"And that is all."
Scarlett has just finished her long explanation of her time with Haruto with an amicable smile on her face.
"My, my, that was quite a passionate speech just now."
Isabella said with an impish smile on her face. Hearing that, Scarlett's cheeks were dyed a tinge of red. Hinata smiled mischievously at the sight of her younger sister speaking so fervently about a man.
"Hehe he, well, I guess even Scarlett can fall in love. Honestly, I was really worried about your lack of interest in these things. When I see your face, so reminiscent of a maiden in love, I can rest assured."
Hinata said as she brought her cup of tea to her mouth. Scarlett hurriedly brought her cup to her lips as a means to hide her embarrassment. However, Jackson had listened to the entire explanation with a disinterested expression the entire time. He didn't like the fact that Scarlett had taken an interest in another man.
(Tch, just when I thought I could make her a part of my harem, she had someone else in her heart)
He gritted his teeth in a show of anger. When Isabella turned her head towards him, she opened her mouth.
"That aside, I'm also curious about Sir Hero as well."
Isabella suddenly said.
"Oh, and what are you curious about?"
He tilted his head curiously. Isabella took a sip of her warm tea to wet her tongue as she spoke.
"I'm curious about the world Sir Hero originated from. If I recall, the hero hailed from a completely different world, right?"
Isabella inquired, choosing her words carefully. There were no historical books about the other world where the heroes originated from; she was happy about the chance to finally get some useful information regarding that particular matter.
"Oh, I originally lived in a country called America."
"America, you say. I have never heard of that country before."
Isabella said, pronouncing the unfamiliar name awkwardly. The others also made a confused expression at the unfamiliar name. On this continent, there were originally five great nations; however, the fifth kingdom was destroyed long ago during a war between two countries.
It was said that the "spirit of water" was living peacefully in a lake on the outskirts of that kingdom, but when the two nations started their battle, they disturbed the peaceful lake and painted its water red.
The great water spirit living inside that lake was furious, and in a form of punishment, the water spirit caused a natural disaster in the form of a tsunami, destroying the fifth kingdom on this continent, thus leaving only four nations of power remaining.
"Hmmm…. I heard that the spell bestowed upon us to summon the heroes was a powerful spatial magic capable of disrupting space and dimension. To bring someone from a completely different dimension over to ours, the gods really are amazing."
Hinata voiced her amazement in a tone filled with pride. Hearing that, the others nodded their heads. Spatial magic was a magic that could not usually be used by regular humans. Due to its complexity, it also took up a ridiculous amount of magic power. Which is why it was said to be impossible for a single human to use it on their own.
"Sigh, so could you guys inform me more about heroes and goddesses and demons you guys are so afraid of?"
Jackson suddenly said. Hinata nodded her head before she began speaking.
"This world was once ruled by superior beings known as the elemental goddess; each kingdom had their own goddess that they worshipped. Of course, this means that each kingdom had their own hero who was summoned by the elemental goddess. However, more than three hundred years ago, that wasn't the case."
"The entire continent used to be one whole country in itself; it was only after the war between the demon race three hundred years ago that humanity finally began its stability, and the countries were divided into five different kingdoms, each with its own respective royal families."
Hinata explained fluently. Jackson listened to her explanation with a serious face before he raised his eyebrows.
"What happened to the fifth country?"
"It was destroyed long ago."
Isabella said in a curt tone.
"I see…. So, what kind of deity did they worship?"
"They didn't worship any goddess, unlike the current kingdoms?"
Jackson asked curiously.
"That's because they worship the spirit race instead of the goddess. If I recall, they also got themselves into conflict because of their lack of faith in the goddess. What makes this even funnier is that their entire kingdom got nuked by the very same spirit they worship, isn't that funny?"
Hinata said somewhat mockingly. Jackson gulped as he heard her words. Scarlett sighed and tried to change the topic to something more pleasant.
"Anyway, thanks to the efforts of the heroes long ago, the world had finally regained its tranquillity, and a peace treaty was signed with the four great nations; however, the fact that the heroes were once again summoned by the elemental goddess meant that some kind of danger had appeared in the world once again."
Scarlett said with a serious face.
"Yes, with the conflict going on between Alberta and Zestril, we might need the help of the heroes once again."
Tracy said his tone sounded grim.
"Ah, I also wanted to ask Isabella about her opinion on that matter."
