Chapter 210: We Are the World, and the Rules We Set Are the Rules of the World
The Heian Capital was now completely out of control.
The Heavenly Fox was currently confronting Tamamo-no-Mae on her side, while the Great Bounded Field had been directly usurped by Noah into his Holy Lance. As a result, the defensive mechanisms of the Great Bounded Field were completely shut down by Noah. After the flames that had pursued malice vanished, other things disappeared along with them.
For example, goodness!
"It was only after I took control of the Great Bounded Field that I finally understood what this so-called Heian Capital truly is—what kind of place it really is."
Noah sat upon the great throne in the sky, with Morgan, Manaka Sajyou, Vivian, and Scáthach flying on either side of his throne.
Minamoto-no-Raikou, meanwhile, was held aloft by Vivian's Magecraft, flying at a slightly lower position—her status that of a prisoner permitted to listen.
"I originally thought that after seizing the Heian Capital, these puppets who only performed good deeds could also remain. If they wished, I could even tolerate the existence of these dolls, created through the burning of souls and inherently tainted with sin."
"Even if their very existence is an insult to the original people, it is the same for me."
"After all, they have already been born, and the original people have passed away—the sin does not lie entirely with them."
"But... after learning the truth of this Heian Capital, I could no longer keep them."
Hearing Noah's words, Morgan frowned slightly as she watched the flames and explosions that occasionally erupted in the once-peaceful Heian Capital, observing the Flame Walkers roaming its streets and alleys, burning houses and farmlands.
"Is it because they would turn into this?"
Noah nodded.
"Exactly, because they would turn into this—these beings are essentially Malice Collection Devices created by that Heavenly Fox. These dolls, forged from the Furnace Ash of the Soul, each only display their good side, while the stress, anger, malice, and other negative emotions generated in their lives are stored away."
"But this storage has its limits. If the limit is reached and the malice is not extracted, these beings will become as they are now."
"If extracted, the original doll would be refined into pure malice, which would then be offered as a sacrifice by that Heavenly Fox to the layer mentioned by Minamoto-no-Raikou, using the small wooden results."
"So these dolls are like living bombs—there is no reason to keep them."
Hearing this, Morgan nodded and fell silent, as did the others.
They had no objections to Noah's decision from the start. Even if the people in this city were not deserving of death, so what? Since this was a conquest, some innocents would inevitably perish—such is the nature of war.
And the fact that Noah was willing to explain it to them was the greatest kindness a ruler could offer.
Even Minamoto-no-Raikou understood this, so naturally, they did as well.
"Because these beings are fundamentally like this, after I shut down the Great Bounded Field's mechanism for suppressing malice, these dolls, which were originally connected to the Great Bounded Field, could no longer restrain the malice they had been storing."
"They have already become monsters..."
At this point, Noah turned his gaze to Minamoto-no-Raikou.
"Warrior known as Minamoto-no-Raikou, I can only say now that even if you wished to regret, I would no longer grant you that opportunity. Since I have already set foot upon this land, it has become my territory."
Hearing Noah speak thus, Minamoto-no-Raikou said nothing, merely lowering her head in silent acknowledgment.
This was also part of the agreement they had made from the beginning.
Moreover, based on her understanding of the lands under Noah's rule during her time in Rome City, she was well aware that allowing the people of this land to come under Noah's governance was itself a blessing.
Though she had no right to make decisions on behalf of this land's people, she could lead Noah here and would not voice any objections at this time.
Seeing her like this, Noah lightly tapped the armrest of his throne a few times, then smiled.
"Since this land now belongs to me, then as one of its people, you too should rightfully be my subject, no?"
Hearing Noah's words, Minamoto-no-Raikou looked up somewhat puzzled, only to find Noah's gaze fixed upon her, meeting her eyes directly.
"Warrior Minamoto-no-Raikou, capable individuals like you have always been welcomed here—the more, the merrier. Therefore, I will aid you in subjugating the Heian Capital. In exchange, would you be willing to become my sword?"
Upon hearing this, though unable to kneel in mid-air, Minamoto-no-Raikou still bowed her head toward Noah and offered a respectful bow.
"To earn your regard is my honor."
Minamoto-no-Raikou harbored no particular resistance toward Noah from the start.
Moreover, with all of Japan soon to belong to Noah, if she, as a warrior, could continue to act in that capacity, she felt no aversion to it. In fact, were she unable to act as a warrior, she would likely be at a loss as to what she could do in this era.
Hearing Minamoto-no-Raikou's response, Noah nodded.
"Very well, Minamoto-no-Raikou..."
At this point, Noah's gaze shifted toward Scáthach and Manaka Sajyou.
"...You and Scáthach... hmm, let's include Manaka as well. I grant you permission to enter the Great Yata Barrier and the Interstice of Reality, and pull out those Evil Spirits."
Hearing this, Minamoto-no-Raikou remained silent, Scáthach nodded, while Manaka smiled and posed a question to Noah.
"Do you intend to exterminate those Evil Spirits?"
Manaka's demeanor appeared quite casual, but Noah understood well that without needing to specify anything, merely hinting at any intention toward those Evil Spirits would ensure that once he handled other matters, he would inevitably hear news of Manaka Sajyou having eradicated them root and branch.
She was that kind of person—if not properly wielded, even the wielder of the gun could be wounded by the bullet.
But if properly mastered, she could unleash a power greater than the finest cold steel, for she was, after all, the bullet.
And Noah was clearly no clumsy wielder.
"No need, Manaka. We are the rulers of this world, and above the world, both humans and evil spirits have the right to exist—but just as living beings must eat and breathe, the world ultimately has its own rules."
Hearing Noah say this, Manaka Sajyou posed her second question.
"What if the evil spirits don't follow the rules?"
Manaka Sajyou was smiling, and now Noah laughed as well.
"Those who need to eat but refuse will starve; those who need to breathe but refuse will suffocate. The rules of the world are absolute in this way."
"I understand, Your Majesty Noah."
Manaka Sajyou indicated that she fully comprehended.
Then Noah opened the door for them, and Scáthach, Manaka Sajyou, and Minamoto-no-Raikou walked inside to seek out those evil spirits.
Afterward, Noah turned his gaze to Vivian.
"Vivian, lead the Ladies of the Lake and the Enforcement Knights to subdue the demons wandering within the Heian Capital."
"Yes."
Hearing Noah's words, Vivian bowed and flew off toward the Heian Plain.
Then Noah rose into the air, and the throne behind him vanished.
With everyone else gone, Noah extended his hand to Morgan.
"Let's go, Morgan. It's time for us to meet the little pen pal who has been in contact with me all along. And while we're at it, we should also address the issue of the Heavenly Fox."
Hearing this, Morgan slowly placed her hand in Noah's and nodded, flying with him toward the Great Bounded Field established by Tamamo-no-Mae.