Once everyone got settled and up to speed, Camelia, who had stayed relatively silent all this while, spoke up.
“Why don’t we have the main culprit out? After all, we have no plans to harm Nuwa.”
Nuwa, who was going through the slightest sense of regret at involving someone crazy like Arachne, nodded her head.
The light in her eyes dimmed slightly and soon was replaced by a tinge of intelligence and cunning. Her demeanor changed completely, from head to toe. Even though she only had the aura of a Duke, everyone present had the feeling that they were facing someone incredibly dangerous.
At the same time, this was an aura that was too familiar for the women there.
Theresa's smile had long since vanished as she looked at Nuwa or rather Echidna. Pandora closed her eyes, recalling memories from the distant past. Persephone twirled her hair, clearly feeling uncomfortable and not as nonchalant as she wished to appear. Lilith’s grip on her sword tightened ever so slightly. She still remembered the circumstances behind how she reached the King rank. The hatred and despair she felt at the time could not just be forgotten no matter what.
Arachne Milaris wished to slam the table and rush at Echidna then and there. It was only thanks to a supreme feat of will that she managed to control her impulse and not make a fool of herself.
Camelia was not feeling any better than all the women here. Unlike all of them, Camelia did not have any romantic feelings for Mars in the past. But Mars and Blaze were her friends, perhaps her best friends even. They were people she knew she could give her back to no matter the circumstance.
She had always been feeling like everything happened because of her carelessness. After all, if she had refused to let Ibuki join their groups back then, the sealing would have been successful.
In the end though, couldn’t they say that everything went back to Echidna herself?
If Echidna did not exist.
If Echidna did not start the war.
Would Blaze and Mars still be alive and well now? Would Sol have managed to grow with a complete family and not as an orphan?
The whims of Fate were hard to predict for even the gods and goddesses and at the moment she was nothing but a simple mortal with no power of her own.
A heavy silence filled the room. Echidna gazed at each and every girl present without showing any signs of fear. Though she knew that their decisions would change her destiny, Echidna refused to beg much less plead.
Theresa was usually very aloof when it came to most matters. But she was also fiercely loyal to her friends.
“This... thing is possessing my little Nuwa. Just for that alone, she should be killed. From what I understood she would have entirely corroded and erased Nuwa's sense of self if she could. So, before we continue, let me ask you. Can you say, with absolute certainty, that you can control her?”
Theresa could do nothing for those who were already dead. But Nuwa was very much alive and she would not let something happen to her.
“If you cannot give me 100% assurance of little Nuwa’s safety, then you better believe me when I say that I will kill her. Even if I can do nothing now. I will find a way to completely erase her soul. You can trust me on that.” She gave a toothy grin full of cheekiness. But Sol knew she was not joking around.
Theresa was not someone who could be confined to mere common sense and Sol had no doubt that if she was serious, she could find a way to somehow succeed. This was even more so now that she had become a bonafide King.
“I have full control of the situation.” Sol was not underestimating the abilities of someone like Echidna. But he did have the situation under control.
“Is that so?” Theresa nodded, “I believe you. You are a miracle boy. So, I am sure you have your ways. But please... Do not disappoint me.” While she did not say what she would do in case she was disappointed, Sol did not wish to find that out.
With Theresa closing her mouth, it was now time for Persephone to speak. “Lady Echidna. It has been a while.” Unlike the others on this table. Persephone’s relationship with Echidna was a little more complicated.
After all, Echidna was once a dear friend of Ambrosia. As such, while they were not close, Persephone did have many deals with Echidna in the past.
Echidna gave one look at Persephone and nodded, her eyes softening ever so slightly. She hated being treated like a criminal but there was nothing she could do.
“Daughter of Ambrosia. I was quite surprised when you joined this so-called Hero group, two decades ago.” It was a genuine surprise. Witches were above most of the mundane affairs of this world and Persephone had no reason to join hands with Mars’ group.
“I was dazzled by the beauty of their stories and decided to become a character in it rather than stay as a bystander.” Persephone placed a hand on her chest, her expression filled with reminiscence. “The end of that story may have been a tragedy... But I believe it was nonetheless an epic tale. One that will be remembered for decades to come.”
“The story of how a man too sure of himself was betrayed by a companion and caused his and his wife's death?” Echidna could not hold back her laughter. “To call this a tragedy is an insult. It was nothing but a comedy. O poison princess, could you not make me laugh with your words?”
For the very first time, the façade of calmness on Persephone’s face cracked. Green light filled her eyes as she gazed at Echidna.