Path of the Extra

Chapter 137: Horrors of Hell [5]

”Is it really smart to rest here?”

Yelena asked, watching Azriel slump against one of the cold stone walls. Theyʼd been walking for gods know how long.

He waved his hand dismissively.

”Trust me, weʼre not getting any safer the farther we go. Itʼs better to gamble and rest now. Weʼll need our strength for whatʼs ahead.”

Sighing, Yelena slid down beside him, resting her bow by her side and hugging her knees. For a moment, they sat in silence, and when she glanced at him, she saw he was watching her with tired eyes.

She thought, ʼ

Even someone like him, always so sure of himself, looks worn down.ʼ

Rumors swirled around Azriel—too many to count. He was one of the most talked-about people she knew. And yet, he rarely acted the part, never seemed to live up or down to any of the stories.

”So... how do you know?” she asked again, softer this time.

A hint of a smile appeared on his lips as he met her gaze, but he didnʼt answer right away. After a beat, he leaned back, closing his eyes.

”I could tell you... but thereʼs no real need for me to.”

Yelena frowned slightly, but Azriel continued,

”Letʼs make a deal instead.”

He opened his eyes, studying her intently.

”Get a result thatʼll satisfy me in the Tournament of the Greats four months from now. And I donʼt mean just in the first-year bracket; Iʼm talking about the main tournament. All years. Competing.”

Her eyes widened. The Tournament of the Greats wasnʼt just some academy event; it was one of the biggest competitions in the world. Academies from every continent—America, Asia, Africa—all gathered for it. And he wanted her to impress him there?

But what could possibly impress the Crimson Prince, the strongest first-year on the continent, the one who led a mission that dismantled a terrorist organization and killed one of its saint leaders?

She opened her mouth to object, but then his next words stopped her cold.

”If you do, Iʼll tell you how I know about Lumine and his system.”

”...!”

Her blood turned to ice.

ʼHe knows!? No... it canʼt be.ʼ

The words seemed to jam in her throat as she stared at him, wide-eyed, struggling to find something to say. The small, almost casual smile on his face made it clear: this wasnʼt a threat. He was simply... stating a fact.

Eventually, she sighed, forcing herself to calm down.

”You wonʼt tell me unless I impress you in the Tournament of the Greats, right?”

Azriel nodded.

”How you do it is up to you.”

Another sigh escaped her as she leaned back, hugging her knees tighter.

ʼI need to know how he knows...ʼ

It wasnʼt a bad deal. Just... difficult. But if she could pull it off, sheʼd have everything to gain.

ʼSo thatʼs why he helped Lumine back then...ʼ

she thought.

ʼHe knew all along.ʼ

”My headʼs starting to hurt,” she muttered, pressing her forehead against her knees. She felt the weight of it all, and suddenly she was just a kid again, thrown into a world she barely understood.

ʼI wonder if Lumine is okay,ʼ

she thought, feeling a pang of worry for her childhood friend.

He was strong, yes, but he could be reckless too, almost too confident—all because of that system of his.

”Iʼm sorry.”

She looked up, startled.

”Huh?”

Azriel was watching her, his eyes apologetic and sad.

”W-why would you be sorry?” she asked, caught off guard. She doubted it was for putting her through this challenge, and something in his expression told her it wasnʼt about that.

”Itʼs my fault that you and Lumine ended up here,” he said quietly. ”I shouldʼve known the Sunken Islands were too dangerous, but I was stubborn. I thought... I thought it would be fine.”

Yelena stared at him, seeing for the first time the guilt shadowing his face as he clenched his fists.

”I got too confident after Neo Genesis,” he murmured. ”No, maybe after everything. I thought I could handle it all. But he was right. Iʼve been playing with fire Iʼm too weak to control. And because of that... others have suffered. Iʼve... always been like this.”

Yelena didnʼt know what to say. The guilt on his face was raw, unguarded.

