Editing Hagure Yuusha no Aesthetica:Volume 5 Chapter 1 (section)

===Part 5===

In the ancient forest city, Forestnium, Galevain’s resident’s refuge.

Directly in the center stood a Sacred Tree that was a few hundred meters tall. As the symbol of Forestnium, the Sacred Tree’s trunk was divided into several floors, each floors has its own stairs, becoming a large living space.

Under the pitch-black color of the night, Ousawa Miu’s figure appeared at the top floor of the Sacred Tree.

Miu’s goal was to shower. The tangled roots of the Sacred Tree was spread throughout a wide area, aside for the underground water, there was even a natural hot spring that seep through the tree trunk through a pipe and was pushed upwards. Thus, at the very end of the pipe, which is also the top floor, the villagers used the Sacred Tree’s naturally formed holes to create a hot spring.

However, Miu was not at ease while bathing.

Just when Miu was about to push open the door to the hot spring, someone called her name from behind.

Currently —— she was even surrounded by several people.

The other party was numerous youths that lived in Forestnium, but Miu did not feel any fear, her face did not reveal any suspicious look either, after all, in the past few days, similar situations have occurred several times.

10 days ago, Miu made a decision ——The youths in front of her was currently protesting against Miu’s decision and had gathered here.

“Myuu-sama, this is no small matter —— please reconsider it!”

The other party’s tone carried dissatisfaction and disapproval entered Ousawa Miu’s ears, who had her back facing the door towards the hot spring.

“Declaring war to Disdia is taken for granted, after all, they killed off Elder Urumu, Galevain’s soldiers will not forgive this despicable act. But——Why do you recognize that person as our representative?”

“I have already clearly explained it. After Urumu’s unfortunate death, everybody wished for me to make a decision for Galevain’s fate, and this is the conclusion that I came up with…… after discussing it with that person.”

Miu’s attitude was extremely calm, but her answer caused discontent among the youths.

“We indeed requested Myuu-sama to decide Galevain’s fate, but Myuu’s sama’s decision was completely unexpected!”

“At first, pushing him to be the representative of Galevain was simply for a peace agreement. Since the peace agreement ended in failure, his mission is already over.”

The youth’s appeal entered her ears, Miu could not help but have feelings about it. These youths was caught up in loss and was anxious about the future of Galevain.

During the period of the peace agreement negotiations, Forestnium was suddenly attacked and the responsibility clearly lies on the other side. However, Disdia is a militant country, the residents in Forestnium simply could not compete with the powerful military strength the other side has. Thus, the request from the youths was clearly self-contradictory.

“However, without that person’s help, this battle ——we have no chance of winning.”

You should all understand this point, Miu suddenly paused for a moment.

“At present, the enemy still have not found the method to enter Forestnium; however, the enhanced barrier, that came in exchange of Urumu’s life, is not permanent. When the barrier effect disappears ——do you think just us alone can defend Forestnium?”

Miu’s words were justified, the youths at the scene all froze for a moment, but they quickly recovered and continued their aggressive tone as before.

“At that time, it should be fine if we can just invite that person to fight together with us.”

“That’s correct. He is an integral part of our combat power, but there is no need for him to become our leader.”

It was a rather selfish way of saying it, they just wanted to use Akatsuki’s power. However, Miu did not blame them, because they did not know where they were wrong. Inside the hearts of these youths, it was strongly dominated by anxiety, and they had long lost the ability to determine what was right and what was wrong.

Because of this, they hope that Miu would become the spiritual pillar for everyone. The Demon King Galious had used his overwhelming power to rival the humans. As the daughter of Galious, Miu undoubtedly was the only hope for lighting up their will to fight inside the residents, who were in the brink of despair. Ousawa Miu thought, if she was to become the new leader of Galevain, the ouths in front of her would definitely become warriors in the front lines.

……But.

Once they enter the battlefield, what was waiting for them eventually was the fate of death. This was not the outcome everybody would like to see. Thus, when her father was still alive, he had clearly expressed that he will be the last Demon King, and at the same time, he entrusted the safety of Miu, happiness of the demon race and their future to Akatsuki.

For both sides, Miu’s existence would only cause Alayzard to be caught up in a never-ending war and deaths. After understanding Galious’s intentions, Akatsuki decided to bring Miu with him back to his own world. Even if Miu’s identity was to cause a huge uproar, but since Alayzard would not easily let Miu go, Akatsuki still did not regret his decision at that time. He even returned to Alayzard again in order to stand up for Miu and Galevain.

