Mr. Kilt sat down heavily on the couch.

　Thud.

Phew.

　She ruffled her silvery bangs a little wildly.

　She was the only one who returned to the waiting room.

'Where's Miss Arnold?'
It's an afterthought.

　Mr. Kilts said.

'This time, unlike the time of Arun, it was an impromptu audience with no prior negotiations. There were a lot of problems.

　His voice sounds a bit gruff.

　Ms. Illtimina asks.

'Problem, sir?'
Hmm. I have to admit, things have gotten a little more complicated than I expected.

　As she told us that, Ms. Kilt exhaled heavily.

　Then she looks up and tells us what happened in the audience.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇.


　What I felt as I entered the audience room was quite a bit of antagonistic stares.

　Mostly from the surrounding nobles.

　But His Majesty Shamahn, King of Vega, sitting in front of him, despite his advanced age, was said to have a rational look in his eyes.

　So the first words delivered were.

Under the circumstances, my Vega kingdom will not cooperate with you.

　The notice.

(.........what?)

　I was stunned.

　No, so was everyone else.

'The demon is about to come back and you're not going to help me stop it?

　His voice quivered a little.

　Mr. Kilt frowned, but nodded.

'Yes,'
..........
Well, here's where it gets complicated. --In this country, there is a tree called the Sacred Tree.

　The Holy Spirit Tree?

　As Solstice reminded us.

That guy in front of the palace, the one the protesters were screaming at?

　I said.

　'Mm,' nodded Mr. Kilt.

I've never heard of it before," he said. The Sacred Tree is a huge crystal shaped like a tree,'' he said.

　That's how it was explained to me.

''The Holy God Tree'' is a glowing crystalline body.

　It grew out of the earth like a large tree, with a height of 500 meters and a trunk circumference of about the same size.

''What's that...?''

　It's ridiculously big.

　Me and Illtimina-san are surprised.

　Solstice and Mr. Colontude have a twinkle in their eyes in curiosity.

　Poe is alone and remains poised.

　Mr. Kilt continued.

''I heard that the high quality magic stones from the Vega Country are all made by carving and processing that crystal called the 'Sacred Tree'.

(What ... such a secret?)

　The natural resources of a rich country, the source of this country's wealth?　

　We are surprised again.

　In front of us, Mr. Quilt presses his eyelids with one hand.

　In a heavy voice.

That sacred tree was the Devil's Sealed Land.

　.............

(Huh?)

　I didn't know what that meant.

　Kilts says.

"The crystal of the seal created by God. It contains the seal that sealed the evil in the middle, and the crystals that were formed to remove the evil, and the people of this country are flourishing.

　A deep sigh.

　As if lamenting the sinfulness of humanity, as if dismayed and saddened, the voice fades away.

(............)

　You're kidding?

　As soon as I understood the meaning of the words, I felt my blood boil.

The Son of Darkness said that the Devil's Seal on the Dollar Continent is about to be destroyed.

　The Devil's Seal on the Dollar Continent is about to be broken.

　That seal won't even last a year.

　Essentially, the seals placed by the gods were supposed to be in operation for half a lifetime.

　The reason why the seal has weakened is because

　I mean, that's

''Because the ... humans ... were chipping away at the 'sealing crystals' for their own prosperity?'''

　The voice sounded distant.

　........It was as if it wasn't my voice.　

　Crunch.

　Mr. Kilt stirred his silver hair wildly.

The Vega government, after receiving word from the Shumurian royal family, stopped cutting the "Sacred God Tree" a month ago and forbade people to enter. In principle, it's because the 'Holy God Tree' has the possibility of collapsing.
..........
But it is a major industry in Vega State.

　Then she looks out of the window of the royal palace.

'As a result, the economy is in turmoil. There is a fierce opposition from those who don't know what's going on.

　Oh.....

(So, the demonstration?)

　The people gathered in front of the Royal Palace are people who were involved in the magic stone industry,

　''The same goes for the nobles,'' said Mr. Kilts.

