—She didn't deserve that… not in any way, —Ken said, bowing his head.
Part of Daion felt guilty for forcing him to speak about it, but he still didn't fully understand Ken's way of thinking.
Anyone would think that after something like that he'd try to honor her memory by helping others, Daion thought, and waited for Ken to breathe before he continued. For a moment he saw Ken's eyes glisten, and it made him wonder if they had truly been only friends.
"After that we were shattered. We didn't know what to do. Marui was the hardest hit," Ken ground out. "He was the one pushing for bigger, flashier jobs — and on one of them… she died."
"We didn't know how to go on. The guild marked the mission as incomplete, and the man's debt remained. They didn't even give us compensation for her death; they said the job had been an unofficial deal with Seraphine, so it didn't count as an official mission.
"We couldn't pay the debt, but we couldn't stand the idea that she'd died for nothing. Then that woman showed up again… apologizing for not being able to help, saying she had no control over what had happened. We wanted to kill her, but she offered a solution.
""This is against the rules," she said in that irritatingly sweet tone of hers, but since your friend died I can make an exception. "I can transfer that man's debt to you, and lend you interest-free funds for equipment. That way you'll be able to finish the job. I heard she was a very kind girl… perhaps this will let you make amends."
They thought it over for days. Marui — still consumed by guilt — insisted the most.
"Think about it… if we do it, we can make up for what happened at the bar. If we pay this debt, the villagers will see we're trying to fix our mistakes. It's what she would have wanted…" Damn it… I still can't remember her name. Why can't I?
Daion looked at the table. Ken cradled his temples with both hands, a stabbing pain cutting through his skull. He sighed and looked up at the ceiling.
"In the end Marui convinced us it was the right thing to do, and we accepted. I guess you know the rest, but… you should never take a deal from Seraphine, right?"
"That's what Loryn told me when I met her. Even then I thought she was a bitch," Daion confirmed bitterly.
"I wish we'd known. The moment we signed, the bitch had us by the balls."
"When we realized it, we had a debt of nine hundred thousand veyls. We underestimated how much it would hurt to owe someone like her. The following months are fuzzy: we worked like maniacs to try to pay, but Seraphine showed her true face. She imposed impossible payments, absurd deadlines… all because we signed that damned contract without reading it properly.
"We barely ate in that time and started to lose efficiency. I couldn't keep up with the payments or the Omega energy growth. I'd remember her face as she died and then lash out at monsters; we were careless, desperate, and many times we were on the verge of death.
"Eventually Amelie got sick from overexertion; we couldn't gather what was left. That's when Brut found something important in the contract: it was the first time we learned about the slavery clause. Desperate, our only option was to ask the innkeeper directly to lend us the last of what he had to cover the debt.
""The Divine Guild stopped collecting my debts, so I just reopened the bar with what I had saved. I can't help you," he said. I confronted him right then; I explained everything we'd done to make amends, to help him. I even shouted:
"'She died because of you!'
"The innkeeper looked at me in a way I will hate until the day I die and simply answered:
"'You did what you had to for the damage caused, and I never asked you for help. Get out of here now.'"
"That was the breaking point.
Daion noticed Ken's eyes widen with a strange light as he remembered; he was furious and told it with rawness.
"They tried to stop me, though even if they had I doubt the outcome would have changed. I beat the innkeeper and destroyed the place."
Once again we were at Seraphine's mercy, and that's when I understood how this world worked. As we were about to enter the army building, we ran into the summoned who'd caused all this from the beginning; they looked at us half mocking, half understanding, and said:
"'Sorry, heroes don't last long here.'"
Daion shuddered — it was the same phrase they'd repeated ad nauseam. Ken nodded when he saw Daion's reaction.
"We went in resigned, and Seraphine smiled at us with malice, the true sadist she is. She read the contract, we felt a crushing pressure in our chests. Her words were: 'I cannot allow the villagers to think the summoned are humans; it would undermine my economic system. I'm sorry.'"
From the start she had manipulated us just to make us do what she wanted. I fell into that trap: we spent ten years working like slaves.
"In the mines, patrolling cities… I didn't eat anything during all that time. We survived only thanks to the Omega power in our gauntlets, but the hunger never went away.
"Marui was so consumed by guilt that one day he simply stopped talking. Later, he made it clear he'd taken a vow of silence—so that something like that would never happen again. Brut, Amelie, and I just… carried on the best we could.
"The other guy… no matter how hard I try, I can't remember his name or his face. I only know he was the one who had it worst. He was handsome—fine, delicate features despite being a man—or at least that's how we used to describe him. A pretty boy.
