Chapter 174 --174
After the woman finished speaking, she paused—waiting, expectant. The kind of pause that anticipated a response. Gratitude, perhaps. Or reflection. Or at least acknowledgment of the profound lesson just delivered.
Elara just looked at her.
Watched the hellscapes fade back into white void.
And said, voice completely flat:
"So what?"
The woman blinked. "...Huh?"
"So what?" Elara repeated, tilting her head slightly. "What do you want me to say or do after you’ve told me this so-called story? What’s the expected output here?"
The woman stared at her, ancient eyes widening with something between disbelief and dawning horror.
"Did you not listen to what I said? For the past ’hour’—"
"Of course I listened," Elara interrupted, voice still that terrible flat monotone. "You showed me hell. You explained the cosmic justice system. You detailed how every action has consequences, how humans are beloved creations because of choice, how I need to act with compassion even if I can’t feel it. I processed all of it. I have perfect recall."
She paused, then continued with that same emotionless precision:
"But ’so what’? Why do I need to care about what you think? What your moral framework demands? What the hell do you even mean to me?"