Chapter 41: The Prince’s fixing his problems

Narik reminded Fearless a bit of FY, just a little bit.

Fearless really admired FY. He looked up to FY as an older brother that he never had, a powerful leader, a great friend, a wise mentor and a great rival. He loved FY, idolizing him even, and Fearless wasn’t afraid to admit it to everyone.

It was a known fact that Fearless was closer to FY than the rest of The Alliance. The two of them often traveled together. They hung out together regularly.

At one point, his fans expressed their doubts regarding rumors about Fearless had a crush for FY in a homosexual way and Fearless teasingly played along, admitting that he did in an interview. That did not end well, especially in the world of showbiz.

Regardless, it was hard to not love FY. He has a good look and a charming smile. He’ a gentleman. He just does everything right, most of the time. He’s insanely charismatic. Yet, it is FY’s genuineness that drawn Fearless to him. In fact, that quality of FY is what makes him so endearing.

FY is incredibly genuine in everything that he does, even though he was far from being the type of person who wore their emotions on the sleeves. After all, he was born to be a politician just like Fearless was born for the piano, concealing his true emotions and making people love him is like breathing for FY.

That does not mean that FY does not lie. He does, as much as any normal person would.

That genuineness of FY is without a doubt his best quality. Fearless remembered the one time FY asked him regarding his future career choice.

“Why not become a full-time model or a magician or an actor?”

That was supposed to be a simple question. However, it was not. FY did not mean it literally. It was a touchy topic so FY asked it in an around and about manner. And Fearless understood it immediately the moment FY asked that question.

That was only something FY would do, feeling sorry for something that was not even his fault.

Fearless chuckled. “And allow you to be the greatest ROC player in the history? Uncontested? No way,” he dodgily replied as if he did not understand the question.

“I’m being serious,” said FY, shifting his tone.

“Do you think you can win a championship without me?” Fearless smirked.

“Do you think I can’t?” FY reflexively retorted. For once, FY was caught in Fearless’ pace.

“Of course, what would you do without me? We are a combo, remember? One and two. Neither of us could do it without another.” Fearless casually shrugged his shoulders.

“Can you stop trying to change the topic?” FY sighed, coming to himself. “It would not work on me again,” he earnestly said.

“If you have the chance to hit the reset button in your life, would you become a politician instead? Or would you remain a pro-gamer?”

“Brother, can you stop changing the topic? I’m being serious.”

“Me too, I’m being very serious. Answer my question first, and then I will answer yours.”

“You never play fair, don’t you?” FY resigned. He nodded his head and affirmed, “Yes, I will be a pro-gamer again.”

“That’s also my answer.”

“You are a moron. You know that?”

“Don’t get me wrong. I do regret making mistakes. My mistakes haunt me… even now. However, I don’t regret becoming Fearless, not a single moment in my entire life, never. That is never a mistake. I will assure you that, brother. I’m not sorry for who I am or what I have become. I’m not sorry for being myself. Therefore, even if I was an actor, a magician, or a model and not a pro-gamer, I am still Fearless. So, big brother, you don’t have to feel sorry for me. Besides, that was not caused by your action. That, that was my mistakes. That, that was not your mistake, not anyone’s mistake. It’s mine. Therefore, you don’t have to feel responsible for that.”

Never again, the two of them talked about that topic. However, that did not mean that FY stopped feeling responsible for that. He continued to blame himself for something that was clearly not his fault.

That part was the only thing Narik had in common with FY. He lacked the charm and the charisma that FY had. But then, nobody can be FY, not even Fearless. It was very unfair for Narik if Fearless was compared him to FY. FY was just as OP as Thùy Dương was. The two of them were the only two people that Fearless could never best when he was on Earth.

“See those bonfires? They belonged to the worms that wronged you and your brothers.” Fearless showed Narik the host of bonfires outside the room. “They are the arms and legs of Bloodbeard and Ekar. Don’t waste time and energy to blame yourself, direct your anger at them, direct your hatred at them, direct your blade at them, they are your enemies.”

Narik said no word, staring at the host of bonfires below the tower with his clenched fists.

