CHAPTER 781: CLASHING SENSE OF MORALITY 2

"Anyone at the Exignis stage truly won’t find it that difficult to look at a house they like and take it over," Ryuk agreed.

"Either by simply chasing the owner off with a threat, or more smartly through the use of techniques or artifacts to take control of their mind, and become the unknown boss behind the scenes."

"I am strong enough to waltz into a bank with billions of Amma notes and drain it of all its money without the security even noticing they’ve been robbed until I am long out of the place."

"I could use that money to live like a king."

"That... that really is true," Ryuk said with a nod, and Odette flashed her evil grin, one that faded with his next few words.

"But I work as an Archguard, and I get paid for completing loyalty quests."

"It could be risky sometimes, but there is peace."

"The peace of knowing I’m not hurting anyone, which is something I will be doing, if I walk into that bank and steal a billion."

"I live in a rented house, but it’s peaceful, as I know I am truly welcomed in it, and not just taken over with force, and becoming the secret mastermind of it."

"That will also do nothing but bring pain to those who originally lived in it."

"If power brings nothing but pain to people, what use is it?"

He explained at length, watching as Odette looked silently at him before she finally sighed.

"You risk your life for 10,000 Amma notes, calling it nobility..."

"While someone else uses a mind-control charm to become a city’s hidden ruler—controlling lives from the shadows and even influencing yours," she whispered.

"In the end, you both live in a house and eat food. Except you bleed and almost die for it, and he never has to," she said, slowly turning to look at the crowds below.

"You talk about pain, as if the people of this world are so innocent."

"As if they’d shed a single tear if they knew what you were and what power runs through your veins."

"Tell me, Ryuk, those same people you’re trying to protect,"

"If they found out what you are, and what you could do to them, do you think they’ll thank you for not robbing them or taking their house?" She said, turning to look back at him.

His eyes creased in thought, as it was something he had never considered, but she continued.

"They wouldn’t thank you for your restraint, Ryuk."

"You know what they’d call you?" Odette said, turning to him with that evil grin.

"They’d call you a threat. A ticking bomb."

"Something unnatural that must be kept in chains."

"And if their fear takes deep root inside them, and they suddenly come upon a power equal to yours?"

"They wouldn’t hesitate to come for you in the night, and burn your house down while you sleep."

"Drag your body into the street and spit on it like you were filth."

"Then, they’d loot what was left and walk away a little richer," she said with a silent scoff.

"You think that by showing restraint... You think that by being kind, the world will show you kindness. But you’re wrong."

"If the world held the power that you hold, they would try to get rid of you first."

At this point, she could hear his heartbeat skip once.

"That is the truth of the world you think you’re protecting."

"It doesn’t love you back, Ryuk, nor would it ever return your love. It never even loved you at all from the beginning."

"You seem to have been born in this idealistic world, where kindness will be repaid someday, and that’s how I knew you were not from Ammamora."

"Anyone from this place knows that truth, although they’re good at hiding it behind kind smiles that fool people like you, who think the world is all lovey-dovey," Odette said with a helpless shrug before she began walking toward the stairs that led into the building.

"If you wish to be an exception to reality, I will not force you to change."

"But..." she said, pausing on the first step as she turned to look at Ryuk.

"If one day you find a blade stuck into your neck from behind, and you turn—only to find the person who did it was the one you had shown mercy and kindness to all your life..."

"Then remember, that I, Odette, once told you this world doesn’t reward kindness or mercy," she said very clearly.

"If that happens, blame nothing but your naiveness, as it is what killed you in the end."

With that, she continued into the mansion, saying as she went:

"Go check up on your family."

"You can come back tomorrow, and you’ll find me here."

The sound of her footsteps soon faded away.

But her words... they shook Ryuk more than she could have ever thought, as they brought back to him the memories of Owen.

He had been supposed to kill Owen, just like he had killed the remaining two assassins who tried to assassinate Princess Eiffel.

But he had kept Owen alive because he wanted some answers from him.

Still, the reason Ryuk had been so lax about Owen, even though he hated to admit it, was that he had thought Owen would think kindly of him for sparing his life.

He believed that Owen knew he could have been killed, but because Ryuk didn’t, and even gave him life, Owen would be grateful and cooperate with him.

But did Owen cooperate?

Even after Ryuk had solely spared his life, after killing off his companions, Owen had done nothing but look for a weakness in Ryuk’s defense that he could take advantage of.

And once Ryuk was on his last leg, the one person he had thought might show gratitude ended up stabbing him in the eye and slitting his throat.

He had been kind to Owen, and naturally expected it in return.

But Owen didn’t repay his kindness with gratitude.

It was just like Odette had said.

"The second people gain power equal to yours, the first thing they’ll do is not repay your kindness, but get rid of you."

Ryuk himself had gone through that firsthand.

It made him question his own beliefs for the first time.

Was this just him being himself...or was he just being a naive fool who would only learn his lesson after death finally reaps away his life?