Chapter 593: Awaken to the truth

Even though he desperately wanted to kill himself right now—then kill Su Yuan afterward—to trigger a death rewind and change everything…

Because of the potion Dehya had mixed into the fruit juice, Aether felt as though all the bones in his body had softened.

He couldn’t muster even the slightest bit of strength.

Forget drawing his sword to end his own life—he couldn’t even move a finger…

Su Yuan clearly realized the same thing.

So before completely losing consciousness, the only thing they could rely on was words—to try and persuade Dehya.

“Dehya!!! What kind of person do you think Dunyarzad is???” Aether forced out the words, using every last ounce of strength to shout.

Dehya paused, her eyes flickering as she recalled countless memories.

She spoke slowly, one word at a time:

“Dunyarzad is a kind person. Even though she was born into wealth, she always cared for others. She’s nothing like those arrogant, spoiled nobles…”

“Dunyarzad is strong, and optimistic too. Even though she’s burdened with illness, she still faces every day with a smile… even when the pain is unbearable, she never lets anyone else see her suffering…”

“So, Dehya!!!” Aether struggled to continue, voice hoarse and strained:

“If Dunyarzad knew what you were doing right now—if she knew you were trying to save her like this—what would she think? Would she accept it??”

“Everything you’re doing right now… is nothing but your own selfish wishful thinking!!!”

After forcing out this final shout, Aether—and everyone else present—finally slipped into unconsciousness.

When Su Yuan, Aether, Paimon, and Kirara awoke again, they found themselves in an enclosed space that rocked and swayed, as if they were being transported somewhere.

“We’re doomed… Dehya really did capture us…” Paimon said in despair.

“We’re probably being sent to the Sanctuary of Surasthana right now…”

“No, I don’t think so,” Kirara corrected her.

“We’re not tied up at all. If Dehya wanted to deliver us to the Sanctuary, she would at least restrain us first, right?”

Just then, they heard Dehya’s voice from outside:

“Oh, you’re awake?”

“Don’t worry. I’ve completely thought things through. I’m not handing you over to the Lesser Lord.”

They looked outside and saw that they were riding on the back of a pack beast, steadily moving forward.

“…You were right,” Dehya said with a sigh, her voice filled with sadness and resignation.

“Even if I saved Dunyarzad like this… Dunyarzad would never forgive me…”

“So where are we going now?” Paimon asked.

“You said you wanted to leave Sumeru and go to Natlan, right? So we’re heading west.” Dehya replied simply.

“Dehya, what’s happening in Sumeru City now?” Su Yuan asked, suddenly realizing she had come from there.

“Sumeru City… is basically a ghost town now,” Dehya answered.

“The Lesser Lord—after being corrupted by the eerie force—has ‘invited’ everyone to her home to be her guests…”

“But in reality… they’re all imprisoned.”

“Imprisoned?” Su Yuan murmured. “So they’re alive?”

“They should be,” Dehya nodded. “I suppose that counts as at least half-good news…”

“The Eerie Nahida is choosing to imprison people…” Aether mused.

“Is that because of what she experienced when the former sages imprisoned her?”

“It’s possible,” Su Yuan agreed. “If they’re only being held, then that is an advantage for us. It means we still have time to reach Natlan…”

“But what worries me,” Su Yuan continued, voice growing heavy, “is that I do not believe the God of Wisdom—Lesser Lord Kusanali—would only use one method to stop us from leaving Sumeru…”

Just as Su Yuan finished speaking, something stirred in the desert ahead…

“Traveler, did you see that?” Paimon said, her voice a bit shaky.

“You always say I jinx things, but it looks like Su Yuan might be catching up to me!”

Everyone lifted their heads, looking toward the source of the disturbance.

“…Are those… Aranara??” Paimon exclaimed in shock, seeing several small, whimsical figures emerge from the sands.

“This is my first time seeing Aranara outside the rainforest of Sumeru!”

“These Aranara were likely sent by the Eerie Nahida to stop us,” Aether said solemnly.

“Aranara? What are those?” Dehya and Kirara asked, confused.

“We heard something, sure—but we don’t see anything at all!”

“…I don’t see anything either,” Su Yuan said quietly.

At that moment, Aether, Su Yuan, and Paimon realized something very serious.

Not everyone could see Aranara.

Some children in Sumeru could see them when they were young, but after growing up, they lost the ability.

Because Aranara could only be seen by those with a pure, childlike heart.

And at the same time, Aether noticed something even more alarming.

These Aranara… were not normal.

They were surrounded by a faint aura of eerie corruption.

Was it because Aranara were closely connected to the Dendro Archon, Nahida? And now that she had been corrupted, the Aranara had been affected as well?

“…What a cruel move,” Aether muttered through clenched teeth.

“Sending Aranara against us…”

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