Path of the Extra Chapter 273: A World That Shouldn’t Be

"My lord, please drink this."

"...Thank you."

Azriel accepted the glass of water Mio handed him, but instead of drinking, he merely stared at the clear liquid. His fingers trembled faintly, his face devoid of any emotion as he sat at the edge of Mio’s bed.

Mio watched him closely, the concern etched across her face appearing genuine—so genuine that Azriel almost allowed himself to believe it was real. After several heavy seconds, he finally broke the silence, his voice soft and almost a whisper.

"...I don’t think I can go to the village."

"Y-you don’t have to worry about that, my lord! Your health is what’s most important!"

Azriel said nothing in response. After a hesitant moment, he lifted the glass and drained it in one swift motion. Ignoring Mio’s gaze—a gaze that secretly frightened him—he closed his eyes tightly and gritted his teeth.

He didn’t want to do it. He didn’t want to take the next step... didn’t want to confirm it.

Azriel’s body began to shake uncontrollably as Mio continued calling out his name in rising concern. His complexion must have been deathly pale by now, but he couldn’t stop himself from thinking about it.

He couldn’t avoid the terrible truth any longer.

His heart pounding painfully, Azriel forced himself to confront the reality he dreaded most.

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〘 Status Screen 〙

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[Name]: Azriel Crimson

[Age]: 16

[Gender]: Male

[Titles]: Son of Death

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[Mana Core Rank]: Advanced

[Mana Core Grade]: Grade 3

[Mana Core Level]: 3

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[Affinities]:

- Lightning

- Ice

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[Unique Skill]: Redo → One-time use

[Skills]:

- Core Reaper

- Soul’s Crucible

- Eidolon Flesh

- Villain’s Script

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[Sword Arts]: Dance of Death → 15% mastery

- First Form: Death’s Blossom

- Second Form: Thorned Heart

- Third Form: Falling Petals

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[Soul Weapons]:

- Void Eater

- Atropos’ Elegy

[Soul Armor]: Nocturne Covenant

[Soul Echoes]: None / Locked → Unlocks at higher rank

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[???]: None / Locked → Unlocks at higher rank

[???]: None / Locked → Unlocks at higher rank

[???]: None / Locked → Unlocks at higher rank

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Slowly, Azriel opened his eyes and examined the familiar window.

"!!"

His eyes widened in shock.

[Redo] hadn’t activated?

But he had died. He was certain. Whether it was part of a scenario or not, death was undeniably death.

Then... could it be?

All at once, the tension drained from his body, nearly causing Azriel to collapse again. Mio’s distant voice calling out barely registered in his ears.

He wasn’t dead.

[Redo] hadn’t triggered.

The gods didn’t know.

He wouldn’t be trapped in an endless cycle of torment, subject to their whims, tortured forever—or perhaps worse. True death might still await him if they discovered the truth, but Azriel couldn’t be sure. What he knew for certain was that if [Redo] ever activated, he would be completely at their mercy.

But now, he still had a chance.

His body trembled involuntarily as Azriel clutched himself tightly, feeling a chill far deeper and colder than before. His mana core burned hotter, a stark contrast to the unnatural cold consuming his flesh. The memories were vivid, unmistakably real.

They had to be.

Azriel shook his head, forcing the unsettling thoughts away.

He couldn’t afford despair.

Just forget it.

Azriel raised his gaze towards Mio, meeting her worried expression.

A face so convincing it hurt.

"...Lady Mio."

"Yes, my lord?"

She responded instantly, unable to mask the anxious impatience in her voice.

Azriel lowered his head, shadows veiling his expression as he whispered gently, "You had tasks to handle in the village, correct? You shouldn’t waste time here with me."

"But my lord, those things can—"

"...Please, Lady Mio," Azriel interrupted softly.

"I... I need some time alone."

His voice shook, not from pretense but genuine vulnerability. Mio bit her lip, clearly hesitant.

"Very well, my lord. Please rest here. I promise I’ll return as soon as possible."

"...Yes. I’ll wait."

She didn’t know.

She didn’t know that Azriel knew... that she knew things she shouldn’t know about him.

With one last look of concern, she turned and quietly left the cabin.

"..."

Azriel waited quietly until he was certain Mio was truly gone—until her presence had faded into the distance. Only then did he rise slowly from the bed. His legs trembled slightly as he stood, drawing a faint scowl to his lips.

Yet he had never bothered to investigate the cabin before. Somehow, his mind always resisted the thought, as though instinctively avoiding it. But now, he had no other choice.

He needed answers. He needed clarity.

If Nol had been present, he surely would have used [White Haven] to reach out and invite Azriel. But no invitation had come, leaving only troubling possibilities: either Nol was not involved in this scenario at all, something terrible had happened to him, or the Forest of Eternity itself was preventing the connection.

Azriel took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.

Yet now, they had returned.

And there was also the matter of his left hand—torn from his body. But that couldn’t have been caused by the Void Worms.

Azriel ran a hand anxiously through his hair, scratching his head in frustration. Then suddenly, his hand froze.

He combed his fingers slowly through his hair again, disbelief flashing across his face as he felt its abrupt end at his shoulders.

Azriel’s eye widened in shock.

But why? It had always reached down his back ever since he’d awakened from his two-month coma. It was definitely long when he left the cabin before.

"..!"

Azriel’s heartbeat quickened as his mind raced.

Think, think, think!

His mind raced, connecting fragmented pieces at lightning speed.

And then it struck him sharply.

An enormous blunder, completely out of character.

Lady Mio was old, yes—but never foolish.

She was kind, yet certainly not naive.

And at that realization, everything finally fell into place.

Releasing a shaky breath, Azriel slowly raised his trembling right hand to cover his mouth. His voice emerged as an incredulous whisper:

"...I’m trapped inside a dream."