There was nothing like preparation.
Alexios trudged behind Oz, barefoot.
His biggest weapon is his body, and he usually carries other small weapons to use.
Battles can happen at any time.
For Alexios, who has trained in such a harsh environment, preparation is always something that should be done.
“But it’s surprising.”
“what?”
“That you followed.”
“What are you talking about after provoking it to the fullest?”
Alexios nodded his head in disbelief at Oz’s words.
“You’re violent and stupid, but you’re colder than I thought.”
That’s why Oz had a hard time fighting Alexios for the first time. Even though he lost his reason, his ability to judge was still the same.
After breaking the balance, he jumps up into the air and kicks, or he catches Oz’s purpose implicitly and completely blocks him from approaching.
Oz was wary of all means at his disposal.
It was an ability that was developed by simultaneously training the mind and body during training.
“I’m different from you, so I don’t have any hidden thoughts.”
Alexios clicked his tongue but answered meekly. He had no particular hidden purpose.
“I respect the strong. I think you want to get over it. That’s why.”
“Do you respect me? you?”
“Not you, but this bastard.”
Oz was a little hurt by Alexios’ words, looking at him with contempt.
“A guy like Ula. Originally, he is the type I hate the most.”
“is it?”
“Yes, a guy who screams loudly, clings to people, and doesn’t think he can overcome it on his own. I didn’t like that guy.”
“You are just the past.”
“You wanna die? anyway… … .”
Alexios woke up on his own.
Even in the extreme environment where everyone leaves themselves one by one, they repeatedly trained and increased the things they could do.
I have been urging growth by reflecting on the help of others as a shame.
That’s why I didn’t like Ulla’s type very much. Even so, I decided to help her because she had asked for it at the risk of it.
A situation in which the request itself can be dangerous. In that situation, he showed weakness toward Alexios.
“I wasn’t weak.”
I didn’t understand that. If she was a coward, it was right that she couldn’t do anything in that situation.
At least, the coward Alexios judged would have been.
What she did though.
“When he was being chased by a monster in the Empire. I was watching the situation to see what he would do.”
When Ula was being chased by a monster. It was because I was keeping an eye on her that I was able to rescue her in time as she ran through the alleys.
And at the end, I saw and understood her giving up the fight.
Crying, screaming, and clinging on because she wanted to live, she gave up on life.
“There were just a lot of things I wanted to protect. That’s why I became cautious.”
It wasn’t narcissism.
One’s own life stands on the sacrifice of others. Acting on that premise, he doesn’t mind sacrificing himself.
“I always respect strong guys. Even if he wasn’t physically strong, he was definitely a strong guy with that mindset.”
“Then why don’t you respect me too?”
“I can’t respect everyone for being strong. Garbage is an exception to that.”
“This bastard… … ?”
While Oz frowns at Alexios, who naturally declares himself trash.
“That’s why I’m trying to be someone he can trust.”
So that you can trust, not worry.
Alexios is attempting something she thought would be impossible.
If you break her expectations like that and the moment comes when you can trust her instead of worrying about her… … .
At that time, I will be able to become her special existence in a true sense.
“… … It sucks.”
“You are my husband?”
“no? Unfortunately, mine is neither affair nor romance.”
it’s a thriller
“What are you really doing?”
Alexios was straight-faced at those words that were even confident.
He respects the strong. Whatever it is, there is something to learn.
But no matter how much I thought about it, there was nothing to learn from Oz.
* * *
The plan started.
Lucia is heading the other way for the bucket, and Alexios and I are heading towards Stasia with the white sheep.
The key to this plan is Baekyang.
Even if space-type magic is sealed, her abilities cannot be blocked.
Furthermore, there is little information about Baekyang. Even if there were people who knew about her ability, it didn’t flow to the agency as information.
Ula and Lucia.
Both of them are friends with Baekyang.
He probably didn’t want to sell his friend’s information, and unlike me, Baekyang’s priority is infinitely low.
There was a lot of omission in the information report about her, so there shouldn’t be any problems.
So, the key to this plan is Baekyang.
“Why did this happen? yes? Mr. Oz.”
Making her feel right is more important than ever.
