Comiak
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Chapter 140: The Eyeblight Assassin
🕑 Added 2022-01-14 22:58:32 +0000 UTC“How should you proceed to get the best deal for us?” Tusile repeats my question. “That is a very difficult question to answer. It all depends on the situation; usually, trade deals take days to ponder over and work out, but the most important rule is always to be the one in power. What I mean by that is always be the one who has something other people want, that way, they must always take a worse deal or simply not get what they want or even need.” Tusile gives me a wide smile.
“The best thing you can do is threaten to take your wares elsewhere for a better deal. You have done well to recognize that us having more valuable money is a good thing if we want to trade with them, we spend less. These are not our people, and by the sounds of it, they have wealthy leaders, so take them for everything they are willing to give.”
It sounds... selfish, greedy, and unsympathetic to try and wring people out of everything they’ve got; I don’t like it. It’s just another form of tyranny, creating an even larger divide between the rich and poor. Why can’t we just have a fair deal?
“I don’t like it, it’s greedy, and people will suffer because of it,” I say, letting my emotions show, drooping my ears slightly.
“A leader’s only responsibility is to their people,” Tusile says. “It is best for us to do this, and they understand that, for they would do the same to us. Both sides know what must be done; it’s how the game is played.”
“It’s a stupid game!” I cross my arms. I hate politics for this exact reason; the only reason why I didn’t offer a simple and fair deal was that my role instincts from [Acting] told me that it was a very bad idea. “I am not cut out for this stuff, this... game.”
“Opetu and Yukika also disliked things like this,” Tusile mentions the former elders. Opetu died during the fire storm, and Yukika was murdered by Papuyo’s faction. “But that’s why they were also popular Elders; they cared for the people. We need leaders who care, but they must be strong enough to make hard choices, and now that falls on you, Alysara. You need to make the hard choice. Just remember, they won’t show you any mercy. Their job is not to care for us, and our job is not to care for them; let them lead their people in the way they see fit. Every leader must know to prepare for bad times and know how to take advantage of the good times.”
In other words, they’ll figure it out even if they are dealt with a shit deal. What’s more, we aren’t even talking about the actual trade deal yet, just what the currency exchange rate should be and how it should be calculated.
“You should know that I talked with Guklaro; she mentioned that you walked out on her and haven’t spoken to her since,” Tusile says. “She’s been stressed lately, being the only Elder right now.”
“What happened to the other one?” I ask. There was another Elder in training, but she just disappeared one day.
“She was a spy for Papuyo; I don’t know where she went after the cursed being.” Tusile answers before continuing like the question never happened.
“We care for you, Alysara, everyone does, but we worry about you, we want to see you safe and healthy, but it is your mental state that worries us most. You have a negative view about yourself, Alysara; the entire reason why crafts are so important to living a fulfilling life is that it gives us a healthy sense of self. By making and accomplishing things, we can begin to acknowledge our abilities; everyone wants to have something they can say they are good at, that they can be proud of something. What are you proud of?”
“There are lots of things I can be proud of, my Diadem and Dryads Grace staff, my research into magic and mana, and my mastery into my Bond,” I reply. “I can admit that there are some things I am good at; it’s just that people have an over-inflated perception of me. My view of myself is perfectly fine; it’s not the problem.”
“What about Airships, the village plumbing, the spell crystals, the armor ideas for fighting monsters, your win during the Kheshamo tournament? Are you proud of those accomplishments?”
“Not really,” I say and lazily rest my head on my right hand, playing with a strand of hair. It’s not very elegant, but that’s the challenge; if I can make it graceful and elegant, it should help me level up my Bond. “The only airship I am personally making is not yet complete; anyone can figure out the plumbing if they tried, same with the spell crystals and armor; as for the tournament, I don’t really care for it, I fight because I need to, not because I want to.”
“If anyone can figure it out, then why haven’t they?” Tusile says, letting out a long sigh of frustration.
“For the sewers they did, the risen city has one, sure it’s not the same, but the function is the same. For armor, it just wasn’t needed, so no one had a reason to invent it; as for the spell crystals, I was just trying something, and it worked; anyone could have stumbled into it if they could do what I did, besides it’s a technology that other parts of the world has, if what Kayafe says is true” Also I never made a ‘First Spell Crystal’ like I did for inscriptions, so it has been made before.
“That’s what I mean, Alysara; most people would be proud of that even if others could have done then; it’s a great accomplishment regardless. Let’s put it this way: say that someone made a tower so high it goes beyond the clouds; would that not be an impressive feat?”
