Path of the Extra Chapter 410: The Apostle of Life and the Apostle of Death [1]

He... he actually knew everything.

Azriel knew absolutely everything.

Hearing those words uttered by Azriel felt strangely unfamiliar, unreal even, as if it were all wrong.

Yet, he had spoken them.

He truly had.

"H-How...?" Lumine attempted to maintain a steady voice but failed miserably.

Azriel, meanwhile, appeared as at ease as ever.

No—

Shifting one leg closer, he rested his arm upon it, then his head, gazing down at the lantern with a solitary smile.

"How, you ask?" he murmured. "Unfortunately, we only have thirty minutes before they reach their destination and commence their destructive activities. And explaining everything to you is simply not feasible, as it's quite an extensive narrative. Nor do I possess the inclination to reveal more than I have already tonight."

Lumine pressed his lips together, preparing to speak, but Azriel preempted him.

"However, what I will tell you... is that I am the Apostle of Death."

"...What?"

Lumine’s mind went blank.

Then, a moment later, it snapped back to awareness, and his eyes began to waver.

"No way..."

His eyes widened even further.

"N-No—!"

He immediately covered his mouth with both hands.

A chuckle escaped Azriel’s lips as he observed Lumine with evident amusement.

"I imagine the system issued a warning, instructing you not to disclose anything about itself, correct?"

Still with his hands covering his mouth, Lumine nodded rapidly.

Azriel let out a soft sigh and regarded him with the sort of warmth usually reserved for someone rather dense.

"This scenario is akin to a television broadcast. They stream our perspectives, equipping us with unseen cameras. However, there's an exception to this rule, at least within this particular scenario."

He cast a glance at Lumine.

"An apostle cannot be streamed while in solitude. This means that unless you have someone like Yelena accompanying you, no one can observe you. Aside from the proctor, naturally—but he is absent."

In essence, since both of them were apostles, neither could be streamed at this moment.

Swallowing, Lumine felt a surge of courage. Placing a modicum of trust in Azriel, he decided to test the veracity of his statement.

"...I possess a system."

"..."

"I am a system user."

"..."

Nothing transpired.

Absolutely nothing.

Apart from Azriel emitting a soft chuckle at his expense.

Lumine scowled inwardly.

He averted his gaze, feeling an inexplicable irritation.

...He was most certainly not jealous.

Releasing a slow breath, he inquired,

"So... the Apostle of Death, you say? Then... are you the offspring of the God of Death? Death's son?"

He posed the question hesitantly, and Azriel simply gave a nod.

"...It doesn’t feel real," Lumine murmured, his tone suddenly tinged with a hint of sadness.

"I believed I was the sole apostle..."

Azriel pulled up his sleeve, exposing an arm swathed in bandages. Then, with care, he began to unwrap them.

Upon revealing the mark beneath, Lumine ceased to breathe.

"Here," Azriel stated. "You have your proof."

"Wow..."

A tattoo stretched across Azriel’s forearm.

Lumine’s eyes absorbed every minute detail, completely captivated.

A skull with vacant, unending eyes was depicted, its surface fractured and weathered like ancient stone.

Behind it, magnificent wings unfurled—feathers transforming into sharp bone, suspended between the realms of life and death.

Beneath the skull, an hourglass hung, its framework entwined with thorny vines that appeared to pierce Azriel’s flesh.

And behind it all, a scythe curved, its blade shimmering with an ethereal luminescence, the handle adorned with ancient runes Lumine couldn't decipher.

Eventually, Azriel retreated and re-wrapped the bandages around his arm.

"It's quite a nuisance having to conceal this mark constantly," he remarked. "But these bandages are sufficiently specialized to prevent any visibility."

He then pulled his sleeve back down, leaned back, and once more directed his gaze at the lantern burning between them.

Lumine was unsure of what to articulate.

No—

That wasn't accurate.

He knew precisely what he wished to convey.

The issue was the sheer volume of it.

Too many questions.

An overwhelming number of thoughts swirled in his head, causing discomfort.

Consequently, Lumine ultimately let everything pour out simultaneously.

"How...? How are you the Apostle of Death? A-And why have you consistently aided Yelena and me so much? A-Are you secretly malevolent? I-I understand the God of Death isn't typically perceived as the most benevolent deity, even though he's venerated alongside the other ten gods, but... does that position you as a villain? What are your intentions? Why are you being so transparent about this? Why did you disclose everything to Yelena before me? And why didn't you reveal this sooner? Furthermore, how do you possess knowledge of me—of all of this?"