A white sheep, covered with a cloak and hood, is glaring at me.
You seem to be in a very bad mood.
“It must have been a date just the two of us.”
“For the plan… … .”
“Isn’t that a changed plan? And without saying anything.”
“Even if I told you, you wouldn’t have understood.”
“That’s typical of a man who has nothing to say.”
no, it’s real
Eleanor’s power of severance erases recognition between people in real time.
I’m holding on like this because it’s me. Most of them can’t even think of Eleanor.
It’s not that memories are erased, it’s an ability that blows away the end of consciousness.
Even if I explain the outline of the incident, Baekyang soon forgets along with recognizing Eleanor.
“I want to take this off.”
“Be patient.”
“It’s inconvenient because the horns got caught.”
“Still patient.”
“What are you going to do if you wait?”
“… … .”
incarnation of desire.
It is admirable to see him trying to make ends meet in any situation.
“… … What do you want?”
“I do not know.”
don’t you keep doing that?
What the hell do you keep accumulating ‘what you want’ to ask for?
What are you planning to do to me?!
“Can you carry me because my leg hurts?”
“I already know that you have better stamina than me.”
Don’t underestimate the wizard.
Do you know how weak I am?
No matter how much I fly and crawl, I don’t have the stamina of a warrior or a guardian.
“I have to keep my stamina intact.”
“Your job is to arrive and go back, so do you have a place to use your stamina?”
Alexios and I will soon have to fight the mightiest of the Empire.
If you need stamina, wouldn’t it be this way?
“Sure.”
“Where are you going to use it?”
“I have to save some stamina for use in bed.”
“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear what you just said.”
“Oz-sama will also go into that bed.”
“It’s not just the two of us, so let’s not talk dirty.”
“Are you okay when we’re alone?”
Not really okay.
Still, if you ignore it unilaterally, wouldn’t everything be gone?
It’s so nice not to have to suffer from people’s gaze.
“Really, King Kwon’s existence bothers me. How could that person have never been helpful?”
“What are you, are you quarreling with me?”
Alexios sends his life towards the white sheep. Since he’s a picky guy, he doesn’t know it’s a joke.
Scared of Alexios’ death, the white sheep hides behind me.
“Why are you bullying the kid?”
“Yes. Is that person always bothering me?”
“It sucks.”
Alexios tried to think of something he had heard somewhere, but then grabbed me by the collar.
Why is this bully mad at me? I didn’t do anything.
* * *
Stolas frowned at the continuous stream of information from Oz.
A movement far from common sense.
“… … moving? at this timing? Bring the King with you too?”
It would be safe to say that it was the complete opposite of the moves that a man named Oz Quo Vadis had shown so far.
‘Am I missing something?’
Oz would have known at least that Alexios wouldn’t work as an ingredient to convince him.
I can’t do anything meaningless.
Stolas had no choice but to wrap his head around Oz’s unexpected behavior.
“… … You are behaving proudly.”
Oz did not hide his appearance. So far, only Oz and Alexios have been confirmed. And another being who covered himself with a cloak.
There is such a thing as flow in a situation. It is correct to think that the person who disappeared was Lucia.
“The one left… … . no.”
But Stolas shook his head. Oz is openly revealing himself. Same goes for Alexios.
Then what about the remaining one?
I couldn’t understand why he was hiding his face.
“Why did only one person hide his face?”
If you’re going to hide it, it’s right for everyone to hide it. If you’re not going to hide it, it’s right for everyone to move confidently.
Of course, it would be understandable if they simply said that Lucia was less shy than the two of them. In fact, compared to the two of them, Lucia is very weak.
It’s likely enough.
Yes, because it is likely… … .
“You’re not Lucia Punisher.”
decided not to believe
I would have believed it in the past.
But Oz has already started walking down a different path than he expected.
Then he should reconsider everything he can foresee.
Their plan, Stolas guessed, is to convince Stasia.
If Stasia, who has been decided to be the next emperor, denies the current situation head-on, Antares’ plan will fail.
As long as creating a stable empire is part of the goal, I wouldn’t want to create divisions.
Eleanor also decided to take care of the monster.
