Chapter: 74. The Divine has Betrayed (5K)
“Haha… His Majesty the King is truly humorous, is there any need to ask? This has always been a game of chess; do you still think… that I am showing goodwill and defying the will of the Demon Race to help your kingdom strive for peace? Haha, that’s just a fun tale from a child’s story, isn’t it!”
“!”
Amidst the attention of the masses.
Princess Xue Feiya unexpectedly responded thus.
She rested her fingertips on the table, stood up, and walked around the table to stand on the red carpet. Her tone was full of mockery and disdain, as if she had not taken the king’s earlier question seriously at all.
Thus, the nobles present finally could no longer contain their anger and were unable to remain silent; discussions and arguments flared up.
They shouted protests, and there were even some raising their arms, calling for the witch to be expelled from the hall.
Of course, they were just talking; even though Xue Feiya had not unfolded her wings, no one truly dared to confront her six-winged demonic light.
But the anger was palpable.
“What do you mean by that?! Are you treating the lives of the soldiers as a joke?!”
“A game of chess? Haha! Shameless! You dare say that the bloodshed for the honor of our home is just a game of chess! Who is the pawn then?! Ridiculous!”
“Your Majesty! How can you continue to allow her to stand in the palace of the kingdom! I risk my life to advise you! Please immediately expel the Demon Princess from the realm!”
The clamor was like a torrential downpour, and Xiya could not help but break into a cold sweat.
She knew that Xue Feiya had come up with some sort of strategy… but given this nearly uncontrollable situation, would it even work?
Livra felt the same; her heart was in her throat as she tried to persuade her father to understand that Princess Xue Feiya absolutely did not mean it this way, but the father’s expression was already darker than before.
Amidst the tumultuous cries like ocean waves, Xue Feiya remained calm, and even took the time to elegantly pick up a peanut from the table behind her and popped it into her mouth.
After all, they were in the palace hall.
The king’s gesture of raising his hands to calm them may not have had a substantial effect; those nobles, to show their loyalty or due to genuine fervor, felt they were indeed risking their lives to give advice.
But when members of the Light Family simultaneously turned their sharp gazes toward the nobles…
Even though they were already enraged to the point of flushing, they gradually regained their quiet.
The sword at the side of royal power was absolute authority; even to protest, one should never act recklessly in the hall.
When order returned, King Celtic coughed heavily a few times, shaking his head repeatedly.
He was evidently very dissatisfied and disheartened by Princess Xue Feiya’s response.
However, his reason told him that what Princess Xue Feiya wanted to say should not just be provoking words.
Otherwise…
What would be the meaning of everything she had done prior?
“Your Highness the Princess… you have seen, our subjects, no matter how lowly, have never intended to succumb to the pressure of the Demon Race. You are indeed powerful, and the Demon Race, no matter how brutal! You should not use this kind of attitude to belittle our determination to fight to the death. But… I still want to ask, since you do not sincerely strive for peace, what, then, is your self-proclaimed intent as a Peace Ambassador…?”
“Oh, I can say, but it seems that these people over here do not look like they want to hear me speak?”
“I can guarantee… at least, during your speech, no one will interrupt.”
Although the king was elderly, his sharpness remained.
In his youth, a single glance could command thousands of troops; even now, a stern look could keep these civil officials and nobles quiet and rational.
Thus, the power to speak finally returned to Xue Feiya.
Oh… they’ve finally finished their cursing; now it’s my turn to speak, right?
Just now, the old king seemed to say that I “don’t intend to sincerely strive for peace,” right?
Laughable! Imagine me, a Demon Princess, saying in this grandiose manner, “I don’t want to fight; let’s get along amicably; I’m very friendly.” Anyone with even a bit of thought would consider that some sort of trap or hypocrisy, right?
Not to mention humans; even the passing ants would be so vexed they’d carry away a peanut from my table.
My nickname is the 【Calamity Witch】, notorious for being a devil that kills without a blink, you know?
In the teasing gaze of Xue Feiya, there suddenly emerged a hint of clarity.
