Last Born Of The Desdemona

Chapter 262: Chapter 262: Kill The Blessed

Chapter 262 – Kill The Blessed

Time passed swiftly.

It was Thursday, so there was no class for the first two years. They were free to do whatever they wanted, though most knew better than to waste the time.

Cassius sat inside the First Breakfast, wearing a long-sleeved white shirt stamped with a logo from a famous pirate movie and black trousers, filling his stomach while browsing Gossip Girl.

He expected some news about Coco’s death to have surfaced by now. At this point, most people should know.

But there was nothing.

It seemed the death of yet another servant was truly of no concern to anyone.

He shook his head slightly and sipped his tea, savoring the warmth spreading down his throat. He parted his lips and sighed contentedly, breathing out a thin plume of white, misty air.

To his left sat Still Alive. He still had about 100 pages to go.

Cassius figured he could finish the book today with a bit of effort, though he had things to take care of.

’I didn’t know I missed reading this much.’ Cassius thought with a faint smile, waiting for his food, ’How did I even forget this feeling?’

[You’ve been busy with a great many things. That’s why.]

’No doubt.’ He acknowledged, his crimson eyes sweeping over the screen without really reading it, ’I need a break.’

Ananke grimaced slightly at that, knowing exactly what was waiting for him.

[Well, Cassius, I hate to say this, but I don’t think now is the time.]

Cassius arched an eyebrow, ’Why? Did something happen?’

[No. But something is about to happen.] she said, [You’re going to receive your Second Blessing.]

His eyes went wide instantly.

He was about to react loudly when he noticed the waitress approaching with a smile, carrying his plate of food.

He coughed, plastering on a smile of his own, swallowing back his surprise.

”Here’s your order, Ang—!”

”Cassius.” He gently corrected the green-haired woman, ”Call me Cassius. That’s enough.”

The young waitress, clearly helping out her mother, blushed furiously, her green eyes glowing like precious jade beneath the sun.

She pressed her lips together cutely and nodded, ”Cassius, yes. I hope you like it. I cooked it myself. My first time.”

Cassius smiled and nodded politely, ”It already smells promising. I have no doubt I will.”

She smiled a bit wider — too wide, even — then ducked her head and hurried off.

Cassius could hear her giggling as she went.

He lowered his head to take in the plate: bread topped with cheese, two eggs, and a strawberry yogurt.

He began to eat, continuing his conversation with Ananke all the while.

’My Second Blessing? Is it finally time?’

[It is.] she nodded, [It took a while because the goddess in question was...rather hard to convince.]

Cassius was beyond excited, but paused at one word. ’Goddess? Another goddess?’

His face twisted at the thought of his wife grabbing his collar and treating him like a worthless ragdoll for having another goddess.

...he was suspiciously fond of that scenario.

Coughing to stop himself from going further down that thought, he refocused, ’Why a goddess? My wife will ask me exactly that, so I need a good answer.’

Ananke’s lips twitched. How was she supposed to explain that a god had never been an option for him?

[I believe if you tell her about this goddess’s power, she won’t mind.]

’What is her power?’

[The one you love so much. More than mine, it seems.]

’Queen, now that we’re on the subject, I have one complaint. I don’t even get to use Fate power, even though I’m your Blessed. How is that normal? I want to manipulate Fate too!’

[Because I don’t want you to.] she scoffed, well aware of the danger in wielding that power, [and you don’t need it. I’ll handle it for you.]

’You can be cute sometimes.’

[Sometimes?!] she exclaimed, outraged, before catching herself and steering the conversation elsewhere, [Never say that to a goddess! And focus, Cassius, will you?]

’I am focused, trust me. You said the goddess has a power I love. The only power I love is Luck.’ He paused, tilting his head, bread still in his mouth, ’Don’t tell me it’s Luck?’

[It’s her.] she admitted, clearly reluctant, watching Cassius’s face light up with joy. She clicked her tongue in irritation.

[Maybe you’re not ready for a Second Blessing, after all.]

’Come on, don’t be like that.’ He chuckled, ’I’m simply happy to finally get my Second Blessing. And Luck is interesting. I hope there aren’t side effects, though. And I won’t lie, I don’t think I’m strong enough to beat Emrys once he unlocks his other Blessings. And knowing him, he’ll go for the First Spot the moment he gets the chance. So, within days.’

[I can see that happening. I suppose you’ll be aiming for second place, then.]

Cassius’s lips twitched, ’I’ll make Emrys fight Anesthesia first. How dare he go after the Palatine spot before even beating the second ranker? I’ll just play on his ego. Chosen Ones like him have plenty of that. Emrys is prideful and self-centered, though in a harmless, simply annoying way, not a malicious one.’

He sipped his tea gently.

’But how do I actually obtain my Second Blessing? Where is Lady Luck? Who would’ve thought I’d meet her one day? Hahah.’

[You’ll meet her only after you pass her Test. Don’t ask me why, she decided that.]

’Wait, what? Test?’

[Yes.] Ananke nodded, [You’ve been given a Test: Kill a Blessed, Cassius.]

DING!

Cassius stopped eating instantly. Both from her words and the sound of his Fated Quest.

[Fated Quest: Kill The Blessed.]

[Description: To become the Blessed of {The One Who Wields Good Luck}, you have been ordered to kill the Blessed of {Archive of Lies}.

This will be your first true battle against someone backed by a god, Last Born.

A dangerous mission. But an inevitable one.

Show us the power of the bloodline of the First Snake.]

[Rewards: 3,000,000 VP; One Lie Made Truth Ticket, Sealed Artifact of the Mother Demoness of Pestilence.]

Cassius read the quest over and over, unsettled by the Sealed Artifact reward and, more than anything, by the demand to kill a Blessed.

’This...this isn’t a joke?’ He asked, after a moment of contemplation.

[No, Cassius.]

He sighed, ’Fine. But tell me, what kind of consequences will I face if I kill this Blessed?’

[You aren’t a godless being, Cassius. If you kill a Blessed, you’ll significantly weaken the god behind them. That will be enough for me, or her, to finish the job.]

’I see. That’s good, then. Gods against gods, mortals against mortals. That, I can handle.’ He tilted his head, ’Now, where is this Blessed?’

Here, Ananke paused longer than usual, coughing awkwardly, as if reluctant to say it out loud.

But she had no choice.

[Inside the Deathless Prison.]

One second of silence. Two seconds. By the third...

’...inside what?’ Cassius whispered, dazed.

[The Deathless Prison.] she repeated, [The prison under the control of the Deathless Crusaders.]

’This has got to be some kind of joke.’ Cassius blurted, stunned, ’You want me to kill someone imprisoned inside there? A prison famous for having only one way in?’

[I’m not the one who set this Test.] she defended herself, [But yes. You have to, Cassius. You’ll need to find a way inside the prison and kill the Blessed.]

’Queen’s skirt...’ Cassius exclaimed.

But he didn’t even have time to properly voice his dismay before Meadow stepped into the café, looking cute and cheerful in her pink floral robe against her stunning dark skin.

She hurried over the moment she spotted him, her face blooming into a wide smile.

”Sorry! I’m late because, well...I overslept.” She said immediately, sheepish, peering at him through her diamond rimmed glasses as she took a seat across from him with practiced elegance.

But Meadow instantly sensed something off in Cassius’s expression. She tilted her head.

”Something wrong, Cassius?”

”Oh, no, not at all.” He smiled dryly, ”I just got a bit of news. Turns out I need to pull off a heist, except this time I have to kill the person before I even leave the building.”

Silence fell between them instantly.

Meadow’s face twisted.

”Say that again?”

—End of Chapter 262—