Chirem Act 6-15.2
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Act 6-15: Vessel's Girl
TL : Cnine
ED/PF :
R1[1-2], R2[3-4], R3[5-7]
Part 3
In addition to the Hero’s party and several representatives dispatched from each base, this council also included advisors. From Eulia Abelia came two members of the the Strega Coven(Seven Witches): Judia Herodias and Ashley Hestia. Furthermore, Shinonome Erst Shadowknight had been invited from the Yaomikado Republic.
Along the chamber walls, witches such as Mithril, Liliana, and Kanaloa, together with famed soldiers like Julio and Merida, watched silently as observers.
When Goldwyn called upon her, Judia rested a hand on her chin and murmured, “Well now…”, pondering for a moment before gesturing lightly towards Uriente.
「Personally, I agree with him. There is no need to invite danger upon ourselves. I understand the hardliners’ wish to eliminate the threat completely, but… Our enemy is Deathlion, the evil god who killed the previous Hero and yet survived by escaping to another world, even after suffering mortal wounds. How much power they now possesses, how far he has recovered there, or whether he has grown stronger still… All of it remains unknown. With so many uncertainties, I believe the safest course is to prepare thoroughly and ensure that every nation is ready for the moment that day comes…」
「What are you saying?! If there is even a chance the evil god is gathering strength, then wasting time is the worst possible choice! In that case, we revive them fully aware of the risks and crush him with the full might of humanity while he is still weakened!」
「Ha, there it is. The classic muscle-brain theory.」
「What did you just say?! Bakaril!」
「――In short, opinions within the Strega Caven, are split right down the middle. And frankly, there is probably no single correct answer. Which side is right… Can only be inferred after we choose a path and witness its outcome.」
「…In other words, the answer can only be judged in hindsight. What do you think, Lord Shinonome? What are the Inugami clan… what do the beastfolk have to say?」
Goldwin sighed at Judia’s carefully vague answer and then looked straight at Shinonome.
「Here as well, opinions are split between the moderate faction and the hardliners. With so many tribes involved, the conflict among you is, if anything, even more complex and severe than among us. However, my concern lies less with that, and more with the world order that will follow.」
「The world... Order?」
「Indeed. Humans, the beastfolk, the demonfolk, and other demi-humans joined forces in the first place because we shared a common enemy in the evil god and Diabolo. If that threat were to disappear… How would humanity treat us then? Even now, numerous old grudges and histories lie between our races. After the conflict ends, how will our status and positions be guaranteed so that new disputes do not arise? What laws will be put in place to ensure this? And how will you deal with the demi-humans who sided with Diabolo? I would like clear answers on these points.」
「Naturally, humanity has no intention of becoming hostile towards the demi-humans who have fought beside us. We plan to convene the leaders of every nation and establish international bodies founded on our current alliance, creating a society of coexistence without discrimination, centred on Yuiitsu and the shrine maidens.」
「Centred on Yuiitsu… I see.」
Upon being reminded by Goldwin, Shinonome reacted and looked at Yuiitsu who sat near him.
What Goldwin implied was clear: the wedding of Yuiitsu and the four shrine maidens, Sera and the others, which was scheduled for after the war. The post-war world would undoubtedly revolve around him. The fact that the maidens—each connected to various factions or personally important to humanity—would become Yuiitsu’s wives meant, in effect, that the human race would establish links with beastfolk, demi-humans, and demonfolks, transcending national boundaries. The hero thus becomes an absolute symbol of peace and coexistence among races.
For this reason, government officials across nations attach great importance to their relationship with the hero. The reason Prince Cellius of the Kingdom of Erenzanas treated Yuiitsu with such deference was precisely this. Strengthening that connection would give them leverage in the post-war power dynamics. As the board begins to settle, the attention of the rulers has already shifted toward politics and economics.
In the flow of conversation between Goldwin and Shinonome, all eyes naturally turned toward Yuiitsu. Reclining arrogantly in his chair, observing the meeting with a bored expression, he deliberately let out a sigh and unclasped his folded arms.
「Haah… I stayed silent, choosing not to participate, merely to gauge your resolve as soldiers and your willingness to fight… but what a low-quality meeting this is. I never imagined that even at this stage there would be cowards hesitating… And the hardliners? They didn’t even begin by presenting the key points. It was like watching a children’s council meeting.」
「Ho~… So, hero-sama wishes for the revival of the evil god, then?」
Judia asked with a faint smile, and Yuiitsu replied firmly: “Naturally.”
「I was chosen by the goddess and sent into this world to annihilate the evil god. Now, with me as the hero and Sera and the other shrine maidens at my side, and with Diabolo already in shambles and the remaining cultists left with nothing but feeble acts of terror, how could I possibly let this greatest opportunity slip by?」
「In short... You have the same opinion as the hardliner then?」
「Yes, but the reasoning differs. They’ve missed one crucial element entirely.」
Yuiitsu gestured with his thumb toward Walter and the others, his tone dripping with mild irritation. “And what is that?” Judia prompted. Yuiitsu then pointed to himself with his thumb.
「Do you really think I could be defeated by some so-called evil god? The moderate faction keeps harping on the risks of resurrecting the evil god, but all of that falls apart if you simply consider me—the flawless, invincible presence. The hardliners’ arguments assume the hero exists. The moderate faction… They forgot to make me the basis of their counterarguments.」
「I see… Well, indeed, there’s probably no being in this world with higher potential than you. But even so, unforeseen events can happen. And as I mentioned before, the previous hero was killed by the evil god Deathlion. No matter how strong you are, it isn’t unreasonable for someone to want to proceed with caution.」
「Humph, that’s only because the previous hero lacked sufficient power. Or rather… More accurately, they weren’t even a true hero. After all, the true hero—me—is right here.」