SHK CH 666 (Patreon)

Once everyone was installed, Camelia, who had stayed relatively silent all this while was the first to speak.

“Why don’t we have the main culprit out? After all, we have no plans to harm Nuwa.”

Nuwa, who had been regretting a little involving someone like Arachne nodded.

The light in her eyes dimmed slightly and soon was replaced by a more intelligent light. Her demeanor changed completely and though she only had the aura of a Duke, all the people 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 past. Persephone twirled her hair, clearly feeling uncomfortable and not as nonchalant as she wished to appear. Lilith’s grip on her sword tightened slightly. She still remembered the circumstances behind how she reached the King rank. The hatred and despair she felt then could hardly vanish simply like this.

Arachne Milaris wished to slam the table and rush at Echidna. 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. People she knew she could always give her back to.

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?

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 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 without showing any fear. Though she knew that their decisions would change her destiny, Echidna refused to beg nor plead.

They were not her equals. They were nothing but ants who had the luck of having someone like Sol on their side. Unless Anubis, Ambrosia, or…Sol directly intervened, her expression would stay stoic. She was unrepentant.

She recognized Sol as someone equal to her and even superior in a few ways. But that was all. As for the threat of death? A snicker escaped her. She might have feared dying a few months ago. But now she did not.

She had already seen the possibility of Godhood with her own eyes. She had participated in the completion of the Seven Chakra Opening. Even if they killed her now, she could die happy knowing that her thousand years of research were essential to Sol's success. Her only regret would be that she might not see the true birth of a new god.

Her snicker, albeit unintentional, was like a fire lighting a powder keg. Golden thread flew from Arachne and pink light covered Pandora. Lilith stood up and nearly attacked. Since she could directly attack the soul, she did have no fear of hurting Nuwa.

Yet, even as they all moved to attack, the sound of a finger tapping the table stopped everything. As if frozen in time, Arachne thread hovered in the air, just inches away from Echidna. Lilith’s sword energy was eradicated and the pink light from Pandora was snuffed out instantly.

Everyone turned to look at Sol. His face was impassive, “I have already said that for now, I would not allow you to kill her.”

“Sol, are you serious!?” Arachne called out, forgetting all forms of politeness as she called him directly by his name. “She is the murderer of your parents. Her action caused Lustburg to lose so much. Have you not seen the monuments dedicated to all those dead during the war eighteen years ago and yet you wish to protect this monster!”

If eyes were enough to kill, Sol knew that he would have died ten times over from the glare Arachne was giving him. Yet his expression did not change.

“Sit down.” His voice was calm. But his eyes made it clear that he would accept no rebellion.

Feeling the pressure under his gaze. Arachne bit her lips tightly. There were many things she wanted to say. In the end, she took a deep shaky breath and sat down.

Satisfied with her decision, Sol gave a look at all the women present and spoke, “Let’s start from the beginning, please. Echidna is undoubtedly a sinner and she will be treated as such. But she will not face the Death Penalty nor will she be tortured.”

Arachne let out a groan of indignation and even Pandora frowned a little though she stayed silent.

Theresa gave a small laugh, “Dear Sol, if there is nothing, we can do to her. Why bring this farce forward?” Her voice was laughing but her eyes were not.

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 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 this.” 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 was a 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 way. But please…Do not disappoint me.” While she did not say what she would do in case she was disappointed, Sol had no wish to find 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 the 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 a little. 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 laughed, “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 first time, the façade of calmness on Persephone’s face cracked. Green light filled her eyes as she gazed at Echidna.