Extra's Revenge: Reincarnated As A Slave-Chapter 80: Choice (Part 2)

"Think about it,"

Upon seeing Rey’s change in expression, Serena began to press further.

"With your power added to ours, we could reshape this entire kingdom. No more slavery. No more oppression. A world where Cursed Ones stand equal to everyone else."

The offers hung in the air, tempting and idealistic. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

Then Augustus spoke, and his voice was nothing like the arrogant young noble who had treated Rey as disposable property.

"Please," Augustus whispered, tears streaming down his face. "Please don’t help them. I... I know I treated you terribly. I know I was cruel and thoughtless and everything they’re saying is true."

His voice cracked.

"But I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry."

Rey’s eyes narrowed slightly, genuine surprise flickering across his features.

"I didn’t understand what I was doing,"

Augustus continued, his words tumbling out in desperate confession.

"You were just... you were there, and I used you, and I never thought about what that meant. I never thought about you as a person with feelings and dreams and—" He choked on a sob. "When they told me you were executed in the Coliseum, I... I felt something I’d never felt before."

"What?" Rey asked quietly, speaking directly to Augustus for the first time.

"Guilt," Augustus admitted. "Remorse. I kept thinking about the last time I saw you, how I’d treated you like garbage, and you were dead because of me, because I’d sent you to the Coliseum, and I would never get the chance to..."

He trailed off, unable to finish.

The courtyard had gone completely silent. Even the Sunlit Order members seemed stunned by this raw display of emotion from the noble heir.

"To what?" Rey prompted, taking a step closer.

"To apologize," Augustus said.

"To try to make it right somehow. I thought I’d never see you again, and that guilt has been eating at me." He looked directly at Rey, his eyes red and swollen. "But you’re alive. You’re here. And I’m begging you—please give me a chance to be better. To do better."

He straightened slightly, trying to regain some composure despite the tears. "I can give you anything you want. Your freedom, of course—immediately, legally documented. Wealth beyond measure. Land, titles, political power. I’ll advocate for Cursed One rights in the Noble Council. I’ll use every resource the Desgarron Family has to change the laws, to end slavery entirely if that’s what you want."

"Pretty words from a cornered noble," Logan sneered. "Words he’ll forget the moment he’s safe."

"No!" Augustus insisted. "I mean it! I’ll sign contracts, magical bindings, whatever it takes to prove I’m serious. You can have everything. Just... please. Help me survive this, and I’ll spend the rest of my life making amends."

"...."

"Amara... All she talks about is you. She’ll be so glad to see you after all this time. With our parents dead, she’ll be devastated. Please, I... I want the best for her too. I’ll confess everything to her, but please don’t abandon us. Don’t abandon her..."

Rey stood there, processing this unexpected development. Augustus’s remorse seemed genuine, which was... surprising.

The spoiled noble he remembered wouldn’t have been capable of such self-reflection.

’People change when death looks them in the eye,’ Rey mused. ’Or perhaps he’s simply desperate enough to say anything.’

But there was something in Augustus’s voice, a sincerity that was hard to fake even under duress.

The Sunlit Order shifted nervously, sensing the moment slipping away from them.

"Don’t listen to his lies!" Serena called out. "The moment you save him, he’ll have you executed for seeing him weak! Nobles don’t forgive humiliation!"

"I won’t!" Augustus protested. "I swear on my family’s name—on my parents’ graves—I won’t betray you!"

The mention of his parents seemed to hurt Augustus physically, fresh tears welling up at the memory of their brutal deaths just minutes ago.

Rey considered his options carefully.

Both sides had made their offers. Both had their merits and drawbacks.

Of course he would never seriously consider either side as an ally.

It was simply about who could be used the most, and what path would better serve his goals.

In that regard, he already had his answer.

’Then again,’ Rey thought, a cold smile playing at his lips, ’I’m not bound by the same rules as either side.’

He began walking forward, his steps measured and deliberate. The Sunlit Order tensed, weapons raised, but didn’t attack—they were still hoping to recruit him.

Rey approached the automaton barrier, that shimmering wall of protective energy that had kept Augustus safe from the Order’s assault.

The mechanical guardians’ sensors tracked him but didn’t activate their weapons systems.

"UNIDENTIFIED SUBJECT APPROACHING PROTECTED ZONE," one automaton announced. "UNABLE TO CLASSIFY AS HOSTILE. AWAITING ORDERS."

"Let him through!" Augustus commanded immediately. "He’s an ally! Recognize him as a trusted ally of the Desgarron Household!"

The automatons processed this command.

After a moment, the barrier shifted, creating an opening just large enough for Rey to pass through.

The Sunlit Order members watched with growing dismay as Rey crossed the threshold, entering the protected zone.

"No," Serena whispered. "He’s choosing the noble?"

Logan’s expression was unreadable, but his hands clenched into fists.

Augustus’s face, however, lit up with relief and hope.

"Thank you," he breathed. "Thank you. I promise you won’t regret—"

WHOOSH!!!

Rey’s hand shot forward with inhuman speed.

His fingers, wrapped in Chaos Energy so dense it appeared almost solid, punched through Augustus’s chest. The young noble’s words cut off mid-sentence, his eyes widening in shock and incomprehension.

"Your offer wasn’t attractive enough," Rey said calmly, his voice devoid of emotion.

Augustus tried to speak, but only blood came out. He looked down at the hand protruding from his chest, then back up at Rey’s impassive face.

""B-but... I... was sorry..."

"I believe you, Augustus." Rey replied simply, his eyes dead calm. "I just don’t care."

He withdrew his hand, and Augustus collapsed, his body crumpling to the ground. The light faded from his eyes as blood pooled beneath him.

The Young Master of the Desgarron Family was dead.

[A/N: One down... how many to go?]