Daisy and I met up with Merissa and greeted all the crew of SS Iowa and later met up with Casablanca, Hibiscus, and Topaz when getting provisions for breakfast. It was a slice of bread with a creamy filling that made up of meat broth with bits of chicken blocks. It was filling but wasn't enough to uplift the mood.

I kept giving Merissa a side glance because I can feel her attention gravitating towards me with wary eyes. It wasn't a secret that the Goddess Nivalis is my mother, among all else. I can't blame her as my mother admitted to her countless sins.

But, still...

"I won't apologize, even if I die, I will resent Nivalis."

"I understand that very well. Even my mother admitted to it..."

"It is also true that I am once a transcendental being, a mid-tier at that."

Merissa glances at Casablanca knowingly and nodded to each other. Casablanca then speaks on behalf of Merissa.

"Back at the giant devil's battle at the sea, Merissa and I are washed in an underwater cave. There, we saw the remnants of Ether's underground facility."

"Yes, I've heard that much from you when we arrived at the Fairy Forest at Senya's mansion."

"We found writings that state that the Ether's slew gods from multiple worlds before arriving here. And then, we found the Soul Spar where a fragment of Goddess Artemis slept."

"Artemis right now is residing within you now and you are sharing powers with her."

"Ah, yes! Although we talk occasionally inside my head, she told me that I haven't reached my full potential yet with her power. Rather, she mentioned that Goddess Asteria's host has peaked the use of her power and kept accumulating more."

"Asteria...wait, that's Higanbana! Hey, about Higanbana...Did you know...that she is..."

"Boss? We know."

"......"

I was stunned.

"Since when?"

"The day we met her. Eh, wait, Asagao, you didn't know?"

"I...I kinda just figuring it out in my head. Although I was certain for the past days, I didn't know you guys know!"

I look at Topaz and Hibiscus for confirmation and they both nodded knowingly, except Daisy. Did they know? How? Why did no one tell me?

Boss and Higanbana are indeed only one person but before knowing her identity, I was too fixated on her motive. I look at Topaz with a conflicted countenance. Since Casablanca and Hibiscus may have discovered because of Asteria's presence.

"Topaz, how did you know?"

"Asagao and everyone may not know it but, Mimi, Casablanca, Hibiscus, Higanbana, Daisy, and you, I have memorized all of the rhythms of your heartbeats, the pattern of your strides, the exact structure of your facial and body features, and what would you call brainwaves."

"Why did you know all of that and what is it for?!"

"To monitor any abnormality in your bodies and your physical state. Although I don't say much about, I will stick to someone with the poorest or weakest physical and mental state."

"You were glued to me yesterday."

"Your thoughts were disarrayed. Asagao, even if you regenerate a fatal wound in a matter of seconds, the accumulated strain in your mind will affect you negatively..."

"No, I don't think I am in that state..."

"Asagao...How do you manage to build up so much stress in a short time?"

"......"

I don't know.

Even if it is true, I can't do anything about it given the situation.

"Anyways, it is a known fact now that Higan is the one leading the rogue group that stops the elves from reconnaissance, however, it doesn't solve anything fundamentally. Casablanca, about Merissa..."

"Yes, Merissa was the one who reforged the soulspar into my soul weapon, fusing Artemis into me."

"...Merissa?"

I look at Merissa for confirmation.

"I did. Nivalis stripped me off of my authority as a transcendental being but I still can use a portion of my former abilities such Godly Smithing."

"You refer yourself as Esoterica, right? I've read about her, the Goddess of the Dwarves and the one who blessed Ishranor Talon the weapon to defeat the Titan King."

"That was all in the past. I am just Merissa, a mere pirate. However. we can never bring back the glory which is divine smithing."

"Divine smithing?"

"It is smithing using the powers of the Goddess Esoterica. As I lost my authority, the dwarves slowly lost the ability to make sacred weapons. Well, you probably have a lot of those, given that your master, Mrothgir, has amassed so much."

"Eh...? I just call them something like unnamed weapon and such."

"You..."

"My bad!"

"Well, it doesn't matter anymore. As long as it is you, Asagao, they are not in the wrong hands. Well, it is now in the hand of someone dumb but that's it."

"Do you need to diss me?!"

