<Chapter 128>
“Your Majesty, we have eliminated all the priority targets that needed to be killed.”
In the midst of a violent silence, Azar appeared, knelt down, and reported.
“…Is that so?”
They were destined to die anyway. What was the point of venting anger on them?
Riat, briefly lost in shallow contemplation, removed his foot from the man’s head and stood up without a hint of hesitation.
“Have this one sign a confession before killing him.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Leaving the command in a flat tone, Riat gazed forward with a cold face, devoid of all emotion, and departed from the royal house of Einar, where the delusions of the past were deeply rooted in a revolting manner.
***
Only those granted permission could step foot on the path leading to the Sanctuary of Shadows.
The ones awaited by the master of darkness, throughout near-eternity, were the chosen—and death.
And today’s visitor, as always—
[Ashmed. It’s been a long time since you’ve come to see me.]
—was Death.
Arkane, leaning against the massive body of a giant serpent, smiled faintly as he gazed into the abyss where all light was swallowed.
He raised a pale, withered arm that gently extended from the flowing ceremonial robe and beckoned softly.
He was calling for his one and only younger brother.
[Come closer. I was just debating whether to go see you myself. This works out well. Have you been at peace?]
[…Brother.]
‘Peace, indeed.’
Ashmed, wrapping his turbulent thoughts within, stepped closer to Arkane.
‘He’s always this gentle before me.’
[…There’s frost on you.]
Arkane, who had been watching Ashmed carefully, suddenly spoke in a quiet tone.
[Have you been with Prinscher during the time you didn’t come to me?]
[Ah, this is…]
My brother does not approve of me associating with other Spirit Kings. Prinscher, who had never shown any hostility toward my brother, was no exception.
[…]
Ashmed opened his mouth slightly, caught off guard, to explain himself, but Arkane silently reached out and brushed the frost off Ashmed’s shoulder.
[I see. This much must be let go… since you won’t be leaving.]
[Even though he’s always by my side, the moment I look away, he feels as if he’ll suddenly vanish, leaving only a cold trace behind.]
Arkane quietly whispered, barely audible, as he suppressed his emotions.
[Brother? …What are you talking about?]
Ashmed, unable to understand, slightly furrowed his brow and asked.
[Let’s stop talking about others. In a time when even focusing solely on each other isn’t enough, what’s the point of conflict? Come, sit here beside me.]
Arkane, smiling brightly as if he had never stiffened his expression, took Ashmed’s hand and led him.
[…Brother. I did not come today to exchange pleasantries.]
However, Ashmed stopped in place.
[I have something I wish to ask.]
Though his blue eyes reflected nothing but pure trust, a visible hesitation lingered within them.
[…I overheard the royal family of Nisha, your faithful worshippers, saying something.]
[Nisha?]
A chilling unease swept in. Arkane subtly clenched his hand as he asked,
[What about them? What did they say to darken your expression so?]
[…I’ve only just learned the condition you imposed when granting them power. That you demanded countless lives be sacrificed.]
[So?]
The reply was so cold that Ashmed felt crushed by an inexplicable pressure and barely managed to speak.
[I understand that you used the Nisha to destroy the relics. The relics were a threat to your safety. But as you’ve told me many times… life is so insignificant, not even worth your attention.]
Gazing into the empty sockets of the mask made from bones, unable to meet his eyes.
[Why did you go out of your way to harm them? …As if you harbored malice.]
Relentlessly, Ashmed asked, his eyes faintly twisting without him realizing.
[…]
A silence without meaning followed.
[So this is what was so hard to bring up.]
Then, with a small sigh—
[Was that all you wanted to ask?]
[…Brother.]
Arkane asked in the calmest tone possible. Ashmed was taken aback for a moment.
…That’s all?
[Though I bear no duty to protect them, I still cherish life. The act of slaughtering countless lives is no trivial matter…]
[Enough, let’s stop.]
