Chapter 143
Chapter 143
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 143
Chapter Title: Reader's Path 2
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Azadin believed that life needed aesthetics.
Simply surviving wasn’t a human life. Humans had to pursue values beyond mere survival—that was philosophy, that was aesthetics.
Having an answer to what was right and beautiful, and living toward it steadfastly.
That was the reason and goal of life, in Azadin’s view.
Yet most Aragas had been seduced by the vision Arael presented, forsaking such philosophy or aesthetics.
Subjugating and breaking everything to place it under one’s rule. That vision was now manifesting right before their eyes, as tangible results.
If he rejected it here?
All the Aragas would turn against Azadin. The persecution and scorn he’d faced so far would seem like a joke.
A true public enemy.
Even so, the King’s Church or the Rescue Knights wouldn’t truly accept him. In the end, Azadin would become a complete outsider.
But he couldn’t submit to the mercy Arael offered, either.
The status, power, wealth, and beauties Arael promised had nothing to do with the philosophy and aesthetics Azadin sought.
Trying to fill Azadin with those things was Arael’s arrogance—destroying Azadin’s soul and replacing it with his own.
“Come on, Azadin. We’re not trying to kill you or harm you. The other executives want to off you behind Arael’s back, but well. If you’ve got the skill to take down an elder, that changes things, right? Think about the position you could claim in the world we rule. Of course, after preaching grand ideals so openly, it’d be hard for you to take those sweet fruits now? Then just turn a blind eye here. Say the hostages forced your hand. Or that you were worn out and had no choice. Whatever works. No stain on your morality—we’ll handle the dirty work.”
Jenis’s syrupy voice tickled his ears.
“I can’t tell if you’re trying to persuade me or mock me, Jenis. Talk like that, and it only makes it harder to back down.”
“You’d obstruct us in this situation? You’re denying the Aragas’s vow entirely?”
“Before that, one question. You all talk like this is a done deal—do you really think it’ll succeed?”
“Why wouldn’t it? What makes you think we’ll fail?”
“Have you ever succeeded at this before?”
Jenis smiled at Azadin’s question.
“Succeeded before? Of course we have. Otherwise, why this storm? You think it’s natural?”
“I mean, have you ever drawn power from the Nether—not that—but actually banished a Nether entity that descended this way? Are you sure you can exile the being that summons storms like this?”
“That… no, we haven’t.”
Even Jenis had nothing to say on that point.
“Exactly. Even if you’ve succeeded in practice, real situations often fail. If you fail this time, how do you take responsibility? Don’t make me laugh. Are you all insane?”
“Then what can you do?”
“Collecting copies of the New King Scripture bit by bit, and finding the Emperor’s treasure vault.”
“We already know that. We’ve even secured one key.”
“But you don’t know where the vault is, right? And one key won’t open it anyway?”
Azadin mentioned hunting the Emperor’s treasure vault, but Jenis didn’t seem keen.
“We’re not just trying to lift the curse of servitude, Azadin. We want more than that. Sure, we’ll find the Emperor’s vault eventually, but the chance to destroy the Coralsar Kingdom is right in front of us now—we can’t pass it up.”
“What if you can’t control the Nether entity? What then?”
“We’re prepared for that. Not that I think Arael will fail… but if he does and the world ends, isn’t that fine too? The ones who’d grieve a ruined world are those with everything to lose. The Hubrisans hold this world, so we don’t care if it burns.”
Azadin sighed.
“You really think the Hubrisans have it all? Farmers are poor—only a few nobles and merchants are rich. I get hating those who persecute Aragas without reason. But spewing hatred at the poor and powerless and calling it justice? That’s disgusting.”
“Couldn’t persuade you after all, huh, Azadin. So what now? Betray your kin and fight us to save the Hubrisan masses who won’t even thank you, while throwing away your comrades’ lives?”
Jenis brushed off her coat with her hand and widened her stance. As her posture lowered, killing intent poured from her.
“Before that…”
Azadin sheathed his curved sword and gripped only the Wendigo Dagger. He aimed it at the neck of the fallen Elder Sevali and hoisted him up.
“If you want to save Elder Sevali Etar’s life, don’t harm my comrades. Hurt even one, and the elder loses a finger.”
“Wow. Okay, okay. Calm down.”
Jenis smiled as Azadin took the elder hostage.
“But don’t you think we could afford to lose an Etar bloodline elder? He symbolizes the old order we’re trying to surpass.”
“Not at all. An elder who defected from the council is precious to you. Sacrifice him, and how do you persuade the others?”
