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15.28% Path of the Extra / Chapter 33: Christmas Banquet [3]

Chapter 33: Christmas Banquet [3]

All the guests fell into a deeper silence upon hearing his words. Their minds were still grappling with the revelation Azriel had just shared.

Feeling the weight of every gaze upon him made Azriel uncomfortable, though he didn't show it.

He couldn't afford to break now. He had to play his role perfectly.

The role of Azriel Crimson, the prince who survived the Void Realm on his own.

The role he had been acting for the past two months without a break.

It had reached the point where he was beginning to believe his own lies.

But...

He couldn't allow himself to get lost in the role. Every day, he reminded himself that as much as he was Azriel Crimson, he was also Leo Karumi.

He couldn't lose that part of himself.

Not yet.

In front of every eye in the room, it took everything he had not to make a single mistake.

A single mistake was all it would take for the strongest here to notice something odd.

He couldn't afford that.

Everything had to be perfect.

The way he carried himself, spoke, looked, and moved—there couldn't be a single flaw.

Also...

His gaze shifted towards Solomon, who sat at one of the tables, watching him with excitement.

'It looks like he got his wish in the end, huh...'

He recalled Solomon's desire for Azriel to reveal himself back at the military base.

His wish had come true.

His gaze shifted to a woman standing next to him, and Azriel found himself momentarily breathless.

Her black obsidian hair cascaded in sleek waves, perfectly complementing the elegant black dress she wore. Her rose-colored eyes, striking and vibrant, contrasted sharply with her pale, porcelain skin.

Her face was stoic, her eyes betraying almost no emotion as they locked with his.

Almost…

He could detect a glimmer of curiosity hidden deep within her gaze.

'Freya Selene…'

The headmistress of the Hero Academy.

A Grade 1 Saint.

Azriel allowed a brief, soft smile to form on his lips—a smile that only he, Solomon, and Freya fully understood.

'All is still going according to my plan.'

For now.

Even though he hadn't been able to train physically for the past two months, he hadn't been idle.

He had been meticulously planning using his knowledge of the book, just as he had strategized with Solomon back in the café.

But…

'Always expect the unexpected. I can't rely solely on my plans. There's a high chance something will go wrong. No, with my luck, which matches the protagonist's, something will definitely go wrong.'

He was certain of that.

His luck, as Leo and Azriel combined, matched or perhaps even surpassed that of the protagonist.

Finally, he turned his attention back to the other guests, surveying them with a composed and confident demeanor.

And so...

Azriel's lips parted.

"When I was in the Void Realm, it reminded me of a story I once read."

It was a story Leo's mother had told.

He made sure his voice was soft yet powerful enough to reach every ear in the room.

Everyone listened intently, even his family, who had not heard a single word about his time in the Void Realm, nor had they asked.

Naturally, they were focused on every word he spoke.

"It was about a little boy who found himself in a land of unimaginable horror. Picture a place where the sky is perpetually black, and the air is thick with the stench of rot and death. A land where the trees were twisted, gnarled hands reaching out to snatch anything that dared come close. Every shadow hid unspeakable terrors."

His words were met with confused stares, as though he were recounting a child's fairy tale.

Which...

He was.

"This boy was utterly alone. His family... they were gone, consumed by the very horrors that now stalked him relentlessly."

Despite its origins as a children's story, Azriel found himself connected to it, perhaps because, like the boy, he had lost his family once.

"But he kept going. He had to. He built a fragile shelter from debris, barely enough to fend off the biting cold, but it was something. Every meal was a desperate scavenging mission, living off scraps that barely kept him alive."

A hint of emotion crept into his voice, recalling the time he had to struggle for every meal as Leo.

"And every night, he lay awake, listening to the monsters outside, their claws scratching and growling, trying to get in. Yet, he held on, clinging to a fragile thread of hope."

"One day, amidst the rubble, he found an old, tattered book. It was a storybook, filled with tales of heroes and bravery, so out of place in that nightmarish world."

His gaze swept through the room once more, eventually meeting Celestina's. She, like the others, was now listening with rapt attention.

This made Azriel smile wider.

"He read it over and over, drawing strength from those stories, imagining himself as one of those heroes. In the darkest moments, when he felt like surrendering to the darkness, he'd think about those heroes and their courage, how they never gave in no matter how dire the situation."

