Chapter 274: The Right Path (1)
hTQ7i0Asana was being held in a corner of the supply base that the Anti-Imperial Alliance had set up near the Empire’s border.hCyhS03
0BLSvIt wasn’t a pleasant situation, but thanks to the privileges Yuri had granted her, she could pass the time without too much discomfort.AUT
bFTs‘Asana. Escape.’TxBlu
dw0EPYWhile she sat in her cell, staring idly through the bars, the voice of the God of Assassination echoed in her mind.LYx4Ov
nzxf‘You must not stay here.’gI0dXz
QIApip4This being, which resided within her and granted her a strange power, rarely spoke in a weak tone. However, whenever the topic was related to black magic, it insisted she should run away.9qOsLr
EGAfkAsana confronted it.pgn
WEG“You’re starting again. What is it that you know?”orGb
zthzC‘You have to escape.’S5REOA
BktLkv“I’m asking you what you know.”Qnv4F
8BoM17E‘That’s not what’s important!’SU2Q
amY“Yes, it is.”kwQD2p
5bpMy7BHearing her voice, the guard outside peeked through the door’s gap.lKnpX
KvP9SOSeeing her talking to herself with the God of Assassination, the man showed an expression of pity.ld2
GrYh3“Tch, tch…”UzBXgxp
zTGX531He clicked his tongue and shut the door again. Asana felt unfairly judged.5gQbutD
lym5“Because of you, they think I’m crazy.”P3s
JTP5‘Does that matter? You really are carefree.’aXAbsZN
ryxfThe God of Assassination sounded annoyed.mGo
UjC9‘Asana.’0JGZJ8
TnaO“Mm?”QYPPt
yQ5C6‘I’m serious—you need to leave.’BNno
vvIpM“Where to?”kDt
QeEgX‘Anywhere.’by7
eKoIt stayed silent for a moment before continuing.4468
uDx‘Yes… as far away as possible. Better yet, go East. And if you can, even farther than the East.’XekebVo
HpHWbzR“Why?”vGn8
ep3y‘The door is opening.’oUr
KRIQ“Door?”OC4n
LD5uql‘Yes.’RZTapu8
yhCc8“What door?”beoG
mMYd6g2‘Damn it…’VsSXRY
tSCSince Yuri had discovered her betrayal, Asana had become strangely calm, as if she had given up on everything.spFsQ
4dNl‘If you stay here, your life will be in danger.’8mYcZM
It8“Then there’s nothing to do.”wXbXGq
rhHBILQ‘Asana!’ibXR
7t1AThe God of Assassination was speaking seriously, but she only leaned back against the wall, swinging her feet.99HA
M4b6NL‘The door to outer space is opening.’uZU
CCRW“And what’s that?”yk4z
ARk‘It means that a being humans cannot handle will come.’JEMKsan
2kcNYR“Oh, really?”e346C5
jHMWKMbAsana tapped her chest with her fingers.CEucPg
yB0PE“And how do you know that?”egNZl
KhsooO‘I can feel it.’C9qY
Z1fpP6“And how can you feel it?”n3hB2Ia
AdFqXM4‘I…’slR07GU
kFxDfQaThe God of Assassination sighed. As a being that parasitized a human, it was trying to convince its host by any means.dPPPFm
Ak2Finally, it revealed a truth it had kept hidden.qwmoZ
3Dd‘Because I myself am a being from outer space.’cu9c95C
kX5pAt its words, Asana tilted her head.4UXOG0
8h4hx“You never told me that.”rzkh
Uu2I‘Because I had forgotten. But that lunatic who uses black magic has caused the door to open, and that woke up my memories. I was forcibly summoned from outer space by an ancient being. But when I crossed that door, I lost my memories and powers.’MMKHC
RkUs“And back there, you were strong?”CXgZ
c6Jjh‘Stronger than now, yes, but even there I was an insignificant being.’etLeVi
yX1tsA“Is that place so terrible?”Rxujz
vwckI‘It’s something humans cannot understand.’4cD
e98sy“Try.”mL4qS
