Chapter 356: Conversations and Clashes
After being shown to his room, Arthur decided to take a little walk around the building, the Military Headquarters of Militopolis and Alvey’s Corps as a whole.
However, he quickly got bored with that as he had seen his fair share of military bases when he and Creusery went to Mammon’s territories so there was nothing new to him.
In fact, this place felt lacklustre as the technological advancement here was below that of the Hell universe.
’Electronic devices exist, but not many people have access to them.
The way I see it...Aramis is a world that’s not really Technologically advanced and all these things I see were introduced by the demons.
Given that they have conquered other worlds, they’ve come across all sorts of strange tech and used that to advance their own society. Alvey and McEnda didn’t seem surprised when I pulled out my phone, after all.’
The boy jumped out of one of the windows and flew atop the building, sitting down on the cupola on the building’s rooftop and staring at the city below.
He could see the demons, elves, humans and some beast kin moving about on the busy streets.
’Well, they are ’conquering’ and not ’exterminating’ so it makes sense there’d be humans in the cities they’ve taken over.’
In the aftermath of war, after the dust settles and the borders are redrawn, the Aramisians have no choice but to carry on like normal.
While the governing landscape might have shifted from their fellow Aramisians to the Demons of Gozon, the fabric of their daily lives remains largely unchanged.
The routines of work, family, and community endure, albeit under the shadow of a new governing force; one that invaded from another planet.
The conquered citizens navigate their existence, forced to carry on with the resilience born of necessity, even as an undercurrent of fear and uncertainty permeates their every step.
"Eventually, they’d adapt.
They have no choice but to adapt to the changes. Even if those changes mean living alongside the same demons who killed their protectors and took over their lands."
"The resilience of the human spirit manifests in their everyday actions. Despite living under the shadow of their occupations and fear of us, they still carry on with their lives."
A clear female voice spoke up after Arthur did, but the boy didn’t need to turn to know who it was. He had just felt that same frigid presence not too long ago, after all.
"Considering our earlier...’interaction’? I didn’t think you’d be civil with me so soon."
"I admit I was the one who attempted to provoke you first. It does not mean that I am not still annoyed by your comments, I’m just simply good at concealing things like that."
"I can see that."
The boy replied with a light chuckle, turning his gaze to another part of the city; the ’darker’ side of the city.
He could see a bunch of human kids beating up an elf kid and eventually snatching the little piece of bread the elf boy had before running away, leaving behind the elf who shouted curses at them with gritted teeth.
"Occurrences like this are inevitable. No matter how hard you try to prevent it, they always happen."
"You sound like you have tried to do so in the past."
"I have. And the more experienced people around me only watched as I went on a fool’s errand, waiting for me to come to that realisation myself."
"That sounds nice...compared to having to watch a planet burn down at age seven, that is."
Arthur remembered the first sight of Planetary destruction he witnessed, courtesy of his Uncle Creusery; and when he spoke, he could hear a light gasp of surprise coming from the beside him.
"...why and how?"
He detected a mixture of surprise, curiosity and incredulity from the voice of his conversation partner.
"When you’re the only person in your family who isn’t at least a ’High Tier Deity’, things like that happen quite often."
The boy shrugged like he didn’t consider Planetary destruction to be ’too big of a deal’ anymore. However, he wasn’t sure what reaction he would get if he said he had given the order for two planets to be destroyed before.
"Sounds rough."
"It kinda is, kinda isn’t."
The godslayer got up to his feet and prepared to leave, but his legs were suddenly frozen in a block of thick ice.
"Where are you going?"
"To get something to eat? You know? Basic Mortal necessity?"
Sub Cosmic beings like Arthur could go for months without even a drop of water; but just because he could, doesn’t mean he should.
"I recall stating that I was still very much annoyed at your earlier comment."
"I recall hearing you say that."
"My annoyance; or rather, ’anger’ would only go away after I get in one or two, maybe three punches to your face."
Arthur finally turned to look at the woman he had been conversing with, the same blue-haired Brigadier General that McEnda called Sigesi with narrowed eyes.
"...basically, you’re asking for a fight?"
"Glad, you’re quick on the uptake."
The moment she replied, Arthur’s senses screamed at him and he quickly ducked, just in time to avoid the fist coated in blue energy that tore through the air where his head was a moment ago.
"Oh my, you dodged that? Consider me impressed."
"Woman, are you crazy?"
Arthur broke the ice encasing his feet and jumped backwards, unfurling his wings and taking greater distance from Sigesi.
"Hmm? You’re not a demon? Oh well, it doesn’t really matter."
She clenched her fist and encased it in aura once more, unfurling her own wings as she continued.
"If we keep things airborne, we wouldn’t destroy anything on the ground and General McEnda wouldn’t have anything against me.
A Win-Win."
"How is that a ’Win-Win’ situation?!"
Arthur couldn’t help but retort as he manoeuvred in the air to dodge the shockwaves Sigesi sent flying at him.
’This woman...’
Although her face was calm, the glint in her eyes was enough to tell Arthur the ’type’ she was. He sometimes had that glint in his own eyes, after all.
The reason why McEnda didn’t want Arthur and Sigesi to meet was because he knew that a situation like this was going to happen.
Though her appearance and demeanour may not suggest it, Sigesi Valren, was a hardcore ’battle junkie’.