You know, when fishing, if you want to have a catch, you can’t always be stingy with the bait.
The more expensive the bait, the bigger the fish you’ll catch; there are no shortcuts to achieving something perfect in this world.
As long as you want to achieve a goal, you have to learn to take some detours.
Xue Feiya’s objective had always been very clear.
Not to fight but to strive for peace, creating conditions for a laid-back and easy life.
This pursuit of peace—never limited to “Xue Feiya striving for peace.”
As long as she could present a reason that both humans and demons would agree on, a reason to cease fire…
Wouldn’t the purpose of striving for peace be achieved?
The corners of Xue Fei’s mouth curled up in a small arc; when she spoke again, her demeanor was still extraordinary.
What seems complicated is often this simple.
Her soft yet powerful voice, without the need for amplification crystals, reached every corner of the palace.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I truly have no leisure to sympathize with your plight. It is you who suffer and endure hardships in this war; it is not us in the Demon Territory. Think about it, the war has continued to this day, haha… Your lives should have already been hard, right?”
“……”
They wanted to refute but had no grounds to do so.
The toll of war on the Demon Race was primarily in its military strength; the Demon Territory didn’t need to spend too much economic cost to support an already superior army.
On the other hand, the kingdom had poured the efforts of the whole nation into this; even the royal family had to cut back to provide supplies for the front line, and the hardship was self-evident.
But… but isn’t this all caused by your Demon Race! If it weren’t for your large-scale invasion, why would we be in such dire straits!?
Before the protests could rise again.
Xue Feiya’s words echoed first.
“So, sometimes I really feel that war is a bit like a game of chess, isn’t it? Both sides engaging in a contest, back and forth, it’s actually quite an enjoyable pastime. Haha… I know you all are unhappy to hear this, after all, you are the side that has been forced into a corner in this game, feeling helpless.”
As Xue Feiya continued with her next sentence.
The entire hall fell silent.
“But… I found myself casually observing this ‘game of chess,’ and suddenly realized that it seems that not only our two countries are playing chess?”
Hey, why don’t you all take a guess! Just guess, in our two countries at war, who exactly is the biggest beneficiary?
Although Xue Feiya’s words were provoking, her question easily sparked discussion.
Nobles whispered to each other, and many instinctively judged that the greatest beneficiary must be the Demon Race, having plundered wealth and land from the kingdom, reaping uncountable benefits.
However… as discussions progressed.
They began to realize what Xue Feiya’s words pointed to, that “another player.”
—The Corea Church State.
Although the Demon King’s Army had been advancing, they could not have suffered no casualties, and that number probably wasn’t small.
But thinking about the absolutely advantageous position of the Corea Church State in this war… was terrifying to contemplate.
They didn’t need to send a single soldier, nor pay a single drop of blood or tears; merely offering a small benefit and from time to time supplying the kingdom with weapons or magic crystal cannons in exchange for wealth, Aulus was also forced to continuously borrow money from the church state to maintain military operations.
Even because of excessive debt… the Aulus Kingdom had previously discussed whether to mortgage one-tenth of its territory to the Corea Church State to continue fighting.
Though this resolution did not pass, it represented the kind of plight the kingdom found itself in, which hardly required much thought.
Many nobles were clenching their fists tightly… angrily cursing the Corea Church State for profiting from the fire.
This was not something new.
The former Philex had ridden over them, being tyrannical, and he was merely a foreigner!
Seeing that the timing was ripe.
Xue Feiya opened her narrowed eyes, shrugged, and continued speaking.
“Right? I just noticed that this Corea Church State is a bit excessive, huh? To be frank, our Demon Race’s intelligence department recently conducted a survey that before the century-long war began, your Aulus treasury was three times that of the Corea Church State. Now that the war has progressed to today, guess what… haha, the treasury of the Corea Church State is now thirty times yours!”
“…!”
The gasps rang out all at once!
