Elven Village, Queen's Palace.
In the corridor leading to the divine hall, Shien suddenly appeared without warning. He staggered a few steps as though someone had abruptly thrown him there, looking rather disheveled.
However, Shien quickly steadied himself. He looked around and remained silent for a long, long time.
He could not speak, nor did he know what to say. He could only remain silent for a long while.
After quite some time, Shien finally rubbed his temples, revealing a weary expression.
"So this is the truth of the past?"
Although the mystery of why the Demon King had started the war remained unresolved, just as the Goddess had said, Shien had already vaguely formed some suspicions.
But if that was really the case...
"Wouldn't the so-called Demon King be far too tragic?"
Shien truly did not want to acknowledge that suspicion.
Otherwise, he would not be able to stop himself from sympathizing with her.
He also more or less understood why that Goddess had asked him to make a choice.
That Goddess wanted to see how he would view that person, did she not?
After all, Shien was a descendant of the First Generation Hero, while the First Generation Hero had been the Demon King's most treasured friend.
Yet the First Generation Hero had been killed by the Demon King, and in such a miserable manner at that. His end had been utterly horrific.
In other words, to some extent, the Demon King was absolutely Shien's enemy—an irreconcilable foe.
But...
Shien touched his chest and felt the power that the supreme Goddess had named the Supreme Authority.
Part of that power belonged to the Demon King.
"To save her friend, she was willing to lose half her power?"
That could no longer be described merely as generosity.
No, considering