s1y‘It’s impossible to explain. It’s a place where indescribable things wander eternally in the void. That’s all I can say.’UTE
N67ZGa“I see.”0LenEc
jAgA1MuAsana nodded.wJBBxU
zLkT3Fv“So, a being from outer space is coming, and that’s why you want me to run away.”FfGg
CkqQu‘Exactly.’i67t7
le1avP“I don’t want to.”mKWl
XJlb‘Haa…’oy9C
keEwThe God of Assassination sighed again.Ebj
NaP10Like an older brother scolding a stubborn little sister, it began speaking non-stop.BYHSUN
za2‘I understand you’re not in your right mind now because of that heartbreak, but it’s something everyone goes through. That Yuri fellow gives me a bad feeling; he’s a man with hidden plans. Change your perspective—it’s not the end, it’s a new beginning. Fall in love with someone else, it’ll be better. And besides…’QyonkD
V3qAsana laughed.XTwiplb
tkodv4“Are you stupid?”yN7P
wo9‘What?’aSm0HW
99E2“That’s not why.”VYbI
zRDoI‘Then you don’t believe what I say?’X3DQrU
Ia87“I do believe it.”fd9jeoe
MLo6KW‘Then why are you still here? These chains aren’t…’LA2hV
159h“Because I also believe in His Highness Yuri.”mB7m
XCx4‘What?’TyA
qPW8YEs“No matter if that outer space door opens—he’ll solve it. There’s no need to run away.”tdGHa8Z
iGKHbS‘Tssk!’2LhXMDZ
ZoHrThe God of Assassination stirred inside her, forcing her to put a hand over her chest.iaR8
emPVGfaThough it couldn’t harm her directly, it could cause an annoying pain in her heart.GkBV5Dz
3pzad9Asana tapped her chest.2bq0asa
IlD“Stop.”QeWsgwz
lRbKJu‘It’s out of frustration, you fool. Which part of ‘a being from outer space can’t be handled by humans’ did you not understand?’EQR0
802yUY1“Well, I handle you.”MTznj2
o04q‘I’m a nobody!’w1IaXqN
6qt9uE“Oh, really?”G0d3
KOyxQl‘The one waiting on the other side of the door is a colossal being, incomparable to me. That black mage is completely insane for trying to touch it!’aXu
kT3fc“Calm down, you’re giving me a headache.”EAkY
4dcJV‘This is no time to be calm!’JEzHiLd
aGwbk4The God of Assassination kept shouting, and Asana held her head. Its voice echoed inside her mind.HYT
ikIciShe tapped her temple.TxY2
xlOxZ“I get it already, shut up, shut up…”VTB
wjFdvf“Do you hear voices?”xx7uY
VtvDS“Shut u—”loRVI
dK0qTAt that moment, Asana looked up in surprise. Only then did she realize someone had spoken to her naturally.OwLlv
9QQWsgIn front of her, outside her field of view, was a beautiful woman with loose red hair.aWYd61P
HnxjZzkAsana pointed at her.E7b82iY
eaAh“You are…?”Vxt
EvPz6“I’ll give you silence.”M2cX5g
dUyOY“Huh?”sir
3MT8gThe woman’s full lips moved.FjJoQP
0i2u9ePower of the Voice of Authority — Silence.Q5RS
EtbqO2Then, all sound vanished.KXg4Fm
eLYR2The shouts of the God of Assassination, the noise of the camp outside, even the rustle of her own clothes as she moved—everything was gone.tqx
YxycARIt was as if the entire world had gone mute.QgDRir
j9eo7In that absolute silence, only the stranger’s voice seeped through softly.w5Ng0SX
Ip9“My name is Cruar. If you don’t remember it, I’ll be hurt.”6OfnUW
HhAAsana tilted her head. She had heard it before. It was one of the Ten Greats and the last dragon who had ties with His Highness Yuri.aO5
K352She didn’t know she could transform into human form.Ldvx
JTXLeAsana asked.2LIOMhu
lDmL“Have you come for me?”6t55UT
mPXJ0BE“That’s right. To be exact, I’d say it’s for that noisy one you have inside…”jJm8b2
XrV9snPCruar leaned in. Her sculpted face bore no trace of humanity.RlU
