Chapter 461: Two Sides
Chapter 461: Two Sides
“Rael Sutekh, or should I say, Rael Altros?” Evelyn smiled. “I’m glad you managed to make it out alive.”
She went that far, huh? Well… Not like it matters at the moment.
“Did you restore Kareth’s memories?” Rael asked, walking closer to her and sitting on the sofa beside her.
Evelyn giggled. “It wasn’t very hard to help him regain his memories. All he needed was a little push.”
She didn’t go into too many details, and honestly, Rael didn’t care much about Kareth. Instead…
“How did you keep your memories? Even Solenne’s memories were wiped out.”
“I knew it was coming,” Evelyn replied flatly. “That’s why, right before it happened, I stored my memories in time, and after the process was finished, I took them back. In turn, I only lost a little bit of my lifespan, and nothing more.”
“However…” she continued, narrowing her eyes. “I did promise you a gift, didn’t I?”
Rael grinned. “Yep. Surviving against Solenne is quite the achievement, so I wonder what you’ll give me…?”
Hearing that, Evelyn rolled her eyes and stood up. She took a few steps forward, then crouched down, tapping the shallow water.
In an instant, all the water that had been a clear dark blue color suddenly turned completely golden.
It rippled far more than before, and in the distance, even small waves formed, circling all around them.
Evelyn stood up and dusted herself off, a satisfied look on her face.
Yet when she turned toward Rael, she was met with a conflicted expression.
“Look… I’m not into that kind of stuff,” Rael said slowly. “B-But if it’s going to make me more powerful—”
“It’s not the kind of liquid you’re thinking of.” Evelyn facepalmed, a faint blush appearing on her cheeks. “It’s the blood of a Grade 10 being. It will passively nourish your mind, and I suggest you actually start focusing on your Mind Realm. But I believe you’ve already come to a similar conclusion all on your own.”
“Sure…”
Though a Grade 10 being’s blood does seem overpowered. What if I can absorb it somehow? Sure would be nice to get a chonky powerup.
“Hey, I do have to ask, but what happened to my body after I erased everyone’s memories?” Rael asked. “I know for a fact that it was left there on that mountain, but when I appeared inside it again, it was in Solenne’s Silver City.”
Evelyn hummed in amusement. “Well, that might be my doing. I placed your body in the Silver City, and I also helped you leave Solenne’s mind unnoticed.”
He remembered feeling a slender hand grabbing him and dragging him down into darkness, so if that was really Evelyn, then he could only nod his head in appreciation.
“Thank you,” Rael expressed. “I’m only alive because of you.”
“Don’t be.” Evelyn shrugged it off. “You erasing everyone’s memory gave me the opportune moment to invade a few minds. Now, the Silver City is under my control, and a few billion soldiers belonging to Solenne are as well.”
Rael’s eyes widened. “What…? Are you even allowed to tell me this?”
“Why? It’s not like it matters,” Evelyn replied plainly. “I believe in the people I speak my mind to. You are someone who wouldn’t spill information, and I already gave you an ability that locks your mind, so no one can openly pry information from you.”
As he was about to speak, she raised a single finger and spoke instead.
“I am aware of the person you are thinking of. However, we Supreme Monsters are not allowed to directly descend and kill someone… even if that someone is…” Evelyn trailed off, her expression darkening.
She shook her head. “Never mind… It doesn’t matter.”
“But can’t Zarkul do it?” Rael asked, puzzled. “I remember him killing millions of people.”
“His continent doesn’t follow the same rules as the rest of the Depths,” Evelyn replied. “He kills people who are corrupted, and those who are insufferably weak. There are a few other reasons, but we Supreme Monsters have our own secrets which we choose not to share.”
With that, she walked over and sat beside him once more.
“Remember when we first met?” Evelyn asked innocently.
Rael tilted his head. “Sure? We met just as I was about to kill your sister. Not the best first impression on my part.”
“Good… It’s good that you remember…” Evelyn trailed off as she met his eyes. “But do you also remember when I told you I might call upon you for a teensy request?”
Pausing for a moment, Rael fell into thought.
Her request… Right… I remember…
“You told me you’d call me for some opportunistic world-ending request, but only if I spared Beatrice. Since I spared her… Yeah. What’s up?” Rael replied anxiously.
“I usually deliver my words in the form of prophecies, but since we’re here already, I shall be blunt with you,” Evelyn said, her expression hardening.
“I want you to pick a side.”
Rael tilted his head at her vagueness. “A side?”
“Shortly after Kareth’s test ends, you will be faced with two choices,” Evelyn continued. “The first choice: help Lucien. The second: kill Lucien.”
The moment she finished her words, he stared at her in confusion.
“Could I ask why?”
Evelyn nodded in affirmation and began explaining.
“Lucien was corrupted some time ago, and thus, we, the Supreme Monsters, sealed him. However, it seems like he managed to partially break through the seal. At least, enough to slip his consciousness out of that place.”
“Is the place you’re talking about the Silver Willow Tree?” Rael interrupted.
“I can’t tell you that.” Evelyn shook her head.
However, even if she couldn’t tell him, he knew that it was very likely he wasn’t wrong.
Despite that…
“He is gathering people to unseal him, and that’s where I want you to step in. Either as someone who’ll join the others and unseal him, or be the one who kills him,” Evelyn finished with a conflicted look.
“Both choices have their merits, but they also have an equal amount of drawbacks. I’m really sorry to spring this on you, but I believe you’re the only person here who has what it takes to do something.”
With that, she stood up again, her body slowly fading from the mind realm.
“I can’t tell you which to choose, nor can I tell you there aren’t any other possible options. All I’m saying is that I believe in your judgment, Rael. Because before long, the fate of more than just Lucien will depend on it.”
Having said those words, Evelyn finally faded away, her parting smile still present in his mind.
“A choice, huh?”
Rael sighed.
Yet another fucking ultimatum.