Chapter 123 (1/2)
“Hey, it’s been a while. So, did you finish your homework?”
Isaac questioned Rivelia with a mischievous smirk, which she responded with a shake of her head.
“I have something to tell you.”
“What is it?”
“I hate you.”
“I’ve heard it before, and I’ll say it again. Nothing new there.”
“That is why I will continue to disobey your orders, Director.”
“Hm?”
Rivelia’s answer finally caught Isaac’s attention—his eyes gleamed in antic.i.p.ation.
“I do not think that Central is as corrupt and motivated by profit as you do, Director. Central is a congregation of all races, bound together by one ultimate goal—to protect this world. Although there may be small conflicts seeking individual gain within the organisation, I don’t think they have forgotten their ultimate purpose.”
“So?”
“I will continue to resist you from within.”
“It won’t make a difference.”
“I will continue nonetheless. I will continue to argue against you again and again, even if I have to watch powerlessly as this world’s rules, morals, and logic crumble.”
“You think I’ll change my mind that way?”
“You will reconsider your decisions at the very least once if I continue to bother you. That will be my first step.”
“You think changing me alone will make a difference? I’m just the tip of the iceberg, albeit a very extreme one. The core has already begun to rot.”
“I will change it.”
“What if the Pendletons are rotten?”
“I will change it.”
“And if the Empire is rotten?”
“I will change it.”
“But what if this world itself is rotten?”
“I will change it.”
“You’re going to fight the world? I’m sure that’s difficult, even if you are a Pendleton.”
“I will work to change it until my last breath. Because I believe in this world’s justice and righteousness.”
“Many have died fighting for righteous causes before.”
“I will do it alone. I won’t sacrifice anyone.”
“You do realise how empty that claim is, right?”
“I will still do it.”
Isaac silently observed Rivelia. Her eyes did not falter. Gazing into Rivelia’s clear eyes brought a sick smile on Isaac’s face. Had the quenching finally finished?
“In my world, we have names for people who bring bloodshed to those around them in the name of their ambitions. When they fail, we call them failures, traitors, rebels, insurgents… But when they succeed, we praise them. Revolutionaries, prophets.”
And… Heroes. Isaac smirked as he reminisced of Rivelia, who had left the rooftop after Isaac’s spiel. The Hero and Demon lord were finally prepared. All that remained was a stage befitting a battle between the Hero and the Demon Lord.
Isaac happily opened his eyes from slumber. Every day was such a joy for him. His heart pounded in antic.i.p.ation for that day to come soon. But there was something else that plagued his mind as well.
“Are you awake, Sir?”
“Bring me some water to wash with.”
“Yes sir.”
Isaac ordered Laila, and she brought a jug of warm water with great struggle. She tried to pour the water into the basin, but her head didn’t even reach the basin’s edges.
Within moments, the water spilled from the jug, drenching Laila. A puddle formed on the floor. Isaac watched apathetically.
“Clean it.”
“Yes sir.”
Laila disappeared to find a rag to clean with, when Rizzly, who had been watching helplessly from the side, said.
“Aren’t you forcing too much on her?”
“What can I do when she wants to do it?”
“But…”
“Leave her be. She would have given up already if she wanted to.”
“I’m concerned that I’ll wake up to find your dead body in the morning.”
Isaac smirked at Rizzly’s distress.
“That’d be nice too. Rizzly and Laila, even the names seem to go together. Teach her well.”
Rivelia had previously left the two children in Duke Pendleton’s care. Rivelia was relieved to see her overprotective father overjoyed with having more daughters, but the two girls insisted on following Rivelia back to New Port City.
Rivelia couldn’t possibly reject their request, and ever since then, Laila had been Isaac’s self-proclaimed servant, following him at all times, ever attentive.
Meanwhile, Julia had lost all of her smiles at the shock of learning her parents’ deaths. However, after being accompanied by Kunette for some time, she slowly began to recover.
A month had pa.s.sed like this, and even Rizzly, who was so concerned that they would both make the extreme decision, could ease his troubled mind as he watched Laila give her best attempt at a.s.sisting Isaac.
At one point, Rizzly couldn’t bear keeping the secret anymore and itched to tell Laila the answer to Isaac’s homework. Laila refused outright, stating that she would figure it out on her own, which impressed Rizzly.