Return of the Fallen Volume 10 Chapter 57
Old Sid’s eyes were lit with a brilliant glow as he became excited at the idea of Kazuki retrieving the heart of a star for him.
(Old man, I believe I can get what you want but are you sure you can handle it once I get it?)
Sid quickly shook his head.
(There’s no way I can handle something of such immense power. That’s what you’re here for, hehe. Once you get it, I’ll guide you on what to do next. For now, take me back home, I need to prepare some things.)
Kazuki chuckled at Sid’s honesty before he took Sid through a rift in space and dropped him off back at his shop.
Kazuki then returned to the depths of space.
(I wondered if Sid was just trying to be confident but he straight up told me he couldn’t handle it. The old man isn’t one to lie.)
Just before he went to go take care of Sid’s objective, Detra’s voice entered his mind.
(Kazuki, I’ve gathered the remaining Ancient beasts of the world. Should I bring them to Glacious’s world or…?)
(It doesn’t matter, just make sure to handle them appropriately. Ancient beasts respect strength first and foremost. If they get out of line you just remind them of who you are. I’ll come after I finish taking care of something.)
(I can sense that you are deep in space, what exactly are you doing?)
(Nothing much, I’m just going to take the heart of a star.)
Kazuki said this so nonchalantly that it almost slipped past Detra.
(Ah oh…WAIT! WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY!?)
(I’m going to retrieve it for old Sid. I’m sure he’ll put it to good use and this will benefit me and everyone else.)
(No no no wait a second. A star, what could a halfling need with a star, and is something like that even possible. I mean the gravitational pull only accelerates the closer you get. Even if your body is tough, can it actually handle something like that!?)
Kazuki shrugged but, of course, Detra was nowhere near him and didn’t see it, so instead, he said.
(I won’t know until I try. As for what Sid wants it for, he didn’t say but I suspect it’s to forge a new hammer.)
Detra couldn’t understand Kazuki’s thinking sometimes. He was literally going to try something unheard of in this Realm and it was all for another person.
(Kazuki do you not think you are too generous to these mortals. First your friends and then those lowly Mages. You have gifted so much power that the balance of Gordonia will completely have flipped. What is the point of giving them such power when they will have no effect on the outcome of our Realm?)
Kazuki looked out into the distance and stared at the many stars.
(Detra you are wrong on many levels. I am not as generous as you believe rather I have only given out a tiny amount compared to what I have received. I gave them all power, something that is easily given. Something that affects me in no way shape or form. Because of this, they can live for thousands of years and have gained newfound strength. This though will change no balance of power as I am at the top. With a thought, I could kill every single one of them in an instant. The balance of power, there is no such thing or rather such terms no longer hold meaning.)
Detra started to catch on. She realized Kazuki was absolutely right. Even if every single one of those people entered the 7th stage all at the same time, they would still hold no advantage over Kazuki and he could slay them in the blink of an eye. She still didn’t understand a few things though.
(This may be true but that just makes my point more iron clad. How can they possibly help?)
(I said I received something from them remember. In truth, it was more like I took. The moment I entered all of their soul worlds to gift them power I already connected with their soul trees and forcefully acquired all of their knowledge and experience. Everything they ever witnessed, learned felt, I know all of it. All of that combined knowledge from the most intelligent people on the Feya continent is now mine. Because of this, I can feel myself getting closer to Divine enlightenment. Not only that, many ideas and thousands of new theories are popping into my head one after another. I am seeing magic in an entirely different light. All of this is thanks to those people. With this new knowledge, I’m sure it will help me come up with a way to protect this Realm.)
When Detra heard this, she was genuinely shocked. She had told Kazuki that if he purposefully took such things from her without her express permission she would never forgive him. This was something that would break the trust between them and there would be no going back. Her memories and experiences were all precious to her and she would never wish to share them unless they were with the person she loved and even then some things would still be kept from her one and only.
Kazuki had not done this to her but he did do it to those thousands of Mages. A fact, that if they knew, they would most likely forever burn with hatred for Kazuki.
(You…You just broke into their souls like that and took what you wanted.)
Kazuki didn’t deny it.
(I did. Because I did this, I will be able to protect what is mine.)
Detra was taken aback. She thought lowly of mortals, especially humans but this is something she would never do to anyone. The soul was one of thee if not thee most precious thing to an individual being and Kazuki had just breached it so casually as if it was the most natural thing to do.
(Do you not feel guilty about what you’ve done!?)
The moment these thoughts escaped her, she felt dread run through her. She was basically saying what Kazuki did was wrong and she honestly didn’t know how Kazuki would take it. She immediately tried to apologize but Kazuki interrupted her first.
(I do…and I don’t. My friend, Sid, he’s helped me time and again and I truly respect and care for him. Entering his soul world and breaking his trust, taking from him. I feel really shitty for doing it. As for the others, the strangers, I feel absolutely nothing. No remorse, no guilt, nothing. They had what I needed and though one should not steal from others, that rule only works in a peaceful society, a peaceful Realm. We are not experiencing such times. We live in a chaotic time and there is a threat out there that will not stop until they have what they wish. Even if someone gets Fera’s corpse, that will not stop others from entering our Realm looking for it. I have to do whatever is necessary to protect it all. Even if that means taking even the most intimate and most cherished of possessions I will do it without hesitation.)
Detra truly did not know what to say to this. She understood where he was coming from but at the same time, it just felt wrong.
(Detra, do you find what I’m doing to be so despicable? Does it unnerve you, does it scare you?)
Detra felt a chill run through her as she answered honestly.
(Yes. What you’re doing, I wouldn’t even treat a dog with such thoughtless actions.)
Kazuki nodded.
(Good, that means there is still something inside you that can tell right from wrong. I know what I’m doing is off but it is something that must be done. At the same time, I am thinking of others with my actions. I will fight for everyone in this Realm down to my last. I did not want this but this is a responsibility placed upon me. I was the one who killed Fera and because of that, there will be consequences. At the same time, you as well have your own responsibilities you must hold true to. After all, It wasn’t just I who wished to keep this Realm open. You still hold hope for your husband. Eventually, the Divine energy spilling from Fera’s corpse will be dealt with. At that time, with me here, you will not have to worry about Gordonia and you’ll finally be able to leave this Realm in search to find your husband.)
Detra ached at just the mention of her husband. She really did keep the Realm open for a selfish reason. She weighed the lives of everyone in the Realm with her husbands and made a decision in less than a second. Her decision meant that the lives of everyone in this Realm, including her sons were not worth as much as her husband’s. She would only fight to protect this Realm to help Kazuki so that he would in turn help her.
The two were similar in a few ways. These ways though neither were proud of.
Comment (0)