Chapter 123

Just as Minette was contemplating whether to step forward or not…

Carriel suddenly appeared right in front of the youth, as if weaving between spaces.

Then he grabbed the guy’s wrist, disrupting his spellcasting, and after watching him for a few seconds, casually tore off his entire arm.

However, this all happened so fast that any onlooker would’ve struggled to even guess what just occurred.

It was like BAM—he showed up outta nowhere and BAM—situation handled.

But from an outside perspective, it was hard to tell exactly what went down.

“Y-Y-You! W-What did you just do…”

The follower dude who tried to protest froze stiff the moment his eyes met Carriel’s, like a frog caught in a snake’s gaze.

“…”

Carriel slowly walked up and placed a hand on his shoulder.

“…”

He then scanned the other men briefly before approaching each one and placing a hand on their shoulders too.

“What’re you doing?! You gonna let him get away with this?!”

The youth, recovering slightly, waved his remaining hand around while shouting. The commotion naturally drew attention from the surroundings.

Yet despite the ruckus, an eerie silence hung over the area, almost as if everyone deliberately chose to ignore what was happening.

The unease of bystanders turning a blind eye reached Minette clearly. But something felt different this time.

A little kid peeking from a small alley mustered the courage to stick his head out, his eyes wide with fear.

For just a moment.

The four burly guys escorting the youth—who had been acting all tough moments ago—were now writhing on the ground.

Each missing a wrist and ankle.

Their screams tore through the oppressive silence.

“What are you doing, you brat?! Who the hell do you think you are to pull this crap?! Do you really think you’ll get away with this?! I—I’ll make sure you regret this…”

Carriel simply stared at him without saying a word.

“G-Gah! Ugh!”

Overwhelmed by the pressure, the youth started dry-heaving, turned pale, and began vomiting.

“I’m thinking.”

At that moment, Carriel spoke up in a monotone voice.

“I don’t have the authority to judge anyone. But preventing the sins you might commit later—does that help you or those who would suffer because of you?”

“Bullshit! Are you some kind of sage now? Or a holy son? What gives YOU the right to lecture me?!”

“Quiet.”

Even though he tried to lash out again, Carriel’s single word crushed his spirit, leaving him ghost-white.

Strangely, despite severed limbs and wounds, there was no bleeding.

Regardless of whether they were feeling pain or not.

“Karma goes around, they say. Maybe your sins are just repaying others for theirs.”

“…”

“Though…this doesn’t suit me.”

Somewhere in that mysterious tone, Carriel seemed to revert back to his usual self.

“I know you won’t repent. Still, if by some miracle you do change—if only slightly—that’d be progress. Though I don’t expect much. I’ll be staying in this country for a while. If you seek revenge, come find me. I’ll welcome you gladly.”

With that, Carriel gave a slight nod, signaling that it was time to leave.

Minette hesitated for a second—should she kill him or clean up the mess—but when their eyes met and Carriel shook his head, she decided to merely watch.

The youth eventually collapsed into his own vomit, while his guards sat there, utterly broken.

Carriel picked up a staggering dog and a ragged-looking girl with one hand.

When the dog bit at him, Carriel effortlessly restrained it. Its teeth sank into his arm but couldn’t clamp down properly due to sheer force difference.

Carriel subtly moved his lips to signal Minette.

===

Our horizons have certainly broadened.

Compared to the empire, this place is utter chaos.

And now…

It’s finally time to achieve the purpose for which we stepped into this land.

As we entered an alley where buildings and streets vaguely resembled maps, a structure stood out among the rest.

Even though this area had fallen into poverty, it wasn’t always a slum.

But due to lack of proper management, garbage and filth piled up everywhere, hardening and breaking apart repeatedly.

Despite the overwhelming stench, neither Carriel nor Minette showed any discomfort.

We eventually stopped in front of a two-story stone building.

Though its pillars and roof frame were wooden like most nearby structures, this one stood out—about three times larger than the rest.

Surprisingly, this area seemed somewhat cleaner, hinting at attempts to maintain the environment.

Minette knocked on the red-painted wooden door with her clenched fist.

After a brief pause, an aquarian with pointed ears cautiously peeked out.

