Read Novel Full Chapter 330: It’s All in the Eyes
Chapter 330: It’s All in the Eyes
It had been half an hour since they’d found this peculiar man and dragged him inside the dungeon. They’d quickly placed him in a cell made of stone.
A few curious Akkuron soldiers came out to witness the commotion. Vale had asked if any recognized this man, but none did; however, they did recognize the insignia embroidered on his cloak. The insignia of Celestia. Though Vale already knew that much without their assistance.
Through haggard breaths, the man cursed at those gawking at him like some zoo animal.
“I’d heard the rumors… but how sad. You dogs of the emperor… really have locked arms with a Vice.”
Sandra, standing shoulder to shoulder with Vale, glared at Eric, who was about to shout some obscenity. Instead of letting one of her own give back a snarky reply, she said:
“Hello, Celestian soldier. If you would be so kind, explain what you were doing down here.”
“Hmph. Curious as to what we know? Well, I don’t mind sharing that much. We know you are all spineless cowards, and a few of you have taken to residing with this hellspawn.”
“A few, huh? So I take it you don’t know how many of us are holed up in here.”
A flash of dismay washed across the Celestian’s face as his brows knitted. But, a moment later, he let out a snarky chortle.
“I’d say around fifty of you.”
“You’d say? That doesn’t mean much. We’ve already discerned you’re a spy or scout of some sort. It wouldn’t be out of the ordinary for you to be able to scope us out now that you’re with us.”
The man flinched, but his expression, laden with blood, stayed resolute.
Vale, who’d been quietly watching, studying the haggard man, said:
“Look, I’m not the barbarian the world has pegged me as, but neither am I the opposite. I don’t wish to harm you, nor to kill you. But letting you go obviously isn’t on the table, as you’ve learned a bit too much—”
“Just spit it out,” the man interrupted with a tempered tone.
“Ah… What I’m trying to say is, tell us what we want to know and you’ll get to live peacefully in a cage until the war is over, or you can die peacefully. I don’t exactly wish to describe the alternatives. But, I will add, we do have some exquisite healers on our side.”
“How gracious—”
All of a sudden, Mias appeared in the cage beside the man, leaned down, and stared into the caught man’s gaze. The smoky Reaper brought his hand to the man’s cheek and cupped it. A motion the man was much too weak to resist.
“I can see the heroic ideals in your eyes — the will to fight and die for your goddess — but the fear behind them is all too clear. Think of all you wish to protect. Think of all you left behind to take to the battlefield.”
“Shut up, you inhuman bastard!”
Mias smiled warmly as he removed his hand.
“It seems my words have resonated somewhere deep within… There’s a third option I’d like to propose for your compliance. We shall protect and shelter those whom you wish during this war.”
“Like you have the strength… or ability… to do so. The Holy Maiden is a shield that can’t be breached. Why would I betray that shield and put my family on the other side of it…? At least make some sense in your haphazard attempt… at trickery.”
Mias shook his head, then replied:
“But you see, a shield can only protect what’s directly behind it. Nor can a shield pierce and destroy what’s attacking it. You know that. I can see it in your eyes as well. You know the outcome of this war.”
The man snidely replied:
“You love the sound of your own voice, don’t you?”
“Think about it… think about all the times you’ve thought about it. What kind of goddess would lead her children into war? What kind of goddess would let one of her followers be captured without reason?”
“Now… I can push past the tasteless promises. But I can’t gloss over the disrespect of Celestia!”
“Is that so…? But your eyes—”
“My eyes! My eyes! There’s much more to me… than my fucking eyes!”
Chuckling, Mias replied:
“I’m well aware.”
Then, the smoky Reaper of Knowledge started backpedaling until his form morphed around the stone bars. The moment he phased to the other side, Mias activated [Nevermore] and disappeared.
Sandra, having only met the smoky man not too long ago, said:
“Well now… what a scary individual you’ve been hiding.”
“Can’t say I don’t agree with that assessment…”
‘Scary…’
Such an inadequate word to describe the horror that lurked within each molecule of Mias’ calm demeanor.
Vale tilted his head toward Salome, who’d been temporarily dissolved of her watch, Sivian having traded places with her.
“Salome, can you heal him enough to make him comfortable-ish?”
“Of course.”
As Salome held out her hand, the man tried to scamper away, but the broken bones in his legs didn’t allow him to move.
Vale, looming over the man on the other side of the bars, said:
“Perhaps we got off on the wrong foot… and that’s not to my displeasure, but yours. For your sanity and safety, I implore you to answer whatever Sandra or the smoky man from earlier may ask… As you’ve already pointed out, any promises I make are a bit empty. Not only would Rivania stand in my way, but you have no reason to trust a Vice. However… I’ll let you sit with this. What reason do you have to not trust me?”
Vale crouched slightly and spoke with [Charm]-influenced words.
“I don’t care for the horror stories of the past, but what I wish is for you to assess me with your own two eyes.”
‘Go on, realize the threats I make are not those of a monster’s. But those of a human doing what they have to do to survive.’
“What’s with you bastards and eyes?”
Sandra huffed, then said:
“I’ve noticed that too… but I can agree in this case; hide it as you may, Celestian, your eyes are quite expressive.”
I’m back!