Selfless
"Sigh..."
[You Have Defeated Jaka The Insane!]
[You Received 5,000EXP!]
Listener: Lyrica Ley Rael
Lv. 27 -> 28
HP: 33%
MP: 65
dB: 66
[Statistics]
Strength: 40 (+25)
Durability: 35 (+ 25)
Agility: 40 (+25)
Stamina: 21 (+50)
Senses: 10 (+25)
Available Stat Points: 0 -> 4
[Playlist]
Playable Music:
- Jazz Harmony (Lv. Max)
- Heavy Metal (Lv. 2)
- Heavy Metal: Iron Maiden (Lv. 2)
- Heavy Metal: Hallowed Be Thy Name (Unplayable)
- Fierock (Lv. 2)
- Flintrock (Unplayable)
- Hip Hop (Lv. 2)
- Wind Drum (Unplayable)
Background Music:
- Elements of Music (Lv. 2)
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> Acquired EXP: 7,540
> Required EXP: 27,500
[Currently Playing: Jazz Harmony - 2:15]
"Is it just me, or did the Required EXP have quite a huge increase?"
Lyrica noticed that every time she leveled up, the required experience would get an eight hundred or so increase. But when she heard the level-up notification to her headphones while she and the others were making their way to Takkot, the Required EXP jumped from 24,150 to 27,500. The usual increase suddenly got multiplied by more than three times!
'This only means leveling up will become more troublesome from now on. I wonder what level this three new music will become playable?'
While she's in deep thoughts, she caught the prinsepe of Reilaea wordlessly gazing at her while she was standing atop Jaka's burned corpse.
"You!"
"What?" Aran replied in question.
At that moment, the girl stepped forward. She began approaching Aran who's sitting on the ground and told him:
"Are you actually an idiot?"
"Ha?"
Seemingly infuriated, Lyrica poured scorn on Aran for his actions not so long ago. She condemns him for trying to run straight at Jaka when he could have just fired water blades like he did before to finish off the high commander. Not letting the girl with a condescending attitude to overpower him, Aran began to voice his defense.
"Even if I want to do that, I'm not sure I won't hit the boy if I just shoot my water blades in the spur of the moment."
That's right. He was only able to hit Jaka with great precision because he had time to properly fire them. It wasn't his only ability but he's been trying to hone it ever since he learned the ability. Had Aran tried to fire them indiscriminately, there's a high chance that he could injure the boy, too. For that reason, his best judgment was to dash forth before Jaka could have his crooked teeth deep into the boy's flesh. But that's just what he said.
"Eh... Is that so?"
The girl appeared to agree with his argument.
"Not enough."
"Come again?"
Or so Aran thought.
"You didn't think far enough."
Lyrica further argued that he should have noticed Jaka specifically took the boy, meaning it was just a ploy to lure the two close to him. Jaka had no intention of drinking anyone's blood other than Lyrica's and Aran's, otherwise, he would have tried to get to the trouble of taking an adult one, considering they contain more blood than the child.
"Yeah... I guess you're right..."
"Of course I am. Hm? Why the ugly... long face?"
"You're too late to correct yourself, woman."
Aran looked away and faced the hard concrete surface with a gloomy face. There is truth to what Lyrica said, the prinsepe could not find anything to say against it. Although he wished...
'I wish it's what I saw instead of you.'
The prinsepe of Reilaea decided not to bring it up, but when he saw Jaka pull the boy towards him, it reminded him of Lyrica's words.
"If you want to protect something, then be strong enough to sacrifice everything else for it."
When that message came across his mind, suddenly, an image of a man—his father, flashed before his eyes as he launched himself towards a mysterious dark monstrosity that ended his life.
In truth, even he finds it strange. He didn't want to recklessly approach the high commander just like what his late father did which led to his demise. Aran knew there should be other ways to act in that situation.
After Aran's father's death, the prinsepe of Reilaea vowed to protect those he cared about, and most importantly, his Ina—Amaya. That is why he cannot allow to put himself in danger and get killed in the process. But when that image flashed before his eyes, even though it's against his will, his body moved forward.
Remembering that moment again puts a sour expression on his face.
'I hate myself...'
Shortly after his resentful thoughts to himself, loud screams all around the street quickly got his attention. Amidst the panicking crowd, soldiers in white armor are trying to gather everyone and restraining their hands with the same fabric Lyrica got from Mila.
Agario and his men tried to resist, but soon after realizing Lyrica was behind all of it, they eventually and half-willingly let themselves be captured by Kael and the others.
"Hey, you didn't put yourself in danger because of what I said back then, right?" Lyrica questioned out of the blue while watching what was happening around her unfold. "I told you to be strong enough to sacrifice everything for those you try to protect, but that doesn't mean you have to get killed in the process. How else are you going to keep protecting them if you're already dead?"
Aran scoffed. "Did you think you inspired me to do something both heroic and idiotic? I'm not as selfless as you may think."
'I never considered you as one, to be honest.' Lyrica murmured in her thoughts. 'I just thought you're stupid.'
Enduring the crippling pain on his wounded shoulder, Aran stood up and told the girl she was right. Aran cannot allow himself to die.
"Mahal na Prinsepe!"
"Kael... So her plan went well."
"Yes."
Reilaea began the raid of Kruule by surrounding the town of Takkot behind its shadows. Kael, the Payapas, and Malayas entered the town from all directions and capture everyone as carefully and without causing harm as possible. That's right, Lyrica specifically gave them an order to capture the people but not harm them in any way.
"It was certainly a tough task," Kael stated. "But as you can see, we've managed to capture everyone safely."
"You're right, but that also means Kruule's forces are waiting for us at the capital."
