The Author's POV

'He's changed a lot since the last time I saw him.'

Donna quietly thought to herself as her gaze fixed on Ren who was seated a few tables ahead of her.

Even she felt pressured at the time he revealed his strength in front of everyone.

The power he displayed...

It was frightening.

'I knew he was talented, but I didn't think it was to this point.'

One could not come close to describing the rate of his progress. It was simply, frightening. To the point where both Monica and Kevin were left behind.

She was more shocked to find that not much time had elapsed since she had taught him at the Lock.

About six years.

In about that period of time, he had transformed from a typical ranking student to someone whose strength had surpassed hers.

'How monstrous.'

She mumbled to herself once more.

In the past, she thought that Monica was the most talented human she knew, but it was clear to her that there was someone else that was above her.

It was none other than Ren.

'His strength isn't the only thing that changed about him, his demenour also seemed to have changed.'

When Donna looked at him more closely, she saw that he was different from how he had been in the past.

Around him, there was a somewhat melancholy vibe. One that left Donna feeling uneasy. It was sufficient to make her face turn grave.

'...Just what happened during the few years that I haven't seen him?'

He wasn't exactly cheerful, but he sure as heck wasn't like how he was now.

It kind of worried her a little.

'I should probably talk to him after this is over.'

Thus, she made her mind up to talk to him after the meeting was over. It had been a couple of years since they had come to contact with each other, might as well catch up a little.

***

Bang—!

My fist smashed against the side of the bathroom wall, and fine miniature crevices extended all the way toward the ceiling of the bathroom.

The meeting had ended a couple of minutes ago. As expected, Octavious ranked first, and Maximus who was previously ranked third was now ranked second.

But that wasn't what resulted in my rage.

"Rank 18? Seriously?! ...After all that hard work?"

I gritted my teeth as a burst of rage erupted from deep within my body.

I was upset with my slow improvement rather than my poor ranking. I had been working hard for the past two years. Really hard.

During that period, I went through a phase of relative strength increase, helped by the air's increasing mana density and the merging with the strength of my former self.

My efforts paid off, and I was able to advance to level in just two years. I was just a little shy of reaching rank.

But...

"Too slow!"

I muttered through my clenched teeth.

Two years.

That was how much time I had left before my other self would take over or the curse that was in me would activate.

Two fucking years. That was how long I had to live.

The rate at which I was progressing was slow. Too fucking slow.

"...I miscalculated."

meeting and exposed my strength on a whim. Rather,

meeting today was important to

and I would only have a chance to influence the situation and participate if

by the time the meeting started, however, I had severely underestimated just how

only ended up ranking 18th, which was far beneath the

Bang—!

"Damn it."

thought sent me into another fit

down my nose. I saw a noticeable

'Blood...'

vision blurred.

"Not again..."

head and

"Fuck."

curse silently left my mouth while more

with my arm, I raised my head to stare

"What's wrong, nervous?"

a recognizable voice

Slowly, my face sank.

"Huuuu…"

breath I was able to calm myself down and washed my

outburst came as a result of

starting to be increasingly difficult for me to contain my

going to say

down toward the sink. Slowly raising my head, I glared

Our eyes met.

Two years have already passed,

saying anything. Only then did I open my

you my body after what you've done, you can only give

"Oh?"

of my reflection

think I mind if I have to wait a few more years? The seal Jezebeth placed on you will put an end to things even if I don't take control of

"Right..."

of the sink with all my

Cra..crack…

form on the

makes you so sure that I was the one behind it? It could just be you blaming me

his words, my head slowly

"You think I'm stupid?"

calmly

became icier as I drew nearer

do you seriously think that I wouldn't know this was something you devised? I

on the sink as I

damage. He may have not been a

not been able to defeat him, but I sure as heck would have been able to delay him...Enough to

now, the events that transpired back then

things I could've done to prevent such a situation from

You aren't this negligent. His appearance was

because you also knew that

not have known that this was the last loop, but I sure as heck knew that he

playing, I knew that he wasn't planning to end the loop

head to glare at the

set your targets on Smallsnake in particular, but without a doubt,

he

bit before he opened

death. In a way, you can say

when I heard his

'I knew it.'

is no use in lying about it now. Jezebeth's

completely anticipate what will happen, major factors like that are indeed something that can be predicted, and from there, changing little things to make them go your way isn't exactly too hard.

sure you know exactly why I did what

I ground my teeth.

Nonetheless, he continued speaking.

there was simply no way for you to defeat Jezebeth. Quite plainly, the likelihood that you would succeed in fighting him was dwindling as you began to stand still. My decisions were driven by need. Smallsnake had

Bam—!

The glass shattered and shards fell on the

in the

the room my breath felt

don't have time for