Last Born Of The Desdemona

Chapter 380: Chapter 380: A Courageous Fool

Chapter 380 – A Courageous Fool

"I know where we are," Meadow said, sliding forward slowly to sit beside him, her back against the cold, rough wall.

They stayed silent after that, ignoring the putrid smell filling the space. Their eyes stayed fixed ahead, on the tree hollow sealed shut by William’s power.

William himself sat in one corner, cross-legged, eyes closed, a faint shimmer of essence surrounding him. He seemed to be training.

Diaila hadn’t woken yet, though the way she groaned and tossed in her sleep suggested it wouldn’t be long now.

Cassius and Meadow watched their two teammates in silence. Cassius had been the one to choose William, and so far, he hadn’t regretted it.

Meadow’s situation was different. She’d thought Diaila’s power sounded interesting, so inviting her had seemed reasonable enough. But she’d overlooked something crucial in that judgment:

Diaila’s character, her motivations, and whether either of them actually aligned with what their group stood for.

’I made a mistake,’ the young tycoon thought, disappointed in herself. ’I should have been more careful about who I let into our circle. Cassius is hated as much as he’s loved. I don’t want to bring in someone who’d stab him in the back the moment it mattered most.’

Because that was exactly what would have happened, had Diaila been stronger than the rest of them. She’d have sold them out to save herself, right in front of a Fourth Ranker.

Fortunately, she wasn’t strong enough. But even a small snake could bite. And in a fight that lethal, even a small bite could kill.

Diaila had to go.

"I know what you’re thinking," Cassius whispered, low enough only for Meadow to hear. "Don’t torture yourself over it. You picked someone you thought could be useful."

"She could have gotten you killed," she replied. "Or hurt you badly."

"I’m not that easy to kill."

"Clearly," she chuckled bitterly, still struggling to fully process what had just happened. "How did you even survive a Fourth Rank? Queen’s breath, I still can’t believe it."

"Well," Cassius leaned back against the wall, breathing carefully to speed his healing, "there’s always a way, if you look hard enough. Mine’s a trick I only just discovered, mind you. Very risky, but hey, you do what you have to."

"Just tell me how."

"I mean, you basically summon your goddess and shatter the guy’s mind," he replied casually. "Much easier to survive a mindless beast than one that can actually think."

"...You did what?"

Cassius only chuckled, shaking his head. "Let’s not get into it. I look fine, but Queen’s breath, I saw Vorn’s smug grin more in that fight than I have in my entire 18 years alive. I might have trauma now."

"You do look fine."

"I have to be," he smiled. "We’ve got things to do. It’s not the time to let fear take over. Anyway, you said you know where we are." He drew a shaky breath. "So?"

Meadow glanced at him from the corner of her eye, sighed, and took his right hand in both of hers.

His hand was trembling. It had been, since the very start.

Fighting a Fourth Rank monster while trying to keep three teammates alive must have been horrific.

Yet here he was, refusing to turn back, despite all of it. Meadow couldn’t tell if it was foolishness or courage.

But maybe, in the end, they were the same thing.

The first virtue of a fool, as the Fool himself had once said, was courage.

So she held his hand, hoping to give this foolish, courageous man some small comfort, and answered, "The Academy’s teleportation formation is good, but not that good. And a lot of places sit off-limits to simple transport formations. Which means we’re outside the kingdom, but not by much."

"And this strange black forest?"

"A few kilometers past the kingdom border, north side, on the side of Storm City," she replied, checking the phone her mother had given her for emergencies.

She probably should have used it from the start. But who could’ve predicted they’d end up trapped like this?

"Based on the map, we’re about two and a half hours from the Hushsight Domain at a moderate pace. Full speed, maybe two hours," Meadow said, smiling wryly. "Lucky us, we’ve got roughly two hours before the mission’s supposed to start."

"Then we don’t have time to waste sitting here," Cassius said. "You know the way?"

"I do."

"Alright," he said, then, with a grateful smile, gently pulled his hand back.

Cassius turned towards William and Diaila, the latter just stirring awake, and began,

"After everything that happened, you both have every right to walk away from this mission." he said. "Nothing bad will happen to either of you if you do. Meadow and I are continuing, regardless."

William opened his eyes and raised an eyebrow. "Why wouldn’t I want to continue?" he asked simply, as though genuinely puzzled by the question.

He wasn’t the type to abandon a mission he’d already committed to. Not even with his life on the line.

"I’ll continue," William said. "The mission isn’t over."

Cassius wasn’t surprised. He was starting to get a real sense of William’s character, and he liked what he saw.

He turned next to Diaila, and watched her shrink under his gaze.

Not just his. Meadow’s and William’s too.

After what she’d done, Diaila knew exactly how much her standing in the group had just collapsed. She’d already been the weakest, and now she’d proven herself the most cowardly as well.

Shame twisted through her chest, though not quite into real regret. She’d do the same thing again, given the same circumstances.

She couldn’t die. She wouldn’t throw her life away for anyone except Julaibib. It didn’t matter what anyone else thought of her, even Cassius himself.

Still, she knew she’d behaved poorly, and some part of her wanted to make up for it.

So she nodded, clenching her fists to hide her fear and insecurity. "I’m... coming."

[She isn’t loyal to you, Cassius,] Ananke said.

[Not loyal, darling. Only I, Marvela O’Lune, am loyal! I sacrifice so much for you without a second thought! Do you love me now?]

’I know she isn’t,’ Cassius said inwardly, ’and I don’t need her to be. This time I forgave her and saved her because Julaibib is... a special case. But if it happens twice, I’ll kill her myself, no matter who’s watching.’

He nodded at Diaila and turned away, walking back towards Meadow.

’And yes, Marvela, you’re the best. Thank you for everything. And I have always liked you...as a mother, of course.’

[Argh. You didn’t need to add that last part!]

[You do realize you can’t pull the same trick if you run into another Fourth Rank, right?] Ananke warned. [They’ll be prepared for you this time, just as you’re preparing for them. I’d tell you to turn back, if I didn’t already know how stubborn you are. So tell me, how do you plan to survive next time? They won’t let you walk away. Your eye is too valuable to them.]

Cassius reached Meadow, who handed him a bundle of food and drinks.

’That’s a great question, Queen.’

[Which means you don’t have an answer.]

’Yet,’ Cassius clarified. ’I have two hours to glaze—! I mean, talk with her.’

[Her?]

’Scarlet, the best of spirits! The Fire of Fire! The Queen of Queens! The Firstborn—!’

"If you keep up this nonsense, I will burn you alive," Scarlet growled, appearing in a pixie-like form, her body wreathed in fire, hovering before him, face twisted with irritation.

No one else could see or hear her but Cassius.

He smiled, changing into fresh clothes as he spoke to her at the same time. ’I’ll need your help. They’ve probably updated their intel on me by now, but not all of it. They do not know yet.’

"Know what, exactly?"

’That I have you,’ Cassius smiled, chilling and sharp. ’So let’s set our lovely differences aside for a moment, and talk about how to hunt a hunter.’

—End of Chapter 380—