"With the disappearance of the divine smithing, the dwarves lost a lot of its reputation and the new generation of dwarves are born. Meanwhile, the population of the first generation dwarves receded."

I can see now why Merissa looks down on the second generation of dwarves too much. If the first generation of dwarves still exists, cheat weapons will keep popping out.

We could easily repel the devils but the chances of a huge war happening everywhere is huge.

The economy will also take a toll for better or for worse throughout the eight continents. Even if the leader itself is massively strong such as Fonfon, if your nation falls unguarded and falls, it is considered your loss.

A king with no subject is merely a fool sitting on a throne...

"Asagao..."

"...Huh?"

Topaz called out to me worriedly.

"That's how exactly you accumulate stress, by overthinking...and mulling over problems."

"Hahaha, Nah, do you think it's that ser--!?"

Huh...

Something...

Something just stung inside my head...

"Asagao...?"

"Ah, nothing!

I ignored it for now. There's no point adding another problem in our heavily pressing matters to take care. Since I am now representing the Center Continent to team up and defeat the rebels of the Dwarven King and the Dylan, the Arcana of Sloth.

But...I know for sure that after this, I have to carefully tread into this...because...my stomach is hella turning upside down. My intuition is screaming in an utter plea.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

"Anyway, we can talk about the matter about the next battle with Stern Lostfell and Dylan. What I want to tackle right now is about the one residing inside Daisy."

"Me?!"

Daisy flinched as I started taking the discussion towards King Arthur.

Really, why does everyone seem to be possessed by a God, Goddess, or a legendary figure? Is it a trope in this world?

Merlin is gone so I cannot make any solid conclusion without his output but we can still talk about what may happen and how are we going to react to a specific situation.

Mimi was taken by Higanbana when she was slowly regaining her memories as Demon Lord Baal's daughter, and then the Arthurian Legend head figure, King Arthur, suddenly possessed Daisy, and then the conflict among the dwarves.

We can barely keep up...

"Daisy, did King Arthur said anything to you in particular? Even Merlin won't spill anything."

"Since I openly express my utter resentment for his plan, he doesn't talk much often. Even now, it seems that he is just watching how things will unfold before selfishly taking over again."

"Don't you think it is much better to just accept his inheritance?"

"My pride will not allow it! I've been working hard...I've been doing my best to be of use to my father and the newly seated beast queen!"

It was the same thing over and over.

There is a reason why King Arthur Pendragon and Merlin chooses Daisy to draw the Caliburn and why the will of the entirety of Camelot in a form of knowledge was to be passed down to her.

"Daisy, you want it right, the position to rule and serve people?"

"...Wha--! That's impossible for me! I just lack the talent and power to lead people. Not to mention, Beast Queen Higanbana has already shown her charisma as the leader!"

"Are you sure? Do you think that you need talent and charisma?"

"Yes...Beast Queen Higanbana has both. No, she has a shining talent and is working hard at the same time. At such a young age, one can already see how much training she poured for her to be recognized as the new Beast Queen."

"Didn't you put effort into it too? To be recognized..."

"Ahahaha...I did but..."

She ended it with a dry laugh as her sight falls on the ground. She is just a cub now who can't bare her fangs.

It cannot be helped.

Since she was looking at her father, the retiree king, Folga, as a symbol of kingship that she idolized so much, seems like she has also come to the perception that strong individual with charisma is those who can only claim the throne.

But...this is just a hunch. In the corner of her mind, she can only view as male as the one who stands at the higher strata. However, it crumbles when Higanbana defeated Folga and became the throne's successor.

It might have shattered her preconceived belief of male dominance, however, it was replaced with no confidence but an utter admiration to her, to Higanbana.

That alone made her want to become strong, however, she cannot proceed further than that. All her dreams and longing for the throne ceased to exist or rather, crushed by her insecurity.

No...otherwise, she wouldn't be chosen by King Arthur.

Maybe deep inside her, the desire runs rampant. Maybe that is what King Arthur and Merlin saw in her, both knowledge for an upstart king and the heart to sympathize with her subjects.

"Well, it seems we are short on any reliable information sources. We can keep making assumptions but it won't give us any leads. By the way, Hibiscus."