There was no longer anything that would make Antares obsessed with the plan.
That’s why, if it led to such a situation, there was a high probability that Antares would let go of the current situation.
“But if that’s not the case… … .”
If it wasn’t Lucia who was sitting there, then where was Lucia headed?
Yes, if it wasn’t a peaceful way, there was another justification.
“… … Prince?”
If you persuade him and move to break down the current succession structure, confusion is inevitable.
The succession issue is an issue that can reverse all previous plans.
Plans will be canceled or postponed even if it is to correct that first.
At best, a small possibility. But Stolas couldn’t help but laugh.
“No. That’s not allowed.”
The plan must not stop.
If that happens, the opportunity he seized after a long time will disappear.
I can’t be sure that the same opportunity will come twice.
The imperial aristocracy must disappear.
‘Stilena’ must disappear.
In order to remove the label of the ‘Assassin’ family from the beginning, it is necessary to overturn those engraved at the beginning and manipulate everything.
Two were promised.
The erasure of Stillena’s name from history and the establishment of absolute power in the new empire.
For that reason, the aristocracy is abolished.
By abolishing the aristocracy like that, they can break away from the sex and duty of ‘Stilena’ that they had to shoulder from birth.
If the plan succeeds, there will be massive control.
If you jump on the bandwagon and erase the name ‘Stilena’ little by little, you will be able to erase it completely before long.
‘Erase the stigma engraved in history and erase the contempt in the future.’
Being involved in the country’s history is, in the first place, unforgivable.
Antares allowed it.
An aristocratic system that was only in name anyway, hidden by absolute power.
All you have is money and stigma.
I have no intention of clinging to a name without honor. No, rather, the prejudice planted name of an assassin is Shackles.
It always has been. I wanted to throw it away.
His teeth trembled whenever he was stared at by other nobles.
There were many who died without even leaving a name, shedding blood for the world they would live in.
Even so, everyone kept their distance, avoiding the name Stillena.
Great men who could barely leave their names were considered sinister. Without knowing whose blood the soil they were stepping on was made.
People pointed fingers at them just because they were beings who lived in the darkness of being assassins.
‘If you don’t get a response, it’s right to disappear. Even for that, the empire needs to change drastically!’
His father fought for the empire. blood has been shed barely left a name. What was the price?
despise
The name he had to leave behind as a great man was solidified as a stigma.
I hated that. That’s why I’ve been living only in the shadows.
I had never done anything bad enough to be revealed on the surface.
Even so, the shackles bearing the name ‘Stilena’ were too heavy.
Just the mere wearing of that name brought suspicion.
“now… … .”
He remembers his sister who was stoned for being Stilena.
My sister, who was kinder than anyone else, died in everyone’s contempt.
She remembers her own child who had to be harshly spoken to by adults just because she was Stillena.
The child who was lively and full of improvement eventually grew up killing emotions.
I remember the anxiety of the granddaughter who had to become the emperor’s spy just because she was Stillena.
The child who worked hard for his family eventually tried to handle the irrationality even by giving up his own life.
But now it’s all over
He will end that history.
“Praise to the noble.”
I hope that the good deeds they will build in the future will be properly evaluated.
“A righteous mace for the wicked.”
I hope that the evil deeds they will do in the future can be concluded as individual faults, not because they are ‘Stilena’.
“There is no need to endure one-sided contempt anymore.”
For all that, Stolas was able to bow his head to the hated emperor again and again.
All the faults of nobility will disappear, and only the title of emperor will remain.
There will come a world where everyone is equal under the imperial authority.
If the name ‘Stilena’ disappears like that, if it can blend into the world like melting into water.
“There are no more meaningless deaths. There is no need for freedom to be oppressed by the stigma of Stilena.”
Stolas wore darkness. He wore the skills his ancestors had accumulated. stigmatized.
He no longer passed on his skills within his family. The skills quenched in the blood and contempt were unnecessary to the descendants who will live in the future.
“Now I alone am enough for Stilena, who was deserving of criticism.”
So, the disrespectful existence they used to point fingers at was also the end.
A history that was not respected.
“I will wrap everything up.”
The shadows began to move.