Chapter 90: 90
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"You know, I don't remember ordering poisoned meat, Bernard. What in the hell did coat these wings in?! The devil's tears?!"
"Don't be a wuss, lad. If the she can handle it, so can you."
She didn't reply at all. She hadn't even been paying attention in the first place. Although she physically present, her mind was not — she was gone.
Like a mindless automaton, Lu'um absentmindedly ate her wings in silence as she wrestled against her own thoughts.
"…Hm? Is she alright? Her eyes seem kind of… off."
"Nothing in particular? She'll be fine, I think. But I sure as hell won't if you don't get me something to drink! My tongue's going to fall off at this rate!"
Ulbo stroked his chin in contemplation and said, "These taste sweeter than when I last had them. Did you change the recipe, little crow?"
"I'd never tamper with something perfect, Gramps. I just double the amount of spice whenever she comes over — that's why it tastes sweeter to you compared to the last time you were here."
"Ah… That does sound like Huani. She's always been a fiery pepper, that one…"
"My mouth!! Bring the milk, Bernard! Mercy, please!"
Bernard shook his head in disappointment and said, "For shame, lad. Your ancestors are probably crying right now. A Mulian prince who can't handle spice. What's the world come to these days…?" He sighed and strolled back into his little kitchen.
Ulbo took a sip of his drink and said, "How are you feeling, little sun? You don't need to push yourself — you're welcome to stay as long as you like. Why don't you take your time and rest here before you head back?"
"That's a tempting offer, but I can't. If I stick around, I'll never want to leave. I've also got urgent business I need to take care of back over there," said Reed as he fanned his sweaty face.
Reed gazed at the empty street outside and said, "I can't afford to play around anymore, after all. Don't worry though, we'll come visit again once I finish what I need to do."
"And what might that be, little sun?" said Ulbo. He was slightly concerned about the dangerous, twinkling gleam hidden within the boy's distant gaze. He'd seen those eyes before, a long time ago in another life…
It was the dangerous gaze of someone who was out for blood.
Reed looked at Ulbo and calmly said, "I'm just going to settle a little dispute that's been annoying me for the longest time."
Ulbo felt his heart skip a beat when he witnessed Reed's expression. There was a terrifying, mechanical rigidity in his calm smile. The boy possessed unnatural aura of restrained composure befit only of something lifeless…
O Lady of Fate, how long must he continue to endure? When will you finally be satisfied? Are a thousand hearts and a million tears still not enough to prove his innocence…?
He would pray on the boy's behalf but not for himself. Someone like him did not deserve to beg for mercy, let alone even contemplated being forgiven. Surely not he, who had cast his own blood into the flames.
There were sins that could not be forgiven, no matter how hard one prayed and begged for forgiveness. Eternal punishment awaited him in the deepest layer of hell for what he done…
That much was certain. He would burn. They would all burn...…
The North had sealed itself away days after the abrupt destruction of Lei-en. It happened so quickly and that even the North's strongest conquerors had not been able to detect the attack. The range of the blast and the severity of the damage inflicted confounded them even more.
It could not have been done by a single person. No conqueror could have accomplished such a feat aside from the likes of the Four Sovereigns and even that was merely speculation. It had to have been the work of a group and a highly powerful one at that. That was the only logical conclusion.
But why annihilate a city of mortals? What would anyone that to gain from such an atrocity? Even the Underground, the largest criminal organization on the continent, did not possess enough manpower to have accomplished what had happened.
It was preposterous to even consider that one of the other three empires had been behind the attack. None of the royal families would ever dare to start another Unification War. The offending royal family would likely be torn to pieces by the other three families until nothing of them was left.
A swift and brutal death was all that'd await anyone who'd dare to disturb the peace.
The highest echelons of North and the East had different ideas about what had happened, though. They knew of the Ashborn-Dragoncrest conspiracy. Of the nefarious scheme that they had concocted along with the Holy Church, the only other true powerhouse on the continent aside from the Four Empires.
The recent attack on Fourth Heaven had astonished them when the first heard the whispers from their spies. That an unknown force had struck the Holy Church and caused widespread destruction in the city...
Only for the city of Lei-en to have disappeared… by the end of the same day.
A certain, unmistakable tension was felt across the empires after that fateful day. It did not take long for people to begin to make the possible connection between the two events. Many wondered if they'd become the spark that'd light the continent on fire.
Fear had begun to spread...
They'd returned to the larger birdcage. Back in the North, in some remote little village deep into the Northern Wastes.
