I Don’t Want to Be a Heroic Spirit [336]

The crushing pressure that had enveloped the two guards wasn't limited to them alone. Everyone present, including Alice and the others, felt its oppressive weight bearing down on their hearts.

Instinctively, their eyes turned toward the source of this suffocating force.

"N-Nero… Sister Nero…"

Before them stood Nero, her petite figure upright and unwavering, exuding a presence so immense it seemed to pull the entire sky down upon them.

It was as though they were in the presence of a sovereign emperor, where bowing and prostrating oneself was the only natural response.

Before an emperor, a single misspoken word could be a death sentence.

Her emerald eyes, normally as radiant as sunlight on spring leaves, now glinted coldly like ancient ice. Her voice, though soft, carried an indomitable authority that brooked no defiance.

"Repeat the words you just said… Let me hear them again."

The guards froze in terror.

Every fiber of their being screamed at them that they would die if they dared to speak.

Not from repeating the words—no, even opening their mouths would seal their fate.

They would be executed by beheading.

Thrown to ravenous beasts.

Impaled on spikes.

Burned alive in roaring flames.

Death… death… death…!

An emperor's rage was said to leave corpses in its wake and rivers of blood flowing for miles.

Though Nero was always a figure of brilliance, purity, and liveliness, it was easy to forget—she was also a true "tyrant."

Nero's voice broke the silence, each word accompanied by a tangible intensification of the pressure weighing on the group.

"Alice, Princess of Belzerg, and I stand here as representatives of the Kingdom of Belzerg. Regardless of your reasons or whether this meeting is sincere or not…"

The invisible weight pressing on their shoulders grew heavier, more suffocating.

"…leaving us to wait at the gate while you 'report' our arrival? Absurd!"

Her words echoed like thunder, and the shockwaves of her fury rendered everyone's minds hazy and dull.

The two guards crumbled under the force of Nero's anger, falling to their knees and discarding their weapons. Their foreheads slammed against the ground as they prostrated themselves in desperation. Only in this position could they keep their sanity from shattering completely.

The wrath of an emperor was unbearable. Everyone could only grovel and pray, like helpless mortals pleading for mercy from an unstoppable natural disaster.

"Do you understand the implications of the words you just spoke? I could easily interpret them as an insult to the Kingdom of Belzerg! Do you even comprehend the weight of those words? Can you bear the consequences of your recklessness?"

Nero's questions made the two guards shiver uncontrollably. Cold sweat poured down their bodies, drenching their undershirts and dripping onto the ground beneath them.

Nero shifted her gaze from the trembling guards to the castle itself. Her brows furrowed tightly, and her piercing glare seemed to pierce through its walls.

Suddenly, everyone within the castle—whether princes, officials, or even servants—felt an inexplicable weight settle on their shoulders.

"Elroad!" Nero's voice rang out with an unyielding majesty. "Answer me! Is this truly your stance? Is this the decision you intend to make?"

Faced with Nero's overwhelming dominance, the Elroad authorities couldn't afford to delay any longer. They quickly sent someone of sufficient status to greet the visitors.

The man who emerged was unassuming in appearance, but his finely crafted robes betrayed his high standing.

Most notably, even under the lingering pressure from Nero's presence, he managed to stand upright and meet her gaze directly.

"It was indeed a grave discourtesy to leave the princess of an allied nation waiting outside," the man admitted with a bow. "I am Lagreklef, chancellor of Elroad. I hope you will allow us the opportunity to make amends for our earlier offense and to extend our proper hospitality."

Lagreklef's calm demeanor and introduction caught Nero's attention. She recalled hearing his name just the previous day during her walk with Yunyun.

The Elroad Kingdom, while officially ruled by its king and the first prince, was effectively managed by its chancellor. The king, often absent, had delegated administrative duties to the first prince, but the prince was entirely uninterested in governance, consumed instead by his obsession with gambling.

Thanks to Chancellor Lagreklef's tireless efforts, the kingdom had not only avoided collapse but continued to thrive. The citizens frequently ridiculed the prince as a "fool," while revering the chancellor for holding the nation together.

Now, the famed chancellor stood before them, demonstrating the composure and competence that had earned him the people's respect.

The crushing pressure dissipated gradually, like a receding storm. Nero glanced at the chancellor out of the corner of her eye and spoke coldly:

"This will not happen again."

Her words were blunt, offering no leeway for pleasantries.

Lagreklef lowered his head even further, showing no sign of offense at her tone.

"Please, follow me," he said respectfully.

The group followed Lagreklef into the royal castle.

There was, however, one minor hiccup.

Kazuma's legs had turned to jelly, and he couldn't move.

Even though Nero hadn't directed her pressure at them, the residual intensity had only caused Alice and Darkness to experience slight difficulty breathing. Kazuma, on the other hand, was paralyzed by sheer terror.

Darkness, unable to hide her irritation, muttered, "This guy really is useless," before helping him to his feet and dragging him along.

Once they caught up with Nero, Darkness leaned closer and whispered to her.

"Nero, wasn't that a bit much? What if your aggressive attitude ends up jeopardizing the negotiations? What if we can't secure the funding we need?"

Nero turned to face Darkness and, without lowering her voice, spoke loudly enough for everyone to hear.

"Darkness, you need to understand something. Was it us who acted aggressively, or was it them who disrespected us?"

Her sharp retort left Darkness momentarily speechless.

"Elroad provides Belzerg with financial aid, and in exchange, Belzerg offers military assistance. This is a transaction between nations—neither owes the other anything. Equality is the foundation of this relationship."

Nero's voice grew firmer, and her gaze swept over everyone in the group.

"Listen well, Darkness. Weak nations have no diplomacy. If you keep bending, you'll never stand upright again!"

The weight behind her words silenced any further objections.

Nero's anger was not without reason. She knew all too well the consequences of constant appeasement.

The blood-stained records of humiliation, the scars of surrendering sovereignty—they were lessons carved into history.

Fixing Darkness with an intense glare, Nero continued, "You represent the Kingdom of Belzerg. Your words and actions reflect upon our nation's dignity. Stand tall, and never bow your head to anyone. Whether or not they provide us with funding is irrelevant—we will not grovel for their favor!"

She paused briefly, her gaze hardening further.

"If they truly intend to refuse us, the outcome will be the same whether we act strong or weak. So why not show strength? Let them see clearly who they are dealing with!"

Nero's words weren't directed solely at Darkness—they were meant for Alice as well.

As the princess of Belzerg, Alice's status was second only to the king himself. She could not afford to show weakness.

Understanding Nero's message, Alice lifted her chin slightly, a hint of resolve glimmering in her eyes.

Meanwhile, Megumin and Yunyun stared at Nero with awe, while Aqua—surprisingly—remained uncharacteristically silent.

The self-proclaimed Goddess of Water, who had been scheming to replace Elroad's flag with the Axis Church's banner just moments ago, was now deep in thought.

She stroked her chin, her gaze fixed on Chancellor Lagreklef, her eyes flickering with an unreadable emotion.

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T/N: I SWEAR AQUA IM GONNA KILL YOU