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."

on a

was important to me for a

following month, and I would only have a chance to influence the situation and participate if I had

I would already be rank by the time the meeting started, however, I had severely underestimated

ranking 18th, which was far beneath the

Bang—!

"Damn it."

thought sent me into another fit

only stopped when I felt a wet sensation running down my nose. I saw

'Blood...'

my vision blurred. This lasted for a good minute before

"Not again..."

head and stared

"Fuck."

my mouth while more blood dropped down from my

I raised my head to stare

"What's wrong, nervous?"

up a recognizable

Slowly, my face sank.

"Huuuu…"

to calm myself down and washed my face with some

as a result of his personality merging with

increasingly difficult for me to contain my

not going

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

Our eyes met.

years have

saying anything. Only then did I open my

to give you my body after what

"Oh?"

eyebrows of my

years? The seal Jezebeth placed on you will put an end to things

"Right..."

gripped the side of the sink with all

Cra..crack…

form on

I was the one behind it? It could just

words, my head

"You think I'm stupid?"

calmly staring

voice became icier as I

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

as I

the time...Jezebeth sustained damage. He may have not

it, I could tell. I may have not been able to defeat him, but

now, the events that transpired back

all the things I could've done to

could have overlooked Jezebeth's unexpected appearance. You aren't this negligent. His appearance was

that he would show up, but despite this, you weren't concerned for my safety because you also knew

loop, but I sure as heck knew that he

said after his memories stopped playing, I knew

raised my head to glare at the

not have set your targets on Smallsnake in particular, but without

anything, he just

little bit before he opened his

could've helped you and avoided his death. In a way,

heart tightened when

'I knew it.'

use in lying about it now.

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

you know exactly why I

I ground my teeth.

Nonetheless, he continued speaking.

defeat Jezebeth. Quite plainly, the likelihood that you would succeed in fighting him was dwindling as you began

Bam—!

force. The glass shattered and shards fell

in

around the room my

have time for