"He… was used as a sex slave by one of the high-ranking officers in the capital. The last thing I heard was that, in the fifth year, he took his own life—he shattered his gem with his own weapon and triggered an explosion that leveled his master's mansion, killing him in the process."
"That's… awful," murmured Daion, visibly disturbed. Ken lowered his gaze.
"I'm sorry I don't have as much to say about him as about that girl," Ken continued bitterly. "In the end, we paid off our debts… and no one cared. No one pitied us, no one felt empathy. When we tried to return to the city, they met us with contempt. That girl… she's buried somewhere in that town, and I could only visit her grave once. It was covered in scratches and letters insulting the summoned."
"There's no kindness in these people. They're selfish, and no matter how much we try, we'll always be seen as just more abusive summoned bastards… especially thanks to that damn woman. That's why I decided I didn't care anymore. I'd forget all empathy for them. We'd just survive… and enjoy what little life we had left. I won't help anyone—not while that woman's still in charge. I'm sorry, Daion, but you shouldn't either."
Ken stood up with resignation and headed for the door. Daion stayed silent, lost in thought. The system was rotten—there was no denying that. He'd already realized it when Seraphine forced him to witness the execution of the deserter.
"You're either in my system… or you'll be the example," that had basically been her message. She knew he'd never sign a contract, so she made him see firsthand just how far the humans of that world could go.
"Summoned who come here ready to follow the rules only find confirmation… and those who try to change them get crushed," he thought, replaying the facts to keep them straight. But one thought wouldn't leave him alone:
"If the system's like this, it's because the people themselves allow it. They have a choice… but I haven't seen anything worth saving. I wonder if it's really worth fighting for—or if it'd be better to just accept it and enjoy the last few years, like Ken says."
Daion stood, deep in thought, trying to decide what to do. He managed to catch up to Ken before he left.
"Do you think the system can change?" Daion asked.
Ken looked at him, confused, and stayed silent for a few seconds before replying.
"The system is a reflection of the humans who live in it. If humanity can change, then the system can too," Ken reasoned.
Daion smiled faintly.
"Then… there might be hope," he murmured, lowering his gaze for a moment. "Though even I can't say for sure. For now, let's wait for the second council."
Ken was silent for a moment, wondering if it was a good idea. Daion's expression was troubled, but there was a firm resolve in his eyes. He was, without a doubt, someone who fought to the very end—no matter the cost.
"All right. We'll wait," Ken finally agreed. "I'll tell the summoned to hold for twelve days. After that, they can leave if they want." He sighed in resignation, knowing he was only doing it for Daion's sake.
Daion smiled to himself and added in a calmer tone, "Could you ask Marui to look for a place where Thaloren and the Behemoth could fight? Preferably a wide area, hard for anyone else to reach."
Ken nodded, though his expression showed little hope.
"I wouldn't get my hopes up. This territory's been explored to death—I doubt there's anywhere that fits that description."
With those words, he left the room. Daion thought about visiting Brut later; for now, he walked toward the demihumans and Loryn. Aelith glanced at him sideways and lowered her ears, which caught his attention.
The demihumans greeted him with gratitude, calling out to him and thanking him, though they still kept a bit of distance and suspicion. Daion remembered what Ken had told him about that girl, wondering if her philosophy about treating others kindly had really been the right one.
He smiled warmly. They went on talking among themselves while Daion knelt to check the boy's leg. There was no way to know if he'd survive; even with medicine, an amputation was devastating to the body. And he knew the boy would soon be discarded by his own kind—sacrificed, like an animal.
What remained of his leg looked stable: no severe pain, no signs of phantom limb syndrome. The boy was starting to adapt. Finally, Daion stood up. Aelith was still staring into space, confused. He gently patted her head; she flinched, her ears twitching involuntarily.
Then Daion approached Loryn. The latter raised an eyebrow at the sight of him.
"Looks like that corrupted thing knew how to hit," Loryn mocked, noticing Daion's bandages and the cautious way he moved.
"Yeah, I'm still pretty weak," Daion answered, leaning back against the wall. The medicine had taken the edge off most of the pain, but the ache remained.
"So what are you going to do now, hero?" Loryn asked, equal parts sarcasm and curiosity.
Daion lowered his head, turning over possible plans in his mind.
"How long did it take you to reach Rank C?" he asked, fidgeting with his fingers, a little anxious as he considered every option.
"Six years. I hold the record for the fastest rank-up," Loryn said with a smirk, watching Daion bristle. "Do you have a plan?"
