There's No Love In the Deathzone (BL)
Chapter 408 - 400. A Shadow Princess

Chapter 408: Chapter 400. A Shadow Princess

Senia Azra grew up believing power was above everything. Not just from money and connection, but also raw power coming from the blessing of the tower.

Ironically, this view did not come because she was in a position of power from the start. No--it was because she spent her childhood being the victim of the powerful.

It was a hidden past that she always tried to bury; a life of living under a literal shadow, when her name was yet Senia Azra.

In the dark side of the high-zone, the brilliant neon lights could never penetrate the black market and the slum. The dazzle of coins from the clients could never elevate the status of those who resided within, no matter how much they piled the money around them.

Much less those who didn’t have the money.

As an illegitimate child of an underboss, the girl who would later become Senia Azra lived as a shadow of the illegitimate daughter. Being a part of the underworld was already a stain, but being a lower level of that dark society...well, even her parents did not bother to give her a name. She was shunned, beaten, humiliated, and made to realize that people with power and authority had the right to walk all over those weaker than them; that it was normal, expected, for the weak to serve the strong.

So she dreamt of being part of the strong.

Perhaps because of her constant prayer, or perhaps because of her incessant curse, she got awakened to be an esper. Coincidentally, a rich young man had been asking to ’buy’ young awakeners, to be raised and groomed as his ’people’, who would serve him faithfully no matter what.

The girl didn’t care if she had to be a tool or servant for someone else, as long as she could become stronger; stronger than those who had been trampling over her. As long as she could have a name. That tenacity, fortunately, was accompanied by talent. She gritted her teeth through a cruel training regime, and was taught that her view was right--it was the strong’s right to rule over the weak.

And in this world, the strong were the espers who had the power to either build or destroy the world. They were Kings, they were Queens, they were Gods.

However, it was also this view that formed her weakness. In front of those who were more powerful than her, she couldn’t do anything but grit her teeth.

At first, she thought the young man who pulled her out of the slum and made her the princess of the biggest guild in the nation was her King. Varion Belthera had power, money, and status that hundreds of millions would covet. And she was the crown princess.

But then, she found out that it was such an easy thing for that crown to get crushed. And now, the princess once again faced isolation and humiliation--even with all the power and money she had gained. It was frustrating. And so, the princess decided she needed to find another kingdom.

Naturally, her eyes fell on the people who had beaten her previous King; people who gathered in Trinity she was once belittled as nothing more than a small guild not worthy of her attention.

It wasn’t because she thought they could be her new ’King’, but because she thought now she could be the Queen. Sure, they came on top nowadays, but Varion was beaten by the Horins, and she believed that Trinity won the reclamation project because the government wanted Celestia to stay in Rexon and protect the Capital.

A medium-sized guild outside of the Capital...how great could they be? Despite that, Trinity had the best image nowadays, with the guild being supported by at least two Old Houses. And Senia liked spotlights; something she believed most suitable for her.

She boldly came to Althrea with that thought.

"Hmm...I don’t know if you’re bold or just..." Radia Mallarc looked at her with a pair of crimson eyes that somehow felt like a constricting thorny vine. "Stupid."

The man was only sitting on an armchair, in a place that seemed to be a lounge. But why did Senia feel like she was being scolded by her headmaster? She had wanted to come here and announce that she was willing to grace them with her help in conquering the Deathzone--after all, a guild of this size shouldn’t have enough people, right? Sure, they had Bassena Vaski, but he wouldn’t be able to do everything alone.

So, if people like Senia kindly offer to be of help, they should treat her like a savior, right?

...right?

But why...from the moment she arrived, people were ignoring her rather than being thankful and amazed. And then this...this Radia Mallarc was looking at her as if she was...as if she was a nuisance!

Just like when she was powerless.

Just like back in the day when she was merely a girl with no name living under the shadow.

All this time, she had been listening to Varion belittling Radia Mallarc, saying that the man was nothing but a lousy, talentless bastard riding on his family’s name. Look--the man never even came out to do any raid when he was young, only cooped up behind a company desk like any other civilians.

