Chapter 59: Everything is a Mere Show

[3rd Person POV]

Upon hearing the agenda of Sigurd through Alice who is in disguise as Anna.

Selaphiel, Lucifer, Oroboros and Eris unitedly turned their eyes to Loki and a flash of confusion immediately appeared in their face, however, for they are individuals who have a lot of pride, they immediately wiped their confusion away and let their minds be confused.

Of course because Selaphiel is someone who have the word humility attached in her title, she didn't hide it too much and looked at Loki, as if contimplating on what the hell is the meaning and logic behind him orchestrating the Banquet of the Seven.

Of course all the rulers immediately realized this point, even though they are a little late to realize that their participation on this meeting is string pulled and is already expected, they are not fools and no matter how much they want to deny it, they can only come to a conclusion that their is a hidden motive under the table of this "Hero Evaluation".

Even Eris is not in a good mood, first his brother made someone he hates with all of his existence appear once more as if he doesn't care about his grudges anymore, second he planted chess pieces that will make Sigurd be inclined on being a hero in "The Hard Way".

Why in a  hard way? Simple, because Technically, humans doesn't have a ruler and only Selaphiel is the person that volunteered on becoming the substitute hero out of pure goodwill, that means that she didn't went to a proper evaluation and thus Sigurd can just make her give up her seat as the Proxy Hero and make it his own.

From this logic alone, one can already notice the abnormality of this banquet, Eris may not be called a "plotter" or a "manipulator", however as a queen, she have to have a manipulative capacity and personality so that other Kingdoms will be inclined to invest to her Kingdom.

So she naturally can understand some points of the plans of her brother, if anything she have a hunch that  Loki wants to drag one of this wretched individuals out of their hiding holes, but she doesn't know who, so she can just have a frown on her face like she is solving a mathematical equation.

"Please don't make your sister worry about you again."

She just muttered and wish for her brother to not get in trouble because of his plots, ever again.

Oroboros however have different worries, Oroboros is not the best book in the shelf, he may have a long life but he have to embarrassingly admit that he is not smart, however he do knew one thing.

Loki's plan will shake the jelly like peace of the world and will make it in the verge of collapse, or atleast after the plan is realized.

However, he doesn't have a way to stop it, hell he doesn't even know the rough outline of his plan, he just knew that this event is plotted and can just guess how the plot will work but will never come to a good conclusion.

He can just swear one thing, wether Loki plans to flip the world upside down or make the hell freeze over...

"I will never let anyone of my kin die again."

And if Loki's plan is to interfere with his oath, he will do anything, even if that means destroying his neutral allegiance, to stop him.

Lucifer didn't thought of anything, he just silently looked at Loki like his Elder Sister Selaphiel, his eyes is full of disdain.

"To make yours truly dance in the palms of his hands, you will regret this, Loki."

All of the Rulers, or most of them are contimplating about this hidden plot, however Idun just looked at them with playful eyes, however her eyes who are like a curious child are now nowhere to be seen and only sharp green colored pupils that seem to peirce any fogs in sight is visible.

She broke into a smirk that immediately disappeared, her thoughts are a mystery and only she herself can understand what she is thinking.

[Loki's POV]

I almost broke into a laughter upon seeing the looks of the Winged Sibling (Selaphiel and Lucifer) in front of me, even though they are both Morningstars, their stares and gazes are different.

Selaphiel looks like she's about to expose my crime in a trial court, however Lucifer is full of disdain and is basically glaring at me as if he's about to punch me in the face. Seems like he's annoyed when he realized that he's appearance in this banquet is controlled.

I of course also noticed the confused gazes of Oroboros and my sister, but I ignored them because no matter how they contemplate, I am pretty sure that they will come to a very wrong conclusion.

I just put my elbow in the table and make my head rest in my palms, Alice looked at me and made an eye sign, asking if she can continue.

I just blinked in which she immediately understood the meaning, she immediately continued the Thesis Defense like presentation of the qualifications of Sigurd.

Actually, she have to ask the permission of Sigurd for this, but Sigurd is actually being "controlled" by her to a certain extent, so she is actually the one who made Sigurd give her permission to speak after she asked me if she can continue.

She seem to not be used to undercover things huh? It seems like she is very inclined to total background works before she met me.

Hmm, oh well, everyone have their first time so it's not really her fault.

She immediately started to raise the points of her "master" Sigurd that qualifies him on being a hero.

"In being a Hero, three points have to be met."

Damn, it's really like a topic defense, if other people saw how we deliberate our members, they will surely cry tears of blood because of disappointment.

"First, being a ruler needs a race to rule and represent.

Sigurd-Sama is a Dragon Slayer of the Human Race and is here to ask you to give him the permission to represent and be the voice of the said Race."

She paused for a while to make us absorb the details, all of us have a little nod or just a gesture of affirmation towards this first point. After all, like I said earlier, a Ruler will not even be a Ruler if he doesn't have a race to rule over or the said race is not recognize or have too little population to be recognized by the world.

