[Nightmare]

Chapter 172 [Proof]

"Wait!" Liliana cried out.

She wasn't talking to Helix but to the guard that was in motion to attack him.

Blink.

Helix disappeared.

Blink.

The guard crashed to the ground from his falling momentum.

Blink.

Helix reappeared on the other side of the guard.

He continued walking without saying another word.

The guards at the entrance unsheathed their swords.

"Move."

The guards present started swaying in disoriented confusion.

Their heart pulsed from the loud noise, and one of them fell to a knee from lack of balance.

He didn't hold back. They were hit with the same Ghost Walker Trigger experience as Tilo.

"Stand down, guards!" Liliana screamed.

Helix released his [Desync] circle, and the guards in front of him stood up in a disoriented state.

He wouldn't use something he couldn't explain to those who didn't understand the concept of [Killing Intent].

They sheathed their swords, and the guards behind them did as well.

"Sir Helix, wait!" Chief Salkey yelled.

Helix stopped but did not turn back.

"You understand that this was a test, right, boy?"

"Yes. However, in the last two days, five guards have tried cutting me down with swords." Helix announced.

Liliana's eyes widened in shock.

Chief Salkey and General Masov were shocked.

However, that was only the beginning.

"Two nobles told five guards to execute me in public.

An Earthian Knight from Thyme tried killing other Knights and me in the arena.

Royal Knights and guards have unsheathed their swords.

One tried to attack me.

I've been accused of being a traitor and now asked to be jailed until you can make a legal ruling of my innocence."

Queen Liliana was stunned, speechless to understand how many times he had been attacked.

Her intentions were well-meaning.

Giving Helix a chance to explain himself could alleviate concerns.

Masov and Salkey stared at him with complex expressions.

"I was abducted from my family, friends, and future on Earth to fight your war.

People killed my lover and tried to assassinate me three times.

I fought an enemy that could destroy this country if it moved in this direction.

In the process, I lost my Master, whom I dearly cared about.

I apologize for not having patience with your tests and political games.

If my presence before you isn't proof enough that I'm not a traitor, I'm walking away."

After five seconds of silence, Helix motioned to turn away.

"Sir Helix. We apologize for your reception in Alzeria.

We support you and are grateful.

That's why we're here; we want to support you." Masov called out.

Helix stopped again.

"However, you understand how much you're asking from us with nothing but a few credentials, right?"

Helix took a deep breath and calmed down.

"You're asking us to support you with the full backing of the kingdom's military and are making decisions on our behalf.

We normally wouldn't consider that request for a monarch." Masov reasoned.

Helix took a deep breath, turned around, and met the man's gaze.

"I apologize for my resentment.

I've caused you all a lot of trouble.

My situation is abnormal, and I forget that.

I'm also sorry for using my unique position to request aid from Kozen.

A day after watching my master die, I made that request and was emotional.

I didn't want to see anyone else die.

There were better ways to address the situation.

I am sorry for my poor decision." He said with a bow.

The three were stunned by the shift in pace.

It was shocking how fast Helix was able to admit his wrong doings.

"I request you consider my situation equally.

I'm here because our power is too strong to use in battle without friendly fire decimating the troops.

If you placed me in confinement for my benign intentions, this city would be razed by nightfall."

A wave of fear washed over everyone present.

Helix's pitch-black eyes showed how serious he was being.

"That level of power is the reason I'm speaking to you.

I'm not making a threat; it's a general reality you must accept.

I respected your tests until you asked me to be held in confinement because it was dangerous.

That was also a well-meaning test.

I understand you wanted to know whether I'd be peaceful and cooperative with Alzerian law.

However, it completely ignored the gravity of the reason I'm here.

Our power is your greatest ally in times of need.

We wish to share it with open arms.

I am not an unreasonable person.

I will sit down and have a discussion, share my resources, and cooperate with you.

I'm not asking for power or authority.

I only ask that you work with us to prevent soldiers from dying from friendly fire or our inability for us to fight.

I will prove our power and let you experience my concerns firsthand.

So please, your majesty, Chief Salkey, and General Masov.

Please treat my request seriously and respect the sacrifices I've made to get here."

Helix took a deep breath.

"Permission to approach, your majesty." He said with a humble bow.

"Y-Yes. You may approach."