Stupid Varion! He never told her that Radia Mallarc was surrounded by his summon all the time! He never told her that Radia Mallarc had a gaze that only those in real power had--those who conquered the world with their own hands; firm and yet nonchalant, unyielding, that could belittle her with just a single glance because he knew he was above everyone else.

Even Senia could boldly speak up in front of Varion, but she found herself only muttering quietly. "...I’m not stupid."

"Ah, yes," Radia Mallarc nodded with a light chuckle, receiving a cup of tea from one of his summons who was dressed like a secretary, and had been looking at her with sharp, constricting eyes--all of them were. "You’re not stupid, per se, just ignorant."

"I’m just here to help," Senia pressed her lips, trying to find her confidence and haughtiness again.

"Help..." the crimson eyes made a pondering gaze. "How weird. I don’t recall we are ever asking for help from anyone, or had I grown forgetful, Nyx?"

"No, Master," the summon with deep, black eyes like a night sky answered. "You never did."

"Ah."

The lips below those crimson eyes were smiling. A calm, gentle smile that did not reach the cold gaze above. Senia glanced around the room, trying to estimate the power of those summons. Sure, she could handle them, but...one thing she learned about summoners was that she should always assume they had their most powerful ones kept hidden until a crucial time.

Stupid, stupid Varion! You’re the talentless one, you idiot! Senia cursed the man who was now nothing more than a has-been with a bad track record. The way Varion told him about Radia Mallarc...she had thought the summoner would gladly lick her boots so she could be a part of their lineup.

"But, well...I’m not the one who will personally go to the Deathzone, so let’s hear what the actual vanguard would say."

Senia raised her brow. This man would not come? Was it because he was afraid or--

At that time, the door swung open and Senia felt like the room suddenly dimmed. She gritted her teeth and clenched her fist--she knew who was coming without the need to look back.

"What is that bastard’s lackey doing here?" the low, husky voice sounded like a growl behind her.

"She said she’s here to help," Radia said calmly, the lack of sneer in that voice, for some reason, felt even more insulting.

"What help?" the angry growl was replaced by a confused tone. "Do we need help?"

"That’s what I’ve been asking," Radia shrugged nonchalantly.

At that time, the owner of the voice came into view. Bassena Vaski was only in his physical training gear, sweat still dripping from the edge of his platinum hair. The amber eyes were looking at Senia with palpable mockery. "What kind of help is someone who never tasted a Deathzone could provide?"

"Who knows?" Radia shrugged. "Perhaps we can use her as a reserve?"

Senia stood up with a glare. "Reserve?!" the memory of the past when she was treated with ridicule flamed her anger. "Are you fucking kidding me?! I’m a five-star--ugh!"

She couldn’t finish her words as a heavy pressure was suddenly mounted on her entire body, pressing her down until she had to sit down again. The room was once again dimmed, even while the lamp above her shone brightly. If she felt like she was being tied with a thorny vein earlier, now she felt like a giant snake was coiling around her to crush her entire body.

"Now, now," Radia Mallarc smiled calmly. "Let’s not use foul language or violence here, why don’t we?"

Slowly, the pressure was easing up, and Senia couldn’t help but wheeze in response, no matter how much she tried to not look pathetic. She gritted her teeth and glared at the Saint-class, only to lower her gaze when the pair of ambers pierced into her.

"If she comes here boldly with this kind of attitude, I guessed she doesn’t even know what Varion did before?" Bassena tilted his head. "Should I educate her first, or something?"

What? What did Varion do? Varion was brainwashed to try and kidnap the guide, right? He had been trying to do it all the time anyway, so what was the big deal?

As Senia frowned in confusion, Radia spoke. "The right to educate her is not on your hand, Bas. It should be his."

Again, the door opened at that time, and she could see the harsh look on Bassena’s face vanishing like a lie. The pair of piercing ambers softened up as if there was some kind of switch getting pressed. Seeing this reaction, Senia couldn’t help but turn on her seat to look back.

Walking aloofly from the door was a man whose beauty even Senia couldn’t help but admit. The pair of familiar blue eyes fell upon her, and the man tilted his head in confusion.

"Who is this girl?"

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