Frostpeak Outpost — Population 10,470. The current temperature outside of the protective Anima sphere that encapsulated the city was -68 degrees Celsius. A comforting little home away from home… if home was the Ninth Circe of Hell…
The Jolly Saint's Chimney was a homely little inn and cafe that everyone in town loved, but one of its customers was having a bad time at the moment…
Reed shut off his tome — he'd read enough. It had all spiraled down in the worst possible way.
"You didn't tell me that this happened. Why would you even—"
"I didn't choose. I didn't the have time to choose. Had I not pulled you exactly when I did, you would've been vaporized on the spot. I grabbed you and tore an exit for ourselves as fast as I could."
Reed wearily rubbed his eyes and said, "I get it… and I'm grateful that you saved me. You didn't mean to come out where you did. It was just a stroke of terrible luck. It's just complicated things even more than I had previously imagined."
As if the mess at the Holy Church had not been enough of a shitshow…
"Are you angry?"
"I'm not. I'm just trying to understand. Why were you so hell-bent on killing the Pope? Was it because of the Reef, or because something else he said?" said Reed.
Lu'um grimaced and said, "The Reef… is an extremely important tool. It is something that can possibly reverse our dire situation, Ka'an. That's all I can tell you right now. Do you understand?"
Reed put down his coffee and coldly said, "Are you serious? How is that even possible? They eat entire multiverses! You saw that they were capable of! I— we nearly died!"
"Look at me in the eyes, Ka'an. Have I ever lied to you? Why would I ever meaninglessly raise your hopes on false hope? What would I stand to gain from doing that you — betraying your trust for a single lie?"
If there was anyone he could trust, it was her. He knew that. She had already proved herself more than enough. He owed her his life.
Reed grabbed one of her hands and said, "I'm sorry. I just—"
Lu'um knowingly smiled and said, "I already know. You don't need to apologize, Ka'an."
He nervously laughed and said, "How'd you manage that? You can read my mind even though I've sealed my thoughts away?"
"Please, Ka'an. I don't need to use a mind-reading technique to know what you're thinking." She gazed at Reed with an amused expression on her face.
T-That's pretty damn terrifying… and I don't whether I should take that as an insult or a compliment.
Reed raised his hands up in defeat and said, "Y-You've got me beat, then. …I guessed I messed up. If the Reef is as powerful as you've described, letting it fall into, well, anyone's hands would be dangerous."
That sort of power isn't meant for the likes of piddling mortals like us… To be honest, I don't think that anyone is deserving of that much power.
It's way too dangerous. Giving someone a weapon capable of fending off the Infestation is probably the most dangerous thing I can think of…
God forbid they ever point that weapon at the world… after they get rid of the Infestation. Power corrupts people, so I can only imagine what unlimited power would do to a person.
Reed shuddered in fright at the thought of a singular tyrant arising out of the ashes of this multiverse on the off chance that the Infested were removed from it.
Eternally ruling the world by hold the biggest fucking gun in multiverse at its head…
"You know what? I think we might need to start cleaning up shop ourselves, sweetcheeks. We need to nip this problem in the bud as quickly as possible… and I think that we might have the perfect opportunity to do it."
His eyes twinkled ominously as he gazed outside at the falling snow.
He'd come up with an idea. A good one.
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"You know, I don't remember ordering poisoned meat, Bernard. What in the hell did coat these wings in?! The devil's tears?!"
"Don't be a wuss, lad. If the she can handle it, so can you."
She didn't reply at all. She hadn't even been paying attention in the first place. Although she physically present, her mind was not — she was gone.
Like a mindless automaton, Lu'um absentmindedly ate her wings in silence as she wrestled against her own thoughts.
"…Hm? Is she alright? Her eyes seem kind of… off."
"Nothing in particular? She'll be fine, I think. But I sure as hell won't if you don't get me something to drink! My tongue's going to fall off at this rate!"
Ulbo stroked his chin in contemplation and said, "These taste sweeter than when I last had them. Did you change the recipe, little crow?"
"I'd never tamper with something perfect, Gramps. I just double the amount of spice whenever she comes over — that's why it tastes sweeter to you compared to the last time you were here."
"Ah… That does sound like Huani. She's always been a fiery pepper, that one…"
"My mouth!! Bring the milk, Bernard! Mercy, please!"
Bernard shook his head in disappointment and said, "For shame, lad. Your ancestors are probably crying right now. A Mulian prince who can't handle spice. What's the world come to these days…?" He sighed and strolled back into his little kitchen.
Ulbo took a sip of his drink and said, "How are you feeling, little sun? You don't need to push yourself — you're welcome to stay as long as you like. Why don't you take your time and rest here before you head back?"
