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."

to the meeting and exposed my strength on a whim. Rather, I did it with a goal

today was important to me for a certain

cease-fire was set to expire the following month, and I would only have a chance to influence the situation and

the time the meeting started, however, I had severely underestimated just how hard it was to break

up ranking 18th, which was far

Bang—!

"Damn it."

sent me into another fit

sensation running down my nose. I saw a

'Blood...'

my vision blurred. This lasted for a good minute

"Not again..."

and stared

"Fuck."

while more blood dropped down

my arm, I raised my head

"What's wrong, nervous?"

picked up a recognizable voice as my reflection

Slowly, my face sank.

"Huuuu…"

I was able to calm myself down and

result of

difficult for

going to say

dripped down toward the sink. Slowly raising my head, I glared at the mirror, or

Our eyes met.

you still hung up on what happened to Smallsnake? Two years have already passed, move

valve without saying anything. Only then did I open my mouth

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

"Oh?"

eyebrows of

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 your

"Right..."

of the

Cra..crack…

to form on the porcelain

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

his words, my

"You think I'm stupid?"

calmly staring at

voice became icier as I drew

I did have a fault in his death, but do you seriously think that I wouldn't know this

the sink as I recalled

damage. He may have not been a clone, but he wasn't exactly in

destroyed the core. Even if he didn't show it, I could tell. I may have not been able to defeat

events that

I could've done to prevent

could have overlooked Jezebeth's unexpected appearance. You

aware that he would show up, but despite this, you weren't concerned for my safety because you also knew that he was hurt. This shows that you had something planned and that something was Smallsnake's

known that this was the last loop, but I sure as heck knew that he had

after his memories stopped playing, I knew that he wasn't planning to end

head to glare at

Smallsnake in particular, but without a doubt, you wanted someone

he

little bit

and avoided his death. In a way,

tightened when I heard his

'I knew it.'

is no use in lying about it now. Jezebeth's imminent presence and everyone's appearance on the

if I may not be able to 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. Why do you think you were able to see the memories for as long as you did? ...and

why I did

I ground my teeth.

Nonetheless, he continued speaking.

was simply no way for you to defeat Jezebeth. Quite plainly, the likelihood that you would succeed in fighting

Bam—!

all my force. The glass shattered and shards fell on

reflection in the

the room

have