"What's your choice?"
Aron looked at the mana demon coldly and asked this, the options he provided were clearly one sided but with the only other option being it's demise it was left with little to no choice.
"We… we refuse."
Aron furrowed his brow upon hearing this answer as he really wasn't expecting it. Most living beings would sooner chose a life of suffering than to die but this creature before him didn't hesitate to refuse the one sided offer.
"Then I suppose we have nothing further to discuss."
Although he didn't show it on the surface Aron was quite irritated by this. He wasn't willing to change the terms because merging with the mana demon already had a plethora of risks that he didn't know of.
One thing was clear about it however, it made one's arts and techniques extremely powerful and only required a strong imagination and will.
As a beast monger Aron was unable to master the art and techniques of others due to his physiology, just as he was unable to display the full physical prowess of a beast.
He was a hybrid with certain benefits but certain weaknesses as well. Although not apparent in a low tier world like Pesia, a lack of mastery in arts and techniques was a major flaw.
Beast mongers depended on the mana of beasts that they assimilated, however in a scenario where that mana were to be depleted and they were forced to use arts or techniques… it would surely be their loss.
'It's fine, I still have Evanora.'
Aron heaved a sigh and calmed his thoughts, he was simply planning for the future and even then he had Evanora who he specifically kept to cover for this weakness.
If he had succeeded in contracting the mana demon then she would have lost all use to him.
…
Aron soon made his way out of the room once the mana demon had faded into nothingness and Sayiva had breathed her last breath.
His heavy footsteps caught the attention of Mirai who was waiting for him at the base of the stairs with a complex expression.
"It's over, she passed on with a soft smile on her face."
Aron didn't bother feigning a pitying expression as he spoke these false words since she couldn't even see him.
"Thank you… if not for you then she along with I and the rest of the Aethelians may have died plain deaths." Mirai replied with forced smile.
It wasn't hard to convince Mirai to help him with this matter after he revealed some half truths to her. She was someone who was just in her thinking and didn't let her emotions influence her, thanks to this she had agreed to his plan in exchange for something as well…
"The other races would have lost many lives as well and those who survived would have fallen to the horde of creatures sooner rather than later, come on."
Even now Aron stuck to his character as he voiced his reasoning. The more someone's actions aligned with their character the easier it was to believe them.
If he were to suddenly give some bland reason like he did it for her or to save the Aethelians then she'd likely doubt him.
Mirai nodded at his words as she could understand his train of thinking, he helped her simply because he would have lost out as well or so she thought.
The exchange ended there and she wiped the tears off her tender porcelain like cheeks and began to ascend the stairs.
"One lady thing, aside from Celes and some elders no one knew who I was… did she tell you?" Mirai asked softly but Aron shook his head.
"Zunkuft, your real name meant future… the same as your name now… Mirai. It was simply a guess that happened to be accurate."
"I see."
Mirai said nothing more and continued up the stairs while Aron followed in a hunched manner since the once normal residence was now too small in some areas for him.
Once back in the dimly lit living room both of them turned to Celes who no longer struggled around like she had been before.
Aron walked over to her and removed the cloth on her mouth before receiving a great frown from her.
"You said I simply had to pretend! This was beyond humiliating!"
Immediately the cloth was removed Celes unleashed the words she had been saving for Aron.
"It needed to look realistic, you did well and thus the plan worked without any faults." Aron ignored her ranting and delivered this lovely piece of news that had her mood shift.
"Sayiva is really dead? She couldn't be saved from that thing?"
Celes looked towards Mirai and received confirmation that that was indeed the case. A part of her felt relief but then another part of her felt mournful, in the end Sayiva was still her older sister who had treated her kindly when they were younger.
"As per our agreement, I expect the full cooperation of the Aethelians now as well."
Aron saw the mood was shifting so he felt he should remind her why she wasn't killed like Sayiva.
Her presence as the queen still held power and her influence was still strong. He chose her to use a puppet rather than Sayiva because the latter held an entity he still lacked knowledge of.
"Tsk, You've already placed this damned runic life seal on me so you don't need to worry about me betraying you."
Celes had all but returned to her arrogant self and even dared to speak back to Aron now that she saw he valued her to some extent.
Aron them showed her a small smile and chuckled. "I wasn't speaking to you."
He then turned his head to Mirai who had been silently standing near the staircase still.
"Don't worry, I'll ensure we don't repeat our past mistakes." She muttered with an air of determination around her.
This left Celes confused.
"What do you mean? They'll never accept her as Queen, she's the child of a traitor…"
Celes fumbled and hurriedly stood up to protest what she thought Aron meant but he still shook his head at her while looking down.
"You misunderstand, you will be Queen in name but the runic life seal placed on you can also be invoked by her."
Celes's eyes widened upon hearing Aron's words. "You tricked me!"
At first glance one may not see the difference but it did exist and was quite marginal. She agreed to having a runic life seal placed on her prior because she felt Aron wouldn't interfere much in their affairs, at best he would demand cooperation and perhaps resources but she would still be the ruler overall.
With Mirai in the picture things changed. Mirai unlike Aron would definitely make Celes carry out more orders, making her no better than a puppet Queen.
She was absolutely fooled!
"Is that so? I suppose I should have been clearer, no point fussing now. Your subjects are waiting for you, the more time we waste here the more we risk losing Pesia."
Aron had clear sarcasm in his voice, he found it somewhat amusing when those that considered themselves strong were shown a cruel reality.
Without saying anything more he wore his helm, completing the set of new armor and walked out of the residence first.
Celes glared at Mirai who still stood at the staircase motionless.
"You did this didn't you?! I should have known! Even after I spared your life and raised you?"
Mirai didn't shift her expression upon hearing those words and also turned for the door.
"That was your mistake."
