Path of the Extra Chapter 402: “You Are Going to Die”

"Nol, from which stall did you procure this? It is quite delicious."

With a rare, contented smile gracing his features, Azriel ambled alongside Nol, a skewer of grilled meat held in his hand. Nol, accompanying him, was also enjoying a skewer, while his other hand cradled the little girl, Lia, who too was happily nibbling on her own. Yet, a discernible difference was present amongst the three of them.

Lia’s face was adorned with grease.

Nol’s appearance was not significantly tidier.

Azriel, in contrast, consumed his food with an air that suggested an impossibility of him creating a mess.

Before long, the trio continued their stroll down the vibrant street. Azriel listened as Nol enthusiastically recounted the marvels of the fireworks and the food. It was Nol’s inaugural experience with fireworks, and the childlike wonder evident in his eyes and voice was impossible to overlook.

"And so, Master, I have definitively concluded that chicken nuggets surpass tenders in my preference! Who knew this realm offered both?"

"..."

"What about your preference, Master? I understand you dislike admitting your pickiness, but between the two, which would you choose?"

"..."

"Master?"

Not receiving a response, Nol’s expression turned to a pout. He glanced sideways, only to discover Azriel was no longer present.

Instantly, he halted, prompting Lia to stop as well and look up at him with bewilderment.

Nol turned towards where Azriel should have been—and his movement ceased.

Azriel was no longer by his side.

"Master?" he inquired once more, turning around.

He found Azriel standing several paces behind them, his back facing them. A gentle gust of wind drifted through the street, subtly rustling their garments.

With a frown, Nol began to approach, guiding Lia along. His gaze then followed Azriel’s, and he quickly identified the object of his attention.

He froze before he could even reach Azriel.

Lia’s small head bumped against his leg with a soft yelp, but Nol was too stunned to react.

A knight stood a few meters in front of Azriel.

This knight, exceeding six feet in stature, was made to appear even more imposing by the meticulously crafted armor he wore. Gleaming steel encased him from head to toe in smooth, elegant plates, each etched with delicate feathered patterns that shimmered like fiery silver in the light. A radiant sun symbol was intricately carved into the center of his chestplate, its rays extending across the breastplate like a sacred emblem. His helmet was sharp and regal, concealing his face behind a narrow visor, and a sun-shaped crest ascended from it, resembling a frozen dawn. Broad pauldrons lent him a formidable, commanding silhouette, and the long, split cloak descending from his waist swayed with a quiet, dignified presence.

He did not resemble a man clad in armor.

He bore a striking resemblance to a deity of war.

Beside him, a sword with a white hilt was embedded in the ground.

The distinctive white armor alone was sufficient to draw attention, but perhaps it was more—perhaps it was the overwhelming aura emanating from him that captivated every eye on the street.

Soon, a circle of onlookers formed around Azriel, Nol, Lia, and the imposing white knight.

Nol recognized the knight.

No—he recognized the armor.

A wave of fear began to wash over him.

"M-Master! He—"

He exclaimed in alarm, only to be interrupted by Azriel’s composed and steady voice.

"I am aware," Azriel replied.

Without turning, Azriel addressed the knight standing rigidly before him.

"So you are a knight of the Sun’s Shadow. Might I inquire your name, sir?"

As anticipated from his master, Nol mused to himself; Azriel displayed no apprehension. However, it was not this lack of fear that unsettled him.

It was the distinct tone of respect in Azriel’s inquiry.

The Sun’s Shadow.

While the name was unfamiliar to the surrounding crowd, they grasped one crucial detail.

He was a knight.

"He’s a knight? By the gods, what magnificent armor! I presumed knights only donned gold. Even the King’s Guard displays gold!"

"The emblem of our great sun... Are you certain he is not affiliated with the King’s Guard? Or perhaps one of the royal knights?"

"...Whatever that armor signifies, it is undeniably splendid..."

"Indeed, but it appears that pretty boy is in quite the predicament."

"Damn. Whom did he manage to offend?"

Disregarding the murmuring spectators, Azriel initiated a slow advance towards the knight, each step deliberate and measured.

"Did my previous question lack sufficient volume?" Azriel inquired again.

"What is your name, sir?"

The instant Azriel closed the distance, the knight unsheathed his sword.

A sharp hiss echoed through the crowd, immediately followed by a profound silence blanketing the entire street.

The tip of the blade halted precisely an inch from Azriel’s forehead.

Yet, Azriel betrayed no surprise. His expression remained one of calm composure, and when he spoke once more, his voice sliced clearly through the silence, astonishing all present.

"Were you, by chance, born without a name?"

The subtle mockery laced within his words was unmistakable.

Initially, the knight offered no visible reaction.

Then, a second later, a voice responded—soft, detached, and chillingly cold.

