Saya wasn’t in a state to create more Amrita, however. They would have to hold out with the current stockpiles for a while. Jubilia could tell that this was a negotiation based entirely on the flow of Amrita. As proof of that, those who had nothing to do with Amrita weren’t present: the Crestfolk.
They had obtained what they wished for as a result of the revolution. Lernaean promised to improve the treatment of those afflicted with bloodmark disease. The policy of sterilization had also been put to an end, of course.
Jubilia still felt uneasy, though. Was it right for them to be absent? She had recognized the Crestfolk as the Tainted before the revolution. She couldn’t cast away such preconceptions, but the boy named Nagi was close to them. That same boy was the lover of Jubilia’s lady and friend, Saya. Saya herself also possessed next to no aversion toward the Crestfolk. As such, Jubilia wanted her own heart to follow their trend.
Now that Saya was the Sovereign, the Crestfolk were sure to be acknowledged. Wouldn’t it be proper to call them to such discussions? Jubilia kept these thoughts to herself.
“Now then, how about we call it a day here? I am sure you are all aware of how pressed we are for time,” Lernaean said, his voice clearly resonating through all the corners of the silent assembly hall. “Come now, it’s time to let blood flow for the sake of the new era.”
People were packed into the plaza before the palace gates. A wooden stage had been built there for this precise occasion. It was unbelievably sturdy, considering its hasty construction, and it was festooned with elegant ornaments and high-quality furniture. All of this was made to be a suitable place for the man who ruled over Agartha for the past few centuries—in fact if not in name—to die.
Jubilia left the Congress Hall with everyone else and was guided to the VIP seats. She scowled at how vulgar it was to turn an execution into a public spectacle, but she couldn’t say that she didn’t want to watch.
The former chairman Gratos was brought up to the gallows by two knights. The crowd cheered enthusiastically. Gratos was dressed shabbily, but he kept his posture straight, still giving off an imposing impression. Even now, he hadn’t lost his dignity. Lernaean and Crow walked up to the gallows behind him.
Crow made the public declaration. The two men had come to an agreement that Crow would run the execution, in large part to satisfy the disproportionate number of commoners who had come to watch, but there was, in fact, one other reason. Lernaean had no need to stand out on this stage. On the contrary, it was important for Lernaean not to stand out here as a display of the newfound harmony between nobles and commoners.
“We will now commence the execution of the criminal Gratos. This man set the False Sovereign on the throne and confined the True Sovereign Saya to the Forbidden Garden, all so he could do with Agartha as he pleased.”
“Kill him!” someone shouted, angry roars filling the plaza shortly after.
Lernaean looked over Gratos coldly and pronounced, “Speak now if you object.”
“I hid Lady Saya in the Garden for her own safety. The power of her blood is far too strong; it injures her own body. It was a measure taken to avoid the awakening of her blood. Now all of you have released it. I’ve heard Lady Saya has, in fact, collapsed and is currently bedridden.”
“Even so, there was no need to prepare a fake ruler.”
“It was so that Lady Saya could live in peace. It was for the stability of Agartha. There needed to be a clear and visible Sovereign. Lord Kyou is guilty of no crime. Everything is mine to bear.”
“The criminal is also guilty of monopolizing Amrita and oppressing commoners,” Crow continued.
“How foolish. It’s impossible to release Amrita to commoners. None of you understand a thing. The world beyond Agartha is a poison-filled wasteland where humanity cannot survive. The Intelligence only left us with limited lands and limited blessings. Maintaining that is the one and only way we can survive. That’s what the blood offerings are for.”
“We have the True Sovereign with us, as well as the leading Amrita researcher, Dr. Dimitri. It’s possible to supply the commoners with Amrita.”
Jubilia believed Crow was lying. Lernaean had just curtly cut down such a claim mere moments ago. Regardless, Crow and Lernaean remained calm.
“Ridiculous. Those with a high affinity toward Amrita were the ones to become nobles to begin with. Why do you think that is? It’s because we didn’t have the surplus to bless those with low affinity. Lernaean, you should be well aware of this. You know how precarious an equilibrium this land of Agartha maintains.”
“Just like that glass box decorating your room.”
Nobody present knew what Lernaean was talking about.
“Exactly. I’ll give it to you. Every time you look at it, remember my words. After a while, you’ll come to understand. Sacrifices need to be made to protect Agartha.”
“There is more than one form of equilibrium.”
“But how much blood will flow before you find such a thing? Allow me to make a prediction. The death and destruction all of you will bring about will be far greater than the sum of every cruelty under my regime.”
“Please be at ease. I’ve already found the proper form I need. It’s the way this world was originally meant to be.”
“You can’t possibly mean...”
Lernaean cut off Gratos before he could say anything. “Crow, commence the execution. Nobody is looking for words here, just blood.”
“I sentence the criminal Gratos to death!”
The people roared at Crow’s declaration, drowning out anything Gratos had to say.
“His former excellency shall die by my hand, in which lies centuries of gratitude,” Lernaean stated as he held up his hand.
This was the public showing Lernaean had prepared. There was no way of executing Gratos without a blood caliber or Halahala. Lernaean whispered something into Gratos’ ear, causing his eyes to shoot open.
In the last instant, he tried to scream, “This man is—”
“Excitation.”
The moment Lernaean spoke that word, Gratos’ head was separated from his body. The crowd cheered wildly. The words Gratos tried to voice disappeared into nothingness. Lernaean’s blood caliber had precisely severed his vocal cords.
Jubilia ruminated over Lernaean’s actions as the heat from the crowd’s cheering began to dissipate. He had calmly displayed his blood caliber in front of an enormous crowd. This wasn’t likely to become a problem. Jubilia couldn’t see it at all this time, either. Even though she had served under his command, Jubilia had no idea what the true nature of Lernaean’s blood caliber was. All she could ever see was his enemies cut to ribbons by his voice, but that was impossible.
She didn’t believe it was a whip, as Lernaean had told her once before. A blood caliber had to have the form of a weapon made of blood. Saya’s royal caliber was difficult to describe as a weapon, but it was definitely born of blood.
Jubilia felt a shiver run down her spine. Then, she found this strange. There was a time where she earnestly thought of how she could be of use to him. It hadn’t been that long ago. But did this man, who looked like he had everything in his hands, really need the help of others?
“I’ll accept your gift,” Lernaean muttered as he looked down upon Gratos’ severed head.
His voice was drowned out by the noise in the plaza. He no longer had any interest in Gratos. Kicking the head into the crowd below, he didn’t even seem to care that the people were treating it like a plaything.