Reborn As The Villain-Chapter 335: SS - 19: Hope of The Empire

Arnold was currently sitting on the old dojo's roof, staring at the dot moving on the screen. It seems Lian was separated from Ruria after dusk and Ruria was now moving independently. Also, Luxtivin arrived at the palace around the same time which is probably why Lian had to leave Ruria's side.

Well, he was the one who instructed Kairi and Liwei to tell Lian to keep an eye on his double. Hopefully nothing bad happens. Luxtivin only had 50% of his strength—most likely due to his low assimilation rate with the sword itself which had gone up to 7.9% while he wasn't looking. While he wasn't a threat Arnold would struggle against it if the system's warning holds true, there were still innocent people gathered at the palace whose lives would be in danger.

Nothing like this had ever happened in the game. Without a precedent to rely on, he had no way to predict Luxtivin's next move or know what it's thinking. If it has lingering dark thoughts taking hold, things could spiral out of control. All he could do now was trust his Soul Weapon and be ready for the worst.

At worst, he'll have to kill it but didn't know if he could get the soul weapon back. It's not because of his Aura Sword itself but the Star Shard he used to upgrade it. Will he be forced to look for another Star Shard to restore Luxtivin back to normal after he gets rid of the current one?

'System, where can I find star shards?'

A ding resounded.

-Answer: Jotungar, Núldothr and Alvaria are the realms where it is common to find pieces of dead stars. This is due to the magical force that these realms have that pull the dying stars into their atmosphere.

'Núldothr... I'd prefer to avoid that place.'

A realm of only death and suffering, where the only inhabitants are either creatures turned into undead or souls that were kicked from the River of Souls and could never reincarnate. Yokais and spirits could survive there but it's not a place for humans or even demigods since the air itself eats away at you.

However, there are some benefits to going there besides the star shards. One being many powerful relics and forbidden grimoires that you can find in the dead dungeons and relic tombs.

'If I get too desperate, I could take Elizabeth with me after I help her get her powers. She should be able to protect me from that place's harsh conditions.'

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In any case, if he needed to kill Luxtivin, he needn't worry about lacking star shards any longer once he produces a new soul weapon.

"—Lord Arnold!"

His thoughts were interrupted by a young woman's voice from below.

"—May I speak to you for a moment?"

Arnold hopped down to the balcony, "Is there something wrong with the plans?"

"No. Everything is set. All we need to do is get a good night's rest to be wide awake tomorrow." She made a small smile, "I do worry about the aftermath of it all, though..."

"Ko's wrath?"

"Yes, he may direct it at the citizens after we leave to find the personage you mentioned." She scratched the top of her hand, "You're right about punishing those that betrayed the crown, even by execution but I don't want them to be killed without being given a chance and fair trial. I've seen what Ko does to those that stand against him," looking across the vibrant city that had fireworks going off, celebrating the new Inner Martial, Kohana continued with a smaller voice.

"Ko gathered five elders of a sect once and slaughtered them in front of a crowd, proclaiming to my people that anyone starting a sect without his permission is an enemy of the palace and will be suspected of treason against the emperor. In actuality, those elders wanted to train the war orphans that were left behind so that they can become independent."

'Same as what Mian Xi wants to do.'

"I've heard of worse leaders."

"But to slaughter people he merely suspects of trying to challenge him... Ko is nothing like me or Father. I want the traitors to accept their misdeeds even before death. Otherwise, their souls will haunt the empire forever and as Empress, it will haunt me as well."

"Do you think what he's doing is just meaningless slaughter?"

"Yes! What else could it be!? Do villains even need reasons to be evil!?" Kohana shouted, his question agitating her, "No matter how much the world wrongs you, you should never resort to becoming evil incarnate!"

"We don't have to agree and speculate his reasoning since he's going to die in the next few days anyway." Arnold shrugged, "What was it you wanted to ask about? Is it related to the citizens?"

"Ah, yes..." with a blush on her face, embarrassment from her outburst, she spoke with more composure, "How long will it take to go see this person?"

"It probably won't even take an hour."

"...."

"I'm serious."

'Could it be...' Kohana looked at the ring around her index finger. Ever since she started wearing the ring, she tested it out a few times. She can move to any location instantly with just a thought. Unlike the mythos about teleportation—where one needs to have been there—this artifact, according to Arnold, only needs you to know where the place is. This means that if Kohana looked into someone's living room through their window, she could teleport there as well.

Kohana knows the capital like the back of her hand so she can travel anywhere she wants. Of course, the palace is off-limits since there are rumors of rooms shifting randomly through magical runes. She may end teleporting to a place filled with guards or worse, in the same room as an Inner Martial! Hopefully the Inner Martials are too preoccupied with the chaos to care about her.

"Could it be... this?" she held up her finger where the ring was.

"No, time dilation."

"Does that mean..."

"Yeah, I'm not from this world."

"Ah..."

"Hm, you don't look surprised at all."

"It's just... Lord Arnold gives of this otherworldly feeling so I had my doubts..."

"Do I really? My world isn't that special."

She had an expression of doubt on her face but changed the subject, "If at all possible, I would like to go see this person now... The curiosity is killing me. I've rehearsed my speech over and over and still feel unsure if I can do this. But still, I want to!" she clenched her fists.