''Nobles are the same way.
..........
Many of the people and nobles of this country live and prosper thanks to the Sacred Tree. To cut off that tree is an act that even the nobles are opposed to. First they want to conduct an investigation to verify the truth of the collapse of the seal, and then, if possible, they want to continue cutting.
..........
That's why, under the circumstances, I've decided not to cooperate with the warriors.

　Oh no.....

(But if we leave it at that.......the demon will come back?

　I bite my lip.

　Kachiri.

　That's when I felt something engage.

'--stupid,'

　It was Po-chan.

　Po-chan, no, the divine dragon Nagaia was unusually exuding emotion and emitting anger.

''If you destroy the 'God's Seal', the demons will revive and the world will be destroyed. If you know this and still continue to defile the 'God's Seal', then Poe will decide that people are no longer worth saving.

　............

　The air in the room seemed to freeze at the strong presence.

''That's right.

　Mr. Kilt nodded.

'But there is hope, too.'
..........
His Majesty King Shamān was a wise man. "His Majesty the King of Shamān is a wise man, who has restrained the nobles and promised to help my troops.

　Ah.........

　I felt a light shine through the clouds.

　However, Kilt-san's expression did not clear.

''But will that keep the nobles quiet? We have to consider the possibility that they will take a hard-line approach to interfere with our actions.

　..........

　Our enemy is a demon that destroys people.

　So why should we be hindered by someone who is supposed to help us....

(People are.... really stupid, aren't they?)

　I felt a dark darkness arise in my mind.

　Poe, who has memories of being betrayed by humanity three hundred years ago, might have more of those feelings.

'Marl........'

　Illtimina-san is looking at me with concern.

　..........

　I shouldn't do this.

　Not all humans are stupid.

　

　I take a deep breath.

　And that's when.

　Kong Kong Kong.

　There was a knock on the door of the anteroom and it slowly opened.

　The ones who entered were Arnold-san and an elderly beastman wearing a crown.


　◇ ◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇


(What ... the crown?)

　At the same time I noticed, Mr. Kilt rose from his seat and kneeled on the floor.

'Your Majesty Shamahn,'

　Hang your head.

　Huh?　Huh?

(His Majesty Shamān... that is, the King of the Vega State!

　When we finally understood, we hurriedly followed Mr. Kilt's lead.

　His Majesty Shamahn, the King of Vega, was a lion-like beastman, just like Arnold-san.

　But his limbs were thin and his waist was bent.

　His eyebrows and beard were also long, making him look like a hermit.

''Ladies and gentlemen, please return to your seats.''

　A mild voice.

　He took each of us by the hand and made us stand up.

　It was a warm hand.　

　Then he looked around at the six of us as we stood up.

I have heard from my son. It is very kind of you to come from so far away, in Shumuria. We thank you.

　So he bows his head.

　

　Me, in a panic.

　Illtimina said, "Foolishness? I muttered suspiciously.

'It's me,'

　Mr. Arnold indicated himself with his thumb and laughed.

　...........

(Yeah!

　This beastman who came to meet us at the harbor town was a prince, I didn't expect him to be a prince!

　All of them roll their eyes, except Kilt-san.

'I found out about the strawberries too, in an audience. You surprised me.

　She giggles.

　No, no, no.......................That's why the prince is greeting me.

"I sent my most trusted person out on an errand. It was the least I could do in good faith.

　His Majesty Shamān says.

　His voice hides a deep anguish for the problems facing his country.

　He looks at Poe.

'As the lady over there says, we are foolish.
..........
"Knowing the sin of cutting the 'God's Seal,' I was blinded by the brilliance of the prosperity of my country that was born before my eyes, and could not stop it until today.

　His voice was heavy.

'If the demons come back, the world will be destroyed. I knew that.

　The old eyes beneath his long eyebrows stared sadly into the air and

But what is the nature of the world?

　He continued.