Lyrica wanted to takeover Kruule without having to spill blood from both sides. While it is true, she also finds it as an opportunity to figure out what Uruk is planning against her and Reilaea. And the fact that they succeeded in taking over Takkot almost smoothly tells her Uruk has something big up his sleeve.
"The plan was to occupy Kruule slowly from town to town, but let's scrape that out."
"Huh?"
"Lady Lyrica."
Pointing her finger straight down south, she uttered, "From here, we are going straight for the capital!"
Out of all the people out there, Aran is the one who could see her reason to go straight for Uruk in the capital. They did not encounter an ambush, they took over Takkot faster than they would expect. It's as clear as day that the Hari of Kruule wants them to fight him in his homeland.
"I think it is a good idea. However, it appears the prinsepe has suffered quite an injury. If anything, prinsepe Aran's treatment is number one priority."
What Kael is trying to say was that he and the soldiers are willing to follow her orders, so long as Aran's supervision and authority to make decisions are also present.
"Without him, I cannot allow us to continue moving forward."
"Oh, is that right?"
Lyrica was on the verge of conflict when all of a sudden, she and the others heard Reyna Amaya, who's surrounded by a few soldiers in red armor, speak behind her.
"It seems you're forgetting that I am the absolute authority here, but I appreciate your loyalty towards my son, Kael."
"Reyna Amaya..."
Lyrica stood there in awe.
"Mahal na Reyna...!" Kael took a dignified stance, plastering his right hand onto his left chest. "What are you doing here...?"
"Ina, what are you thinking?" Aran asked worriedly. "Even if we completely secured the town, you can't just bust in without my permission!"
"I know that, but I remembered I'm still you're Ina, so you can't tell me what to do."
Amaya just used her ultimate power as the Reyna and the Ina of the prinsepe. And when she uses that, no power or authority could even hope of going against her.
"Then what should we do, Mahal na Reyna?"
"I'm glad you asked, Kael."
As if copying the girl before her, Amaya stretched out her hand towards the south.
"From here, we are going straight for the capital! The raid to retrieve the heroes and save the people of Kruule shall proceed as planned!"
The Reyna, the absolute authority just voiced her decision. It took a short moment but Kael eventually gave his affirmative.
"However, Mahal na Reyna, I would like to revoke my participation to be on the Prinsepe's side."
"No." Amaya shot him down without pause. "Kael, you will be the one to lead the soldiers for the time being."
"B-But, Mahal na Reyna...!"
A conflicting situation! Kael could not say no to the Mahal na Reyna, but he also cannot allow himself to be far from the Prinsepe.
"My decision is final, Kael."
With his eyes filled with trouble and powerlessness, he looked at the wounded Aran as if begging for him to reason with his mother.
"Do it, Kael."
Aran had spoken.
"We have to get the heroes, even if it means we're walking straight to Uruk's trap."
From behind the prinsepe, Lyrica silently agreed with a slight nod.
"Besides, I won't be gone for too long."
"Eh? But the wound you received is quite deep! It will need extensive care from our doctors!"
"No."
Averting his gaze on the confused Kael, Aran and Lyrica's eyes crossed each other. Surprisingly, she already understood the message he wordlessly conveyed and bob her head in reply.
"We'll get back to you soon."
"You, too, Lady Lyrica?"
With a soft pat on Kael's shoulder, the Reyna of Reilaea entrusts the Malayas on his leadership. Knowing he could not say no or argue to their decision, Kael reluctantly accepted the task.
"I shall lead our kingdom towards our goal."
Before anything, Aran halted Kael from spreading the news. He then heeds the attention of the Malayas present in the town square to ask them:
"As a knight of Reilaea, who swore to serve the kingdom until your last breath, are you willing to throw your lives away to see the end of this raid? For the bright future of our great kingdom?!"
As anybody would expect, the brave and loyal knights of Reilaea answered the prinsepe with a resounding yes.
"I commend you for your bravery and loyalty. However, I cannot promise the same thing."
Without fear, Aran voiced what he has in mind.
"I cannot die. I cannot allow myself to die today, or tomorrow, or in the future. Because I have something to protect."
After that, he asked them one more time.
"After hearing all that, can you tell me, are you still willing to throw your life away for the kingdom?!"
He waited. He waited for someone brave enough to give him an honest answer. Until the knights of Reilaea took a step forward one after another and voice their answer.
"We don't want to die either!"
"Because we all have something to protect!"
"For our families, for our kingdom. We are here because we want to protect them!"
"And that's why we can understand how you feel!"
"I see..."
He hate to admit it, but Aran accepted his defeat towards Lyrica. Aran doesn't have to tell her anything anymore. Besides, if he does, she might just give him a pompous look and belittle him. Just imagining it somehow irritates Aran to his core already.
"Still, we are willing to throw our lives away for the kingdom. So shame on you!"
"That's right! Shame on you!"
"You always look scary, but you're just a coward! Shame on you!"
It started with a lone, brave knight. But after that, the soldiers of Reilaea united to throw insult on the prinsepe they swore loyalty and their lives.
"Shame on you!"
"Shame on you!"
"Shame on you!"
"T-These bast*rds..."
"Fufu, you two have somewhere to go to, right? Leave the rest to me and Kael for the time being."
Amaya walked past Aran, laughing heartily.
"Why are you laughing? And you're supposed to be my Ina?!"
Just when he thought he wouldn't feel any more insulted, Aran heard a half-suppressed giggle in front of him.
"Let's hurry along, coward."
Lyrica turned away and started leading the way to the east. And behind her is a fuming Aran.
"Y-You bruha...!"