Free Web NovelChapter 266: _The Real Victim
Yep.
It’s confirmed.
Ambrose definitely broke the guys.
All of them from Devon, to Viktor... even Gabriel and Valentine. None of them was able to talk for even a minute after his revelation.
He’d withdrawn the orc army and snuffed out the flames and ice. Still, they couldn’t speak, leaving him standing there like he was back in the eighth grade showing his mom his report card.
Eventually, though, Viktor faked a cough, rising to his feet. "Well," he exhaled as though he had just come out of the Atlantic. "I definitely need a drink after... all that."
He chuckled but it didn’t help soften the mood.
Just when he turned to the kitchen Gabriel chimed.
"I’ll need one too." He paused, blinking a couple of times. "On second thoughts make it two."
While Viktor made his way to the fridge, Devon had his arms folded in front of his chest. His mind drifted through different thoughts. Memories.
There have been times when Ambrose survived insane situations. First the S-Rank dungeon raid. Then when he came to Norfolk on his own. Then again during the Echo Rift raid.
Especially that last one.
Deep down he’s always wondered how he was capable of shutting down the Echo Rift’s core. No support, nothing.
Now it made so much sense.
’He...’ his breath stuttered. ’He’s been an entirely different person. This whole time. I knew he had secrets but this? How’s it even possible...?’
He took him in again.
Pretty little Ambrose Hale.
His Rose.
For all he knew that wasn’t even his actual name. At least not in his last life.
Ambrose noticed the distance in Devon’s eyes and clenched his fists. Somehow the silence was worse than if they began hurling hurtful words.
His gaze shifted to one more person who hadn’t said a word.
Valentine.
In a way, this whole confession wouldn’t have been possible without him.
Yet he just sat there. No signs of anger or any emotion at all. If anything, the only thing behind those crimson eyes... was pure curiosity.
"Question," the Necromancer’s eyes met his just then. "Since you arrived in this world... have you ever been curious enough to search for this ex of yours? The one who killed you."
Ambrose blinked.
Gabriel cut Valentine a look.
Of all the questions they expected it certainly wasn’t that one.
"Uh... no." Ambrose shook his head. "It never crossed my mind. This world is vastly different from the one I come from. In fact, in my earth this world was nothing but a BL manhwa."
Valentine frowned. "Manwha?"
"BL?" Gabriel added. "What’s that?"
[Oh, bless them...]
"Manwhas are like comic books." Ambrose’s cheeks flushed red. "Made in Korea. Pretty sure they exist in this world too. Then BL simply means ’boys love’. You know... gay romance."
Gabriel squinted. "So... in this manhwa of yours," a pause, "we would be characters? Like you know what happens to us and all?"
Ambrose’s head tilted. "Not really. I never got past the part where the main character was beaten up."
"Beaten—?"
"Valentine, why did you ask me that question?" Ambrose cut in before the questions derailed into the theory of the multiverse. "About my ex."
Valentine held his gaze for what felt like forever.
Then, finally—
"Revenge."
The single word made Ambrose’s brows knit together. "... Revenge?"
The Necromancer rose from his seat.
Immediately Ambrose’s stomach dropped.
He was leaving. Of course he was.
After everything he’d just confessed, why wouldn’t he?
His heart clenched painfully as he watched Valentine take one slow step after another toward him. Until he stopped right in front of him.
"You’re looking at me like I’m about to walk away," Valentine observed quietly.
Ambrose couldn’t even deny it.
"I..." he swallowed. "I figured—"
"You’re the victim here."
Those words hit him so unexpectedly that his thoughts stalled.
Valentine lifted a hand before gently resting it against Ambrose’s shoulder.
"For all of us this revelation is... shocking." His crimson eyes softened. "But out of everyone sitting in this room, you’re the one I pity most."
Ambrose blinked.
"You died."
The room fell silent again.
"You woke up in another world," Valentine continued calmly. "You were handed abilities beyond anyone’s understanding. Then forced into carrying secrets capable of starting wars if spoken aloud."
He let out a slow breath.
"And somehow... you’ve been expected to navigate all of that alone."
Ambrose felt something tighten painfully inside his chest.
"I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed though," Valentine added.
The Guide’s eyes dropped. "There it is..."
Valentine gave a faint shake of his head. "Not because you created the permanent link."
That made Ambrose look back up.
"I suspected you had done something to me for a while."
Gabriel, Devon and Viktor who was returning with the drinks all turned toward him.
"You... suspected it?" Viktor asked.
Valentine hummed. "You don’t survive as long as I have without noticing changes within your own soul."
His thumb brushed lightly over Ambrose’s shoulder.
"I simply chose not to confront you because I wanted to see whether you would trust me enough to tell me yourself." A small smile tugged at his lips. "You finally did."
Relief crashed into Ambrose so violently that his vision blurred.
Without thinking, he stepped forward and wrapped both arms around Valentine.
The Necromancer stiffened for barely half a second before returning the embrace with surprising gentleness.
"I really am sorry..." Ambrose whispered, his voice trembling.
"I know."
A second pair of arms suddenly wrapped around both of them.
Devon.
"You’re an idiot," the red-haired Esper muttered. "But you’re our idiot."
"Oh, screw this." Viktor groaned dramatically before joining the hug from the other side. "If we’re doing group therapy, we’re doing it properly."
Gabriel sighed through his nose. "You’re all impossibly embarrassing."
Yet even he couldn’t stop the tiny smile creeping onto his face as he stepped forward, completing the circle.
Surrounded on every side by warmth, Ambrose closed his eyes.
A single tear escaped despite every effort to stop it.
Not even in his wildest dreams had he imagined the truth would be met with acceptance instead of fear.
★★★★★
Above Aurelia city, a section of the clouds appeared darker than normal. Not because of rain.
Anyone who looked close enough would notice a figure hovering over everything. Skin blacker than night. A slender frame. And a spinning mini black hole in place of where a face was supposed to be.
The void Entity.
It stayed still at first, watching the city.
Then a single word left it.
"Soon."