“Well, it certainly would; building something that tall requires a lot of time and dedication, not to mention bravery unless they can fly,” I say, sitting up straight. “But the real feat is the hard work put into it. Anyone can stack bricks, but not anyone has the dedication to stack that much nor the bravery to stack it that high. You seem to be under the misconception that many of my feats required a lot of me when it was merely tedious work at best. Don’t get me wrong, many things that require a relatively small amount of work can still represent years of mastery which in turn makes the fact that it is so easily done an impressive feat.”
Tusile lets out a sigh of resignation and slumps her shoulders. “There’s no winning with you,” she mutters. “look, just know that Guklaro didn’t mean to offend you; she’s overworked and didn’t think her actions through.”
“I’ll forgive her,” I say
I check my mana as I leave the Temple; it’s still dropping. I am getting quite a hefty tax on my mana usage operating a clone that far so much it’s canceling out my mana regen. I won’t be able to have a clone there for more than a day or two, so anything physical I send over there I will have to bring back or just leave it behind like my storage ring. I can always make another, so it’s not that big of a loss.
I should use this time to check out what that Empire is doing and get a clear picture of what’s going on. Also, my range should have expanded enough for me to fully see the extent of this island and explore what that last nation is.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Boring! This new Emperor is boring! It’s been so long since the last war since something interesting happened. Sentaron Klaman, The Eyeblight Assassin, flicks his tail in annoyance, watching the young Emperor be entertained by court jesters. A hedonistic fool! What has this Empire gone to?
Klaman reminisces back on the last four hundred years. The time he slew a great Island Eater and saved the Empire, the time he slew a Leviathan, the time he slaughtered an entire invading army on the land bridge near Bastion city. It’s a shame the first Emperor never achieved Lengendary tier like him, his friend whose legacy and bloodline he swore to protect forever would be ashamed by the recent line of Emperors.
Blood stagnates, that’s for sure; all that bullshit about ‘keeping the bloodline pure’ is utter nonsense. The true Lunaleyan heritage is long gone by now, replaced by this giggling, fat, imbecile! He often wondered if somewhere down the line, the Empress sired someone else’s child instead of the Emperor’s.
Death is a mercy sometimes. Klaman would rather not have seen his friend’s bloodline fail so miserably, but he is no ruler; he is an assassin, the best in the world. Even the system as seen fit to grant him a title, The Eyeblight Assassin. He needs no retaliation items, for he is the ultimate counterintelligence. Anyone who spies on him he can instantly teleport to and swiftly end them. No need to mess around with mind mages, no need to break past scapegoats or track through proxies; he appears, cuts the head off the spy and teleports back before anyone even knows what happened.
The Young Emperor claps as the court jester ends his performance. He sips his wine glass sloppily and belches. “Another one! Give me another show!” he demands.
How far has this rotten bloodline gone? His father may have been dumb but didn’t drown himself in wine and pleasure all day, letting the empire fall in disarray. It is a tragedy that the previous Emperor died before a grandson was born, someone who could have hopefully been a better person. Thankfully, there should be a number of bastards by now, and Klaman would just have to find the nearest whorehouse to find them.
“That’s enough, Your Majesty,” Klaman says, waving a hand. The jester disappears as if reality willed it so. “He’s been at this for-”
“BRING HIM BACK!” the young Emperor roars. “I AM THE EMPEROR. YOU WILL LISTEN TO ME!” The Young Emperors’ fat cheeks flop around disgustingly.
Klaman is so sick of this man child, but what can he do? He swore to his friend to keep his bloodline safe and his Empire thriving. The only issue now is that his bloodline is killing his Empire. Klaman can only hope this overgrown toddler will just drown in wine before the Empire falls.
“...Four hours now, he’s tir-”
“YOU WILL BRING HIM BACK, OR I WILL HAVE YOUR HEAD ON A PIKE!”
Klaman sighs as he tries to wrestle the beast inside him down. This fat man, a lesser Adept tier... creature, cannot ope to go against a legendary being like Klaman, All he has to do is raise his mana output enough, and everyone in the palace will die of mana toxicity.
“...tired, let him rest-”
“GUARDS! TAKE THIS TRAITOR TO THE DUNGEONS, ARREST HIM!”
The guards look at the Emperor, then at Klaman, then back to the Emperor
“Your majesty, he’s Legendar-”
“YOU WILL ARREST HIM, OR YOU WILL JOIN HIM IN EXECUTION!”
Klaman’s ears are starting to hurt by the young Emperor’s tantrum. He’s so sick of this fat man.
“But your majesty,”... the guards say, shaking under Klaman’s glare.
“TRAITORS! TRAITORS IN THE COURT! HELP!”
