第１８００堀：新大陸の現場は (Part2)
"Yeah, yeah. Honestly, if it were that easy to change someone's heart, I wouldn't be having such a hard time."
Kagura retorted with a sharp, rhythmic jab. She’s getting used to this, I see. Well, that’s fine.
"That’s exactly why I’m struggling to find a way. Look, call it a change of heart, or even a conversion to another faith—if we can’t pull it off, our only remaining option is a war of annihilation. You realize that, right?"
"..."
Kagura and the others froze at my words. I’m glad they finally grasped the gravity of the situation. If words fail and they keep attacking, we have no choice but to take them down to ensure our own safety. "Take them down" is a sanitized way of putting it, but when you consider the need to render them incapable of counterattacking, the outcome is inevitably singular.
We have no reason to squander our funds, supplies, or manpower on such people. And the return on that investment? Nonexistent. If anything, it’s a net loss. We’d be branded as those who show no mercy to their enemies, and to the church, we’d become the sworn, eternal enemy.
Rule by fear, ghost towns—that’s not the path we’re meant to take. Above all, I wonder if we could even keep our sanity if we resorted to such measures. Along the way, we’d have to finish off those who resist and can’t be persuaded. The same goes for those who don't resist. If they can’t be convinced, we have to cut them out before they become a festering wound. In Japanese terms, I suppose you’d call it "rooting them out." I have no intention of becoming a Demon King of the Sixth Heaven.
"...I understand the reason, but who is going to—"
"That would be the religious personnel."
"Eh? Enora?"
"No, I was thinking of that happy-go-lucky..."
As I started to say that, a voice called out from behind me.
"That’s right~! If we just teach them about love, it should be fine~"
"Who are you calling happy-go-lucky! Honestly, people like that are just clinging to some kind of anxiety, which drives them toward extreme answers. If they just lived normal, stable lives, that exclusionary mindset would vanish on its own."
Yes, my ultimate weapons for persuading the prisoners—or rather, for their "re-education" and conversion—had arrived. Lilishe, the Goddess of Love, and Hairen, the troublesome rookie goddess who acts on impulse and expects results to follow. In a sense, they are people you simply cannot reason with. They seem to believe that as long as you slap the word "love" on something, everything will work out. Never mind that their head goddess is currently separated from her husband after a spat.
"Oh my~? Yuki-san is giving us such a passionate gaze~"
"Fufun! She’s counting on Lilishe-sama and me to do great things!"
Indeed. I am counting on them. That much is certain. Because if I don’t, we’ll be forced to make choices that will weigh heavily on our souls.
"Yeah, I’m counting on you both. If we can settle this through dialogue, there’s nothing better."
"They aren't just some low-life bandits, after all~, so I think we can manage~"
"Exactly. You can't really reform common brigands, but these people were just serving in the military, right? In that case, we can definitely make it work."
Yeah, the weight of their words is different. Still, even for these two, the bandit types are likely beyond saving. There are people everywhere who simply cannot be helped. After all, this world is filled with dangerous creatures like monsters. The common wisdom is to dispose of any threat to your existence as quickly as possible. I don’t think that’s wrong, either. I have no intention of saying that enemies are more important than my own people.
"I think it goes without saying, but your safety is the top priority. You’ll have subordinates with you, and you both have your own strength, so I’m not overly worried, but I had to say it."
"We know~. We won't let some fools get the better of us~"
True, these two have combat capabilities higher than the average person. Enough to hold their own against us, even. So, while I’m not overly concerned, a warning was necessary. Especially for Hairen. I don’t want your "freedom" to exhaust the troops in the northern town. I’ll make sure to issue strict orders later. Don’t take your eyes off them.
"Well, that’s the plan. It might take time with the prisoners, but I intend to steer them toward becoming allies, or at the very least, non-hostile."
"Understood. ...If it’s those two, I suppose they might actually pull it off."
Even Kagura seems to trust the "useless" goddesses she worships. Though, I don’t trust them in quite the same way. What I’m doing—this "reform" to avoid the hassle of annihilation—is essentially brainwashing. But since the other side is doing the same, it’s a non-issue. Besides, even in the modern world, that kind of psychological manipulation is common enough that I have no right to complain.