Chapter 323 - Question

After hearing so many crazy things in a row, Zaos was questioning everything he knew and learned over the years. There was the possibility that Derenus was lying, but to confirm that, he proposed to Zaos to check the basement of the greatest house in the North of the kingdom. Zaos didn't know that family, but according to Derenus, they were supposed to craft the focus amulet… it was there where Vitalar was transporting the captured descendants… Followers of the demon god… Half-humans… Zaos didn't know what to call them anymore.

Although Zaos's body got completely recovered one week after he woke up. He had to wait for two other weeks before he could properly walk without seeing the world spinning after a few steps. Based on what Derenus said, apparently, he suffered some brain damage, and while magic could fix even that, it wasn't that efficient and took quite a while. In the meantime, Zaos wondered why Derenus' friends didn't show up. When he left the hut, he only discovered why and noticed that Derenus lived a few kilometers away from their main base.

"I could swear that you were a big shot among them," Zaos said.

"I was once, now I am too old to fight," Derenus said. "I lost all my family and friends fighting against you people and seek revenge, but eventually, I got sick of it and retired."

"So, you are among the people who just want to live their lives without having to shed blood," Zaos said. "I can respect that. Although I find it weird considering that your people have been, as you said, hunted, for thousands of years."

"So, do you believe in what I told you?" Derenus asked.

"I am going to confirm that as soon as I regain my strength," Zaos said. 

"And after you confirm it?" Derenus asked. "Are you going to make up for all of my people that you killed?"

"I only killed those who attacked me first, as for the ones I helped capture, I didn't know what would happen to them, all that I know is too many innocents had lost their lives because this war between two species that has been orchestrated by greedy humans and your demon god," Zaos replied. "Once I confirm the truth, I will change my life and do something more meaningful than risk my life for liars. Don't take me wrong, but I won't serve the demon god, he is just a lunatic who wants what? World domination? That is just ridiculous."

"It is quite interesting your way of thinking, I wish I had realized the same when I were young, that way, I wouldn't have lost my family and friends," Derenus said. "Regardless, you have been making many questions lately, but I still don't know anything about you, young man. Who are you, really?"

"You already asked that many times," Zaos said. "I am just a guy who is tired of all the bullshit of this world… Still, I guess I owe you that much explanation. My name is Zaos Sielders."

"Sielders… the family that has been working with the royal family for thousands of years…" Derenus said. "Now I understand why I feel such a familiarity coming from that short sword."

"What do you mean?" Zaos frowned. 

"According to the legends, the demon god was immortal, but two blades were able to damage him," Derenus said.

"Oh, let me guess… the king's sword and the guardian's heart," Zaos said.

"You are right, no one knows how those two swords were forged, but they worked well in defeating the demon god," Derenus said. "I am glad that my senses are still sharp after all these years."

"Do you want to destroy this sword?" Zaos asked. "I am sorry, but apparently, I will need it in the future. While this is a family heirloom and I am not quite proud of my family anymore, I still have something to do and this sword will help me with that."

"The legend says that those blades are indestructible, and besides, I am not interested in the affairs between our people anymore," Derenus said.

Although Zaos lost his life, he gained a great deal of knowledge thanks to it. He was glad that his soldiers were acting weird for a reason, but it was troublesome that it was due to the demon god. Should he kill him? Could he kill him? Zaos had no idea. Still, as much as it was annoying, it seemed that he had some things that he was destined to do in that world. He didn't like the idea that he was following a path that had been carved by someone for him, but he didn't want to let the world fall into chaos because he had friends that he owed a lot, and he didn't want to see them losing their lives. Not to mention, Zaos still wanted to be a man who's his mother could be proud of.

After Zaos recovered enough to walk for more than half an hour without feeling dizzy. He decided to hunt outside because the food was scarce in the region, and he won't recover his strength just by eating a rabbit or two every day. It was time to hunt those snow bears… the real question was how he was going to bring them back to Derenus' hut.

In the end, Zaos discovered that even though he couldn't count on his body yet, he could always count on his magic. After finding one, he killed with Wind Sword and then enhanced his limbs to carry it back to the hut. However, as soon as he returned, he noticed that Derenus had some visitors. A group of twenty or so of his people was questioning him, and then they turned around and glared at Zaos. It seemed that he wasn't going to have an easy life there as well… but that was already within Zaos's predictions. The real question was: should he keep fighting and killing those people when he had no more real reason to do it?