He paused, taking a deep breath.

"He survived. Emerging from that land of horror battered and scarred, but alive, with a heart that still beat with hope."

Some looked at him with confusion, not yet grasping the meaning behind the tale, while others were beginning to understand.

"And do you know why that boy survived?"

"Was it sheer willpower? Was it a miracle? Or was it simply the indomitable human spirit—the part of us that refuses to be crushed no matter how horrible things get?"

"...!"

Everyone in the room looked at him with wide eyes.

"The answer to that question is all of it. We humans will do anything to survive. Every obstacle, every challenge, only fuels our fire. When pushed to the edge, we don't just adapt—we evolve, we conquer, we blaze a trail where there was none before."

"...."

"Just like the boy, I have survived a land of unimaginable horror… the Void Realm. In my time there, I learned one extremely important thing."

He paused, letting the weight of his words build as every gaze remained fixed on him in anticipation.

"The strong devour the weak."

In the Void Realm, if you were weaker than your opponent, you were as good as dead. It was as simple as that.

Ragnar was right—being weak was a sin, both in this world and in the Void Realm.

"Of course, I've learned other things as well, but strength is what matters most in both worlds. If we humans remain weak, the Void will consume us. And so... I will be joining the Hero Academy."

"!!"

A fresh wave of shock swept through the room, all except for those closest to him who already understood the implications. 

Azriel was widely known for being the only prince who had never trained to become a hero. The idea of him joining the Hero Academy was normally unexpected, to say the least.

A mischievous smile tugged at his lips as he glanced at his sister, who was already glaring at him. 

'Looks like she's already figured it out, huh… Sorry, but even I need to stretch my legs.'

He mentally apologized to his sister as he prepared to address the room.

"It seems my sudden appearance has cast a shadow over this joyous party… how about we brighten things up? The Academy is about to start, and since there are some students, or soon-to-be students here, I have a proposal."

He lifted his glass of wine, which he had not yet touched, and raised it for everyone to see.

"Let's have some duels!"


CREATORS' THOUGHTS
Crypthh Crypthh

Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!

Also, please give me all of those golden tickets and power stones you have hidden!

Chapter 34: Christmas Banquet [4]

"I should have known... you were trouble itself."

Azriel suppressed a chuckle hearing his sister grumbling.

He was standing next to Celestina and Caleus, watching the room being readjusted for the duels.

Nol, meanwhile, was enjoying himself, talking to guests and indulging in the food. 

Just like Azriel, Nol hadn't had many opportunities to leave the Crimson estate, and his curiosity about the world was evident.

Varied gazes were directed at Azriel, making him want to run away; it was extremely nerve-wracking, but necessary.

All that was left was this duel, and he would finally be done for the night.

'No, that's wrong...'

He glanced at Freya and Solomon, who were talking to each other.

'If after all of this, she still isn't on board, it will become troublesome.'

Everything he had done was to convince Freya to agree to Azriel and Solomon's plan.

Even his lateness had been intentional—or rather, not entirely.

Azriel had planned to be late to the party, but it turned out Nol had genuinely struggled to wear his tuxedo and had refused help from the servants.

'Still, it worked in my favor... though I'm sure Mom will be mad.'

For some reason, his parents had decided to leave the banquet with Ragnar.

'Speaking of parents...'

"The Nebula and Dusk clans didn't join us, Caelus?"

Azriel turned his attention to Caleus, who was staring at him intently, just as Celestina was.

"...They haven't. My parents and the Dusk clan have decided to cooperate with each other and deal with the sudden issues that have arisen in Europe over the past few months."

Hearing his answer, Azriel nodded, his thoughts racing.

'To think my survival changed so much in Europe...'

"Can I ask you a question...?"

'Hmm?'

Azriel looked at Caleus, who had a complex expression on his face.

"It's true that you were in the Void Realm all along for the past two years, right?"

"That is right," Azriel nodded calmly.

"Then... what is your mana core level now?"

The people who were sneakily listening nearby strained their ears, and even Jasmine was looking at him curiously.

Not once had Azriel revealed his rank to her or his parents, nor did they ask.

'He is curious, huh... not just him,'

Azriel thought, feeling Celestina's piercing stare from his side, almost making his cheek twitch.

'Good...'

Azriel smiled.

