The Branded Female Fencer

"So, Alphilis, shall we talk?"

"That's a seriously rotten cut. I don't mind talking about it, but why me?

"All I can say is that's because it's you. Besides, you don't know what you're worth. In this day and age, there are rarely as few people tied to existing values and educated as you. As a talker, I'm impeccable. That's not the only reason I chose you."

"Don't say it the way you turned around. What are the requirements? If we don't get home soon, we'll all be worried."

"It's because of you. Shall I ask you straight in? What do you think of the Orange Bull?

"I don't know..."

To the vague question, Alphilis seemed puzzled. Seeing how it goes, the boy narrows down the question.

"Let's change things a little bit. I think you're right about the Orange Bull. No?

"It's... I don't know."

"Ho."

Alphilis' answer was vague and unsure, but Yugdrasil seemed to intrigue him the other way around. Yugdrasil screws up even more.

"Why don't you know? He mass-produces demon kings, afflicting large numbers of humans and others. The fact is that his daughter's lover named Fenna was killed by his subordinate Lifeless, and the Flamebeast was also killed by a man named Dragreo again. What do you see in this?

"That's true if you just look at the results, and I can't forgive that, either. But what if we're human beings, too, from other creatures? We squeeze a variety of things out of our livestock and eat them in quotes. We humans would look sarcastically cruel from their livestock point of view, even though we have some choice in order to live. If only livestock had the concept of 'cruelty'.

But what if the act of the Orange Bull was, in the future, essential to the creatures of the continent? Maybe what he's doing has definitely gone too far. That's why I care about his purpose. You can't judge good or evil before you know it, and you can have future generations of historians do that, right?

"Hmm, good point of view. And you're a calmer woman than I imagined, backwards of tone and attitude."

Yugdrasil nodded contentedly. And it came to pass, when he rang his fingers, that the stunning dish was carried before them by the hands of the demons of Yugdrasil. His use demons were indeed in various forms, mainly human, but the shape of his head varied from dog to goat to goat. If you're strong, you can call me a beast man. Unlike the beast men, however, each of the devils was dressed in their own garments like an aristocratic supper.

This is unlikely for beasts who prefer loose clothing. Additionally, it was a creature that Alphilis had never seen before. Six-legged walking, but my back is like a table, and I'll imagine if this is an organism entirely created by Yugdrasil. When it comes to what the demons have in common, is it that they are made up of water? Now, when Yugdrasil rang his fingers, the erranded demons sent him back to the water again. As long as I have errands, I'll be making demons out of a nearby fountain again.

And Yugdrasil recommended to Alphilis the sumptuous meal served, but she said no. Then Yugdrasil ate one bite ahead to make sure it was safe and showed it, so he mouthed the dish, wondering if it would be rude for Alphilis to be turned down that much too. The flavor was the closest thing that Alphilis had ever eaten in his life, but there was not enough room for Alphilis to bite the flavor.

After often silently carrying each other's meals into his mouth, Yugdrasil stops and speaks to the dish.

"Alphilis. I know the purpose of the Orange Bull. And the rationale."

"Huh, are you going to tell me?

"I'm afraid not."

"That's all I'm saying, isn't it? For once, may I ask why?

To the simple question of Alphilis, Yugdrasil seemed to choose his words carefully.

"... I've decided to keep an eye on it. I will not fight no matter what lies ahead. I've already thrown away those choices"

"You speak like a deserter. Never heard of 'bystanders are the greatest sin'?

"Is it the words of Eugels, a scholar who preached the parliamentary system by election about 100 years ago? There are some of these. 'It is always the third party who correctly communicates the history of the struggle'"

"Alvin, the prime minister who established a modern judicial system in the countries of the east. You think you're that third party?

"I don't have a hobby for spelling hate and history. It's just formally I'm on the side of the Orange Bull, but to stop him at times of need, you can assume I'm holding him aside. There's no way I'm going to actively help him."

"I appreciate that, but what about when you have to?

To the question of Alphilis, Yugdrasil speaks in fear of his words.

"Alphilis, I think it sucks for you, what are the consequences of Orangeable's actions?

"Huh? Right... human defeated by him, and they all become like his slaves or something?

"I see, that's still a peaceful man"

Yugdrasil looked at Alphilis with the kind of eyes that would teach a child. Did Alphilis think he made a little fool of himself, or look at him with a softened eye?

"Alphilis, the worst I can think of is the death of the creatures of this continent."

"... is Aurangebull willing to go that far?

"Well. Even if he doesn't care, what about his men? His men always seem to do the same thing if they want to."

"The only people I fought in person were lifeless and big perverts... originally, the guy who defeated the Flamebeast, but I don't even feel like I can deny it"

Alphilis shuddered as he remembered the battle in the prairie. If they wanted to, I really didn't think there was enough to destroy a country. So as Alphilis came up with something, I asked Yugdrasil a question.

"Hey, who's the strongest of them all?

"Fighting can change the outcome depending on your condition, physical condition, or luck. Don't you think it's pointless to ask that?

"Of course I know, but don't you want to hear what others have to say? I have some advice from Gwendorf, and I've seen them a lot, so I have some impression."

"Hmm, let's hear it from me the other way around. Who do you think is the strongest?

"Uh-huh."

Alphilis bothered me. It was hard for her to imagine people stronger than lifeless, but somehow there was something to think about in Alphilis.

Continued