[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-re-tales-of-the-rune-tech-sage":3,"chapter-re-tales-of-the-rune-tech-sage-re-tales-of-the-rune-tech-sage-chapter-595":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Re: Tales of the Rune-Tech Sage",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},148400,246,"Chapter 594: Dark Choice II","re-tales-of-the-rune-tech-sage-chapter-595",595,"\u003Cp>CH594 Dark Choice II\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Captain remained silent for nearly five full minutes, weighing their options over and over again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t that he couldn’t see the obvious choice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was that the ’obvious’ choice... was not one he could easily make.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eventually, he could no longer deceive himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They did not have multiple options.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They only had one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We don’t need six people to deliver the sample,\" the Captain said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His words lingered in the air like poison as realisation dawned upon his squad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was... until Brenden laughed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A dry, broken sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well, I’ll be damned, Cap. You actually came up with a solution,\" he said with a grim grin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The others nodded as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Captain’s eyes trembled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one rejected his unthinkable proposal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact... they accepted it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the most horrifying part.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Torvar nodded, scratching his beard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Indeed. As long as one of us makes it back with the Sample, the scholars and mages can create a cure... and this damned plague will end.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But what if none of us make it back?\" Eli asked quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then the world ends with us,\" the Captain replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silence fell once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heavier than before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eli closed his eyes for a moment, letting the truth settle deep within him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he opened them again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, they burned with quiet determination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then that settles it, doesn’t it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah...\" Torvar nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The others followed suit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The question now is...\" Brenden glanced around the group, \"...how do we decide the order?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All eyes turned to the Captain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man stared at the dead fire pit for a moment before finally speaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We’ll draw lots.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He reached into his pouch and pulled out six iron nails.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a casual motion, he snapped one— making it slightly shorter than the rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The one who draws the shortest... is chosen.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Torvar snorted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fair enough.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The last man standing had better be the best rider or we are all screwed,\" Brenden added darkly. \"Then again, we’ll all be dead anyways.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the others shot him glares, none of them noticed their Captain subtly marking the short nail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, the lots were drawn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The one who drew the shortest nail was...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eli.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The youngest among them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young man stared at the nail in his hand for a long time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, he let out a weak laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well... that’s that.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Torvar placed a firm hand on his shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sorry, kid,\" he said quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eli wiped at his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No... it’s fine.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned to the Captain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The scholars will find a cure with the Sample... right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes,\" the Captain replied firmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eli nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stood up and walked towards his horse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thanks for everything, buddy,\" he said, gently stroking its neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he turned back to the others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Make it quick.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The horse died first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, Eli knelt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Captain stepped forward and drew his blade himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young man looked up at him... then at the others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Whoever makes it back... don’t let them forget our sacrifice.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With those final words—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blade fell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Days passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each time, the ritual repeated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Horse... then rider.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Butchered meat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Survival bought for a few more days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The conversations within the squad grew fewer... but darker.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The second sacrifice was Torvar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Torvar laughed as he sharpened the knife himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You know, I used to hate the bland stew they served us in the army— especially on campaigns,\" he said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I never thought I’d end up as an even blander stew.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Shut up. You’ll ruin the taste,\" Bren replied dryly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Torvar grinned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Promise me, you bastards... you’d better eat everything.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We will,\" the others said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Torvar exhaled, relieved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once again, the Captain stepped forward and took on the role of butcher himself, refusing to let anyone else stain their hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The third sacrifice...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fourth...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then, at last—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only two remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Captain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Bren... the dark joker.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They sat beside the last remaining horse— the Captain’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The knife lay between them, untouched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Captain, who had personally butchered his men one by one, had finally reached his limit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bren let out a long sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Seeing you like this now, Captain... I can’t help but find it ironic,\" he said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What is?\" the Captain asked hoarsely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I think you planned this... No, I know you did.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Captain remained silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bren smiled faintly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m not blaming you,\" he said. \"I understand.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Captain slowly lifted his gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Someone had to make it back,\" Bren continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He reached for the knife... then tossed it towards the Captain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I just hope this world was worth all of this,\" he said quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Make sure... it was worth it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With trembling hands— The Captain carried it out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three days later, he rode alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Starving, half-mad, and yet, against all odds... he reached the gates of the Empire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He collapsed at the border garrison, his body finally giving out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The guards had to carry him inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even unconscious, he refused to let go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It took the voice of a familiar mage —the leader of the scholars tasked with deciphering the source— to finally pry the sealed crystal containing the Origin Sample from his cold, emaciated hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once the scholars received the sample, they set to work immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And, fortunately...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They succeeded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A cure was developed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The world was saved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Against all odds, the soldiers had fulfilled their mission. The Sample had been delivered, and with it came the means to end the plague.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naturally, everyone wanted to know how they had done it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So when the inevitable question was asked—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How did you survive?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Captain looked around at those gathered before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor, ministers, nobles and aristocrats, wealthy merchants... The most powerful and influential figures within the Empire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could have lied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could have embellished his own role... painted himself as a hero.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But instead—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We rationed,\" he said simply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And without withholding anything, the man recounted their harrowing journey from beginning to end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He spoke of everything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the gruesome sacrifices that made the delivery of the Origin Sample possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The details spread across the Empire like wildfire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shock turned to horror.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Horror turned to whispers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whispers turned to murmurs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Came the accusations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Monster... Cannibal... Butcher...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that the plague was gone —now that they were safe— the people demanded justice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Justice for the ’animal’ who had committed such acts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Captain was arrested.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Imprisoned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thrown into the depths of a dungeon...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And left to rot for what he had done.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Years passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Captain now stood upon the execution platform.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before him stretched a sea of people, their numbers reaching as far as the eye could see.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All gathered to witness his death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unbeknownst to them all...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man who had once been broken by starvation and exhaustion had not only recovered—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had grown stronger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Far stronger...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he looked out at the guards, the nobles, the crowd, he realised something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At some point, without anyone noticing, he had become the strongest man in the world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he wished, he could kill everyone present.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And walk away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the crowd hurled insults and curses at him, he did not resist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He did not move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knelt as commanded by the executioner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A priest stepped forward and stood beside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you regret your actions?\" the priest asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No,\" the man replied calmly, standing bare before the crowd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why?\" the priest pressed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man did not answer immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, he lifted his gaze to the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was blue, clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A stark contrast to the rusted iron heavens he had witnessed years ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment, he lowered his head and looked back at the priest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Because the mission succeeded.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With those words, he calmly placed his head upon the guillotine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blade fell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>",1317,"2026-05-29T03:49:40.181Z","2026-06-01T04:29:07.188Z",1,"novelbin.me","d55501c9e080fd4d4a9b6f810b91260d673ecb32a9c9771c8f2c63b5b84573cd","re-tales-of-the-rune-tech-sage-chapter-596","re-tales-of-the-rune-tech-sage-chapter-594",692,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fre-tales-of-the-rune-tech-sage-cover.jpg"]