My fingers trembles and I can feel cold sweat dripping from my forehead. This is not what I expected and this situation is not what I will imagine when this talk started. Everything went downhill as soon as everything started.

Why…?

Why is this happening?

Why…are you doing this…Higanbana?!

“See, as we keep on reviewing your performance as a leader, as the list goes on, there is no merit to be mentioned worthy for you. I exercise my rights as the Beast Queen to pry on your reasons for being timid of your actions.”

“Host, I’d like to overrule Beast Queen Higanbana’s decisions. I, by no means, doesn’t need to reveal our own circumstances.”

“Your absence during the Calamity is a huge demerit for you, Human King Ashfon. I believe it is unbefitting for a capable warrior and king such as you to be absent at that crucial time.”

“……”

Fonfon wasn’t able to give any comeback from Higan’s words that mentally cornered him.

In the midst of the discussion whereas how the land will be divided, the talk that we’ve been waiting for has come, the rights to own a land in the center continent befitting of the kingdom’s participation in the calamity.

This heated discussion is for the sole purpose of gaining a land in a continent that was unavailable previously.

“I’ll allow it. I myself is wondering why King Ashfon wasn’t able to show his self even though he is an extremely powerful warrior.”

“By all means Demon Lord Gria, such explanation is unnecessary. We need not peer to his reasons. Isn’t just making him admit that he was incapable of performing in the calamity himself is enough?”

“Fairy Representative Senya, your reasoning is a fine call, however, it is up to King Ashfon himself if he wanted to reveal his circumstances at that time. Depending on the answer he will give, we may give him a little leeway.”

“We should be more objective than subjective. Such matter shouldn’t be pried.”

“As I said, it is not us, it’s King Ashfon who will decide. If he tries to keep the reason to himself, it will have a negative impact on his reputation. If he told us the reason, his repertoire may plummet drastically or rise.”

“Haa…This is difficult…I am really not cut out for this…”

“I believe this is not the right situation to mutter such thing but hey, hang in there!”

Even with Senya’s intervention, Gria’s decision wasn’t moved at all and Higan’s request was granted. Even if it is granted, as Gria said, it’s up to Fonfon whether he tell it or not.

Will he tell here that his power has gone out of control during the fall of Dragon Capital Mujinn and fell in a comatose at that very same day and just woken up recently?

Judging by his personality that hates lies…

“My power, Astlan’s Ira, has become a greater burden than I could handle at the fall of Dragon Capital Mujinn. One of my Royal Guards, Violetta, sealed me in an isolated place to prevent further harm to anyone.

“Oh? That’s new to me. Your powers going out of control. If I remember correctly, it’s a power comparable to Cattleya Scarlet, the previous Demon Lord, in terms of destruction, no?”

“It is as you said, is there a problem?”

“No, none at all. The meaning behind your explanation discreetly conveys that if left alone, you can be a much more dangerous harm than devils, no?”

“I…care not of the devils at that point.”

“Reason?”

Fonfon said so to Gria and when he is asked for a reason, he simply glances over to me. Gria notices it and furrows his eyes brows that lets out a complicated expression. To everyone, it just looks like he is someone completely weird…

“Not to befall harm to your sister who indeed performed a feat impossible to us. If it comes down to that, respecting your earlier wish, we will not touch the matter that circulates about the girl called Asagao Lionheart.”

“Tsk…”

“……”

Higan clicks her tongue as if the matter about Fonfon’s inadequate actions from the calamity is dismissed. Gria could not hide his surprise as Higan showed a dissatisfied countenance.

After that, as the topic ended, the verdict was given.

The verdict, as explained previously in the letter if even a topic will be presented, was given. It’s a three-way voting that each leader could express with words. As long as the two-thirds of the leaders don’t vote out for Fonfon, we are safe from going red.

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Mount indicates positive feedback which the leader gives favor to the indicated side. Elven Queen Hinoki and Senya voted this for us.

Fall indicates negative feedback that could push us to hopelessness. Higanbana voted this together with the Dwarven King and the representative of the Dragons, Priscilla…

Flat indicates that the leader chose a neutral stance, meaning, they don’t find anything good or bad about the reasoning of the person in question. Only Gria voted this.

So far, the odds are greater but it doesn’t mean we are going to fall on the red line with this much of a score.

If Gria has voted Fall, it will drastically affect our standing in this congregation. It may sound simple and playful but this congregation that was hurriedly made without much reform is what will decide a kingdom’s prosperity in the future.

“We will set the topic aside for now as we give King Ashfon a narrow leeway for future’s sake. Moving on, we will now discuss the other leader’s performance in the Calamity that befell us before.”

As Gria said, questioning Fonfon was just the start, the other leaders will no doubt, be questioned too and given a verdict.

Elven Queen Hinoki, despite the cold war with the dwarves, steps out of the Elven Forest and head in the center continent all by herself. The feat she performed was witnessed by everyone. She displayed power beyond our comprehension. After that, she also started a huge trading traffic associated with the Beast Kingdom that will ship their products from the forest around the seven continents. Their agriculture and seemingly advanced knowledge with machinery have given them a skyrocketing feedback. The Dwarven King, Osthorio Talon, gave a flat score begrudgingly.

Beast King Folga, or so the former, greatly performed at the Calamity too as he uses his Godly Artifact to deflect a huge amount of falling meteors. His armies that marched from the east has eliminated a lot of devils too. After that, they used all of their resources to build ships that could ship and deliver products. It also became the main way of travel for people. Violetta cannot carelessly use her warp and she won’t use it for trivial matters. The beast kingdom also has aquatic commodities and a wide range of fisheries that was distributed evenly to all Kingdoms. The score matches Queen Hinoki with again, Dwarven King Osthorio Talon giving a flat score.