His reddish-brown fur suggested he was a fox-like creature, and his yellow pupils quickly scanned over Minette, Carriel, the apparent street urchin, and the disheveled puppy before pinching his nose with his oversized claws covered in black fur.

“What’s with bringing THAT here?”

Treating them more like objects than people.

Before Minette could ask Carriel, he calmly responded.

“Is there a problem?”

“…No, not really.”

Though seemingly normal, Carriel carried an atmosphere that silently rendered everything around powerless and insignificant—not through force or intimidation, but something else entirely.

Like the vast, pitch-black night sky devoid of lighthouses, stars, or moonlight.

Pale and darkened yet immeasurably deep and endless, like a bottomless lake or river.

It was profoundly desolate.

This wasn’t about being a great beast, fierce predator, daemon, or threatening animal.

It was akin to nature itself—existing yet denying existence, an immense abyss.

Simply by being present, it evoked an inexplicable sense of being overwhelmed.

Even Minette felt this way; how ordinary people might feel is unimaginable.

Shaking yet unable to suppress trembling, the aquarian opened the door wider.

Following his awkward guidance, they stepped inside.

“Should we leave them here?”

Following the aquarian’s instructions, they set the dog and child aside in a corner before heading downstairs.

Eventually, they reached a space reminiscent of a spacious warehouse or empty cell—but it was neither.

Empty furniture filled the void, with a large wooden rectangular table and several chairs standing out prominently.

Lamps installed on the walls provided enough light, though not enough to illuminate the entire space.

Still, familiar faces greeted Minette among the crowd.

Including some unfamiliar ones.

“It’s an honor to meet you.”

A man who bowed respectfully to what should’ve been his nephew.

When he opened his eyes, they gleamed eerily, almost snake-like.

Seeing this, Minette let out a low sigh.

On the other hand, Carriel…

“Rupert, is it?”

He stated the name calmly, as if recognizing him.

Even his white hair reflecting the light and snake-like eyes seemed abnormal—unnaturally bleached except for a stark parting line.

Old corpses don’t have eyes like that. It was unnatural.

“Have we met separately before?”

Someone leaning against the wall, Venus, shifted his gaze from Minette to Carriel and asked.

“…”

Carriel glanced at him briefly, pointing at his eyes and brow sequentially.

“What’re you talking about?”

Venus didn’t understand, but…

“It’ll save time if you already know. Instead of standing here chatting…”

Uthserph interjected with a faint smile, smoothing his bald head while trying to lighten the mood.

“Grandeous told me. He entrusted you with this, right?”

Without acknowledging Uthserph, Carriel focused on Rupert.

“What do you mean ‘heard’? Did you meet him personally? How?”

“I ask the questions.”

Rupert’s counter-question made Carriel narrow his eyes.

“If you know the future, finish asking. Will you die here or survive?”

“Hmm…”

“This is quite intimidating indeed.”

Uthserph attempted to mediate, shifting topics uncomfortably, but Carriel ignored him completely.

“You first. Your turn comes next, so speak then.”

His calm tone remained sharp, almost unnervingly detached.

“I see.”

Apparently understanding something from Carriel’s attitude, Rupert twisted his snake-like eyes into a sinister curve.

“The future I glimpse is extremely limited. But starting from some point, I couldn’t see anymore. Now I know why.”

“…”

A strange black substance flowed naturally from Carriel’s hand.

Even in darkness, it possessed an oddly distinct presence.

Pitch black within pitch black. Why does it stand out so vividly despite being so dark?

“Is today’s schedule an execution?”

Venus watched this scene without much reaction, as if expecting it somehow.

“Is my fate sealed here?”

“…”

“Since I’ve deceived others’ lives, this could be fitting. I accept.”

Spreading his arms, Rupert took a step toward Carriel, who approached him.

“Alright. Willingly!”

“…”

Without hesitation, Carriel swung his sword—or rather, a blade-shaped mass of pitch blackness—at Rupert’s head and face.

“Rupert!”

Before Uthserph’s sluggish body could react, the sword’s trajectory cleanly swept across Rupert’s eyes horizontally.

