—Haru Heartfilia.
She was a flugel that appeared suddenly one thousand years ago, and she unified the world in the blink of an eye.
While possessing taboo wings of pitch black, she was more beautiful than anyone. Even the flugels, who place heavy emphasis on wing color for beauty, had to admit this, according to Hina of the Seven Maidens.
She was strong, just endlessly, relentlessly strong. People, monsters, and even grimmfolk were just small fry to her. Even now, the reason she conquered the world is shrouded in mystery.
However, according to the people who knew her… Haru Heartfilia may have been an invader, but she wasn't a tyrant. She used force to unite the world but did not rule through tyranny.
Noblesse oblige. The higher class has an obligation to those lower than them. Being a ruler comes with responsibilities. According to an elf that knew her at the time, this was her favorite saying.
Even if you invade using force, once they're under your rule and are your citizens, you have a duty to protect them. You must take responsibility to protect their way of life, protect their futures, and turn the futures of their children as firm as bedrock.
That was what she said.
You might say, "Like an invader such as Haru can talk."
Most likely, this was exactly what people who rebelled against her said at the time. However, it was also true that she never burdened her citizens more than was necessary. In fact, more than once or twice she'd deposed tyrants just like that who were making their people suffer, and as a result, saved the country.
Haru Heartfilia was no saint. However, was she really a villain, either?
...Now, one thousand years later, there are a lot of scholars who raise doubts about her rare breed of 'villainy.'
Why did she set out to conquer the world? That is unknown, even now.
The only ones who would know, her Twelve Zodiac's Guardians , are now fearful enemies of humanity, and there is no hope of conversation with them. However, given that she never once acted like a tyrant, it might be that she didn't do so out of personal greed. The truth is unknown.
The truth remains that we as humanity rejected her, brought her down, and escaped from her rule.
However, the result of that wasn't the dawn of humanity but only the happiness of the grimmfolk. It wasn't only humanity that thought of Haru Heartfilia as a threat. Even the grimmfolk truly feared her and were wary. They feared the great power of the Black Empress, the Twelve Guardians that followed her, and the heroes that were gathered due to her power, and they waited.
Once their greatest threat was removed, the grimmfolk moved immediately.
Humans, who lost Haru, their ruler, and split into fractions, created a chance that the grimmfolk didn't miss as they went on the attack. In response, the Seven Maidens of Midgar and other warriors of the time rose up against them. However, they no longer had the unity of when they were opposing Haru, and that fight ended in our loss.
Sixty percent of the world became the grimmfolk's territory, and humanity's living space was compressed considerably. And now, humanity only counts 30% of the world as their territory.
The Seven Maidens of Midgar are now three, and it wouldn't be surprising if those three are just barely keeping the world from crumbling around us. It's only a temporary quiet, a peace on thin ice. It would no longer be surprising if our world were destroyed at any moment.
And what's more, we haven't found a way to break out of this situation, either.
***
—The world's totally losing?!
I finished reading, dumbfounded over just how badly the world was doing right now.
No, I knew that the grimm king was still around and that humanity was desperate enough to try to call a hero. But still, I was making light of the situation somewhere in my heart. I only thought of it like, 'Well, if I leave them alone, the Hero'll appear at some point and sort everything out, probably.'
I mean, this country is really pretty, and at first glance, it's the picture of peace. Normally, no one would assume the world was doing this badly. This is the first I'm hearing of humanity only living in 30% of the world.
No, well, I did kind of suspect it. Like, it did come to mind that countries are pretty small and squeezed together and stuff. I mean, this country, Svel, is smaller than Hokkaido, too. Not only that, but this is a major country founded by one of the Seven Maidens, so I did faintly wonder just how small the world was.
But in the game, entire countries were just out there on the map as icons. And even though they were countries, they were basically just large cities, which was a pretty common thing, so… I just didn't pay it that much attention. I was just like, 'I guess this is how things are.'
Yep, I was naive. This world's in danger.
But now that I think about it, I guess this situation was inevitable. The grimmfolk still have their grimm queen, as well as several of my Twelve Zodiac's Guardians. On the other hand, humanity lost me and the Twelve Zodiac's Guardians; and probably none of the high level fighters are around, either. All our levels in general are much lower, and four of the Seven Maidens are gone thanks to life spans.
...Of course we'd be on the ropes. In fact, it's nothing but a miracle that we're still holding on.
Man, I'm gonna have to hurry up and retrieve the Guardians that went to the grimmfolk's side or things'll be bad, won't they? From what I heard, they turned traitor due to their anger at the heroes defeating me, so I should be able to convince them to come back if I talk to them... Probably, definitely, most likely. I'm just barely able to be optimistic.
This'd just be a fun event in a game, but this world is super serious right now, and things're getting even worse...
Even though I don't care at all that I was defeated, the winners are all regretful. They've been driven far enough into a corner to be writing history books like this even... It's all just...
...Like, just...