Azriel didnʼt regret the choices heʼd made, not even destroying the future. But he knew he could have done more, done better. He wasnʼt heartless, and he knew that people had died because of him. Maybe he couldnʼt have changed what happened with Neo Genesis, but here... here, this had been on him.

In truth, he was afraid too. Yelena could see it as he clenched his fists, trying to steady himself. And then, all of a sudden, she laughed.

”S-seriously?” She shook her head, chuckling softly. ”Youʼre starting to remind me of Lumine.”

Azriel blinked, taken aback.

Yelena smiled, a small, gentle thing as she tried to hold back her laughter.

”You really donʼt see it, do you?”

”I donʼt... understand,” he said, still confused.

”Why do you and Lumine act like youʼre responsible for everything? Like itʼs all on you to know whatʼs going to happen, to control it, to prevent it. I guess maybe Iʼm like that too after spending so much time with him, but... we donʼt need to. Weʼre just kids. Scared kids thrown into this hell.”

He looked at her, her words sinking in.

”But... you and Lumine arenʼt a prince or princess,” he murmured.

”I am. I have a responsibility to uphold, even if I donʼt want it. Even if Iʼm not the heir, my actions, my choices—they reflect on my family. Everyone saw it. They branded me as the unworthy prince for not even showing my face... like I was some kind of stain.”

Yelena nodded, thoughtful.

”Maybe thatʼs true... but maybe youʼre just moving too fast. And if the adults want to look at you and judge a sixteen-year-old prince without thinking twice, then let them. They might as well become food for these void creatures.”

Azriel stared at her, and for a moment, she wondered if sheʼd overstepped. But then, he laughed.

It was a different laugh, lighter, more genuine.

Watching Azriel for herself, she knew now that at least the bad rumors were false—just nonsense spread by people who didnʼt know him.

She rolled her eyes at the rumors, realizing how ridiculous they sounded now. He was just a boy with his own problems, unfairly scrutinized for it.

ʼLumine was right. Heʼs a good person…ʼ

”I guess youʼre right... I shouldnʼt be the one bearing all the responsibility.”

Not for being the only one to save this world.

A quiet smile of satisfaction crossed Yelenaʼs face as she saw him ease, if only slightly. She gave herself a quick nod in approval, but her guard remained vigilant, eyes scanning the dim surroundings for any lurking threats or void creatures. Still, with Azriel beside her, she felt a touch of reassurance, her wariness melting, if only a bit.

”You really do have a way with words...” he said with a faint smile.

Yelena returned his look with a gentle smile.

”Thanks.”

He leaned in slightly, a mischievous glint flickering in his eyes.

”So, why havenʼt you used those words to confess your love to Lumine yet?”

”...”

”...”

A silence blanketed them so thoroughly it felt like the very walls were holding their breath.

Only the faint sound of their breathing filled the air as their eyes locked, neither moving, until—

Gradually, a flush of red crept up Yelenaʼs cheeks, spreading like wildfire. Her entire face turned crimson, the heat of embarrassment surpassing even the fear sheʼd felt in this accursed place.

ʼHE KNOWS ABOUT THAT TOO?!ʼ

The embarrassment overwhelmed any fear as she looked at him, only to see his teasing smile.

ʼT-this hateful prince!ʼ

Here she was, comforting him, and he pulls this!

”So?” he asked innocently. ”Why havenʼt you told him? Or are you waiting for him to confess first? I heard sometimes people like that.”

Yelena felt herself freeze, staring into his scarlet eyes, unable to look away though she desperately wanted to escape.

”T-that... I...”

Azriel tilted his head, feigning deep thought, making her head feel like it was spinning as he looked at her, urging her to speak.

”T-that... because... I...”

”Hahaha! Iʼm just teasing you,” he chuckled. ”You donʼt need to tell me if youʼre not comfortable.”

Her mind went blank. It was like heʼd shut off her thoughts entirely.

She stayed red-faced, her heart thumping, this time not just from embarrassment.

”Y-you...!”

ʼI hate this prince!ʼ

She wanted to take her kindness back!