Chapter 2055: Champions.

“Princess who rose from Chains,

You will fall again.”

Vehrian spoke in a calm, almost unsettling voice.

‘Oh?’

Nux, who saw what happened, raised his eyebrow, his interest finally piqued.

‘Verani, huh…’

He muttered to himself.

When he first heard about the race, he didn’t particularly care. It was a fallen race and honestly, there were thousands of races just like them.

After coming this far, Nux had become indifferent to such things. Now, however, his thoughts were different.

‘I need to get one of them for myself.’

He decided, his eyes shining with a flicker as he planned to find them. Of course, for now, he focused on the ongoing conversation. He was interested to see how Sharnoth would react to this.

‘Would she finally notice?’

He wondered in his head.

At Vehrian’s words, Sharnoth’s face turned grim. She wasn’t angry. By now, she had strong control over her emotions. She could sense that Vehrian wasn’t trying to threaten or warn her; he simply stated what he felt.

“Why do you say that…?”

Sharnoth questioned. Vehrian, however, shook his head.

“I apologize, Lady Sharnoth. I have no reasoning behind my words. It was just my intuit—”

“Intuition is not an omniscient magic… it stems from something.”

Before Vehrian could complete his words, Sharnoth interrupted.

“Intuition is the result of accumulated experience and subconscious pattern recognition. It emerges from familiarity—whether conscious or not.

If the mind has no prior exposure to a pattern, situation, or principle, it cannot intuitively respond to it.

If your intuition says that I am bound to fall, there must be a sort of conscious or unconscious reasoning to it. Explain that reasoning to me.”

She ordered, making Vehrian smile wryly.

“Lady Sharnoth, please forgive me. Even if you are correct, it will be difficult for me to put this into wo—”

“Do this one thing for me and I will spare your life for daring to reject me.”

Sharnoth ordered arrogantly.

Yes, it was ruthless, unreasonable even, but she had no other choice. The doubt that she was sensing—she wanted to ease it.

Anything that came between her and her goal, she had to destroy it, no matter what it took.

Vehrian stared at the woman in front of him in silence. Once again, his intuition told him that giving in was the only choice he had, and he believed it.

He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to collect his thoughts. Sharnoth waited patiently, giving him the time he needed.

Yes, she had now learned to make good use of people around her—follower or not.

“…You are what I would like to call a Champion.”

Vehrian began.

“Champion?”

Sharnoth tilted her head with a slight frown, and Vehrian nodded.

“Your story about how you rose from chains against all odds, your absurd strength incomparable to others around you, and all the different artifacts and relics that you possess—

It is almost as if you are favored by a greater being, a being that people like me cannot fathom.”

“…”

Sharnoth stayed silent. She didn’t show any reaction to those words. Inwardly, however, she was indeed a little surprised. Vehrian, however, was just beginning.

“This isn’t the first time I have heard a story about a Champion.”

“What…?”

Sharnoth narrowed her eyes.

“Throughout the history of our Universe, there have been many Champions. There was one in our race, and even the people who follow you—many of them had Champions leading their people as well.

Of course, not all Champions had the same story or benefits, but the Champions did exist and…”

Vehrian paused, not sure how to say it.

“And…?”

Sharnoth pressured, and after a while, Vehrian just said what was in his mind,

“…and while these Champions lived a heroic life, many of them met the same fate.”

Sharnoth stared at Vehrian, waiting for him to continue.

“Death.”

The Queen of those who Lost narrowed her eyes, and Vehrian explained further,

“Most of the Champions fell. There could be several reasons for their fall—too many enemies, or perhaps they fell to fate itself.

But the fact that the Champions fell remained.

And after the Champions’ fall, the people who followed them and were overly reliant on them—they fell as well.

I have already experienced this fall when our Champion fell. I have no intention of going through the same experience again.”

The Verani explained his thoughts the best way he could.

“…”

Sharnoth stayed silent, thinking about Vehrian’s words. Her thoughts even went to the direction Nux was waiting for them to go into. Soon, however, she suppressed those thoughts and,

“Alright.”

She nodded.

“I will be true to my words and forgive you.

This will also be the last time you will see me—unless, of course, you are willing to join me. My doors will always remain open for you and for your people.”

Sharnoth nodded.

“I hope you become the Champion who never falls, Lady Sharnoth.”

Vehrian bowed his head respectfully, and Sharnoth just nodded before disappearing.

…

“…What are you thinking?”

While Sharnoth was returning after her conversation with Vehrian, Zylarith questioned.

“The previous Champions were weak.”

“Huh…?”

“If they fell even when they were ‘favored by a greater being’, it means they were weak.”

Sharnoth explained herself, looking into Zylarith’s eyes with a meaningful look on her face. She didn’t say anything else, she didn’t ask any questions, she simply said what needed to be said, and Zylarith nodded at those words.

“This is exactly how a Queen should think.”

He praised.

Sharnoth nodded with a light smile on her face. Clearly, despite having complete control over her emotions, to her master, she was still a little girl who couldn’t help but smile when she was praised.

Or at least…

That was the image Sharnoth was creating. But Nux, who was seeing everything from Sharnoth’s perspective and knew her true thoughts—

He could see it.

Sharnoth had lied.

And her lie placed a big smile on Nux’s face.

This was getting much more interesting than he was initially expecting it to be.