How long had it been since she last saw them?
It didn't take long for her to finish telling all the questions and answers. Jibril fell silent, and her lowered eyes were slightly dazed.
She had deliberately avoided them, and even the reasons for not seeing them again easily surfaced in her mind. The curiosity and the desire to see new and amazing things and great feats had also been buried, as if nothing had happened at all.
After the God of War Artosh issued the order to wait for the opportunity, what surprised Azril and Rafil was that Jibril, who used to be unable to settle down and always sneaked out, even after her body shrank after failing a challenge against a higher race, was now very obediently staying in Avant Heim. She was so obedient that they could hardly believe that she was that incredibly rebellious outlier.
But Jibril was indeed here, just staying in her own room. Whether it was her usual speaking or her other ways of dealing with Azril's increasingly frequent harassment, there was not the slightest abnormality.
As Jibril's words ended, silence appeared in this magnificent great hall. The God of War seemed to have fallen into deep thought because of Jibril's words. He was resting His hand on His forehead and leaning on His divine throne in contemplation, while Jibril and Azril were still kneeling in their original places.
"Well~, in the end, it's just words used by the weak who can't resist to comfort themselves, right?" It wasn't just the God of War who was thinking about Jibril's words. Azril was also thinking about them. After a short while, she mumbled, "Absolute power cannot be erased by words. The countless enemies we have defeated in the past did not change anything because they were weaker than us... Seriously, what kind of strange guys did Jibril meet when she went out~~"
Just like a sister who was complaining that her most precious sister was abducted, Azril complained while leaning over and rubbing against Jibril, and was then pushed away from her face in disgust.
[That's not it.]
An unexpected statement that made Azril, who wanted to take the opportunity to mess with Jibril, stiffen all over. These were the words from the god she revered.
[The struggling weak...]
He was not speaking to Azril. The God of War was still talking to Himself.
[It's not about becoming the strongest, but about yearning for an equally matched and enjoyable battle, or rather, enjoying the pleasure of successfully killing a strong enemy after a fierce battle...]
[So, they yearn to fight against enemies stronger than themselves... My outlier.]
The God of War, who had been muttering to Himself as if He had found an answer, suddenly raised His head. The sharp gaze with a golden light was now jumping with excitement. He suddenly called out Jibril's name.
"My Lord, I am here," Jibril pushed Azril aside and said respectfully while lowering the wings on her waist.
[Do you agree with this answer? The answer you spoke of.]
"..."
Biting her lower lip hard, it was a hesitation that even Azril could see. But this hesitation ultimately turned into determination. Under the gazes of Artosh and Azril, Jibril nodded calmly and slowly.
"I cannot comprehend Your power, my Lord, but for me, the feeling of challenging someone stronger than myself, repeatedly losing and fighting again, racking my brain and using all kinds of methods to make myself stronger, and finally achieving victory is what truly brings me an immense amount of happiness," Jibril closed her eyes tightly in recollection. A joyful smile even appeared on the corners of her mouth, as if she was re-experiencing that comfortable feeling that made her mind and body relax.
"It is incredibly exciting and incredibly fulfilling. The time I spent working hard to become stronger, the sense of fulfillment during battle. The measure of 'strong' itself is meaningless. All I need to know is that a Dragon is stronger than me. How much stronger is completely irrelevant. I just want to enjoy that happy time and will never be satisfied... My Lord, this is my truest feeling."
Without a single omission, she laid bare her truest thoughts in front of her creator. Jibril once again returned to silence.
Silence, but this silence did not last for too long, because what followed and filled this great hall was the laughter of the God of War, a wild laughter!
[Ha, hahahahahahahahahaha!]
What a joyful laughter. It was as if the parched land that had been dry for countless years had finally received the nourishment of rain. The God of War was overjoyed from the bottom of His heart, laughing at the emotion that His little wing had experienced.
Jibril and Azril did not join in this laughter. They just lowered their heads even more respectfully.
After a long time, the God of War Artosh finally reined in His laughter and once again turned His gaze to His wing.
[Does this not completely negate My dilemma?]
"Oh my gosh!!!"
Just this one short sentence made Azril let out a gasp of shock. The emerald-haired Flügel hurriedly hugged Jibril next to her, wanting to quickly explain something. However, Artosh just casually pointed a finger at her, and she could not make any sound.
[Is this the concrete manifestation of the answer I have been so desperately seeking? Or is it the way of life for the weak?]
[My wing, you have seen a scenery that I could not see... Be proud of it.]
His voice was almost sounded happy. To Azril's shock, the God of War Artosh even stood up directly from His divine throne. He was looking out, His gaze penetrating the entire existence of Avant Heim, looking out at the continent below in the sky.
[Is it there? The weaklings who yearn to challenge Me...]
Words like a murmur came out of the God of War's mouth. It was an endless anticipation and yearning, an excitement that was almost unbearable.
[Have you noticed the recent abnormality, Azril?]
"Yes, it seems that there are little rats that are imitating our power to provoke those groundhogs. Should I go and deal with them?" Azril said respectfully.
[Is that so? It seems that My enemy has already made a move...]
Every syllable was filled with an exclamation of joy.
Although her master, whom she served, was filled with joy because of this, Jibril realized something. She looked up from her kneeling position, and her eyes, which she could not control, widened. A hint of fear that should never have appeared was even present.
"My Lord, they are just weaklings without any power," Jibril's voice trembled almost imperceptibly, but her words were met with an emphatic denial.
[No, they are absolutely not weaklings. They are worthy of being called My opponents, enemies that I must take seriously.]
His sharp gaze with a golden light was genuinely joyful. He was even incredibly regretful, regretting that He had understood this truth too late.
[Go, Azril.]
Turning His body again to gaze at the continent below the sky, the God of War Artosh said with great solemnity.
[Deliver My greetings to the enemy I have chosen.]
"...Yes, my Lord."
Kneeling on the ground and covering her chest, Azril accepted the command. It was only at a time like this that one could see her different from her usual comical appearance, showing the dignity of a commander of all the Flügel.