I Refused To Be Reincarnated
Chapter 681: My Life for the Order

Chapter 681: My Life for the Order

Adam raised a brow, surprised by William’s bow.

It was an amusing thought to have but also an indelible truth. William’s behavior was typical in the mage’s culture. Of course, he preferred a civilised discussion, but who was he to change ancestral rules?

Still, he settled for light punishments or crushing shows of strength instead of escalating the senseless violence. Then, depending on the other party’s reactions, he could consider cooperation... or burying them six feet under if they represented a future threat.

He observed William for a moment before nodding. "Even if it was a joke from Misha, you tasted the powerlessness and despair of being condemned because of words." A smile replaced his provocative smirk. "Relax; they won’t stick to your skin. Remember your youthful days, too. I bet you committed mistakes you still regret now. So, why are you so inflexible with others?"

William remained silent for a moment. Then he sighed. "Right. That’s why I apologised. I will... rethink my methods."

Misha stunned him by slapping his shoulder, her melodious laugh illuminating the room’s somber mood. "I like people who work to correct their flaws. You’re forgiven, William."

Her smile dazzled him for a second. So genuine, yet so strange. Forgiveness that easily? That was a first for him—for any powerful mage. Compensation usually had to be handed—not out of respect, but to buy his life.

He had expected to pay a steep price, considering Adam’s effortless dominance despite his youthful appearance and Misha’s playful but horrifying words. ’You used his own element to humiliate him.’

Even if he were deaf, he could understand the underlying meaning: poison was one of the weakest elements Adam could wield. Did Noah know? If he did, where did he find such a terrifying recruit? More questions filled his mind, but pondering would have to wait.

Adam was shrugging, his voice laid back as if nothing had happened. "I’m not joining the order, though. Explaining would be a bother, so ask Noah after he returns. In the meantime." He pointed at the wide-jawed students behind with his thumb. "Why don’t you replace them in explaining this room’s purpose?"

William’s eyes dimmed, his voice coming out bitter. "You’re not joining?"

A brief silence settled before he complied with the room’s history.

"This is the deepest reaches of the temple, where poison mana filters for us to absorb."

Adam raised a brow. "The source should be deeper. Why stop here?"

William waved his hand, a hint of fear crossing his eyes. "Previous leaders tried. They regretted it. The records are clear: Death lay in the form of a monstrous centipede further down the mountain."

He pointed at a dusty reinforced door locked by heavy chains.

"Its residence—its domain is a few kilometers down. We’re barely getting scraps because it monopolises the source, or perhaps it itself is the source. I don’t know, but I’m sure most would die if we open that door."

A soft smile curved his lips as he guided Adam’s gaze to an ancient noble bed.

"This is where Pablo breathed his last after building the temple five thousand years ago. I keep it clean like my predecessors did in homage."

His eyes narrowed. Hadn’t Adam mentioned something left behind by Pablo? He had dismissed it as a youth’s nonsense earlier, not to mention that Pablo’s greatest possession was in his hands. But as unlikely as it might seem coming from a stranger, perhaps he was right.

Hesitatingly, he asked. "You said Pablo left us a gift earlier. How do you know about it?"

"How? Because I found it in his hidden lab, of course." Adam answered without thinking, his eyes darting between Misha and the door.

She returned his eager gaze, sharing his idea and disinterest in Pablo’s last resting place.

A powerful centipede feared by archmages of old? He only saw a delightful addition to his future ecosystem.

Before William’s wide eyes, they turned into sky-blue and gold blurs.

BAM

The room trembled, a dull noise echoed, and dust rose. William turned toward the commotion’s direction, blood draining from his face.

"N-No..." Eyes locked on the shattered reinforced door, his voice cracked. "We’re doomed..."

The students’ choked gasps echoed his words, forcing him out of his stupor. He had to preserve them and the rest of the order.

He raised his fist commandingly, his voice echoing through the entire temple. "This is William, your former leader. Evacuate the temple. This is not a joke. I repeat. Evacuate the temple!"

He turned to the frozen students. "What are you dawdling for?! Spread my command, help the younger ones, and tell the teachers and Noah that..." His voice cracked. "That the beast will resurface!"

The others scrambled, hustling and screaming their lungs out in alarm. But James remained.

Terrorised but hesitant, he spoke in a hoarse voice. "What about you?"

A steely glint flashed in William’s eyes. He pulled out a long, red chest hidden beneath Pablo’s bed and shoved the lid open. He unwrapped the regal silk wrapped around an ancient scepter, revealing the coiled snake hissing around the purple gem crowning its somber noxroot.

James shuddered in recognition and shock. It was the very same scepter emblazoned on their walls, the source of their pride—their founder’s weapon.

Before he could recover, William ran his fingers over the dim enchantments, then clutched the legendary scepter and spun it.

Only after striking it on the ground with a loud ’BAM’ and after the fist-sized gem flared in an unsettling dark violet did he answer. "Leave James. I swear on my name, the beast shall not pass until you’re all safe!"

The shadow of death danced on his face. He knew he wouldn’t survive. But he was an experienced leader. In times of crisis, time wasn’t for planning or trembling. They called for immediate action. The consequences?

"Irrelevant." He rushed through the gate with surprising speed for a man his age. "My life for the order!"

Still, part of him hoped Adam and Misha were still alive... so he could berate them for their folly.

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