"That's a tempting offer, but I can't. If I stick around, I'll never want to leave. I've also got urgent business I need to take care of back over there," said Reed as he fanned his sweaty face.
Reed gazed at the empty street outside and said, "I can't afford to play around anymore, after all. Don't worry though, we'll come visit again once I finish what I need to do."
"And what might that be, little sun?" said Ulbo. He was slightly concerned about the dangerous, twinkling gleam hidden within the boy's distant gaze. He'd seen those eyes before, a long time ago in another life…
It was the dangerous gaze of someone who was out for blood.
Reed looked at Ulbo and calmly said, "I'm just going to settle a little dispute that's been annoying me for the longest time."
Ulbo felt his heart skip a beat when he witnessed Reed's expression. There was a terrifying, mechanical rigidity in his calm smile. The boy possessed unnatural aura of restrained composure befit only of something lifeless…
O Lady of Fate, how long must he continue to endure? When will you finally be satisfied? Are a thousand hearts and a million tears still not enough to prove his innocence…?
He would pray on the boy's behalf but not for himself. Someone like him did not deserve to beg for mercy, let alone even contemplated being forgiven. Surely not he, who had cast his own blood into the flames.
There were sins that could not be forgiven, no matter how hard one prayed and begged for forgiveness. Eternal punishment awaited him in the deepest layer of hell for what he done…
That much was certain. He would burn. They would all burn...…
The North had sealed itself away days after the abrupt destruction of Lei-en. It happened so quickly and that even the North's strongest conquerors had not been able to detect the attack. The range of the blast and the severity of the damage inflicted confounded them even more.
It could not have been done by a single person. No conqueror could have accomplished such a feat aside from the likes of the Four Sovereigns and even that was merely speculation. It had to have been the work of a group and a highly powerful one at that. That was the only logical conclusion.
But why annihilate a city of mortals? What would anyone that to gain from such an atrocity? Even the Underground, the largest criminal organization on the continent, did not possess enough manpower to have accomplished what had happened.
It was preposterous to even consider that one of the other three empires had been behind the attack. None of the royal families would ever dare to start another Unification War. The offending royal family would likely be torn to pieces by the other three families until nothing of them was left.
A swift and brutal death was all that'd await anyone who'd dare to disturb the peace.
The highest echelons of North and the East had different ideas about what had happened, though. They knew of the Ashborn-Dragoncrest conspiracy. Of the nefarious scheme that they had concocted along with the Holy Church, the only other true powerhouse on the continent aside from the Four Empires.
The recent attack on Fourth Heaven had astonished them when the first heard the whispers from their spies. That an unknown force had struck the Holy Church and caused widespread destruction in the city...
Only for the city of Lei-en to have disappeared… by the end of the same day.
A certain, unmistakable tension was felt across the empires after that fateful day. It did not take long for people to begin to make the possible connection between the two events. Many wondered if they'd become the spark that'd light the continent on fire.
Fear had begun to spread...
They'd returned to the larger birdcage. Back in the North, in some remote little village deep into the Northern Wastes.
Frostpeak Outpost — Population 10,470. The current temperature outside of the protective Anima sphere that encapsulated the city was -68 degrees Celsius. A comforting little home away from home… if home was the Ninth Circe of Hell…
The Jolly Saint's Chimney was a homely little inn and cafe that everyone in town loved, but one of its customers was having a bad time at the moment…
Reed shut off his tome — he'd read enough. It had all spiraled down in the worst possible way.
"You didn't tell me that this happened. Why would you even—"
"I didn't choose. I didn't the have time to choose. Had I not pulled you exactly when I did, you would've been vaporized on the spot. I grabbed you and tore an exit for ourselves as fast as I could."
Reed wearily rubbed his eyes and said, "I get it… and I'm grateful that you saved me. You didn't mean to come out where you did. It was just a stroke of terrible luck. It's just complicated things even more than I had previously imagined."
As if the mess at the Holy Church had not been enough of a shitshow…
"Are you angry?"
"I'm not. I'm just trying to understand. Why were you so hell-bent on killing the Pope? Was it because of the Reef, or because something else he said?" said Reed.
Lu'um grimaced and said, "The Reef… is an extremely important tool. It is something that can possibly reverse our dire situation, Ka'an. That's all I can tell you right now. Do you understand?"
Reed put down his coffee and coldly said, "Are you serious? How is that even possible? They eat entire multiverses! You saw that they were capable of! I— we nearly died!"
"Look at me in the eyes, Ka'an. Have I ever lied to you? Why would I ever meaninglessly raise your hopes on false hope? What would I stand to gain from doing that you — betraying your trust for a single lie?"
