Aston Nietzsche crossed the channel, making his way toward Axenburg.
Wearing a heavy mantle that masked his figure, he moved quietly through the hidden routes such as narrow back alleys, secret passageways, and discreet canoe routes that only those familiar with the underworld would dare to use.
Around his neck hung a necklace specifically designed to suppress the immense aura that naturally leaked from his body.
Unlike most experienced knights or mages who had developed the internal discipline to restrain their energy, Aston couldn’t fully control because his power was simply too overwhelming to contain entirely.
That being said, Aston avoided main roads and open ports, using his trusted contacts to secure a smooth trip.
To those in the know, his face was unforgettable.
After all, he was the man hailed as the strongest.
And to those unaware, he simply looked like someone one wouldn’t dare cross, even without knowing why.
“I’m seriously surprised how clear the waters in Aetherion still are,” Aston remarked.
The canoe driver, still unaware of the identity of the man seated before him, gave a casual laugh as he continued rowing.
“Right? You’d think with all the trouble going on lately, it’d be murky as hell. But nah, still clean as ever. Guess some things haven’t changed.”
Aston gave a faint nod but said nothing more. The driver took it as a cue to keep talking.
“You from around here?” he asked, glancing over his shoulder. “Or just passing through?”
“Passing through.”
“Ah, figured. Locals don’t usually take the channel routes unless they’ve got something to avoid.”
“Mhm.”
He was paying the man, after all, and the canoe driver had been personally recommended by one of the cardinals stationed in Aetherion who Aston had connections with.
The rest of the ride passed in a surprisingly pleasant atmosphere, with Aston and the driver exchanging occasional small talk as the canoe glided through the channels.
When they finally reached the docking point, Aston stepped off and handed over the payment.
“Keep the change.”
“Ah, thank you!”
After disembarking, Aston made his way into the city, keeping his hood low. Navigating a few quiet streets, he stopped at a small tavern to get a light-meal before continuing his journey.
As expected, real news flowed more freely in places far from the ears of nobles and the control of the Parliament.
While the official reports were often scrubbed clean or masked in the name of bureaucracy, the underworld never spared the ugly details. Talks of disappearances, cover-ups, and unsolved murders found their way into every corner of the tavern.
Aston sat at a table near the corner, listening quietly.
Snippets of conversation floated around him as names of missing nobles, rumors of corruption within Aetherion’s Crusade orders reached his ears.
None of it surprised him.
After finishing his meal, Aston left the tavern and made his way toward the local monastery.
As he stepped inside, a clergyman near the doorway took notice, offering a polite nod, assuming Aston was there for prayer or confession.
But the moment Aston dipped his head slightly, the gold cross around his neck slipped into view.
The clergyman’s eyes widened in recognition.
“Oh, my. Cardinal… What brings you here?”
Aston pulled back his hood, revealing his face. The clergyman didn’t seem to recognize him, but the gold cross symbolized cardinal status.
“I’m on a journey,” Aston said calmly. “I’ve come seeking information, specifically, about hidden passages leading to Axenburg.”
“Is that so?”
Aston nodded once.
After being directed by the clergyman, Aston continued on his journey.
But as he turned into a narrow alleyway, the atmosphere was different.
The air was thick with an overwhelming force that shouldn’t have been possible here.
’Izza.’
——Yeah, shit. Their mana is no joke.
Whoever was following them was exuding an absurd amount of mana. What made it more concerning was how well they were concealing it. Aston had only sensed it because of his unique trait.
Otherwise, even he might’ve missed it.
Even Izza, the soul of a former Sword Saint dwelling within Aston, was shaken.
That alone said enough.
’How should we deal with this?’
——For now, let’s see what they’ll do. I’ll watch your back, don’t worry.
’Alright.’
Aston kept walking, making no effort to reveal that he had noticed the presence.
The alley narrowed further ahead with high stone walls on both sides.
Rustle—
He stopped.
Behind him, the presence grew more distinct. They weren’t bothering to hide anymore.
Aston turned his head slightly.
“Son of a bitch. If you’re a virgin, don’t come any closer. You’ll get fucked if you step near me.”
It had to be said.
Ironically, despite being raised among clergymen, Aston was far more likely to be mistaken for the devil himself.
“If you’re a guy, you’ll get fucked too. I don’t discriminate.”
There was a pause.
It seemed to be working.
“There’s two of us here,” he added casually. “If we take turns, we can keep going forever.”
Truly, for someone who wore the gold cross of a cardinal, Aston Nietzsche had a tongue as vile as sin.
It was then.
——Crazy bastaaard!
A woman’s voice rang out, followed by a surge of high-density magic tearing through the air toward him.