“…”
“Tell the sea serpent nagas not to interfere with me, too.”
“That’s tricky.”
“Then the elder might die or get hurt.”
“No, really, we can’t control the nagas. It’s a loose alliance, and sea serpent nagas are a bit crazy.”
“Got it.”
Azadin raised the Wendigo Dagger and scraped away the magic circles made of Nether script on the floor, ruining them.
“Then!”
Azadin headed down the lighthouse stairs.
Jenis didn’t pursue right away—whether because of the elder or fear of Azadin.
*********
With every flash of lightning, a massive shadow seemed to loom from the sea.
Some sea serpent nagas prostrated on the ground, worshiping the shadow visible from the ocean.
“Awoooo! Awoooo!”
Like werewolves howling at the moon, the sea serpent nagas’ cries rode the storm winds.
Azadin clicked his tongue at the sight. He understood what Jenis meant by the nagas being crazy.
“The King’s Radiance is weakening.”
“Urgh…”
Elder Sevali stirred.
“Are you alright?”
“You stab an arrow into a fallen man’s hand and ask that?”
“That was to stop you from teaming up with Jenis against me. But… you’re weakening now.”
As battle excitement faded, pain surged.
Sevali was in critical condition.
He’d needed to injure and subdue him then, but now that the situation had changed, Azadin had no intention of killing the elder.
“Your wounds… they’re too severe.”
“One of my comrades is good at healing. Let’s find them.”
“Your comrades, you say.”
“Yes. If Sion Etar has them under control… he’ll listen to you, right?”
“Hah. Who knows?”
Sea serpent nagas appeared before Azadin then.
“Human…”
“Out of the way. I’m an Aragas herald. Got an injured man here.”
“…”
The nagas hesitated at Azadin’s demeanor, then let him pass.
As he moved to go, Azadin paused and looked at the nagas. A naga sorcerer in human form stood among them.
“Hey. Know any green magic? Healing regeneration stuff.”
“…That? I could, long ago.”
“Got an injured guy here…”
“Nether magic can heal, though.”
“No Nether magic. Hey, know where I can find our comrades?”
“…Outer wall, third watchtower.”
“Got it. Thanks.”
Azadin passed calmly through the sea serpent nagas.
“Impressive nerve. So you’re that cursed son of Arcre?”
Elder Sevali admired Azadin’s guts.
“Can’t fight while carrying you. Keep talking. Losing consciousness is dangerous.”
“Kh… khkhkh. Bold, and gutsy as hell.”
Elder Sevali laughed, seeing Azadin—who’d subdued him—now worrying for his safety.
*********
Other sea serpent nagas they met let Azadin through too, assuming he was an Arael-allied Aragas herald due to his bold attitude.
A few maddened ones tried to attack regardless, but their sane leaders restrained the lunatics.
Azadin shamelessly asked any naga sorcerers they passed if they could use healing magic.
Luckily, he found one still faithful to Cobra Queen Debislin and casually entrusted the elder’s treatment to them.
“Gutsy bastard. Excellent. Even in my active days, guys like you were rare. And Arael’s little brother, too?”
“Older brother.”
“Eh, twins—order doesn’t matter. Anyway, no thought of becoming an Etar bloodline son-in-law?”
“Son-in-law?”
Proposing a marriage tie from the Etar perspective meant recognizing him as top talent.
“Yeah. Midiarm became your disciple, right? How’s she?”
“Haha. She’s a kid.”
“Old enough to marry in the old days.”
“Thanks, but not the time to discuss that. How’s your body?”
“Hm, definitely better than before. But… I can’t fight.”
“Good.”
Too spry an elder would be trouble. He might charge Azadin again, no holding back this time.
Azadin had experienced green magic’s nature through Shati. Regeneration magic accelerated natural healing, mending the elder’s internal bleeding and concussion to keep him alive—but his injured muscles and bones wouldn’t fully recover.
“So, what now? Storming in? You know Sion Etar’s one thing, but Arael’s here too, right?”
“Yes.”
Jenis hadn’t said it, but Azadin knew Arael was in Coralsar.
Arael’s tribe’s plan was probably this:
Kill Coralsar’s king, let the Nether entity descend to fulfill the sea serpent nagas’ wish… then Arael claims the throne, seizes the New King Scripture, and uses the King’s Radiance to expel the Nether entity.
A reckless plan viable only with ironclad faith in Arael’s power.
Or one born of cursing the whole world so much that even doom tasted sweet.