If there was anyone he could trust, it was her. He knew that. She had already proved herself more than enough. He owed her his life.
Reed grabbed one of her hands and said, "I'm sorry. I just—"
Lu'um knowingly smiled and said, "I already know. You don't need to apologize, Ka'an."
He nervously laughed and said, "How'd you manage that? You can read my mind even though I've sealed my thoughts away?"
"Please, Ka'an. I don't need to use a mind-reading technique to know what you're thinking." She gazed at Reed with an amused expression on her face.
T-That's pretty damn terrifying… and I don't whether I should take that as an insult or a compliment.
Reed raised his hands up in defeat and said, "Y-You've got me beat, then. …I guessed I messed up. If the Reef is as powerful as you've described, letting it fall into, well, anyone's hands would be dangerous."
That sort of power isn't meant for the likes of piddling mortals like us… To be honest, I don't think that anyone is deserving of that much power.
It's way too dangerous. Giving someone a weapon capable of fending off the Infestation is probably the most dangerous thing I can think of…
God forbid they ever point that weapon at the world… after they get rid of the Infestation. Power corrupts people, so I can only imagine what unlimited power would do to a person.
Reed shuddered in fright at the thought of a singular tyrant arising out of the ashes of this multiverse on the off chance that the Infested were removed from it.
Eternally ruling the world by hold the biggest fucking gun in multiverse at its head…
"You know what? I think we might need to start cleaning up shop ourselves, sweetcheeks. We need to nip this problem in the bud as quickly as possible… and I think that we might have the perfect opportunity to do it."
His eyes twinkled ominously as he gazed outside at the falling snow.
He'd come up with an idea. A good one.
"You know, I don't remember ordering poisoned meat, Bernard. What in the hell did coat these wings in?! The devil's tears?!""Don't be a wuss, lad. If the she can handle it, so can you."She didn't reply at all. She hadn't even been paying attention in the first place. Although she physically present, her mind was not she was gone.Like a mindless automaton, Lu'um absentmindedly ate her wings in silence as she wrestled against her own thoughts."Hm? Is she alright? Her eyes seem kind of off.""Nothing in particular? She'll be fine, I think. But I sure as hell won't if you don't get me something to drink! My tongue's going to fall off at this rate!"Ulbo stroked his chin in contemplation and said, "These taste sweeter than when I last had them. Did you change the recipe, little crow?""I'd never tamper with something perfect, Gramps. I just double the amount of spice whenever she comes over that's why it tastes sweeter to you compared to the last time you were here.""Ah That does sound like Huani. She's always been a fiery pepper, that one""My mouth!! Bring the milk, Bernard! Mercy, please!"Bernard shook his head in disappointment and said, "For shame, lad. Your ancestors are probably crying right now. A Mulian prince who can't handle spice. What's the world come to these days?" He sighed and strolled back into his little kitchen.Ulbo took a sip of his drink and said, "How are you feeling, little sun? You don't need to push yourself you're welcome to stay as long as you like. Why don't you take your time and rest here before you head back?""That's a tempting offer, but I can't. If I stick around, I'll never want to leave. I've also got urgent business I need to take care of back over there," said Reed as he fanned his sweaty face.Reed gazed at the empty street outside and said, "I can't afford to play around anymore, after all. Don't worry though, we'll come visit again once I finish what I need to do.""And what might that be, little sun?" said Ulbo. He was slightly concerned about the dangerous, twinkling gleam hidden within the boy's distant gaze. He'd seen those eyes before, a long time ago in another lifeIt was the dangerous gaze of someone who was out for blood.Reed looked at Ulbo and calmly said, "I'm just going to settle a little dispute that's been annoying me for the longest time."Ulbo felt his heart skip a beat when he witnessed Reed's expression. There was a terrifying, mechanical rigidity in his calm smile. The boy possessed unnatural aura of restrained composure befit only of something lifelessO Lady of Fate, how long must he continue to endure? When will you finally be satisfied? Are a thousand hearts and a million tears still not enough to prove his innocence?He would pray on the boy's behalf but not for himself. Someone like him did not deserve to beg for mercy, let alone even contemplated being forgiven. Surely not he, who had cast his own blood into the flames.There were sins that could not be forgiven, no matter how hard one prayed and begged for forgiveness. Eternal punishment awaited him in the deepest layer of hell for what he doneThat much was certain. He would burn. They would all burn...The North had sealed itself away days after the abrupt destruction of Lei-en. It happened so quickly and that even the North's strongest conquerors had not been able to detect the attack. The range of the blast and the severity of the damage inflicted confounded them even more.It could not have been done by a single person. No conqueror could have accomplished such a feat aside