Priscilla who took over the leadership from the dead emperor of the Dragon Kingdom has mobilized all available armies and circulated its trade and made a lot of reform the greatly improved the kingdom’s economy giving her a total gross net of eighty percent in short time. With great wealth, Priscilla bought a lot of weapons and armors from the Dwarven Kingdom, or simply a sea trade with her identity hidden. The branded equipment was then distributed among the armymen and in return, they safely defended that vast land of Dragon Continent. After the calamity, she continued amassing wealth that contributed a lot to the overall trade. The score was not given since she is just a representative but it is not even a debate when it comes to her achievement.

Senya, as the representative of the Fairy Kin, was given a bit of leeway. Being a representative too, a score was not also given but rather, she expresses that the Fairy Kins doesn’t need a land in the Center Continent. Their habitation is far better than anywhere else and they are a standalone continent.

Demon Lord Gria Hellbeing, among all the leaders here, has done a job well done despite the Demon Kingdom recovering from countless of famine from the past. I can tell even with his goofy personality, that he is a smart man. The undead worker that was assigned to construction was highly praised. The army that he brought capable of magic has also done a lot in clearing millions of devils with their destructive spells. He also started a buy and sell trade that circulated throughout his Kingdom that slowly puts it back on its feet. In short, Gria has become a load of consumer and at the same time, circulated those resources and use it for another trade. No doubt that Gria has done well indeed. Even Fonfon voted a Mount for him like any other leaders did.

The last one, Dwarven King Osthorio, has announced his indirect involvement in the calamity even though he never showed up. He said that anything that has a dwarf's brand that forged into their land is also their contribution. That is what they are famous for and he is bragging that. Dragon fiber might have been a better choice for armor, however, it is not something that can be easily made, thus, even a magic beast dragon with no intelligence, has a very expensive price for its scale. They are also one of the resources for metals used for constructing a lot of Gria’s projects. King Osthorio was given four Mount, a flat by Queen Hinoki, and a Fall from Higan.

At that deliberate moment where the topic about the Dwarven King was set aside, Gria stood up from his chair and gazes at everyone.

“Well then, we have a lot to talk about, however, I suggest that we put it on hold for now. The session will take a break. After thirty minutes, we resume.”

Gria announced that immediately loosened the tension in the air. With another closing speech, Gria, as the host, dismissed everyone.

Each and every party has departed separately, exiting different doors. I look at one specific person from afar but Violetta called out to me.

“Asagao.”

“Eh…? Ah? What’s wrong?”

“Are you okay? Your heart earlier…I can feel it racing…”

Violetta said so that captured Alstroe and Fonfon’s attention. Alstroe immediately hugs me playfully and Fonfon, with a loosened face, speaks.

“Is it because we almost hit rock bottom?”

“No…well…one of it is that but…”

“I knew it…Higanbana…”

“……”

“We really can’t give any opinion regarding their decisions.”

“That’s not it! It’s just that…”

As I was about to say something further, I can see Higan’s back exiting the room. Feeling overwhelmed by my anxiety, my feet move on its own and run towards her direction.

“Higan!”

“Wait..! Asagao, stay here!”

Alstroe lets go of me and Violetta tried to stop me but I slip past through her hand and head towards where Higan is.

“Higan!!”

My shrill voice was visibly noticed by Higan as her ears perked up but she ignored me. She kept walking at her pace even though Izuna, Folga, and the small girl looks at me.

Why…?!

We haven’t seen each other for more than two weeks!

Is she angry because I haven’t given her answer to her confession? Is she mad at me or something?!

“Why are you ignoring?!”

I shouted at her as I caught her in my arms. I embrace her from behind as she exited that door. She resisted a little as she tried to peel my arms away but submitted, however, she didn’t turn her face to my direction and instead looks at front of her.

“I missed you but you are giving me the cold shoulder! What’s wrong with you?!”

“Asagao, let go of me…”

“No! I want to know why are you doing this?! Did I do something wrong? Did I make any fault that you hated? Hey…Higan…did you come to hate me?”

“…I…woulnd’t announce my love to you in public if that’s the case…”

“Then…did…I do something…?”

“It would have been better if you did…however…you don’t and that’s why…it’s…much more suffocating…”

“Suffocating…?”

My body trembles as I heard those words from Higan’s lips. My mind started processing a lot of situations where Higan suffers from any mental depression or something but I cannot pinpoint what could spark it…

“Asagao…you remind me of my weakness…”

As if rope unbinding, my hand that was tightly clinging to Higan loosened.

A pang in my heart made me step back as I felt like I did something much more horrible than I can imagine.

“It’s not you Asagao…it’s all about me. It hurts. The very same person that I love is the one reminding me of my vulnerability…I can’t cope up with it…”

“Higan! If you are feeling that way, you should have come to me and together, we might come to a conclusion, right?”

“YOU DON’T GET IT!”

“Higan…that’s…but…”

Another yet a painful pang throbs in my chest. I don’t know what Higan is talking about and that’s what pains me.

She…is some so dear to me and yet…I cannot see what’s hurting her…

“Like what I said Asagao, this is all about me. This beast queen, this congregation, I accepted all of it so I can grow as a person so I can understand people better. To…unable to understand you, your feelings, your pain…it’s…frustrating.”

“Then…!”

“We don’t have anything to talk about now…Asagao, later…”

Higan continued walking without facing me. Her strides are unnatural but she steeled herself not to look back even once.

What kind of face is she making at this moment?

“Higanbana…”