Return of the Fallen Volume 13 Chapter 73
“What do you think you’re doing?”
Verut had just walked in, and he looked pissed as he questioned Kazuki.
Kazuki tried to feign innocence. With a shrug of his shoulders, he asked.
“What do you mean? I’ve just been waiting here this whole time.”
One could see through Verut’s bottom jaw where the flesh was missing. He was gnashing his teeth in anger. He stormed into Kazuki’s tiny room and slugged him right in the face. Verut had nowhere the strength nor toughness to even move Kazuki. When his fist slammed into Kauzki’s face he instantly reeled in pain and grabbed his wrist. His hand was broken from the impact.
“Ah! Fuck Fuck Fuck! Why did I do that!?”
Kazuki as well was lost. He had a good impression of Verut, the man seemed a bit lazy in his job. Loyal but lazy. He didn’t seem the type to have the temperament to take action like this. Besides that, he had seen how strong Kazuki was before and knew he wasn’t a match, yet still struck Kazuki.
Kazuki scratched his cheek in an almost apologetic way as he asked.
“Um, why did you hit me just now, or rather is your hand ok?”
Verut was still gripping his wrist in pain and wincing while sharply sucking in air. He glared at Kazuki.
“And whose fault is it that my hand is broken? Why did you mess with your collar?”
Kazuki thought he was swift enough and avoided Verut’s gaze but he somehow knew.
Kazuki’s silence did nothing to deflect Verut’s anger.
“See, I knew it. Someone said they saw the red lightning coming from this room as they walked by. I know you are desperate and I know it can be extremely difficult and tough but that’s no reason to go killing yourself. You may be a slave now but that doesn’t mean you’ll always be. If you serve Master well, then who knows, maybe in a few millennia he will change your status from slave to servant. If you do really well, he may even one day remove your salve collar. Killing yourself is simply taking the easy way out and you know it.”
Kazuki was taken aback. He thought Verut had struck him because he was angry that Kauzki was trying to remove his collar. In fact, it was completely different. Verut was angry, yes, but it was because he thought Kazuki was trying to end himself.
(This Gerian man is angry because…he cares.)
To say Kazuki was shocked would be putting it mildly.
“You were…concerned…With me…why?”
“You moron. We are not so far apart from one another. After you told me your story, after you told me all about your life, of course, I would care. Not just me but my men as well. We could all relate to your story in one way or another. Do you think we all came from good circumstances? We all have been dragged through the shit at one point or another and finally came to be here but we still have not given up. You just like us now serve the Master which means we are comrades whether you like it or not. Don’t go trying to end things prematurely when we’re all feeling what you’re feeling. Even if we serve another, it does not mean our lives are pointless or not worth living. You even mentioned that sharptooth Minsuta or what have you is your friend. How would he feel knowing you took yourself out? Don’t be such a selfish bastard!”
Verut then punched Kazuki once more with his already broken hand, thereby breaking it further. The sound of bones breaking and Verut screaming in pain caused a few curious heads to poke in but with a few shouts from Verut, they quickly scattered like roaches.
Kazuki smiled. It was a genuine smile that stretched across his face. He thought he was surrounded on all sides by enemies. Maybe they weren’t exactly 100% allies but they weren’t his enemies. It was an odd thought knowing that people serving one’s enemy did not make them your enemy nor did it make them evil. In the end, they were people. This didn’t mean he would start trusting them or some foolish shit like that. It was merely a reminder that evil is not set in stone and sometimes people are just put in a really bad situation with no options but to follow the route that allows them to survive.
Kazuki began to chuckle and this made Verut look at him like he was weird. Verut grabbed him by the arm.
“Why are you laughing, you ungrateful bastard, is my sincerity a joke to you?”
Kazuki shook his head.
“No, I am grateful and you’re sincerity is actually refreshing. The thing is I wasn’t trying to end my life. Rather I was trying to devise a way to remove my collar and escape this retched Realm and never look back.”
Kazuki said all of this with a smile which caused Verut to laugh hysterically.
*Bwahahaha!*
After a minute or so of just wild laughter, Verut wiped a fire tear from the corner of his eye before it vaporized. He was holding back pain and more laughter when he shook his head.
“Yep, it’s confirmed, you sir are definitely a weird one. Funny no doubt but also very odd. Remove your slave collar. That’s already impossible but to escape this Realm. With the Stargate broken, you would have better luck in your dreams and that’s a fact.”
Right after Verut said this, he winced in pain once more.
“Still, the others will find this funny. Why don’t you come down to the dining hall, get some nice clean burning air, and a meal? I promise I won’t make fun of you and your paltry excuses.”
Kazuki was going to say no. He still needed to confirm several things and make preparations but he knew if he said no here it may be suspicious and it was better to make a good impression than to turn down goodwill.
(Most of the things I need to be done I can do in my head and soul world. I’ll accept his offer and keep the river flowing without impediment.)
“Sure let’s go. Um…I know I shouldn’t ask for favors but…”
Verut actually smiled. Kazuki could sense from his soul that he was glad to have Kauzki rely on him.
“If it’s something I can do and it will take your mind off ending your life, I’ll do it, just leave it to me.”
Kazuki acted shy and rubbed the back of his head. Keeping up the act.
“My friend, Monsuta, is it possible I can see him? He needs me.”
Verut thought for a moment.
“Taking you to the underground if there is no express purpose could be troublesome.”
Verut then looked at his busted hand and came up with an excuse.
“But it would be on the way to the healers. I suppose stopping on our way wouldn’t be too much of an offense. Besides you have no work assigned to you yet and I am off duty now. Ok, let’s go see your friend, just don’t tell anyone I did this for you.”
(So this man is only lazy when it comes to his duties. For others though he’ll go out of his way to be helpful.)
On the way there, Kazuki and Verut passed many people, mostly servants. Again he took note of those with collars and those without. For the most part, there were very few who actually wore a collar. Kazuki read their souls and understood right away the main difference. Those that had a bit of power were forced to wear the collar. Kazuki doubted Mefius was afraid of the stronger slaves rising up.
(Most likely it’s a tactic to show the other slaves and servants. Would the weaker ones, the vast majority ever dare rebel when the stronger ones are all in line? I think not. It’s a psychological tactic. Very smart and vile Mefius.)
The weaker ones for the most part had no collars.
(Why would he make them wear a collar? With their abilities, there’s no possible way they could escape and to torture or kill them would only require a thought from his end. I’ve also noticed most of the collars are very worn out. These collars are a slightly more advanced magitech than what those in this city seem capable of. More than likely the collars are leftover magitech and the actual number of collars does not exceed a certain amount. If that’s the case it makes even more sense as to why Mefius would not waste the collars on the weaker ones.)
While holding a conversation with Verut, Kazuki was once again examing his own collar. He had learned much down in the secret room. With Yidriss helping him avoid the soul-rending crimson lightning and burning flames, Kazuki had learned a great deal.
(I wonder what Verut would say were I to just take my collar off here and now.)
Kazuki looked up and saw the observing crystal turned toward him.
(I wonder what Mefius would think, heh.)
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