from the likes of the Four Sovereigns and even that was merely speculation. It had to have been the work of a group and a highly powerful one at that. That was the only logical conclusion.But why annihilate a city of mortals? What would anyone that to gain from such an atrocity? Even the Underground, the largest criminal organization on the continent, did not possess enough manpower to have accomplished what had happened.It was preposterous to even consider that one of the other three empires had been behind the attack. None of the royal families would ever dare to start another Unification War. The offending royal family would likely be torn to pieces by the other three families until nothing of them was left.A swift and brutal death was all that'd await anyone who'd dare to disturb the peace.The highest echelons of North and the East had different ideas about what had happened, though. They knew of the Ashborn-Dragoncrest conspiracy. Of the nefarious scheme that they had concocted along with the Holy Church, the only other true powerhouse on the continent aside from the Four Empires.The recent attack on Fourth Heaven had astonished them when the first heard the whispers from their spies. That an unknown force had struck the Holy Church and caused widespread destruction in the city...Only for the city of Lei-en to have disappeared by the end of the same day.A certain, unmistakable tension was felt across the empires after that fateful day. It did not take long for people to begin to make the possible connection between the two events. Many wondered if they'd become the spark that'd light the continent on fire.Fear had begun to spread...They'd returned to the larger birdcage. Back in the North, in some remote little village deep into the Northern Wastes.Frostpeak Outpost Population 10,470. The current temperature outside of the protective Anima sphere that encapsulated the city was -68 degrees Celsius. A comforting little home away from home if home was the Ninth Circe of HellThe Jolly Saint's Chimney was a homely little inn and cafe that everyone in town loved, but one of its customers was having a bad time at the momentReed shut off his tome he'd read enough. It had all spiraled down in the worst possible way."You didn't tell me that this happened. Why would you even""I didn't choose. I didn't the have time to choose. Had I not pulled you exactly when I did, you would've been vaporized on the spot. I grabbed you and tore an exit for ourselves as fast as I could."Reed wearily rubbed his eyes and said, "I get it and I'm grateful that you saved me. You didn't mean to come out where you did. It was just a stroke of terrible luck. It's just complicated things even more than I had previously imagined."As if the mess at the Holy Church had not been enough of a shitshow"Are you angry?""I'm not. I'm just trying to understand. Why were you so hell-bent on killing the Pope? Was it because of the Reef, or because something else he said?" said Reed.Lu'um grimaced and said, "The Reef is an extremely important tool. It is something that can possibly reverse our dire situation, Ka'an. That's all I can tell you right now. Do you understand?"Reed put down his coffee and coldly said, "Are you serious? How is that even possible? They eat entire multiverses! You saw that they were capable of! I we nearly died!""Look at me in the eyes, Ka'an. Have I ever lied to you? Why would I ever meaninglessly raise your hopes on false hope? What would I stand to gain from doing that you betraying your trust for a single lie?"If there was anyone he could trust, it was her. He knew that. She had already proved herself more than enough. He owed her his life.Reed grabbed one of her hands and said, "I'm sorry. I just"Lu'um knowingly smiled and said, "I already know. You don't need to apologize, Ka'an."He nervously laughed and said, "How'd you manage that? You can read my mind even though I've sealed my thoughts away?""Please, Ka'an. I don't need to use a mind-reading technique to know what you're thinking." She gazed at Reed with an amused expression on her face.T-That's pretty damn terrifying and I don't whether I should take that as an insult or a compliment.Reed raised his hands up in defeat and said, "Y-You've got me beat, then. I guessed I messed up. If the Reef is as powerful as you've described, letting it fall into, well, anyone's hands would be dangerous."That sort of power isn't meant for the likes of piddling mortals like us To be honest, I don't think that anyone is deserving of that much power.It's way too dangerous. Giving someone a weapon capable of fending off the Infestation is probably the most dangerous thing I can think ofGod forbid they ever point that weapon at the world after they get rid of the Infestation. Power corrupts people, so I can only imagine what unlimited power would do to a person.Reed shuddered in fright at the thought of a singular tyrant arising out of the ashes of this multiverse on the off chance that the Infested were removed from it.Eternally ruling the world by hold the biggest fucking gun in multiverse at its head"You know what? I think we might need to start cleaning up shop ourselves, sweetcheeks. We need to nip this problem in the bud as quickly as possible and I think that we might have the perfect opportunity to do it."His eyes twinkled ominously as he gazed outside at the falling snow.He'd come up with an idea. A good one.