XV4HWhen they were close enough to feel each other’s breath, Asana could see in her pupils the reptilian texture they held.25s
grVesShe was a being in human shape, but not human. Cruar’s eyes seemed to completely probe her inside.KNNhqMH
C2ss1S“That… is a being from outside?”l1td7i
EE6gAsana answered blankly.z2J
0yaET“I don’t really know either, but he said he came from outer space.”SOz
6Sgy65D“I’d like to give that fellow the honor of meeting the great dragon Cruar in person. If he refuses, I might get annoyed…”CwJZ1aK
OZLBI“It’s impossible.”ViODNf
hx5vAsana shook her head.ePu5pF
9ndjpd“All he can do is parasitize inside someone else.”GhM
Cw5“Hmm… perhaps this Cruar has made the trip in vain…”6xjX
6oflnT7Cruar sighed and asked Asana:CMo
R8gekB“Human, do you belong to Briol?”fqG2E
u1e1“Yes. Seeing it that way…”143
hIsj6EqEven as a prisoner, she was in a Briol cell, so she could put it like that.osY0k
I9bPdFnCruar spoke.pjwrWP
Htr“If you tell me where Yuri Briol is, I might reward you…”fEQ6Y6
QvcXa“Yuri Briol?”5ihOp7D
YMp3U“Yes. Do you know him?”dG4WF
EFt1“Why are you asking?”BrKrm
JjrCGhN“I want to let him know something, but I can’t go.”2toNp
2R4wU“Why can’t you go?”Zuq8oo
QS6q0“Do humans not know of the pact between the great dragon Cruar and the Emperor…?”Tnx4
ltAo“I know you made a promise, but not its content.”4442
Z6kXMnl“As a dragon, which is a sacred race that keeps its promises, I cannot enter imperial territory with intent to cause harm. There should still be about a hundred years before it ends…”EUUpxn
pQ5“Huh?”SLsly
LsFIGAsana tilted her head.BKW4
ubFMIn the current situation, with the continent in crisis, she thought a pact like that could be ignored. But Cruar seemed genuinely bound by it.8JF
VWYpCruar crossed her arms and let out a deep sigh.AowLIw9
pB8RJrF“Sometimes my noble lineage ties my hands…”vkZmhk
6e6en2“Is it something urgent?”YEF4X
TylmQK0“Yes. Perhaps the fate of the continent is at stake…”wOF
aRhnh“…”U4q3
3gkfn“If this were a play, the appearance of the great dragon Cruar would be the most important climax scene. But what can I do…? If someone could convey it for me, that would be good. Honestly, it’s a dilemma…”cbRRE
gqQANWith the God of Assassination silent, Asana was clearer-headed than ever. That’s why she could decide without difficulty.nmEd5sc
u4Bm“Then I’ll tell him.”ZeIFfkb
ZWECSCruar raised an eyebrow.5ql
duAoKuo“Really…?”5dv
WqaHSB0“Yes.”nNelaG
lfe4EAsana stood naturally. The restraints holding her came loose completely. None of that could hold someone who was the host of the God of Assassination.YDXGHg7
l1AGYuri must have known it too. Even so, he had not taken stricter measures against Asana.1Gw
fEFcYThough he had spoken coldly to her, she had felt the warmth hidden in his words.IxA
RBePjs“I think the time has come to repay His Highness Yuri. Lady Cruar.”ZWe
44pKKT“Are you close to him?”OGZpR8
pivSCK“Yes. We were very close.”N7s
QRD“Perhaps your coming here, following the one inside you, was a connection arranged for this great dragon Cruar…”30pGVuL
MfaTCruar smiled.ll8elZl
b49WK“Good, Asana. Remember well what I’m about to tell you.”Goy
2Jlyl“Yes.”HoQq
i23“What I’m about to tell you is written in an ancient book kept in my treasure. The demonic grimoire has disturbed the world for a long time.”pzbjc
1ehfCruar’s eyes locked on her.fyK
