55. Become King!
She felt hazy, as if she were dreaming.
The fragments of Ranni's consciousness struggled to come together. She didn't feel the soul-wrenching pain she'd expected, nor did she fall into eternal nothingness.
She was enveloped by a heavy sense of exhaustion, unable even to lift her eyelids.
"Am I... dead?" This cold, despairing thought occurred to her.
Just as this thought emerged in her mind, a cautious voice reached her ears.
"Lemuen, you're not angry, are you?"
Who?! Ranni's mind suddenly tensed.
Before she could gather her thoughts, another voice rang out.
"No, I'm not."
Ranni's heart trembled. It was the voice of the god they had battled earlier.
However, unlike the cold, indifferent tone of the previous god, she could clearly hear the discontent in this voice.
"You're definitely mad. Oh, come on!" Xiling's face was now filled with a brilliant, almost flattering, smile!
Xiling was diligently pushing Lemuen's wheelchair, spinning around in circles across the bare floor of the throne room. Like taking a patient for a relaxing stroll!
Lemuen, in the wheelchair, closed her eyes, slowly sipping her tea.
At Xiling's words, "You're definitely mad," Lemuen finally raised her eyes slightly, a perfectly balanced look of confusion crossing her face, as if she genuinely couldn't comprehend what Xiling was saying.
But Lemuen's tone was different: "Why—why—would I be angry?"
Xiling's smile faltered for a moment, and then he clasped his hands together to his cheeks, begging for forgiveness.
"Isn't it... because I did something to upset you?"
The moment Xiling's hands left the wheelchair handles, something strange happened.
The shadow beneath Lemuen's feet stirred! Then, a massive, blurry tentacle-like silhouette, condensed from pure shadow, emerged—unbelievably, it was the true form of the Elden Beast!
It silently emerged from the shadows, firmly "holding" the wheelchair's backrest and base, taking over Xiling's work and continuing to steadily push the wheelchair forward.
Lemuen allowed her "shadow" to propel her forward, then spoke, "You're the Hero. What could you possibly have done wrong? It's me, the big boss, who's getting in your way here."
"It's over! Absolutely! She was absolutely mad!" Xiling's inner wail almost erupted into tangible sound.
Watching the retreating figure, Xiling quickly quickened his pace, approaching behind Lemuen and kicking the Elden Beast, which had taken over his work:
"Get out of the way! Whose job are you trying to steal!"
The shadow tentacle seemed to shrink back in grievance, but immediately obediently melted back into the shadows of the ground and disappeared.
Xiling then regained control of Lemuen's wheelchair. "Sorry..." Xiling's voice rang out again, this time thick with embarrassment, almost overflowing with a hint of guilt at being caught doing something wrong.
"I heard someone needed help, and before my mind could react, my body... moved..."
At the Lands Between, Lemuen's chat group's teleport function always accepted group member requests, so there was no need to worry about unexpected delays caused by requests.
So, a certain someone came directly, teleported to the space opened up by the Elden Beast. Then that certain someone heard a cry for help, and the hero's body instinct transcended his brain, severing the light with a single sword.
And so the current scene unfolded.
Lemuen sighed deeply. She was indeed a little angry, but this anger didn't come from Xiling's attempts to stop her, but from her own inability to control her emotions.
She targeted Ranni, Radagon, and Rennala as the targets of her anger.
At least until the last moment, Lemuen was still furious. But only when Ranni stepped forward and blocked her attack did Lemuen regain consciousness from her anger.
The Age of Stars had not yet arrived.
She had no reason to judge her.
Furthermore, Lemuen was certain that her mind had probably changed.
She wanted to hear her changed thoughts.
Just as she was about to withdraw her attack, a flash of silver-white sword light appeared, even faster than her.
Looking at Xiling's flattering expression, Lemuen wasn't angry at all. She smiled inwardly before speaking, her tone still tinged with deliberate resentment:
"Do you think I'm such a naive person who attacks others without knowing right from wrong? How could you... Don't trust me? Eh—"
Kevin, who had also returned to the royal capital, pointed and grumbled, "That's too much! Xiling, you're really going too far!"
Kevin turned to Lemuen and said, "Let's isolate him. From now on, when we form a small group in the chat group, we won't include him. Let him suffer alone."
"Hey, hey, hey, can't you avoid me when you say these things? You said it to my face, do you think I wouldn't dare to spank you!"
Xiling rolled up his sleeves, intending to display his authority as the Silver King. Kevin took a fearless step forward, chest puffed out. He tilted his arm towards Lemuen and pointed at Xiling, his tone full of certainty.
"Look, just a few words of criticism to him aren't enough. Now he's even rolling up his sleeves and ready to give the group a smackdown!"
Xiling angrily pointed at Kevin, "Kevin, you bastard! I'm going to tell Mei what's under your bed!"
