Chapter 133 Shadows Crawling On The Ground, Tears That Do Not Fall
The glorious days don't fade away. If they have faded, Marcus Millio thinks it's the sparkle in his own eyes that has dimmed.
The theater troupe, once walking in glory, fell apart due to the mysterious death of its leader and the death of one of its main stars. Now, he works as a server in a fancy bar in the bustling town, trying hard to please the high-class ladies. Those who gossip laugh at his fall, but Marcus felt no shame.
(I guess I'm getting old. The longer I stay off the stage, the more I find myself reminiscing about the past.)
Before he spread his wings to the world, he had a past of gathering mischief-makers in dark alleys. He was desperate to survive, but looking back now, those weren't bad memories. You can't escape hunger with pretty words. Yet, because the days are wearing thin, the pride that must not be lost is what the past showed him, and Marcus believes it has become part of the nobleman's behavior.
(Now, I wonder what Shouk is up to these days.)
Among the troublemakers, there was a guy who spat on the pretty words Marcus preached. They never truly understood each other, but Marcus didn't dislike Shouk. He heard rumors that he became a knight, but who knows if that's true. Breathing lightly on a polished glass, Marcus smiled.
"Milli-Milli, we have a new customer at table 7."
"Got it, Mama."
With the call from the bearded owner, he soaked in the moment before heading to the innermost seat. The dimly lit bar was wrapped in a modern atmosphere, and unlike a crowded tavern, the voices of the customers were low. The tranquil air had a taste of secrecy, often used as a rendezvous spot.
However, when he reached table 7, even though a man and a woman were present, there was not a hint of a seductive atmosphere.
"...Welcome, what would you like to order?"
To be precise, there was not just a lack of a seductive vibe, but an unusual presence.
The man wore a deep green hood, hunching over while glancing around nervously. He clearly seemed to have some issues, but that wasn't uncommon in this place.
"Uh, let's see. I'll have a blue sour."
"And what about your companion?"
But the problem was with the woman.
Dressed in a pure white kimono embroidered with stalks and leaves, and wearing a hood that completely covers her head, she stands out like a sore thumb.
Her jet-black hair peeks out from the hood, and her stunning beauty is striking. A beauty mark on her lips adds to her allure, radiating an incredible charm. Any guy who loves women would be instantly captivated by her.
"...I'll leave it to you, big brother."
"──Understood."
Her voice is as clear as a bell.
But Marcus's fingers didn't move at all. It wasn't because he was being overly serious about work. His 6th sense was ringing alarm bells, warning him that this woman was dangerous.
He shouldn't get involved with them. After finishing her order, Marcus quickly retreated to the counter.
"Oh dear. Did I scare him?"
"You stand out too much. Do you even understand why you came to the Western Country?"
"Well, what was it again?"
"Sigh... You just caused trouble not long ago, and now you act like this. Why do I have to be paired with a woman like you?"
"That's tough, isn't it? But that nobleman was persistent in hitting on me... and he just wasn't my type at all."
"Do you think people who fit your taste are just lying around? Thanks to you, my plans are all messed up, and patrols are increasing. It's the worst."
"Sounds like you're feeling uncertain about the future."
"Not good at all!"
While Marcus walked away, the lively conversation between the man and woman hid a sense of danger in the shadows. The man held his head in frustration, while the woman just laughed heartily.
"...Well, it's fine. I have a plan. We'll move tomorrow."
"Oh really? Did you come up with a brilliant idea?"
"When I happened to go to the library today, I found something useful."
"Oh? When you say library... could it be the rumored Libra?"
"Did you know? This is the best way to catch the attention of the knight order."
There shouldn't be any hint of a romantic atmosphere between them.
As foreigners, their game was not with each other. In the dim light, they were plotting against Asgardam.
"I'll create a commotion. Then it's your turn. Work it out... [Licking Shadow]
"Sure thing. Let's make those blood flowers bloom."
* * *
If it's touched, it's definitely cold and still. Surrounded by hard, flat stone walls. Even though it's filled with papers and research tools, the walls feel so lifeless. Every time the girl come here, it makes it hard to breathe.
But she can't escape. This place called a lab is like a prison for Lyam Neshana.
"Turning the bones of the dead into diamonds. That's definitely the effect of No.73, right, No. 13?"
"...Y-yes."
Lyam nodded with a pale face at the man in the white coat. The skinny man wasn't trying to intimidate Lyam with his tone, but it was clear that Lyam was scared of him.
"Chief. What will you do?"
"Hmm. To turn the inevitable death that everyone faces into wealth and prosperity. Research and exploration always require money. With this, we won't have to struggle for funding."
"Then, what about the storage measures?"
The woman in a white coat standing beside him, holding the Memento Mori jar that sparked Joosa's madness, asked. The jar that turns the bones of the dead into diamonds could bring endless wealth if used correctly. Everyone would want it desperately.
"No, it's unnecessary."
But the man in the white coat dismissed it without even glancing at the jar.
Treasures that produce wealth shouldn't exist. With utter disdain and contempt, he denied the existence of this white beast.
"Hunger breeds conflict. It turns ordinary folks into fighters. Craving, envy, and longing are all about hunger. Hunger feeds those who want to fight. It'’s a necessary part of growing stronger. Using bad money just won't cut it—it's even embarrassing."
"..."
"Extremely unpleasant. Therefore, No.1102 is to be discarded. I order its immediate destruction... Understood, No. 13?"
"...Yes."
Called by the No. 13, Lyam nodded, though her expression was clouded.
Lyam thought, even if Memento Mori brings about sin, isn't this white beast itself innocent? The wish to give form to the feelings of the deceased shouldn't be denied by words like unpleasant.
Though she thought about it, she couldn't make a sound. She couldn't resist the order to destroy. No matter how much her heart screamed, she couldn't go against it.
Receiving the jar from the assistant, the powerless girl could only hunch her back and head towards the lab door.
"A great warrior must know hunger. Therefore, we who serve the warrior must also be hungry to fulfill our duty. It is only beyond the dark and heavy dawn that our wishes will ignite."
The voice echoed like a spooky song of drunkenness.
The thin man in the white coat spoke slowly about aesthetics, his coat fluttering.
He was so eager to become a warrior and search for something important. If that meant finding what he really wanted, nothing else mattered. He spoke while gripping the feather decoration sewn onto his coat tightly, as if it would break.
"Be wise, be strong. Be one who prays for the warrior. Be one who never ceases to pray for the soul surrendered to the sky. Then the dawn will break, and surely... we will create the supreme warriors who will fight forever without decay. That will be our time to flourish."
The fanaticism of the man in the white coat (Ygglith) was a world that Lyam couldn't understand. Yet, she couldn't escape. This crazy lab was her prison.
"...I'm sorry."
As she stroked the white beast in her arms, Lyam could only weave those tear-like 4 words.
She couldn't resist. So, she had no choice but to destroy. With dry words of apology, she couldn't escape her guilt.
For the girl in the prison, dawn was still far away.
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