Chapter 343: …

[Our identity is closely tied to those we love, and when they leave, we feel a part of us leaves too. ]

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’Haah… why did I end up like this, what did I do wrong, again?’

In this world I thought I could make it too.

If I lived and tried as hard as everyone else….

Getting up every time I fell, moving forward no matter how dark the road became….

Living earnestly… finding my own happiness.

“Defendant Christian Leonheard understands the weight of his crimes.”

’So why do I have to go through this…? No. These are the consequences of my actions. I caused everything to come to this point….. Still, it seems futile to expect anything else…’

It seems that this world never agrees with me.

It’s a chaotic place, where effort is not enough.

A cursed world plagued by intrigues, where power is disputed at every corner, and each person acts only out of self-interest, sowing more and more chaos.

A chaos where the slightest carelessness turns you into someone else’s stepping stone…

One more among the thousands -maybe millions- that ended up being just that:

one more stone in someone else’s ascent.

The cycle repeats itself.

Over and over again.

Over and over again.

It is absurd. A cycle so cruel, so eternal, that no one seems to have the courage – nor the strength – to break it.

But that’s the way this world is.

Wanting to stop this madness is a stupid ideal.

It is useless.

It’s useless, pointless… and you’ll probably end up as a corpse before you even glimpse a possibility.

That’s why ideals are just that: ideals.

Distant dreams that should remain what they are.

No one gets very far chasing ideals alone.

’So what’s the point of all this?’

’It’s different. We follow a clear goal, without clinging to any silly ideals.’

’True… and for that we had to pay a high price.’

’That’s where the two differ.’

The ideal may be foolish, but it still exists in every person.

The important thing is not to cling to it, but to be aware of your capabilities and your purpose:

a clear purpose that drives you forward.

…As long as there is a purpose,

no matter how stupid, irrational or desperate your goal is.

It doesn’t matter if your purpose lacks logic, if your engine is weak or bent.

Anything goes.

It’s a clear goal, not a stupid ideal.

Since it is impossible to stop this madness… then all that remains is to join it.

Join in… and triumph over all others, crushing the fools pursuing an ideal and proving that your goal is superior to any other, not with objectivity, but with brute force.

’So what if the cycle repeats itself, so what if I have to stand over thousands to achieve it?’

I’ve already decided my goal and purpose…

and I swear I will do it… at any cost.’

“I will say it again: Christian Leonheard, you are accused of ruthlessly wiping out a large portion of your companions and two generations of the Five Kingdoms .”

And all of that led me here: bound to a cold, rough pillar, forced to kneel at the center of a massive raised platform, surrounded by a crowd that spreads like a dark mass, fading into the shadows of the place.

Their faces are marked by hatred and resentment, and in their eyes burns fury. Many are relatives or friends of those I am accused of eliminating.

Their murderous intentions are so palpable that they seem to cut the air, and they are more than justified.

For indeed, I did.

“Accused, you have the right to give your side of the story.”

“Haah~ ”

I don’t understand what they expect me to say.

What I did is obvious.

Everyone knows it.

The evidence is all over the place, it’s an empty trial, a meaningless formality, part of a dysfunctional and rotten system.

One more nonsense from this place that made me do what I did.

This stupid little corner of the world that thinks it’s big, that struts about pompously without realizing that they are but insignificant ants in the vast scheme of things.

’these idiots, who meddled where they shouldn’t have, should thank me, for what I did’.

Neither a kingdom, nor a continent can hold out forever if it allows itself to be consumed by its own stupidity.

“Have you nothing to say to defend yourself, you, who caused the greatest tragedy in the history of this continent?”

“…No.”

This is complete nonsense.

I gave my answer and position clearly and precisely, but even so, whoever dictates my judgment looks at me with disappointment, as if expecting something more from me.

There is nothing more to say.

Almost my entire generation, and the one before it, have disappeared because of me.

And that… is absolute.

The memories hit me with intensity, and I curse this crappy world, for what it forced me to do, just to survive and fulfill my purpose.

’Is this what they call a small sacrifice for the greater good?’

“Haah~…”

I can still feel that nasty, slimy sensation of cutting Elena’s throat with my spear…

And the cold, terrible weight of having to get rid of all my partners.

And the rest of my friends and companions.

’At least I was quick and precise.’

It was disgusting.

But necessary, in the grand scheme of things.

Something I did for the greater good.

From the beginning, I thought I was prepared for a situation that would cause me to make decisions of this caliber.

But one is never prepared to do something like this.

And yet…

“Haah… I guess I’m on my own again. Yeah, that was my decision. Hahaha…! Never mind! I can start again! Hahaha!”

“Well, I see you’re not in your right mind anymore. No more need be said. I proclaim that your judgment and-”

“Hahaha!You’re calling me crazy!? I’m the sanest one here! Judge me!? Hahaha! No one in this continent has the right to do that!”

To hell with it all! Everything is so stupid, so ironic… it’s actually funny

“Defendant! Christian, stop!”

Chained, I began to shake violently as I laughed.

