Chapter 115 – There are as many ways as one likes

Side: Seraria

There were too many things going on right now, so it was only natural that we’d be confused about the Demons, their relationships and circ.u.mstances. Only my dear husband was able to listen to Zergis’ explanations calmly to the end. The rest of us could only act like wooden chickens, absentmindedly frozen in place, just trying to process any of it.

…That was inevitable though.
Since for as long as I’ve been alive, and as far back as this continent’s history was recorded—Demons were our sworn and natural enemies. We were only ever allowed to see them as that. There was never any alternative, nor any need to think otherwise…

However, now we know the origins behind the Demons’ country and the truth of the conflict that came later—that Demons were really mutated humans, and that we were the invaders who started this war.

Though I didn’t believe everything that Zergis told us, I could at least judge and see that not all of it were lies either. the leaders of Galtz, Ritea and Roch.e.l.le also seem to have reached the same conclusions on the matter I did. No, given our history and the realities of nations, it was likely that many of them were already aware of the truth.
But, even if they were aware, it wasn’t as if nations or rulers could openly admit and reinforce that truth…No, they couldn’t.

It was only here in Weed that we could all accept the truth once it was exposed. No, it would be more proper to say that we had no other choice but to accept it precisely because it was here. We now knew that the country of Demons was nothing like what we expected and that it is possible to join hands with them… And yet, for all this time until even now, they have been isolated and all alone. Just thinking of that fate and how it came to be enraged me…
Still, I was grateful that I could learn those truths by coming here to Weed…

(Yuki)「Fumu, let’s take a break then. Kirue, Anna, can you help?」

(Kirue & Anna)「「Yes, certainly. 」」

At times like this, I was thankful for the genuine maids.
Because they were educated, they likely understood most of our discussions.
Even so, they still flawlessly carried out their duties as maids without ever missing a beat.

(Yuki)「Then, I’ll go and bring in the sweets.」

My dear husband stood up to leave.

(Seraria)「Wait. You sit here with me.」

Was he the best out there, not by any means. Really, he was rather ordinary and una.s.suming at first glance, but to me my dear husband was the most reliable person in the world.

As there were some things I still wanted to ask him about, I wasn’t about to let him get away from me.

(Yuki)「Huh.」

(Seraria)「Don’t you “Huh” me, calm down. There are some things I would like to ask for a bit, is that okay?」

(Yuki)「Fumu.. What is it? If you need to hear more, then shouldn’t we wait until after the break?」

(Seraria)「No, since there are things I still don’t understand and am confused about, that’s why. Surely Riel and Tori feel the same?」

I turned my gaze to Tori, who nodded in affirmation.

(Riel)「A while ago, Yuki talked about peace and such, but I still don’t understand…Why would peace be a reason to attack Weed? And why would peace be a reason for us to go to war?」

Riel tilted her head in confusion as she asked. Millie, Kaya and Delille also seemed to share her concerns.

(Yuki)「Ah, about that. 」

SFX:Pon, the sound of clapping hands.

I could somewhat understand my Dear’s thoughts, though he was much better at explaining things than I was.

(Yuki)「For Riel, enforcing ‘Peace’ is simply a method to stop fights

from breaking out, especially long, b.l.o.o.d.y and violent ones. However, that view only seems the results.」

(Riel)「Only the results?」

(Yuki)「Well, rather than saying only results, it’s better to that it is lacking the emotions of the involved parties. 」

(Riel)「What do you mean?」

(Yuki)「Let’s just say that what you have thought of is one road to peace, but it isn’t the only one either. For example someone else who prioritizes maximum number of people being happy might choose to abandon the minorities. For this person he is also enforcing the peace, since the minorities have no way of fighting back.」

(Riel)「Huuhhh?」

(Yuki)「Let’s see here—Well, if Riel can beat me in a match, then I promise to make your favorite dishes for a whole week. So since I promised how will you go about competing?」

(Riel)「Eh, but there’s no way I can win!! Yuki-san is too strong!! In that case, it would be better to try and seduce Yuki-san instead. 」

(Yuki)「Exactly.」

(Riel)「Eh?」

(Yuki)「If you can’t win a game by following the rules, you have to find another way. The end result would still be the same after all. 」

(Riel)「I see. 」

Riel hit her hands together with a *pop*.

(Riel)「Are there that many ways to reach peace?」

(Yuki)「Well, in theory all you have to do is convince people that killing each other is bad. It’s just that for the Demon King that isn’t an option, the choices she can make are extremely limited and that’s mainly because almost no human is willing to listen to anything a Demon has to say… 」

(Riel)「Ahh.」

Yes. As the Demon King, she has few options to bring about peace.
After all, no one would agree to peaceful negotiations, and she had no one to join hands or make allies with…

(Yuki)「Therefore, since things are like this for Weed, we can’t move either…」

(Riel)「Yuki-san feels that this will be the quickest and least b.l.o.o.d.y way to peace then.」

(Yuki)「What can bring the Demon King here and let us talk—we can only rely on Zergis and Raia’s recommendations now. 」

Yuki said, explaining to Riel.
It was pretty simple.

There wasn’t only way for us to attain the peace we were looking for….

Well, even just talking about it, there were a lot of different meanings to peace.
The peace that Yuki was talking about was definitely tied to this era though.
No, even if it doesn’t become the end result, it would certainly become a steady foothold for us. But now that we knew that the Demon King was a member of the pro-peace faction, we would be able to reduce the damages.
And according to Raia’s descriptions, Liliana would likely be a very supportive Demon King for us. The road was an endlessly long one, though we could all agree that more lives would be saved this way as my Dear’s plans progressed.
…This was just one of the roads that would lead to peace. For example—

Currently to humans, peace would be attained when they’ve won this long war and had either subjugated, or destroyed, the Demons.
It was the only outcome they could accept.

On the other hand, the only way for Demons to reach peace….. yeah currently they only have total annihilation of either side as peace options.
To the Demons, it was impossible for humans to even consider a truce, much less coexistence.

(Yuki)「After listening to Raia’s story, if she wants to rescue them, it might be possible to separate the Demon King then and have her come to Weed where we could discuss our options. 1)I hope everyone’s okay with that as the goal.」

(Riel)「I have no objections. 」

(Lutz)「I don’t have any complaints with onii-san’s plans. 」

Riel and Lutz agreed.
Falling a bit behind everyone else, I agreed as well.

(Kirue & Anna)「「Sorry to keep you waiting. 」」

Kirue and Anna were ready and served everyone snacks and drinks.

While we were all having tea, I casually stole glances at my dear husband as he leisurely drank his green tea..

(Yuki)「Ah, the tea isn’t very hot. No, it doesn’t mean that being too cold is bad either, but…」

(Seraria)「Oh well. I think green tea should be hot.」

I think mine was Darjeeling. 2)
But I could understand why my dear husband chose green tea.
Of course the cola float3) that Riel and Naruja were drinking was great too, but I think our drinks were more delicious.
Tori was having water.
Ellis and Millie were enjoying coffee.
Lutz had milk tea.
Rose Tea for Delille.
Lulu enjoyed medicinal tea.
Shera was enjoying cocoa.

Everyone had a different drink.
Even so, everyone was together.

Someday, maybe we would be able to drink tea with the Demon King and Demons too?

Afterword of the author
Well, let’s enjoy a cup of tea.
I’m from the green tea school.