Chapter 175: Church of Love, Ride the Express Train to Hell! (5)
It was the day after we passed through the dungeon that I gave a rough report of what had happened. Salina seemed extremely displeased that AA had not become a man. She looked down on us from a haughty posture, the corner of her mouth twitching slightly. Her gaze was filled with so much fury that I found this seat incredibly uncomfortable.
The only saving grace, if I had to pick one, was that her anger was directed at AA, not me. AA was frozen, her head bowed to the floor like a criminal who had committed a deadly sin. Salina's tone was full of irritation and rage toward AA.
"Yes, Hero AA. I told you to become a man, and you've returned having made a 'manly' decision."
"I'm sorry, Your Majesty, but... for the sake of defeating Evangeline, the opinion was that we needed more power..."
"How could I possibly interfere in such matters? Our 'Hero' says she needs more power to defeat Evangeline, so I have no choice but to nod my head, do I? Sharing the power, that's also right. It's for the greater good, so I have nothing to say. Isn't that right? You are completely right and just, so the moment I offer any counterargument, I become a wretched woman who doesn't understand the greater good and only thinks of her daughter's marriage. Isn't that right?"
"...I'm sorry, Your Majesty."
"What are you apologizing for? For me specially pushing the Elder Council to allow a human into the sanctuary for you? Or for winning the duel against Peta Lusius, yet choosing the greater good instead of becoming a man? What is there to apologize for? You have nothing to apologize for. Because all your actions are right."
Just as expected of a queen, her skill at shaming someone was first-rate. To be sure, there was nothing wrong with what AA had done. Evangeline was an extremely dangerous being, and to defeat her, it was natural to choose gaining power over turning into a man.
But from Salina's perspective, who had specially opened the gate of the sanctuary and even convened the Elder Council to make AA a man, it was only natural for her to be displeased that AA had shared the power after having won it all. After berating AA for a long while, Salina looked at me and spoke.