However, the youths in front of her do not appreciate it and even question the actions of Akatsuki.

“Why are you not willing to accept that person? Is it because he was the Hero that defeated my father?”

“That is also one of the reasons, but the matter isn’t that simple.”

“He is a human, and not one of the residents of Galevain.”

“In the time of crisis, how can we allow him to become the leader of the demon race?”

Facing the barrages of accusations, Miu let out a rebuttal that made everyone speechless.

“If that’s the case—— then why were you all willing to allow father to become the king?”

That shouldn’t have forgotten about it, right?

“Father was also a human…… just like him.”

Miu’s words were all true, everybody suddenly quieted down.

At this moment.

“Myuu-sama, what we are concerned about is not his race.”

The youths surrounding Miu automatically headed left and right and allowed a path. One young man slowly walked forward, the other people all had trust and expectations towards him.

“Kurt……”

After the young man had walked up in front of her, Miu silently called out his name. This tall and slender dark elf was the grandson of Urumu. You could only see Kurt look at Miu who was in front of him.

“We simply only wanted revenge, towards the people who murdered my grandfather……to have a fight to death with the murderer who killed the village elder. But he forbids us to fight the enemy on the battlefield.”

Kurt slowly said out everybody’s feelings.

“We also have the right to fight on the battlefield, but as a result, that right was deprived from us. The future of Galevain that we placed into Myuu’s hands had simply become his reason and excuse. Myuu believes that he is the new representative of Galevain, thus, he believes that he has earned all the support from the citizens of Galevain. Thus, he ignores our opinion to fight and fights alone in the battlefield with the enemy.”

This was the point that Kurt and the other youths were not able to accept.

“……The elder died in the hands of the enemy, we also do not have the right to head to the battlefield……How should we vent for the wronged heroic soul of my grandfather and our inner anger?”

“……”

Myuu quietly listened to Kurt’s request, she also understood the inner anger within Kurt’s heart. Even if she was to speak, she could not allow them to join the battle, or the efforts they did up till now will all vanish into thin air.

“Please believe that person, believe in the one that me and my father both trusted. He must have his own concerns for not letting you all into the battlefield.”

Miu’s explanation was immediately caused a refute by the youths.

“Trust? How can a person, who does not put our views and thoughts into the matter, earn our trust?”

“And he does not plan on attacking Disdia, he might have planned on never to start a war in the very beginning. Does he want to quell everybody’s anger by just simply casually fighting a few battles?”

Kurt’s words immediately won everybody’s agreement.

“He is an outsider, he has no qualifications to lead us. This is our battle and is not something we can leave it to others!”

Akatsuki is not to be trusted, this was the consensus of the youths at the scene.

“I see……”

Miu muttered and looked down to the ground.

 

“——It seems that I have no choice but to tell the truth.”

 

After raising her head, Miu used her sharp eyes to stare at everybody.

Awed by the prowess of Miu, the youths at the scene were all afraid of speaking up, but Miu could only apologize to Akatsuki in her heart.

……Sorry. I know that this is a secret that can not be told to the public, but……

However, Miu could not longer hold it in and decided to say the secret in her heart.

“Why did that person officially declare war on Disdia? Yes, it is to persuade all of you, who are seeking a battle! Based on the situation at that time, it would inevitably lead to a devastating war unilaterally. And reporting the atrocities of Disdia, utilizing the international media to force both sides to achieve a peace agreement will not happen because you all will not be able to accept it. After all, for the current you, Disdia’s actions is inexcusable.”

Akatsuki did not deliberately ignore Kurt’s and the other’s feelings. In fact, it was the exact opposite. It was because he is able to understand their feelings so he had used his official declaration as a well to express their anger.

“However, Disdia’s interior will also remain the same. If Disdia really wishes to accept the peace agreement, then they would not have attacked Forestnium during the meeting. In order words, if we had continued to stick with the peace agreement route, both sides will only achieve peace on the surface, but in truth, the current situation will be no different than right now.”

But——

“Even so, that person is still reluctant to give up easily. Even though he knew that the current situation was extremely dangerous, that person still believed that true peace will come to this world. This is the reason why he is reluctant to hurt the enemy. Although Galevain is the side that officially declared war, but as long as it follows the policy of not hurting the enemy, the other side will eventually notice that Galevain did not have the goal of wiping out Disdida when it waged the war.”

