Chapter 234

Chapter 234 – Wyvern, Fly

Noticing No. 17’s arrival, Shine quickly drew his hood forward and retrieved a mask from his spatial inventory to conceal his features.

I followed suit, slipping back on the facial covering I had removed once the Troubleshooters departed.

Drawing nearer, No. 17 paused mid-step, seemingly unsettled by Shine’s unexpected presence.

“Get over here.”

I gave a sluggish wave, prompting No. 17 to resume his advance without any more reluctance.

I regarded him with a quiet gaze for a brief period before finally opening my mouth.

“Have you still not figured out what liberty means? I have plenty of lessons to offer. Look here. What do you think this resemb—”

“Please, stop.”

Well now. The fact that he possessed the audacity to cut me off suggested he understood it perfectly fine.

This implied his return wasn’t driven by a simple desire to learn about independence.

As my deadpan expression remained locked on him, No. 17 let out an uncomfortable cough and warily surveyed our surroundings.

After a brief pause, he spoke.

“I wanted to express my gratitude. It occurred to me that I hadn’t actually expressed it before, so…”

“The rest of your companions must be ungrateful animals, considering you are the sole person who bothered to show up.”

A sudden surge of lethal aura flared within me as my hand repeatedly formed a tight fist, but No. 17 quickly interjected to clarify.

“No, that’s not it. I am here acting on behalf of everyone else.”

“Where is No. 11 then? Going by numerical order, he really ought to be the spokesperson.”

“Are you genuinely unaware? You thrashed him to within an inch of his life.”

No. 17 stared at me in absolute disbelief, though reflecting on the matter, it made sense that No. 11 would stay away.

I had instilled within the newly awakened No. 11 not only the concept of liberty, but a moral compass as well.

Putting that particular matter aside, however.

“It is highly unlikely you walked all this way just for pleasantries. What do you actually want?”

“The thing is…”

No. 17 began to waver, struggling to find the right words.

He peered intently at my face in an attempt to decipher my thoughts, but his eyes merely drifted across the blank surface of my disguise before he relented, empty-handed.

“I realize this is incredibly bold of me, but would it be possible to ask a request of you?”

“If you truly recognized how inappropriate it was, you would keep it to yourself.”

In all honesty, my tolerance was entirely exhausted at this point.

Shine’s earlier caution regarding the possibility of those individuals turning to villainy continued to echo through my thoughts.

Even though I had scrutinized their innermost intentions utilizing the exceptional discernment of the wyvern spirit, such ethereal assessments were never completely foolproof.

If No. 17 had any inkling that his fate was currently balancing on a razor’s edge inside my subconscious, would he comprehend the dilemma I faced?

Detecting the heavy atmosphere, No. 17 gave a tense gulp.

Anxiety was written all over his features.

Yet, he refused to retreat.

Moments later, he summoned the courage to speak up.

“You granted us our autonomy, but to be perfectly candid, we have no idea how to handle it.”

“Go on.”

“If we simply return to our old lives, we are bound to become low-level syndicate enforcers within the Black-White Slums, exploiting innocent townsfolk and orphaned youth, or turning into highwaymen. Even if the details differ, our path will lead to the same dark place…”

“Stop right there. Let us get one thing straight.”

Interrupting his grave monologue felt slightly rude, but the sheer ridiculousness of his statement forced my hand.

“Syndicates and highway robbery are completely foolish paths. Consider your specialized training; you ought to seek high-paying mercenary employment or operate as high-class rogue thieves. Such ventures yield vastly superior returns compared to swindling ordinary citizens. Do you understand?”

“I will remember that piece of advice.”

“Do more than just remember it. Criminal enterprises have an expiration date. Secure a massive fortune and retire permanently. Are you truly planning to squander the independence you fought for by barely surviving in obscurity?”

“Your reasoning is flawless.”

Naturally, that was the logical conclusion.

This was the seasoned guidance of an experienced predecessor who had already walked that treacherous road.

“Therefore, will it be mercenary jobs or master thievery?”

To be precise, master thieves stood apart from common outlaws due to their reliance on advanced, sophisticated techniques.

From my own perspective, the path of the elegant rogue seemed far superior.

However, No. 17 appeared to have an entirely different viewpoint.

“Actually, neither of those options appeals to me.”

“For what reason?”

“Pardon me? Why?”

