Chapter 35: Chapter 35: The other half of one's heart
Society is a place where desire is the fuel that runs the machine we call life.
The desire to have power. To own something. To be acknowledge by the people. To be envied by others. To taste delectable dishes around the world. To live a carefree life.
The thing that makes everyone to do what they want.
From a spark of curiosity. Which then becomes an idea. Ideas become determination. Determination become actions. Actions become stories. Stories become epics. Epics then become Legends that will spark the curiosity of others to drive their desire to do something.
Just like how Finn is motivated by food and how Payne is motivated to fight and become the strongest.
Money does not control the world. But the desire to achieve something does.
...
The man look at the person who came up to his room.
"I don't need food. Later. Now, get out!"
He said as he turned the other way round.
-This is a man who used to be the most powerful magician?
'Yes. Though he may not look like it, he is the real deal'
-And yet he didn't even noticed that the space was already taken over?
'Leave him be, he's depressed!'
Mel walked around the room after creating a luminous acid. A slime's stomach acid that temporarily produces light.
"Tsk! I said... get out!!!"
Runes within the room activated.
"<Devour>"
Swoosh.
The runes vanished.
Surprised to know that someone was able to nullify the runes he casted beforehand, the man stood up and looked at the culprit.
"Who... who are you?"
With spells on his left hand and runes on his right, the man was ready to fight the woman in front of him.
"I am the Goddess of all Bitches. Know your place, mortal"
"Ha... haha"
The man cancelled the spells and runes on his hands as he laugh.
"A deity dares to order me!? I don't think so!!!"
He glared at Mel with hatred as he remembers how many times he went to different Gods and Goddesses after reincarnating, asking them for help but was ignored instead.
"I know that you no longer have the power you once had but that does not mean you are weak. Which is why I want you to work under me"
"Ha! Why would I become the dog of a-"
"I know where your wife is"
With her words, the man was left in silence for a moment.
"That... that is impossible! I saw her dying in front of me again! Don't you dare to use my wife's existence to do as you please!!!"
"But I am telling the truth. The one you saw was a fragment of her inside someone's body. Meaning, if you gather all the fragments of your wife's soul, would you not be able to see her again?"
The man continued to cry as he stare at Mel with pure hatred.
Thump.
His knees fell to the ground as he groveled.
"If you can... really make me meet with my wife once more... I promise to give you everything that I have"
After listening to Mel's explanations, the idea of his wife, Lisa's soul being shattered and possessing others made a good point as Lisa was already dead by the time the spell activated.
She then said that it will be up to Zachary, the lifeless scholar, to judge whether the woman Mel spoke of does have Lisa's soul or not.
Mel also explained that at the time that Zachary and Lisa died, Mel hasn't became a Goddess yet so it was impossible for her to help him.
After a day, the two arrived at Mel's palace.
"For now, wait here. I ordered someone to get the person you wish to see. In the meantime, focus on fattening yourself up. You look like a skeleton"
"...Understood"
Zachary obeyed her words without saying anything.
-So that is the story between them and the origin of the Steel Fortress.
'Exactly. So, do not judge him. He is suffering depression since all his efforts to make a safe place for his wife became the gap that killed her'
...
A week later, Amon arrived at the palace along with the female slime from the outskirts.
"She is Alice, an illegitimate child of a baron on the outskirts of the kingdom, your grace"
The slime bowed down to Mel as she knew well that the woman in front of her was their progenitor.
Knock, knock.
The door opened and Lavella along with Zachary entered the room.
In a heartbeat, Zachary run towards Alice as he recognized immediately that it was the person he love most.
Alice hugged him back as she write something on Zachary's back, saying, "What took you so long, love?"
After realizing that she remember's the past, Zachary's knees fell down as he lost the energy to stand up.
"Lisa... I..."
With magic, she cut him off saying, "I am no longer Lisa. I am Alice now, Zac. So please, do not cry or apologize. This is our new life, a life where we can be free. Forget the tragic past and let's make happy memories, okay?"
At a loss for words from guilt of being unable to protect her in their previous life, he nodded as the guilt he was bottling up stop him from uttering a single word.
"Lavella"
"Yes, your grace?"
"Escort them somewhere where they can spend some time alone. Give them everything they need if possible"
"Understood, your grace"
Hearing Mel's words, Zachary looked up to Mel. This time, it was not filled with hatred but a never ending gratitude.
He knelt down as he look up to her.
"I, Zachary, wish to become one of you. Let this little life of mine be of use to whatever you wish. I hope that I would be of use to repay this debt, that is why please feel free to use me however you wish"
[The individual <Zachary> is now being transformed into a humanoid slime]
Zachary's body emitted bright light which quickly faded.
[Transformation complete]
TING!
[Notice]
Description: You have changed the future by making the reincarnated magician to become your underling instead of the predetermined future where he would cause chaos throughout the Bluemoon Great Forest to avenge his wife who met a terrible end in the past.
Reward: Experience points
+
[You have leveled up]
[Please wait 24 hours for the new updated patch to be completed]
Well, this is unexpected.
But that does not mean that Bluemoon should be free from chaos.
A day later, at the first day of March, Elmenz's army came back with a triumphant victory.
Although they came back earlier than expected due to Murphy's appearance, the time they have was little as there is only two days left before the punishment for switching sides will fall onto Darius.
"While we did went back due to the second king's arrival, we were able to destroy warehouses and farms that had their resources. Additionally, it is expected for the poor of the Land of Damnation to seek refuge to its neighboring countries as the war continues"
Elmenz ended his report.
"Once Logan Asturias comes back to his homeland, he will be the one to lead the vanguard, along with Emmeth and Murphy. With this, are you confident you can take them down?"
"Of course, your grace"
"Good. You may now head back and take some rest. For tomorrow will be the start where Lagnos will no longer be a kingdom to mess with"
Elmenz went out of the room as the apostle Lagnos entered.
Payne von Everblack bowed.
"Your grace, 'He' said he wanted to speak with you"
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