F-Rank Soul Eater

Chapter 219: The Usefulness Of Sophia

Soren could not help but remember the town.

When they had arrived, Polystar said that the buildings were surprisingly in very good shape for a town surrounded by a lot of Eldritch corpses.

Soren had not thought much about it back then.

But now?

Things indeed felt off.

Eldritch creatures were never subtle in nature.

Back when Soren’s town was attacked, they were a lot of casualties, as well as a lot of destroyed homes.

That has been an attack from just one monster.

Coming to this town, they saw at least six corpses with sizes as huge as houses.

If what Polystar was saying was right, then it meant that the Eldritch creatures had been scared shitless of the Eldritch underneath the town.

And that was why they did not come close to the town.

But still the feeding method for such a beast was puzzling.

Ideally, all the town’s people should have died by now.

Soren turned to polystar. It was obvious that the noble boy had discovered something.

"So that’s what you need her for. No wonder..."

At this point, sorenvreally felt like smacking the information out of Polystar.

Then Polystar spoke.

"Hope."

"Hope?" Soren asked.

Polystar nodded. "Thats what the Baron needs senior sophia for.

One of the fundamentals noble children are thought from a young age as a result of Shades and Eldritch creatures, is manipulation of the emotional state of the populace.

Its clear that the people here are greatly affected by the dead flesh of the Eldritch creatures.

Many of them have mutated because of them. So much so that they dont feel troubled by it.

Just like the carriage driver that brought us here, they have practically accepted their fate."

At this point, Soren did not need polystar to explain any further. He already understood.

How couldn’t he?

Without Sophia in the equation, the people accepted their fate, and lived their lives.

Terrible.

—but still peaceful.

However, Sophia had the ability to heal people of their deformities.

With her presence brings hope.

Hope was a beautiful thing. But it was a terrible thing—especially because it was controlled.

The Baron allowed sophia to only heal one citizen at a time... sometimes, once a week.

That way, the would pray... hope that they would be the one chosen.

And when that Hope was dashed against a stone, it woukd result in one thing.

Despair.

There was no pain like seeing your goal at a reach from you, but passing through the gaps of your fingers.

They would see those healed and wish to be like them.

Even longing could be manipulated and curated to fit an agenda.

All that was required was a person that knew where to look, and how to bend the times to their favor.

To make matters worse, the lack of food experienced in the general region was artificially created by the Baron.

The fact that a dinner in his home could look so lavish was evidence that securing food for the masses was possible.

—Especially since Eldritch monsters stayed further away from the town.

In this manner, even those that had been healed would go back to the corpses of the monster’s to hunt for food, and get corrupted again.

This was it.

This was the process. RINSE AND REPEAT.

Bonus marks—

Sophia had a Bloodline bond with her Shade.

Baron Don Alejandro could use this as an opportunity to secure a favourable bloodline bond for the future generations of the family.

And in turn, they too could control the people. And it would continue forever.

At least, that was the plan.

Understanding what was happening, made soren feel sick to his stomach.

He stared at the Baron, and the unquenchable urge to punch the noble in the face made him fold his fist.

Surprisingly, Alejandro smiled back. "So what?

So what—if I want my family go not die. To remain on yhe map forever. To compete with those huge noble families that inherited tge best bloodline connections, and Soul Mecha blueprint?

I’m I not allowed to dream?

I’m I not allowed to want whats best for my children?

You idiots havd no right to judge me. I am Don Alejandro de los Elegidos"

Soren took a deep breath in, and then out.

"What about your people? Do you even care for them?"

The Baron replied. "Is it not the duty of the people, to serve the will of their ruler?"

That did it.

Soren kicked against the ground, fist raised, but black stepped in front.

Alejandro chuckled. "You are merely a F–rank trash. Bottom of the barrel. Do you think you will be able to touch me?

My sons have brought down soulbound warriors many times your strength and capability—Now..." he stretched a hand again. "Hand over my papa’s Glassheart."

Soren’s eyes widened.

So this Glassheart belonged to the former Baron. There is no doubt that it is injured. Obviously disconnected from its dead Soulbound warrior.

Ideally, it should have no use to the Baron. Its not like rebounding was possible with his obviously augmented children.

And rebounding with another person after a Soulbound warrior was dead, had a low rate of success.

Soren looked deep into the Baron’s eyes. He did not know what the Glassheart was for, but it was very important.

Just as Soren was thinking how to maneuver the situation, a low chuckle was heard.

An unfamiliar voice, at such a tense moment caught everyone’s attention.

Subconsciously, they all turned to the source of it.

It was the whitered old man on the ground.

Sophia’s father.

"I have walked the land of despair, and become drunk in the water of hope..."

The Baron looked at the old man with a disgusting frown. But he did not stop.

"...blinding my eyes with the dreams of the stars. Dreams I would never reach. Not because I am incapable.

But because I clinged too tightly to the water bottle, and forgot to mold the sand of despair—that I too may may make my way to the stars and become another’s dream."

He raised his eyes to Sophia... Eyes locking on each other. "Become... papa’s star, Mi bebe."

His fingers moved.

Fast.

A Blade to his throat...