“To return and fight the demons, the great Hero abandoned the mess he created and left with his companions.”
“Erei was thus destroyed, not by the Demon Race, but by fellow humans, by the Hero.”
Mara’s voice was ice-cold.
“So tell me, shouldn’t I hate Heroes?”
Mara’s words silenced Diere and Capeline.
Even Shien frowned, surprised by this event from a thousand years ago.
However…
“Is that all?” Shien looked directly at Mara, “Just because Hero Mitra destroyed your country, you’re taking it out on all Heroes and those related to them?”
In Shien’s eyes, Mara’s actions were pure misplaced anger. He wouldn’t judge the right or wrong of the matter, as it was simply a matter of perspective.
From Mara’s standpoint, as a victim of Erei, she was undoubtedly justified. Although Hero Mitra abandoned Erei for the greater good of the world, sacrificing the few to save the many, he still harmed Erei. This was an undeniable fact.
However…
“That was the Hero’s decision. You can seek revenge on him, resent his country, his companions, even his descendants, but what does this have to do with the Empire?”
Shien pointed out the contradiction.
This matter could be blamed on the Mitra Kingdom. If Mara sought revenge on them, it would be understandable. After all, the Mitra Kingdom was founded by Hero Mitra.
But the Empire had no responsibility, and the other Hero descendants were also unrelated. Mara hated everything related to Heroes simply because of her hatred for one Hero. This was clearly misplaced anger.
However, Mara remained indifferent to Shien’s words.
No, not just indifferent.
She laughed, a manic laughter.
“You say this has nothing to do with the Empire?” Mara clutched her forehead, laughing and shouting, “It was the Ragna Empire that led the Demon Race into Erei! And you say it has nothing to do with the Empire…!?”
These words stunned Shien, who instinctively turned to Capeline.
Capeline’s face was grim, her eyes filled with a dark shadow. She didn’t refute Mara’s words.
Noticing Shien’s gaze, the princess smiled wryly.
“At that time, Erei was a vassal state of the Empire, and a prince, unwilling to accept his brother taking the throne, chose to side with the Demon Race. When the Demon Race was searching for a large magic power source suitable for their ritual magic, he offered them Erei, using his authority to secretly lead the Demon Race in, without the Erei King’s knowledge. I read about this in the secret records of the royal family.”
So, among those responsible for Erei’s destruction, there was indeed someone from the Empire.
Moreover, that person was a member of the Imperial Family, a traitor who betrayed humanity.
No one knew about this. Although the Imperial Family discovered it, to avoid being blamed by the God Race and incurring the hostility of other human nations, they secretly covered it up and executed the prince in secret.
But the prince’s descendants were spared, their identities concealed and raised as the then Emperor’s children.
After several generations, the prince’s descendants fully integrated into the royal family, some even ascending to the throne, becoming the previous Emperor’s predecessor.
In other words, the current Imperial Family, including Harvis and Capeline, were descendants of that Emperor, and also descendants of the prince who caused Erei’s destruction.
Therefore, whether from the Kingdom or the Empire, all Hero descendants were descendants of Mara’s enemies.
“Look, this is what Heroes are like,” Mara said sarcastically.
“The Hero who vanquished the Demon King was praised by the world and recorded in history, but no one remembers that he once destroyed an innocent country.”
“His companions all enjoyed honor, becoming nobles or famous figures in history.”
“Even among the Hero descendants of this Empire, no one remembers what kind of scoundrel they had, what great sin he committed.”
“Wandering the world for a thousand years, all I heard was praise, glorification, remembrance, and admiration for Heroes.”
“Truly, it makes me sick.”
Mara spread her arms, the storm of death aura swirling around her.
“From that moment on, I swore to make these hypocritical Heroes suffer.”
“I will make them suffer as much humiliation as they received glory.”
“You say this is misplaced anger?”
“Fine, I admit it.”
“But if Erei could be innocently dragged into such a disaster, why can’t I take my anger out on the descendants of those responsible?”
The death aura on Mara suddenly erupted.
“Today, I will solemnly announce to the world that I will destroy all Heroes, everything related to Heroes, as well as the Mitra Kingdom and the Ragna Empire!”
“I will have them destroyed, just like Erei!”
“This is only the first step!”
Mara extended a hand towards Shien again.
“And this first step will begin with you, the true Hero!”
Saying that, Mara finally unleashed her full power.
“[Grand Astarte]!”