Chapter 216

Chapter 216

Arthur continued to eavesdrop on the conversation. Although, at this point, neither Amelia nor Grat-ra’zun were trying that hard to hide the contents of their discussion. It was starting to get heated, with the former occasionally raising his voice at the stubbornness of the latter.

Having worked for Amelia for a while now, Arthur knew just how frustrating his boss could be. She was blunt, and when she made up her mind, she usually stuck to her decision. He was used to this behavior. However, he could also understand why Grat-ra’zun was getting upset by it.

After all, as an Elder Dragon, Grat-ra’zun very likely never had any difficulty with getting anything he wanted. Most people— be it humans or elves or even merfolk— would naturally listen to him and his authority. Even today.

No— especially today. There might have been more animosity held towards dragons in the past due to the Grand Nova Empire. But now that dragons had become a rarity, they were looked back at more fondly than ever.

So Grat-ra’zun was likely accustomed to both the respect he had been treated with back during the height of the Grand Nova Empire, and the reverence he was treated with today. And to have someone like Amelia who was not only unintimidated by his power, but also apathetic to his status... with all these factors combined, it must have been incredibly infuriating.

And that was before even considering the legitimacy of his arguments. While Arthur could certainly see where Amelia was coming from, he was still won over by what the Elder Dragon was saying. The logic made sense— to a certain extent.

The world was in danger, and it was up to Amelia to step up and save the day.

Perhaps Arthur felt the urgency of this situation because of his experience as a former vessel of the Void. He had seen the depths of the evil within the Fal-Deus, and he knew that it would not stop until all of Vacuos was destroyed.

So he wanted Amelia to intervene. He knew only Amelia could stop what was to come. And even Grat-ra’zun was coming to that realization too now.

“...you are the only one who can save the world.”

The Elder Dragon whispered as Arthur closed his eyes.

“...or is she really the only one who could do anything?” the former Lich King asked himself that question as the conversation continued. “Can I really not do something as well?”

It was a question Arthur whispered to no one else. But even as he stood there lost in thought, hearing the continued discussion between Amelia and Grat-ra’zun grow muffled, he heard an answer.

An answer that he reached himself.

That something could be done. That something had to be done. And his eyes flickered with electricity as he raised his head, knowing...

That he had the power to get something done.

—--

I wanted to scoff when I heard what the Elder Dragon said. It was ridiculous. It was borderline fanatical dogma. No— it was fanatical dogma.

Grat-ra’zun was no longer appealing to my emotions. He was no longer appealing to my pity. He wasn’t even trying to argue logically against me any longer. Instead, he was appealing to authority. And what authority was he appealing to?

The System.

The World System.

That which was supposedly the God of Vacuos.

“It has already been decreed by the World System as soon as you stepped foot into Vacuos,” Grat-ra’zun said in a low voice. “You are meant to be a [Hero], not because of any heroic qualities you exhibit, for you exhibit none—”

I sighed as I swept my gaze around the vast room of my restaurant.

“At least his magic is still working,” I said, trying to look at the bright side. “Now I’ll be able to host more customers.”

I rose to my feet as I began to start back towards the kitchen. Arthur was no longer standing at the bar. He must have disappeared to his room while waiting for the conversation to end. I opened my mouth to call out for Jax to clean up the mess Grat-ra’zun left behind, but then the front door swung open,

I paused, craning my neck to face a man as he exploded into the room.

It took me a moment, but I recognized him. I saw the glasses on his face, and I saw his black hair. He was exhausted, drenched in sweat. He even bore some cuts and injuries from his travels. But I knew who he was. I remembered his name. I remembered his face.

After all, he was one of the very first people I had met when I arrived in Vacuos. A [Receptionist] at Windrip’s Adventurer’s Guild, and a rather grouchy young man.

“Justyn?” I stared at him in shock.

“Amelia— listen to me!” he exclaimed, stumbling forward. He knocked over a handful of tables and chair as he rushed to my side, panting in a panic. He dropped to his knees right before me.

“What’s going on?” I asked as I narrowed my eyes. “Are you alright? Do you need my help?

Justyn shook his head, before looking up to meet my gaze. “No— I don’t need your help. But I was told to warn you...”

“Warn me? About what?” My brows snapped together as I peered at him. I thought this was going to be another problem I had to deal with. I could already feel the annoyance building up within me, especially after hearing what the Elder Dragon had said.

But Justyn finished, “To warn you that Kallistus Kal— the [Hero King]— is after your life!”

And I blinked a few times. I looked down at the [Receptionist] as he panted where he knelt. I saw his exhaustion— I considered the long journey he must have to find me.

I couldn’t help but feel bad for him.

“Justyn...” I started, closing my eyes. “Unfortunately for you, you’re a little bit too late.”

“Wha... what?” Justyn raised his head, his confusion evident. “What are you talking about? How am I too late? Guildmaster Evan sacrificed himself to save me— to get that message to you!”

I didn’t know how else to tell him about it, so I decided to just be blunt. “I mean, you certainly delivered it before the [Hero King] got to me. But... also, I kind of already know all that. And I kind of already saved Guildmaster Evan too.”

And Justyn’s eyes went wide. “...what? But— but—”

He tried to work his jaw. He looked down at himself as I drew my lips into a thin line.

“I worked so hard to find you. I took so long to get here. And you’re telling me... it was all for nothing?”

“...yeah,” I said apprehensively. “I mean, I am happy to see that you’re alive?” I tried to cheer him up.

Justyn looked up at me, then stared at the palm of his hand. He saw the dirt staining his skin. He saw the bruises he had suffered to get here. He closed his eyes. The wrinkles on his face seemed to vanish. And with that, he passed out where he knelt.