"Hmph~ Foolish."
After hearing the council member's words, Priscilla turned her head in disdain. She shot Emilia another glare, not forgetting to maintain her standoff with Crusch.
During this, Emilia refused to back down and glared right back. Then she glanced toward Anastasia, whom she had frozen in place as a hostage. Slowly, she lowered her hand. The ice surrounding Anastasia dissolved piece by piece. Emilia was the first to compromise. She understood that someone had to step forward first, or no one would yield.
"Shogun... please."
She walked to the Shogun's side and gently touched the back of her hand, soothing her with a soft, sweet voice. Hearing that tone, the Shogun glanced at Julius, whose neck was still pinned beneath her blade. A trace of disdain flickered in her eyes. She snatched the sword from his hand in one swift motion before finally withdrawing her naginata.
Julius stiffened. Instinctively, he touched his neck. Though blood had been drawn, the wound was shallow—merely a cut through the skin. The Shogun had never intended to kill him.
Clack!
After removing the blade, she looked at him once more and casually tossed the seized sword at his feet, no longer sparing him another glance.
"Tch..."
Humiliated, Julius shot a glare at her back before bending down to retrieve his sword and sheath it. He returned awkwardly to Anastasia's side—only to be comforted by her, which made him feel even worse.
"Um, Princess... that's probably enough? Let's not make too many enemies at once."
Locked in opposition with Felix, Al took a moment to advise his troublesome liege.
"Heh... fine. I am not one to waste time unnecessarily. We shall settle this debt another day."
Swish!
She flicked Crusch's sword aside and resumed her usual arrogant bearing. By now, everyone was accustomed to it.
The five candidates returned to their respective positions to continue the meeting. However, their supporters no longer stepped back to their original places. Instead, they stood directly beside them. No one knew whether another sudden attack might occur.
The Shogun did not even put away her naginata.
Bang!
With a single-handed swing, she drove the butt of the shaft forcefully into the golden tiles of the floor, embedding it there so it stood upright at her side. She folded her arms and leaned one shoulder casually against the handle, closing her eyes as though issuing a silent warning.
The loud impact startled the surrounding ministers yet again. Their shoulders jerked comically. Even Felt flinched.
"..."
Throughout it all, Emilia merely looked at her indulgently and said nothing. She understood the current situation.
From across the hall, Julius stood beside Anastasia, still casting hostile glances toward the purple-haired woman. His hand at his side slowly clenched.
"Are you all satisfied now? Then let us proceed with the meeting."
Standing at the front, the Knight Commander Marcos paid no mind to the Shogun's display. He swept his gaze over the five distinct figures and spoke in a mildly teasing tone.
"Let us continue~ We'll treat that as a warm-up exercise."
Priscilla covered her mouth with her fan and laughed lightly.
"Then, Royal Selection candidates, please step forward. I shall introduce each of you."
Marcos first gestured toward Priscilla.
"First, Lady Priscilla Barielle and her attendant, Al."
He completed the introduction.
"The Royal Selection is meaningless. I alone am fit to be king. All you need do is kneel and follow me!"
Priscilla stepped forward slightly, not even bothering to look at anyone. She declared her philosophy in her own distinctive style. The folding fan in her hand swept through the air in arcs like flames. Her ruby-like eyes brimmed with arrogance and absolute confidence. Her ringing voice filled every corner of the hall.
"Second, the head of House Karsten—Lady Crusch Karsten—and her attendant, Knight Felix Argyle."
He gestured toward Crusch's group.
"When I become king, I will have the dragon forget the old covenant. The Dragon Kingdom of Lugunica does not belong to the dragon. It belongs to us."
Crusch voiced her conviction.
"Third, Lady Anastasia Hoshin of the Hoshin Company, and her attendant, Knight Julius Juukulius."
"I'm greedy, so I want everything—especially money. Commerce satisfies my desires for now, but I want a country of my own~!"
Anastasia smiled brightly as she introduced herself.
"Fourth, Lady Emilia and her supporter—her friend—who is... the Narukami Ogosho, the Raiden Shogun—Beelzebul. Recommended by the Margrave of the Mathers Domain."
"..."
The Shogun offered no response, as though she had long expected this.
[You really included all of that?]
Ei asked dryly.
'Naturally. Is it not better that they know this body's identity and authority? Or do you object to me using your name?'
[It makes no difference to me. I simply doubt anyone here has ever heard of you.]
Ei sighed.
'Whether they have or not is irrelevant. They will learn.'
While mother and daughter conversed, Emilia stepped forward into the center of attention. She placed a hand over her chest, her face filled with resolve.
"I have only one wish—fairness. To build a nation where all people are treated equally."
After speaking, Emilia gently parted her pure white cloak, revealing her slender figure wrapped in her dress. She bent forward in a solemn, dignified bow toward the council. Her beautiful silver hair cascaded over her shoulders with gravity.
She was the first to bow.
(Heh, did you hear that?)
(Build a nation of equality? That's laughable.)