“…”

“…”

Carriel turned away, apparently done, and approached Uthserph next.

“No need to talk. No excuses necessary.”

‘Because I can see it.’

Carriel placed a hand on Uthserph’s shoulder. Despite Uthserph’s bulkier frame, he felt overshadowed by the younger man’s imposing presence.

Most importantly, he didn’t understand the meaning behind this gesture.

“Huh…”

After a few seconds of cold sweat turning into hot sweat drenching his body…

Uthserph’s gaze lingered behind Carriel, at Rupert.

‘Is he dead?’

No response.

If cut by a sword… or was it truly a cut? Considering it swept across his head, life energy should’ve been extinguished.

“He survived.”

Calmly lowering his arms and turning around, Rupert perplexed Uthser further.

More notably, the snake-like eyes symbolizing him were gone, replaced by dull, milky orbs.

“Did you retrieve what I entrusted you with? Is taking away my sight all the punishment you deem fit?”

“That decision isn’t mine.”

Carriel removed his hand from Uthserph’s shoulder while speaking.

Facing his retreating figure,

“Nor yours.”

“And yet…your situation differs.”

A trace of malice flickered in Carriel’s gaze as he looked at Uthserph.

“You’re one of the main culprits causing me trouble. What should I do with you?”

“Th-The…”

Where did the information leak from?

No, that’s not the point.

Didn’t I somewhat foresee this outcome?

Still…

“All prepared to die, having arranged everything beforehand. Knowing that, you still came to see me willingly? Hoping for luck, aren’t you? Filled with侥幸 thoughts.”

“…”

He sees through everything.

Moreover, knowing about the preparations I never told Rupert?

He might’ve guessed, but guessing is different from certainty.

Unless he foresaw my future himself, it’s impossible to be this sure.

Why does this complete stranger seem so certain?

“At least you have some conscience.”

“Excuse me?”

Suddenly, his body tilted.

?

By the time he noticed, his right leg below the knee had vanished.

“Be grateful for the many dependents tied to you.”

Also,

“Many unintentional good deeds born from misplaced beliefs saved your life today.”

“…”

“Still, debts pile up like mountains. Your life and good fortune hang precariously.”

Realizing the leg disappeared without any sensation of being cut or severed—it’s bizarre harmony.

This isn’t like Grandeous.

Grandeous never initiated violence against unarmed opponents.

“Don’t compare me to him.”

Uthserph shivered again, feeling his inner workings exposed.

“He wanted me to differ from him, leading to who I am now.”

A pitiful and pathetic existence bound by glimpses of the future. Having deemed himself a failure, he meticulously drew lines to ensure his successor wouldn’t follow the same path.

“Whatever you do henceforth isn’t my concern. Just remember: don’t cross the line. Don’t indulge in evil. Don’t be greedy. Don’t become arrogant. Violate these, and your lives will become unbearably unfortunate. This suffering will continue posthumously without mercy.”

It sounded like a verdict.

“If you dislike it, stop mentioning or even thinking about charity knights or Grandeous from now on.”

Starting today,

“Your roles end. Live your separate lives. Stop deceiving others’ lives.”

If you don’t want to die miserably and keep getting trampled even after death,

“From now on, serve beings beyond yourselves. It doesn’t have to be me. This will be your absolution. Deny it, and the price will make death seem merciful.”

Extremely one-sided.

Characters of light floated in the air.

“I’ve revised the meaningless oaths you made to Grandeous. Whether you engrave or forget my words is your choice. And the consequences of that choice remain yours to bear.”

“Wait. Does this apply to me too? I’m different from those bastards, right?”

Venus interrupted skeptically.

“…”

Carriel shrugged.

“You weren’t listening.”

I said if you don’t like it, abandon the whole charity knight nonsense. Idiot, I’m offering to untie your leash, but you’re still making a fuss.

“You talk way too complicated.”

“Haha…”

Venus’s muttering made Rupert chuckle weakly.

“If that’s what you desire, willingly.”

Slowly kneeling, Rupert

It wasn’t exactly bowing to Carriel,

Rather, paying respects to the figure of old he once followed.

Profoundly offered his respect.

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