Something in Klaman cracks, anger bursts forth as his body grows hot with rage. He just needs to make sure the bloodline survives? He needs to keep the Empire thriving? Alright, then he will make sure this fat man lives but won’t be in a position to rule!
The Young Emperor’s tantrum turns into a scream of agony, and his arms and legs vanish as if reality devoured his limbs; then, the world turns quiet as if the realm decided that sound should not exist but judging by the moving mouth of the Emperor, he’s still screaming.
“The Emperor is unwell,” Klaman says, extending his Bond presence, pressuring all in warning to not resist. Every man and woman collapse to their knees, shaking in terror. “His condition has rendered him unable to lead, and another must act in his stead.”
Klaman looks at the court attendees one by one, letting the uncomfortable and eery silence settle in. No one meets his eyes; after all, Who would dare to go against a Legendary tier being?
“Right... The royal bloodline must continue, so our priority will be to find a suitable... partner, someone who is closest to the true Lunaleyan lineage. We will also need to reign in the governers, make sure they toe the line. We will make this crumbling Empire thrive again!”
Comments
Comiak
That's plan B.
Demalos
I'm curious as to why the assassin chose to keep the Emperor to breed with the "true lunaleyan heritage" instead of raising one of the many bastards for the role instead. If nothing else, it would allow him to remove the most recent stain on the Emperor's bloodline while still keeping it alive.
Franmeyers
I from down under insert Joie joke here l l l ¥ >btw arrow
Comiak
not sure what timezone you are in but a new chapter will be tomorrow. My schedule is Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
Franmeyers
Quick question is there gonna be a chapter today?
Tjark
That would indeed be funny. Although sadly the most funny part as in the world announcement is improbable since she didn't really kill him and so shouldn't get the legendary achievement. Although yes she is partly responsible for his death it shouldn't be enough for a legendary achievement.
Pawzom Lz
The funniest scenario I can think of this chapter leading to is that once Aly ends up scouting this place out and tries to get more details, allowing for the assassin to jump over, which leads to his death because he is unable to provide the necessary mana for the sheer distance. She is baffled by the fact that she suddenly gets a world announcement for a kill out of nowhere, no clue how it happened because of how fast he reacts and teleports, nor what skills and such the kill has, meaning she gets a legendary point she cant risk using. Or maybe that the guy ends up in the middle of the ocean. This leads to the question of what happens exactly when someone tries to teleport a distance they do just do not have the mana for? Do the teleport just fail, do they teleport as far as they can or does the spell start to drain health/stamina?
Olivier Pascal
Have a small and silly scene in my mind. " Aly gets fed up and bored at one point and decides to randomly check this empire, assassin thinks its a spy and teleoprts to her location with barely any mana left (long distance and all) and both try to kill each other while both suffering some kind of backlash, aly probably from one of the assassin's skills and the assassin from the distance. "Edit: and at the end of that arc Aly decides to just say I'm done and steal one of the air ships she built to go explore the continent :P
Nematrec
Yae? she's long gone, unlikely to appear in any lunaley stuff.
Sondrex76
Nice chapter! So a legendary assassin who has insta-teleport on anyone observing him, vs a girl with a legendary perception skill. Who just so happens to be of a race whose bloodline will be superior to others of her race, just at the time he seeks a broodmare for his dead friend's bloodline. Oh boy. Then again, I suspect he will respect her more than he does most others, having achieved a legendary point at such a young age, so things may get more complicated than him just trying to force her to mate with the pig. It is good that the people around her are trying to help her with her mental state, although I suspect what she really needs is a friend who is her equal, or one who is greater then her (not like the guardian, since she is so far beyond her and since they're not friends). The assassin could actually end up being that, but with a build so good at countering her, he will probably, at least at first, be a villain, and having a villain that so specifically counters her build will make for an excellent foe. Then again my understanding of other people is rather lacking, so I am probably wrong at my analysis of what she needs. While reading I found a few potential minor misspellings and such. "d Dryads Grace staff, " -> "d Dryad's Grace staff, " " can figure out the plumbing if they tried," -> " could figure out the plumbing if they tried," or " can figure out the plumbing if they try," "e done then; it’s a gre" -> "e done them; it’s a gre" "t far so much it’s cance" -> "t far away so much it’s cance" "st leave it behind like my " -> "st leave behind like my " " as seen fit to grant h" -> " has seen fit to grant h" "ope to go agains" -> "hope to go agains" Thanks for writing and have a great day!
Falxie
Good questions. I don’t think it’s that bad yet but if not addressed these questions will make things hard to follow at some point. Also TFTC. Oh and I bet the assassin wants Aly as soon as he gets to know about her. He conveniently has a class that might be able to force her into doing things she rather wouldn’t do.