I redirected the talk and glances at Hibiscus who has been listening quietly.

"Hmm?"

"I've been meaning to ask this for a while now. Where's Emby? He'd usually stick with you, me, or to Merissa."

Emby is the young chickling of a phoenix when in reality, it was a fragment of the Sun God Apollo stuck in a mascot of a body.

Since I haven't seen him since meeting up with the group, I was wondering where buggered off.

"Emby is currently on a flight patrol. He is hovering around outside the district's wall. He volunteered to be on the lookout and to gather intel of any internal conflict."

"Eh? Since when did Emby learn how to fly alone?"

"Hmm, when we woke up this morning, he was able to fly all of a sudden."

"I see, that's great.'

"No, Casablanca and I lost horribly against Dylan. We were too careless and there were a lot of capable individuals in their side and not to mention, the golems they brought out were overwhelming in numbers."

"They only got us because it was a surprise attack.

I told Hibiscus to keep her self-esteem in check, however, Casablanca interrupted.

"No! It was our carelessness! Asagao, the forest, the city, everything that involves us, elves, should be protected by us. However, you, our precious half-sister, suffered a lot by helping us."

"I see, yes. In that case, you better keep up."

"If only we have absolute control of Astlan Ira, like how Higanbana handles it, we can fight more efficiently."

"...Astlan Ira takes a lot of your sanity. Keeping your consciousness in check while in battle is difficult. Losing control is dangerous. I won't forbid you anymore if the situation calls for it, however, please take into account the risks it will bring."

Casablanca grimaces at those words. It was wrong to compare themselves to Higan. Instead of trying to comfort them, I have to make sure they are challenged equally both physically and mentally to enable growth.

...This is bad. This is how master thinks.

I left Casablanca and Hibiscus to mull over what I said. To contemplate, to grasp, and to realize that they shouldn't compare themselves to Higan.

For over the year that I've known Higan, she grew into a more...fierce and savage individual, growing from her husk of being a shy and awkward girl.

I admit I may be partially be at fault...but...

Suddenly, Topaz raises her hand.

"Topaz?"

"I will take care of Ivory."

"Ah..."

That one wildcard that seemingly absurd.

"You were the one who realized that you are a bad matchup with her!"

"Yes. But in the end, I am her older sister and she is my little sister. It is my responsibility to whip her up, no?"

"Why do you look so happy?"

"Because I have my own set of siblings too and I am now a big sister."

"Well...do your best."

Topaz has a smile on her lips. Generally speaking, Ivory is her littler sister...brought up by the same man, Dylan. From what I remembered, Topaz has three elder sisters, so with Ivory in the count, they are now siblings of five.

So...I'll leave this one matter to Topaz as it is...and nothing else...but a family matter.

At that moment, a blaze set itself up on Hibiscus' left shoulder.

"Ah, It's burning!"

"Don't worry! It's just Emby!"

"Really? That's convenient."

Emby suddenly teleported at Hibiscus' shoulder as the flickering blazes disappear. Unlike yesterday where he is just a ball of red fluff, Emby is now taking a proper shape of a growing bird.

"What's wrong, Emby?"

"Pi! Pii!"

"...Uh-huh."

"Pii! Pi pi pi pi!"

"..."

"Pii."

Hibiscus suddenly stood up from her seat, bullets of sweat dripping from her forehead. Judging by her reaction, we are about to hear something bad.

"Emby said that...they are coming for the southern district!"

"What?! Impossible! Aside from our transmitter constantly detecting movement in the air, we also have disposable drones constantly monitoring the skies! Also, the southern district is facing the sea!"

Merissa reacted with a shocked countenance.

"That's exactly right. However, Emby, as a fragment of the God Apollo, has awakened into a lesser power of premonition."

"Wha--?!"

"Have you ever asked the opposing faction of the dwarves whether they have sea-bourn golems or not?'

"...I am not sure... I haven't asked yet."

"Because Emby perceived an attack from the sea..."

"Fuck! Ferd! Ring the emergency signal!"

Merissa immediately ran off towards the main control center of SS Iowa.

Awakening to the power of premonition at this convenient time, huh.

"Let's go. I am somehow seeing how we can turn the tides around."

Everyone looked at me dumbfounded as I smile confidently.