Free Web NovelChapter 314: Ch 314: Home at last
Shuu bit his lip, now thinking of ways to die that did not cause trouble for the kid he was sponsoring. Unfortunately, there were not a lot of options.
While he was busy with this, Kaiden was on a mission of his own. He needed to find a way to purify Shuu without killing him. It seemed easy on paper but difficult to do in reality.
So far, no method he had looked at gave him what he wanted.
This led to Kaiden raiding the other gods’ residences and beating them up for information. It was easy with his powers, but it did not give him any information or satisfaction.
Kaiden was far from giving up, but his body was beginning to get affected. He ignored it and decided to go for another raid. But he had just reached the gods’ abode when he heard a small whisper in his ears.
The whisper had no voice, but Kaiden still heard it clearly. It wanted Shuu to head back and do something drastic.
"Is that...the creator?"
Kaiden questioned the unprecedented action that was happening to him. His creator was giving him an answer regarding his problem. But the real question was—how much could Kaiden trust that god? freewebnσvel.cѳm
It had not led him astray until now, but that did not mean it was not doing this for his benefit.
The creator was fair to all. He must have judged Kaiden’s actions as a threat and decided to resolve his grudge.
Kaiden did not care what the reason was behind the creator’s actions. He just knew that he had gotten a solution to his problem.
It was time to head back.
Kaiden was not going to tell Shuu the plan. He was going to take action and then live a happy life with Shuu.
He returned and immediately met Caelis. The young priest (not so young anymore) blocked his way and looked him in the eye.
"Are you going to cause my lord trouble? If you are going to yell at him and make him sad, then you better leave now."
Caelis was brave to say this to his face. This quality of his was what kept him alive and by Shuu’s side.
But Kaiden had his patience, and it was running thin. He warned the kid to step aside.
"This is between me and Shuu. You should step back while you still have a chance, kid. I don’t want to cause you trouble."
Kaiden warned, but the kid maintained his place and blocked his way.
"I am afraid that I cannot ’step aside’ as you want me to. Not when my lord’s life is on the line. Please, tell me what you are planning now."
Caelis demanded, and Kaiden decided to share with him what he was planning to do.
The expression on Caelis’s face was not good. He looked betrayed, and his mouth opened and closed in agitation before he finally caught himself and spoke.
"You are not serious, right? You want to kill my lord so he can be reborn? What kind of lunatic—"
"This is the only way to save Shuu now. You are also aware that Shuu is slowly falling into corruption, right? We need to purify him so that he can return to his normal self."
Kaiden spoke firmly. He was so firm that even Caelis had no option but to back down and let him do as he wanted.
"I...are you sure this is the only way?"
Kaiden nodded, his eyes filled with conviction.
"This is the only way. I would also rather not do this if possible. But right now, we truly have no other choice but to have Shuu be reborn."
Caelis sighed and reluctantly gave his permission. Not that it mattered.
Kaiden would have done what needed to be done regardless of Caelis’s permission. After all, he would rather have Shuu hate him than suffer as he was.
...
It took a week of planning and sealing before Kaiden decided to act. One second, Shuu and he were sitting leisurely at the place, enjoying each other’s company...the next, Shuu felt a searing pain in his chest.
He looked down at Kaiden’s hand on his chest, and the sealing magic placed on him began to work.
"What are you doing? Why are you doing this?"
Shuu asked, feeling betrayed but curious at the same time. He wanted to see what excuse Kaiden could make to justify his actions.
Kaiden looked at him, but his eyes were filled with tears. The man did not even bother controlling them as he kept pushing harder and harder against Shuu’s chest.
"I am sorry. I don’t have a choice. I don’t want to see you suffer again and again. But don’t worry. I will follow you soon. We will go through these cycles together until we are both purified."
Shuu opened his mouth to complain, but the sealing magic held him in place and started to drag him down.
He was so shocked that he was not even able to protest as he was ripped apart from the world.
All he could do was look at Kaiden with betrayed eyes, wondering why the elder had done this to him.
"You are free to resent me as much as you want to. As long as you come back alive, safe and sound, to me, I don’t care if you decide to kill me."
Kaiden whispered, and those were the last words said between them.
The memory also faded, leaving a bitter taste in Shuu’s mouth.
__________
"Ah, that did happen. I guess I can understand Kaiden a little better now. But he really should have told me what he was planning. I would have helped him."
Shuu whispered as he forced his body to produce more power. His memories fueled his anger, and he directed it toward the goddess in front of him.
He was going to make sure she would not be able to come back ever again.
"What are you doing? Don’t do this! Are we not close? I took care of you all this time and I—"
"You took those generals away, and you also threatened to take everything from me. I am sorry, but I cannot forgive you and your actions. Please, never come back."
Goddess Astoria had no comeback. All her focus was on making sure she did not disappear.
"Don’t do this to me—"
She tried to reach for Shuu one last time before her power ran out and Shuu’s power devoured her. But he also lost control of himself and felt his power trying to consume him.
"Ah, looks like this is the end for me as well. I guess I won’t be able to see anyone I love one last time—"
"Who said that? Are you giving up so soon? Do you think I will allow you to roll over and disappear from my eyes?"
Kaiden asked in a trembling voice as he reached for Shuu’s hand. He appeared solid, and Shuu let out a scoff.
"Ah, even my imagination is running wild. I am beginning to see Kaiden—"
A hand grabbed his face and forced Shuu to look at ’Kaiden.’
"Don’t be a fool. Take a good look at me. I am Kaiden, and I am back for you. So don’t you dare give up now. Both Caelis and Rin are fighting hard to get you back right now. So pull yourself together...at least for their sakes."
Shuu felt indebted. Even if he did not want to get up, he felt like he had to now.
"This is not fair. But I guess I can make an effort one last time."
Shuu promised before he followed after Kaiden. Each step became more difficult to take, but he made it to the gate somehow.
However, he stopped before he could get through the gate.
"Shuu, come with me—"
"I am afraid that this is as far as I can go. The gate is rejecting my presence. Please, head back yourself and tell the kids—"
"Fuck you and your insecurities. I am going to drag you back home."
Kaiden promised, and his power surged to fight against Shuu’s. He wrapped Shuu in his aura and dragged him along.
"Don’t do this! You are going to risk breaking everything and—"
"I don’t care. All I care about is you coming back home. After all, I am not the only one looking forward to your return."
Kaiden reassured Shuu while dragging him along. Their bodies disappeared into the gate, and the dimension behind them disappeared.
"Rin, keep pushing. I can feel their presence."
Caelis’s voice grew clearer, and Shuu focused on getting back to him. He made it across before he saw the bright colors of home. Kaiden kept a grip on his arm and gave him a smile.
"Welcome back home, Shuu. I hope your stay this time will be much more pleasant."
Goddess Astoria was gone, and there was nothing left to chase after Shuu. For the first time in his life, he was free and he had his memories. All he could do was smile at Kaiden and speak softly.
"You are right. I am back home. I missed this place a lot."
Shuu whispered as he felt two kids attach themselves to his legs.
Finally, it was all over, and all that awaited Shuu was a normal life.