This time, Azriel displayed genuine surprise. He looked at Lumine with wide eyes, almost taken aback by the sheer barrage of inquiries. His expression then softened, and he emitted a quiet, low laugh.

"I achieved the status of Apostle of Death by perishing," he stated. "And then I continued to die, repeatedly, until I exasperated her to the point where she finally relented and appointed me as her son."

"Wait... ?"

Noticing the specific gender Azriel used for the God of Death, Lumine’s eyes widened once more. However, Azriel continued speaking, addressing each of Lumine’s questions with a gentle, almost reminiscent tone.

"I assisted you and Yelena because, well..." Azriel looked away, a hint of embarrassment coloring his expression as he scratched his cheek. "The boundary between acquaintance and friend can often be indistinct. And while perhaps the three of us haven’t spent an extensive amount of time together... I do consider both of you my friends."

Lumine froze, stunned by the declaration.

Simultaneously, a warmth spread through a deep part of his chest.

More than once, Lumine had pondered if he could genuinely claim Azriel as a friend. He had harbored that desire. He had hoped it was possible.

Without even realizing it, Lumine’s lips curved into a smile—a wide, radiant, and joyful expression.

"As for the reason I’m being so candid about this," Azriel proceeded, "it’s not as if I would have minded if you had inquired sooner. I informed Yelena because I wished to provide you both with a measure of motivation. I also had foresight into her withholding the information from you initially, as I understood her thought process... and just how much she relies on her [Instinct]. That is the very element that caused her such prolonged confusion. She likely should have disclosed it around the time of the Tournament of the Greats, but this present situation deviates from the intended course. It has been protracted far beyond what's typical."

He paused momentarily before resuming his explanation.

"And concerning how I possess this knowledge... you could consider it an incidental outcome of being the Apostle of Death. Or perhaps, not incidental at all. Maybe it serves as a reason. Or a consequence. Regardless, we lack the time for me to expound upon the specifics, but the straightforward reality is that I am aware of things beyond my rightful knowledge."

Upon hearing these revelations, Lumine clasped his head with both hands, emitting a groan.

Now that Azriel was so readily—so openly—providing answers, Lumine’s head began to throb under the onslaught of information.

"Here."

The abrupt utterance cut through the turmoil in his mind.

Azriel was extending a book towards him.

No, not precisely a book.

It bore a closer resemblance to a notebook, its cover a simple, unadorned black.

Perplexed, Lumine reached out for it. Yet, the instant his hand attempted to grasp it, Azriel’s hold tightened, refusing to relinquish it.

Azriel then spoke, his tone grave, compelling Lumine’s immediate and undivided attention.

"Listen to me, Lumine. You must never, under any circumstances, read the contents of this book unless you find yourself at the absolute nadir of your existence—a point where escape seems impossible and you are certain your end is nigh."

A sensation akin to a frigid gust swept through him.

A shiver traced its way across his skin, and his heart began to beat at an accelerated pace.

"W-Why?" Lumine inquired, a tremor of fear in his voice.

"What exactly lies within this book?"

"Information."

"Huh?"

Lumine stared at him, suddenly feeling foolish.

Why had Azriel’s words created the impression that reading the book would exact a terrible price?

However, Azriel’s expression remained utterly serious.

"Information can be both the most profound blessing and the most devastating curse," he stated. "And the contents of this book embody both. Acquiring the knowledge contained within might offer you assistance... but it could also lead to the demise of someone you hold dear."

Lumine inhaled sharply, drawing in a sudden breath.

Only then did Azriel finally release his grip on the notebook, allowing it to rest in Lumine’s hands.

Still gazing down at it in a daze, Lumine quietly asked,

"Why… why are you entrusting this to me…?"

Azriel rested his forehead against his knee, and Lumine heard the sound of a slow exhale. Then, he offered a smile once more.

There it was again.

That solitary, poignant smile.

"The circumstances you and the others are facing differ from my own past," Azriel said softly. "At the very least… the ultimate conclusion will be distinct."

Frowning, his understanding incomplete, Lumine listened as Azriel continued.

"Even if the methods required to overcome this current scenario are identical to mine, you can perceive me as having to fulfill an additional, separate scenario. One that exists on a completely different plane... and one whose successful completion I am not entirely certain of."

"What are you implying…?"

Azriel gently closed his eyes.

For reasons unknown, he appeared extraordinarily serene.

Then, in a voice so tranquil it caused Lumine’s chest to constrict—

"The truth is, Lumine... very soon, I will cease to exist."