CHAPTER 67: LIRAEL’S CHOICE

Payton closed the album resting on his knees. His eyes drifted toward the pond.

"Even after what we told you, you’re still not giving up? In your place, most people would have already kicked the bucket knowing that the reason for the monster invasion is you."

"You’re underestimating me. I’m not so weak that I’d stop halfway, and I’m definitely not stupid enough to care about other people’s opinions. These people deserve the monsters. In the end, we’ll all disappear anyway — so why give up? I’d rather live for myself."

"Hmph. We, the people of the Void Realm, don’t involve ourselves in human conflicts. We act only when we know it’s necessary to ensure peace in our own world. Why did your friend just happen to have a portal spell on hand? I’ll tell you.

Those who serve to protect this world are called Void Reapers. We once threw all our strength into aiding the human world in battles against dragons and evil spirits. When peace settled on the land, we stopped interfering. Over time, our alliance with the human world faded into history.

Shugen—the crystal that brought magic to your world—is a renegade. It split off from Mado and walked its own path, which is why the techniques you know are forbidden to us."

"Wait, Sir Payton... You said... Void Reapers? How do you even know what’s happening in our world?"

"Void Reapers are soldiers who scout Earth during peacetime. No one can see them—they move only in the deepest hours of night. And yes, among them are we, the Onmyoji."

"What does it take... to become one of you?"

I sat down on the porch beside him. Payton regarded me with calm eyes.

"Humans can only partially reshape their souls. Even if you chose to live in our world and train in the Mado arts, the core of your soul would never allow you to become like us."

"So in theory, I couldn’t have the same longevity you do. Shame, I thought the nature of our worlds was the same."

"You’re a summon. You won’t die or age as long as your mistress lives. Longevity isn’t your problem. Or would you rather have your life back?"

"You’re joking? Of course I would. But I doubt it’s possible. I wasn’t resurrected — I’m just a shell of the past."

"Ahem. Your soul, however, is the same as in your previous life. In theory, summons can free themselves from their summoning pact and become fully independent beings. But neither Lady Nishitani nor Sir Sigfried have fully studied the matter."

"Really? That’s... great news."

But then again, why would I even want that? Do I really want to break the bond that ties me to Lirael?

Come to think of it, I’d never really considered what task she gave me when she summoned me. I simply obeyed her and her family, but she never actually declared any rules of the pact.

"Tomorrow we begin training." Payton stood and walked toward the exit. "You’ll learn to summon your unique sword."

"A sword? So are you a swordmaster because you’re the strongest Onmyoji, or are you the strongest Onmyoji because you’re a swordmaster?"

"You’ll find out tomorrow. I’ve seen you fight, and I’m just as curious to see which of us will win."

He left the room, leaving me with a gloomy look.

That guy — does he even feel emotions? His tone, his speech, his behavior... all scream ’boring.’ But I’m not in a hurry. If he’s the strongest, then he knows his craft.

...

The next morning, I went to Salazar’s room. I stood at the door, watching him draw something on a scroll.

"Mind explaining what you’re doing here?"

"Hmph, I should be asking you the same thing." Salazar didn’t even glance up. "You arrived here when the academy was under attack, didn’t you?"

"So you were there too. Did you see those creatures?"

Salazar nodded and let out a long yawn.

"When Sir Iceborn saved me from them, some Onmyoji approached and asked if I knew the invaders from my world. I was surprised to learn you were here too."

"Sir Iceborn... He wields Darkness, doesn’t he? Why associate with such a slippery man? Is your desperate chase for power so consuming you’ve gone insane?"

"I’m afraid, Atheron, you’re no less slippery. I have the right to live my life as I choose. The academy won’t bring me the results I want — not like here. I won’t be going back."

I leaned against the wall, confusion written on my face.

"So you’ve decided to become a Void Reaper? Has your thirst for revenge made you a fool?"

"Why are you lecturing me? I’ve devoted almost my entire life to this revenge. Defeating Raigetsu Kurogane — that’s what’s driven me toward strength. Raikuro must fall by my hand. I won’t let him roam freely, knowing what’s behind him. I will kill him."

His teeth bared. Every time he thought of Raikuro, he grew angrier.

"Kill him? Princess, you’re nothing but a lunatic. I pity anyone who wastes their life on nothing but revenge."

With a sigh, he answered:

"Don’t judge me. If you’d lost to Saddler, you’d have died of shame. No, you wouldn’t have allowed yourself to lose to him. Your battle was destined. Have you forgotten how it ended? You killed him."

Hearing that, my eyes trembled. His voice pierced my ears, twisting my head. I remembered Saddler’s face at the moment I ended him.

It was PTSD.

"I know who you are, Atheron il Ataraxia. The great hero, summoned again as a mere familiar. You look down on others because you think humans are fools who don’t value life. You’re just an echo of the past, lucky enough to get a second chance. Don’t fool yourself, false hero."

Saddler felt my hand on his shoulder. He was surprised to see me filled with darkness and rage.

"You’re walking on thin ice, boy. One more word and I’ll kill you."

"Kill me?" Salazar scoffed. "What’s a human life worth to a dead soul? You just want to take as many lives as you can before your own legs give out. Your soul rotted the moment you were born. You lecture me, but you’re no better than I am."

Salazar’s murderous grin spread wider. He knew exactly what was going through my head.

I was furious. My vision blurred, but even then I could still see his filthy smile.

"Go on, kill me. Isn’t that what you want right now, Atheron?"

My ears rang. My teeth ground together. All I could think about was ending this bastard.

"..."

"..."

I let go and walked away. Salazar was left alone, unsettled.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the building—

"S-Sir Oldrich!"

Five youths in green robes approached him.

"Ah, it’s you lot. Don’t tell me you got off patrol duty?" Oldrich greeted them warmly.

"N-no, we just wanted to make sure you were alright."

"You’re quick, I’ll give you that. But what could possibly happen to me?"

"Are you heading somewhere, Sir Oldrich? Leaving, perhaps? Our guests didn’t choose your path of training?"

"No, just out for a walk. Sometimes in this heat, there’s not enough fresh air."

"May we join you?"

"Hmmm... Let me think. Shouldn’t you be getting back to work? Hmmm..."

"There you go again! You’re so slow, sir."

These five young soldiers were in his unit. They’d learned everything from Oldrich.

As they stepped outside with their commander, someone called out from behind:

"Hey!"

Like a sloth, Oldrich slowly turned to the girl staying toward the exit. It was Lirael, who had rushed here as quickly as she could.

They stopped near the archway that led to a long staircase descending into the streets of the ancient eastern city.

"Oi, you’re that... what’s her name..." Oldrich scratched his head. "One of our guests. Name was... hmmm..."

"Lirael. Lirael il Ataraxia!"

"That’s right," Oldrich snapped his fingers. "Looks like you’ve got business with me. Hmmm... we were about to go for a walk. Care to join us?"

Lirael caught her breath.

"Alright."

The squad glanced at her, sizing her up.

"Hey, she’s actually kinda cute."

"Then why don’t you talk to her? Perfect chance to get to know her."

"Idiots! What stupid thing are you plotting this time?" one of the girls smacked two of the boys on the head.

Lirael walked beside Oldrich. He looked at her with a smile — a three-meter-tall gentle giant who looked like a serial killer.