Chapter 35: A Promise in Silence
Esmeray stood frozen, staring at Ethan's unconscious body.
His breath was ragged, his fingers twitching slightly as if he was still trapped in the nightmare.
She had felt it—the intrusion into her memories.
At first, she was furious.
Her mind was her last sanctuary. Where she had kept her fear and her broken side hidden. No one was supposed to access it.
But then… she saw something. Fragments of him.
A young boy, spoiled yet affectionate.
A noble, surrounded by warmth, raised with love so deep it was suffocating.
A childhood she would have killed for.
Esmeray clenched her fists while looking at him.
'How can he be so selfless yet so selfish at the same time?'
She hadn't seen all of his life, but the glimpses were enough to form a picture.
Ethan gave generously. He loves to give.
But only with things he didn't mind losing.
Resources? Power? Protection? He would give without hesitation. He would have more.
But when it came to women? His greedy and lustful side comes out.
Tsk.
Esmeray clicked her tongue, but her lips curled into a small, amused smile.
She had spent a million years trapped. She should have been filled with resentment.
But instead…
She felt free.
The weight that had crushed her for eons had lifted.
Because he is shouldering it with her.
The burden in her psyche is way less than before.
'You fool,' she thought, gazing at his sleeping face.
'You have no idea what you've done, do you?'
He had proven his selflessness to her in a way she could never repay.
So, she made a promise to herself.
Silently.
A vow that bound her soul tighter than any barrier ever could.
She would protect him.
Not from death—Ethan could handle himself.
But from the Tower.
From the corruption that lurked in the shadows, waiting to twist his kindness into a weapon.
From the women who would see him as a tool to be used and discarded.
And as if waiting for this, the barrier shattered. The barrier that trapped her for so long…shattered so easily.
Esmeray's eyes widened.
She was now free, physically and mentally.
Her gaze drifted back to Ethan.
'You have to take responsibility for me now, you reckless idiot.'
With that thought, she crouched beside him, watching over him as he slept.
…
A splitting headache greeted Ethan as he stirred back to consciousness.
"Fuck… never again," he groaned, shuddering at the memory.
"Mister! Mister!! You are awake!"
A tiny body crashed into him.
Ethan blinked, his vision clearing enough to see Anita's golden eyes shimmering with unshed tears.
He mustered a weak smile, his hand ruffling her hair.
"Shh… I'm awake now. It's over."
Anita sniffled but grinned brightly.
"You were asleep for hours, Mister! Anita was so worried!"
Before he could respond, a smooth voice interrupted.
"You're awake."
Ethan turned to see Esmeray.
Unlike before, there was no frustration and playfulness in her eyes.
Only something deep. Unreadable.
"And I see you're free from your barrier," Ethan said, stretching his sore limbs.
"Thanks to you," she replied, her voice softer than he expected.
Then, she did something that caught him off guard.
She bowed her head slightly.
A necromancer. A queen. Bowing.
If the Tower wasn't protecting him in this labyrinth, he wouldn't be able to withstand the bowing of a being like Esmeray. Of a Soul at her purity level. Of her presence.
"For easing my burden—" she hesitated. "No, for taking it."
Her emerald eyes locked onto his.
There was gratitude.
But also something else.
Something deeper. Something Ethan is beginning to be familiar with. As he was about to respond Esmeray—
A familiar voice chimed in.
[Host, Esmeray's feelings for you have reached 50%.]
Ethan's eye twitched.
'Oh, now you show up, you bastard? Where were you when I was mind-breaking?'
[Host had all necessary tools to survive. So the system did not intervene.]
'Would you have stepped in if I was actually dying?'
[Naturally, Host. Our goal is to make you stronger in all aspects, not to let you die like a fool.]
Ethan scoffed, rubbing his temples.
Before he could argue further, a new voice resonated.
One that wasn't the system.
One that carried the weight of something far greater.
{You have saved Esmeray Mindel—The Profane Queen, The Goddess Of The Dead, The Scorn Of Life, The One Who Challenged the authority of Soul.}
Ethan froze. What the fuck ? All these titles ?
He looked back at Esmeray. 'This sexy girl is this dangerous ? What do you mean goddess ? Damn it. Only at second trial and I have found a goddess.'
Ethan couldn't tell if he was blessed or utterly fucked.
The tower continued.
{Esmeray's soul is now yours by the authority of the Tower. You have absolute control over her.}
His breath hitched.
Mine?
Esmeray's eyes widened slightly in surprise. Her soul is bound…she raised her head and looked at Ethan.
She can feel that she can't disobey Ethan even if she wanted to.
'Is this the price of freedom ?'
She smiled sweetly and fondly, 'If he is my 'master' I don't mind it.'
{The soul of Esmeray and Anita are now stored inside you. You may call upon them at will.}
His eyes widened slightly.
'Wait, wait, wait—what does that even mean?!'
But the Tower wasn't done.
{You have completed your second trial flawlessly.}
{For your incredible and reckless performance in giving back life to two special souls, you have earned additional rewards.}
{You have obtained: [Aura of Profanity] and [Aura of Holiness].}
Ethan barely had time to process before the final message arrived.
{You are being transported to a rest zone.}
{Remember, to help others rise, one must sometimes bear their burdens with them. So choose wisely who you raise.}
{You have worked hard, O Giver Of Salvation.}
Ethan face become serious when he saw the advice of the tower. 'Another lesson from this trial hun..'
But a slow, amused grin spread across Ethan's face as he saw how the tower is encouraging him.
"Well, well," he muttered.
"I think you and I are going to get along just fine… dear Tower."
As darkness swallowed them, Esmeray watched him with intrigue.
Yes.
He was dangerous.
But not for the reasons she first assumed.
And that made him all the more irresistible.
[Ding! Esmeray's feelings are at 60%. Host, you have a knack to attract questionably saine women.]
And I love it.
—End Of Chapter 35—