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."

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

important to me for a

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

the meeting started, however, I had severely underestimated just

ended up ranking 18th, which was far beneath the rank I

Bang—!

"Damn it."

sent me into another

saw a noticeable red

'Blood...'

my vision blurred. This lasted for a good minute

"Not again..."

head and

"Fuck."

while more blood dropped down from

blood with my arm, I raised my head

"What's wrong, nervous?"

a recognizable voice

Slowly, my face sank.

"Huuuu…"

I was able to calm myself

result of his

increasingly difficult for me to

going

my face while water dripped down toward the sink. Slowly raising my head, I glared at the

Our eyes met.

Two years have already

saying anything. Only then did I

body

"Oh?"

eyebrows of

few more years? The seal Jezebeth placed on you will put an end to things even if I don't take control of your body and do

"Right..."

of the sink with all my

Cra..crack…

to form

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

words, my head

"You think I'm stupid?"

asked while calmly

icier as I drew nearer

did have a fault in his death, but do you seriously think that I wouldn't know this was something you devised? I may be stupid at times, but I'm

the grip on the sink as I recalled the

He may have not

tell. I may have not been able to defeat him, but I sure as heck would have been able to delay him...Enough to buy Smallsnake some time, had

the events that transpired back

done to prevent such a situation

is no way you could have overlooked Jezebeth's unexpected appearance. You aren't this negligent. His appearance was unquestionably something you wanted

concerned for my safety because you also knew that he was hurt. This shows that you had something planned and that something was

last loop, but I sure as heck knew that he had enough power to

memories stopped playing, I knew that he wasn't

to

have set your targets on Smallsnake in particular, but without

he just looked at

for a little bit before

helped you and avoided his death. In a way, you can say that I

when I

'I knew it.'

no use in lying about it now. Jezebeth's imminent presence and everyone's appearance on the planet were things that I

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'm sure you know exactly why I did what

I ground my teeth.

Nonetheless, he continued speaking.

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 to perish in order to enhance

Bam—!

all my force. The glass shattered and shards fell on

reflection in the mirror

room my

have