"You think that creature doesn't have to die, Aria?" Reddy shot the question the moment we exited Sir Exile's office.
And my answer was as firm as it was when she had asked me the same question when we were inside the dungeon, "Yes."
The snake did not kill those people because it wanted to. It's not that the creature wasn't following its natural instincts, as a mother, the creature couldn't just leave any threats, even if she wanted to.
We humans would also do everything in our power to save and protect our children from any external threats. That is our biological instincts; that's just how we are.
And if you're blaming a creature for doing what it's supposed to do as a creature, in this case, kill the humans inside the dungeon, then can you say it's their fault?
I just don't think that's how we should see it.
But then again, Reddy did not share the same thoughts as me this time.
"Those damned creatures are the reason so many people die, Aria! They kill us simply because they can! Even if they are creatures of the dungeons, what gives them the right to live?
In the first place, since they are the creatures of the dungeon, death is the only future right for them!"
She continued her argument even as we reached the Chio counter.
The entire association, inside and the outside plaza, was bustling right now. Adventurers from all over the city were gathering around the castle for the party screening that would allow them a chance to join this battle.
They were going to go through one of the two processes: if they were affiliated with a noble household, they would negotiate with the high-ranking members of the association directly. On the other hand, if they are normal parties, they would have to go through a number of tests and screenings.
Their achievements, past history, and all kinds of records would be judged for them to become part of this raid, and there would also be certain quotas set for a few parties that the association judges important for this specific raid.
Overall, there would be around three hundred people joining this raid, and at least half of them would be combat units.
The entire first floor would be used for the raid, and considering the strength of the creature, even the entire floor might not be enough for everyone.
The space where the creature is is pretty small compared to the creature's size. And we cannot fight in a battle where we are at an obvious disadvantage.
That's why there will be a briefing and planning meeting before the raid starts, with all party members and important individuals coming up with a perfect raid strategy that'd ensure the safest victory.
Sir Exile, Reddy, and I had already gone through the basics and formed an outline of what we would be doing, but… Reddy was still stuck on the same question even after everything was set.
"Let me ask you a simple question, Reddy." Looking at her with a serious look as I took a sip of the dark liquid stimulant, I asked, "Are all dungeon monsters equal?"
I do understand that, as the person in charge of the people of the city, as the guard captain, and as someone with a complex relationship with the dungeon, she does not like the dungeon and the monsters very much.
But her argument that all dungeon creatures are meant to die doesn't sit well with me.
"Tell me yourself. Do all the dungeon monsters kill the adventurers or become mature enough to kill them? Do the adventurers only kill the monsters that attack them first?
Who made them monsters in the first place? Their nature? The dungeon? Or was it us who labelled them evil because they were a threat to us?"
I did not want to go all philosophical with her, but she was forcing my hand once again.
She was firm in her stance that the snake must die. But then what will happen to the three eggs she will leave behind?
What of the beings that haven't been born in the first place? Are they evil? Does it mean all the dungeon creatures are inherently evil?
'If that's the case, then why is taming and creature domestication one of the top fields of this world?'
Who was it that confirmed the White Scaled Naga cannot be protected or domesticated? Aren't Gryphons one of the worst dungeon bosses? Then why is it that a Gryphon is the guardian protector of the Kingdom of Isis? This update ıs available on novel-fire.ɴet
"Ugh. Aria, that's all just too complicated. We cannot say one is right or the other is wrong! In the first place, we're talking about the Naga, not all the other creatures of the dungeon! It's not the same!"
"Why isn't it the same? In fact, isn't the Naga just an unfortunate lower-ranked creature that just happened to evolve into a higher entity of their bloodline?
Reddy, I'm not saying we shouldn't kill it. Even though it's not her fault, she's now in the middle of a very bad situation.
Must she die? No. But do we have to kill her? Unfortunately, yes."
The two were different things… Now, only if this dumb girl had accepted it, this whole argument would not have happened in the first place.
"No! You're wrong!" She shouted and drank the entire cup in one sip before stomping towards the counter and placing the glass in its place. "That thing killed all those people! And it will kill many more if we don't stop her! She has to die! She must!"
This is just so dumb.
I really didn't expect it from someone who studied alchemy centered around the law of equivalent exchange.
"How can you say that, Reddy? Would it be right to say you must be killed just because you ended up killing someone else while protecting-."
"Yes!" She didn't even let me finish my sentence this time and shouted loud enough to attract all the eyes that had been secretly listening in on this argument from the start.
"If I kill someone, I must be punished as well. Be it a punishment of death or torture, I must be punished because that's the law! Because that's just how justice works, Aria!!"
She stomped away with a furious expression, leaving me frowning at the utter dumbness of this whole argument.
No, like, just… what the fuck?
What the hell was up with that girl?
Did she lose a screw or something inside the dungeon? What the hell was that about just now…?