Arkane softly interrupted, gently patting Ashmed’s shoulder a few times as if to calm him.
[I simply felt it unworthy to explain to you. But… I truly don’t understand how you could be so confused by something like this.]
With genuine perplexity in his voice, Ashmed lowered his gaze.
[I…]
In truth, he would not have asked this before.
Perhaps he would have wondered for a moment, but since it was something his brother had done, he would’ve assumed there was purpose behind it and let it go. But now…
‘I have a question.’
In his world painted entirely in darkness, a drop of colour had begun to spread.
‘Last time, the crow Spirit King death assigned to monitor me… helped me.’
Even her voice was soft and colourful. Unlike him, she was a human who carried a radiant light in her eyes.
‘Please tell me. That day, when I was at risk of being dragged away by the Nisha prince… why did you summon someone to help me escape safely?’
Every time he dwelled on the lingering fragments of that memory, an unknown emotion would creep over him.
…An insignificant being.
A mortal, unable to even dream of eternity, burning through fleeting moments and devoured by death.
And yet, that mortal had something that even he, who lived through immortal time, did not possess…
‘Naiad… ugh, kh…!’
The moment he learned that she bore a fierce will, strong enough to uphold her desire without even fearing death…
Was it truly right to look down on such beings, simply because they were mortal?
Ashmed couldn’t help but think so.
Perhaps… it was okay to show them a bit of respect. To ensure they wouldn’t be trampled by overwhelming power. So they could live just a little longer.
…Perhaps it was okay for him to protect them?
So, if his brother would just stop driving the Nisha clan to ruin… then maybe that human too… might find a sliver of peace.
[Why must we respect the happiness and freedom of these things called life, and go so far as to protect them so they can parasitize this universe for eternity?]
Just as he looked to his brother with a flicker of hope…
[I truly do not understand, Ashmed. They’re merely your prey.]
Those cold, cruel words crushed the sprouting thought in his heart. Ashmed felt, for the first time, overwhelmed by a feeling of despair—like he couldn’t breathe.
[Wouldn’t it be better if we just locked them away somewhere, raised them, and consumed them one by one whenever you needed? It’d be far less troublesome and annoying.]
‘…Prey.’
Ashmed stared at Arkane with trembling eyes, slowly coming to a realization.
‘So this is how you’ve always regarded life. Born into this universe, living their lives, harboring will, striving to change the world—You find even that detestable.’
[Brother… why do you hate life so much?]
Grinding his teeth against an indescribable wave of emotion, Ashmed asked one final time.
[Ashmed…]
Arkane, for the first time, looked at his younger brother’s face twisted with emotion, and dazedly answered.
[Because in my world, only you and I need to exist.]
That was the root of all his hatred.
[…I see.]
As if the strength had been drained from him, an empty, cold sensation washed over him.
[Then I’ll be going now.]
[Ashmed… Why are you acting this way? Please, just wait. Don’t go—Ashmed!]
But Ashmed turned without hesitation and left the Sanctuary of Shadows.
***
Khalid Ilkai had usurped the throne of Nisha.
“As expected of our lord. Lady, you can finally be at ease now.”
“…That’s good news.”
She felt relieved, brushing her chest in comfort after the successful revolution, but worry crept back in as she considered what lay ahead.
“It may be best not to reveal your identity until the palace situation stabilizes. Would you consider meeting with our lord first? We’ll need to discuss your future treatment as well…”
Agreeing to the suggestion offered by Khalid’s subordinate, she left the residence where she had stayed for two days and walked through the palace halls.
“Careful…! Ah, are you all right, Priestess?”
Two maids stood on either side, supporting a frail woman and watching her unsteady steps with concern.
‘…Priestess?’
“Ah… my lady, that woman is the priestess of Annushka.”
As she stood in confusion, Khalid’s subordinate, also gazing at the woman with pity, offered an explanation.
And in that moment, as if it were a lie—The woman’s blurry, unfocused gray eyes turned to look at her.
