Perfect Avatar
Chapter 174: Breaking Point

Chapter 174: Breaking Point

The crowd hesitated briefly before erupting into a cacophony of rage and bewilderment.

"What does she mean? Isn’t Greed already part of the team?"

"What kind of question is this? We don’t intend to move forward without him, of course!"

The soft murmurs in the room began to escalate, transforming into loud exclamations that were almost like thunder. The woman was being insulted for her peculiar question, but she remained composed, with a small smile playing on her lips as she leaned in to whisper into the microphone.

"The wonderful depth of human stupidity, one day he is an unforgivable monster but the next day he is the most valuable warrior."

The insult caused a further uproar among the public, with insults being hurled, especially by the proletarians.

With a contemplative expression, Grogard absentmindedly stroked his beard, his lips curling into a knowing smile that hinted at his cynical disposition.

"What an interesting question, from an interesting person at that. Calm down guys, she just called you what you are, why are you mad? Aren’t we all idiots in the palm of Sin Avatars?"

Grogard was now bombarded with insults, the volume of which had increased tenfold, all now directed squarely at him. Rather than taking offense, he responded with a hearty laugh.

"What’s up with this guy?" Cid grimaced.

Candace directed a fierce and deadly glare towards Agharita, who appeared to possess an uncanny ability to sense it, despite not making eye contact.

"Did you expect me to hide this information? Master, I thought I was the bad guy in this story, you shouldn’t deceive those who follow you."

"You never deserved anything, and I was already planning to tell them."

The smile on Agiel’s face vanished as he carefully observed the dean’s posture. Despite the considerable space that separated them, their eyes locked, and in that precise moment, they instinctively affirmed their mutual understanding.

"Dean Candace, I guess this is just a game or another plan of yours? Please avoid joking like that, it’s the worst place, worst time and worst way to pretend that Greed has a downside."

The dean sighed and readjusted her microphone.

"That’s exactly what you heard from that parasite, and I’m prepared to take the consequences. As the Sloth Avatar, I have decided to remove Greed from this expedition."

A wave of frenzy swept through the crowd, engulfing both sides in a whirlwind of emotions. The nobles, proletarians, and scholars alike found themselves unable to sit still, their restlessness mirroring the intensity of the moment.

"What the hell?! Are you kidding me?"

"It’s a joke, Dean! Everything we did was for this condition!"

"What about the people who died?! Dean, give us an answer!"

As she sat in her seat, the dean instinctively buried her head in her hands, feeling the intense rush of blood to her head. The trembling in her body was so intense that it drowned out any coherent thoughts. The cacophony left her feeling disoriented and disconnected from her surroundings.

"Ah... Why the hell did I survive? Ely, I want to go too." She murmured in a tone audible only to the two women beside her.

Eryl’s lip quivered momentarily as she reached out and firmly gripped the microphone.

"Please, the situation is not confirmed yet, the dean is only considering one possibility because her heart is too big for her own good. She feels responsible for the many murders that you people of this Parliament, you orchestrated and are the only one with the idea to save a poor boy from becoming a monster!

"We don’t hear that from a servant of the damn queen!"

The volume of the screams increased, now directed at Eryl. She prepared to speak, but as her gaze plunged into the crowd, the angry and menacing expressions of everyone around her seemed to move in slow motion from her point of view.

She felt nauseous and sat down too, almost as broken as the dean.

Agiel’s gaze remained fixed on Candace, as though he could decipher her innermost thoughts. Standing next to him, Grogard folded his arms, a menacing grin spreading across his face.

"Well, given the reaction of these idiots, I guess we’ll just assume it’s just an idea. To answer your question, what will happen if we deprive ourselves of the power of a Sin Avatar... Consider this tease: In Kalaharis, the Avatars are the tip of the iceberg, but what is unknown to the world is unknown because no one has managed to talk about it after seeing them. Without Greed, you will be erased from the legendary list of survivors of this hell."

*****

Following a few hours, the meeting reached its conclusion, and all individuals present dispersed. Departing together, the task force members were specifically instructed to travel to the port city of Paradea during the intervening days.