'The world as we perceive it is not this great world, but the narrow environment around us.
..........
"Family, friends, and work, living while protecting them is what one can do, and that is what one can do with the whole world...

　He looked at his son, Mr. Arnold, who was a year older than him.

　Mr. Arnold also looked back at his father.

''The magic stone industry is now the root business of this country. And the 'Holy God Tree' was to support it. So, with your help, losing the 'Holy God Tree' is equivalent to the collapse of all of its people's lives.
..........
Even if the demon doesn't return, if it loses the blessing of the Tree of the Holy Gods, the economy of the Vega nation will collapse. And it will probably be invaded by the other six countries. Watashi's country will come to an end one way or the other. ........Yes, the world will end.
..........
We just couldn't bring ourselves to make that decision.

　So he tells me in a pained voice.

　By themselves, he tells us in penitence, that they could not accept their own destruction.

(National suicide....)

　Suddenly, I thought to myself.

Losing the 'Holy God Tree' must mean that.

　That's why so many people are opposed to it.

　We have built a prosperous foundation based on our mistakes, but that doesn't mean we can't make the decision to turn the whole foundation upside down.

　When it's not only your own life at stake, but also the lives of your family, it's even worse.

(Complicated situation........)

　I finally understood what Mr. Kilt meant when he first said.

　Saving the world and destroying the Vega nation?

　Save the Vega nation temporarily and eventually destroy the entire world?

　That's the story.

...............

　I said.

"But you can still help us.

　So clearly.

　Everyone looked surprised.

　But my blue eyes stared at the king and continued to speak.

''It is true that this will be a burden on the people of Vega Country. But still, people's lives will remain. There is still a way left to find new possibilities.

　sizzling sound

　I clenched my little fist.

'But ... if the demons come back, there's no way around it.
..........
Please help us. Please join us in defeating these demons!

　I pleaded desperately.

　His Majesty Shamahn looked at me, such a child, with a serene gaze.

　And.

Of course, Jingu-dono.

　He nodded at me.

(Oh....)

　To my relief, he gave me a wistful smile.

'We have walked in the way of sin. But it will be fine until their generation. But it will be fine until our own generation, and we will accept our reward. The road ahead will be a hardship, but we want our sons' generation to walk the path toward that light.

　So I looked gently at Mr. Arnold.

　I didn't know if his voice was as a king or as a father.

''Father........''

　He looked like he was about to cry a little.

　Kirt-san said.

''The Kingdom of Shumuria will do everything it can to help.

　His Majesty Shamann nodded.

''It was mentioned in Princess Lekria's letter. She also lobbied the Arun Divine Kingdom, promising assistance from both countries for the survival of the Vega State.'

　Princess Reclear?

　That intelligent girl may have learned everything from her 'Shrean's Eyes'.

　And if she let him leave without informing us, it means that His Majesty Shamahn was ready to cooperate with her.

　That's the promise of assistance.

''--Politics is my role, sir.

　Suddenly, I thought she smiled at that.

(Princess Reclear....)

　We were not alone.

　Each of us did our part, and we are all connected to the present.

　And now we're trying to connect them to the next.

Now it's our turn!

　I thought strongly.

　Mr. Colontude looks at Poe with sleepy eyes.

"...Poe?
"........... If you seek redemption for your sins, Poe will not abandon you.

　Po-chan, no, the divine dragon Nagaia, replied.

　Illtimina nodded.

　Solstice also cowered her shoulders, ''Oh dear.

　Kilt-san and Arnold-san exchanged glances and nodded at each other.

''Jingu-den,''

　His Majesty Shamann squeezes my hand.

　It was a hand covered in hair, but thinly fleshed and bony.

　An old beastman.

　But it squeezes my hand with more strength than I expected.

　I could feel its strong resolve.

''Please use your strength to defeat the demon enclosed in the 'Holy God Tree'.

　Her clear eyes stare at me.

'Yes.'

　I nodded loudly and firmly grasped back His Majesty Shamahn's hand, which had made a great decision.