Netori: Stealing The Hero's Party!

Chapter 886: The Path Of Tyrants

A day more than what was initially discussed had passed by, and finally, the Iron Tridents were all loaded up. Raven was standing atop the spire alongside Mono and the rest of his companions as well, his eyes set on the many vessels while the queen of Iron relayed some last-minute instructions to her automatons scattered throughout the kingdom.

"So you are taking everyone, huh..." Finally cutting her mental connection, Mono stepped forward with her hands in her pockets and sighed. Glancing sideways at the hero with a mischievous glint in her eyes, she whispered. "Good luck and try to look after the late king’s spirit, will ya? He’s probably not fond of the way I’ve been running his kingdom, but can’t say we hate each other for it either."

Ignoring her words for now, Raven tried to tally where everyone was. Starting with Helga first, his gaze brushed over the leading iron trident. Inside, the Valkyrie was with the rest of the Athenian soldiers, even including Mistress and her followers amongst them. Surprisingly enough, the vessel right behind even had the Red Madam travelling with the group. When asked why, her answer was simple.

’If these people are to die for our kingdom, then I at least wish to be there to make sure that their final rights are wrapped in fine silk.’ Nobody objected, for hers was a noble cause, and perhaps it was the only way the old woman could help with the war effort, and nobody had the heart to take that away from her.

Bringing his attention back to the leading vessel, Raven reminded himself of the rest. Moxy, Choux, Daema, Maria’s whole entourage, including the centaurians and Hilma. Seraphim and Riyanzah were also travelling at the helm alongside their sister and the prince. Then there was the troubled mother, stuck in a limbo of not knowing whether their children were truly alive or dead.

Shamisha, Lutz, Reina, and Regalia were the next names that came to his mind. Followed soon after by everyone from the rest of the kingdoms who were supposed to travel with them. Garcia, Ditsy, Jenna, Aradin’s entire group, as well as the angel of life, Evangaline. Frazer and his family, alongside Elowen’s own, had taken refuge in the same. For the ex-hero’s family, it was a matter of not letting Frazer go on his own again, while Elowen simply wished to see this war done and be over.

Mercedes. The Twin, Diane’s family, the longer he thought, the more people’s names kept coming to his mind. So many folks... and many more whom they had given teleportation rings so that they can travel directly into the ships as well. Flitza, Meimei, Melenai were one group amongst many such; the council of Inktaus was the same, and at last Mono, and the ruling class were also offered the same privilege.

’Gallaria and Helga’s daughter should be in Aranuvia. Tck... I should’ve visited them before coming here.’ And with that thought, Raven’s mind snapped back to the present. Glancing to his side, he noticed Mono standing by him and lazily admiring the back of her nails. A bored expression was cast over her contour; however, the moment their eyes met, she gave him a smile.

"Done daydreaming? Well, great, because I have something to tell you." Gesturing for him to lend her his ear, Mono covered one side of her mouth to prevent anyone else from reading her lips. "The girl Meimei and Ditsy, both have been working with me to create a vessel–or rather–a body for your goddess, but we need a drop of Athenia’s blood for the smith to include in her metal frame, just like how she used yours to make the special equipment. For now, you’re taking away Ditsy, and I get that you’re gonna need her more in a theatre of war, but as long as you bring her back and get Meimei the blood drop, I will make sure to find a permanent body that can bear the weight of an immortal’s soul. In this case, that would be your goddess, Athenia."

Pulling her head away from his ears, Mono kept on smiling. Sweeping her peculiar demeanor with a glance, Raven gave her a subtle nod. And although he wished to know exactly why Mono wanted from Ditsy exactly, he couldn’t exactly ask in the open if she wished to keep it a secret still, and peering into her mind to draw out that secret... Well, that hasn’t worked too well in the past.

"Are we done here?" Finally breaking their mum, the elven sisters stepped forward. A look of pure boredom had taken over them as all day their work was to simply watch and observe each and every person.

"Erika’s still with the holy order in Athenia’s church in this city," snapping his fingers, Amedith brought everyone’s attention to him. "I heard that Athenia is going to grant her some holy gift that we need to set aboard the iron trident. The choir has been singing Athenia’s praises all day, so it should be anytime now that this gift finally reaches the mortal plain. After that, we should be ready to leave this place."

"Oh yeah, I forgot Athenia had a temple here," Mono whispered to herself.

"Either way," taking a step into the middle of the group, Raven opened his arms, and his mantle fluttered to the shift. "We need to be prepared for the fight to come. We have no idea what lies beyond that ocean, but once we’re there, I wanna make one thing clear."

As the hero’s eyes narrowed, everyone’s heart braced for his next words. Looking around at their faces, Raven sharply exhaled.

"We attack our enemy first and then ask questions later. No time to work out what problems their kingdom has, like we’ve been doing this far. First, we gain control of the land, and then we establish the place as Athenia’s domain. What comes after for the people there will fall under the Holy order’s hands." Squeezing his fist into an iron hold, the hero drew a deep breath and spoke with a grunt. "With Nerva making her moves and Aurora gone, we need to get to the end of the world yesterday. Since we’re behind on schedule and the people of the council gods won’t just let us through, we will do what it takes to forge a path even if it makes us temporary tyrants in the eyes of those people."

Having learned from Helga just how merciless a true general of war has to be, Raven knew that he had to close his heart to the suffering of a few kingdoms’ worth of people. For only then can the world be saved in time, and perhaps after seeing what he has done for all who live on Atlaris, maybe then those very people will finally understand why he did what he did.

As troubling as the words of the hero were, everyone knew that it was time for them to look at the bigger picture, for their past had already proved that they can’t save everyone from suffering. It was the quintessential impossible task. One that even the fervent of justice, the magus, has to silently agree...