Chapter 509: Tired of It All
“Well, it’s because the Fallen Angels are a major pillar in us being able to push back the Knulls…” she said as Ryuk turned to her.
“Really?” he asked, and she nodded her head, rising to her feet and coming to stand by Ryuk’s side as she also looked down at the lively street below.
“Yes. There are a total of four Eternity Grade Experts from the Fallen Angels, including the Half-Fallen One herself.”
“The most other families possess is two at most—the Titan Family.”
“And important to note is, the other families don’t know the Fallen Angels have four Eternity Grade experts. They thought it was only the Half-Fallen one, but when things got worse, the Eternity experts suddenly started coming out to aid.”
“They’ve helped save millions of lives,” she said, as Ryuk’s eyebrows furrowed.
“Not like I’m trying to dissuade you from taking revenge for them putting a bounty on your head and trying to kill you off.”
“I’m just asking you not to go on full kill mode.”
“Whatever losses the Fallen suffer, it radiates through the entire Anesun Alliance—and with how dangerous things are now, destroying them all is not the best move on the chessboard,” she said, as Ryuk’s eyes flashed and he turned to look at Aster.
She seemed to be able to feel his gaze as she turned to look at him and watched him smirking mockingly at her.
“Do you really think I’m psychopathic enough to destroy an entire race because they placed a bounty on my head?”
“95% of the Fallens most likely have no idea what I even look like. The ones I have a problem with are the 5% who do, and the Half-Fallen One who placed the bounty on my head.”
“But just as I said, I’m not going there for revenge. I just want to meet a Fallen amongst them,” Ryuk said, as Aster looked into his eyes before she exhaled in relief.
“That’s comforting to hear,” she said, turning her attention back to the view.
Silence reigned on for a while before she uttered,
“With the video of your battle with the Knulls today…”
Ryuk nodded.
“And what about that?”
“The world will want to know your identity. I can craft that for you, by saying you’re the Supreme Weave of the Starweave Organization.”
“There’s always been an available hierarchy that I believe only you will best fit.”
“I just… need the permission that you want to be affiliated with that,” she said, as Ryuk nodded.
“The organization you founded—Starweave—was due to the same goal we share: to get rid of the Knull invasion on Endearth.”
“It’s the only organization I can be affiliated with at all, so I think it’s okay.”
“I might not have time to be able to appear on cameras though…” he added, as Aster chuckled.
“What’s with you and trying to stay off attention? One would expect a person young like you to be a sucker for it,” she said, as Ryuk shrugged it off.
“I just don’t like too much attention on me.”
“Why? Could it be because you feel your secrets are not safe when under the scrutiny of the masses?” she asked, and Ryuk asked in return,
“Secrets?”
“Yes. You being a Knull. You being so young, yet so strong. You’re like a 18 or 19-year-old kid, yet stronger than ancient ones that have lived for centuries.”
“That’s alarming… at least to Endearthians”
“Those things…” she said, as Ryuk’s eyes flashed before his eyes steeled.
“Actually, I’m planning to stop hiding this secret soon, you know.”
“What?” Aster exclaimed in shock.
“Not that I want to go around reminding people that ‘Oh, I’m a Knull, look at me,’ or ‘I’m so strong and young too.’ That’s dumb.”
“But I don’t want to deny it anymore.”
“If the Fallen Angels think me a Knull and placed a bounty on my head, I don’t want to deny it when they ask me if I’m a Knull.”
“I am a Knull! That’s who I am. No more lies…” he said aloud, as Aster looked at him silently for a long while.
Ryuk felt it and couldn’t help but turn to her, seeing her gaze seemingly lost in thought.
“Hey Aster? You okay?” he couldn’t help but ask, waving his hand before her face—and it managed to snap her out of it.
“I am. I’m just thinking… You sound a bit more… changed compared to the last time, you know.”
“Even more convicted. Wanting to reveal you’re a Knull.”
“Just so you know, last time I saw you, you got rid of a Fallen without thinking twice—simply because he knew you were a Knull. And you did that to protect that secret.”
“I was just wondering what has changed. Is it because you have the strength now, and even if the world knows you’re a Knull, they wouldn’t be able to do much anyway?” Aster asked, as Ryuk shook his head.
“No, that’s not why.”
“I just… I’m just tired of it now. Tired of hiding what I am. But also tired of having to care about what people will think about me once they learn I’m a Knull.”
“I was only afraid of people finding out I’m a Knull previously because I didn’t know how they’d see me… or what they’d say about me.”
“I was afraid of them changing. Of me losing them, just because I’m a Knull.”
“But now, I’m tired of that. If they matter enough to me, I want to stop hiding what I am—and see if they accept me for who I am…”
“Just like how you did, Aster…” he said, as Aster’s eyes flashed.
She truly had accepted Ryuk for who he was, even though she knew he was a Knull.
But…
“The only reason why I acted and stuck with you even though I knew you were a Knull was because I understood you enough to know—no one probably wants to get rid of the Knull more than you do.”
“I don’t know how you’re a Knull or ended up as one since you look nothing like one, but I know you truly are not one.”
“If anything, you’re better than them.”
“But you must also understand something important, Ryuk.”
“And what’s that?”