Chapter 135 

Alexa had said she could break the Oath Seal together with Luna. Once the formation was broken, it would be Ysildus’s turn. The empire was now split in two.

“Tomorrow will be the final meeting,”

Carlisle muttered.

Present at today’s informal gathering were Terrun, Ysildus, Visten, Carlisle, and the central figures of Thersion. They had come together in advance of tomorrow’s final war council, where humans would also be brought in.

“Do you have something to say?”

“Hm.”

Carlisle, arms crossed, looked around at those watching him. The ones who had wandered countless battlefields with him over the years were here too. Some had already passed on their titles to successors.

Even with a long lifespan, wolves still faced aging and death. The glory of having once served as the imperial blade on the battlefield had long since fallen into slumber deep within their hearts. Perhaps it was time for Carlisle himself to lay down those burdens.

Fortunately, he had a worthy successor, Ysildus, who would protect Thersion in his place.

“Once this is over, I plan to step down.”

Ysildus raised his eyebrows.

“Lord Patriarch!”

“Your Excellency!!”

Voices burst out here and there like groans. A low, sorrowful growl passed between the wolves, filling the chamber.

“What made you decide such a thing?”

Ysildus sighed under his breath. Unlike the others, who voiced sorrow and loyalty, his reaction brimmed with genuine dissatisfaction. Still, Carlisle only smiled with an air of ease.

“I’d say I’ve held this post long enough. I’ve kept it for centuries while you hadn’t even been born. Your mother and I both deserve a rest.”

Ysildus let out a scoffing laugh.

“You certainly speak as if you’re on death’s doorstep.”

The room fell still. It was almost as if the air between Carlisle and Ysildus crackled with blades drawn.

“Just because one has lived long doesn’t mean one must cling to power forever. The world is vast, and there are many places I’ve yet to see.”

Carlisle bared his white fangs. Ysildus crossed his legs the other way and mirrored the gesture with a flash of his own fangs.

“Why not hold on to the seat a little longer? Shouldn’t you at least live to see your grandchild born?”

To anyone else, Ysildus might’ve sounded like the picture of filial devotion, but the other wolves stifled bitter chuckles. What he really meant was: stay in your seat until my heir is born and grown until I’ve lived out my freedom.

“Thersion’s head is still me, not you, Ysildus. I make the decisions.”

Carlisle said arrogantly and gestured with his chin. The discussion was over. Ysildus frowned. 

Belonging to a pack often meant tolerating such inconveniences. And disobeying the pack leader was not an option.

“Ahem. What matters now is not what comes after the war.”

Visten stepped in to mediate the tension between Carlisle and Ysildus.

“Alexa said she’d break the Oath Seal, and that’s what we’re basing our moves on, isn’t it?”

In short: stop wasting energy arguing when they were on the brink of marching to battle.

“Exactly. I wish Ysildus would just leave already,”

Terrun grumbled.

“Once the formation is broken, we won’t need to drag those bothersome humans along. We should strike fast and withdraw quickly.”

“Terrun. We don’t know what variables might arise.”

Violeta spoke sternly. Though grown, Terrun still lacked battle experience.

“Just as there are things only wolves can do, there are things only humans can accomplish.”

“I agree. I’ll take half of Thersion’s knights and half of the noble families’ private troops. Terrun and Jeremiah, who isn’t here, will be in charge of defense.”

Terrun nodded. Defense was just as vital as offense. For the swords and spears to charge ahead, the shield had to be solid. Terrun, Jeremiah, Carlisle, and Essellia would remain behind to guard Thersion.

“Violeta and Visten will lead the campaign. And Karrolf.”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

“You’ll go as well. No one understands both humans and wolves better than you.”

“I’ll follow your command.”

Ysildus swept his gaze across the room.

These were the ones who would accompany him through life and death. He didn’t trust humans. They could turn on you in an instant or stab you in the back.

“The Blue Moon Merchant Guild’s forces will fight alongside you.”

“So the Guild Master finally got off his heavy behind.”

Ysildus muttered icily.

“Their fate depends on the outcome of this war. They’ve chosen to stand with Thersion.”

And this time, the royal family hadn’t only kidnapped wolves for their experiments. Even the young of the elven dark-blooded race had been taken, tormented, and killed. That was why the Blue Moon Guild had fully committed to this war.

“Then this meeting is adjourned.”

