Chapter 693 Conversation Between Extras [Pt 3]
Adrien was silent for a minute or so.
During that period, he had a very important decision to make—whether or not to tell Rey about whatever he had going on with the Dragons.
Whichever option he chose had its own share of consequences, and it was up to him to decide what path to take regarding his reply. One thing was certain, though.
Silence wasn't an option.
"To go home."
Upon hearing Adrien's words, Rey's intense gaze flickered for a moment. His eyes softened considerably, though it resumed its hardened position in no time at all.
"Home...?"
"Yes." Adrien sighed, rubbing his face with his palm. "Hidden within the Dragon Empire is a way for us to return to Earth. A way for me to go home."
Rey couldn't believe his ears. He wanted to say Adrien was lying, but something within him told him that this was an unfiltered truth. As such, even though he parted his lips to speak, words refused to come out. He just stared.
"I need to gain their trust so that I can organically make it into the Dragon Empire. I have even been promised an introduction to a Lord. Once that happens, I'll be one step closer to the place—The Chamber Of Ancients."
"Chamber Of Ancients...?" Rey had never heard those words before, but somehow, they sounded familiar.
'Hold on... I think I once heard Adonis mutter something like that when I caught him training by himself one time.'
He didn't think much of it then, and even now he wasn't even sure that was what he heard. Still, the name sounded oddly important.
'All of this could be a ruse, though. I don't think he's lying, and considering I can tell for the most part if that's the case, it'll be more illogical not to believe him.'
Besides, given what Ater told him, Rey didn't want to be too skeptical or antagonistic towards Adrien. He already promised his Familiar that he would listen to what Adrien had to say with a clear head.
'Let's try not to be too biased...' He told himself calmly as he continued taking in the information he received.
"Same way you'd kill thousands and thousands of Monsters to get stronger, Rey."
"They're not the same!"
"How so?" Adrien shifted forward as he furrowed his brow. "I can understand your hesitance to kill humans, Rey. I get it... but Elves? What makes them so different from the Monsters you have slaughtered mercilessly?"
"W-what are you saying...?" Rey appeared appalled by Adrien's way of thinking. Didn't it go without saying why the Elves were different from Monsters?
"Is it because they appear humanoid? There are Monsters who have a lot of human features, yet you'd kill them with no hesitation. The Elves are even hostile towards other Races, same as Monsters."
"That doesn't make them the sa—"
"How much do you even know about Monsters? You realize some of them have intelligence on par with humans, right? Certain Goblins, despite being primitive, have displayed the intelligence of children. Some Lizardmen even build huts and simple tools, similar to how we used to during the stone ages on Earth. The list goes on, Rey. Given enough time, with Evolution and further learning, they could become a very intelligent species. Yet... you'd kill those Monsters without hesitation, wouldn't you?"
"I... would. They're ultimately a threat to—"
"And the Elves aren't a threat? Right now, their deity tells them to kill the Dragons and they obey. What if we're next? What then?"
"I'd kill them then."
"Then apply that logic to Monsters. Certain Monsters, intelligent creatures, live out the rest of their lives without bothering anyone. Yes, they are aggressive towards people, but they won't go out of their way to bother us if we just leave them alone..."
Rey got flashes of his time in the Royal Dungeon—the moments he spent mindlessly killing so many of the Monsters there that he lost count of the number.
He didn't think much of it then, and even now. But... Adrien's words kept digging deep into his mind and began seeping right inside his thoughts.
"Why didn't you spare them? Why didn't you leave them alone since they weren't threats?"
Rey already knew the answer to that—and it was in parallel to the answer Adrien would also give for his own massacre of the Elves.
"To achieve my goals... I would do anything." Adrien said, his eyes flashing with incredible determination.
Rey felt his heart tighten as their eyes connected, reflecting something similar.
"You would also do the same."