Chapter 70

I'm posting some chapters ahead of time on my discord server: https://discord.gg/r2VSvS5kaH

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Inside, the villa was pretty modest; it didn't have gold in every corner of the room. It was a cozy place to rest and have fun. After a little tour through it, the group finally settled into the huge living room that could house a few hundred people.

Tessia was extremely eager to see her parents again, and it took less than ten minutes for them to arrive. The royalty were escorted into the room with an escort made up of shadow soldiers.

The human and elven royal families were now together in one place.

"Tessia!" Merial's motherly instincts immediately acted up as she crashed into Tessia's embrace. Followed by his husband. Virion just stood a little bit away, simply appreciating the moment.

The elven girl wasn't the only one who saw their families; Kathyln and Curtis only now saw their parents in the flesh. Many families were reunited with their children just because Ashborn deemed it necessary. Claire finally saw her mother and father, and the rest of the DC did the same. The only one left was Elijah, but there were Leywins for him. Helstea soon joined them in the full squad as well.

It seemed that everyone was getting back to a happy life at that moment, and nobody questioned that. They didn't want it to end anyhow, but whoever made it possible, they were thankful.

"It's nice to see them enjoying this with all their hearts..."

"Indeed."

Kaspian separated from Bladehearts and approached Ashborn. He loved his family more than anything else. Despite Claire not being his brother's child, he loved her as his own since he didn't have one. Ash noticed this long ago.

"Mr. Ashborn I can't express how thankful I am."

"There's no need in trying anymore, I can feel it well. I'm thankful for helping me out, Kaspian. It's indeed been a long journey.

"Hm?"

"This time, I must take care of it...unfortunately, Dicathen or Alacrya won't be of any help."

"Is it so dreadful?"

Ashborn only nodded his head. Kaspian was shaken by the news but seeing how Ash looked forward with no fear in his eyes and how he observed what everyone was doing with joy. made him think the same way.

This person in his teens went through more than he did in his thirties. He had trust in the shadow monarch, so if his wish is such, he may let it be so.

"So there is hope..."

"There always is." Hope is the most powerful weapon in the arsenal of every thinking being, and it should never be underestimated. Be it a human, elf, or dwarf, hope is present in every one of them. However, the person who lost it... is the most dangerous.

As long as they have hope, Ashborn can continue on his path without fear.

"Kaspian, can I ask for the last ever favor?"

"Yes, whatever you desire, I'll fulfill it to the best of my abilities."

"I just want you to bring in that room council and my family along with the royalty. I have something to say." Instantly, Kaspian nodded and left Ashborn. The auburn-haired, on the other hand, entered the room, which was basically his office of sorts.

A few minutes later, Kaspian returned with everyone Ashborn had asked to bring. Clearly, they were worried.

"I thank you for coming here on my call. I just have a few things to say before I have to go once again... Some of you know that my brother, Arthur Leywin, was kidnapped by Asuras prior to that. It is my main objective to return him, but I fear everything is much more complicated."

Everyone's hearts stopped for a moment. Everyone in this room knew who Arthur Leywin was. He was a classmate for some, a talented magician for others, a student for two, a family member for a few, and a lover of life for one. It was no less saddening for them to hear about Arthur's kidnapping. Even though Ashborn promised to bring him back, they weren't too sure.

"It wasn't because of the war that I evacuated the Dicathenians...no, this war had nothing to do with this."

"T-Then because of what?" Everyone feared to question, but they wanted to hear an answer.

"Just after I leave this place, the outside world might become an uninhabitable wasteland. Where just stepping on the ground might cause serious burns that will forever take your limbs. There are no guarantees that I'll be able to handle what is to come. " Especially towards the end, Ash's words were becoming colder.

Everyone shivered. If he couldn't handle it... then who would be able to? The council knew it very well; there was nobody on their side stronger than Ashborn Leywin. He was the only ray of hope for them.

"Son... then why don't you stay here. We'll think of something together. I don't know, anything that might help you!" Rey hurriedly tried to convince his son not to endanger himself, but deep in his heart, he knew this would be a futile endeavor.

"There is no time for this father." Ash cut him off, for the very first time, and with quite a stern voice. A minute of silence followed this, as everyone was afraid to talk.

"It's complicated, I don't want to go into details. But I'm doing everything that is necessary to protect you and save Arthur. Whatever the cost of it, I must simply go out to search for him, or it might be too late."

Ashborn wanted to save his brother, and so did the other Leywins. Alice was about to cry as the tears were about to roll down her face. Reynolds was in no better shape. With teeth on teeth, he was suppressing his mouth from speaking.

"Brat, do what you have to do."

The first to speak was an old elf, Virion. He had experienced what it was to lose someone close, so he partly understood what Ashborn was going through, and he was the only one who dared to open his mouth about it. Sometimes it so happens that one doubts himself because of past experiences he has come to regret. What Virion was sure of, was that doubt would only hinder success.