Narik thought that he was dead. His survivor guilt tricked him into believing that lie. He has convinced himself that he was dead and he believed in that lie until Fearless broke it to him. The moment he realized that he was still in the world of the living, he was completely torn, yet, grateful. He cried and affirmed his vows to Fearless again for saving his life.

“After that, you can return to the walls of Madukat to complete the obligations of a survivor. That is your redemption.” Fearless said, tossing a piece of firewood into the hearth and watched the embers flew up.

“I…” Narik gritted his teeth, “I can’t kill them all even if I had a blade with me.”

“When did I tell you to do something like that?” Fearless shot Narik an incredulous look.

“But… you just told me to direct my blade at them.”

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“Yes, I did. However, I did not tell you to waste your life, the life you owed to me, just like that, fool.”

Narik returned Fearless’ incredulous look with an equally confused look of his own.

“Tomorrow, I’m going to filter them.” Fearless explained as he watched the embers rose from the hearth.

“Filter?”

“Yes, if they are in fact human, they will be able to live like human. However, if they are indeed worms, they will die like worms, all of them. In two days, I will hold a trial and execution for them. Their characters will be their own judges. Those deserve to die will die. Those deserve to live will live. I will be the executioner and you will be my assistant. Do you have anything to add?” Fearless casually told Narik his plan.

Narik carefully listened. Then, he hesitated for a moment before asking in the most respectful manner, “Why would you bother to do that? Why can’t you just kill all of them if you are so powerful?” He managed to hide his fury and hatred extremely well.

Fearless mentally added points for Narik for being able to do that.

“I gave you a chance for redemption. I will give one to them as well. And, as I said, I will not be the judge. Their characters, their sins, their souls will be their own judges. I am only the executioner.” Fearless gave Narik a stern look as he explained.

The flickering lights from the hearth cast a shadow on Narik’s face as he remained in silence.

“Not satisfied?” Fearless inquired.

“No, I am…” Narik flustered. He quickly put his knees on the ground to apologize.

“Lies do not work on me. So, you can drop it. Also, you don’t need to kneel before me. You are my vassal, someone I deemed worthy. Therefore, do not kneel that easily. It cheapens your value,” Fearless commanded.

“I did not mean it. I do not intend to deceive you.” Narik shook his head and replied. After that, he gingerly stood up as he was commanded.

“No, you weren’t. That’s only a reflex. And yet, it is a lie. I know when people tell me a lie. Now, if you are not satisfied with my conditions, you can hunt them down. But, after you fulfilled your duty with me first, after you redeemed yourself first. After that, you can hunt them to the end of the world. It’s your life, your vendetta, I have no right to stop you.”

“No, forgive me. I was out of the line.” Narik was smart enough to understand that was a warning, and thus immediately apologized.

“Good, at least, you are not so stupid that you have forgotten your vows this early. Now, your missions. First, you shall stay here and watch these women when I’m not here. Your job is to protect them first and foremost. While I don’t believe that there is any foolish worm down there have half a ball to touch them, I cannot count that out. Also, if these women tried to hurt themselves or do anything foolish while I’m not here, knock them out. You have my permission to do that. Can I trust you with this job?” Fearless tossed yet another firewood into the hearth while asking.

“I swear to fulfill my duty.” Narik crossed his right arm on his chest and solemnly swore.

“Your second mission is much harder than your first. You shall not sleep a wink until I give you the permission to do so.” Fearless continued.

Narik had the same look when Fearless broke it to him that he was still alive.

“That’s a strange order. Right? I will explain. Right now, there is an asshole, possibly two or even more, are siding with these worms.” Fearless spoke, trying to contain his anger as best as he could. He wasn’t sure the intention of the person or people who mess around with Bloodbeard’s dream and Bloodbeard’s worms yet.

Fearless has no idea why they included him within their plan. He had no idea if they were helping him or they were toying with him. He wasn’t sure if they were even on his side at all.

Fearless did not know their intention, their identity and thus he could do nothing about them.

