I Refused To Be Reincarnated
Chapter 491: A Deal is Struck

Chapter 491: A Deal is Struck

With a semblance of calm restored, he observed Elena’s beautiful features and noticed the hesitation making her brows twitch.

’Did I not do enough to convince her?’

He closed his eyes, the crushing weight of her decision pressing on his shoulders. Yet, he couldn’t give up.

Breath caught in his throat, he rummaged through his brain for something to add to tilt the balance in his direction.

As an awkward silence settled over the room, Elena’s amused laughter shattered it.

"When did I say that I wanted to defeat the magus? I don’t even know about him."

"..."

His mouth opened and closed a few times, but no words formed. He noticed how Shepard’s mouth hung open as stunned as he was.

Then, he remembered she had written about it! Elena didn’t know who destroyed the morphomancer path until her death!

’Why does she want to join them if she doesn’t share their goal?’

Now, he understood he had misjudged her objectives. But it wasn’t too late to ask.

"What do you want, then?"

A wistful smile curled onto her lips.

"You’ve read my grimoire and met Selene. What do you think I want?"

The answer struck him like a lightning bolt, deafening his mind for a second.

"You want to revive your parents for good this time. But you need Selene’s method to bind their souls thoroughly!"

"Correct! There is a slight complication, though. Their souls probably departed for the netherworld, so I need powerful allies to retrieve them, too."

Her smile broadened to reach her ears.

Yet, his brows twitch as a feeling of wrongness washed over him.

’Those parents of her can’t rest in peace at all! I get that she misses them but... I don’t know how it can be her only goal in life.’

Still, she could do whatever she wanted as long as she didn’t join Selene.

Before he could answer, Gaston’s voice echoed from the corridor, forcing his mouth shut and his teeth to crack in anger.

"That’s where I plan to go, too. I need to retrieve something and kill the watcher."

"Go and don’t return!"

As he shouted back, Elena’s eyes widened, and her heart drummed in joy.

"If you can convince another of your friends to accompany me on this dangerous quest, I’ll join your group!"

She almost sang, clasping her hands over her chest in happiness as he inhaled a bowl of fresh air, trying not to let his disbelief show on his face. Yet, he wanted to dance in relief inside.

"I have Selene’s method. I’ll accompany you in a few years and try to convince Julius to come."

"Even better! We have a deal."

After all, she didn’t care about her allies at all. Instead, she only focused on the chances she’d have to achieve her goal. And truthfully? Adam’s team showed great promises, even if she’d have to wait for a few years. Anyway, she doubted the three others would have readily agreed to help her and would have delayed the trip indefinitely.

Arm trembling in excitement, she outstretched her spectral hand to seal their cooperation.

He responded in kind, a satisfied grin tugging at the corner of his lips and the image of the dreary future he had imagined brightening in his mind.

"I have a lot planned right now. So if you need any information, discuss it with Shepard and Julius. Gaston has some, but I never know if he lies or not..."

He shook his head, a bitter taste filling his mouth.

’What does he need to retrieve in the netherworld?’

A spark of curiosity flashed in his eyes before he dismissed it. He would learn about it later and monitor his every move during the journey.

With everything settled, he carried Julius on his back, memories of last year resurfacing in his mind and a chuckle escaping his lips.

"I’ll convince him in his room."

"Sure." Elena waved his hand, unbothered by his departure. "I’ll speak with that devil. His division of anomalies interests me a little."

His hand froze on the handle, and a curse escaped his lips.

’Why are you all obsessed with that?!’

He begrudgingly passed by the smiling Gaston and went to room number three.

Inside, he placed Julius on his bed with a tender smile and shook him awake.

"Ugh. Why does my body feel off?"

A surge of Qi flooded the boy’s meridians as he expelled the smoke’s remnants and recovered in a second.

However, he didn’t let him remember what happened and gripped his shoulders.

Eyes firmly peering into the boy’s, he started.

"We have a lot to talk about, so remain seated and listen."

He explained the underlying problems they created by meeting The Beast Emperor, Ossian, and Selene. Then, he recounted his meeting with the werewolves and vampires. Finally, he told him about Gaston without withholding anything, not even the fact that the nightmare could have killed him several times if he had wanted.

The discussion took two tedious hours, yet Julius remained unconvinced.

"Big bro... I can accept anyone but him. Even Elanor didn’t kill our friend or my mom. But him? I’ll never forgive him."

"I know. I’m not forgiving him either. But we can give him a chance to atone for his crimes if he’s honest."

He rolled his eyes, not believing his own words.

"Scratch that. If he’s helpful."

Julius lowered his face, an ugly grimace distorting his features. But what could he do?

Even if he abhorred Gaston down to his marrow, what would it change to kill him besides ruining his brother’s plans?

He noticed the boy pinch the bridge of his nose, swallowing his disgust for his sake.

"I want to see him as little as possible. I won’t interact with him or answer his questions. If I hear or see him do anything that goes against what you taught me, I’ll kill him on the spot."

"Zero tolerance and a single chance. I told him myself."

Patting his brother’s shoulder comfortingly, he offered him a nod of gratitude and a genuine smile.

"I don’t compliment others often, but you already surpassed me. Your convictions are your strength. Never lose them for any reason."

Julius’s eyes sparkled, and his hands trembled as he hugged his big brother, finding reassurance in his wooden arms.