Marione: "What exactly are you trying to do?!"
Slamming the desk in front of him, Marione, the of the , revealed his foul mood.
As the [Gedult Bridge] was destroyed by Eveam and Aquinas, a Demon Conference was suddenly initiated in order to ascertain the meaning behind such actions. Being the Demon Lord, Eveam recognized the need to explain their motive and so immediately permitted the meeting.
Marione: “Your majesty…you will give us a satisfactory explanation, yes?”
Seeing Marione’s face turn scarlet with rage, the brigade’s Shublars spoke as a she gave a bewitching smile.
Shublars: “Chotto chotto~, don’t get too heated, alright? I’m sure that her majesty will definitely explain it to us.”
Upon hearing those words, Marione redirected his scowl towards Shublars. However, he realized that if he kept talking, the conference would not be able to progress. Thus, Marione reluctantly controlled himself. Sitting down in her seat, she blasted Aquinas who was sitting next to him with a murderous glare. However, Aquinas, who had his eyes closed, did not react to it.
After confirming that silence had completely enveloped the atmosphere, Eveam began to speak.
Eveam: “Firstly, I must apologize to everyone for any misgivings. Especially to Marione, I apologize for not informing you of our actions.”
The reason for their deception was obvious. Anyone could figure out the reason. If Marione knew of their plans, he would undoubtedly object. Therefore, time would need to be spent in order to convince him of their plans. In the worst case scenario, they would not be able to execute their plan in time.
If the knowledge of an outrageous plan to destroy the bridge was spread in advance, even the soldiers would become confused. Also, should the Gabranth catch wind of their plan, they might take measures to prevent it.
It is precisely because of this that Eveam only consulted her aid, Kiria, and Aquinas about her plan.
Greyald: “But don’t you think you overdid it? Your majesty’s ideas were already established in the last meeting. By destroying the bridge, you managed to delay the war while preventing any harm that would befall the Evila.”
Following the [Number Six] Greyald’s statement, Shublars tacked on her own thoughts.
Shublars: “Speaking of which, doesn’t destroying that bridge contradict her majesty’s philosophy?”
Greyald: “Yeah. It’s exactly as Shublars-nee-san says. That bridge was the only thing that tied our two races together. Doesn’t breaking that mean your majesty has given up on the possibility of bringing the two races together?" (TLN: I'm not sure if Greyald says this. I'm making an assumption based on context that it is him. If anyone has any concrete ideas, please feel free to correct me.)
What Eveam desired was a world where everyone would lay down their arms and come together and support each other. She didn’t want to just make peace between continents, but she wanted every individual to live as equals under the same sky.
In a world where the various races loathed each other, the bridge was the last remaining symbol that acted as a connecting thread between the two countries. As long as that bridge existed, there was still hope that the countries could eventually be able to treat each other as if they were friendly neighbours.
However, Eveam had decided to sever that very thread. It was all well and good that the war could be avoided, however, to the Gabranth that had spent so much effort cultivating the stage of war, it would feel as if their pride had been trampled on. Obviously, the chance for successful reconciliation between the two races had decreased dramatically.
In fact, the Gabranth would probably never forgive the Evila from fleeing the so-called stage of combat.
Shublars: “‘Our preparations have been wasted’…this is probably what those Gabranth are thinking. Haa~”
Shublars’ callous words pierced Eveam’s heart. It was without question that Eveam did not choose this method willingly. However, in order to prevent the outbreak of war, she couldn’t think of any other way.
Marione: “Even we Evila had made preparations, you know! And yet, all that work was wasted by her majesty in one fell swoop!”
Marione once again unleashed his pent up complaints.
Eveam: “…I have no words to refute your distress. However, all I want is to protect the Evila!”
Marione: “Protect them!? No matter what kind of power those Gabranth have, us Evila will undoubtedly be victorious!”
Eveam: “That’s not what I mean.”
Marione: “…ha-?”
Eveam: “If we did go to war, we may indeed come out as the victors just as Marione says. We Evila have always prided ourselves with our peerless strength.”
Marione: “Then why!?”
Eveam: “Even with our strength…a lot of blood will still be shed, will it not?”
Marione: “Mu…what naïve things are you spouting! We’re talking about a war, you know! It’s an obvious thing that blood will spill!”
Eveam: “That’s what I don’t want!”
Eveam harshly raised her voice in denial. It was at that precise moment that the scene fell silent.
Eveam: “Not only will there be wounded, piles of corpses will come from both sides. We won’t be able to come out of this battle unscathed!”
Marione: “Y-yes, while that certainly is the case, all that matters is our victory, right?! Everyone wishes to place their lives on the line and fight to the death for the sake of this continent!”
Eveam: “Risking your lives over a war riddled with misunderstandings is completely ridiculous!”
Marione: “…”
Eveam clearly had no intention of fighting. However, the other races wished to put an end to Evila’s Demon Lord as they were under the misunderstanding that the Demon Lord wanted to eradicate them.
Eveam: “The era of the late king has already passed. We are entrusted with the task of creating our own future. Why do the other races not understand? There is no worth in ruling over a world where everything has been laid to waste. Parents; siblings; friends; lovers…why can’t we just live peacefully in this world that already has such wonderful things?”
Marione: “Such ignorance! Your majesty, you’re completely ignorant about this continent’s current state of affairs! I understand that the one who sparked the flame of this feud between the other races was none other than the late king! However, that flame has already transformed into a war. In order to protect the Evila, no, to protect our family, we have no choice but to take up arms and fight!”
Eveam: “If we started the fire, then there must be a way we can put it out!”
Marione: “And I’m saying the only way to erase that flame is with force! This flame is not so weak as to be put out by those thoughtless words that your majesty keeps spouting! If it was, then those guy would have thought the same and come over her to start a conference! Since they didn’t, it can only mean they have turned to battle! Piling up accumulated hatred, the chain of vengeance cannot be severed so easily!
As the two were arguing, Aquinas was the only one who attempted to enter the conversation.
Aquinas: “Knock it off, both of you.”
Eveam: “Aquinas…”
Marione: “Who are you to say anything!? You’re in the same position as her majesty!”
Aquinas: “Don’t say any more than that.”
Marione: “Wha…?”