Science/Magic 178 The Real Eve Moonglow

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"Get ready, my subjects. If nothing goes wrong, soon the elves' Boerner Forest, humanity's Sun Kingdom, and the beastmen's Great Savannah and Moonlight Glow, are going to be a war."

The king's announcement rang out in the hall.

Expressions of astonishment appeared in every person present. Even Eve, Priestess Elwha, and General Edward were looking at the king dumbfounded.

"Your majesty, are you crazy!?" Priestess Elwha bellowed, but the king just threw her an indifferent glance and raised an eyebrow.

"Is there anything wrong with my words, Princess? You and I know that our countries are just a step away from war."

"That is absurd! You know that it's not the result the elves want!"

"Is it so?" The king looked at the princess of the elves with interest and nodded. "You are right, elves are a race that dislikes wars. However, do you think it's the same for the others?" The king then looked in General Edward's direction.

The general of the Sun Kingdom was staring at the king with an inscrutable gaze, but anyone could see a fire burning in his eyes.

Plus, judging from the Sun Kingdom's history, they would not mind waging a war against The Great Savannah.

"Even so." Elwha took a deep breath and stared at the king with a determined look. "I hope you stop mentioning something like war so lightly. Do you know how many families lose their loved ones each time a war happens?"

The king nodded. "I know. And that is the reason I'm telling about it to my subjects since now." He then looked around at the beastmen gathered in the hall. "My people, the Sun Kingdom and the Boerner Elven Forest are trying to steal what belongs to us! Are you going to allow it!? Are you going to let them take what belongs to our race!?"

Expressions full of determination appeared in the beastmen in the hall. None of them seemed intimidated by the king's words.

"Then get ready to fight! We, the beastmen of The Great Savannah, are not cowards that fear the schemes of other countries! If the elven forest or the Sun Kingdom wants a piece of us, we will give it to them!"

…

Tonight's ball finished in a dead serious atmosphere.

After the king finished his speech, all the beastmen bowed towards him, showing their support and readiness to partic.i.p.ate in the war.

Although most of them were not aware of the reasons behind the possible war, they were ready to put their armors and fight bravely in the frontlines.

"Now I understand why the beastmen are considered as a warlike race." Bloed heaved a tired sigh inside a carriage.

Currently, he was returning to his residence with Liu Ying and Regina. Javelin and Illina had stayed behind in the palace.

According to them, they needed to deal with some important issues after today's announcement.

"Bloed, do you think there will be a wat?" Liu Ying asked with a concerned expression.

Bloed shook his head. "… I don't know. However, I think it has not escalated to that level yet."

Liu Ying tilted her head confused, so Bloed sighed and explained.

"Judging by the king words, it looks like the elves, the Sun Kingdom, and the beastmen are competing for something… I'm not sure what it is, but it must be very valuable if even the elves are interested.

"That object must be valuable enough for the three countries to go to war for it. However, I'm sure none of the three parties wants a full-blown conflict. If my inference is not wrong, they must be in the middle of negotiations now.

"What the king did today was a negotiation trick. He was expressing to both the Sun Kingdom and the elven forest that he did not mind going to war to protect his country's interests. You saw how the beastmen in the hall reacted. None of them seemed to disagree with their king's choice.

"It's the same as though telling the Sun Country and the Elven Forest to think well about their stances because they were already prepared to go to war. And in the worts case scenery, they did not mind going along with it."

Liu Ying fell deep in thought. "… In other words, things are still under control."

"Yes, but not for much longer. I fear that if the negotiations fail, the continent is going to see its first full-blown war after The Blight." Bloed put on a troubled expression.

At that moment, a deadpan voice came from outside the carriage.

"… It looks like you have a good understanding of the situation, Mr. Bloed."

"Who!?" Liu Ying was startled. But opposite to her, Bloed and Regina were calm, as though they were not surprised by the voice.

"We were waiting for you, Miss Eve," Bloed said with a smile. "Please, come inside."

"Thanks."

Following the fox girl's soft voice, a figure appeared inside the carriage. She was like a ghost pa.s.sing through the walls of the carriage and sitting across Bloed.

As soon as the fox girl sat down, Bloed put on a serious expression and bowed slightly.

"Firstly, thank you very much for your help today. Things would have turned troublesome if you don't intervene."

"Nn-nn." Eve shook her head indifferently. "You don't need to thank me, Mr. Bloed. I did it because I wanted to… Besides, you look like a free-spirited person who dislikes being tied to useless responsibilities. I'm also like that, so I know how it feels when you are forced in a position against your will."

"is that the reason why you helped me?"

"… Also because you promised me to make a fox for me."

Bloed smiled wryly. So his efforts yesterday were useful after all.

However, today's events showed Bloed a completely different side of Eve than the one he saw yesterday.

When Eve suddenly appeared in his courtyard yesterday, she was a beautiful fox girl with a strange personality. But after the events of today, Bloed got a new impression of her.

If yesterday, she was a bit of an indifferent but pa.s.sionate fox girl true to her interests, today's Eve showed Bloed that she was also the Saintess of Moonlight Glow.

Someone with power and authority enough to go against a king in his kingdom without fearing the consequences.

The fox stained in blood, Bloodstained Moonlight.

Perhaps it was the real Eve Moonglow.