Hanayui no Shou 17-3N

Interception or defence

[Hero Club room]

H: There's been a new oracle. There are currently two giant-class Vertexes, far larger than any of the large-class ones we've seen before, growing in Ehime.

M: They're estimated to finish their development in a month, and after attacking Ehime they will head towards Kagawa.

A: Vertexes tailored specifically for a decisive battle, then. The question is, how do we deal with them?

H: There's been no oracle concerning that yet. Maybe intercepting them will be preferable to an assault?

T: Towards Kagawa... If it gets taken, the situation will be more than just bad. I think a defensive strategy is definitely the sane choice here, but...

Ta: But if we just sit here, Ehime's gonna be in danger. Two giant-class ones are going to pass through it.

H: You're right. But based on the oracle, bolstering our defences seems like the correct pick...

S: Hmm... This is a pretty difficult choice. There are a lot of things to be considered here.

Ta: Is it alright if Tama says something really huge? It might shock you a little.

F: Sure thing, go on. That's what this meeting is for.

Ta: The Shinju surrounded Shikoku with a barrier and protected it, right?

Ta: But if you look at it in another way, it didn't protect any other regions or the people in them.

Sh: One region was an exception, but you could say that.

N.W: But that must've been because Shikoku was about as much as it could muster the power to protect, no?

Ta: Yeah, Tama understands that much too. What I'm trying to say is, maybe this is the same kind of case.

Ta: As long as there's no oracle, stay on the defensive... We're probably going to win like this, but...

Ta: Ehime will get damaged. As a sacrifice for that victory.

H: That's certainly true...

Ta: I've said this already, but the Shinju's doing all it can to keep humanity alive in the regions it can reach.

Ta: So I'm not blaming it. The other way around. Where the gods' powers can't reach...

T.Y: We humans should do our best, right?

Ta: That's right. I know that it's dangerous to go on the offensive without an oracle. We talked about that before, after all.

Ta: But the situation is different now. We've recovered a lot of land, and our strength is on the rise.

Ta: So Tama's thinking that this time, we might as well take the fight to them. Over!

N.W: I see... I see what you mean.