Chương 57: Beyond the Broken Throne

By the time Nerez and Cerys returned to the stone chamber, the throne was gone. For some reason, Erebion had destroyed it.

"As I said before, you don't have to spend your entire life in this chamber. I don't know what your previous existence was like, but now that you're part human, I imagine it's somewhat different." Nerez was speaking to the titan turned child, who had been waiting for them at the entrance to the Chasm of the Deeps.

"I don't feel any desire to go anywhere in particular," he replied, tilting his head.

"But you are right, Nerez. It would not hurt to watch over all your domains."

"That's not what I meant… but well, you can save those excursions for when you get bored."

"Bored?"

"Of course. If you've managed to live here for thousands of years, I imagine that's a foreign concept to you."

"No..." Erebion answered, lowering his head in thought.

"I think I understand."

"I see… well, if you get bored, feel free to take the occasional walk. In any case, I imagine you can sense enemies from a distance." Erebion nodded.

"And I also plan to build gigantic gates here that no one can open!" Nerez exclaimed, hands on his hips as he looked toward the entrance to the chasm.

"And another at the entrance to the underworld! And the first one in the surface cavern that led to the underworld! Three barriers to protect my peace and tranquility!"

"There are many caverns that connect to the underworld," Erebion pointed out.

"Looks like you can remember some things better now… Now that you mention it, you're right. Before reaching the underworld, there was an enormous network of caverns… It doesn't matter! Two gigantic gates will still do! It's a plan I've been thinking about for a while!"

"I see… the visiare are excellent barrier masters after all," Cerys observed, clasping her hands together.

"Now that I've seen the completed barrier around the settlement, even I would have a hard time breaking it. No wonder they took so long."

"..."

"What?"

"Are you really Cerys? Not only did you think of that on your own, but you're also praising mortals…"

"Who do you take me for?! Even I can appreciate good work!"

"Ah… you said 'even I'. So you do have some self-awareness." Chomp.

"Well, I really deserved that one… And yes! Ever since I saw the visiare entry in the Godscript, I knew they would be ideal for this job!"

"Right. A perfect task for mortals: dying while building the wonders of the underworld! Though there are a few useful mortals we should exclude from that labor." Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

"The construction will comply with all necessary regulations. I don't plan on anyone dying... You're still you, but, well... Seeing that there are mortals you'd save, I suppose that's some kind of improvement. I bet your cousin is among them."

"I don't have mortal cousins! I have some spirit relatives, but that's not the same… And yes, I must admit Ily has quite a lot of promise. Not just her, either. Sae and Osvel stand out among mortals too, though Drazira and Thaelor most of all."

"Yes, it's true Thaelor took down a large part of the orc army on his own. And Drazira still hasn't even come close to the limit of her abilities…" Nerez looked at a holographic screen beside him. [Proficiency UP!] [Soulwarden] [Proficiency E -> D] This notice is from a little while back, specifically from the battle against Erebion. To think the skill went up in proficiency just because Cerys didn't die… Titans really shouldn't be underestimated.

"What is it?" she asked, feeling watched.

"Nothing important. I was just thinking there might be another 'reaper' in the near future."

"What?!" Cerys cried.

"There are promising ones, but not to that extent! I'm more than enough!"

"Hahaha, say that once you can beat titans on your own."

"Erebion! The rematch!" The titan stared at her for a few seconds before looking at Nerez, who shook his head.

"Now isn't the time for rematches. Besides, I already told you not to use your skills in places this enclosed, at least not when I'm nearby."

"Tch..." From what I could see, Soulwarden's new proficiency came with something interesting. Maybe, someday, defeating titans won't be such an impossible dream for her. Though I won't tell her yet, or she'll never stop asking for rematches.

"Erebion, do you know what awaits us in the Chasm of the Deeps? Can you remember anything about it?" The titan shook his head.

"It's not that I don't remember. I've never gone in."

"Never?!" Cerys asked.

"You're not lying to us, are you?!"

"I have no reason to lie to Nerez," he replied in his own defense.

"As for you… I don't even have to answer your questions. You are not stronger than I am." Didn't he just answer one of her questions?

"That remains to be seen! Rem…! Just you wait!"

"But Erebion," Nerez asked, crossing his arms.

"Does that mean if someone else defeated you, you would then do everything that person asked you to do?"

"See?!" Cerys exclaimed, pointing at Erebion.

"Titans can't be trusted!"

"That won't be the case for two reasons," the titan replied, ignoring Cerys.

"First, back then, I did not answer to anyone, but to… something greater… but that connection was lost… In fact, it had already begun to weaken even before my defeat. It became… it became much more obvious… when you appeared before me… That is why you were… you were the enemy…"

"Relax. If immortals have anything to spare, it's time, so you don't have to force yourself to remember everything right now," Nerez told him, placing a hand on his new servant's shoulder.

"Remembering that much in such a short time is already great progress." Erebion nodded and went on.

"But now I follow your orders, Nerez. As long as you exist, that connection will not be lost."

"And the second reason?!" Cerys exclaimed, hands on her hips and a triumphant smile on her face.

"If you answer, that means you're answering me too!"

"..." It may have been his imagination, but Nerez could have sworn he saw a look of annoyance flash across that child's face for the briefest instant. Even so, Erebion continued his explanation.

"The second is simpler. I fight to the death. To defeat me, they would have to take my life, and any attempt to make me submit afterward would first require returning it to me. In this world, only you can do something like that. That much is clear to me now."

"... That's all very well, but don't fight to the death. If you feel you're going to be defeated, you can retreat..."

"Understood, Nerez. If that is your order. But you have to tell me when to retreat."

"But what if I'm not there?"

"I fight to the death." So he does have his disobedient side after all…

"That's enough. We'll discuss that in detail later… Right now, we're here to explore the chasm. Erebion, don't you want to come with us?" The titan shook his head.

"I will stay here and guard the entrance."

"All right, if you feel more comfortable that way. Cerys?"

"Me first!"

"I think I've heard something like that before…"