XzKWhen their gazes met, Asana felt as if a needle pierced through her brain, unable to follow her own thoughts. Her entire mind was focused solely on remembering the words flowing from Cruar.NkMW
Dk95piIn a concentration like she had never experienced before, Asana engraved her words into her memory.jA0SE
dJM“The demonic grimoire does not disappear no matter how much you cut or kill it. To truly stop its curse, one must not use the sword…”76FAK43
6xCYi1***hFZw
6B5OPJyHaving revealed what concerned the Celestial Mandate, Hernando kept insisting on going to Zveta.QTQBK
s62CeebIt was the first time Yuri had seen him cling to something so desperately.XKBU
PeK55g“You must have seen something important.”hD7p1
4j4qFinally, Yuri decided.2Ii4
rchdVc“Fine. We’ll go to Zveta.”oC7Q7Zk
iXO499EHe thought the Holy Kingdom, Brusen, and Liberta might oppose it.Qo6
LBdebBut all of them followed Yuri’s decision.hes17m
YynlDo“They don’t say anything?”i8uZ
MsSk8VN“No.”5EM8
3NaV5The messengers Yuri had sent returned with the same answer.WTRQ
xAwIURb“They say they trust Your Highness.”7sP
qzsEc9F“Well…”6nwuJ
anOIt was an answer that even put some pressure on him.MRO
HNkBut Yuri had never feared the burden placed on his shoulders. He calmly accepted that the fate of the Anti-Imperial Alliance, and even of the entire continent, depended on him.RX9
yIUm9It was his duty.rpGk
IQk“Good, in that case, there’s no reason to hesitate. Let’s go immediately.”MDX7CA3
KsnW4Thus, Briol’s army decided to march to Zveta, and the other countries followed without objection. The Anti-Imperial Alliance, which had originally been heading for the imperial capital, changed course toward Zveta.dxqAxW3
uJVGrPAs the march continued, Yuri began to believe what Hernando had told him about the Mandate.aBXvV
tUQaBecause at a certain moment, within the mental domain, he began to see the distant aura of Zveta.AtDkHc
IvlwAt his words, Hernando nodded.enBaUCI
hGziS“Yes. But it’s not a good sign. It means the presence of something in Zveta is becoming clearer.”kRQ
WyL64kd“I see.”YVX
tPaH“We must hurry.”ohN
qWcBut soon, Briol’s army had to stop. Something was blocking their way.iBRWb
59qkSK“What does this mean?”Nk2
8x4llFx“Meaning? None, don’t you think?”pGbx
pNyJared, humming beside Yuri, spoke.7bdMRkL
jp7UOtD“They’re blocking the way, so we just have to go and smash everything.”Xizdgi4
1IaOn the route to Zveta, the imperial army had set up a defensive line. Its structure was extremely solid.g7cd
uFkYuri had the feeling that the Empire valued Zveta more than the imperial capital.833Rr0
RathT1After all, the one controlling the Empire now was Cedric. For him, the symbolism of the capital meant nothing.opdgJe
Ff9b0Cedric was only doing all this to build the world of his dreams, without caring about the values the Empire might hold dear.TTX9PFp
cJ5y8bKYuri thought he had made the right choice in choosing Zveta. Then why had Cedric mentioned Zveta on purpose to draw his attention?soqf
Z0KfyWhile unsheathing Guilty, Yuri murmured.6boXpN
xViZ“I don’t need to know what goes through that lunatic’s mind. Lord Inariel!”is0LhG
q6cFVYuri immediately looked for the mage. He appeared as if he had been waiting.zkw
sVC“What do you need me to do?”57h
eXz“The usual.”fVx
TMUrtYuri smiled broadly.K74Ebxo
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