"Hmm… My opinion, you say. Well, I personally think that the old king has lost his mind if he intends to provoke the Alberta kingdom. The fact that he decided to do it means that he has some means of winning."
Isabella said with a contemplative expression, her deep ocean blue eyes narrowed sharply as she thought deeply about that matter. A smile formed on Hinata's lips as she nodded her head. The matter between the Alberta kingdom and the Zestril kingdom was a hot topic, so there wasn't anyone who hadn't heard of it the news of their war proclamation.
"Sigh, my father has been really busy with this mess all day."
Isabella said in a tired tone, strands of her light, wavy blue hair fell on her shoulder as she hung her head down in exhaustion. Tracy showed a gloomy smile from where he was seated.
Seeing that the Watanabe sisters couldn't help but smile wryly, of course, it was the same for them as well. Jackson, on the other hand, gave them a look of sympathy.
***
On the northern side of the Enosh continent, the area was covered with thick snow. On this side of the continent, there is always snow as though the concept of "Summer" does not exist in an area of approximately 20,000 kilometres. There was the "kingdom of Zestril", a proud country of over ten million inhabitants.
Here, only the notion of the "Strong" can exist; the weak are to be devoured by those who have power. The "Zestril kingdom" is by far the most dangerous and savage country on this continent.
Because of this, many citizens would sometimes migrate to other countries in order to live a more peaceful and prosperous life. The reason was that the king was a man who loved war and conflicts; he would sometimes even invade peaceful nations just for his amusement.
In the centre of the "Zestril Kingdom", the proud building of the royal palace could be seen standing there. The palace measured roughly 500 meters in length, the width of the building was 300, and the entire castle was surrounded by walls which looked like they were made from ice.
Inside a throne room, an old man with a long white beard who seemed to be in his mid-forties was sitting comfortably in his seat. Despite his age, his body was muscular and had a youthful appearance.
Inside the room were many knights on either corner of the throne room, in the centre was a middle-aged man whose body was badly beaten up as though he had just received torture.
"Your majesty, this is the man who was caught trying to steal your treasures."
A young knight said as he held the middle-aged man in place.
"Ugh, I'm telling you I didn't steal anything! I was accused of a crime I didn't commit."
The man yelled at the top of his voice. Seeing this, the king raised an eyebrow in interest.
"Oh, you were falsely accused, you say?"
"Yes! I was just cleaning out your treasure room when those knights came in and suddenly accused me!"
The man said, desperately trying his best to clear his name.
"Hahaha…. If you, we're going to lie, couldn't you at least have done it right?"
The king burst into a hearty laughter as he stared at the fool who was on his knees before him. What a funny spectacle this is.
The man was lying to him without knowing that he had a means of knowing whether he was telling the truth or not.
The king stood up from his seat and walked towards the middle-aged man; the man's body trembled from the ominous pressure coming from the king, which wasn't a pressure that was willing to tolerate any excuses. His instinct told him that. All the man could do was tremble from the literal death that stood above him.
"I don't like liars, you know, you dare to steal from me, you deserve death."
The king uttered coldly.
"Kill him!"
"Burn him!"
"Hang him"
Many high officials voice their words out loud. Hearing that the king nodded his head amused.
"Sir Nicholas, you have a daughter who is 15 years old, do you not?"
The man nodded his head vigorously.
"For compensation, your daughter is to become my son's plaything for the rest of her life, a fitting punishment, wouldn't you say?"
The king uttered those words with clear contempt in his voice.
"W-wait, your majesty! Please, anything but that!!"
Nicholas desperately pleaded with the king as tears filled the corners of his eyes.
The king only gazed down coldly at him and drew his sword sheath on his waist. And with a smooth motion, he slashed horizontally with his long sword.
Thump!
The head of Nicholas rolled on the ground as his headless body fell, spraying more blood onto the extravagant-looking carpet.
"Soon, the battle with the Alberta kingdom shall commence."
The king muttered. Ruling a single nation couldn't possibly satisfy his hunger for power; this whole world will bow before me soon enough.
(Goddess, demons, heroes who give a damn, I will be the most satisfied king who reigns supreme)
The King thought a wide smile appeared on his face.
On the side of the throne room was the figure of the white-haired Alister, who had a grin on his face. Meanwhile, there was a girl standing on the side with a slightly bitter expression on her face as she watched her father in his craven state.