Reincarnated As The Villainess's Son

Chapter 269  Epilogue [1]

[Six months later]

A single piece of paper floated at the center of the Pargoina Empire's capital city.

No sunlight shone over, the sun hiding behind the clouds that covered the entire place.

The streets that were once bustling with people were now silent.

Martial law gripped the heart of the empire, suppressing the revolts of commoners.

Every corner was patrolled, and yet, crime festered like a plague.

The commoners, stripped of hope and dignity, stole and fought for survival.

Depression loomed over the human domain for the past six months.

The people shuffled through the streets with hollow eyes, their faces pale from exhaustion.

A young man collided with a small boy on his path.

"Sorry." He apologized as he helped the boy get up.

The boy, trembling, nodded before running away.

"Sigh."

The young man sighed, hiding his face from the hood of his cloak.

He walked through the streets with a tired expression, gazing around.

The streets felt bizarre to him, and the gloom that clung to the place got into him as well.

Walking a little further, he arrived at the church.

The place, once filled with devotees, was barren, without a soul roaming around.

Sighing, the young man walked in.

The inside of the church was empty, pews lay cold and unused.

Candles burned low, prayers no longer echoed here.

Without saying a word, the young man sat down on a bench, removing his hood to let his long, curly black hair cascade behind his back.

Aimar relaxed his body, gazing up at the ceiling.

"You are the only regular remaining." His golden eyes turned toward the side where a man in a priest's uniform said with a warm smile.

"Don't get me wrong." Aimar replied, looking away. "I visit only because it's the quietest place I could find."

"I see." The priest replied with a slight nod. "...Though it's better than no visitors at all."

"Whatever you say." Aimar replied, shrugging. "Seems like the church has given up on restoring people's faith in them."

"No, you are wrong." The priest shook his head in response.

"The Elohim's Avatar will soon visit every place by himself to restore people's faith."

"...So he is still alive, huh?" Aimar mumbled, gazing down at his leg, which was bound with a tracking device.

A device that forced him to stay within a certain range for his entire life, while limiting his mana.

...A punishment for attacking the Avatar.

"He was just recovering from the previous injuries." The priest smiled confidently. "It's impossible to kill an Avatar."

"Is it?" Aimar asked, gazing at him. "I'm sure I heard he was almost killed by—."

"Do not take his name." The priest cut in, hiding his anger behind the smile. "They are beheading those who take his name."

"..."

Aimar quietly looked at the man before shifting his gaze away.

Things had changed a lot in the past six months.

A single hologram that showed the angel's death had broken the faith of the masses.

People started to doubt—are the Gods really that powerful?

The fear that a single boy caused resulted in the death of thousands.

Like dominoes falling one after another, depression led the masses to conflict, and that conflict turned into chaos that consumed not only humans but other races as well in a short span of time.

...In the end, the royal family had to step in to control everything.

"Hm?"

A sudden commotion brought Aimar out of his stupor.

People were shouting outside in delight, their voices echoing, which didn't match the atmosphere.

Aimar stood up from his place as he walked out, covering his face again.

A group of guards patrolled the area, making him halt.

His gaze landed on a crowd standing in front of a wall.

Gazing up a little, he noticed a poster.

...A poster that announced an execution next week in front of everyone.

The execution of the Scourge Of Angels by the hands of the Elohim's Avatar.

Aimar's body turned cold as he leaned against the wall.

His mind spun with different thoughts.

But he couldn't find a way to help.

...He gritted his teeth as he walked away, hiding himself within the excited crowd.

'I am risking too much for you, Azariah.'

****

****

The sound of footsteps echoed within a dark, empty dungeon.

A dungeon that didn't have a single speck of mana.

A woman with platinum hair that cascaded behind her back walked deeper inside.

A lady with blackish-brown hair walked behind her.

Nothing alive was in view, only the broken pieces of skeletons spiraled around.

Esmeray's steps slowed as she reached a cell.

She turned around, gazing inside.

A boy with long, pristine white hair was restrained by a straightjacket-like outfit, with straps binding his arm and legs.

His body was covered by chains looping around him and a collar around his neck that pinned him against the wall.

His head hung low, eyes covered by an iron blindfold.

"They are treating you quite well," Esmeray said, her tone flat as she walked inside the cell.

Azariah's head raised at her voice.

Esmeray made a chair from thin air, sitting on it as she added, "It's been six months, hasn't it?"

"..."

Azariah remained silent without saying a word.

"The church has finally decided to execute you in public," she informed, looking at his motionless body.

"....It seems like they are willing to take the risk of going against the Aljanah family."

"..."

Again, Azariah remained quiet, as if ignoring her.

"Aren't you curious about your little lovers?" Esmeray said, finally earning a response. "The alive ones, of course."

