Chapter 205- Zeus, The Flying Sky Castle (Part 2)
'Hm?' Rin's face darkened slightly as he squinted his eyes. Even though he predicted that the academy already heard about the rumors but it still doesn't make the situation any better.
'Anything I say now might make them even more suspicious. I must be careful.' ๐๐๐ฆ๐ฆ๐๐ฎ๐ท๐ฏ๐ธ๐๐ฎ๐ญ.๐ฌ๐ธ๐ฎ
"Related to our enemies? Why would you think that?"
"We are very careful with how we deal with such situations, Rin Silvereye. So, assuming the fact that you are linked to the demons in some way shape or form is only a safety measure. In fact, personally, I'm inclined to believe that fact." One of them said.
"I see. Well, think about what you want. I will make it clear now. I do not have any link to the demons."
"Then, how do you explain the sheer number of encounters you had with them? People would go their whole lives without ever seeing a demon and yet you encountered them again and again and each time, they were not there as slaves but as trouble seekers."
"That's all luck. Actually, I have a complaint about that matter. Please, increase your security around the academy. It suddenly became like a the backyard of the cult with how easily they could infiltrate it."
"Shut your mouth! How dare you question the academy's security?!" Another yelled with an irritated tone.
"I'm just saying the truth. Have you all thought about how the Cult would start the war when the time comes? Naively assuming they will appear from the making gate is very dumb. They already found a way inside."
"You bastard! That's enough! You deserve to be jailed for your disrespect!"
However, at that moment, someone that Rin didn't hear the whole time finally opened his mouth.
"He is right. We lack security. Have you all forgotten what happened a few months ago?"
Asking that, the others didn't say a thing but Rin could sense their frustration even without seeing them.
"Listen here, Rin Silvereye. We do not want to harm you unnecessarily. However, you are very vague and mysterious. That type of person isn't something we particularly like as they only carry trouble wherever they go. Do you understand me?"
"Well, I do. But, what am I supposed to do? As far as I'm concerned, I'm your ally. I have nothing against the academy so as long as you don't try to attack me, I can be of great help in the war."
"We do know that you are a very strong individual for your age and any extra manpower is very much appreciated. However, what guarantee do we have that you won't turn on us during the war?" The man asked.
"That's a two-way street. We both don't trust each other so we might as well keep the contact as superficial as possible. My goals are clear, to do what I think is right while keeping those I care for safe and sound. Anything else is secondary to me. Besides, I will greatly benefit from ending this war so trying to make it prolong any more than it should only harm me in the long run."
"..."
"Tsk, this child is too arrogant for his own good."
None of the higher-ups could say anything after that as they kept mumbling and grumbling. This made Rin feel slightly relieved as he knew this meeting would finally come to an end and he could leave.
"I will say this before leaving. I have fought the demon and killed it. They aren't something you can underestimate. Whether you want to take this war seriously or not is none of my business. However, if your weakness ends up harming the ones I care for. Then, I might change my tactics." He said coldly, clearly threatening them.
"You bastard!!"
"Silence! Your message is received, we have no intention of not taking this war seriously. Demons are humanity's greatest threat after all."
"Good. Well, I will take my leave now."
After that, Rin turned around to walk away. However, he stopped at the last second.
"Hmm, can I ask one last question?"
"What?"
"Where can I find Sir Letum?"
***
The location: somewhere on the sky castle, exactly in the heart of a large garden, more beautiful than the one Rin had seen before. Right in the middle of it was a crystal clear lake, so calm and serene as if it was merely a mirror plastered into the greenery around it.
In the middle of that lake, a man was sitting on what seemed to be a rock protruding out of the water. His eyes were closed and his breathing was calm and unperturbed. No one knows for how long he was sitting in the same position.
Then, out of nowhere, the man's eyes opened as if he noticed something.
"What are you doing here?" He asked coldly.
"I wanted to meet you, Mr Letum." Rin said as he looked around.
"I do not like to meet people. Leave." He said.
"Can you at least give me a moment? I came here to talk about a certain topic. Do you know Somi Clearsky?"
"..."
The moment Rin uttered those words, Letum finally turned around to look at Rin. Letum's cold eyes and his sharp aura were like a sword being pointed at Rin.
"Did Emilia tell you? Or maybe it was Sorophi?" He asked.
'This is his aura even though he isn't even trying to harm me. What a strong presence.' Calming his breathing, Rin didn't try to resist much since he knew Letum won't kill him... hopefully.
"I came here to know the truth of what actually happened that day."
"..."
"You're the only one who knows and yet you don't want to tell them. Why?" Rin asked.
"They do not need to know."
"They do. Somi was Emilia's sister and Sorophi's mother. How could they not have the right to know how their loved one died?"
"She's dead and that's what matters. Anything else is dangerous information. It will only sadden them more."
"That's better than staying in the dark for so long. Somi was a great person through and through and died doing what she saw as right. It's only right that we honor her death for a long time to come."
"..."
Rin could sense how Letum's expression changed slightly to a bad grimace. Whatever happened at the time, it wasn't a good memory. However, how bad could it to make someone as strong as Letum to frown that way.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thanks for reading. Any support you give me is always appreciated no matter how small it was. Let's all keep it up :)