So all Rulers here have to recognize this point.

After a second of pause, she continued.

"Second, a ruler needed a territory to manage that said race.

Camelot is one of the vassal nation of the Human Empire of Tyrfing and is the choice of Sigurd-Sama to be the place in which he will manage the human race after much deliberation from his executives."

This raised a little objection from my sister, she coughed a little bit, cathing the attention of Alice.

"But Camelot is a Vassal Nation right? Then that means it is technically not a property of Sigurd but the Emperor of the human Empire, why would Sigurd choose it as a territory?"

Alice contemplated for a while because she saw her Stupid excuse of a master to immediately sank into helplessness, this person really will become a great puppet.

Alice  nodded slightly and answered in behalf of his master who doesn't have any answer on my sister's question.

"Camelot is supposed to be the place of administration to a province that is supposed to be set up in the south part of the continent, but they have failed in sweeping the south and just instead became a vassal nation, meaning that the owner of this place is the "King" of Camelot even though he is just like manager of this place and not a "Magistrate", the main executive of this place is just called Magistrate because of convenience."

Alice paused looking at my sister that once again raised her opinion towards Alice, even the other Rulers looked like they are shocked, after all, admitting that they failed in conquering the south means admitting that Tyrfing is scared shitless of Valentine and just choose to not care about them and look at other places while hugging themselves in fear.

Good thing Alice doesn't care about Tyrfing or its face so she blatantly said that and acted as if she is uncomfortable with what she is saying. My sister nodded with an evident smirk on her face.

Hey did you just asked her that to smother in Sigurd's face that Camelot is nothing but a vassal state now? That's so evil that I hope I am the one who did that.

Of course I didn't say anything like that and is currently listening to the impending signal of Alice that will be heard in 3, 2, 1...

"Third, being a ruler Requires Strength. My master is one of the only four humans to slay a Dragon, an existence supposed to be above the reach of any humans.

Thus my master is confident of his god given strength and is prepared to fight any of you on the spot and make the others decide wether or not his strength is enough to be the protector of humanity."

All of the Rulers focused on this point and immediately came to a realization of my intentions, that I bet is so far from the truth. My so called intentions to end the life of Sigurd.

"Is anyone of the Rulers of the Major Races wants to Volunteer to test the Prowess of Sigurd-Sama."

I immediately raised my hand like that of a bored man that just raised his hand on class because he knows the answer and he doesn't have anything to do. However, as part of my act I gave a V shaped smile as I looked at Sigurd and slowly said.

"How about me?"

Alice then also acted, immediately staring at me with wide and terrified eyes, she looked at the other Rulers with plead "evident" in her eyes. However before anyone can even answer, Sigurd said.

"I accept."

Alice immediately pulled the broad shoulder of Sigurd and looked at him in the eyes.

Hey I'm getting jealous here.

"...but My Lord...!"

Sigurd just smiled like he is about to bet his life on a fight and if people doesn't know that all of this scenes is orchestrated, then this will be a heartwarming one. But I'm still jealous so I have to give Alice a little "punishment" later on.

"Hehe, seems like he accepted Anna-san~"

I pointed my fingers at Sigurd in which he immediately tensed up as he immediately made a ready stance.

"Well then, let's begin."

As I said that, a tentacle appeared in my finger that shooted out in the nose and mouth of Sigurd, he immediately fell into the ground as he started to screech in emmense agony.

"GYAAAAAHH!! AAAGAAAAAAGH!! GWAAAAAAAA!!!"

This spell of mine is something that can kill by stimulating the pain receptors of  a person, that means the person inflicted by the spell will feel all kinds of pain in the most painful way that existed.

Giving birth, being burned alive, being kicked in the balls, being skinned, joints dislocated, teared achilles and all of the pains imaginable, but of course I don't want him dead for now so I made him activate his Thunder Magic by also controlling his mind.

"RRRGH...! GRRRARGH!"

He once again groaned and his eyes started to shine a golden light and sparks of electricity worth of thousands of bolts discharged out of him, making Lucifer and Selaphiel who is in different sides of him to stretch their wings to defend against the sparks.

After a minute or two, he calmed down having cold sweat in his forehead looking at me with dread in his eyes.

"Godamnit...!" I immediately pounced in the table and is about to engage with him.

This act is to make the other rulers believe that their conjecture of me wanting Sigurd dead is true. With this, they will not be able to know my true intentions.

"Loki!"

Two women behind me  hugged my stomach and looked at me with their heterochromatic and green colored eyes.

"That's enough!"

They hollered but I slapped their hands away.

"No, it's not."

My sister immediately grabbed my wrist that just formed a fist and gripped it tightly, creaking sound of cracking bones and fleshy sounds of tearing muscles can be heard.

"It is enough."

She pulled me out of the table, I immediately sat in my seat and smashing the table with my fist that got injured by my sister, because it really hurts like a bitch, just a dent is formed in front of my seat and didn't destroyed the table.

And just like that, the Huge Farce, or rather, the Test of Strength ended in a solemn note.