Chapter 236: Asher Goes Completely Dark? Then Nobody Gets to Live!

[VIP Chat Group]

[Flint]: Hahahahaha! Steven’s villain is purely comic relief, isn’t he? He actually got knocked out by Elaria with a single whack.

[Volkner]: Pretty much. But Asher is obviously the main villain in this movie, so it doesn’t really matter if Steven is more comedic.

[Diantha]: Hehe, that scene where Steven’s hair gets dunked into the hot pot is hilarious. It’d be perfect for an advertisement. I’ve already thought of the slogan: "Want some hot pot? I’ll dip my head in it for you~"

[Steven]: Sure. Just pay me in stones. Though Sister-in-law gets it for free, of course.

[Raihan]: Steven’s mentality really is impressive. He can stay completely unfazed even when someone’s obviously making fun of him.

[Steven]: I’ve already come to terms with it. Once you’ve embarrassed yourself enough times, eventually you stop caring.

[Leon]: Is this the legendary social-death immunity? Steven has already evolved antibodies. Humanity’s ability to adapt truly has no limits.

[Wallace]: What antibodies? Hasn’t he simply never cared from the beginning?

The movie continued playing.

Asher sat upon a throne carved entirely from dark-purple crystal, resting his chin on one hand.

His expression revealed neither anger nor amusement.

Steven and Wallace stood side by side beneath the throne with their heads lowered, looking like two elementary school students who had been summoned to the principal’s office after getting into trouble.

"So."

Asher slowly spoke.

"The Diamond Princess we finally managed to capture was locked inside our most secure prison, guarded in shifts by two Champion-level Trainers..."

"And somehow, without either of you noticing, she escaped?"

"Boss, actually, someone—"

Steven had barely begun to explain when Asher raised a hand and cut him off.

"No need to explain."

Asher rose from the throne, the hem of his purple robe trailing behind him.

"I know who released her. I’ll handle this myself. You two may leave."

Steven and Wallace exchanged a glance before retreating from the hall.

The moment the doors closed behind them—

Asher collapsed back onto the throne.

He wearily muttered to himself,

"Elaria, Elaria..."

"You knew exactly why Dad captured her, and yet you still chose to let her go?"

He lowered his hand.

An incredibly bitter smile appeared at the corner of his lips.

"Being too kind isn’t always a good thing."

The scene shifted back to Elaria.

Kirlia’s Teleport had brought them to an ancient stone forest.

Night had already fallen.

Several of the brightest stars glittered overhead, while glowing moss covered the pillar-like rocks throughout the stone forest, bathing the darkness in a gentle, ghostly blue light.

"This should be safe."

Elaria turned toward Diancie.

"I’m sorry. My daddy... he’s not a bad person."

"He only did all this because of me."

"Because of you?"

Diancie tilted her head.

"Can you tell me what’s happening? Maybe I can help."

Elaria remained silent for a long time.

Then she reached into her backpack and took out a neatly folded drawing.

She handed it to Diancie.

Diancie unfolded the paper.

The picture showed a little girl lying in bed with her eyes closed, her face deathly pale.

A black-haired man sat beside the bed.

One hand rested against the little girl’s forehead, while dark-purple patterns spread across the back of his hand.

"That’s me."

Elaria pointed toward the little girl in the drawing.

"I’ve had a strange illness ever since I was little. The energy inside my body can suddenly go out of control, and every time it erupts, it consumes some of my life force."

"Daddy searched for so many different ways to cure me. He tried so many medicines."

"But none of them worked."

She paused.

Her finger moved toward the dark-purple markings on the man’s hand.

"The only reason I’ve managed to live this long...is because Daddy has been using his own life force to keep me alive."

Diancie’s hands trembled slightly around the drawing.

"That’s why Daddy isn’t really a bad person."

Elaria raised her head and looked toward the stars.

"It’s because of me that he chose to do all these things."

Diancie fell silent for a long time after hearing everything.

"Elaria."

She finally looked up.

"You released me. Your father’s plan might fail because of that."

"Aren’t you afraid he’ll be angry?"

"I am."

Elaria blinked her golden eyes.

The corners of them were slightly red—

Yet she still smiled.

"But I’m even more afraid that he’ll become a real bad person because of me. Daddy is the gentlest person in the whole world."

"He shouldn’t have to dirty his hands for my sake."

[Regular-Seat Chat Group]

"Dude, I thought this was a comedy five minutes ago! And now you’re suddenly stabbing me in the heart?! Screenwriter, come out here! We need to talk about life!!"

"The moment Elaria said her dad had been sacrificing his own life force to keep her alive, I completely broke down. What kind of ultimate dad is this?!!"

"True, but now I’m suddenly curious. If Elaria really died right in front of Asher, what do you think a completely broken, fully darkened Asher would do?"

"What kind of demon are you?! How do you even come up with a storyline that cruel?"

[VIP Chat Group]

[Viola]: So movie-Asher only became a villain because he was trying to save his daughter’s life? If that’s the case... I can actually understand how he feels.

[Lance]: On the surface, he’s the villainous mastermind. Behind the scenes, he’s a father using his own life force to keep his daughter alive.

[Steven]: Whether it’s in reality or in a movie, Brother Asher is a true, unwavering father!

[Wallace]: That’s surprisingly serious coming from you, Steven.

[Dawn]: Uwaaaah... Asher really is amazing...

[May]: Yeah. Everything he did was for Elaria. He’s such a responsible father!

[Asher]: Ahem. Don’t fall for me, ladies. I’m just a legend.

[Gary]: You’re actually using a parallel-world movie to flirt with girls? I genuinely have to respect that.

[Brock]: I see! So appearing in movies can get you more attention from beautiful older women? I’ve learned something... (furiously takes notes)

[Max]: Wake up. Nobody is asking you to act in a movie. And even if someone did, you wouldn’t be the protagonist.

[Brock]: No! How could I abandon a goal I only just discovered so easily? Tomorrow, I’ll—

[Croagunk]: Croak. (Poison Jab strikes Brock in the side.)

[Brock]: Numb... I’m numb...

The movie continued playing.

"Daddy will probably worry if he can’t find me."

Elaria hugged Kirlia and took two steps backward.

"So I’ll only take you this far."

Blue light flashed in Kirlia’s eyes.

The next second—

Elaria disappeared from the spot.

Diancie walked alone across the wasteland at the edge of the stone forest.

She had managed to escape.

But without the Heart Diamond, she still had no way to save her people.

While she had been imprisoned, she’d thought that everything would somehow work out as long as she escaped.

But now that she was truly free—

She had no idea what to do.

Asher was far too powerful.

With her strength alone, forget reclaiming the Heart Diamond—

She couldn’t even approach that palace.

She didn’t know where she was going.

She only knew that she couldn’t stop moving.

Her people were still waiting for her.

After walking for who knew how long—

Diancie finally spotted a house and the glow of firelight ahead.

She stopped at the entrance and cautiously peeked inside.

A blonde woman was sitting beside a campfire, reading through a thick ancient book by the light of the flames.

Cynthia raised her head.

She and Diancie stared at each other for a moment.

Then Cynthia asked,

"Are you lost, or are you looking for someone?"

Diancie opened her mouth.

For a moment, she didn’t even know where to begin.

Seeing that Diancie couldn’t get any words out, Cynthia reached into her bag and took out a tub of ice cream.

She held it toward her.

"Have something sweet first."

"Then you can take your time telling me."