Hearing Xiling's words, Kevin's face sank in horror. "Hey! Didn't we agree not to bring this up?"
"Who told you to mess with me first? You pushed me!"
"I pushed you? When did I ever push you?"
"You! You pushed me!"
The two were just having their usual playful banter, but to the others, it seemed a little too... free.
And these others were...
Radagon, who appeared to be bound by ropes, but could actually break free with a little effort.
Rennala, who appeared to be bound by ropes, but could actually escape with magic.
Finally, there was Ranni, who was not tied at all, but simply lying on a table.
Radagon's eyes were filled with complexities. He was the only one of the three who hadn't fainted.
He clearly saw the Silver King appear out of thin air and save them.
Then the space dissolves.
The Silver King seemed to realize what he had done.
He then put on a fawning expression and bowed to the deity in apology.
Then, with their childish playfulness at the end, he couldn't help but wonder if the one before him was truly the Silver King?
The King who had transformed the entire Lands Between.
The King, who had collected all the Great Runes in a short period of time.
The King who commanded the people's deep devotion and worship.
Watching Xiling raise his holy sword, about to use a Knight Charge on Kevin, Radagon finally couldn't help but say, "Silver King!"
"Ah?" Radagon's voice interrupted Xiling's movements. Xiling glanced at Radagon, then at Kevin, and finally, as if understanding something, shook his head.
"Tsk... Kaslana family's good fortune, Kevin? You're lucky to have your life spared."
He ignored Kevin's international friendly gesture.
Xiling waved at Radagon. "Untie that rope. Come over here, let's talk."
Xiling's tone was as casual as greeting a neighbor.
Radagon stood up silently, without even trying to exert any effort. The ropes, like ornaments, snapped softly and slid off his body.
He raised his foot to walk towards Xiling.
Ranni, who had already regained consciousness, spoke:
"Silver King, can you count me in?"
Xiling glanced at her casually, unconcerned about the location. Nodding: "Okay, let's go together."
...
Tap... tap...
Two distinct footsteps echoed lonely in the corridors of the shattered palace.
Xiling's steps were brisk and casual, as if strolling in his own backyard.
Radagon's steps were heavy and sluggish.
Ranni, floating beside them, was like a silent ghost.
Suddenly, Xiling, who was walking in front, spoke, his tone as casual as if asking an old friend about the weather:
"After witnessing all this, how do you feel?" Xiling tilted his head slightly. "Are you still holding on to your original thoughts..."
"Or... have you decided something else?"
This question was clearly addressed to Radagon.
Under the shadow of the massive stone pillar, Radagon paused for a moment, then resumed his pace. He didn't answer immediately, his head lowered, gazing at the cracked floor tiles beneath his feet.
The stone slabs, once as smooth as a mirror, reflecting the majesty of the Golden Rule, now bore dirt, dust, and an unknown, stubborn moss.
Ranni's gaze was fixed on her father. Her cold, puppet-like face showed no emotion. She, too, waited for the answer from this father who had shaped her into the embodiment of the Golden Rule, yet was ultimately bound by it.
Faced with the suffocating silence, Xiling made no effort to urge him on.
He even blew a discordant whistle, the sound bouncing and clashing through the empty corridors, strangely neutralizing the heaviness.
They walked on in silence, their footsteps mingling with the whistle, giving the illusion of old friends strolling together. That was if one ignores the fact that this stroll took place in the former royal palace, and the identities of the companions.
After walking for an unknown amount of time, the view ahead suddenly opened up.
At the end of the corridor, a vibrant garden emerged. Radagon paused again, and a flicker of astonishment appeared in his eyes.
This was the palace garden he was familiar with, yet it also felt so unfamiliar.
The exotic flowers and plants of his memory had long since vanished.
In their place, an almost feral vitality arose: vast expanses of wildflowers and weeds he had never seen before, their colors were a riot of color, exuding a vibrant aroma blending the fragrance of earth and exotic flowers.
Tough vines climbed over broken stone pillars and fallen statues, as if gently mending old wounds.
Passing through this unfamiliar yet vibrant sea of flowers, they arrived at a small courtyard. The scene here remained largely unchanged from Radagon's memory.
Ancient stone tables and benches, covered with a certain plant. The low wall, everything was the same as yesterday. Xiling sat down unceremoniously on a stone bench, one hand casually resting on his cheek, his gaze cast beyond the low wall of the courtyard.
From this vantage point, he could overlook the entire Leyndell Royal Capital.
Xiling's vision allowed him to clearly see the vivid expressions on the faces of the figures below, moving like industrious ants:
The grins of the workers carrying the huge stones as they encouraged each other, the focus and eagerness of the commanders waving their arms, the simple joy of sharing food and water during breaks... Sweat soaked their clothes, dust stained their faces, but deep in their eyes was not fatigue or numbness, but a burning light—a hope, a hope and faith.
