Ethereal Paradigm: Arcadia Of Darkness 86 Verdict For Lifetime Tyranny

-John Lubbock

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"Eh? You don't want to?" Celes asked finding it somehow unprecedented that I would spell out some hesitations...

"I don't mean it to be that way... but, why? I can't see any apparent merit in it for you..." I replied as if having me around would only cause her trouble, which I think would be far from happening.

"Huh? Fortunately, I do have one...It's a given. Without incentives and beneficial motives, I won't even come up with the idea. "

"Just as how I expected it... And what might these benefits be?"

"Austere. First and foremost. I'll have a knight in shining armor."

"Oh h.e.l.l... More like a dark sacrificial mage in a smokey bleak veil."

" Well, aside from me getting my perks, you also get yours... Fair is it not?"

"Hmmm... If these perks include me sharing the same room as you at night, then I'll have to agree," I exclaimed... with rather these brazen words that only rapscallions could utter with confidence.

"I'm very surprised as to how well you can really maintain that dead facade while spouting some pervy things..." The Prima Donna calmly retaliated deeming the threats of perversion impotent, but...

"I'm not a pervert... My mind is just born lewd... That's all."

"My! Whatever you meant by that... So, I'll take that as a yes?"

"Hmmm... Okay."

"Looking forward to working with you then..." She said, extending her hand for the third time, and I accepted. Sinclair huh? I don't know why but I find it to fit. It might resemble a name of a saint, but having the 'Sin' on the emblazonment also suits my feudal overlord outward appearance ( or which I would like to call it).

"Is it just me? Or I can't seem to let go of your hand..."

" Shut up," Celes immediately, pulling her hand, said in a voice that I almost can't hear, with her flawless checks slowly blushing with the colors of j.a.pan's spring Sakura Blossoms.

"I'm just kidding... Now I'm taking the opportunity to say that... half of what I said like an uncultured rascal is false."

"Only half?"

"Well...maybe a quarter."

"Hmmm... This is actually the first time that 'I looked someone in the eye and wonder what's going on inside their head'?" She exclaimed very soberly, looking all legitimately curious.

"If you think about it that hard, you'll find yourself a.s.sembling a million-piece puzzle with a missing piece," I replied.

She then continues to brush sleeping Shiro's hair with her bare graceful hand, which was somewhat a refreshing view...

Talking about perks and merits in this allegiance, there are lots for both of us. Although some of them may be a little complicated. While almost all achievement can be shared, there's no doubt that this allegiance to form a party includes the 'Zero-Sum Game'. Although not in every context, her loss will be my gain, and her gain will be my loss. Simple... but it's not that bad to gamble a bit in this situation. Well, it is predestined to be a gamble from the get-go anyway.

"But first... We must get those locked up people." I persisted in the endeavor to let Shiro rest in a morse authentic bed and to free those who have been lured...

"Well, of course." She replied unhesitantly.

"Tarragons... lead us to your Kingdom and I will spare your king." I proclaimed, calling out the three million positioned in front who have been overly silent for quite some time now and heck, they're not even moving a muscle...

But, I don't know if it's because of fear, or that they don't want me to set foot inside there Kingdom... but, they're literally unresponsive to my request... It's also quite weird minutes ago as to how they obeyed my instructions without adieu and without even looking at their captive King. Could it be? That they somewhat want this man's reign to end, but just can't say it? Well, I'm sorry to tell them that I have had read my few shares of psychological books that would make them blurt out their intent.

"What's this, you want me to kill your King in front of you?" I exclaimed as they continued in their silence. They're in fact listening... but as if somewhat they want their King to be killed, they're not saying a word...

"King Jaiden is a tyrant as I can see.." Celes whispered in a manner that I could barely hear...

"Well ... I and Shiro got to go through that h.e.l.l hole because of them."

"You're right. I can't really argue with that." With overt understanding, says her who also got to slay a thousand cannibals in the first hour for mere experience purposes.

