Behind the Theatrics
For the first time, Cristelle failed to show up for training.
Remembering Ede's request to look after her, I went searching for Cristelle.
Maybe she was somewhere among all those shops she'd offered me as a gift? As it turned out, she was.
She was in a coffee shop, deep in conversation with someone.
Whatever they were discussing seemed serious, so I decided not to interrupt.
It's been handled as you instructed.
Arrange for each branch manager to take ownership of their branch and retain all current employees.
And those who prefer to leave should receive their full severance, plus another three years' wages.
Understood. When do you plan to make the official announcement?
About the dissolution of the Morrel Ocean Traders.
?!
We'll time it carefully. Best to minimize the repercussions.
We'll be sorry to see you go.
Ufufu. They've spent long enough trying to grow beneath the shade I've cast!
Without me, they'll finally be free to reach for the sunlight!
...You were never something that kept us in the shade.
If anything, you were the umbrella that protected us from the wind and rain.
Ufufu! Then let us say the storms have passed, and only fair weather lies ahead!
Once the skies are clear, an umbrella only gets in the way of the sunlight.
But...
See that it's done.
Understood. If that's what you truly want...
The man gathered his documents and bowed politely before leaving. After a brief, heavy silence, Cristelle raised a hand.
Two cups of that tea from the East that came in today. Ah, make it one.
With that, Cristelle turned her head and looked straight at me.
After all, I've yet to learn my guest's tastes.
So she'd known I was there all along.
I got up and took the seat across from Cristelle.
As it happens, I've been wanting to treat you, Captain.
Consider it my punishment for missing training today! The bill is on me!
If tea from the East isn't to your taste, there's coffee too!
What happened?
If you're referring to training, my apologies. I'll make up for it this afternoon.
I'm not talking about training.
Why would you dissolve a company you put so much into building?
Let's just say it was an unavoidable business decision.
Your business doesn't exactly seem to be struggling.
In this particular case, that's simply my way of saying I can't tell you why.
Oh, don't worry. The company isn't going to disappear overnight.
Morrel Ocean Traders is far too large an organization for that.
I can't just announce, "Morrel Ocean Traders is shutting down!" and have the entire company gone by morning.
Asset sales, distribution, employee transfers between branches... There is quite a lot to arrange.
Even moving as quickly as possible, the process will take close to a year. So I must begin now.
If you already had such a specific timeline in mind...
You were planning this before you even joined the Journey, weren't you?
Ufufu. Keen indeed! You continue to prove yourself worthy of my attention.
Rest assured. I haven't forgotten the residential block in the heart of NOA that I promised you.
That's not what I'm after.
Not fond of real estate? What does strike your fancy, then? Gold? Gems?
If there's anything you want from me, simply name it!
Your trust.
If that's all, consider it yours! I shall follow your lead without reservation.
After all, I absolutely need the Star Savior's power.
What do you need it for?
Does it have anything to do with shutting down the company?
Suppose I refuse to answer. Do you intend to remove me from the Journey?
I can't force you to tell me.
Ufufu! Wise indeed! A good man knows when to retreat.
Of course, I'll have less time to devote to the Journey as a result.
Hmm?
If you won't tell me...
I'll just have to go around asking your employees instead.
Ah, I see. Then you'll have less time to plan my training and prepare for the Journey.
I'll ask Haydee, too.
At Haydee's name, the last of Cristelle's playfulness vanished, and her gaze turned ice-cold.
And you call yourself responsible for seeing your Savior's Journey through?
And here I thought you were a man who took his responsibilities seriously.
I'm doing this to see the Journey through.
I need to know why you need that power if I'm going to help you properly.
Ufufu! Very well. A proper negotiation calls for both the carrot and the stick.
Consider it an honor. Only a handful of business partners have ever managed to get me to accept their terms.
And you, Captain, just became one of them.
Despite her praise, her gaze remained cold.
I want power for one reason. Revenge. And the target of that revenge is...
Morcerf.
A chill ran through me at the hatred in Cristelle's voice as she spoke Morcerf's name.
She's an Executor who goes by countless names.
A damned Executor who lives to deceive, drive people to despair, and mock them for it.
An Executor?
Yes. In the end, she told me herself, laughing at the top of her lungs.
Voidborn attacks were unusually common in the village where I grew up.
One by one, they took my family and my friends from me. Everyone I loved... and everyone who loved me.
And when there was no one left, whispers began to spread among the villagers.
Why is that girl the only one who keeps surviving?
She's cursed. She's the one bringing the Voidborns here!
Everyone hated me, and the other children threw stones at me. Everyone except one person.
Ma'am... am I cursed?
Of course not, Cristelle. That condition of yours, the one that draws Voidborns to you, is an exceptionally rare gift. You are blessed.
She was the only person who called my birth a blessing, and the only one who stayed after everyone else had abandoned me.
She was the one who promised to change my future. My destiny.
I'm going to replace your natural eye with a special one I created. It's all to improve that condition of yours.
Then you'll be able to live like everyone else. It will hurt, but you must endure it. I'll change your future, Cristelle.
Thank you, ma'am. Please change it!
Under the pretense of improving my affinity, she subjected me to one cruel experiment after another.
The pain was unbearable, but I endured it. She was all I had left, and I was terrified that if I disappointed her, she would abandon me too.
I believed her when she said she would change my fate.
Yes... I knew you were extraordinary. You've endured all of this. I'm so proud of you.
Thank you... ma'am. I'll keep trying.
Then that day came.
The history books reduced it to a single line: a tragedy caused by the Voidborns' attack.
But the truth was that my power had run wild and wiped the entire village off the map.
Ma'am... please help me... My right eye... It feels like it's burning...
Mm. I suppose it would. I was curious when the Void essence would finally run wild, and how much power it would unleash.
That much energy should have torn your body apart, yet you survived. You really are extraordinary.
Ma'am... why?
Oh my, you're still calling me that? Ahahahaha!
You said... you'd change my fate...
Yes. And I kept that promise.
When you were a child, I was the one who lured the Voidborns to the village.
Now you understand why I need the Star Savior's power, don't you?
My apologies if you were expecting some grand purpose.
The Morrel Ocean Traders, the Journey, my entire life... They're all nothing more than tools for my revenge.
There. That's the truth you wanted. Now help me.
Make sure I get the Star Savior's power, no matter what it takes.
I'll give you anything. My entire fortune, even this body of mine.
A fair bargain, wouldn't you agree?
With that, Cristelle rose from her seat.
Then I'll see you tomorrow, Captain.
Cristelle walked out of the cafe without another word.
...It's probably because the abyss is all she can see now.
Cristelle and I see it the same way. Everything around it is empty. ...Just like our lives.
You were right, Haydee.
All that remained where Cristelle had been sitting was a cup of tea she had never touched, now gone cold.