No one bothered to investigate the authenticity of the data because they only knew that the money they held was indeed less than that of the nobles from the Corea Church State, which itself was the most intuitive data.
But they didn’t know that the disparity was actually this large!
Ahahaha… actually, Xue Feiya was just making up this data.
However, the church state was indeed draining the kingdom dry, so it should be around that figure.
At this moment of heated discussion.
Xue Feiya spread her hands and moved along the red carpet toward the king.
The knights on either side hastily protected the king, but the king waved his hand to signal them not to be vigilant.
The knights hesitated just enough before returning to their positions.
Stopping less than two meters from the king.
Xue Feiya’s proposal was set forth.
“So, Your Majesty the King of Aulus, we are playing chess with each other, yet there’s a despicable one standing by the side stealing pieces, isn’t that particularly displeasing? So I propose! Instead of continuing to fight, why not work together to root out that pest in the church state that harms the people, and then reconsider whether or not to fight, what do you say?”
King Celtic, after all, was a seasoned political veteran.
His expression was no longer as disappointed as before, but the vigilance in his eyes had not diminished in the slightest.
“Ha… indeed, Your Highness the Princess’ suggestion is very appealing. The kingdom is already severely wounded due to the church state’s betrayal, suffering greatly, with Philex as a prime example. However… if it is merely such a statement, I do not intend to agree to your proposal.”
“Oh? Why not?”
“Because your proposal offers no benefits to the Demon Race; without benefits, there can be no sincerity, and naturally, I have no reason to agree.”
If it were some ordinary individual, they might have been fooled.
But King Celtic’s response won the confidence of all the ministers present.
Yes… the words of the Demon Princess sounded reasonable.
But if one were to ponder carefully, it did not make sense.
The church state draining the kingdom’s vitality, making it weaker, was that not precisely what the Demon Race wanted?
The church state was indirectly weakening the kingdom, and the Demon Race could completely increase their level of offense, taking the capital city while the kingdom was weak.
If it was about disliking the church state, then after destroying the kingdom, they could just attack Corea; that would be the rational order from the perspective of a powerful nation.
In a word.
If it was only aimed at the Corea Church State, the Demon Race had no reason to cooperate with the kingdom.
So…
Was the Demon Princess trying to instigate discord again?
The king could discern that, in a situation where neither neighbor could be trusted, how to maximize the protection of the citizens was key.
“Even if the people of the church state are shameless, after all, they are of the same root as us in Aulus… a thousand years ago we were one unified empire. They may have indeed profited a lot over these years… but they do not wish to see us destroyed by the Demon Race, for at that time, the Corea Church State would no longer have a barrier. Therefore, if I cooperate with the church state, I can still survive in the cracks. But if I cooperate with the Demon Race, then there is only ruin, and the hearts of non-compatriots must not be trusted… cough… cough cough cough!!”
Xue Feiya still felt a bit of respect for this old king.
Wow… this old man indeed has a clear mind, huh?
Livra hurriedly helped her father pat his back to ease his breathing, while her worried gaze simultaneously looked toward Xue Feiya.
What a predicament…
Miss Shaya, you want to convince so many nobles present… without preparation, this situation is too sudden and too difficult for you!
It’s okay, Livra~ you just take care of your old man, I was really afraid my words would provoke him to death.
Normally, at this point, Xue Feiya should have run out of things to say.
But actually…
Everything that had occurred before was just paving the way for Xue Feiya’s main topic.
The real heavy bomb she wanted to drop was just about to begin.
Xue Feiya turned around, walking toward the dazzling pillars.
At the same time, her six wings unfolded suddenly.
The pitch-black wings, surrounded by purple demonic energy, instantly made the hall seem even more oppressive.
This time, the knights and members of the Light Family were all ready for battle.
However…
Xue Feiya merely gazed at the dark, deep sky outside the hall, lost in thought.
It seemed she was pondering something.
But in reality, she was not thinking at all.
She was just waiting for an opportune moment to speak.
Alright, you all are getting tense, right?
Then I’ll speak.