(,,,,)

"I did not use a hundred days of my life just to make you guys dance foolishly... you know? Or that I want to see an eclipse, nor see myself in this surreal form... Of course. It should be understood that I'll be taking something away from you, besides the negotiations that I agreed upon together with your ruthless king" I added... and then, the bombsh.e.l.l...

"Want me to take his life?" I asked the entire congregation...

There was utter silence for half a minute... but it is apparent that they're somehow holding themselves back from saying anything that they want. Some were gritting their teeth to hold out what they want to say. Some were doing the same but has let the fact be congealed by tightening their fists on their side... and then...

"Hoi! Why is everyone silent?" A fit heavyweight man broke the silence, from the array. Fully armored and with large dual axes in his back, he then lit-up a rolled tobacco only with his finger. He then sipped his first smoke gushing forth this wisps of grey smog curled while dancing their way through the thick, hazy air

"No one's gonna talk? Fine... I will." He said with heads on without a taint of fear from the ma.s.ses... and I can feel that he is very powerful, from the looks alone... but his intents are pure and I can't sense any corrupt features about him either, especially in this state which my senses for identifying such should be at its peak.

"Feudal Overlord. I am Gallahad Percival, a senior warlock in that King's army... can I step out? It's very fricking tight in here."

"Yes, you may..." Then, the remaining crowd did not even dare hinder him from going out from the whole congregation towards me.

"So what should the verdict of this man be..." I questioned, addressing the point to the sleeping King still hanged from the chains extending from the sky with an unknown force making it defy the laws of gravity.

"Ahhhh... right." He shifted his glare to the person and scratched his head while blowing off some steam from the cigarettes...

"This man... He's cruel."

Yep... I knew it.

"Death should not even be a fitting end for this man. His grandiose life would not be enough to serve as retribution for all of the sufferings that we have had endured under his leadership up until now. And I would highly doubt if G.o.d Hades would even accept this disgusting soul... Hoi. You agree with what I'm saying here right?" He said, looking back to his fellow warriors if someone would want to second to his proclamation... But there was none.

" Hmmmmm... Sorry, overlord, they're shy and somewhat scared."

"Scared? Why?"

"Ahhhh... We are brainwashed to never say a thing... convinced that this king is both omniscient and omnipresent... We were forced to undergo several therapies as they call it 'Camp of Bravery', which is, of course, just plain dubious... He says that it will increase our vigors but it all were designed to make us think that the king could hear us from miles away and that, he can read our minds... That's all. Usual autocrats..."

The usual indeed...

"And you sir, why are the therapies not working? "

"You know, it's very weird being called sir by someone's who just dethroned my top-bra.s.s... Well, anyway, I've grown tired of it... Besides... I got nothing to lose. Unlike them who have families waiting for their return."

"Hoi! Are you really planning on staying silent? Feudal Overlord here might be generous enough to save you and your families from the grips of the tyrant you know?".... He once again addressed the ma.s.ses.

And then, it was not yonder that him stirring out the crowd with a calm demeanor caused this downpour of the request of due judgment for the King even deeming this 'Camp of Bravery' therapies, worthless and nothing but a part of a childish endeavor.

"K-kill him!"

"Yeah! BEHEAD HIM!"

"N-no! We must torture him together with all of the loyal blood just like what they did to our forefathers! and to the humans, he tricked using the Anima!"

"LET US FEED HIM RAW TO THE CHIMERA'S DEN!"

One by one, they gained the confidence to speak out what's been in their mind... Truly a strange visage indeed. A people, conjoined together to overthrow their dictator... Now, How would he react to this when he wakes up, I wonder?.... Seeing that the people in his 'sovereign' dominion had come together to give him his adjudication...

"Heehh? What shall we do then, Feudal Overlord?" Celes, in my side sarcastically said, hearing me being called Feudal Overlord and all...

"Haysttt... don't even think about calling me that... Prima Donna of Germany High..."

"Why should I? Feudal Overlord... Hehehe... Great alias by the way."