Chapter 2235

2235 - Frankly

Puff

Althera landed heavily on the edge of the cliff, just a few steps away from Robin.

She wore snow-white clothes stained with splotches of black blood, gripping the hilt of her short sword, which dripped blood onto the ground—blood that clung to the rocks like tar, bubbling and seething, eating into the mountain stone like lava.

After landing, Althera lifted her head slightly until her eyes met Robin's.

"You've regained your consciousness. That's good."

"Thank you." Robin showed a small smile. "You seem to be in good shape too—your face looks brighter today!"

"..?" Althera was puzzled. Brighter? Her face had never been more frowning and grim than it was now!

Then Robin ignored her and slowly turned to his side.

"I need an official from the Grave Empire to be present with us today."

"Yes." Holak nodded, then gestured toward Malik, who bowed in turn and disappeared.

As for Robin, he soon returned to silently watching the battles.

Since leaving his dwelling until now, a large number of Space Beasts had been killed, and three novice imperial guards had also died.

Yet, the battlefield had not changed much.

A massive number of Nascent Beasts crossed through The Gate, and along with them, several attacks from Young Beasts and Adult Beasts entered, reaping heavy casualties...

Almost, the battlefield had indeed returned to square one.

This was what had been happening for the past three months!

"Hey!"

Althera's voice cut through the air, drawing Robin's attention.

"Hmm?" Robin raised his eyebrows slightly.

"...What do you plan to do about Asr's family?" Althera spoke with great restraint. "No one knows he has died yet... The Silent Farewell was not triggered in the universe after his death."

"..." Robin nodded. "I expected something like this, since the laws that cause the Silent Farewell do not exist in the Void Sea." Then he smiled at Althera. "But which family are you talking about? As far as I know, Asr has neither a wife nor children."

"His family in the Time Galaxy, of course!!" Althera raised her voice slightly. "They must know what happened, they must honor him and grieve for him!"

"If they cared about him, he wouldn't have been forced to join the Stellar Academy." Robin shook his head. "Even if they found out he died at the hands of a space beast, they would do nothing but nod and say it's a pity, then continue their day as usual. That is, if anyone even remembers him to feel sorry in the first place!"

"What does this mean?" Althera took a step forward. "Asr threw his life away for nothing? Everyone betrayed him and left him to die, but no one will mourn him? Is this justice?!"

"And who is this 'everyone' who betrayed him? ...Althera, do you have something to say to me?"

Robin showed a small smile, a meaningful one.

"Of course, you don't mean yourself, who fled the moment the Executioner looked at you. Nor do you mean Blokan, who used every defensive skill he ever knew and curled into a shell. Nor do you mean Morgana, who was ignorant of what was happening from the start. And certainly not the weak royal Spirit Masters. We can also exclude my spirit creature Arkalon, since he relied on the arrays and wouldn't have been able to do anything against a creature like that anyway."

Then he pointed to himself.

"Only I remain."

Althera raised her head slightly and lowered her voice.

"...You said it, not me."

"Have you lost your mind, woman?!" Caesar raised his voice. "That man standing before you is a hero the likes of which has never appeared! He fought the Space Beast Ancestor alone and forced it to leave, and in the end, he became a traitor? A traitor to whom? All the nobles and non-traitors in the universe are alive because of him!"

"What did you say?!" Althera's aura erupted in fury.

"Shh!" Robin slowly raised his hand in front of Caesar. "She is older than you, Caesar, and higher than you in rank and power. Do not speak to her in that manner."

"...." Caesar glared at Althera with anger, then looked away and addressed his father. "I apologize for the interference."

"Hmph!" Althera let out a harsh breath. "You should teach your children better manners, Robin."

"Robin without titles?" Robin raised one eyebrow. "It seems you have truly lost your mind. Caesar did nothing wrong."

"You!!!"

Althera was enraged, pointing her finger at Robin, but she could not say a word.

"...."

"Althera... you are heading down a path from which it is difficult to return." Robin sighed. "How can you look at me like that when you were there? You saw what happened from beginning to end, and you are aware of the state I was in at that moment."

Then he slowly raised his hands.

"Look at me now, three months after that moment."

Then he let his hands slap against his thighs with force.

"How can you look at me like this and say that I betrayed him? That word is heavy, Althera, and it is not said to me."

"Stop the act." Althera waved her hand forcefully. "Blokan, Morgana, and I are too weak to do anything against the Executioner, but you have proven that you can withstand it."

Then she pointed toward Caesar while still looking at Robin.

"If that foul-mouthed one were in Asr's place, would you have left him to his fate as well?"

Then she raised her voice.

"Look me in the eye and say you wouldn't have risked your life to save him!!"

"Tch."

Caesar spat beside him in anger, then turned to his father.

"Allow me to respond to her!"

"No need."

Robin smiled.

A weary smile, tinged with sorrow and regret.

Althera had struck a sensitive nerve.

She had asked the very question that had been haunting him moments ago...

He had thought she would be angry because he opened The Gate, or because he didn't order a quick escape.

That would have made the reply easy.

He would have convinced her easily, without hurting her feelings.

But this particular question...

She had asked what would harm her herself.

She could deal with the answer as she saw fit.

Robin raised his head slightly.

"You're right. If Caesar were in Asr's place, I would have risked my life to kill The Executioner before she reached him. What's wrong with that?"

"..."