Chapter 225: Autarch's Key (9)

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The [Malice Wolf] disappeared and we adventurers were once more able to breathe in the arena.  With it gone, it was like a fog had lifted; an audible fog that continuously spat black sound in our ears.  But now, the only thing remaining were the pained groans of the Bishop’s bodyguards.

Arione soft landed on the ground, expressionless.

He had tossed the Bishop into the Chalice.

The Bishop.

I’m not dumb.  I have eyes and I have ears.  When the Bishop arrived, he immediately headed towards Arione Popindale as if there had been a previous agreement.  Arione had received him without fuss either.

On the flip side of that, Jared Akka Xalud had chosen to back me.

In that small interaction alone, I could see the identity of the invisible observer I’d been sensing, the owner of the hands that was wrapped around this whole expedition.

The Turina Empire.

Of course, some might say that was obvious.  That this whole expedition belonged to the Church of Light, Flame, and Shield.  But being sponsored by a country and being actively watched by the Government are two different matters.

We weren’t just being watched though.

We were being played with.

For what purpose, I didn’t know.

But just now, through Arione’s spontaneous decision… one of the agents of the Turina Empire had just fallen.

And Arione’s stare traveled across the infinity of Autarch’s Spire, meeting Jared’s calm smile.

If I hadn’t been paying attention to them, if I didn’t have even the slightest of suspicions, I would not have heard the near silent exchange between them.  While Clover healed, and Delas’ party broke out into clamoring about what their own plans were, the words between the top-class Mage and the War Prince were buried.

Arione said something and Jared shook his head, mouthing something back.

Jared wasn’t here on coincidence, no was he here on a whim.  He was here for a reason, a reason that went beyond the scope of the [Autarch’s Key].  He didn’t show any interest in it.

The only thing he showed interest in was me, Lock Slaveborn.

“Sssslaveborn….”

Skaris’ gravelly voice brought me out of the unnecessary thoughts.

That’s right.  This was no time to deal with such things.

Right now, my goal was simple.

Survive the Autarch’s Spire.

Not just survive, but to make sure that my comrades could survive along with me.

It’s meaningless to survive alone.

…I didn’t want to lose anyone here anymore.

Skaris, Aurora, Stole… and Freier.

Did I want to keep Freier alive?

…I didn’t know.

But this wasn’t time for such things.

Because the magical curtains were rising once more.  Barricading the walls from floor top ceiling, in nigh indestructible separations that neatly divided the room into cubicles with a large arena at the center.  The floors shifted, moving the party who’d undergo the next trial to the center.

The ground moved beneath my feet.

The walls spun around me, even thought I did not move.  Skaris and Aurora’s tension was palpable, my two most seasoned adventurers, my two oldest friends now.

Oh god.

I had two friends whom I started this with.  Skaris and Kyrian.

Now only Skaris remained.

I had three seasoned adventurers in my party before. 

Now only two.

Another reminder of my failure.

Why was I like this?  Why was I even here? 

Hate, Hate, Hate, Hate–

Focus.  Focus, Focus.

“Mister… I think it’s us now.”  Stole spoke, as the tiles grinded against each other.

The rumbling stopped.

I looked around us.

Jared sat on the floor, safe behind the arcane barrier.  Behind him, Zenom, Arrosh, and L’teya.  Zenom looked worried but he didn’t say anything.  L’teya stared, her face neutral.  Neither smiling nor sad.  I saw her eyes flicker over to Freier and I could guess at what she was thinking.  Arrosh’s milky eyes stared at nothing, but I saw him half turned away, refusing to face my direction.

Arione was behind his own side of the walls.  He was staring at me.  Clover too, after having healed the bodyguards.

Delas.  Astelion.  Tanya.  The [Player Guild] cultists.

Everyone.

They were all staring at me.

A select few leaned forward at the same time that the air zapped with electric currents, signaling the opening of a portal in midair.

They were waiting.

And my [Hearing] picked up the side-conversations between all of them.

“This is good for us.”  Delas sneered.

Tanya nodded.  “Any idea who he’s going to sacrifice?”  The dwarf woman asked.

Astelion’s seven-foot frame did his gentle deep rumbling voice justice, “Freier.”

“She’s a [Player].”  Delas spat, his voice on edge, “And one of us.  She outlived her usefulness.  The moment he reunited with his party…”

Tanya drew her thumb across her neck.