If they were indeed my enemies, there would be no way that I could live through this event, Fearless told himself. As long as these characters remained in the shadow without revealing their identities like campers and stalkers, Fearless’ option was vastly limited. Therefore, he intended to drag them out of their shadow. After that, depending on whom he’s dealing with, he would adapt.

It would be easy if that person were Sinintee himself or one of the Valkyria.

“These assholes are whom you and your people may call gods or Demon Lords. I’m not sure which one yet. They can invade your dream uninvited. They can see your memories in your dream and thus, they can interfere with my plan. Therefore, as long as neither you nor I sleep for a wink, they know nothing of our plan.” Fearless explained.

While Sinintee and the Valkyria would not be a problem for Fearless, the Demon Lords that spawned from the dismembered corpse of Naharis do. In fact, they made Fearless doubted his chance of living on Escana.

In the game, these Demon Lords were the ultimate weapons of the Dark Occultist’s faction.

The Dark Occultist is one of the weaker factions among the playable factions in the multiplayer mode.

Their faction does not receive a bonus in Magic Research or Alchemy Research despite being a magic based faction. They are the discounted version of the Greyscale and the Judgment Army of White Winter. They lack strength, numbers, territory, fortifications and decent generals to contest for hegemony. Worse, their warlord and generals cannot do politics. Worst, they can be counter-picked easily.

Their units are the weakest in the entire game, only second to militia type of units. In fact, they are so weak that a bandit type warlord like Bloodbeard can put an end to their campaign in a single confrontation at any moment.

But, the Dark Occultist faction does not need any of those qualities to be relevant in the game. They do not care about those qualities.

Their entire existence revolves around the Demon Lords and the sacrificial ritual that summons the Demon Lords. They exist in the game to laugh at the qualities, advantages, and values that other factions had over them. They exist to trample over the normality and the common sense within the world of Escana and within the game.

Planning, zoning and A SHIT TONS OF LUCK, any player who picks the Dark Occultist faction would need those three factors to contest for hegemony.

The Dark Occultist faction is one of the factions that Fearless has trouble at playing. In fact, he is disastrously bad with them. He can pick this faction to play against the AI controlled warlords and the casual type of players, but no more than that. But then, there is nothing shameful in admitting that even though Fearless was a professional gamer in ROC. Not that many pro-players in the league can play this faction correctly.

Fearless gave Narik some time for the man to digest the information. However, Narik did not look like a man who understood everything that he was told. In fact, he looked like he has just swallowed something strange and disagreeable with his stomach.

“It’s hard to comprehend, right? Get used to it. Now, can I hear your reply? Can you do it?” Fearless demanded.

“I will do it even if it cost me everything,” Narik swore, striking his chest with his right arm.

Fearless intended to retort, Not everything fool, you still owe me a life, but he spared Narik from that. “Do remember that even if you were to doze off for a moment, that’s it.”

“I won’t fail you,” Narik solemnly affirmed.

“That’s all. Conceal your face at all time, just in case one of the worms comes here and they might remember your face. Remain in this room until I tell you otherwise.” Fearless said, returning to his straw bed to lie down next to Erinys, “If you have anything you want to ask, do it now.”

Narik hesitated, but he asked. “You have told me that I would be your assistance when you executed the worms. You have yet to tell me how I may provide you with my assistance.”

“I will tell you the detail when the time is right. This is a failsafe. Just in the case that you fail me and allows those assholes to deduct my intention. I can still carry out my counterplan and complete my mission.”

“I will absolutely not fail you,” Narik promised.

While Fearless was extremely pleased with Narik’ loyalty, he chose to encourage that loyalty even further, “It’s not that I don’t believe in your vows. I am a person with very little of trust. Prove yourself to me with the result. Not word.”

Something as intangible and invisible as trust can be used as a goal and a reward to encourage people’s loyalty.

FY pulled the same move when Fearless fumbled and hit the self-destruct button during that important match in his second year in the league, losing the game and the chance for the team to advance to the final.

“Oh, unplug those women’s ears for me as well. I plugged their ears with straws so that they cannot hear our conversation just in cases. It’s just paranoia, but I cannot just rule out... Never mind, just do it.”