2236 - Logic
"…." Caesar's eyes filled with tears, but he quickly looked down and forced them to evaporate.
It wasn't gratitude…
It was humiliation and self-loathing.
If death wanted to take you, it would have to get past me first.
He had promised his adoptive father those words hundreds of years ago, but the verse had turned swiftly.
Yes…
If he appeared beside his father in any battlefield, he would be a burden that needed saving.
"You…" Althera stared into Robin's eyes. "Did you just admit that you let Asr be killed?" Then she took a step back. "I thought you would swear you were injured… that you would make excuses… but you… you…?!"
"There's no need for me to say I was injured and on the verge of death—anyone with eyes can see that, and you can see it too." Then Robin tilted his head slightly. "But you don't care about my injury. You're angry because I didn't kill myself for your deputy, even though you didn't do the same… You ran away when you sensed danger."
"I didn't know this would happen!" Althera replied quickly. "It was an instantaneous reaction due to the difference in power!"
“Oh, and if you had known she would kill Asr, would you have stopped her?” Robin smiled. “Why didn’t you attack her when you saw her grabbing his head, then? Even after she disappeared, you didn’t dare make any display or shout loudly, lest she return.”
“I—I…” Althera lost her voice.
“You are a selfish woman who wants someone to blame.” Robin raised his head again with harsh expressions. “But you came to the wrong person at the wrong time.” Then he continued angrily: “Yes, I would have tried to save him if he were my son, or my deputy. At least I would risk myself for those close to me, but you didn’t do the same, so by what right do you judge me?”
Thud.
Althera fell to her knees.
Her eyes trembled.
It repeats…
Her childhood incidents repeat…
Again, she couldn’t protect those close to her.
Again, they died before her eyes, helpless and powerless.
It repeats.
She had become a Monarch over a major Fundamental Law, and it still repeats!!
“…” Robin stared at Althera for a few seconds, then turned back toward the battlefield. “Sorry I didn’t play the role of a scapegoat well enough. Deal with your failure in your own way… as I deal with mine.”
Then he continued after a brief pause:
"When you wake up from your state, go and continue your fight, or resign from your position and leave silently. I will not beg anyone to stay by my side."
Silence struck the place like a thunderbolt.
Robin's children showed no change.
They were accustomed to this tone from their father.
They had heard it so many times that they had memorized it.
As for Holak and the Leaders of the five guard squads, they displayed wide smiles, satisfied and proud.
This was the person they served.
Only serving such a formidable person would lead them to glory!
As for Robin's grandchildren, they swallowed hard…
They had heard much about their grandfather's temperament and arrogant style, the person who cursed the state of the two realms when he was still just a saint on a young planet…
But this was the first time they saw it with their own eyes.
This was an entirely different level.
"Father, what are you saying? That's too harsh!" Zara placed a hand on her hip and furrowed her brows at Robin.
Then she stepped forward to Althera's side and crouched down to sit beside her, whispering to her:
"Father is angry about what happened and also grieving the loss of Uncle Asr. Don't forget, he just woke up, meaning he sees everything that happened now before his eyes as if it occurred just minutes ago, so his emotions are intense. Don't be upset with him, okay?"
"…."
Robin ignored the blame and dismissed the consolation, continuing to watch the battle with a sour mood.
Of course, he understood Althera.
He understood her better than she understood herself.
If he had told her he was saddened by the boy's loss, that there was nothing he could have done, and perhaps shed a few tears while vowing revenge for him, she would have wept with him and the matter would have ended with them as the closest of friends.
But to hell with that.
Why should he indulge this madness?
He owed no one an explanation.
And he owed no one in this universe anything at all.
This shock was good for Althera, anyway.
He had seen her just moments ago fighting the space beasts with burning vengeance.
It was clear she blamed them for Asr's death, for her own weakness and flight that day, and was trying to make up for it with anything.
So she certainly wouldn't leave…
Her reaction to his words would be one of two things.
First, she would avoid him, return to the fight, and continue her vengeful path of gaining power in silence, coordinating with Blokan and the rest.
Or she would follow the path of logic and try to get close to him, to be within the circle he protected in a life-or-death moment.
In either case, she would abandon the idea that he owed her or the universe anything, and instead realize that he did what he did out of generosity.
She would abandon the idea that she was a partner in any way, and instead become merely a follower…
In either case, Althera would submit.
Robin's lips trembled slightly.
He did not like taking this path...
But there was no longer any time.
There was no longer time to think about feelings, make calculations, or consider potential losses!
"Ten thousand years..." Robin muttered audibly.
"Did you say something, Father?" Theo asked quietly.
"Hmm?" Robin turned to his side, then slowly shook his head. "...No."
Whoosh
In the next moment, an unusual development began near the Gate.
The beasts there stopped entering, and all the beasts near it were cut down.
Then two small figures appeared...
Morgana and Blokan, along with the Spirit Master who had summoned them.
"Your Majesty!!!"
Morgana flew in a straight line toward Robin with excited eyes and a wide smile.
"Wait, wait, wait!!"
Caesar, Peon, Theo, and Holak stood in front of Robin, waving for her to slow down.
"I know, move aside!" Morgana stopped with a frown.
Then she pushed them aside and went to Robin's side, gently holding his left arm and giving him a kiss on the cheek.
"I've missed you!"
"..." Robin smiled in response to the kiss, but said nothing.
Nor did he turn away.
His eyes were fixed on Blokan.
There, Blokan was still standing by The Gate, staring at him silently, lost in thought.
And Robin was completely focused on him as well.
Blokan was the most powerful person he knew.
He didn't know who would win in a fight between him and Hedrick.
An honorable man who had dedicated his life to serving the universe.
If he could convince him to stay, it would be a great help.
*Whoosh*
Blokan rose and moved toward the mountain quickly.
Robin began to mentally prepare himself.
He would likely have a long conversation with him.
There was no past between them.
No history.
No one close to him had died at the hands of The Executioner.
And there was nothing to convince him to stay except duty, and perhaps some side benefits.
He would have to offer temptations of money and resources.
A lot of them!
*Thump*
Blokan landed not far from Althera.
He stared directly into Robin's eyes.
Then his eyes lowered slightly to examine his frail body and pitiful state.
Then he sighed in relief.
"Hoooh~"
Then he got down on his hands and knees.
"Congratulations to the universe on your safety, Lord Robin."