hours at least."

"And you?"

"I’m going to prepare coffee. Lots of coffee. Because tomorrow will be a long day."

She left, leaving Kaito with thoughts clearer but no less heavy.

He looked toward where he knew enemy armies were gathering.

Three thousand soldiers.

Against eight hundred.

Plus four queens.

Plus a king who still didn’t know if he was willing to pay the price of a fifth summoning.

Two weeks.

Two weeks to find another way.

Or decide if his humanity is worth more than his kingdom.

The choice he never wanted to face.

Approached, inevitable.

---

War Room — Six Hours Later, Full Meeting

All queens present. Drake. Bram. Gorman. The main captains.

And Kristina and Theron—the observers, who had the right to attend strategic meetings.

Kaito presided, his expression neutral but everyone could see the tension in his shoulders.

"Situation: three armies approaching. Two weeks until contact. Enemy numerical superiority is significant."

"Meeting objective: strategic proposals that do not involve... power escalation."

Everyone understood what he didn’t say.

No fifth summoning.

Adelheid spoke first.

"Proposal one: defense in depth. We don’t try to stop them at the border. We draw them into favorable terrain."

She unfolded a map.

"Here. A narrow gorge. Enemy force divided. Our cavalry strikes the flanks."

"Advantage: we negate their numerical superiority. Disadvantage: we sacrifice initial territory."

Drake continued.

"Proposal two: aggressive diplomacy. We contact the ’mercenary’ commanders directly."

"We offer gold. Lots of gold. To desert or simply... not attack with enthusiasm."

"Advantage: potentially fractures the enemy coalition. Disadvantage: expensive and not guaranteed."

Lilith leaned forward.

"Proposal three: massive counter-propaganda. We expose the invasion to all kingdoms."

"We force the Council to intervene. Position this as a violation of the verdict."

"Advantage: political pressure on the attackers. Disadvantage: time. Diplomacy is slow."

Naporia simply said.

"Proposal four: preemptive strike. We hit the first force before the three can coordinate."

"Destroy Avernor. Meridia and Kalthor reconsider when they see the cost."

"Advantage: initiative. Disadvantage: technically violates the verdict."

Valeria was last.

"Proposal five: optimization of existing resources. I train troops in advanced tactics. I build fortifications."

"Aurelia—"

She stopped.

Everyone noticed the slip.

"...sorry. Without Aurelia, it takes more time but feasible."

"Advantage: uses what we have. Disadvantage: two weeks isn’t enough for complete training."

Silence as everyone processed.

Theron spoke—the first time in a military meeting.

"With permission, Lord Kaito. An external observation."

"Go ahead."

"All these proposals are solid. But all assume you fight alone."

Theron pointed at the map.

"Have you considered asking for help? Not from Stahl—we already know that’s limited. But from... kingdoms that voted neutral."

"Sorenth. Terravaal. Sundergard. None owe you anything, but they also don’t want to see a precedent of a coalition destroying a small kingdom."

Kristina, surprisingly, nodded.

"Lord Theron has a point. If this is framed correctly—as a threat to the international order—neutral kingdoms might intervene."

Kaito looked at both observers.

"Would you report that favorably?"

Theron smiled.

"I would report the facts. And the facts would be: Neudämmerung sought a diplomatic solution before a military one."

Kristina added, with a warmer tone than usual.

"And I would... acknowledge that a kingdom defending itself against a coordinated invasion is justified."

Something had changed. Both observers—especially Kristina—now saw the threat as real.

Kaito nodded slowly.

"Then we have options. Not perfect. But options."

He looked around.

"We implement all of them. Simultaneously."

"Adelheid: prepare defense in depth. Gorman: contact mercenaries with desertion offers. Lilith: massive propaganda campaign. Theron, Kristina: help us contact neutral kingdoms with the appropriate framing."

He paused.

"And Valeria: train the troops. Build what you can. We have two weeks to prepare."

"Everyone understood?"

Nods around.

"Then move. And..."

Kaito touched the imaginary chest in his mind.

"...let’s hope this is enough."

The meeting dissolved.

But everyone felt it.

A storm approaching.

And they weren’t sure if they were ready to face it.