96 Chapter 96: I don't want to be a canary

"Because?..."

Elias opened his mouth in shock, the next one was not like I hoped it was...

He thought there would be a Divine wishing artifact or some kind of divine palace surrounded by treasures, there were many things Elias hoped to find, but never an empty area.

That's right, the next level is empty, there is nothing, no trees, no animals, no rare mana crystals as legend has it, there was absolutely nothing.

"This... This can't be... No... It's not supposed to... Have to be like this"

Unable to control himself, Elias gently puts Arthur down and starts pacing the area in a panic.

But no matter how much he searched, there was nothing to find, the mana crystals had already been collected by Arthur and there was nothing that could be considered of value...

"No... There's nothing... There's nothing! Because there's nothing! It's supposed to be the Secret Wishing Realm!"

Elias was on the verge of collapse, despair was visible on his face, he held his head with both hands and fell to his knees.

But this was to be expected, Elias clung to a faint meaningless hope as a Divine wish-granting artifact, there was no such thing in this Secret Realm.

It was impossible, death is something natural that carries the laws of Fate, trying to bring someone back from the dead was equivalent to altering the natural order of the World and creating distortions on the world.

Even for a World Artifact, this feat would be very difficult to create, not to mention empty hope.

"..."

Arthur watched this scene through Augmented reality and couldn't help but sigh, Elias had to be prepared for failure.

However, it seems that Elias never thought about the possibility that there is no such artifact, his only problem was if he could reach this area...

"No... Maybe... There is another level... Yes... That must be..."

As if he was trying to convince himself, the light returned to Elias's eyes and his legs regained their strength.

"Yes, there is another level.."

"...!!"

Arthur's words brought new strength to Elias who quickly turned his head and his expression changed, unfortunately, Arthur's next words left him dumbfounded.

"But what you're looking for doesn't exist Mr. Elias..."

"What?!"

"There is no such Divine Artifact that grants wishes..."

"How is it...?

"I have been in this Secret Realm for more than 4 years Lord Elias and in theory, it is me who awaits at the last level, but I am definitely not a Divine Artifact and I do not have wish-granting powers either, I am simply a Spirit Fox"

"..."

There was a moment of silence and they both looked at each other, Arthur's gaze did not waver before Elias's sharp eyes, he was as calm as a lake...

Before these eyes, Elias's gaze gave way, lowering his head, and once again he fell to his knees.

It all made sense if you think about it, Arthur showed up so conveniently and he also knew a lot about this Secret Realm even though he had his suspicions, he was forced to swallow them because his biggest priority was to reach the last level of this Secret Realm and Arthur is his biggest guarantee. of survival and success.

But now everything seemed to be a sweet dream, all his efforts were in vain, he also felt cheated, Arthur who was his benefactor lied to him...

"You... Because... If you already knew... Because"

There was no need to go through so much, Arthur should have simply told him the truth, that his hope was simply a broken dream of a stupid man...

"Let me ask you, Mr. Elias, would you believe me?"

"..."

Before this question, Elias could not answer...

But it was true, even if Arthur told him the truth, Elias would never give up, and neither would he believe him until he saw it for himself, in that sense Arthur and Elias were the same.

"Because you are the same as me, Mr. Elias, we are both stubborn..."

Likewise in his heart, he added another phrase.

(This is something I inherited from my father after all...)

A smile formed on Arthur's face when he said these words, he was somewhat proud of this, since thanks to the fact that he was always stubborn and never gave up, in his past life he was someone in life, he had a respectable job and hundreds of people were saved in his hands at the same time his hands brought dozens of babies into the world, this was his pride and his greatest achievement, Arthur was sure that in his death at least there will be someone who remembers him as the great Doctor he was and at least one family will thank him and pray for his soul, although he knew that his name will not last forever and soon people will forget him, his name will live a little longer than others...

"..."

At this moment Elias's eyes turned red and the tears seemed to be about to flow, Arthur was right but this truth was very hard to digest...

A bitter smile formed on Elias's face and his gaze fell on the Wunder's knife of his...

It seemed that he had lost all motivation in life...

"Don't even try Mr. Elias, don't be a coward"

"Ha!?"

Elias opened his eyes in shock, Arthur although his eyes were bleeding, could feel his gaze and which was the same as being stabbed by needles, this made him not see the blade again...

"I don't understand, Mr. Elias, your chances of the legend being true are very slim, and yet you dared to come to this place from no one... Why?"

"Why? Why do you ask me that? ...."

Elias looked up at the question, his face was serious and although his eyes were teary, there was undisguised anger on his face...

"Because I don't understand, what drives him to risk his life?.... "

"Is that even a question? It's because I love my family!"

Clenching his fist the aura around Elias changed, Arthur's question seemed to be mocking him and his loved ones as well, however, Arthur was still calm.

