Test(End)

For a few seconds, Edmond stood there while continuing to glance between the two options in front of him.

He had a very anguished expression on his face, and it looked as if his mind was crumbling by the moment.

However, a minute later, it seemed that the vision had pushed him in some way, as he slowly taking steps in one direction.

Judging by the smile on the City Lord's face, Aaron guessed that it was probably him who was in that spot.

He had already placed himself in Edmond's situation, and tried to imagine what he would do.

At first, it had seemed simple. Although Aaron had no idea how it must feel to have parents, he could judge by the yearning he felt to find his own that it was something too beautiful and precious to even be put in words. Except in cases where the parents of certain species left their young ones to fend for themselves, Aaron had seen multiple sights of the pure and priceless love that existed between one and those that his given birth to them.

With this being the truth, if one had to choose between those who were the very reason behind them existing, and someone whom they had only met a few days ago, they would instantly choose the former and be done with it.

However, after thinking more deeply, Aaron realized the problem.

What if that someone was also practically the reason behind him(if he were making the choice) existing, too?

This was where his clear waters of thought became muddied. It was almost like asking him to choose between his parents, and Woof who had saved him from dying in that pod in that bear's excreta.

True, he would not have made the bond he had now with Woof, but would he still be able to make the choice easily?

Definitely not!

And so, Aaron didn't know what he would do. The best option was, of course, not to get himself in such a situation, and because he wasn't in one at the moment, he opted to wait and see what Edmond would decide.

As he waited, though, words being spoken softly drifted into his ears, which made him understand that the old man and the official had started a conversation.

"Every time I see things like these, I feel like asking the Ancestor why the World Government, which exists to protect all of humanity and treat everyone equally, condones and even supports such processes. And then, I remember the answer, and shut my mouth. It still doesn't help the angst I feel in my heart, though. Look at him. All but 18 years old, but he had his family torn apart, and this choice will be a scar on his psyche for as long as he lives, no matter which choice he makes."

Aaron had gotten this question, too, but because he had been too curious to see what Edmond would do, he had placed it to the side.

He didn't know much about the World Government, but he had imagined it as some deterring force that would allow even those who were weak to mature and grow into their strength without being devoured by those who had already grown powerful. He always associated things with what he understood from the jungle, and to him, it was almost like the World Government was like the most powerful Tera of a region which would protect its young ones and keep enemies at bay which would want to kill them when they were weak so that they would have fewer enemies in the future. If this was allowed, the overall power level would be much lower, and from what he understood regarding the 'hordes', this was definitely not what the World Government wanted for humanity.

As the official spoke, he got the answer, but he didn't know how he felt about it.

"It's regrettable. Mentor once said that it can be considered the duty of those who are chosen as candidates to become heirs to carry the torch forward for humanity. After all, powerful individuals like the City Lords have Teras which are monstrously powerful after pumping lots of resources both obtained by them, and the World Government. They are assets for humanity to fight against the hordes, but when the Tera Master dies, if an heir isn't present, they will either refuse to fight, or worse, join the other side. Teras at such a power level will only be willing to be continued to be bound if there is someone who is similar to their present master, and that's where the heir comes in. He also said that he wished that Tera Masters would choose more peaceful methods to search for heirs, though, but that just doesn't work for a lot of people, like this guy whom my master wishes he can kill for all the atrocities he is supposed to have committed. Alas, there is no proof. I guess the only consolation is that those who are unlucky, or lucky enough to be subject to this will have the option to have their memories wiped, so that they forget all this unpleasantness…"

As the official's words trailed off, Aaron began ruminating on what he had heard.

So that was why heirs were so important? It was actually the Teras which had to be kept bound?

Before he could think more, though, Aaron stopped, as it looked like Edmond had come to a decision.

…

It was as if a fire had begun to burn deep in Edmond's chest.

It burned up his heart, and all of his insides, until all he felt was pain.

All of this…was because in just the manner of a few days, he had changed.

Or, at least, he had found himself.

He had noticed this before, too, during that Tera battle.

Would anyone expect someone like him who had been ready to enslave Woof and break the precious bond he had with Aaron to jump into a battle knowing that he would die just so that he could protect the Tera that had trusted him?

Definitely not.

The more he had thought about it, the more Edmond had been convinced that that was a decision taken in desperation that had been very, very wrong.

If he could go back, he wouldn't have done it, but, of course, this didn't matter, at all.

However, what did matter was that this person who he now was…could not simply choose his parents and let Aaron die.

Aaron had spared his life! Even though he had had every reason to kill him, he hadn't, and he had even helped him, to boot.

True, they had reached an agreement, but still…

He had tried. They were his parents, whom he also owed his life too. They were his everything, his family. But every time he imagined himself killing Aaron and going to them, he found that he felt…disgusted in himself.

Yes, absolutely disgusted.

And, of course, letting his parents die wasn't an option either, as he would never be able to forgive himself.

What should he do?

He had had to think for a long time, but Edmond had finally reached his answer.

He had traced back the steps. Why was he even in this position? Because he had made that decision before. Him, and no one else.

So…he was responsible for everything.

As soon as this conclusion was reached, it was as if a clarity had appeared in his mind.

The man had said that either would die only if he made a choice.

But…what if he didn't?

Well, in a fit of anger, he might go ahead and kill them both anyway.

So, Edmond had to prevent that.

But how?

Attacking the City Lord wasn't an option either, as he could easily kill him with a single finger.

For once, as he racked his brain while being hastened to make a decision, the cunning mind that he had been known for in the streets of his City came to his rescue.

In this situation, he had overlooked something.

He was a candidate to become an heir!

And if he recalled his studies…such candidates were rare.

So…without hesitation, Edmond did something that startled everyone who was present.

He walked to the metal cage in which Woof had been gagged and bound…and he stuck his head inside the grates, to position it right in front of the Tera's canines.

With his hand, he reached for the gag that was stopping the Tera from chomping his head off, and shouted, "I KNOW I'M IMPORTANT TO YOU! RELEASE BOTH OF THEM, OR I'LL REMOVE THIS GAG AND ALLOW IT TO KILL ME! THEN, YOU'LL HAVE NOTHING! IF YOU RELEASE BOTH OF THEM, I PROMISE I'M WILLING TO DO ANYTHING YOU WANT!"

"..."

"..."

"..."

With gobsmacked expressions, Aaron, the old man, the official and the City Lord all stared at Edmond, who was comically bent with his head forward as if he was just preparing to go to the bathroom.

In this extremely serious situation, no one could have expected that such a thing could happen, which resulted in such an incongruency that everyone's minds could only go blank.

However, it was the official who recovered first, and as he stepped forward with a delighted expression and began to say something, a smile spread across the old man's face.

"Even though this is unconventional, it's still a choice! As the World Government Official on site, I declare that this 'Heir Selection Process' has ended! City Lord, you are ordered to make your decision, and regardless of what you choose, you must restore the state of the candidate's family to what it was before and wipe their memories!"