The System Sent Me to Breed an All-Female Amazon Tribe

Chapter 459: Bonus Chapter 49: Death vs Death: Justice, Power, Consequence

Severia’s breath caught up in her throat as he mentioned the recent assassination she had taken from a jealous and barren second wife.

The memory came rushing back—the small child, the crying mother, the froth and saliva on her hands that she had barely registered at the time.

She had killed so many that the individual faces had blurred together, but now, in this moment of terror, the image of that little girl’s face was suddenly crystal clear.

Benjamin continued his explanation, with a tone of casual revelation that seemed entirely inappropriate given the gravity of the situation:

"You know, in Chimustar, things like justice and order are nothing more than fairytales and myths that people tell their children to give them false hope. The concept of right and wrong has been so thoroughly corrupted that most citizens don’t even remember what justice feels like anymore.

"So her father, in his desperation and grief, turned to the goddess and prayed really hard, even attempting to use his own life as a sacrifice to buy his daughter’s vengeance. Elyndor normally doesn’t associate or intervene in the scuffles of men, mostly allowing them do as they humanly please. So even I was seriously shocked when she decided to honor this particular request and answer his prayers."

As Benjamin spoke these words, his voice steady and somehow conversational, Severia continued to speak and whisper quiet apologies to no one in particular, her trembling fingers clasped together in desperate supplication.

She also prayed to whoever would listen, to any god or spirit that might take pity on her pathetic state, while her body shook uncontrollably with the force of her terror.

...Begging for something she had never once shown to any of her countless victims.

"Anastasia’s dad prayed for vengeance..." It was like every sound stopped the moment Benjamin got within reach of Severia, the very air seeming to hold its breath in anticipation of what was to come. "I... am that vengeance. You have no idea how much destruction you’ve caused, do you? The entire village you poisoned just to collect a bounty on a single merchant, the couple you beheaded in that forest when no one was looking.

"You casually walked into a family dinner and slaughtered the entire family — parents, grandparents, children, even the family dog — all because someone paid you to eliminate a single target there. A bit too hardcor, don’t you think? There was absolutely no way Elyndor wouldn’t have acted when you didn’t even have the backing of spirits or titans to justify such widespread carnage."

Benjamin crouched low on the ground so they were eye level, his blue eyes meeting her green ones with an intensity that made her shiver.

His expression was not one she could understand, a mask of calm that offered no clue as to his intentions.

"I’m s-sorry for all of that..." Severia still whimpered and sobbed, her voice cracking with desperation. "I will never kill another person again, I swear it on my life! Please, I don’t want to die yet. I know I don’t deserve mercy, but please..."

Benjamin shook his head slowly, his eyes drooping with something that looked almost like sadness. "You know, you’re a real jerk, Severia, begging like that... But I’ll hear you out for some minutes. Let’s talk about the art of killing, since that seems to be the only thing you truly understand."

"...Art of killing...?" Severia looked at his blue eyes and saw, to her immense relief, that he wasn’t going to kill her for now.

The immediate threat seem to have passed, replaced by something she couldn’t quite identify.

She decided to impress him the way she knew how, to show him that she had value beyond just being a target.

"I think it is a w-wonderful thing, honestly. Killing is my hobby, in fact. The look of dread on the victim’s faces, the ultimate power you feel when they beg for their life and you know you hold their fate in your hands. There’s nothing quite like it in the world."

"I know, I know!" Benjamin sat on the ground, giggling with a strange enthusiasm that seemed completely out of place. "It does fill you with that... sense of superiority, huh? That feeling of being above them, beyond them and untouchable. And killing is a lot like hunting, when you’ve done it enough times."

"Indeed, Sir. Benjamin!" Severia chirped, getting lost in the conversation about her hobby, her fear momentarily forgotten as she found common ground with her would-be executioner. "The smell of fresh blood is very calming, and the sound of crushing bones are on the level of a smooth waterfall! Be it strangling, decapitating, or tearing open bowels, it all has its unique brand of violence that just lets you sleep well at night. Ah, are you a habitual killer, Sir. Benjamin? Do you share my appreciation for the finer points of the craft?"

"Just call me Benjamin," he nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Well, it’s been four months since I first killed someone, and I have killed a lot of people since I started, but I wouldn’t say I’m a killer though. I don’t define myself by the deaths I’ve caused."

"But you kill people everyday?" Severia tilted her head, getting confused by his distinction. "How can you not be a killer if you take lives regularly?"

"Not really. I don’t kill people unless I’m asked to. By Elyndor," Benjamin explained, his voice sounding with patient instruction. "I have wiped out a civilization in a moment of emotions and trauma before, haha. But I had to reverse it or face consequences from forces beyond my control."

"Haha, consequences, you say?" Severia laughed heartily, her face flushed with a strange excitement. "If there were not any consequences, I may have wiped out a civilization as well. The power and fear inspiration, the absolute control... it would have been magnificent. Sir Benjam—I mean, Benjamin, what are you exactly? A spirit? Some kind of divine messenger?"

"No... I’m something called an... Immortal now," he answered, his gaze drifting upward toward the sky again. "I used to be a demi-god until some months ago when something very tragic happened that changed my nature completely. I’m even surprised I can stay male this long. I lost my gender as well in the transition... among other things."