Aston reacted instantly, drawing his blade and cutting through the incoming spell. But as expected, it wasn’t by any means weak at all.
So much so that the sheer force of the magic pushed him back as small burns began to form across his arms and shoulders from the residual heat.
When the magic finally dispersed, the alleyway had been completely leveled.
“….”
“….”
And at the center of the destruction stood a woman in a pointed hat, her face flushed bright red with her staff raised and trembling.
“….Ah?”
The woman blinked. “Eh?”
A beat of silence passed between them.
“…Archmage?”
“…Sword Saint?”
It was none other than the Archmage herself, Soliette.
* * *
“So you’re telling me you came all the way to Aetherion just to head to Axenburg?”
Aston nodded. “Mhm.”
Soliette felt a wave of discomfort just being near him. Of all people, he had to be the one she ran into. The two were often compared in debates over who was the strongest in the world.
However, at the moment, Aston seemed to be the winner.
“Now, what about you, Archmage?”
She narrowed her eyes at his question, keeping her distance. Soliette had spent her entire life guarding her chastity, and there was no way she’d let someone like him anywhere near her.
Even as they spoke, she stood several meters away, half expecting Aston to suddenly pounce on her.
Honestly, what kind of lunatic says something like that to someone following them?
No, maybe she was at fault for following him in the first place.
But still, who in their right mind would say that?
She wasn’t sure what kind of person Aston Nietzsche was anymore.
Regardless, Soliette finally opened her mouth and explained the situation.
She had followed Aston after sensing his overwhelming presence. As it turned out, she was in Aetherion on a personal favor from her friend, Elsa Hesse to track the movements of Cardinal Ester Bartholomew, who was suspected of corruption.
Apparently, one of the churches in this city was one of the locations the cardinal frequently visited. So when Soliette noticed a suspicious hooded man leaving the church with a priest, she followed him.
After listening to her explanation, Aston placed a hand on his chin, contemplating.
“Corruption within the church, huh? Of course it’s a church in Aetherion. So, wouldn’t that make it Aetherion’s problem?”
“Huh? No?” Soliette frowned. “All churches of Lumine fall under the Theocracy’s jurisdiction, no matter where they’re located. This is clearly the church’s responsibility.”
“You have a point,” Aston admitted. “But seriously? A cardinal suspected of working with Araxys? That sounds insane.”
“It is what it is. I’m not too sure of the details myself, but if what Elsa said is true, this cardinal is responsible for the attacks on the University Towers and the kidnapping of several professors.”
“Wow.”
“….This also concerns you, you know?”
“Not really?” Aston replied with a shrug. “I’m a servant of the Saintess, not the church.”
Soliette gave him a deadpan look. “You wear a cardinal’s cross.”
“That’s just for convenience,” he said casually. “You’d be surprised how many doors it opens.”
“….What kind of cardinal are you?”
“I’m indebted to the Pope, but that’s about the extent of my allegiance. Religion’s just propaganda anyway, right, Izza?”
“Ah, Cardinal Izza. May I speak with him?”
“Sure.”
Aston closed his eyes. A moment passed. When he opened them again, his irises had changed to a bright, glowing orange.
“Wow, is that really you, Archmage Soliette? Shit, when did you get so hot?”
“….”
“No, seriously, how long has it even been?”
“….You two really are alike.”
“More like the kid took after me.”
“….”
Thinking about it, the parallel was hard to ignore. Izza was more or less Aston’s mentor. And during his time, Izza had been the strongest.
“….I’m glad Vanitas didn’t end up like this.”
Therefore, she couldn’t ignore the parallel of a student and their mentor.
“Vanitas? Vanitas Astrea?” Izza raised a brow.
“You know him…?”
“Yeah, we’re actually heading to Axenburg to meet him.”
“Huh…?”
For some reason, a chill ran down Soliette’s spine, thinking they shouldn’t meet at all.
* * *
After exchanging information, the two decided to travel together.
There were, of course, a few hiccups along the way. Most notably, Soliette’s refusal to share the same inn.
Not just the room itself, but the entire building. No, even that was an understatement. Literally, the entire street.
She made a point to stay several blocks away from wherever Aston chose to rest, as if proximity itself was a threat.
Still, despite the friction, they made it to Axenburg.
And the sight that greeted them was chilling.
A heavily fortified rural village, surrounded by knights as if the entire plain had become a battlefield.
Soliette turned to Aston. “Tell me what the Saintess said again.”
“Vanitas Astrea is going to die.”
“….”
Soliette swallowed hard.
