章節 220: A Moonlit Meeting [4]
[Sophie's Pov]
"I hope you think about that contract, Arthur. Because without it, I can't promise you that any of you will survive."
*Poof!*
And just like that, he was gone once again. Once again he had left me behind, stuck with questions and no answers. This time, however, I wasn't about to fall to my knees. No, I was more than aware that this was the most likely outcome.
Still, I was grateful for the being inside of me that had warned me that something was happening, giving me a sense of intuition as to where I had to go. Yet, I had been late, but now it didn't even matter anymore.
So, in the end, I turned my eyes toward the one that I felt had a lot of explaining to do, someone who absolutely wouldn't be able to get away from me.
"Say, Arthur... Would you mind telling me what the fuck just happened?"
****
[James's Pov]
Flying over the dark lands of Mensch, I was once again met by a feeling of being lost, of not knowing what was right or wrong. Even the bright lights coming from the numerous buildings felt disorientating.
'-Why are you being so serious? Weren't you already aware? That this is all just a game?'
'-I know. But that doesn't make it easier.'
Even with the frantic god telling me everything was fine, I couldn't quite accept it anymore. No, I could accept that nothing had actually changed. Nothing except my own view on the matter.
James and Zero, two sides of the same coin, both of which had no choice but to walk the paths that were now set. Zero who was destined to die surrounded by loved ones and James who had no choice but to survive alone.
Yet, I still felt like it was clear who was the winner here, and it sure as hell wasn't James.
'-So, why aren't you going after the hero more aggressively? Is there a reason to dance around like this?'
It was a valid question that Loki posed, however, I would have wanted to believe that at least he understood my intentions already.
'It's because of a promise. If I can make him willingly choose to sign that contract and accept my help, I won't have to feel like I broke the promise I made to a certain someone.'
It was absolutely hypocritical, even more so when thinking about the fact that I next to forced him to accept my terms this time around. But what was I supposed to do? The hero was still weak, incredibly so.
Maybe he was strong when compared to his peers, but as I had no idea to what extent I might have sped up the process of the demon invasion, there was no doubt that I felt a bit stressed about it.
'-A promise, huh? Well, I am not one to meddle in the business of mortals. With that being said, why are you so adamant about keeping the mortal shackles on yourself? Shouldn't you understand already? You can choose to become so much more than that.'
It wasn't as if I hadn't thought about it. At this point, I felt like I could really choose whether or not I would stay a human. Wasn't it merely an hour ago when I shed my mortal body and became mist? So why couldn't I get to a point where I would no longer have to inhabit a body like this anymore?
Yet...
'-Wouldn't that make it so I didn't have a purpose anymore? Isn't it a lot more fun if a mere human managed to shake this world by the very pillars it stands on? Isn't winning the game as an underdog a lot more entertaining?'
'-Hohoho! That is, indeed, so my lovely, albeit foolish, apostle. Just make sure you don't die along the way!'
And with that, he let go of the connection, leaving me alone with only my thoughts and emotions.
Somehow, I felt like flying like this was exactly what I needed right now. Just melding with the skies around me, not leaving a single footprint on the ground below me.
Yes, just like when I was standing on the lake as Zero. A moment of just being. A moment before I would have to create even more ripples.
****
[Arthur's Pov]
"So, Sebastian has been under that contract ever since the Kurat incident? And you didn't think about telling me until now?"
With both of our heads turned down towards the kitchen table in Sophie's apartment neither of us had any good answers to give. After getting scolded by the big woman for what felt like an eternity we knew that answering would merely lead us to more verbal pain.
Still, I couldn't say I was unhappy about what happened. Because at least Sebastian could try and move forward now.
With a sigh, Sophie held her head as if she had an immense headache.
"Haaa... From what I understand, everything seems to have worked out at least."
"Does that mean...!"
"No, you will absolutely have to pay for this, dear. I'm thinking of a three-day shopping spree when the curfew ends. Maybe we should bring Anna and Sarah too. They would probably appreciate someone carrying our bags."
"No way..."
Though I pretended as if this was the worst thing that could have happened to me, I was immensely grateful for the fact that she understood the situation.
No matter how disappointed she was in me, she still accepted our reasoning.
Ultimately, I knew that she was holding herself back immensely, as she truly just wanted what was best for me.
'I can't imagine how she is actually feeling...'
The one who was hurting the most in this situation was no doubt my pink-haired love herself, as she once again had to see the man she wanted to save escape from her grasp. A man that she desperately wanted to come back, to give living a normal life another chance.
A foolish thought, naïve and innocent, but still one of the many reasons I loved her. Because she had the strength to act according to her beliefs. Not like someone else who was about to sign a contract just because he couldn't find another way...
****
[3rd person Pov]
"Hmm... Isn't that interesting? Seems like my young students are a lot more daring than I first thought."
Looking through a screen placed on his desk, the old principal of Ainu wasn't one to miss the little drama that had just gone down. Even if he hadn't had the chance to see what had happened on that hill he still got to hear everything from the young Arthur and Sebastian right now.
Raising his head, he spoke to his loyal subordinate, "Say, Lillie, what do you think? About that young man called James."
Coming out from the shadows of the corner of the office, the lady fully dressed in black emerged, her eyes hidden behind the black shawl.
"I do not carry opinions. Please refrain from requests that I cannot fulfill."
With a sad look on his face, the principal wasn't surprised. In fact, he knew better than anyone that he would never get to hear a real answer from the woman in front of him, no matter how much he longed for it.
"I'm sorry, Lillie. I guess I already have my answer anyway. As long as he doesn't come between me and my plans, I couldn't care less about him. In the end, he and I are playing two different games. There is no reason for anyone of us to meddle in the affairs of another."
With that said, the principal couldn't help but feel a tinge of stress when thinking about what the young man was capable of.
The principal himself wasn't weak, but he was absolutely not strong. Because that wasn't the focus of his Manual. His Manual wasn't meant to be brought to the battlefield, it was meant for greater things.
"Still, to think that Zero and James are the same person... I didn't even feel like he was acting in front of me, it truly is like he is inhabiting two different people in the same body. Aaaahhh, I really want to see what is inside of him..."
The principal couldn't get rid of the bad habit that he had gotten after all of his years of research. The desperate longing to understand, as well as to gain more knowledge.
After all, that was what had been necessary for him to come this far, and that was also what would be necessary to move forward.
Because if he didn't long for more information, there was no way for his wish to be fulfilled. A wish he had carried for so many years, ever since the last demon invasion.
Yes, he had ambitions that stemmed ever from the time when he stood side by side with the pope, Trelis, Lily, and even the Lightbringer himself.
"I guess I have to make do with the new subjects that we recently acquired... Lillie, are the elves ready for operation?"
Bowing down, she only had good news for her master.
"They are prepared."
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