These chains were made of an extremely strong material, engraved with suppression runes.

Normally they would be more than enough to restrain someone with a rank far above mine.

Admittedly, I was firmly chained, with no way of freeing myself with brute force.

But that didn’t matter.

Being bound did not make me hesitate.

I did what I did, and I have no regrets.

I only did what had to be done.

And I will do it to the end.

I started this, I’m here… and I’m going to finish it!

“hahaha!… do you know why I came back?? why I willingly gave myself up, being able to run away with the demons?”

“…”

Silence fell over the dais. I may have looked insane, but I planned to make the reason for my return very clear… Before returning to the demons’ side and starting everything from scratch.

“I did it to show them how stupid they are. Fools who don’t know their place, who think they are the axis of the world while sinking in their own arrogance.

You insects! You can’t even protect your younger generation!

I have come to forcefully teach them their place.”

“I have heard enough. Now you will be sentenced to-”

“SILENCE!!!”

My voice erupted like thunder.

Enough was enough. That was all I could tolerate.

’For one thing…these damn handcuffs bother me.’

I’d played this rotten theater long enough.

My shadow suddenly stirred.

And out of it emerged a hooded figure.

My doppelgänger.

He held a golden spear, ancient and majestic in design, carved with symbols that seemed to breathe.

His very presence froze the room.

And that was all the time we needed.

With a single blow, he severed my chains.

In that instant, I summoned my own spear-identical to his-which appeared in my hand wreathed in a searing flash.

“Listen well and record it: no one! Absolutely no one on this continent can judge me!”

Those present with power began to move, trying to suppress us.

Let them try!

I will not allow it.

“Art of Radiance, Third Stance: Sanctified Piercer” (x2)

Swooosh!

We moved in the blink of an eye. My doppelgänger and I hurled our spears straight at the face of the one trying to judge me. They were like golden lightning bolts—just inches from piercing his face… but they stopped.

“Ahh!?”

The reason was that both my double and I appeared in an instant and held the spears, halting the fatal fate of the judge, who was just beginning to react to the events. I looked at him with disdain, that was exactly what I was referring to.

Sometimes, actions speak louder than words.

I drew back my spear, grabbed him by the neck, and incapacitated him in a single movement.

I unleashed a murderous intent so dense that it drove back everyone who tried to intervene.

“Get out of the way… if you don’t want him to die too!”

Holding the judge hostage, I made my point clear.

I showed him his helplessness and how quickly things can change.

And I wasn’t done yet.

My doppelgänger began to transform.

He began to grow by breaking the hood, but when he revealed his human appearance was mostly gone. His hair grew longer and turned white, his body was covered with White striped fur.

Feline ears and a tail emerged, his size increased and his spear adjusted to his new form.

I took a different path.

I reached out into the void, which resulted in my hand disappearing for a few moments only to emerge a few moments later holding , a small ruby gem, pulsing like a heart.

Without hesitation, I swallowed it and activated the demonization.

But I did not fully transform into a demon.

My body also grew, and two pairs of horns emerged on my head: one demonic, one draconic.

My hair glowed as if made of dark fire.

They called me a traitor.

An ally of demons.

Maybe… they were right.

But I don’t care anymore.

This miserable continent…

has nothing for me anymore.

I need something bigger.

It didn’t go as I planned.

And it happened before my time.

But that’s the way this world is.

“This play ends here!”

I shouted, twirling my spear.

My doppelgänger did the same, right next to me.

We hit the ground with the shaft in unison.

Bang!

We looked like two guards at the gates of hell.

And maybe that’s not a bad comparison…

because That’s exactly what we’re about to show you.

Art of Lust, Eighth Stance: Erupting Reverberation (x2)

At that moment everything stopped

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[And if our identity is tied to those we love… then I guess I’m no one anymore.Now only the monster remains.

….

…

..

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*****

“Alright, listen up everyone! From today I will be the The Eminence in Shadow”

“What nonsense are you talking now? Is that why you called us, and…why are you blindfolded?”

“Silence, plain-faced woman! The Eminence is speaking! minions like you can’t question me- ugh! Wait, Aurora, don’t pull my ears, they’re sensitive!”

“I didn’t come here to listen to your nonsense. And stop saying I have a plain-face or you’ll make me mad.”

“Wait , you’re going to be my number one henchman, my right hand Ugh! Why are you pulling harder? Guys, help me!”

“Don’t drag us into your problems.”

“She’s your girlfriend.”

“Tsk, you just called us so we could watch you flirt.”

“Damn you! That’s why you’re still single. Aurora, stop pulling my ear! If you want the title, just say the word and we’ll settle it fairly…. in a death match that will decide who will carry it!”

“Who wants that title? Really, if you’re just going to talk nonsense, I’m leaving. Rather, why do you keep calling me to these meetings?”

“hey we’re a couple, but you’re also still part of the guys alliance.”

“I’m leaving.”

“Wait, don’t go! I’m not just saying silly yes there is an important reason. Let me explain it first… have a seat.”

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