Chapter 450: Connecting Clues!
After hearing Keshia's explanation, Ryuunosuke finally began piecing things together.
So-called eternal life wasn't some miracle—it was power obtained through a trade. A curse disguised as a blessing. And whoever bestowed that power was tied to Raftel itself.
Those who received it became the "Guardians."
Keshia was one of them. Her price had been strange: her soul split, or rather, another soul was grafted onto hers. That was why she seemed like two people—her usual self and the other self that appeared when she drank.
Ryuunosuke frowned. "So… is there a way to undo it? If Kruel Busulud wanted to reclaim his lost body, or the lover he sacrificed, could he?"
Kshia's expression hardened. "Equivalent exchange. To get back what he lost, he would have to surrender something of equal value. What qualifies as equal… only the one who paid the price can know. That knowledge doesn't exist outside themselves."
"Equivalent exchange…" Ryuunosuke muttered. The phrase left a bitter taste. He'd heard it before, in tales from another world—an unforgiving law. And even if you traded, was what you got back really the same? The truth was harsher: once you gave something up, it was gone forever. Anything returned was only an echo.
He exhaled. "Then what about you, Keshia? What's your condition?"
"My condition?" She tilted her head. "I don't have one. I only lost control of a part of my body. And… me and the 'other me' get along well enough. There's no conflict between us. No regret, no longing. So, no conditions."
Her casual shrug didn't hide the gravity of her words.
Ryuunosuke fell silent, processing.
Then, Keshia conjured a parchment from nowhere and began listing the Guardians.
Boss: Jeff. The one who issues all missions, with full authority over the Guardian team. His ability? Erasure. No one remembers seeing it—because anyone who did is already dead.
Guardian Knight: Wade. Executes tasks under Jeff's command. His ability binds and protects, creating absolute bonds and shields for himself and others.
Guardian Chief: Kruel Busulud. Tasked with reconnaissance, reports only to Jeff. He wields Underworld Energy—chilling power coupled with terrifying speed and swordsmanship.
And more. In total, seven Guardians. Sevian was already dead, leaving six.
Ryuunosuke realized with a sinking weight that he had already crossed paths with nearly all of them: Wade, Busulud, Kshia, and even Loli. Each encounter confirmed the same truth—their strength was monstrous. Seven such beings alone were enough to threaten the seas.
He leaned back. "Alright. I've got the information. Now tell me—what's your brilliant plan?"
Because if the Guardians were truly this powerful, then what were they really guarding? To him, they didn't seem like protectors of anything at all.
Keshia's gaze sharpened. "Guardians aren't only about protection. We're guides. If we hadn't deliberately allowed Roger through, he never would've reached Raftel. We expected him to join us… but for some reason, he didn't receive the gift. His body decayed, and he died soon after."
She leaned closer, her voice low. "So when you go to Raftel, you probably won't face resistance. Some may even help you. That's why my plan is simple: we use the opportunity to draw out Kruel Busulud… and kill him. As long as he's alive, he'll never stop hunting me."
Ryuunosuke closed his eyes for a moment. The puzzle pieces began to click into place. The scattered scraps of information he'd gathered from Rayleigh, Bullet, and others now aligned.
The Guardians were not just protectors—they were selectors, chosen from those who survived Raftel's curse. Roy himself had once been one of them. His betrayal explained why the Guardians hadn't reacted much when Sevian fell.
To them, Ryuunosuke was already half-seen as a candidate.
"So, if I head straight for Raftel, they won't stop me…" he murmured. "But if that's true, your plan has a flaw. If I chose to become a Guardian myself, I wouldn't need anything you're proposing."
Keshia froze, caught off guard. His logic was sound. If he accepted the curse, he wouldn't need her alliance at all.
But then her lips curved into a thin smile. "Captain Ryuunosuke… the fact that you can say that out loud means you won't choose it. At least, not as your first choice. That alone is enough for me. If you want to change the plan, I'll adapt."
Ryuunosuke studied her quietly. This woman was dangerous. The carefree, clumsy girl who picked her feet was an act; behind it was a razor-sharp mind. Underestimating her would be fatal.
"…I'll make my arrangements. Wait here."
He stood and left the cabin. As soon as he was gone, Keshia's smile faded, replaced with something colder.
"How cautious," she whispered to herself. "But the more cautious he is, the better. That will make the odds of success much higher."
Her lips curled again into a sly grin.
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