Chapter 330: A Toast to Betrayal

Erza Grimhart sat upon her throne, the deal all but sealed, save for one condition.

“Oh, it’s simple,” she said, amusement threading through her voice. “He stays.” She pointed.

He who?

Luke looked over his shoulder. No one stood behind him. Only one person occupied the direction of Erza’s finger.

Him.

Before Luke could speak, Allison stepped forward. “I don’t follow, Erza. What do you mean Luke stays?”

“Simple,” Erza replied. “I’ve seen your plan, and I agree with what’s laid out, but I’ll make improvements. I won’t risk my life on someone else’s scheme without safeguards. So…”

She leaned back, eyes glinting. “You can handle the tedious parts, logistics, stockpiles, tallying wood and ore, training the idiots in profession use, distributing free points, stamina drills, all that. You’ll return to your fortress once it’s done.”

Her tone softened into something almost teasing. “He, however, will remain here with me.”

Stay here? With her?

Before Luke could process, Allison’s voice cut through the tension. “Why do you want Luke to stay, Erza?”

“Because I have matters to settle with him,” Erza said simply.

‘It’s Luke. Now you’re getting violated and tortured. Nobody made you act like a player with one of her servants in the past,’ Artemis sneered inside his head.

Only one subject made sense as the reason Erza would demand his presence, and Luke did not want to refuse the priestess who he now needed. He couldn’t openly deny Lakarion’s request when her help was crucial.

“This is my condition,” Erza said. “Until the big day arrives, Luke will live here in this fortress.”

“That makes no sense,” Allison protested. “We’re a unit. We have strategy and plans. He’s our guide in the capital. A lot depends on him.”

“I don’t care,” Erza answered. “Didn’t you say the Beast Lord is no longer a problem? That you can reach the third fortress easily by river? What more does he need to contribute? He’s done more than most of the trash outside. I want to give him a vacation.”

‘Honestly, Luke. I’m on Team Erza now. I want a vacation. If you get molested in the process, that’s not my problem, just enjoy the break,’ Artemis purred.

“I have a few words about that,” Luke began.

“Any word other than yes cancels the agreement,” Erza warned.

“The agreement hasn’t even been sealed, Erza, and an agreement only holds when both sides consent,” Allison countered.

Erza considered for a heartbeat, then offered a concession. “Fine. He may visit your fortress occasionally, but I will know how long he is gone and when he will return. When he goes, a group of my attendants will accompany him.”

‘I told you, Luke. Fate’s making you pay for your past. Now you’ll be watched by terrifying maids. Paradise turned into hell,’ Artemis crowed.

“Why insist on this, Lady Erza?” Mason asked.

“It’s simple,” Erza said. “Half the idiots outside have tried to kill him so many times you’ve lost count. There’s an ex-ally of Bartholomew hunting him, the one called Jonathan. Luke killed Kruger, cut down bandits, slew Bastion soldiers… the list goes on. Your whole plan to escape the tutorial depends on him. He’s our best weapon, our trump card.”

She folded her arms, eyes hard. “And you want to parade him around like a walking target? I won’t allow it. Besides, as I said, I have private matters to settle with him. He will be under my protection. Do you object? If you do, I won’t force anyone. I’ll simply withhold help and maybe I’ll kidnap him. After all, I still have things to resolve.”

‘Kidnap? Luke, that’s torture. You’re going to be tortured and molested’, Artemis hissed in his head.

Shut up for one second, he thought. I need to think.

Things were escalating so quickly that for a moment Luke felt lost. He couldn’t tell whether he was being helped or set up. At the same time he knew he wouldn’t be able to complete the tutorial’s final mission without Erza, at least not without a lot of people dying along the way.

With her and the maids assisting, their chances increased dramatically. Still, he wasn’t exactly thrilled about being kidnapped.

“So, will you accept the terms or not?” Erza asked the group.

Luke scanned their faces.

‘Now we’ll see who your real friends are’, Artemis mocked.

“Everyone agree?” Allison asked.

“Yes, we agree,” the group answered in unison.

‘Yeah, you’re alone now.’ Artemis crowed. ‘You’ve been sold out, like Ned Stark betrayed by the Lannisters. Shouldn’t have been their adviser. Now the queen’s going to play with you like a toy, and she seems to like some really weird things.’

Luke tightened his hand on the necklace, squeezing to silence Artemis.

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“Wait, am I not an individual in this? Doesn’t my opinion matter?” he said.

“Agreement sealed,” Erza declared. Allison stepped forward and clasped her hand, finalizing the pact.

A handful of attendants at the far table rose and began clearing the trays.

“You may go,” Erza told them. “I’ll handle things in this Safe Zone. Take your people to yours, finish the basic works we planned. In a few days we’ll reconvene and set the next objectives once preparations are complete. With no immediate threat of enemy raids, it will be easier to manage the second Safe Zone.”

Allison glanced at Mason and nodded; he started gathering papers and sweeping the maps into stacks.

“Very well. We’ll meet again in a few days,” Allison said. “How will you deal with the Bastion soldiers?”

“They won’t enter this fortress,” Erza replied coolly. “There’s no need to enforce trade anymore. They can choose an inn to live in, or rot in the streets. Not my concern.”