Return of the Fallen Volume 11 Chapter 108
“If you decide to leave after hearing what I have to say. You will allow me to enter your soul world and erase any and all memory you have of me. If you agree to that. I’ll tell you my secret.”
Marty was taken aback.
“Ya wanna peer into my soul world and alter my memories?”
“Yes.”
Kazuki did not shy away and was perfectly blunt.
“You may not think the danger can rise any further but it can. Once you know you’ll understand why. So do you agree, yes or no?”
“To look into a person’s most sacred place and mess with the mind, a gift most precious to those who appreciate knowledge. You’re asking this of me an academic of all people.”
Kazuki could understand her hesitancy. Marty was one who loved research and old ruins and ancient magitech. She literally went to the decaying world, knowing it may be a place she can not return from simply in search of more knowledge. To her, this knowledge and experience she had gained was something more precious than any treasure she could ever lay eyes on.
Kazuki knew that his demands were unreasonable but he had to protect his secrets. At the same time, he really did find himself trusting Marty enough to tell her but not enough if she wished to walk away after hearing the truth. All of this was conflicting and contradicting, he knew that but it just was what it was. This was something he was adamant about and would not budge on.
“Hmm, I suppose that’s fine.”
Kazuki was stunned. What he thought was hesitancy was actually false. She answered right away.
“Really…Just like that, you agreed. What about your memories, all the knowledge you’ve gained while
Marty playfully punched Kazuki in the arm.
“Who said I was losing anything? You’re still sitting here thinking I’m gonna give up and leave once I know. Take that notion and toss it right now because I ain’t going anywhere. Especially not without all the good stuff ya collected for me back on
Marty’s words came to a pause as she realized where she was. She did not wish to mention the decaying world or anything else like that around any of the servants so she stopped talking for a second before she set up a barrier. This way no outsiders could hear them.
“That mountain of goodies is still in your ring and I need to rebuild my glider. I can’t go anywhere without a ride now can I?”
Marty laughed after that, clearly messing with him.
“Right, you did say you wanted all that junk and old tech.”
Kazuki laughed as well before tossing a small ring to Marty. Marty caught it with expectant eyes.
“Not junk…Treasure.”
Her eyes glowed slightly as she took a peek inside and became giddy. After a second or two she looked back at Kazuki and realized she was being a bit selfish.
“Oh yeah yeah, your secrets, ya can tell me if ya want to.”
(This woman, she sure has a weird set of priorities.)
Kazuki couldn’t help but agree with Arc but didn’t voice it.
Kazuki gave a wry smile before opening his soul world to Marty. Afterward, she took a look and saw the truth. Every fine detail of what took place. His brother’s murder and the betrayal he and Kai experienced all the way up to the moment he found out he was going to have a child with the woman he loved and then the explosion that shattered countless Lower Realms. She saw Kazuki at his happiest moment and then before he could take it all in, everything was stripped away from him and he lost everything. Marty saw it all and saw the perpetrator Sephra.
She now understood why Kazuki was cautious and hid his true self. She understood why he would lie and deceive. He was going up against a God, most likely Sephra’s family and those they ruled over as well. To add it all up together, it was pretty fucking twisted and extremely dangerous.
Marty wore a sad expression and tears began to pour from her eyes. Kazuki had only known Marty for a short while but he knew she was not emotional so for it to hit her this hard, it meant something to him.
“All of this started because of Sephra’s jealousy of another woman. How disgustingly vile. Everything that happened to you, to your friends and loved ones. Kazuki…I’m so sorry.”
Kazuki could only sigh.
“There’s no need for you to apologize. Sephra’s jealousy, my father who she could not let go. It was something that should never have happened yet it did. All I can do now is try and kill her and finish things properly. You may wonder why I don’t just hide somewhere and live a life of peace but that’s just not me, it’s not who I am. I cannot forget nor let go. It burns me to the core, my rage is undying and it will never be snuffed out, not until her head is separated from her body and her soul destroyed. That will involve endless blood and death. I will have to cut through too many and some will be innocent but that is the path I have to take. You may not like it but this is who I really am. I have to do this.”
“No…I understand. I have never experienced anything like that but just imagining it…Even just that is incredibly painful. Yet, you endured all this time. Through all the pain and hatred. All the times you’ve collapsed and come a mere breath away from death. This…This is something you must do.”
Kazuki appreciated her words and wondered if he was off or maybe he and Marty were off in some way. The fact that he was so ready for bloodshed and that many would be innocent, Kazuki had no gripe about it. There were too many things and fucked up situations in the universe to care about others that were not important to Kazuki. Maybe that was selfish of him but so what.
(Sometimes one has to be selfish. Why can’t I be in a universe full of shit?)
After a few seconds of silence, Marty glanced up before looking back to Kazuki.
“What about the kids? Can ya send them back?”
Marty had only seen up to the point where many Lower Realms were destroyed so she was unaware of the conversation Kazuki just had with the kids upstairs. She didn’t know how they even got there.
“That…Can’t be done. Even if it could, they would just follow me back. No matter how many times I send them away, they would return. If they were to show up when I was in a dangerous fight or something else and they were unprepared, they could easily die and part of that would be on me. The kids…They will remain at my side. I will train them up and grow their strength and they will fight alongside me.”
Marty’s eyes widened and she became quiet.
“You disapprove?”
“Honestly…Yes. I do disapprove but my opinion in this matter means little. Mei’s mother was also killed by Sephra, she has every right to seek revenge. Samuel as well is also a child younger than Mei yet he is already in his own fight and we are helping him. It would be hypocritical to say she couldn’t fight as well. This universe…It’s just too strange. When children have to fight…It just makes no sense.”
“Yes, kids fighting, it’s a level of sadness that’s hard to describe but the other choice is to just roll over and die or hide and hope the enemy never finds you. Hiding…That’s easy for some but for others, it’s a type of torture. A prison of sorts for one’s mind, heart, and soul. It eats at you to the point you wonder if it would have been better if you didn’t just die along with everyone else. There is a strong feeling of guilt attached to surviving such things. I’ve lived through it and now Mei and Samuel are going through it as well. That guilt, it never goes away. It only grows and grows.”
“So they will live a life no better than yours. Your suffering along with theirs will be extended until the day ya die?”
“No…it will last until the day Sephra dies.”
“Will it?”
Kazuki released another sigh.
“It better, because if it doesn’t…No, I will not think about what comes after. That is pointless and will only lead me astray. For now, all I can focus on is what’s right in front of me. The enemy of the now. After overcoming that, only then can I expand my vision. What about you? After learning of my past…What are you going to do? Will you leave or…are you prepared to put everything on the line and face a future filled with God’s aiming for our throats?”
Marty shut her eyes for a few seconds before she reopened them and smiled.
“I already told ya. We have been through life and death together. My friend is walking a dangerous path…Let my blade help clear some of the weeds for ya.”
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