Radagon and Ranni also arrived at the low wall.
Ranni hovered over; her puppet face was still expressionless. But Radagon's face was filled with an indescribable complex of emotions.
He saw those smiles. He couldn't help but recall the heyday of the Golden Dynasty.
The people back then were also filled with faith, but it was a fervent worship dedicated to the Golden Rule and to Queen Marika the Eternal. Day after day, they prayed, placing the meaning of their lives in the Golden Rule.
How could they have imagined that the Eternal Queen they believed in, the supreme being considered as the Rule itself, would personally raise her hammer and shatter the Elden Ring along with the entire stable world order, plunging the Lands Between into endless chaos and suffering?
Radagon stared at those tiny yet resilient figures for a long, long time.
Radagon finally slowly sat down on the stool and looked at Xiling.
Xiling's gaze withdrew from the royal capital and settled on Radagon's eyes.
Deep in his pupils, something seemed to shatter, and a new light struggled to emerge.
Xiling chuckled softly: "It seems... you've changed your mind?"
Radagon nodded.
"Can you tell me the reason for your change of heart?" Xiling looked curious.
Radagon remained silent, but Ranni, floating nearby, spoke coldly, "What's the point of saying all this?"
"Of course it's useful!"
Xiling immediately retorted, his expression as if it were matter-of-fact and even had a touch of righteousness.
"I'm happy to hear your opinions! What if... the Silver Rule still has some shortcomings and can be improved?"
"Improve?" Radagon repeated Xiling's words. Could the rule be improved?
"Yes, improve." Xiling nodded affirmatively.
He raised his head, gazing at the massive silver tree towering over the courtyard, emitting a soft silver glow. His voice was clear and calm, "Time is a turbulent stream, the times are a wheel that never stops, and the rule... should be even more so."
Xiling retracted his gaze and looked directly at Radagon.
"It's a beacon guiding people's direction. How can the light of a beacon remain unchanged? The channel shifts, the fog changes, and the lighthouse's light naturally needs to adjust. If it's wrong, it must be corrected; if it's inappropriate, it must be changed. It must illuminate the path forward for people in different times and circumstances. This is the true meaning of the beacon's existence."
Radagon's lips were dry. Then he said, "Rules... Rules should be the eternal cornerstone, ensuring the stability of order. Changes... can easily breed chaos..."
At the end of his words, Radagon recalled the devastation caused by Marika's destructive act.
Those who believe in the Golden Rule are like corpses, while those who don't can truly live.
Xiling shook his head.
"Eternal immutability is indeed a good thing at times; it can keep everything stable."
Xiling's gaze once again turned to the vibrant reconstruction scene below.
"But when the Rule itself becomes an obstacle to people's pursuit of greater things... When it becomes an obstacle to a good life, its permanence becomes the greatest evil."
Radagon fell silent after hearing Xiling's words, but then Ranni spoke.
"Then, I have a question for you, Silver King."
The puppet's face couldn't express any emotion, but the seriousness beneath her calm tone was palpable to everyone present.
Xiling looked at the broken puppet.
"Please speak."
"Even if you replaced the Golden Rule," Ranni's voice echoed clearly through the courtyard, each word like a pebble dropped into still water. "You still rely on the Elden Ring, using your Silver Rule to become the new core of people's faith. Doesn't this, in essence, mean that the Lands Between remains under the control of 'it,' or the indescribable being behind the Elden Ring?"
"Does the change of a throne truly alter the meaning of the throne itself? It's simply the exchange of one prisoner for another, a seemingly free prisoner. When will the Lands Between truly usher in freedom for the inhabitants of this land?"
Ranni's gaze was fixed on Xiling's.
She wasn't seeking comfort, but rather a sharp blade piercing her core. She wanted to see how the Silver King, who had ascended the throne as a disruptor, truly viewed this issue.
Faced with this pointed question, Xiling nodded calmly:
"Indeed, it's just as you said."
"The foundation of the rule's operation remains the Elden Ring. The underlying rules governing the Lands Between are indeed still controlled by others—or, rather, by the distant will symbolized by the Elden Ring."
Although he had made a deal with the Supreme Will—who seemed to only wish to see "unknown possibilities" and promised not to interfere excessively—the very existence of the Elden Ring was an inescapable bondage hanging over the Lands Between.
Even if that being chose to stand aside and observe, this land would still operate within the rules it had established.
Xiling understood this better than anyone else.
Ranni remained silent, the broken doll simply hovering, waiting. She knew the king's answer would not stop there.
"Ranni," Xiling's voice deepened.
"I know your thoughts, or rather, your pursuit: a world where all life born here controls its own destiny."
Xiling looked directly at her. "This idea, in itself, is noble and worth pursuing. It's... quite good."
