◇[Nyantan Kiki-pat]◇
The Goddess finished reading Nyantan Kiki-pat's report.
"There were some unexpected elements, but it seems the heroes' growth in the Golden Demon Zone was a success. Two pale-colored heroes who may or may not have died… Overall, the results are quite good♪"
Alion Royal Castle.
The Goddess's private chambers.
Inside the room were only the Goddess Vysis and Nyantan.
The Goddess twirled a lock of her hair around her finger.
"'Leveling up'… They can visibly see themselves growing stronger every time they kill a golden-eyed monster. Such 'easy growth' is rare in this world. Before long, simply raising the numbers themselves becomes pleasurable… Fufu, perhaps human nature is nothing more than a slave to numbers."
The Goddess tossed the report onto the table.
"But Nyantan… I find it very strange that all of Sogou-san's precious companions are still alive. Why is that? It's so very strange, I simply can't understand it."
"It appears someone interfered."
"Ehh~? Y-you mean you didn't investigate who interfered— Of course you did, right? You're so capable. I'm truly sorry for doubting you."
"I'm sorry. I was unable to determine who it was."
"Ehh~? That's ridiculous! Y-you're lying, right? Are you taking life lightly?"
Nyantan bowed her head deeply.
"I'm sorry."
"I see, I see... Are you protecting someone?"
"I have no one to protect."
"Ahh, this is difficult to ask, but…"
"Please go ahead."
"You didn't immediately submit the compiled report from Ashinto based on the information received from Urza, did you?"
"I was late in submitting it. I'm sorry."
"Really? You, who are so capable, were late…"
The Goddess stood up from her seat.
She moved behind Nyantan.
"You weren't secretly in contact with Ashinto, the one who killed the 'strongest of humanity,' and plotting something bad… Fufufu, you wouldn't do that, would you?"
The Goddess wrapped her arms around Nyantan's waist.
Her hands began to stroke Nyantan's stomach.
"You wouldn't, right?"
"I would not."
The Goddess continued to grope Nyantan's body as if searching for something hidden.
"What about the Takao sisters?"
The reason Nyantan had been chosen as their instructor was to monitor them.
The Goddess still hadn't decided how to handle the sisters.
"Did they use the freedom I deliberately gave them to make any moves that would sadden me? Ahh… Just asking the question makes me so nervous. I need to take a deep breath… Haa… Haa…"
"There have been no concerning movements. They are steadily gaining strength."
"But the other day one of them asked me a question that sounded almost like defiance. It almost made it seem as if I was being cruel to Sogou-san…"
"I thought that treating them without discrimination would help you, Vysis-sama, gain more trust from the heroes… That is why she asked such a question."
"Was that Hijiri-san herself?"
"Yes."
"Hmm~ For someone who said that, Hijiri-san was quite aggressive… It was really frightening. Oh dear… You're not lying, are you?"
"Of course not."
"..., ————, ...? ————, ......…? ..................…?"
The Goddess's unique method of interrogation through deliberate silence.
Sometimes she used silence on purpose to probe the other person's heart.
"So that's how it is~"
It was a single phrase that was difficult to interpret.
Nyantan didn't know how to take it.
The Goddess's hands stopped moving.
"Nyantan… If it becomes too painful, it's all right to betray me, you know? Please don't push yourself. I won't blame you. I'll simply deal with it."
"Betraying you, Vysis-sama, is impossible."
"If that's the case, was the delay in submission truly just a simple mistake…? Even though the lives of those adorable little sisters are at stake… To make a mistake at such a time is impressive. I'm filled with admiration."
"Recent continuous missions left me short on time. I apologize for the failure to assassinate the members of Ayaka Sogou's unit."
"Fufufu… You really do have a strong sense of responsibility."
"..."
"Am I being too harsh?"
"No."
"Am I being narrow-minded?"
"No."
The Goddess placed her hand on Nyantan's mouth and forced her fingers inside.
"Someone has to offer harsh criticism to those who lack growth even when they reflect on themselves… It takes courage to be hated. This recent trend of thinking that casually forgiving someone makes you the bigger person is something I'd really like to be spared from. The world doesn't grow unless someone gets hurt. *Sniff*… Human society is truly harsh… Please do your best…"
"I will strive to do so."
The Goddess herself was never on the side that gets hurt.
Nyantan closed off her senses and let her gaze wander.
It stopped at one point.
A large painting covered with cloth… or so it appeared.
It hadn't been in the room before.
The Goddess noticed Nyantan's gaze.
"That one?"
She walked over to the painting and pulled off the cloth.
A golden-haired high elf appeared.
"It is a full-body portrait of Seras Ashrain."
It was a gift presented to the Goddess by Emperor Bakoos of Neah.
"Now that they have lost the 'strongest of humanity,' they probably want stronger protection from the Goddess. Fufu, personally I wanted the real person rather than a painting."
It was apparently painted while looking at the actual subject.
It was the work of a court painter from that time.
Originally it had been part of the Holy King's private collection.
After the occupation of Neah, most of the private collection passed into the hands of Emperor Bakoos.
However, this painting alone had remained in the Holy King's possession until the very end.
"The Holy King rarely allowed anyone to paint while facing the real subject. He had a few painted by his own court painter and kept them, but… well, that's why paintings based on the actual person are quite valuable. Naturally, forgeries circulate frequently as well… Ah, I heard several of the wanted posters at the Mercenary Guild were also stolen. What a frightening mentality… Humans really are scary."
The princess knight Seras Ashrain.
She was considered dead by the world.
No corpse had been confirmed, but…
"Oh yes, there's an interesting story. Her former personal belongings are being actively traded among nobles of various countries. Since the rumor of her death spread, their value has skyrocketed abnormally."
Personal belongings.