"Love huh?"

Arthur already knew the answer, however, he couldn't understand, how an intangible feeling can make people so irrational and stupid...

Because? What is love?

"And his family loved him too?"

"Of course!"

"Then your actions are very stupid..."

"What did you say?!"

This time Elias couldn't tolerate it anymore, he stood up and arrived in front of Arthur in an instant, if it wasn't for Arthur being injured, Elias would hold him, however, he suppressed his anger and stared at him...

"I'm just telling the truth, Mr. Elias... Think about it, if your family loves you too, then your suicide actions are an insult to your family's 'love' and your still alive is the proof..."

Arthur did not waver and continued...

"Have you ever thought that your family wants you to continue living? Have you ever thought if his wife sacrificed for you so that you live happily?"

"...!!"

"Don't be a coward, Mr. Elias, he has a lot to live for, that his Wife's efforts are in vain..."

"..."

Arthur's words had no basis, but neither did Elías, he was tied to his emotions which were never reasonable, Arthur was very clear according to Elias's personality if he is left alone, then he will not spend much time committing suicide, Arthur invested time and energy on this guy, so he doesn't want him to die.

Although dead it is easier to steal his identity, Elias had something to do with his father, Arthur was 90% sure that this guy is his father from his past life.

Arthur was sad, the fact that he was reunited with his father indicates that his father on Earth was already dead, but it also proved his theory that he is not the only one who has reincarnated and that Hatsumi is his cousin. just like him...

He has been doing many tests during the time he shared with Elias and everything indicates that he is reincarnated, although his situation is different from that of Hatsumi, since it seemed that Elias lost his memories of him, but some details do not change...

However, he also raised a few more questions...

How many reincarnated are there?

What are they doing?

Are they a danger?

Arthur's head ached just thinking about this...

"What do you want from me, Arthur?..."

Sighing heavily, Elias wasn't stupid, he knew that for Arthur to tell him all this, there must be some reason...

"Of course I want him to live..."

"..."

Elias didn't answer and lowered his head, he was useless to live, but he couldn't deny Arthur's words either, after all, he is alive...

"Why me? I'm a failure"

Elias couldn't understand Arthur's words and he couldn't understand the value of a man like him who had already lost everything...

"That's exactly why Mr. Elias, you are a failure who lost everything and that's why I want you to live now for my good..."

"Hah?!"

"You don't have a family, you don't have anyone which makes you perfect for someone like me... Mr. Elias, I want you to become my surrogate family..."

"..."

Elias opened his mouth in shock, while Akagi smiled, she had already understood what Arthur wanted to do and she also remembered what Arthur told him earlier...

[Why do you care about this human? Stealing his identity is easier]

[Stealing his identity is only momentary and after thinking about it, it's better if Lord Elias adopts me...]

[Adopt? Don't you have a family? Why do you want this human to be your family?]

Akagi could not understand, Arthur's family is a world power, the families that could compete against the Van Pantohime are counted on the fingers and Arthur is his most precious jewel.

[I will return to my family, but not now...]

[Because? Your family is a world power, it's the best for your safety... You were kidnapped before, you should go back]

[That's exactly why, my family is very powerful and if I go back, there is no doubt that I will end up in the same position as Mr. Elias]

There were many advantages to returning to his family, his life will improve and he will also have all the protection, especially with the events of his kidnapping, Arthur at first wanted to return, but when he met Elias he changed his mind, after all...

Especially when he heard the story from him, his plans changed.

[If I go back now, I'll live like a canary, my house will become a prison, and I won't be able to get out....]

Arthur was used to being a free man without restrictions, although he lived the first years of his life in the Van Pantohime Mansion and did not leave it, now he was sure that his security will remain at the highest and he will not be able to take a step out of it. the mansion, he will be a prisoner...

This was something that Arthur did not want, although the benefits of his family are too much, it does not compare to freedom, four years of earning a living in this Secret Kingdom gave him enough confidence...

[Also when I return, the wedding ring is what will be waiting for me...]

[...]

The royal family will not sit idly by and the engagement with the princesses will accelerate, therefore Arthur's fate will be the same as Elias's, although Arthur would not be as stupid to throw everything away as Elias, even so, he wanted to delay his engagement as long as possible and enjoy these years of freedom, it would be a waste if he didn't travel now that he had the chance.

Akagi was silent, but her opinion was the same as Arthur's, in the end being born in a big family is not all good, especially men, although they had a high rank and all the comforts that an ordinary person cannot even dream of, they lose their freedom...

[I want to continue being free for a few more years...]

Arthur didn't care about marriage or anything like that of his family, but if there's a chance to continue without restraint, Arthur definitely wouldn't hesitate, therefore...

"Family?..."

Elias shivered at the mention of this word, 'Family' had great meaning for him...