"I was thinking… your power is inertia."
"I could kill him if you want," Loryn said without hesitation.
"That was my first thought: trick him and shot him in the head when he least expects it," Daion clicked his tongue and looked at the ceiling. "But he'd notice, and it wouldn't count if I wasn't the one fighting. I want to be the one who kills him—make it an example of what we can do."
Loryn glanced at him, surprised.
"And what does that mean? Because so far it sounds like a faith-based suicide mission," the summoned teased. Daion laughed and looked back at him.
"What if you used your power to support me? Inertia could boost the speed and force of my movements and help us stop that guy, right?" he asked, curious about Loryn's limits.
"It's complicated," Loryn explained. "Even if you reached acceptable power, applying my ability to an ally is dangerous: an acceleration beyond what your body can handle would rip your arm apart under its own weight. And even as a Rank A, stopping a mid-rank corrupted being dead in its tracks consumes an enormous amount of energy."
"I'm willing to take the risk," Daion said. Loryn turned to face him, surprised; he was about to speak when Daion cut him off.
"Don't bother," Daion added. "I know it sounds absurd, but I honestly think it's the only way to win. If you kill him, the Behemoth might take it as betrayal and attack us, ignoring Thaloren. Also, he'd come straight for me: I'm a perfect lure and a test subject. So tell me: can I do it with my current rank?"
"Before I answer, I want to make sure you understand," Loryn said, clenching his fist inside the gauntlet. "I'll use inertia as support; if I overexert myself trying to stop the corrupted, I'll run out of energy and you'll be stranded." He paused. "And I have to ask—not out of curiosity: does your plan actually work?"
Daion dropped his gaze until he met Loryn's eyes directly.
"Yes. I'm sure it can work," he stated. Aelith watched the exchange with curiosity.
"All right. I really don't want some damned noble to destroy the frontier—that would condemn us," Loryn said, glancing toward the mess-hall; Daion wondered if the invocated also cared about the people. "I wonder what that stupid Primordial is doing."
A faint pressure pressed at Daion for a few seconds; he wondered whether his god had answered, though he didn't think so—the god didn't respond to insults, unless Loryn had it in his sights.
"Fine," Loryn began, then gestured for Daion and Aelith to follow. "The fastest way to get Omega energy to rank up is a dungeon. If you want to win, you'll have to reach at least Rank D."
Daion nodded. Gaining a whole rank sounded doable—though it meant risking his life. Loryn climbed the stairs and exited through one of the tower gates. Daion followed; the corrupt air hit them full on, stinging all three pairs of eyes. Loryn scanned the wasteland.
"Memorize the maps, it shouldn't be that hard…" he trailed the last syllable as he looked around. He stopped abruptly and raised two fingers like a pistol. "There."
Daion looked where he pointed—there was nothing but a slightly raised knoll that could easily pass for flat ground.
"What?"
"Many corrupted congregate there. It seems there's a large underground deposit of Omega energy or corruption, but it's impossible to say what we'll find," Loryn said, smiling with the arrogance of knowledge. "But since it hasn't exploded and Thaloren ignores it, the Omega flux it emits isn't lethal. It could be a den."
Daion stared at him in disbelief—not at Loryn's knowledge, but almost asking if everyone here was an idiot.
"If they know it's a dungeon where monsters breed, why don't they just blow it up?" Daion asked. Loryn shrugged.
"If you didn't notice that in the meeting with the high command, they're idiots," Loryn explained, shaking his head. "Doesn't matter. It's the perfect place to get Omega energy en masse: you'll rank up, and I'll gather enough to run your little school experiment."
Loryn looked at him, waiting for his answer. Daion didn't have to think.
"Let's do it," he said, smiling.
"All right, we leave tomorrow. Keep in mind—it could take weeks to explore a dungeon," Loryn said, letting out a sigh of frustration and resignation as he walked back inside. "If it takes more than ten days, all our efforts will be for nothing."
Daion nodded and started down the stairs, only to feel a gentle tug on his back. He turned and saw Aelith standing there, her expression troubled.
"Ah… I'm not going to force you to fight, but we can't go without support—" he began.
"That's not it, idiot," she interrupted. Daion clenched his jaw, reminding himself she was still a teenager.
"I'm coming with you. And I'm going to fight."
"Why?" Daion asked, confused. "Up until now you've barely said a word, just stared into nothing or insulted everyone who walks by."
Aelith sighed and looked away.
"The demihumans want to show you something."
End of Chapter 31.