Value was created from them alone.
Nyantan thought it was a strange thing.
"If they hold that much value… If the real person had been obtained, there would have been so many ways to use her. For example, yes—"
Use her.
The phrasing carried an unpleasant ring.
There was no aversion in the Goddess's tone.
After all, she was nothing more than a piece.
The same went for Vysis's followers.
In the end, they were all merely pawns of the Goddess.
"*Sniff*… To be honest, it pains me too. My heart is always crying as I continue to make these harsh decisions… But Nyantan, listen well. It takes courage to be hated."
▽
Nyantan left Alion following the Goddess.
Their destination was the Kingdom of Magnal.
The White Castle of Demon Defense.
This time, the Sixth Cavalry of the renowned Thirteen Cavalries had also been mobilized.
Why were they heading to that castle again?
Because the Great Demon Emperor's forces had finally begun a full-scale southward advance.
Representatives from each country had once again gathered in the north at Magnal.
▽
The White Castle of Demon Defense.
The Hall of Gathering Wolves.
The representatives of each country had spent roughly half a day here engaged in heated debate.
However, most of the discussion proceeded exactly as the Goddess wished…
The room was filled with a unique heat.
The Queen of Yonato rested her cheek on her hand.
She looked exhausted.
"Open the window, Kyria."
The queen asked the saint behind her.
The saint looked toward the Goddess and the White Wolf King for permission.
"Is that all right?"
The White Wolf King nodded silently.
The Goddess also extended her hand in agreement.
The saint—Kyria Gilstein—opened the window wide.
A refreshing breeze flowed in.
The fresh wind gently lifted the Goddess's silver hair.
The discussion had been exhausted.
All possible countermeasures had been proposed.
Of course, each country had likely kept their hidden trump cards secret…
Then, a male official entered the room.
He walked straight to the White Wolf King and whispered something in his ear.
After dismissing the official, the White Wolf King crossed his arms.
"The movement is slow, but… this is clearly not a southward advance meant only for skirmishes."
The White Wolf King closed his eyes.
Deep wrinkles formed between his brows.
He was probably spreading out a map of the northern region inside his head.
Had his patience run out? The Demon War King asked,
"W-what do you mean!?"
The White Wolf King opened his eyes slightly.
"This coordinated movement… West, South, East… It looks like they intend to launch simultaneous invasions on all three fronts."
The Queen of Yonato sank deeper into her chair.
She wore a troubled expression.
"They seem to be spreading out widely as they advance… From their current movement… it doesn't look like they plan to concentrate in one place. Is their aim to force us to disperse our forces?"
"I don't know. They are demons, after all."
The Queen let her gaze wander into empty space.
"The army heading south might split midway… and later join the eastern and western forces? In other words… the southern army could be a reserve force meant to send reinforcements to whichever front is struggling?"
"Or they might pass right through the White Castle of Demon Defense and charge straight into the Golden Demon Zone."
"No, I don't think that's possible…"
The Demon War King offered a cautious denial to the White Wolf King.
However,
"Well, yes."
The White Wolf King readily accepted the denial.
"The monsters created by the former Root of All Evil and the monsters created by the new Root of All Evil… The sense of camaraderie between the old and new is shockingly weak. Perhaps because their 'creators' are different, they often take hostile actions toward each other…"
Every time a new Root of All Evil appeared, the theory would surface again.
The army of the new Root of All Evil.
The monsters swarming the Golden Demon Zone.
The theory that these two forces would merge.
But as the White Wolf King said, the sense of brotherhood between them was nearly nonexistent.
Accumulated past information proved it.
The White Wolf King let out a heavy breath.
"Still, with simultaneous attacks from three directions, the troop placement is going to be quite messy… I suppose we can leave that to Vysis?"
The Goddess gave a light bow.
"Yes, I shall take care of it."
Then, a man entered the room.
A sharp and handsome young man.
The Grand General of the Mira Empire.
He was also the former first heir to the imperial throne.
In other words—the real older brother of the Mad Emperor.
That older brother handed a single sheet of paper to his younger brother, the Mad Emperor.
The two whispered something in low voices.
After the whispering ended, the general left the room.
The Mad Emperor glanced over the paper he had received and then tossed it onto the table.
"This is our country's latest analysis of the enemy's forces… First, their numbers are far from ordinary. The quality of each individual monster also seems worse than our predictions."
The Goddess quickly scanned the paper.
"I see—the Great Demon Emperor has made his move…"
The representatives other than the Mad Emperor all rose from their seats.
They leaned forward toward the paper in the center.
The Demon War King's eyes widened.
"W-what is this…!?"
"The scale is several times larger than the armies of any previous Root of All Evil…"
The Goddess wore an unusually stern expression.
"Moreover, we have already lost the main fighting force of the Black Dragon Knights… Whoever this Ashinto person is, they have caused us quite a lot of trouble."
The Demon War King slammed both hands on the table, looking devastated.
"U-uuuuu…!? With numbers like this, they can confidently launch simultaneous attacks on three fronts! This number… every single army heading in each direction is a major force! Guuu… What is this… What is this…!?"
A single bead of sweat ran down the cheek of the Queen of Yonato.
"This fervent large-scale advance… How exactly should we respond…?"
The White Wolf King stared at the paper with deep wrinkles between his brows.
"No single country can stand against any of these fronts. If our Magnal, which will become the frontline, manages to win… we will still have to prepare for an overwhelmingly long time to recover…"
The Goddess narrowed her eyes thoughtfully.
"At this stage, I don't believe the enemy is committing their entire army yet… However, it no longer seems like a situation where each country can afford to hold back their trump cards. For this battle… we must join hands and face it with all our strength—"
The Goddess presented the harsh reality.
"Otherwise, everything will be trampled."