“Are you intending to become basic mountain outlaws? Forget about it. The rivalry out there is brutal, and you would be shocked by the number of formidable masters lurking in the wilderness. You would meet a swift and agonizing end.”

“No, that is not what I meant at all—”

“Then what is your plan? You must utilize your specialized conditioning to make a living. Do you intend to move to some rural village and till the soil? If agriculture is truly your ultimate aspiration, then I will not stop you…”

I was utterly bewildered by his attitude.

Strangely enough, though.

No. 17 gazed at me with wide eyes, utterly dumbfounded, before shifting his attention over to Shine, who gave a barely perceptible shake of his head.

What was that about? A silent exchange seemed to pass between them, after which No. 17 resumed speaking.

“Um, regarding your age… senior?”

“Just address me as senior.”

“Understood, senior. What was the purpose behind granting us our release? What I am trying to ask is…”

His voice grew quiet, leaving the thought unfinished.

It was at that moment that the reality dawned on me: No. 17 was harboring a massive misconception.

“You aren’t under the impression that I set you free because of some noble sense of mercy, charity, or moral obligation, are you?”

“That isn’t the case… is it?”

“Unbelievable. Do you actually believe I liberated you so you could turn over a new leaf and lead virtuous lives?”

“It wasn’t that either… right?”

“Good grief…”

I was certainly no Obern.

If he imagined that my actions were guided by foolishly romantic notions, he could not be more mistaken.

Yet, putting his misunderstandings to one side, I still had to determine how to manage both No. 17 and the remaining Troubleshooters.

“You are completely wrong, so just live your lives however you wish. I do have a single requirement, however: do not overstep certain boundaries. If you choose larceny, steal exclusively from corrupt aristocrats. If you take on mercenary work, ensure no harm comes to blameless bystanders. You will inevitably deal with sordid matters, but do not submerge your entire being into depravity. Furthermore…”

The following point carried the heaviest significance.

“You will commit numerous misdeeds, and I have no intention of tracking you down for those actions. However, if you allow yourselves to become utterly depraved, ensure you never cross my path. This is not out of accountability, but rather because if our paths intersect, I will likely crush your head.”

That defined the absolute boundary of my tolerance.

Their capacity for wickedness belonged entirely to them, yet witnessing it firsthand always left me burdened with an uncomfortable sense of remorse.

Moreover, I was precisely the sort of individual who wouldn’t hesitate to obliterate the skulls of vile marauders just to clear my own mind.

Reflecting further on the situation, a realization hit me.

‘These individuals have not actually comprehended the true meaning of independence.’

Had they fully integrated that concept, they wouldn’t have returned to voice their grievances to me.

Genuine autonomy meant remaining indifferent to external judgment, even when engaged in less-than-honorable professions.

Since I was under no obligation to provide them with such profound enlightenment, I gestured for the visibly flustered No. 17 to depart.

“Go and exist independently. Is that everything? If so, take your leave.”

Yet, for whatever reason, he remained.

“Well…”

No. 17 lingered in place, refusing to take a single step back.

A look of absolute determination washed over his face, as if staying was his only option, before he abruptly fell to his knees on the ground.

“Senior.”

“What is it, are you eager to have your head broken? If so, bend down further. A strike to the base of your skull ensures a swift end.”

“No, that’s not why…”

No. 17 took a deep breath, steeling his nerves to speak his mind.

The moment his subsequent statement reached my ears, my posture shifted.

“…”

The tight grip of my balled hand gradually relaxed.

The plea uttered by No. 17 was nothing overly profound, at least from my point of view.

Even so, I found it impossible to brush aside, heavily influenced by the profound earnestness embedded in his tone.

No. 17 made his appeal directly to me.

“I wish to exist as a proper human being.”

The problem was… he lacked the knowledge to do so.

Throughout his entire upbringing, the only lessons he had ever received revolved around panhandling, thievery, and taking lives.

Therefore, he begged me to show him the path to a rightful human existence.

…A swift response eluded me.

The simple truth was that I lacked the answer myself.

It was an incredibly miserable realization.

I felt profoundly grateful that my face was hidden behind a disguise at that moment.

Once the Troubleshooters had completely vanished from sight.

I cast my face covering away without a second thought and collapsed onto the open grass.

“Wyvern, take flight.”

[Nothing in this realm comes without a price.]

“You cynical creature.”

How on earth did an elemental entity become so thoroughly materialistic? It truly felt like a cosmic misfortune.

