Los cackled at Hort and Kudo’s panicked response, tapping the Staff of Ludens against her shoulder. “To whom art thou directing these excuses? Dost imagine I am a witch who would scold thee for thy lack of sense simply because thou didst argue for the necessity of war?”
“N-No, but still─!”
“Then rejoice in my pardon! I have a great love of unending debate which seeks to answer the unanswerable! ’Tis as thou didst state, young Sayb: war is a dust-up between one cause and another. History adjudges the victors to be on the side of right, while the losers go down as an evil best destroyed.
“Ah, I will have the booze. Not too hot, now.”
Los produced a wooden cup and held it out toward Kudo, who filled it, warmed it, and handed it back to her.
“Now listen, Sayb. Justice is terribly complicated. Throughout every corner of the world, thou shalt find peace built on someone’s suffering. Even if dost attempt to treat everyone with an equal hand, ’twill never go as thou wishest. As for why, well, ’tis simple: because people are not born equal.”
Los looked at Hort, Kudo, and Saybil in turn.
“Each of you hast thine individual strengths, and you all know which tasks are best left to one another. But suppose a terribly inept and powerless individual should join your number─would any of you entrust them with thy work?”
All three shook their heads.
“’Tis what it means to have a monopoly on power. Those who are powerless, and so are tasked with nothing, can decide nothing for themselves. Even should they find themselves dissatisfied with the distribution of rations you three have agreed upon together, they would have no means of opposing you.”
“But I’d give everyone a fair portion!” Hort pouted.
Los grinned at her. “Then what if thy feeble companion asked for more? ‘’Tis insufficient! You hoard the best food for yourselves! I have every right to eat the same food as you, and in the same quantity.’”
“They could just eat the same food as us. Problem solved, right?”
“As mages, thou and young Kudo are prodigious eaters. And Kudo is quite large. Still wilt thou share the same portion with all, I wonder? What will happen when the stockpiles run low?”
Hort frowned, holding back her frustration. “…Well… To each according to their need, then…is how I guess it might go…”
“’Tis quite the pickle. Suppose that in the end there remains only enough food for three. One of the four must starve that the other three survive.”
“I-I’d just go and find more food somewhere else!”
“A fine idea. The happy little family of three next door has enough for three, why not procure an extra portion from them?”
“But then they would starve!”
“So what now? Will the four of you set out together on a quest for provisions that may or may not even exist, splitting your meager rations and risking the death of all?”
Hort jammed her head into the blanket Saybil was wrapped in, writhing about and wailing. Kudo topped up his own cup, and Saybil gazed into his empty one.
“…Is there a right answer?” he asked.
“No, there is not. Each must simply walk the path they think is right. So long as a fresh store of provisions does not appear out of nowhere, of course.”
“And that kind of thing just doesn’t happen, does it…”
“You just appeared outta nowhere, though.”
“Huh?” Saybil looked up at Kudo. Then he got it. “So your story… It all ends happily ever after if some huge new source of food suddenly appears, right?”
“Suppose you three were to keep this new food source all for yourselves, handing none over to your fourth companion. They are unnecessary for the functioning of the state, after all, and in truth are nothing but a burden. Providing food only to the capable is good for the stability of the nation─such is the situation in this New World to which we have come.”
“No. The situation’s a little worse that.”
The tense voice came from outside the tent. Four heads popped out, only to see Har Bell standing there, worry written all over her face. Her long leporine ears seemed to have picked up their conversation even from her cabin on the ship.
“There is not enough even for three, so they’re eating the fourth to survive. That is the current state of my homeland.” Har Bell’s face was rigid. “Tell me, Loux Krystas, Dawn Witch, you who have lived for three hundred years. This nation now suddenly has a food source, more than its rulers could ever need─but they have already eaten the fourth. And if that fourth was my family, what then? Would it be evil for me to wish for the rulers’ destruction?”
Saybil half sprang to his feet to ask what she meant by that, but Los silently motioned him back down. She looked straight at Har Bell, whose eyes were twitching wildly, as if she were begging to be pushed over the edge.
“To wish it is not evil… But should thy rage and animosity stain with blood a land where peace is on the horizon─then history will surely name thee evil.”
“So what do I do…?!” Har Bell implored her, voice full of anguish.
Saybil held a hand to his chest.
It can’t be… The lack of mana, the strict hierarchy of this society─where are the leaders who rule this place getting their mana? How are they prolonging their lives?
“If thy wish is for revenge, there is naught that I can do. ’Tis a hell through which thou must walk alone. If thy desire is for salvation, however─then I vow that my fledglings and I will do everything in our power to assist thee.”
Har Bell’s eyes filled with tears. “…I want you to take my family─the ones who are left. Take them with you back to the Forbidden Land.”
“That request is easily granted. We have cabins and to spare.”
Los grinned, and Hort who was by her side grabbed her own antlers in realization.
“Oh! S-Sor…! Listen, Har Bell! I know I’ve got horns, but I’m totally not important or anything…! I’m just a regular person! Umm, like a Nurabehn with horns!”
“I’ve always known. You’re far too friendly with the common people,” she replied, smiling through the tears. Suddenly a little pebble hit her on the head. Har Bell looked in the direction it had come from and saw the priest looking down at them from the deck of the ship. He tapped his ear.
“You are not the only one with good hearing, Har Bell the Ignas. If we’re to be sharing secrets, come aboard and do it in the captain’s quarters, where Zero has set up a barrier.”