"If you are that curious, why don't you find out for yourself?"

Caleus and everyone else looked at him, wide-eyed in surprise.

"You really have changed a lot..."

'Of course I have... the old Azriel died.'

Surprised though he was, Caleus nodded firmly in the end.

"Very well, I shall be your partner. But be warned, I am a Grade 2 Intermediate already. Show me the you who survived the Void Realm on his own, Azriel Crimson."

A fire was now burning in his violet eyes.

Jasmine didn't stop him or Azriel, knowing it was pointless.

Though she did look worried, it wasn't as if they would be fighting to the death.

The rules were simple: no affinities, no sword arts and no skills. The first one to be knocked unconscious or surrender would lose.

"I wish to fight you as well, but..."

Azriel heard a soft murmur and turned to see Celestina.

She pouted slightly, her eyes glistening with disappointment, and her cheeks flushed a gentle pink.

'A-argh! Dammit, how can she look so cute!'

Azriel almost broke character.

'I can see why he fell for her... those eyes...'

They were so bright and innocent! 

Ragnar was right to say she had a line of boys willing to become her boyfriend.

She was just that beautiful!

One of the hardest parts of keeping his composure for Azriel was enduring the gazes of all these people who could be compared to goddesses in his previous world.

'Calm down...'

Taking a deep breath inwardly, Azriel spoke to Celestina.

"It would be rude of me to fight a lady while she is wearing such a beautiful dress..."

"O-oh..."

Both Jasmine and Celestina looked wide-eyed at Azriel, who turned away, scratching his cheek.

"But..."

A soft smile appeared on his face as he looked back at her.

"Once we are both in the academy, I will have a duel with you whenever you want."

Celestina didn't say anything, just stared at him.

'T-that didn't sound weird, did it...? Does she think of me as a creep now?'

Azriel wondered, feeling a pang of anxiety.

'Argh! No point thinking about it; the duel is finally about to start...'

Azriel and Caleus finally moved towards the center while everyone gazed at them in anticipation.

The atmosphere was charged with excitement and curiosity.

The Crimson Prince against the Nebula Prince—this duel was already legendary before it even began.

*****

The guests formed a cautious circle around Azriel and Caleus, careful to give them ample space. No referee was needed for these duels.

They could begin whenever they chose.

Azriel summoned Void Eater, gripping it tightly in his right hand.

Across from him, Caleus twirled his silver spear with fluid grace, its long reach a stark contrast to the close-quarters lethality of Azriel's katana.

They stood still, each waiting for the other to make the first move.

'This is insane...'

Azriel could hardly believe he was here, facing off against a prince from one of the four great clans.

Every action he'd taken today seemed utterly surreal.

No, not just today.

Ever since arriving in EASC, he'd been living a reality that once existed only in his imagination.

He still hadn't adjusted to the fact that he was in a world he'd once only read about.

The weight of every gaze on him felt surreal.

They didn't know... they didn't know how much they truly meant to Azriel.

No, not Azriel, but...

Leo.

The kid who had lost his family.

The only reason he had survived those dark days was because of these people, standing here now.

Not just them, but the protagonist—the one who inspired him to hold on.

They were one of the most important reasons he had made it through.

Since arriving in EASC and the Crimson Estate, one thought kept running through Azriel's mind:

What was he going to do now?

What was his goal?

Was a coffee shop really all he wanted?

'No...'

It wasn't.

He didn't want that.

This world might actually fill the hole inside him.

How could he just settle for a coffee shop?

But being a hero wasn't something he could become either.

Sure, he could join the academy, be a hero in name, but he would never be a true hero.

That wasn't who Azriel—or Leo—was.

He couldn't walk the path of a hero.

'I can never shine as bright as them...'

He could never be as pure as them, have such resolve, such dreams, and...

'I am not worthy...'

He wasn't worthy of being a hero.

So instead...

He would ensure they became even greater heroes, even if they resented him for it, even if their path became more dangerous.

He would do it all to help them reach their dreams, to shine as bright as stars.

Everyone around them watched the two with bated breath.

Azriel narrowed his eyes slightly at Caleus.

And then...

'[Void Mind]'


CREATORS' THOUGHTS
Crypthh Crypthh

Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!

Also, please give me all of those golden tickets and power stones you have hidden!

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