Just as Ysildus moved to conclude things with a brisk tone, clang! A sharp shattering sound rang in the wolves’ sensitive ears. Woooooo! The ground trembled as if the earth itself were rupturing and the sky collapsing.

The wolves, realizing something, howled. Horses neighed and dogs barked wildly. The cries of terrified beasts echoed all around. Ysildus slowly raised a red-lipped smile.

‘Alexa.’

His gaze deepened.

* * *

Jeremiah slowly closed his eyes. Pure blood. If Alexa believed in him, then Jeremiah would believe in himself. He would trust the dark nature of Temperchi, sleeping deep beneath his human instincts.

Thersion had saved him. They’d taken him in when he had nowhere to go. Whatever their reasons, they’d offered him a hand and a place among the stars, something he had never dared dream of.

The Emperor had used him. The Empress had used him as a shield. Jeremiah, who had never truly known love, learned the warmth of home through them.

The wolves had never been affectionate with him, but they had not rejected him either. The change in his sleeping quarters was proof enough that they had accepted him into their fold. He now dwelled in his own essence. And this was Alexa’s domain.

Alexa Eneroff. A beautiful woman, like a red sun, who chased even his shadows away. Jeremiah now understood that he had fallen for her at first sight. With that radiant smile of hers, how could he not fall?

‘I won’t betray them.’

Of course he loved Alexa. Not Ysildus, but he wanted to stand beside her. He’d even considered taking his chance while Ysildus was away. But the choice was hers to make. Even if she ultimately chose Ysildus, Jeremiah would quietly step back and wish for her happiness. Because he loved her that much.

And he also loved:

[“I’ll make you Emperor, Jeremiah.”]

Ysildus had once said, smiling boldly.

[“What, still sleeping? Come eat.”]

Terrun, who visited him every day after the Queen died and he fell into despair.

[“This is your home now, isn’t it? You’re not alone, Jeremiah.”]

Essellia, who embraced him with warmth.

He loved all of them. He loved Thersion. That’s why Jeremiah could not betray them. Temperchi had discarded him, but Thersion had embraced him.

Blood trickled from his palm and soaked the ground. From the spot where he stood, blue light shot upward. The same blue light erupted from the ground beneath Alexa and Lunailliah.

“…I’m standing at the heart of history.”

Brillia’s voice murmured from somewhere. She placed her hand on the floor and channeled her magic. This was her role, to control the breaking Oath Seal and to manage the clashing powers of the three.

Lunailliah’s hot tears soared toward the sky.

“Jeremiah,” Alexa reached out her hand.

“Yes, Alexa.”

Jeremiah took it with a smile. Then Alexa reached her other hand toward Lunailliah.

“Alexa,” Lunailliah took her hand as well.

Wolves, the Red Clan, and finally, Temperchi, long-tangled grudges of the past were beginning to unravel, thread by thread. Blue light, born of their unity, spiraled upward. Alexa knew this spell, the one she had begun, would succeed. What the former Alexandria had failed to accomplish, Alexa, returned, had now done.

‘…We did it!!’

A thrill of joy ran through Alexa’s entire body. The unified blue light burst through the castle and surged across the sky, sweeping over the entire continent.

Clang!

Alexa, too, could hear the clear sound of the Oath Seal shattering. And at that very moment, something that had sealed away her memories unraveled. Every memory she had lost came flooding back.

* * *

“…So it’s come to this.”

The senior reaper glared at his junior. But what was the point of scolding now? The deed was done.

“That soul… To think it was that soul…”

“Ever seen a soul die twice? What kind of botched job is this?”

“Ahem! But we still have a chance, don’t we? If we just kill Alexa…”

“You think you can do now what you couldn’t before? The Oath Seal is broken! Gods exist in every world! The god of that world will soon return. How do you plan to break universal laws now?”

The junior reaper sniffled miserably.

“Alexa… was supposed to die…”

“Yeah, maybe! But you’re the one who breathed life back into that death! You stuffed the original soul back into Alexandria’s reincarnated body! How could she not become invincible!?”

“…I didn’t know…”

The senior reaper smacked his chest in frustration.

“Brilliant! Just brilliant! You’ve completed an entire universe!”

“…Thank you.”

Thanks to his clueless junior, the senior reaper looked about ready to explode.

……

T/N: First time I’ve seen a dumb reaper hahahaha