Chapter 49: Freedom Vs Survival
As evening approached, Kael took his leave.
Both Alex and Allura stared at the evening sun through the window and she asked, "What do you think about this place?"
He glanced at her for a moment and said, "It’s not that bad."
A smile appeared on her face and she said with a chuckle, "Haha. I hope I could say the same."
Alex frowned and asked, "What do you mean?"
"The more I think about it, the more this place feels like a cage decorated to look beautiful to give us the false sense of power and freedom while in reality, we are nothing but a bunch of puppets that it can use whenever it wants."
Alex’s frown deepened and he mumbled, "We do have the freedom of choice, don’t we?"
"Haha," she chuckled and gazed at him with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes, "Do you really think so?"
He pressed his lips together and fell silent. He was aware that in this world no one had any choice yet he didn’t wish to lament over things he couldn’t change or control.
"The very moment we set foot into Zyandra, we are asked to either kill or die. Where’s the choice in that?"
"If we fail any of the quests, we’ll die so we have no choice but to do what the system wants us to do. How is that a choice?"
"No matter if you are the weak or the strong, everyone has to bend to the Origin Dominion’s will. After all, what can anyone do against the one that governs everything?"
Alex stayed silent for a while and watched the civilians move across the streets.
Allura too stayed silent and after a few long seconds, he said, "You are right however I’d rather live my life surviving than cursing something I cannot change..."
Hearing him, her expression turned icy and she hissed, "That’s what a coward would say."
Alex flinched at her intense reaction and shrugged. "What’s wrong with being a coward? I’d rather be a coward than dead."
She listened to him with a blank expression and said, "Unlike you, I cannot live a fake life. Maybe one day you’ll understand how much you’ve lost for that little power."
He nodded and turned around. "Maybe. But I’ll never regret gaining the power I have now. It gives me a freedom I can actually touch, actually use. Unlike the freedom you’re chasing."
"If you continue like this you may become something you’ll regret forever."
He smiled and said, "It’s easy for those who have the luxury to see the prison to criticise those who’ve never seen true freedom."
"When Origin Dominion didn’t exist, people such as you have always been the ones who enjoyed being free while the weak continued to be exploited."
"The system hasn’t changed its simply been overtaken by an even stronger entity."
"Isn’t it funny? The life you call fake is actually much closer to reality than anything else."
With those final words, he left the room and she watched his back with a flat expression.
A few moments later, Allura walked over to her chair and sat in it with a deeply contemplative expression.
"Haah... Why did I even ask him that? Would others have done the same?"
The next day, following the plan.
Free Sword and Lightbearers each managed to kidnap a member of the Dark Wolves.
"Kael, are you sure about this?" Mia a member of the Free Sword asked worriedly.
Kael glanced at her with a troubled expression and nodded. "This is the only way for us to survive."
Hearing him, she frowned and mumbled under her breath, "But still..."
Kael forced a smile and patted her back. "Don’t worry about it. I’ll make sure to keep everyone safe. I may not be as strong as the leader, but I am not that incompetent either."
Mia nodded slightly and asked in a guilty tone, "Do you think Lady Crela would approve of this?"
Kael’s expression darkened. He clenched his fist and said, "It doesn’t matter."
"Huh?" Mia’s eyes widened in disbelief and she stammered, "W-What are you saying?"
"Haah..." Kael exhaled deeply and said, "Mia. Do you really think that Lady Crela cares about us?"
Even though Mia wanted to argue, her lips just couldn’t move. She after all knew the truth that Crela Estrada was simply a free sword who didn’t wish to be part of anything troublesome, which was the very reason they had given their group that name.
He placed a hand on her shoulder and said softly, "Do not mistake my words as disrespect. I still remember how she had cut down all of those bastards to free us but as the vice leader I must act in accordance with everyone’s betterment."
"I understand," she mumbled dejectedly.
You bastards! How long are you going to chat?! Moss the member of Dark Wolves who had been captured by Free Sword screamed inwardly.
A few hours ago he had been moving around the market in search of a new axe but a sudden attack had caused him to fall unconscious.
He had woken up just a few minutes ago and these two had been talking since then.
If you feel so remorseful why don’t you just let me go you son of bitc—
Suddenly, a horrible presence filled the room.
"Who is there?!" Mia shouted as goosebumps rose across her body.
W-What is going on?
Moss’s instincts screamed for him to run away or escape somehow but his body had been sealed by a D-Rank talent.
Forget running he couldn’t even turn to look at the terrible being who had come to visit him.
Kael stepped forward and stood with his back toward Mia.
"You are finally here, Sir Alex," he greeted with a smile.
"Why does everyone act so intensely upon meeting me for the first time?" Alex asked playfully while looking at Mia.
In the original story, she was the second Free Sword to enter the inner city.
His gaze shifted to Kael. It would’ve been him if he hadn’t been killed by Antonio.
"Did you learn anything useful from the Player captured by Lightbearers?" Kael asked curiously as he stepped forward for a handshake.
Alex shook his hand and said, "Well... I haven’t been there yet."
A surprised look appeared on Kael’s face and it soon turned into suspicion. "You didn’t have a fight with Lady Allura, right?"
"O-Of course not," Alex muttered, and quickly turned his head toward Moss lying on the ground like a dead body.
"Forget about that. Let’s chat with our new friend instead."
N-No! Help me! Save me from this demon!