“You have already been betrayed by the gods of your human race.”
“The Human God 【Aimeres】 has returned to the world. But sadly, as a fellow human, as one of her subjects, she has chosen to stand with the Corea Church State and abandoned you.”
“The suggestion I made earlier is a concern of the Demon Race; in the face of this uncertainty, we have lost the desire to fight your nation. The gods of humanity are the great threat we face, and that is the reason you seek.”
……?
She seemed to be speaking some myth.
But her earnest demeanor was like recounting a fact.
So false it was hard to believe.
Yet so real it sent chills down one’s spine.
Since there’s doubt, then questioning voices are inevitable.
“What do you mean, witch?! There should be a limit to mocking others! Gods are merely beings from myths, right?! How could they possibly exist for real?!”
“Right! And even if gods truly existed, we are also human; we are no different from the people of Corea. The gods would never abandon their subjects!”
Xue Feiya shook her six wings—again, with another shake.
That was her laughing.
She was secretly amused.
She was mocking.
She was laughing at the gods’ bias.
She was laughing at the people being abandoned yet unaware.
“Haha… such beings are all ignorant! You think the gods won’t abandon you? Hey, let me ask, when the Demon Race massacred you, where was your god? When your families were shattered and homes destroyed, where was that so-called god? Had she ever appeared?”
“In the midst of the gladiatorial arena rebellion, it hasn’t even been a few days… and you’ve forgotten everything?”
“Who is it that wants to kill your king and your royal family?”
“Who told Philex the technology for the large magic crystal cannon out of thin air?”
“Why does your human race have to buy magic crystal cannons from the church state when dealing with the Demon Race?”
“Weren’t you also researching and developing your own? Why has it been a century yet still no progress?“
“Isn’t the development of the church state beyond your imagination? Where did their many followers come from? Why can they sing praises of the gods while you can only wait to die?! Use your brains to think, would you!”
A delicate command pierced the ears.
Xue Feiya was indeed putting on a performance, and it was a draining one.
But… she was truly angry.
Xue Feiya was powerful, but there were things she could not accomplish.
Like—erasing hatred from the hearts of those who kill; she was incapable of that.
She certainly had the ability to prevent a great war.
But with this useless redemption, hatred would continue to accumulate, flaring up even more.
So…
If there really are so-called gods in this world.
Then when the citizens you created on the battlefield become bloodthirsty, and blood flows like rivers without any meaning…
Where are you?
A series of questions struck at the very wounds of Aulus.
Over a century, the positions of Aulus and Corea had seemingly flipped upside down.
The Corea Church State had indeed achieved many, many feats that the kingdom could not have imagined.
Everyone wanted to avoid saying it, but the blinding white light shining over the gladiatorial arena, which wielded such terrifying power, shattered their last confidence.
That was all accomplished by the church state…
Even the lives of the royal family… were saved by the Demon Princess.
But no one had ever asked why these sudden changes had occurred.
Now a foreigner from the Demon Race was asking this question.
They simply did not know how to answer.
Or rather, they did not dare to think deeply about it.
The situation seemed to be at a stalemate; they were unwilling to believe Princess Xue Feiya’s speech, yet did not know how to disbelieve it.
Between believing and not believing, no definitive conclusion could be drawn.
At this moment.
The crisp sound of high heels meeting the crystal floor sounded from the direction of the Light Family.
Drawing the attention of the entire hall.
Xialet clenched her fists, as if she too had been moved by Xue Feiya’s remarks.
Or maybe not; she was just feeling heartbroken that her beloved could be working so hard…
Xue Fei, my sister said.
I won’t let you bear everything alone.
The red roses bloom before the beautiful blue.
The brave hero’s assertive voice settled the discussion with finality.
“The Demon Princess speaks the absolute truth; what she says, I have seen with my own eyes. I swear in the name of a hero and the Holy Sword Xialet, 【Human God】 Aimeres has awakened and betrayed the Aulus Kingdom! If we continue to show goodwill to the Corea Church State, it is already meaningless!”