Standing apart, Candace was with Grogard, Agiel, Agharita, and Eryl, while her students convened for their own meeting in the distance.

"T’was a bad idea after all."

"Mercy, how can you say that? Didn’t we agree that it was to stop using Dora that we wanted to give him his freedom?" Freya guided her friend back on track.

"What’s the point now? We don’t even know what’s up there! I’m not saying use him to kill, but we could have just traveled with him... He was strong enough to protect everyone."

"Hm, I’m starting to think that people from rich families are born naturally evil." Lilith’s indifferent tone immediately captured everyone’s focus, causing Iris to frown with a hint of concern.

"Lilith? What are you..."

"No, I’m done listening to every one of you, you’re all a bunch of hypocrites. You talk well but when things don’t go your way, you change your mind."

The nobles regarded her with worry, Cid and Hope exchanged a quick glance before directing their gaze towards the girl standing alongside Marie.

"What’s that for? I’m really not in the mood right now." Mercy stood up.

Placing her hammer on her shoulders, Lilith eyed her fellow comrades with a sinister expression.

"Remember what you told us when we wanted to keep raiding with Dora? We have to become strong so we don’t rely on him. But look at you, look at you all. The same people who said that use him so much he’s become a monster! You erased his memory, you couldn’t help him when he needed it the most , and now you’re complaining because he wants to leave? None of that would have happened if he had stayed with us instead!"

Like a sharp arrow, her words struck the group deeply, leaving a lasting impression. Although they had already confessed their faults, it seemed that every word spoken and every move made only added to their burden of guilt.

Iris gently inclined her head downwards, while Freya and Mercy remained fixated on the two girls. Cid and Hope observed intently, with Cid’s voice dripping with mockery.

"This seems like the perfect opportunity for you to play dumb, why not say anything?"

He stole a quick glance at Hope, only to find him completely engrossed in the fight, lost in his own thoughts.

"Hey? Oh, are you tripping?"

"Huh? Ah, sorry... It’s just... I’m starting to understand something. This was never my scene."

"Hmm?"

In a tense standoff, Mercy and Lilith locked eyes, ready to spring into action, when suddenly, Marie’s gum exploded.

"They are there." She said, turning in another direction.

Far from them, a distant voice was heard.

Liliana and Morgiana’s arrival in the distance caught everyone’s attention.

"Finally a familiar face I want to see." Lilith moaned.

The two girls reunited with their friends in a casual get-together. Having worked together for the past year, it didn’t feel like it had been too long since their last meeting.

As their dialogue unfolded, Mercy abruptly shifted her attention and walked away. In a futile attempt to detain Mercy, Iris reached out, but Freya swiftly intervened, placing a calming hand on her shoulder.

"It’s useless, we should leave too, I don’t have the heart to hear anyone insult me ​​anymore."

With a pleading expression, Iris glanced at her companion and chuckled softly, gently resting a hand on her head. In unspoken agreement, they silently departed, deeming it more prudent to avoid encountering the former members of Shining Sword, especially in light of the distressing events that unfolded involving their revered spiritual leader.

Liliana cast a quick glance in their direction, her expression filled with solemnity and regret.

"So, are we ready? Should we do it now?" Morgiana asked impatiently.

"Ehr... No, Madam Malia hates us now, she would never let us near them together." Liliana sighed.

"Hm... It’s so sad that it’s become like this." Liliana scratched her cheek. "Since we only have two days, I wanted to see Shining Sword together one last time."

"Well, there’s still no trace of those two." Morgiana shrugged her shoulders. "And Sana?" Is she still at the orphanage?"

They looked at each other and grimaced in unison.

"Maybe let’s just focus on Dora for now, do you think Madam Malia will listen to us if we beg her?" asked Liliana.

Lilith’s expression turned anxious. Marie gazed at the crimson sky, her hand clutching an item in her pocket as her eyes drifted downward.

"Maybe she will reject us, but if we don’t know our fate after this expedition, I want to at least say goodbye to him."