After continuing to weaken the enemy’s troops and causing the enemy to gradually end up at a disadvantage, stopping the war will naturally appear in the mind of the other side. And because Disdia is not the country that declared war, it will not take the initiative to propose a truce. After all to Disdia, stopping the war is the equivalent of losing, it will be undoubtedly the same as if it had declared that it had lost to the world.

However, if Galevain was the one that proposed to stop, Disdia will consider it. At that time, Akatsuki’s policy of not killing will play a large and key role. Even if Disdia persistently refuse to compromise, you could still use diplomatic means to persuade Sherfield and Aleclasta to come forward. At that time, due to the situation of their alliance, Disdia will not be able to just say out their own opinion. This way the two countries will come forward to talk and at the same time, Disdia will be able to keep their pride.

But doing so is not without any risk.

Thus, Akatsuki had left a path to retreat.

“Why do you think that person is willing to become the Demon King?”

Miu revealed a tearful expression and said out Ousawa Akatsuki’s consideration.

“If the situation does not develop as what was expected, that person intends to bear all the responsibility. <After the peace agreement was destroyed, the enraged Rogue Hero, with his powerful strength, threatened the peaceful demon race to push him into becoming the new Demon King. At the same time, without the agreement of the people in the race, he had declared war to Disdia>. Do you understand it now? If I……The Demon King Galious’s daughter stood up as the representative of Galevain, it will undoubtedly become the excuse that Disdia use to destroy Galevain. In order to prevent this tragedy from occurring, that person had positioned the war as his own independent judgment and is unrelated to Galevain.

Also, there was actually another purpose of Akatsuki to become the Demon King.

Once the two sides had entered a state of war, the previous Demon King’s daughter, in other words Miu, would become the number one enemy target. Phil Barnett or Zahhark’s assassination was the best evidence.

So Akatsuki could only claim the title of the Demon King, in order to attract the enemy’s attention and also become the top target the enemy wishes to get rid of.

In addition——

“Is it really true that not attacking Disdia means that he does not wish to fight this war?”

That was false.

“That person only does not wish for the tragedy of Urumu to be staged again, so he insisted on staying at Forestnium. No matter what actions the enemy takes, he would be able to react immediately.”

Kurt and the others was extremely unhappy based on the attitude of Akatsuki trying to reduce the military actions.

This was all because Akatsuki had made the decision to care about the safety concerns of the villagers.

“As for the purpose not to allow us to participate in the war……”

Facing the surprised Kurt, Myuu attempted to suppress her own emotions.

“If you were to appear onto the battlefield, won’t the idea about saying that you were threatened will instantly be destroyed?”

Perhaps they could claim that they were afraid of Akatsuki to the outside, thus Galevain’s citizens could not participate in the battle: However, once they become the captives of Disdia, the other party could use torture, drugs or even magic to understand the truth of the situation. At that time, all their efforts will be wasted.

Thus Akatsuki made a decision.

“Not only all of you, that person will not even let me go onto the battlefield.”

Miu recalled the expression that Akatsuki had at that time, and could not hold back her tears.

She cried. Even though Akatsuki was all doing this for the sake of Miu and these youths——

“<nowiki><I understand your feelings, but I hope that you can still hold it in. Sorry.></nowiki> ……Did you know? That person actually apologized to me!”

Miu’s cries echoed through the huge space.[[File:HYnA vol 05 010.jpg|thumbnail]]

After learning the truth, the reactions of all the youths were all the same.

They could only stand still and could not say a single word.

They could only see the emotional outburst of Miu as her chest dramatically moved up and down, and as she let out the sounds for shortness of breath.

After a brief silence.

“Why……Why does he not tell us?”

Kurt looked at the ground and murmured to himself.

 

Miu breathed in and slowly said:

“Because this secret must not be revealed to the others, otherwise true peace will never come. This is the reason why that person does not tell everybody the truth. He can only keep the secret and allow the secret to become a secret forever……”

However, Kurt’s misunderstanding of Akatsuki was too biased, thus Miu could not help it.

However, Miu does not regret her decision. After all, inside Kurt and the other youths’ eyes, she could no longer she the suspicion and distrust towards Miu and Akatsuki.

“I will say it once again——Please believe him, believe in the one that me and my father both trusted. “

Kurt and the other youths did not responded to the request of Miu, but they all silently nodded.

“Thank you……”

Miu’s face emerged a hint of a smile.

She could finally manage to show a slight smile.

After wiping the tears from the corner of her eyes, Ousawa Miu had felt many emotions.

Father, herself and Akatsuki. Urumu, and the inhabitants of Forestnium.

After a long period of time, everybody’s ideas and thoughts were finally one.