Azariah suppressed his boiling emotions as he waited for her to continue.

"Arianell and Ashlyn joined the church," she informed, looking back at Adaliah.

"And you know the best part? They both will try to kill you if they ever come in contact with you."

"...."

Azariah remained quiet.

Perhaps he expected something like this to happen.

"And, yeah, the church wants to kill Shyamal along with you," she informed. "Well, not like she will survive her third awakening—."

"Tell me, mother," Azariah cut in, his voice calm like never before. "How would you like to die?"

"..."

Esmeray's lips curled up slightly before her face returned to stoic.

She looked at him for quite some time before she snapped her fingers.

Clang! Clang!

The chains, straps, and blindfold that bound him fell to the ground.

His swollen legs couldn't hold his weight as he fell down.

Azariah's eyes adjusted to the light slowly before she came into his view.

"Not by your hands, son," Esmeray replied calmly, looking down at him.

"Why?" Azariah asked, staring at her. "Are you afraid that I won't give you an easy death?"

"No," Esmeray replied flatly. "Why should I be afraid of a weak little boy who can't even save his lover?"

Azariah glared at her, clenching his fist.

"Why the glare, son?" Esmeray asked, tilting her head.

"Deep down, didn't you already know she was going to die the moment she was revealed as Anastasia's Avatar?"

"It wouldn't have happened if not for you teleporting—."

"Ragnar would have killed her sooner or later," she cut in, her anger hidden behind her words.

"She was bound to die the moment she entered the power struggle between primordials."

"..."

Azariah couldn't deny her words.

He already knew what Ragnar wanted, and he was too weak to stop him.

"Anyway, I am here to reward you for completing your task of killing an angel," Esmeray said as she leaned toward him, looking into his eyes.

"Choose, Azariah. Do you want to work under me, or do you want to be free and stand against me?"

"Do I need to say it?" Azariah asked, staring back into her lifeless grey eyes.

"Thought you would choose that," Esmeray nodded. "So, from your future knowledge, you should already know what I plan to do, right?"

Azariah flinched slightly at her words as he looked at her blankly.

"What's with that face, son?" Esmeray asked, tilting her head. "...Did you really think I wouldn't notice it?"

"....."

His mind turned numb as he looked at the woman in front of him.

"Answer me."

"....Destroy Akasha," Azariah whispered softly. "And kill every member of the forsaken families."

"Indeed," Esmeray nodded her head. "You will be living in Akasha from now on as Mariam's adopted grandson."

"....What?" Azariah asked confusingly, knitting his brows.

"Mariam begged me to give you under her care," Esmeray replied calmly, looking at him. "She didn't budge even after she got to know that you are engaged to a vampire."

"...What are you saying?" Azariah asked, unable to comprehend her words.

"You are engaged to Edwin's granddaughter," Esmeray informed as she stood up. "I quite like that girl, so I arranged it for you."

"..."

Azariah quieted down, staring at her as she walked closer.

"We are standing on equal ground now," she said, looking down at him.

"...And here's a deal: try saving one of those families from total annihilation, and I will see you as my equal."

"....."

Azariah stared at her for a while before his lips parted. ".....I want to use my last wish you gave me."

"...What is it you want?" Esmeray asked as she slowly turned around.

"Train Shyamal," he said, taking a deep breath. "...Make sure she survives her awakening." n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Why should I?" she asked, tilting her head.

"Do not play dumb, mother," he replied, glaring at her. "....You want her to survive as well, don't you?"

"Your wish will be granted," she said without any emotion in her voice as she turned around and walked away.

Now, only Adaliah and Azariah remained in the cell.

"What do you want?" Azariah asked as he looked at her.

Adaliah slowly walked toward him, taking out something from her bracelet.

"Lady Christina asked me to pass it to you," she said as she passed a box-like object to him.

Azariah took it, noticing its design, which reminded him of old recorders.

"You will have one week before you are departed to Akasha," Adaliah informed as she turned around and walked away.

Azariah clicked the play button as soon as she was out of sight.

The tape started to roll.

"Ahem, hello."

Christina's voice echoed.

Azariah's body trembled as he drew in a deep breath.

Only after listening to her voice again did he realize how much he missed it.

"I don't know how to use this properly, but I hope my voice is clear."

Her voice echoed once again, making him focus on it.

"Before that, Esmeray, if you are listening to this, fuck you, bitch. I will kill you one day for hurting my Azariah so much."

Azariah chuckled softly at her words.

"If you have any shame, just stop listening."

Her voice quieted down for a few seconds before continuing.

"Well, I hope she's gone and the one listening to me is you."

She said, her voice tender.

"I have a lot to say, but I don't know how I should start."

Azariah slowly leaned against the wall, closing his eyes.

"Okay, let's start with this...

....Two months from now, I am going to die."