"Dame Selene. It is my honor."

At that moment, Azriel—and indeed, everyone else—comprehended the truth.

The armored figure revealed itself to be not a man, but a woman.

Before Azriel stood a female knight.

"A female knight?" Azriel vocalized, a polite smile gracing his lips.

"The honor is mine."

His gaze then swept the surroundings, as if suddenly sensing the escalating tension.

"But what brings you here, Dame Selene? I would imagine a grand celebration is underway at the palace. Should you not be there, quelling the situation?"

"The royal knights are already en route," she replied curtly.

Azriel, of course, knew Liliane and her contingent had been dispatched to the palace as a diversion. Yet, he had also harbored suspicions that Lioren had ulterior motives—perhaps a desperate act, like assassinating the Saintess amidst the chaos, using others as similar distractions.

Though Azriel doubted events would unfold as Lioren intended.

The system integrated with Lumine had remained peculiarly silent for the past few months, permitting him to languish beside the slumbering Yelena. Nevertheless, Azriel held no doubt that the moment Lumine craved power, it would resurface.

This was the reason for Azriel's composure.

It was also why none of his clan's men were present—nor were any of Celestina's. They were likely operating under the directives of the two princesses, both attempting to unravel Lioren's clandestine schemes.

However, none of that concerned Azriel at this moment.

"Then, what brings you to me?" Azriel inquired, turning his attention back to the dame.

"To be more precise, my question is this: what brings you to the capital, and subsequently to me? Are you not meant to be among the King's Guards, defending your sovereign alongside the other knights of the Sun's Shadow?"

What Azriel didn't question from Lioren's assurance was that all the King's Guards were with the king, currently at the summit Azriel himself would reach in mere hours, thanks to Lioren's swift travel capabilities.

Naturally, Azriel would have anticipated these elite secret knights to be by the king's side, or at least engaged in other kingdoms, sowing discord or executing similar missions, rather than remaining within the very realm their king was sworn to protect.

But Azriel dismissed that notion.

The knight before him was not here by chance. There was a distinct resolve in her dark eyes.

"Not you."

She suddenly spoke, her sword gesturing past him.

"Him. Her."

Azriel shifted his head slightly, casting a look at the two individuals behind him. Both Nol and Lia had turned ashen, their faces fixed in expressions of shock.

For once, Azriel was not the cause of their distress.

Releasing an internal sigh and attempting to lift his spirits, Azriel redirected his gaze to the dame.

"Ah, I comprehend." He scratched the back of his head with a crestfallen look, his voice tinged with disappointment. "However, these two are under my charge, Dame Selene. I regret to inform you, but they will not be going anywhere without my consent."

"I understand."

To Azriel's astonishment—and indeed, everyone else's—the knight conceded with surprising ease.

"Excellent," Azriel declared, evidently pleased with both himself and her compliance.

Dame Selene then took several steps back, raising her sword towards him, assuming a posture Azriel could only interpret as an intention to run him through.

Azriel blinked a couple of times as she spoke again, her voice even lower and sharper than before.

"Then I shall strike you down first, and take them afterward."

The dame clearly favored concise statements. Perhaps she was not one for extensive conversation.

This time, Azriel let out an audible sigh.

"And here I was, hoping for a peaceful conclusion to the night."

Naturally, Azriel had acknowledged the inherent risks of venturing out during the festival. The possibility of an altercation had always been present.

Still, an exceptional individual like Azriel could only maintain hope.

Retreating a few steps, he readied himself as well, preparing to confront the knight. The onlookers, caught between anticipation and apprehension, hastily moved back, widening the area between them, while Nol and Lia fell back with the dispersing crowd.

While Azriel pondered these thoughts, Dame Selene tilted her head slightly and looked past him, addressing Nol and Lia in a voice loud enough for them to clearly hear.

"After I've dealt with him, please surrender peacefully. I assure you, the silver-haired girl and the black-haired girl will remain unharmed."

The instant she subtly shifted her face to the left, a spear of ice, crackling with pale white lightning, shot past her helmet, missing it by a mere hair's breadth.

She froze.

As did everyone else.

Subsequently, all eyes swiveled towards Azriel.

And in that very moment, every soul present felt their heart lurch and their breath hitch as white lightning suddenly erupted across his body.

Dame Selene unleashed her aura simultaneously.

Its formidable pressure amplified hundreds of times over.

"Ugh—!"

Instantly, those nearby groaned and succumbed to the ground, unable to endure the overwhelming force.

Everyone besides Azriel was spared from this fate.

And to the crowd’s further amazement—for those still capable of looking up—

Azriel unleashed his own terrifying aura.

He gazed at Dame Selene, his expression devoid of warmth, chilling to an almost inhuman degree.

Then, his voice dropped, laden with menace.

"You are going to die."