DANTE
I don't get why Aly is do preoccupied with fairness for everyone, its getting anoing, the only way to achive wat she see as fair for everyone is to be the tyrant herself or to brainwash everyone in to thinking the same as her. and her spiral of insecurity is transforming in self hatred wich at this point I just skip over, I don't get her character anymore, what's her motivation? why does she do all she is doing for the village if she doesn't like what come out of it? why does she even want a trade route if she doesn't like the consequences or the methods that is required of her to conclude it? why is she obsessed with faines? why is she so upset of the attention others give her, she has a beauty bond, her beauty being recognized should feel like an accomplishment more than anything, why does she make and give staff that change the way of living in the villages if she was happy with the way things were? the only thing she seems to like is messing around with her abilities and study them, why is she constantly doing things that don't satisfy her?
Olivier Pascal
TFTC :D
Venalitor
"but it is your mental state that worries us most. You have a negative view about yourself, Alysara" - Wait, what? Damn, I never got that impression. She's been through some shit, but where'd the negative view of herself come from? What, is it about how she doesn't fit in with many others? BS. Being treated like a divine entity on a pedestal? Definitely. “That’s what I mean, Alysara; most people would be proud of that even if others could have done then(m)" But they are greatly diminished by her other achievements. There's just not as much to them and they're basically just material perks that came along with her skill leveling. "“I’ll forgive her,” I say" - Aww! So wholesome. @ Klaman - Uh oh. And what does 'closest to the true Lunaleyan lineage' mean? 'Cause it sounds very ominous. Particularly for Aly, though mayber her race changes relieve her of that. Edit: wait. . . How will he deal with Nexus environment? Pretty sure Safyr said stronger beings have a harder time adapting.
Squirtle
Tbh... anything thats not that moron of an Emperor is an upgrade. A pig is an upgrade.
Kagaros
For someone who just ranted about bloodline purity being complete bullshit, he's quite seems oddly obsessed with the "pure Lunaleyan" thing. Since atm he knows absolutely nothing about Alysara you would normally just look for a suitable replacement like a distant relative instead of trying to look for a bride
thkiw
I think it would be way more interesting if instead of going against alyserra, he finds that assassin girl.
MazalTan
Please don't go the route of savage Divinity, where the character is always in a perpetual cycle of self hate and degradation. It's not fun for everyone and at this point anytime she looks down at her own accomplishments I just skip whole passages cause they don't serve any point after the 10th time. Savage Divinity was a great novel at the start it used to be my favourite but every time the main character rain seem to improve his mental state it will be immediately digress back, this carries on all the way to chapter 500+ before nearly everyone starts to drop it. At some point a character will get conceited when LITERALLY everyone says they're special and great over and over again. No matter how they feel if they are average or had advantages no one had. I feel that this is dragging this novel down sometimes and her character growth /development is being drag out for no reason.
Giperman
Pretty sure if one of yours power is to teleport to target than you're a space mage and can teleport to set locations anyway. Since system in this book only gives you powers that you can create, I'm pretty sure he didn't bullshit his way through to get teleport ability.
Claus Jørgensen
it is him that teleports to the Nexus so if it works he will have a big problem getting back again. even if he is legendary i dont think he can run on water.
Squirtle
I think looking for someone who is closest to the original 'Lunalayen' from the Assassin's time. So basically, Alysara, minus the tails. And wouldn't you know, she just happens to show up on the island heh. Now he's gonna have to try to convince or force Aly, whom is 15 years old to have children with that, ugly fat dumbass of an "Emperor"... Thats gonna go well
Squirtle
Hmmm.. Maybe Empress is more accurate... whatever
Robert Mullins
I mean, they're the natural counter to her build.
Dont_like_to_Talk
Thanks for the chapter
Brandon Anderson
So we have the first real villain and test for Alysara, I doubt he will be able to teleport to her as the distance is huge and he is legendary not mythic. Even if he did mama dragon would be watching if Alysara cant get out of it herself. Is it a theme that Alysara seems to be attracting assassins?
Alphafenrir401
Wait are they looking for someone to give birth to heirs or to simply start a new royal bloodline?
Squirtle
Im assuming it would require him to be have a Legendary tracking skill to even compete with Aly on that front, plus he has to deal with the Guardian being pissed...
Giperman
I don't know what to say about second half of chapter. I hope he win't steal our Alysara for the emperor. Would be fucking stupid.
Reinya
And now Wild Alysara appear!
Squirtle
Another step towards Emperor Goddess Alysara!
