第７１７堀：おてがみとどきました (Part2)
"Tch. Things went well with Faide, but it seems I only added fuel to the fire with Lilishe."
I was just thinking that I’d have to send word to call off the banquet—much as I hated to interrupt—when Aslin and the others, who had been listening in, spoke up.
"Hey, Big Sister Hifie. Shall we help out, too?"
"That’s right. We’ll all help hold down Big Sister Lilishe."
"Indeed. Perhaps we might have better luck than you’d expect."
"Lilishe-sama wouldn't raise a hand against children, so I believe it will be fine."
They offered their help. It was, without a doubt, the best possible hand I could play to stop Lilishe.
"I think that’s a great idea. What do you think, Hifie?"
"Yes. I would be very grateful for your cooperation."
"Alright then, Aslin, you all go calm Lilishe down. In the meantime, I’ll go have a word with Faide."
"Got it!"
"Leave it to us."
"I wonder what Faide is going to do?"
"I don't know, but it’s better than a surprise confrontation. Yuki-san, please."
"Yeah, leave it to me."
With that, Lilishe should be stalled for the time being.
"…Things never go quite as planned, do they? Even knowing her husband was just trying to help, she’s still furious. Well, I suppose I understand her feelings."
Seraria murmured this to herself. It was true; this was a matter of politics and personal conviction.
"Anyway, I’m heading over to see Faide."
"Right. I don't think she’d start a fight in Weed without regard for those around her, but if she does, there will be collateral damage. Please, make sure that doesn't happen. If it does, even a god will be hauled in, and I have no idea what will happen with Litea."
"Alstaire and the others would be furious, wouldn't they? Or rather, they’d just be clutching their heads in despair. A divine domestic dispute causing damage to other nations..."
"A nightmare, truly. Oh, that reminds me—since you mentioned Alstaire, let’s send our Saintess over to Lilishe’s location as well."
"Rurua, huh? ...Fair enough. If she isn't busy, send her over."
"She’s supposed to be off today, so it should be fine. The hospital staff can handle things on their own."
With that decided, I added Rurua to the reinforcements and headed back to the super sento.
"Oh, if it isn't Yuki. Want a drink?"
"…My apologies."
"What’s wrong?"
"I’d like to say 'don't worry about it,' but..."
I looked at Nogosh, who was already well into his cups, and poured a glass of ice water over his head.
"Gah!? Cold!? What in the world are you doing!!"
"Calm down, Nogosh. It’s about the letter."
As soon as I said that, not only Nogosh, but Noble and Faide turned serious.
"It reached her on that side, too?"
"Yeah."
"What happened?"
"Well, you see..."
I hesitated, wondering how to explain it, when Faide spoke up.
"Judging by that look, Lilishe must be angry. Well, that sounds like her."
He was calm. Naturally, he understood his own wife. I suppose I didn't have to worry about finding the right words after all.
"Yeah. She was rolling up her sleeves, saying she was going to give you a piece of her mind. Right now, Hifie, Nonoa, and Aslin are holding her back."
"Sigh. I’m sorry to drag you into our problems, Lilishe’s—no, our problems. You must have agonized over whether to deliver that letter, didn't you?"
"…It’s no use lying to you. Yeah, I agonized over it. But I decided to deliver it. Queen Miyabi, an acquaintance of Tora’s, is visiting Weed, after all."
"So you delivered it in a panic. I truly am sorry."
Faide said this with a look of genuine regret.
"Well, it’s a marital issue. I know it’s not my place to interfere, but putting Faide aside, Lilishe is..."
"It’s because of Litea. It’s troublesome in more ways than one. *Sigh*. That’s why I told you not to get involved with people so carelessly... No matter whether you want it or not, problems always seem to arise."
"..."
At those words, the two who were kings despite being gods looked away, feeling awkward.
"No, Nogosh and Noble are different. You two govern your countries through human effort, not by wielding divine power. But Lilishe... she doesn't hold back when she uses her divine power. She’s calm now, but back then, under the guise of 'supporting Litea,' she healed countless critically wounded soldiers in an instant and sent them right back to the front lines to fight the nation bordering Litea... Litea was a weak, small nation back then, so I suppose you could say it couldn't be helped, but..."
"Whoa..."
Super-recovery magic used for a brute-force strategy? Yeah, that’s a bit much.
"Anyway. We need to have a talk with Lilishe somewhere where it won't cause any trouble."
"Are you sure?"
"I always knew we’d have to talk eventually. Fortunately, with you, Yuki-dono, and Nogosh, Noble, and the other gods here, I don't think things will go too poorly."
And so, the quarrel between the former husband and wife is heading toward a... final battle. I really hope it doesn't come to that. Where would be a good place? The training grounds in the wasteland?
The story is heading toward a final battle... Ah, I mean Faide and Lilishe’s story. Yuki is always just a bystander, a third party.
Also, I understand the urge to take leftovers home in a container from an all-you-can-eat buffet, but if you allow that, there’s no end to it. Well, I do have some restrictions in place that allow for it, but personally, I think people should just enjoy the food while they’re there.