Chapter 744 (2/2)

“A cheap price to pay.” The Chancellor said lightly. “It would sicken you to know the horrifying prices I have paid to reach this current position. Life is cheap in the lean months, Prince Ishmael. Even you must admit it is so after the war we just experienced.”

Randidly looked at the man before him. After all, everything in here was him in some way. Ultimately, he was glad he listened, if only briefly to this man. Because this was a version of him that was twisted by the harsh realities of a world and left without hope. This was a result of him allowing his Soulskill to operate without interference for so long.

But this was just a small, desperate rot given power by the arrival of the Ashen Image.

“And if I refuse? If I give the order, your army will be brought to heel,” Randidly said lightly.

“You overestimate yourself,” The Chancellor answered coldly. He shot a sharp glance at Rejt, but the man was still obviously eating his lunch. With an extremely disgruntled expression on his face, the Chancellor hissed to Randidly. “Your words might sway the masses, but will those who know of your weakness follow you? Your intelligence might be formidable, but you are just one man. A man who has never taken another’s life. With those lily white hands… do you truly think you can wrest from me an entire army?”

Randidly didn’t bother to respond. Already he was reaching for the images in the surrounding area. It seemed to him that a talk like this could only end in one way.

And just as he predicted, the Chancellor did not take the silence well. His sneer grew even more pronounced, and he made a sharp gesture with his hand. Several figures stepped out of the shadows of the rubble and surrounded Randidly. “Out of respect for your bloodline, I was allowing you to remain the figurehead you were raised to be. But if you refuse even that… you shall become something even more honorable. You shall become a justification.”

The shadowy figures drew short iron blades. The Chancellor continued to express his condolences that Prince Ishmael was ambushed by Earth Golem extremists during his humanitarian efforts, but Randidly couldn’t be bothered to listen any longer. Instead, his attention was elsewhere.

To Randidly’s surprise, Rejt leapt to his feet and stood in front of Randidly as the figures flourished their weapons and moved closer. Looking over his shoulder, Rejt asked, “Is it true? That you’ve never killed another person?”

Randidly grinned at Rejt. “It certainly makes for a good story, doesn’t it?”

But Randidly’s smile slowly faded as Rejt gazed at him quite seriously. All of the usual cheer was gone from his face. Instead, he just frankly studied Randidly’s face even as the assailants began to move close enough that a dash would have them engaged in battle.

“I’ve killed before…” Randidly said slowly, then he shook his head. That was hiding the truth. And perhaps it was because Randidly was pretending to be someone else, but he found the truth in his chest demanding that it be released. “...more than killed. I’ve bathed in blood. Both enemies and allies. The Path I’ve walked… It is paved with bodies. Some deserved to die, but… others I simply killed out of convenience. My life cannot afford to end here.”

“This isn’t a confession,” Rejt deadpanned, his half smile once more covering his face. “Don’t be so serious.”

Before Randidly could reply, Rejt turned around and drew two large knives with jagged edges and crossed himself. “Dear Progenitor, please forgive me for spilling swine blood in your holiest of temples. Truly, I would have preferred to do anything else but… Why pray? Why now? Why him…?”

Even though Randidly couldn’t see Rejt’s face, he could picture the broad grin there. “Because there is no harm in respect. Because Earth Golems need to stand by their principles. Because he is my friend. So… come Mr. Chancellor. Let me show you the resolve of ‘chattel’.”

Randidly was touched by Rejt’s display. So much so that he didn’t want to risk an accident happening due to inaction. This world needed Rejt, which was to say that Randidly needed Rejt, in some strange way that he couldn’t understand. He wanted people like Rejt to continue to exist.

So Randidly reached for the hunger image of Sharpness, and the wind answer.