"You and Arthur have suffered enough from this continent. Without you, I doubt we would have had a slight chance... so don't worry about us."

Maybe it was Virion's feelings about Arthur as well, or no, who knew? He expected the brat to become his family soon enough, and he was sure Tess was thinking the same way. Arthur must be saved. Ash would've gone anyway; he's just wondering if there is a way to get around the system. To prevent a disaster from happening. Just wasting time around makes his enemy rebuild their strength. If he doesn't go at all, that would be their demise. It's do-or-die.

"Are you not angry at me? My problems are about to destroy this planet."

"I believe it's not only your problem, Mr. Ashborn. We are all in this together, but unlike us, you are the one fixing the problem for everyone else."

"Wise words, Cynthia."

"Thank you, old bat."

"You are old too!"

Oh, if they knew who was actually the oldest in this room. Inwardly, Ashborn chuckled at his own thought. He was the oldest in this room; even Virion's age was just a percentage of his actual age... no, everyone combined here would be just a percentage.

"Mr. Ashborn, I have had a question since we entered this place... Where exactly are we?"

"Oh, this place is a relictomb. The space is separated from the outside world, making it perfect for safety. I found it years ago and finally thought of the way to use it. For whoever made this, they surely knew what would happen."

Ashborn wasn't going to tell them about the ancient mages because that story also involved him. He just explained what this relictomb could do and that it was him who built this world in the relictomb.

This was a world similar to his old demon castle, with living beings inside being dead before. Although you would say this was more of an angelic version than demonic. There was no trace of blood and fire; this was a peaceful place to live in. Well, kind of...

This place was turned into a game, where everyone who entered from outside became the players. Similarly to his successor, everyone here now has the system, but it's not him who supplies the energy anymore... it's the relictomb.

Why did Ashborn make it this way? Maybe he has an obsession with systems or just wanted it so badly. The truth is that he just wanted his own world, with his rules, with everything under control. That's why he called it the dream world; otherwise, where would people see the dead people again?

Just like the demon castle's inhabitants, those people walking outside were just the souls of the dead people. Meanwhile, the players were those who came out as living beings, all of them now with the same system as his successor.

"The Xyrus students who have received my badge will quickly understand how this place works."

Although the current system is different from its initial prototype, which was installed in the badge, if you understand the principle, it shouldn't be hard to adjust. Ashborn had no doubt the former DC members would figure it out with ease.

"You can talk to them. Now, can you leave me here alone with my family?"

As asked, the council, together with the royalty, left the room, leaving the Leywins family alone there. The father, mother, and sister stared at Ashborn, expecting him to start talking, but it never happened. He was just looking at them with tranquil eyes. Even though he seemed calm, as a mother, Alice instinctively felt that something was wrong.

"Ash, my dear...Everything is going to be okay, right?"

The shadow monarch stood in front of the couch where his family was sitting. He crouched in front of them and truthfully spoke, "For the first time in my life, I can't be sure about this..." That was painful to hear, but it was better than blatantly speaking 'Yes, it's going to be alright.'.

Reynolds had enough, "You have to tell us, Ash. Why is it always you and Arthur who get in trouble?!" His outburst surprised his son, but that was to be expected from a father of two troublesome sons.

"If only I knew. A long time ago, I thought of myself as an anomaly in this world... then, maybe not so anomalous. It was you who helped me realize that I wasn't. Yet these times require me to be different from others. I apologize that I can't be a normal son, mom, dad. You too, Ellie. I'm sorry that I and Arthur weren't such good brothers."

A grim expression on his face made his family feel emotionally unstable. If he wasn't the shadow monarch, he'd be crying long ago, but that's just impossible. Reynolds and Alice crashed into his embrace, followed by their daughter. Alice was mumbling, repeating that it would be alright, while also tightening her grip on Ash's back. The latter felt how his family didn't want to let go of him...

Little old him couldn't help but return the hug with less strength to avoid crushing their backs. He was doing this for his family, however ridiculous that might sound.

"Our children, you are our happiness. Without you, I don't know... I'm losing my words... We'd be nothing." Reynolds was chuckling while crying, making it apparent that he wasn't in the best state.

"You are our light, who guides us through the dark times. Don't ever apologize for something like that..." Alice found the time to scold Ash in such a moment, but wasn't she speaking the truth?

Wasn't Ashborn the greatest fragment of brilliant light? He was the one who was supposed to rid the universe of the darkness it carried, or at least protect it from it. He was created to preserve life. In his dark heart, these feelings remained the same.

"Mom, dad... then I'll defeat that darkness once and for all." Ashborn let go of his family and waited till they'd loosened their grip. Only then did he stand up. "I have to go now." He was about to leave the room when he heard Ellie cry out for him.

"Brother! I will be waiting for you and Arthur to return. Don't you dare die!