Many of the guards were hesitant to let him approach but stood resolved.

When Helix reached Macron, he kneeled again.

"I ask your forgiveness, your majesty." Helix said in a humble tone.

"I am here to support you and do not wish to cause trouble for you or Alzeria.

I request that all officials not threaten my life to avoid that.

If you're okay with that, I am willing to continue."

Liliana took a deep breath to compose herself.

"Sir Helix, please rise." She requested.

Helix stood up and showed the group the complex expression on his face.

Beneath the confidence, everyone could see pain.

"Please demonstrate your group's Nightmares to Chief Salkey and General Masov tomorrow." Liliana requested.

"I'll arrange for a Gryphon to bring you to an area suitable for the undertaking.

I believe it's best for everyone if they witness your might.

We can return to this conversation on an equal footing after you return.

Chief Salkey, General Masov, do you find this acceptable?"

"I do." Salkey replied.

"I agree as well." Masov affirmed.

"Sir Helix?"

"I would be grateful for that, your majesty." Helix replied.

—

"Boy…. Are you fuckin' idiot now?

If you weren't so damn strong, I'd rip your femoral artery out and choke you with it!" Macron roared.

Helix walked in silence.

"At least say something, boy!" The man cried.

Helix stopped walking and turned to Macron.

"What do you want me to say?"

The man quieted down, and his words got stuck in the back of his throat.

"There's only so much I can take, Macron.

I only have so much fake charm at my disposal." Helix continued with a firm voice.

"The only thing standing between the Alzerian Capital and complete annihilation is me.

That's a fact. The burden is on my shoulders."

He took a deep breath to compose himself.

Macron stared at him with conflicted eyes.

"Some might argue that I don't owe Alzeria a damn thing.

Some are cold and will say this is just the way of the world.

You can't save people from themselves.

Let people be dumb; when they get slaughtered, that's their problem.

They should've listened."

Helix gave the man a resentment-laced expression.

"I'm not those people, Macron.

I'm not a hero; I have no grand ambitions.

I'm just a normal boy who should be starting College this month.

But the idea of letting people die when I've heard it would happen haunts me.

The images of Emelia and Master Tyrene dying are scarred into my memory.

Thinking about what it would be like to have all the Earthians and people I care about die… is emotionally disturbing.

Yet I'm the only person that can bring Marie, Charlotte, and Riley together to fight.

I've proven to be the only person that can keep the Earthians in check.

No one can say, [It's not your fault, kid. There's nothing you could've done about it.] to me.

Either I'm here risking my life with my partners, or everyone dies."

Helix wanted to scream.

The endless charm he was putting on was starting to eat at him.

His internal emotion didn't match his outside demeanor.

He was strong, but it was a conscious action, not a natural mindset.

"Now I'm here, Macron.

Half a dozen people have tried to kill me out of misunderstandings or misuse of their power.

Small movements are going to start coming after me.

I wake up, and all I think about is protecting the three women I love.

Yet I'm risking their lives for others.

Still, I'm getting tested for my loyalty." He asserted with a caustic chuckle.

"Is it warranted? Sure. It's natural; it's normal.

Am I recklessly running around doing whatever I want? Yes.

Is it foolish? Absolutely.

But in a world where people don't ask you to prove things, what am I supposed to do?

We might get attacked tomorrow or next week.

Should I enter negotiations for a week to be the otaku babysitters?

Do I need to go through a ceremony to get an audience with the generals?

I'm training the otakus and just got a meeting in a few days.

How else could I have pulled that off?

How could I auction off items to Earthians without causing resentment?

Imagine I suddenly show up one day, and General Masov says, [here's your new commander. Listen to him].

How do you think that would play out?

Please, Macron. Tell me what to do because I'm doing the best I can."

Macron frowned and reached out his arms.

"Come here, boy. I'm glad you're not dead.

That means I can console your crazy ass." He chuckled bitterly.

Helix leaned into his arms with his shoulder.

He didn't cry, but he wasn't pretending like he was strong.

"I can't help you with your situation, but I can at least do this much."

—

[A/N: This type of chapter will turn people off of this novel. However, Helix is an extremely human character. What would you do if you had this on your shoulders? Real life.

Anywho: Wait till you see the demonstration. While he looks like a pushover, he's straight pissed. ;)]