"Regarding the identity issue, it will indeed beco a bit more complicated."
When discussing this topic, Erald's expression beca sowhat serious: "Without a doubt, before we truly place you in the position of the Scepter, we still need to gain Her Majesty's approval…"
"But there's been a conflict between her and ."
Erald Sparrow emphasized her situation: "I don't believe that by just reappearing in front of her, she would simply make peace with ."
"Then I'm afraid we need to first see what the nature of the 'conflict' you ntioned is."
Erald showed a sowhat curious expression: "So, do you mind sharing with us? Why exactly did you have a conflict with Her Majesty back then?"
There was no imdiate response to this, as Erald Sparrow had already fallen into silence.
However, everyone present knew that Erald Sparrow was actually weighing the pros and cons, so they didn't urge her but waited quietly instead.
A mont later, Erald Sparrow sighed.
"After I stepped off the battlefield back then, many doubts arose in my heart."
She began to speak: "Among these doubts were 'what exactly does the Magic Kingdom select Magical Girls for,' 'what are Magical Girls in the eyes of the Kingdom,' and 'is the interworld really unforgivable,' among others. Many of these questions I can barely recall now. But, I did question the significance of my participation in that war and that slaughter. In fact, I even began to question whether the Magic Kingdom truly represents justice."
"We all know about that, young one."
Erald gently explained: "Not to ntion a country, even a small team or organization will always have all sorts of people, and there will surely be bad ones among them. No organization can dare guarantee its purity, not even the Magic Kingdom."
"...I'm not questioning whether there are bad people in the Magic Kingdom."
Erald Sparrow paused: "What I want to know is, in that war, in that 'Garden Defense Battle,' were we truly shields for the good or accomplices to the bad? Did our victory in this war actually indirectly further the goals of certain bad people?"
"You're quite good at hindsight, young one."
Erald tilted her head, resting her cheek in one hand: "In war, simply protecting ourselves was exhaustive enough, not to ntion that we had so many Luennolay civilians behind us. We won the war, saving the entire Luennolay and even countless civilians from other Kingdoms—how could that possibly be a bad thing?"
"I understand; I'm not saying we should have surrendered or handed victory over. Magical Girls are ant to protect everyone; Magical Girls are ant to stop invasions. This is a belief we all share. In such a situation, we had no choice but to give our all to drive the enemy back."
Erald Sparrow took a deep breath: "But, precisely because of this, precisely because the Magical Girls I've seen are so kind, so innocent, so noble, carrying the belief of saving the suffering people, sacrificing their lives in desperate situations... I am unwilling and unable to accept it. I can't bring myself to believe that such beliefs are being exploited, used by certain people to fulfill their vile desires."
"Ha, that sounds like you're accusing ."
Erald blinked: "After all, at that ti, the supre command over Luennolay was in my hands. I was the one who ordered those children to whichever battlefield with whatever commands. Or to put it more brutally, I was the one who 'decided how they'd die.'"
"But you did it to protect the city, not out of so selfish motive, right?"
Erald Sparrow looked at her without expression: "After all, you personally went to the frontlines, almost becoming the only Gemstone Scepter in history to be killed."
"I must correct so rumors about , that although I fought a tough battle, it wasn't that dangerous."
Erald closed her eyes and waved her hand: "But the rest is not a problem, young one, I'm glad that you can understand my contribution in this matter."
"That is one of the reasons I am willing to cooperate with you."
Erald Sparrow refocused on the center of the table in front of her: "In any case, after hearing so unreliable bits of news and realizing that the nature of the interworld war might not be so simple, it dawned on that my comrades'—their sacrifice could be tainted... I was very angry, and it so happened that soone from the Rose Palace t with then."
"It seems you're quite unwilling to address Her Majesty directly." Erald comnted.
"During that eting, I learned so truths."
Erald Sparrow didn't respond to Erald's comnt but instead continued unfazed: "But when I voiced the doubts within my heart seeking an answer, the result left ... very disappointed."
"Her Majesty wouldn't answer you?" Erald asked.
"No, she did answer, at least part of it."
Saying this, Erald Sparrow's expression turned slightly inscrutable: "But these answers either did confirm that this war wasn't pure, or they were just very... strange."
"Strange?"
"Yes, I don't know how to describe it, but it always felt like the things she answered were entirely different from what I wanted to ask."
Erald Sparrow chose her words carefully, slowly revealing the truth: "Even when she refused to answer certain questions and remained silent, that silence left feeling very…"
She stopped here, completely pausing.
As if it was hard to find the corresponding words, Erald Sparrow paused long before speaking again: "...Never mind, in hindsight, it might have just been my illusion. Back then, I was indeed too sensitive, even overreacting to many things, which is why one conversation made feel so strange."
"But one thing was not wrong, and that is, upon realizing that the interworld war was indeed not a glorious, just, or even pure war, the anger in my heart overshadowed all other emotions."
"I loudly questioned her, asking what exactly this country regarded Magical Girls as, and what about our dreams, our beliefs, our emotions, which were originally the standards for selecting Magical Girls—what did those count for? Does everything have to be trampled to worthlessness, our efforts beco laughably futile, to satisfy certain people?"
"And in this situation, she just asked one question in return."
—[So, are you willing to pledge your loyalty to and beco my Sapphire Wand?]
[If you swear to right now, you can be crowned as the hero of the Garden Defense Battle and beco the head of the Magical Affairs Institute.]
This question is sothing Erald Sparrow can never forget.
The mont she heard this question, the kind of anger that almost shot to the brain and engulfed all rationality, the disappointnt that extinguished all enthusiasm, and the sorrow that swept everything up within—it was such a complex emotion, perhaps her first experience in life.
"...And it's because of that very emotion that I refused her almost without hesitation, loudly declaring: 'I will never be this damned Gemstone Scepter. Those children who have died, and those who are still lying in convalescent hos—each one is more deserving of this Gemstone Scepter than I am. Do you want to betray their sacrifice, steal their efforts, and beco a charlatan?'"
Saying this, she showed a bitter smile: "And that was the end of everything."
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