"?" The head of the puppet seemed to tremble ever so slightly, and the light in her eyes froze for a moment.
She had imagined all sorts of rebuttals, explanations, even rebukes, but she had never expected such straightforward approval from the Silver King.
Even Radagon, who had remained silent nearby, looked at Xiling in surprise.
Faced with the two people's instantly focused, astonished gazes, Xiling simply curled the corners of his mouth, giving a fleeting smile, before giving way to seriousness.
"Your idea is a good one."
Xiling stood up and walked to the edge of the courtyard, resting his hands on the low wall as he looked down at the royal capital below, bustling and vibrant like a giant beehive.
"But the idea... is too far-fetched."
"The entire Lands Between cannot withstand the test now. Free will and independent destiny should flourish in more stable times, not when the Lands Between is at its lowest point."
"When your plan succeeds, when the rule is completely banished, how many creatures will survive in this devastated land? Ten? A hundred? A thousand? Will they be enough to fill even a corner of the royal capital?"
"The rule's dominance is too deep, too long! Those who struggled to survive during the chaotic era, those who now labor with hope below... how many of them owed their faith to surviving the long night after the collapse?"
Xiling's words left Ranni silent for a long time.
Radagon emerged from his silence and looked at his daughter. The broken puppet sighed.
"So, what path do you intend to lead people on?"
Xi Ling shook his finger.
"You've got one thing wrong. I'm just an agent. The path forward depends on the choices made by those of you in the Lands Between."
"What!" At this moment, Radagon and Ranni both exclaimed in shock.
They couldn't quite believe their ears.
"Are you... Kidding?" Ranni's voice lost its previous icy calmness.
The Silver King, who led the Lands Between out of the abyss and rebuilt the rule, now claims to be just an agent!
Xiling simply shook his head calmly, his voice clear and firm, unwavering.
"It's just as I said. I'm just an agent. The path forward depends on you."
"Only those of you in the Lands Between can determine the future's direction and lead yourselves."
"You're really... not from the Lands Between."
This suspicion had long been swirling in Ranni's mind, and now it was confirmed. She pressed, her tone inquiring, "So, who are you, exactly?"
Xi Ling smiled.
"If I must define it... I'd say it's the will behind the Elden Ring—what you call the 'Supreme Will'—that summoned me to clean up the mess."
"Strictly speaking, it seems fair to say I'm a sharp blade temporarily lent to the Lands Between by the 'Supreme Will.'"
Radagon and Ranni fell silent, clearly unaware of Xiling's humor.
Sensing the silence, Xi Ling cleared his throat slightly, his smile fading. He put on a serious expression again. "Let me reiterate."
"I will not, and cannot, choose your path for you."
The two of them stared at each other as Xiling stood up and walked into the garden, bathed in the soft glow of the silver tree. He looked at the two in the courtyard and held out his hands.
"But before you choose your path, I will create a framework for this world, a new, stable framework for this shattered Lands Between."
"That framework is not me, but the order established by the Silver Rule."
"Within my framework, order will be reestablished, civilization will begin to develop, people will continue to advance, and ideas will continue to expand. And then..."
Xiling looked at Ranni: "Ranni, if you still yearn for a Lands Between completely free from the control of external will..."
Xiling's voice suddenly rose. "Then, become Elden King!"
"...Become Elden King?" Ranni repeated softly, the puppet's voice tinged with uncertainty.
The word seemed to contradict the cold, starry path she pursued.
"Yes! Become Elden King!" Xiling responded decisively, his hand pointing toward the boundless sky! The light of the silver tree illuminated his towering figure.
"Become the king recognized by this land, the bearer of the fate of all! Then, with your will and your strength, lead your people—those who look up to you, trust you, and are connected by your blood—to break through!" Xiling's voice, like a resounding bell, resonated throughout the courtyard:
"Break through the remains of the golden tree! Break through the protection of the silver rule! Break through the shackles of the Elden Ring! Break through all the cages you believe imprison you, hindering your path to true freedom! Towards the stars and the unknown you long for, break free from the invisible constraints! "
Xiling's voice echoed in the garden for a long time.
Rani was completely stunned.
Is this still possible?
No!
It's absolutely possible!
Just as Ranni and Radagon were lost in their own thoughts, Xiling's voice rang out again.
This time, however, his voice was filled with laughter.
"Hey, hey, don't let your fantasies slip away! Let me make this clear! Becoming Elden King isn't so easy."
Xiling looked Ranni straight in the eye.
"Only when you've overcome countless obstacles, when people truly accept you, when they believe you're worthy of their future, when they believe you represent their aspirations, can you truly say—you've become a king."
——
——
A/N [Author Note]:
Xiling: I'm a hero, I'm going to save the world! I don't want to be king and then work overtime! Extra hours!
Votes please!!!