I extracted a moonstone from my pocket dimension and pitched it toward the wyvern, who promptly beat his short wings and ascended into the heavens.

Observing his flight, my mind drifted back to the appearance of the sky on that particular afternoon.

No matter how deeply I pondered, however, a resolution to No. 17’s dilemma eluded me.

For even though I possessed complete autonomy, my own existence hardly mirrored the ideal he was searching for.

“You appear to be thoroughly lost in contemplation.”

“Just idling away with useless reflections.”

“Even so, directing them toward your instructor’s mentor was the correct decision. It provided a sound resolution, remarkably virtuous given your usual demeanor.”

Was he attempting to flatter me or mock me?

I chose to interpret it as a compliment.

I, too, believed that sending No. 17 to the elder Riheim was the most appropriate course of action.

‘While guidance is beyond my capabilities, the elder Riheim is fully equipped to resolve the uncertainties plaguing No. 17.’

This fact was readily apparent simply by observing the character of his student, Obern.

With that matter settled.

Tracking the wyvern as it circled joyfully above, I turned my gaze toward Shine, who had taken a seat adjacent to me.

“What exactly brings you along, though? The elder Riheim is more than capable of managing the affairs within the Black-White Slums.”

It genuinely mystified me.

There appeared to be no logical reason for Shine to accompany me.

Had I underpaid him for his services? Was this a form of grievance? Or perhaps he sought another duel?

A multitude of conjectures surfaced in my mind, yet Shine’s response proved to be remarkably straightforward.

“We bound ourselves as companions in arms, did we not?”

“…Oh.”

I found myself momentarily speechless.

A strange warmth spread through my chest. Could this be what true sentiment felt li—

“You have yet to lift a single finger to assist the vampire clan. I can hardly afford to misplace a valuable asset… excuse me, an ally of your caliber.”

Hmph, of course.

I shouldn’t have anticipated anything else from him.

When it came down to it, he was merely safeguarding his personal interests.

‘Good grief, whether it’s him or the rest of them.’

As a wave of isolation washed over me and I attempted to dispel the lingering hollow feeling, Shine’s words broke the silence once more.

“So, where do you intend to head next?”

“To whatever destination my path leads.”

“And where exactly might that be?”

Where indeed… let me think.

In the immediate future, I would move toward the territory of the Decullans.

My goals were to ascertain the positions of the Seven Mages, investigate the placement of the Decullan military units, and subsequently chart a precise course.

Upon hearing my explanation, Shine followed up with another inquiry.

“And what comes next?”

“Next after what?”

“Once you have established your ultimate destination. What will you do then?”

“The thing is…”

The words seemed to catch in my throat.

It wasn’t because the future was unmapped. Rather, it simply felt inappropriate to voice those intentions directly to Shine.

Perceiving my reluctance.

Shine fixed his gaze upon me with an oddly melancholy expression in his eyes.

“Your actions are completely predictable. You will display your might and confront the gathering Decullan sorcerers directly. You reckless idiot, why must you be so oblivious in moments like this? Do you honestly expect them to say, ‘Wow, the Magic Tower is incredibly fearsome. We ought to avoid provoking them’? Admittedly, that might hold true at present, while an all-out conflict against Lortel is on the horizon. But what happens once that threat is resolved? What is your plan then?”

“…”

“I understand your desire to draw the Decullan animosity away from the secondary section of the Black-White Slums and focus it entirely on yourself. Your strategy would undoubtedly succeed. However…”

A downcast smile formed on Shine’s face as his mouth opened to speak.

“…What becomes of you once that is over?”

“…”

His poignant inquiry resonated deeply within my mind.

“Stop trying to bear the entire burden by yourself.”

The sentiment carried immense weight.

For a brief interval, I stared into Shine’s strikingly crimson gaze.

I was unable to decipher the exact feeling lingering within them. Nevertheless… I felt compelled to voice a question.

“…What is it that you desire?”

“…Pardon?”

He cocked his head to the side, thoroughly perplexed, before his features contorted into an aggressive scowl.

“You absolute idiot… even when I show genuine concern for you…”

Ah, so that wasn’t what he meant?

Then again, perhaps it actually was.

Out of nowhere, the puzzle brought forward by No. 17 resurfaced in my thoughts.

‘In what manner does one live as a human being?’

An inquiry that remained entirely beyond my capacity to answer.