Volume 5, Chapter 9 – Don’t Want To Choose Any Of Them

Between my fingers there was a gentle touch.

That kind of gentleness, so much softer than this cold world.

I opened my eyes, and what filled my vision was still the darkness that spanned the sky and blocked out all light.

Seeing all of that again, I could not help asking myself.

From when did everything I saw become endless darkness?

And from when did everything I had to face become endless despair?

Destruction.

Darkness.

Collapse.

Now, I could no longer feel even that gentleness that had once saved me.

In this riddled, torn world, the living bent their backs and clung to life like lowly wild dogs.

While the howls of the dead spread across the land.

Back then, in front of me stood that being who claimed to be the one and only supreme existence, radiating cold light as it looked down on me with eyes of contempt, as if I was just a lamb.

Helpless.

The one who had saved me was right there in front of me, yet even though they were so close, all I could do was watch, watch that person die.

“Two choices.”

That cold, emotionless voice slowly rang out.

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“Save her, and the world is destroyed.”

In those empty eyes that stirred up a nameless terror, there gleamed a lofty light like that of a god holding dominion over the lives of mortals.

“Or she dies, and the world is saved.”

“Does that even need to be chosen?”

Back then, my heart was already full of despair.

But even in despair, I still wanted to save that person, the one who had saved me, helped me, the one who was endlessly gentle.

I did not want to give up, did not want to give up, did not want to give up.

That was what I thought in my heart, yet the moment my gaze met those eyes without a trace of feeling, I would forget in an instant what it was I wanted to hold on to.

“I…”

“I…”

The moment my cracked lips parted, blood flowed along the splits and poured into my mouth.

“Do I… have any other options I can choose.”

“No.”

The cold god stated that utterly despairing fact.

“In that case.”

Looking at that person whose breath was growing weaker and weaker, I could not help shutting my eyes in pain.

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“I only care about her, I only want to save her.”

“But… she loves this world.”

“If I save her but do not save the world, she will still leave me sooner or later.”

“Yet… if I save the world but choose not to save her alone, then to me, it is meaningless.”

“Make your choice.”

The owner of that voice had no opinion on anything I said, and instead repeated the question coldly, like a preset program.

“For me… these choices are far too hard.”

“If you really force me to choose, then I…”

“Do not want to choose either of them.”

“God, I do not want to choose, but…”

“I want to make a bet with you.”

……

Time sped by quickly as Tianyin spent her days immersed in dessert.

Another day passed, and the next day would be the beginning of a grand event that only appeared once in a very long while for the Kingdom Faction, the election of the Holy King of Knights.

As the Holy King of Knights election drew near, Tianyin could feel no less than ten Legendary-tier auras within Storm City.

Of course, most of those Legendary-tier auras were Paladin auras similar to Fisiel’s.

So there was no need for Tianyin to guess about their identities.

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After all, those Legendary-tier were basically the Kingdom’s own Paladins.

Besides those Legendary-tier auras, Tianyin also sensed other Legendary-tier auras, and she roughly guessed who those belonged to.

Since this was the inheritance festival of the Holy King of Knights, the Kingdom Faction would also invite some beings from other factions to attend this event.

On the surface, they were using this festival as a chance to host the other factions and deepen relations. In truth, it was also to show the powerful strength of the Kingdom’s Legendary-tier and Throne-tier to the other major factions.

“Wuu, so tomorrow is the start of the Holy King of Knights election. Speaking of which, Fisiel, you are the one taking part, so why am I the one feeling nervous for no reason.”

Night had already fallen. After a simple meal, Tianyin and Fisiel returned to their room early to rest.

However, for some reason, Tianyin realized she just could not fall asleep.

“My lady, you probably feel that way because you are worried about your subordinate, me. Please don’t worry, my lady. This time, although there is not much chance I will inherit the Holy King of Knights’ power, that outsider Yunchou cannot possibly become Holy King of Knights either.”

Sitting on her own bed, the knight girl answered Tianyin with a very serious look.

Seeing Fisiel sitting there with such a righteous expression, Tianyin puffed out her cheeks in mild dissatisfaction.

“Fisiel, you cannot think like that. I am counting on you to become Holy King of Knights. That way, our Dawn will have two Throne-tier on our side.”

“Understood, I will definitely give it my all tomorrow.”

Looking at Tianyin, who seemed even more nervous than she was, an involuntary smile appeared on the knight girl’s face.

“Mm, as long as you understand. But speaking of which, I still don’t know how the Holy King of Knights election tomorrow actually works. Do you Paladins just duel each other to pick the strongest Paladin, and then the Holy King of Knights passes his power on to that strongest Paladin?”

“My lady, it is not like that.”

Fisiel showed a somewhat odd expression, then shook her head.

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“There is a reason the rules for choosing the Holy King of Knights say that as long as they are a Paladin, they can participate.”

“Paladins may all worship the same Holy Light and follow the same code, but in truth, every Paladin has their own belief in their heart, the belief that led them to become a Paladin.”

“Belief…”

“Yes.”

Seeing the confusion in Tianyin’s eyes, Fisiel patiently explained.

“Belief, strictly speaking, is the path one insists on following. Everyone’s thoughts are different in reality, and even though we are all Paladins, each of our ideals is different.”

“Ideals, huh. Then Fisiel, what is your ideal?”

“My ideal?”

When she spoke of her own ideal, the knight girl smiled slightly.

“My lady, you will know my ideal tomorrow, so before that, please allow me to keep it secret for now.”

“Alright…”

She was very curious about Fisiel’s ideal, but since Fisiel wanted to leave that topic for tomorrow, Tianyin cooperated very nicely and did not ask further.

“Wuu… so what you mean is, tomorrow’s Holy King of Knights election is actually a comparison between the ideals of you Paladins?”

“It is, my lady.”

Fisiel could at least answer that question.