Chapter 22: So believe him or not

Okay, let’s calm down and think again.

The man in front of me introduced himself as Zed, the leader of the Shadow Order, who pursues only victory and uses force within Ionia.

And he said that he had business in Piltover.

According to rumors, the Golden Demon that Shen and Akali were chasing had shaken them off and fled to Piltover, so is it related to that?

If that incident and Zed, who is in front of me now, are related, what did Zed cross the sea to Piltover for, following them?

Did he go to deal with the slaughterer who made Ionia uneasy himself?

Only Zed would know the answer to that question.

I couldn’t just keep my mouth shut, so I decided to ask Zed a question to confirm if my guess was correct.

“Does the fact that you had business in Piltover have anything to do with the Golden Demon? What did you do after you met him? Did you end his act directly, or did you let him put on another show?”

I heard that the Golden Demon said that the moment he committed the massacre was a moment of the performance.

The reason I compared the demon’s life and death to a performance was for that reason.

Zed’s expression darkened at my question, and he opened his mouth in a reluctant tone.

“Before that person escaped from Ionia, I was going to put an end to his performance myself. But after the demon fled to Piltover, I couldn’t do that because of a promise I made with my old friend. If it weren’t for that promise, I wouldn’t have left his existence, which threatens the peace of Ionia, alone.”

Zed clenched his fist tightly and was trembling.

It seemed that Zed’s feelings for the Golden Demon had been kept for much longer than I thought.

Judging by the anger and murderous intent that was pouring out of his body to the point that it couldn’t be expressed in words.

Zed, who couldn’t control his emotions for a moment, remained in that state for a few more seconds, then noticed my gaze and composed himself.

After the emotions that were pouring out like magic disappeared, he coughed a few times and continued to speak.

“I would appreciate it if you could pretend that you didn’t see what you just saw. Whenever I think of that demon, what he did when I was young keeps lingering in my mind, making it difficult to control my emotions properly. Thanks to that, I couldn’t overcome my emotions while handling this matter and made a mistake.”

Even the leader of a powerful armed group is just a human inside.

It’s strange that there are no cases where people are not dominated by emotions, so I understood his anger that suddenly erupted.

By the way, does that mean that the leader of a large group called the Shadow Order came to this remote area alone without any company?

Even if Piltover was a matter of his personal grudge, so he could go alone, the act of a person who is the leader of a group walking around this land without even one of his followers by his side only gives those who have a grudge against him in this land a chance to kill him.

Does that mean that he has absolute confidence in his skills?

When I asked this reason, Zed once again looked like he had been stabbed in the heart and told me why he was traveling alone without any company.

“Actually, before leaving for Piltover, I was deceived by the Golden Demon’s scheme and was defeated once. I think that my disciple who was with me at that time betrayed me. But since the truth of that fact has not been determined, I was on my way to where that disciple is now.”

Zed’s eyes were filled with anxiety and suspicion as he said that.

“Actually, I don’t think that child, whom I brought in myself, would have betrayed me. But the situation I am in now explains the circumstances that the child betrayed me. What should I do? Should I trust my disciple and go to him, or should I confirm the betrayal and take my disciple’s life myself?”

Zed asking me while looking down at his two hands.

I decided to give a little advice to him, who was at a crossroads of choosing whether to trust his precious disciple or not.

Approaching him who was still wandering, I told him the contents of a book I had read a long time ago.

“You don’t have to worry too much. In fact, believing is the same as doubting. If you doubt something, it’s no different from ‘believing’ that there is an answer to it. So, you just have to realize the actions that come to your mind as they are.”

“—Doubt and trust mean the same thing… I think I’m getting too much from this place today. I will gladly act according to your advice.”

Zed, with a much softened face at my words, finished drinking the tea in the teacup and got up from his seat.

Looking at his back as he was about to enter the room, I suddenly became curious about that disciple.

I thought it wouldn’t be bad to know in advance the information about the disciple whom the leader of the Shadow Order recognized.

“What about that disciple you mentioned? Is he good enough in your opinion?”

At my words, Zed turned around and looked at me.

He told me about the disciple as an answer to my question.

“Kayn, I met him near the Ephemeral River during the war with Noxus. He was a Noxian child soldier. I saw in that boy the pure sense of purpose I had and the future of the Shadow Order. If something happens to me, he will take over me and lead the Shadow Order.”

Leaving only these words, Zed went back into the room.

I didn’t understand what he was doubting, even though he had such a firm belief.

It seemed that Zed had already decided that Kayn would not betray him.

Well, if the worries disappeared, it was certainly a good thing, so I decided not to pay any more attention to it.

The next morning, I knocked on the door of the room he had entered to wake Zed up, but there was no response from inside.

Thinking that something might have happened, I opened the door and found only a letter in place of Zed.

‘I sacrificed my most precious friendship because of a choice I made a long time ago. It was because of honor. I cannot be saved because I promised him. It may be cruel, but this is much better. I wanted him to find out the truth himself, but fate did not allow it. I am heading to Juun to take care of the remaining work. I will not forget and cherish both the kindness and advice you have given me. Until the day we meet again. -Zed-‘

It seemed that he had left in the middle of the night without saying a word.

I don’t know exactly what choice he made, but it was clear that he had lost a lot because of that choice.

Surely he will be at a crossroads of fate now.

Depending on what choice he makes, his future will change.

No matter what fate he chooses, I will mercilessly cut it off if Set is not in that future.

If Zed also has a firm value like me, he will make that choice without any hesitation.

Even if the road ahead is blocked, if there is someone beside me who supports me, there is nothing to be afraid of.

Today, another dawn is breaking outside the window.