On Arione’s side, the conversation was much brief.

“This is going to fuck up his mind.”  Arione mummured.

Clover glanced at the mage, then back towards our side of the arena.  “I don’t think so.  He’s not close to that Healer.  He doesn’t know her.  And…” She trailed off, and I saw from the corner of my eye that she was staring at L’teya.

L’teya.  I gave the order to Jared to sacrifice L’teya, instead of Arrosh, or Zenom.

“He’s much more cruel than you think, Arione.  Don’t let your guard down until we have the [Key] in hand.”

On Jared’s side…

“Flame be with your soul, Slaveborn.”  Zenom.

He too, looked away.

Everyone said it without saying it.

That I too, would succumb under this trial.  That this trial had no way out.  Survive for 15 minutes against a Grade-2 Monster?  We’ve seen a total of three of them so far.  [Kirin]. [Malice Wolf].  [Imugi].  All of them were Kings of Monsters in their own rights.  After all, grade-1 Monsters rarely were found in the overworld; only in special environments could they be found.

And that attitude was infectious.

Skaris’ grip on his spear was lax.  Aurora’s grip was tighter than his, but her shield was angled just a little bit lower than normal.  Stole…

Stole was the only one ready to fight.

Freier on the other hand…

The elven priestess of the Nine, from the [Player’s Guild].

Her eyes were hidden behind her veil.

I tightened the grip on my [Snow Scream], thinking.  But it didn’t take me long to make a decision.  I opened my mouth to relay the orders–

“I know what you’re all thinking.”  

Freier spoke quietly, but the words dropped like lead weight in the pit of my stomach, and echoed through the hall.  All the side conversations stopped and I could feel the momentum of attention shift towards her.

Freier knew it too.  She waited until the last ounce of that weight had settled before continuing.

“That I’m an outsider.  That I’m no better than the murderers who killed your friend.  And that I’ve long outlived my usefulness to you all.”  Her chest trembled, as the priestess took a shuddering breath, “I could see it in all your eyes.”

She looked up, her chin lifted in what could be construed as pride.

“But I won’t beg.  I’ve lived alone the moment I set foot in this world, and I knew one day that I’d die alone as well.  I never expected charity, nor do I expect a hand of kindness.”  Freier shifted the veil out of her face, revealing the elven beauty… and her eyes hardened with something I recognized all too well.

Determination.

“I will not dishonor myself any further.”  She locked gazes with me.  “Give the order, Slaveborn.  You told me that I’m no better than a healing potion the moment you brought me into this party.  Take responsibility until the end.  Order me.”  The elf pointed towards the empty chalice, “Because at the end of the day, I’m an adventurer and a healer.  I will not show fear at the moment of death.”

No one spoke.

The portal ripped open, and the monster took a step outside.

A single foot.

That was all it required for me to identify the monster.

But did it matter what it was?

I’d made my choice long time ago.

I stared back at Freier.

Once more, the attention shifted.  From Freier… to me, waiting to see what I’d do.

I knew what they wanted.

To see me fall.

To see me betray myself.

To see me, who always knew everything and go through impossible odds to prove them right, that their chocie was the correct one. That I’d send Freier to her death even before the monster spawned.  That even I… the mighty Slaveborn, did not have any tricks up my sleeve. 

And they were right.

I didn’t have any tricks.

But…

What they didn’t know…

Kyrian had been nice to Freier.  He had been kind.

And he was my best friend.

Sometimes, a man needs to make a stupid choice.

My voice rang clear.

“Slaveborn Party.”  I said at last.

“Get in formation.”  I snarled, and felt heat rise from my chest.  

“SHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!”  Skaris screamed and real flames burst out.

Aurora immediately sprinted to the front, taking her position.

Stole cocked her Arbalest.

None of my party members questioned me, nor did they hesitate.

And every single party leader’s eyes all but fell out of their pockets.  Because in their eyes… I’d just doomed my party to death.

I turned around, drawing [Snow Scream] from its scabbard and bringing the [Lunar Shield] in front of my body.

“Protect the Healer.”  I finished, lowering my stance.  At the end… my voice caught.  “Pretend she’s Kyrian.”

The monster emerged, it’s eyes holding disdain for all things living.

“Today, we hunt.”  

“SSSSHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAA!”