Chapter 313. The Eve (2) (1/2)
[The time is nigh.]
A vigorous voice solemnly resounded in the grand hall.
[Soon, the Star will leave the Middle World.]
Speaking with a slightly flushed voice, the Parasite Queen spread out her bone wings. The tips of her wings shook faintly. It was a sign of excitement.
[Listen, all.]
Then, just as the Parasite Queen reached out towards the Army Commanders and was about to say something—
“Pardon me, my generous Queen.”
A subdued voice cut her off. At that moment, Unsightly Humility, Vulgar Chastity, Abhorrent Charity, and Exploding Patience all turned their gazes in shock.
Then, they were shocked once again after seeing a young man looking up directly at the queen.
Cutting off the Supreme Queen’s words? This was something unthinkable for the four Army Commanders, who received the divinity of the Seven Virtues and became the Queen’s servants.
“There is something I am dying to know. May I?”
Only Twisted Kindness raised his eyes slightly and glanced at the talking man.
“How insolent!”
A dignified voice cut in. Though the owner of this voice looked like a refined noblewoman, the shroud of the deceased draped over her caused her to give off a bleak aura.
It was Exploding Patience.
“Queen, I beg for your forgiveness instead. Please excuse that inferior race’s insolence.”
Afraid of the Queen’s wrath that would soon descend, the Banshee’s voice echoed out in the grand hall.
But the Queen’s reaction was even more surprising. She would have normally chastised a Commander’s impertinence while exuding a frightening killing intent.
[Speak.]
But this time, she went beyond allowing it and smiled.
[What intrigues you so much?]
She was like a mother watching her cute newborn.
While Exploding Patience shook from shock, Sung Shihyun grinned.
“I’ve had this question even when I was a human.”
[Go ahead. Say it. I am curious as well.]
Sung Shihyun cut to the chase at the Queen’s urging.
“What is the reason you are so obsessed with it?”
[Obsessed?]
“Tigol Fortress, I mean. I’ve seen it a few times myself, and that place is no joke.”
[And? So what?]
The Parasite Queen nodded.
“Eii, it’s not exactly, ‘so what?’”
[Keuk. I see. You want to know why we are so focused on attacking Tigol Fortress when there are other places we can strike.]
“Exactly. It’s true that Tigol Fortress needs to be brought down, but you can do that later too. If I may be blunt, if you had cast the Federation aside and instead focused on attacking humanity, the Seven Kingdoms would have fallen long ago. Though, I admit that I’m being result-oriented.”
[Indeed, you are. Why do you ask when you already know so well?]
“I take it that means there is something I do not understand?”
“Why don’t you stop there?”
The moment Sung Shihyun’s question ended, Exploding Patience cut in calmly.
“Really, humans are a race with no semblance of manners. Clueless vermin, when it comes to this matter, no one knows better than our Queen.”
Sung Shihyun turned his gaze. He glared at the Banshee dressed like a noblewoman with a slightly annoyed look.
“Not very patient, are you? What a waste of your title!”
Exploding Patience snorted at Sung Shihyun’s mockery.
“Funny you say that. I am being more than patient right now. If it wasn’t for the fact that we are in the countenance of our Queen, I would have taught you a lesson long ago.”
“Oh yeah?”
Sung Shihyun got up resolutely. When he turned to the side and grabbed the hilt of his sword, the unsuspecting Commanders couldn’t hide their shock.
Sung Shihyun was clearly asking for a fight.
In front of the Queen, no less.
“Queen.”
Sung Shihyun opened his mouth.
“You should know the direct reason I betrayed humanity.”
[I do.]
“Then you must understand what I am about to do. Isn’t that right, my generous Queen?”
Hearing his arrogant tone, the Parasite Queen laughed out loud.
[Indeed, my children were not particularly fond of you joining me. Especially Exploding Patience, whom you defeated in battle once before.]
“Since we are about to go to war, I will refrain from causing her demise. I will stop at just teaching her a lesson.”
[Fufu, you are looking down on the Banshee Queen too much. Did you forget you still cannot control your power properly?]
“I will know whether she deserves to be respected or looked down upon when I tear off that damned shroud of hers. I’ve been curious, actually, about the sound this cranky bitch makes in bed.”
The noblewoman’s face reddened at the man’s sexually degrading remark. It was as if she would explode at any moment.
[Determining the pecking order, eh? I agree it wouldn’t be a bad idea.]
The Parasite Queen languidly rested her chin on her hand.
[But you’ve yet to hear my reply, no?]
Hearing this, Sung Shihyun pushed his half-unsheathed sword back in.
“I guess this isn’t the best place. Anyway, I’ll accept that you’ve allowed it.”
He smiled beamingly, then went back on his knee.
[My reply to your question is simple.]
The Parasite Queen’s voice rang out.
[The reason I am so obsessed with Tigol Fortress— it is because Tigol Fortress is the final turning point.]
“Final turning point?”
[A turning point refers to the crossroad we must pass through to arrive at the ultimate future I envision.]
“I didn’t know my Queen enjoyed being cryptic like Gula… I mean, can’t you just say, ‘We have to attack Tigol Fortress because of X reason’? That would make it so much easier to understand.”
[If that is what you want, I will lower myself to your level and ask. What is the greatest resistance that the Federation and humanity can pull off in the current situation?]
“That’s…”
Sung Shihyun replied after mulling over the question.
“Revitalizing the Spirit Realm and reviving the World Tree. And I guess the Federation and humanity joining hands?”
[Then suppose all of those things came true. Do you think that will be enough to overturn the tide of this war?]
Sung Shihyun tilted his head.
“Well… the war might last a little longer and become more annoying… but I don’t think we would be at a disadvantage or even lose. As long as I can fully control this power, that is.”
[You are correct. As a matter of fact, you could say we are looking at victory square in the face.]
“That’s what I’m saying. Then why—”
[That is, if we can get rid of one obstacle.]
Hearing this, Sung Shihyun’s expression waned.
“Obstacle?”
[I am talking about a Star. One that shines brighter than any other.]
The Parasite Queen spoke calmly before tilting her head up. She gazed up as if to look at the countless stars shining around the planet.
After a moment of silence—
[Countless Stars exist in the universe. Not just in Paradise, but in any galaxy.]
The Parasite Queen continued her words.
[A vast majority of Stars are born with a certain fate. These Stars generally cannot escape the destiny that has been chosen for them.]
Most Stars advanced toward their predetermined fate. So, if a being capable of moving the constellations manipulated their course, they would have no choice but to be sucked into that future.
[But.]
At this moment, the Parasite Queen foreshadowed a twist.
[There are a small minority of Stars that are capable of pioneering their own fate.]
Stars that were unmoved by external manipulation, that could paint their future with their willpower, certainly existed.
[And very rarely among them are Stars that can make other Stars evolve.]
Going beyond themselves, there were also Stars that could attract nearby Stars to their own orbits and cause them to change their course.
[…I.]