If she hadn’t heard those words, she never would have come. But the moment she did, fear took hold. Aston wasn’t the type to lie about something like this.
Soliette knew all too well that he took only one thing seriously.
Any matter regarding the Saintess. Now that she thought about it, was the Saintess even remotely aware of her closest subordinate’s true nature?
Well, it was none of her business.
“I’m not responsible for Vanitas Astrea,” Aston said bluntly. “But the Origin matter takes priority for me. His situation… I’ll leave that to you.”
Soliette gave a small nod. He wasn’t joking anymore.
The two approached the village, but before they could get far, a group of patrolling knights stepped onto the trail, halting their advance.
“Please turn back. Axenburg is closed to visitors for the time being.”
Soliette opened her mouth to speak, but Aston cut in first.
“I’m the Sword Saint.”
“…Yes, sir?” the knight replied, clearly confused. “Sword Saint? Are you serious? Please, don’t joke. Reinforcements from the Empire are already on the way.”
Soliette let out a sigh and pulled back her hood. “We’re here to see Vanitas Astrea.”
This time, the knight’s demeanor changed completely. Unlike Aston, whose face was unfamiliar since he was mostly in the Theocracy, Soliette was well-known throughout Aetherion.
After all, she was a national figure. The Archmage.
“A-ah, yes, ma’am! B-but… Lord Astrea isn’t here right now.”
“….”
Soliette’s eyes widened in alarm. Aston glanced at her briefly, then turned his gaze back to the knight.
“Where is he?”
“I’m not sure of the exact details,” the knight nervously, “but… you should speak to Lord Ainsley or Lady Violette. They’ll know more.”
“Take us to them,” Soliette said quickly.
* * *
Through countless loops, Vanitas had come to understand just how predetermined fate truly was. No matter where he started, turning things around seemed impossible.
So what was the best course of action? How could he guarantee his survival while continuing to search for Margaret?
That’s what he had focused on after pulling himself out of the pit. Finding Margaret.
And the most rational decision had been to abandon everything and run.
In simpler terms, after clawing his way out of depression, Vanitas Astrea had lived like a fugitive.
Up until the point of death, he had lived a miserable existence, looping endlessly as he desperately tried to escape tragedy at every turn.
But there was always one place he returned to.
A small cabin in Axenburg.
More specifically, a small cabin he always built in Axenburg just outside the village, hidden away in a remote part of the land.
The challenge was never finding Margaret, actually. But finding her at the right time.
Because in every loop, by the time he was close, by the time he found her, Margaret was already dead.
And every time that happened, Vanitas took his own life.
Whenever he failed to find her, it was his death flags that caught up to him.
“You must be tired.”
Margaret, seated at the table with a cup of hot chocolate in her hands, didn’t even look at him as she replied softly.
“….Yeah. I am.”
Vanitas nodded quietly, saying nothing more.
“Take as much time as you need to rest.”
“There’s no need. Tell me, how do we escape this place?”
Vanitas turned to her. “It’s all up to you.”
“Yes?”
“Your power. Your stigmata. You’re the one who brought yourself into this place.”
“….”
Margaret’s mouth parted slightly in disbelief. His careful wording, the consideration, how he never once mentioned himself…
If what he said was true, then Vanitas had followed her here willingly just to save her.
Seeing him again after what felt like two, maybe even three years trapped in this place… it hit her.
She had almost forgotten how long it had been.
“….The villagers. Are they safe?” she asked.
“I don’t know.”
An ambiguous answer. Did that mean he’d been trapped here just as long as she had?
“Time flows differently here,” Vanitas said. “It’s only been three hours since I entered this space.”
She breathed a sigh of relief.
If he had been trapped for years like her, the guilt might have crushed what remained of her already fragile heart.
“Vanitas… I’ve been here for so long…”
Her voice trembled. Vanitas remained silent, listening as she spoke.
“For so long, I watched my parents die. Over and over. I kept losing everything.”
Her hands clenched into fists.
“For so long, I repeated death after death. I’m afraid….”
She looked at him, her eyes bordering madness.
“But Vanitas… if somehow, I manage to succeed, I can change everything. In here, I have control. In here… I can save my parents. Even if I have to die a million times…”
“What are you trying to say?”
“I… I don’t want to go home. I’m sorry. I’m sorry you had to follow me all the way here. I’ll help you leave this place. I’ll make sure you can go back.”
“….”
He couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
“Why?”
“This is… my paradise.”
Vanitas turned his gaze toward the open window. He wasn’t sure how long he had been in this place anymore.
“Margaret.”
But one thing was certain.
“This isn’t paradise.”
His cancer had progressed far worse than it had been before he came here.
“This is hell.”