2334 - Wrongfully Accused
“…You deserve to be killed without a doubt!”
“No…” Zavarus finally grasped what was happening, then began to glance between Robin and Kiryān. “Do you two think I’m with the Syndicate?”
“You’re worse.” Kiryān glared into his eyes with fury.
“No!!” Zavarus’s aura calmed, and his defensive expression crumbled. “I was only carrying out the will of the one who was the source of my power,” Zavarus defended himself. “As for blood, no one has ever complained—it’s always the best. I’ve helped many powers and bloodlines rise to great standing in their societies. As for resources, I was depleting my personal wealth and never aggressed against anyone…” Then he raised his voice, “I never wanted to harm anyone!!”
“You assaulted the entire Universe and handed it over to its enemies!” Kiryān retorted forcefully.
“Don’t act!!” Zavarus waved his hand. “We only learned today that it has enemies!!” Then he looked at Robin. “The concept of weakening or strengthening the Universe never crossed my mind, nor this Kiryān’s, before today. How do you expect me to think of it and account for it?!” He raised his voice even more. “I just wanted to live!!”
“….” Kiryān wanted to say something but fell silent.
Indeed, before today, if he had heard all this about Zavarus, he would have only felt strange.
But strangeness was not an option for Zavarus, who had taken an oath upon himself. No matter how strange the Guardian's command was, he had to move forward regardless, so he restrained himself from thinking.
Would he have continued if he had known all that information about the All-seeing God and the external forces?
…They would never know that.
"…" Robin stared at Zavarus's face for a few more seconds with his glowing eyes, then turned and went back to sit on the sofa, looking toward the horizon. His posture and expressions were not as relaxed as before. "No wonder…"
Everyone listened to Robin with attention.
"…No wonder the All-seeing God has been trying to wage all those great wars since the dawn of history," Robin muttered with wide-open eyes. "At first, I thought He was a selfish being using cosmic wars as difficult tests for His candidates. Then my thinking evolved, and I assumed He did this to stir people up and push them toward gaining power and developing military technology for some reason—He is preparing for something big."
Then he continued in a weaker voice, "Just one war through me was aimed at destroying a stupid traitor and exposing a hidden enemy." Then his eyes began to widen. "Could it be that all the wars He throws His candidates into were meant to destroy one of the Universe's enemies?"
"…?!?" Zavarus began to tremble.
The orchestrated war between him and Helmor was meant to eliminate him, not just a coincidence?
A being like the All-seeing God wants him dead?!
"What do you intend to do with him?" Kiryān asked sharply.
"…" After the question, Robin turned his gaze back toward Zavarus. "He didn't know. My eye tells me this. He is a fool, with countless sins on his hands, but he didn't know… Executing him would be unjust."
"…" Zavarus looked down.
He felt no joy.
Even before Marlik the Butcher, he refused what displeased him, ready to rise and fight if necessary, for his pride as the Behemoth of beasts was dearer to him than taking orders…
But now, now that his life was being spared in such a humiliating manner, he could say nothing.
His death or his life was truly in Robin's hands… and if only it would be an honorable death if he fought!
"Zavarus." Robin raised his voice. "I made you an offer a moment ago, you and Kiryān, or earlier, and you said you had a condition, didn't you?"
"No… no conditions." Zavarus replied weakly.
Then Robin continued again, "The soul contract that Glacion will prepare for you will be even stricter. You understand that, right?"
"…" Zavarus nodded.
"Good." Robin's smile returned as he gestured to the seat beside him. "Come, sit. You'll atone for all your sins in the coming period. I'll make sure to give you that opportunity."
Then he gestured for Kiryān to sit as well, his gaze threatening him not to bring up the topic again.
Indeed, the two sat down after some hesitation.
The last to sit was Glacion. "..."
In just a few minutes, Robin had transformed from a reckless young man into an arrogant tyrant, and now into a righteous redeemer.
Then he quickly shook his head, unrolled a scroll, and began writing the details of the Oath.
"Lower your defenses, Zavarus." Robin looked into the face of the old man in the purple robe. "I will examine that oath you took upon yourself. We cannot allow you to continue destroying your own possessions while following me."
"..." Zavarus furrowed his brows and looked at Robin with a hint of awe.
"...?" Robin showed a puzzled and angry expression. "No need to worry. Do you think I'll kill you or search through your memories? Believe me, I'm not interested in either. Besides, I could do both by force if I wanted."
"Hoo~" Zavarus sighed. "The oath wasn't on my soul anyway." Then he closed his eyes. "If you find it, make sure you don't try anything you're not certain of."
"So?" Robin released his spiritual sense, enveloping Zavarus completely. His brows were furrowed, but the spirit of a researcher danced within him.
The Oath isn't spiritual?!
Meanwhile, in that silence, Glacion stood and walked toward Kiryān, showing him what he had written on the scroll, then began a side discussion on a few points.
"Strange... I found nothing?" Robin withdrew his spiritual sense.
He found no trace of any known type of oath, or even anything suspicious!
"Pray to the heavens that I don't prove you're lying, Zavarus, or the consequences will be dire tonight!" Robin raised his voice in annoyance.
"I can feel it as we speak, how could it not exist!" Zavarus replied. "Try other methods if you have any!"
"Silence." The Golden Engravings covered Robin, then began to converge into something above his head.
It was a glaring golden eye, an eye that looked at Zavarus as if he were an exposed blank page. Even he felt extreme discomfort under its gaze!
"This..." Robin murmured, "There is something indeed, something hidden in the most complex structure of every one of your cells." Then he looked into Zavarus's eyes, "That oath... did you take it on the Code of Creation itself?"
"...I don't know what that is." Zavarus shook his head. "I was told I would take an eternal covenant, so I took it."
"...." Robin turned his focus back to Zavarus's body. "Let me see just how eternal he truly is, then." He waved at Zavarus without meeting his eyes. "I want you to record for me the method of using the crystal and the blood of the young space beast that you know. Perhaps I'll find a loophole in it that can save you and your children."
"....As you wish."