"But I know our priority so I won't let myself get distracted by meaningless things right now. The point isn't to punish tomorrow but to inspire and give my people hope." Despite saying this so confidently, Arnold could hear a tremble in her voice.

She was also visibly shaking.

Going into that crowd would be like traversing a mountain, one filled with dragons, alone. She'll experience what Lian had to endure all these years. But unlike Lian, she actually had a prize on her head.

Kohana knew she'd either be locked in some tower forever or used as some political tool to help Ko forge a new connection. He didn't rule the world. In fact, there were other countries still waiting to be conquered. Of course, not all will fall as easily as Zhurosan and its surrounding regions, did. There were many powerful martial art clans and sects out there that can prove to be troublesome if they team up against him.

While a Divine Dao is certain to not be amongst them, several Celestial Saints will cause a huge blow to his Martial Empire. Which is why the best course of action for him to take is to marry Kohana off to some powerful sect to forge an alliance.

Will the crowd jump her the second they realize who she is, each fighting for the price on her head? Or will a sword be driven straight through her heart the moment she begins to speak?

Her heart pounding and head feeling light, Kohana fell forward but she was stopped by Arnold's hands.

"You need to go rest. All this overthinking is going to give you cold feet." Looking down at her with an indifferent expression, he said calmly.

Despite his words, she could not stop trembling. It felt like for the first time the hope everyone had in her, was slowly beginning to overwhelm her.

"I want to save my people, but I... I also want to run away..."

The admission felt like a betrayal, as if speaking it aloud made her unworthy of the role she had been given. A part of her hated herself for it—for this weakness, this hesitation—but another part of her knew it was the truth.

"It's not even about Ko anymore... It's my people's expectations... It's as if I only just realized how heavy they are, how vast. It's like a sky pressing down on me, endless and suffocating. And I'm expected to answer those expectations, to live up to them, to be something—someone—they can believe in."

Her fingers curled tightly, nails digging into her palms.

"Because I'm the... the hope of this empire."

Saying it out loud felt strange, almost laughable. Me? Hope?

"I used to see my father like that—the hope of our empire." Her voice softened, her eyes clouding with memory. "He carried it so easily, or at least, that's how it was after my mother's death. Many people say he changed but I could never tell because I was just a child. When I grew a little older, I understood why people saw him as the hope of this empire. When he spoke, people listened. When he fought, political battles or otherwise, people followed. I thought it was natural. I thought it was just who he was. That kind of strength, that unwavering presence—I admired it. I believed in it."

She swallowed hard, struggling to steady herself.

"But now I wonder... did he ever feel this way? Did he ever want to run, just like I do now? Was he ever afraid that he wouldn't be enough? Or was he just... stronger than me? Maybe my mother's death truly was the reason but is the death of someone you love so dearly really enough? But I lost her too and felt no change..."

Her breath hitched, and for a moment, she couldn't finish the thought.

"I don't know if I can be what they need."

Her shoulders trembled as she stared at the ground, feeling the weight of a thousand unseen eyes, the invisible hands grasping at her, pulling her in every direction.

"—If you're unsure then just run away." The strong hands grabbing Kohana's shoulders pulled her closer to him as he spoke, "Become my woman and you'll never have to worry about anyone coming after you ever again."

"T-That's..." she tried to back away but Arnold's hold on her was too strong. Her trembling intensified and she shut her eyes and turned her face away from him. But he held onto her chin and made her face him.

Her resistance was weak, barely even present.

Because the idea of it... The thought of letting go of everything, of stepping away from the crushing weight of her people's expectations, of the blood-soaked path ahead of her—it was tempting. So tempting.

All she'll ever need to worry about was how to fulfill her duties as a wife.

She'll never have to fear a looming tyrant over her head again because the man she devoted her life to would be the stronger force to face that tyrant.

She'll never have to struggle to get allies because the man she devotes herself to would be worth two armies alone.

To run.

To leave behind the name Kohana, the weight of her father's legacy, the eyes of those who expected her to lead.

To simply disappear.

Her heart pounded violently in her chest, her own thoughts betraying her. Sniffing his masculine scent made her crotch drool immensely, so much that her legs were drenched.

But the temptation lasted only a moment before shame crashed over her like a tidal wave.

"L-Let me go," she whispered, barely able to form the words.

Arnold's his grip loosening slightly—but not enough to let her escape.

She refused to look at him.

He studied her trembling form for a long moment before finally releasing her shoulders. Kohana staggered back a step, putting distance between them as quickly as she could.

But even now, her legs felt weak, unsteady, like the strength had been drained from them.

"You're really choosing the hard path?" Arnold crossed his arms, watching her with an unreadable expression. "You know, running away isn't always the coward's choice."

She lifted her head slightly, meeting his gaze for the first time.

"Maybe not," she admitted, her voice quiet but steady. "But it's not my choice."

"Suit yourself. I'm not desperate for another wife even if you're so cute." There was no empty praise present in his tone.

'C-Cute?' Kohana blushed.

He turned away with a scoff, but she spoke again.

"L-Lord Arnold."

He glanced back at her.

"Thank you," she said, her hands clenched tightly at her sides. "For... reminding me that I do have a choice."

Even if that choice was to betray the expectations of the citizens.

Right now, she only regretted one thing—not answering her carnal desire, the thing that now turned her lower half into a waterfall.

But if she ran away with Arnold, she would regret a thousand things.