(Tch, what could a half-elf possibly accomplish~ Useless.)
(Exactly. She even looks like the Witch—how shameless.)
(And that attendant of hers... calling herself a friend and supporter? Not even a proper knight. How embarrassing.)
[We are being disliked.]
Ei commented lightly, not angered.
'They are nothing more than a rabble.'
She replied dismissively.
[Will you 'reason' with them?]
'We shall see.'
Unless they insist on seeking death.
As the two conversed, Marcos finished introducing Felt as well—only for another wave of mockery to rise in response. The same jeers echoed through the hall: remarks about how an orphan from the slums was unfit to be king.
Felt, of course, hurled insults right back at them.
"This is outrageous!! We overlooked matters earlier due to special circumstances! But letting it devolve into this is utterly unacceptable!!"
"Indeed! And recommending an orphan—the Astrea family—as well as that half-demon endorsed by the Margrave of the Mathers Domain! This is nothing short of mocking the Royal Selection itself!!"
Whether ministers or council members, they looked at Felt and Emilia with disdain and ridicule. Their words grew increasingly unpleasant.
"...I am a half-elf, not a half-demon. Please correct your wording."
Emilia pressed her lips together slightly, suppressing the hurt in her heart as she addressed the elderly man before her.
"Hmph. A silver-haired half-demon—does that not resemble the legendary 'Witch of Envy' exactly?"
Enduring the merciless mockery, Emilia simply turned and walked down from the platform, passing by the Shogun's side.
"You should be grateful we even allow you into the throne room—into the royal palace at all! And yet you dare to push your luck! Disgusting and defiled!!"
"!"
The Shogun's eyes narrowed coldly at the vile words. Dense lightning gathered in her palm, crackling with destructive intent. She was ready to erase the old man where he stood—
Tap...
But Emilia grasped her hand first and gave it a gentle squeeze.
"(I'm fine, Shogun... Please don't do anything reckless for my sake. It isn't worth it.)"
She whispered softly. Meeting those sorrowful, complicated eyes, Emilia offered her a fragile smile.
She was already used to this.
This time, she did not erupt in a storm of ice as before. She compromised.
Because... people grow tired.
"!"
The Shogun still intended to move, but Emilia quickly caught her other hand as well, puffing her cheeks and shaking her head firmly.
"...Haa."
At last, she exhaled and lowered her hand.
However, some people simply insist on courting death.
"I've always wanted to ask—what exactly is that woman beside the half-demon? Something about Narukami? What kind of background does she have?"
One of the ministers spoke up loudly, his face full of contempt.
Emilia felt utterly exhausted. She had already offered them an out, yet they continued to provoke.
"..."
The Shogun's gaze turned icy once more, a dangerous smile curving her lips.
"She wouldn't happen to be one of those fools who call themselves gods, would she? Since when can someone like you casually claim the title of god?! In fact... none of us have ever heard of this so-called Narukami Ogosho you speak of!"
"Hahahahaha!!!" ×N
Laughter and sneers erupted from the others.
"You... wish to know?"
The Shogun spoke gently. She addressed no one in particular—only the space itself. Violet light flickered within her eyes.
"?" ×N
Everyone turned toward her, including the elder councilors.
Whoooosh—
Above the royal palace, the weather shifted instantly. The sky darkened as massive storm clouds gathered at unnatural speed, forming a terrifying spiral. At its center, lightning roared and flashed ominously.
BOOM!!
A thick bolt of thunder crashed directly onto the protective canopy above the palace.
Crash!
The ceiling shattered in an instant, debris raining down onto the hall floor and sending waves of panic through the assembly.
Then—like a railgun forged of pure lightning—a blazing beam descended from the heavens, piercing through the broken roof. It shot into the palace and swept forward like a searchlight toward the very men who had just insulted Emilia.
"Aaaaahhh!!!!" ×N
Seeing the scorching lightning bear down on them, the elderly men scrambled from their seats and rolled across the floor in disgrace. Only by a hair's breadth did they evade the deliberately frightening current.
BOOM! BOOM!!!
The ground where the beam struck erupted in violent explosions, blasting the grand hall into ruin. Even though they had dodged, the shockwaves left their faces smeared with ash.
"Ahh!" ×N
The ministers fled backward and collapsed onto the floor. Even the other Royal Selection candidates stood frozen in shock.
When the lightning finally dissipated, silence returned to the hall.
"Do you understand now? If that was unsatisfying, you may experience it again with your life. Free of charge."
Arms folded, eyes closed, the Shogun answered casually.
"..."
Emilia looked at her with a complicated expression.
"Do not misunderstand. They directed their insults at me. I would naturally retaliate. This was not done to vent anger on your behalf."
The Shogun glanced at the girl before looking away as she spoke.
"...Pfft."
Emilia could not help but laugh. With equal parts indulgence and helplessness, she gently pinched the Shogun's waist. Gratitude shone clearly across her delicate face.
Honestly... she never listens to me and always makes me worry. And yet in the end, I'm the one who feels moved.