第１０６２堀：甘さは実は甘さでない (Part1)
Chapter 1062: Sweetness is, in Fact, Not Sweetness
Current time: 18:53.
I forgot to schedule the post!
Sorry about that!
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**Sweetness is, in Fact, Not Sweetness**
**Side: Yuki**
"My, you’re letting me visit them quite easily, aren't you?"
The goddess named Senal said this with a look of surprise.
She was the one who had tried to intervene in the decisive battle between the Zuraburu Great Empire and the Hain Empire, aiming to expand her influence.
Well, we—who were prepared for such a move—crushed those ambitions. However, we welcomed her to our side to serve as a negotiator for others who might oppose Luna’s policies in the future.
Weed doesn't have the luxury to save those who aren't worth saving.
But if I had left Senal to die, not only would we have lost a source of information, but there was a risk that not just the gods she was protecting, but other gods suffering in silence elsewhere would turn into our enemies.
That is precisely why I sought her cooperation.
"Well, if I disappoint a collaborator, they won't help me, right?"
"That is certainly true... but I was your enemy, wasn't I? It is a fact that I killed your kin."
Indeed, Senal likely wasn't lying about that.
She had killed Dungeon Masters for her own purposes.
But I know this: the world isn't so simple that killing your enemies makes everything perfect.
There are things you can only see by turning an enemy into an ally.
Besides, history shows that killing enemies often leads to more problems.
"That’s water under the bridge. Turning enemies into allies is a common occurrence, isn't it?"
Yes, even among my wives, there are quite a few who were once adversaries.
This level of situation is something I’ve dealt with many times over.
Besides, it’s not as if she killed anyone close to us personally.
In that sense, I have no reason to hate her.
If you don't make those kinds of distinctions in war, you’ll only end up in a quagmire.
"...You’re soft. You’ll have your throat slit by me, you know."
"Actually, you’re the one being soft."
"Eh?"
That’s right. This isn't about being soft or indulgent. It’s simply that I refuse to choose the easy way out.
I am prepared to be betrayed, and yet I still take the enemy's hand to move forward for the sake of the future.
To put it another way, if necessary, I will borrow even an enemy’s hand to advance.
Is that being soft? No.
"Senal. You said that keeping an enemy alive is soft."
"Yes. That’s right. It’s clearly soft, isn't it? If you do something so naive, as I said before, you’ll be betrayed and have your throat slit."
"Is it easy to achieve one's goal while bearing the burden of turning an enemy into an ally?"
"No, that’s obviously very difficult. That’s exactly why it’s soft. I don't understand why you would dare to take such risks when you have a goal to achieve."
"I see. I understand that opinion. But at the same time, it is also a form of softness—the desire to avoid difficult methods."
Yes, calling it "soft" is just an excuse to run away.
It’s a convenient excuse to avoid putting in the effort or facing the hardship.
"...Certainly, there is that way of looking at it. But that puts yourself in danger. Isn't that a betrayal to the people who believed in you and followed you?"
"What’s this? Then, Senal, does that mean you’ve killed every single one of your adversaries? But the idiots of the Hain Empire and the monsters summoned using Dungeon Cores were your enemies too, weren't they?"
"That was... using what could be used... Ah, I see. You mean I am 'usable'."
"That’s it. And that provides a common benefit for both sides. You can save your companions. And from here on, you’ll be able to persuade and save other gods who are struggling just like them."
Yes, being "soft" is simply saving someone without thinking about what comes next.
In that case, the other party becomes anxious about why they are being saved and how long their current situation will last, leading them to take action for their own sake. One of those actions is betrayal.
In my case, it’s give-and-take.
I save them on the condition that they cooperate. There was no personal grudge to begin with. And because they are being asked for a return, the other party is convinced that we understand their value, so they likely won't betray us as long as that value remains.
"...That is, if you’re still alive by then."
"If you kill me, you won't be able to do that. But I didn't think you were the type of person to act solely out of a grudge for losing."
"...I suppose that means I cannot betray you for the sake of my companions. Very well. If you find that much utility in me, I shall cooperate properly."
"That’s much better than someone saying they saved me purely out of goodwill, isn't it?"
"That is certainly true. That is much more trustworthy."
"Actually, we’ve had this conversation before."
"My apologies. These are things one likes to confirm over and over. But you are sincere, aren't you? Or perhaps you’re just a fool? To go out of your way to indulge me in this repetition."
"No, it’s precisely because I answer properly that I gain trust. If I neglect this, I lose that trust. That’s how the world works."
Actually, this should be a matter of course.
It’s still on the better side. There are plenty who just run away or commit suicide.
But Senal is someone I can talk to.
That’s why I’m letting her meet the gods we saved, though naturally, there is another purpose to this.
"We’re here."
Before my eyes stood Weed’s only hospital.
A general hospital, towering over the area.
"W-what is this place?"
"Hmm, it’s a facility specializing in medicine and treatment. Like a healing clinic in the church."
"What!? A facility this large is just for treatment!? Not a cathedral or something?"
"That’s right, Lady Senal. Here, we provide treatment for the injured and sick on a 24-hour basis."
Rurua, who serves as the hospital director in my stead, answered for me.
Well, it’s better to leave it to the expert than for me to give a clumsy explanation.
"And when do you rest?"
"The staff works in eight-hour shifts. If they don't rest properly, they can't provide satisfactory treatment. But let’s save that explanation for later. First, please, go and see your friends."
"...I suppose so. I shall hear the explanation about this... hospital... another day."
"Are you interested?"
"Well, I have worked hard as a goddess of healing, after all."
"I see. Then, I shall give you a tour when the time comes. Now, this is their room."
Surprisingly—or perhaps as expected—Rurua seems to get along well with Senal.
However, the goddess of the Ritea religion that Rurua worships is...
"...Uuuu, Rurua-chan has become a delinquent. Hairen-chan, what should I do? I’m going to kill Senal!"
"Er, I don't think I’ve become a delinquent. And why are you so motivated to do that...?"
To my surprise, she was being held back openly by that very Hairen.
Good grief, what is she so unhappy about?
Is it because Senal defied the high-ranking god Luna? If we’re talking about that, I feel like I’ve defied her much more.
Still, if she were serious, she would have lunged at her like she did with Faide. Is she perhaps not actually that angry?
Well, never mind that. Let’s head to the hospital room.
I averted my gaze from the foolish goddess and followed Rurua and the others into the room. There, Senal was standing by the bedside, covering her mouth and shedding tears.
"Thank goodness... I never thought they would truly be saved."