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 whim. Rather, I did

to me for

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

would already be rank by the time the meeting started, however, I had severely underestimated just how hard it was to break

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

Bang—!

"Damn it."

sent me into

nose. I saw a noticeable red stain

'Blood...'

arm spasmed a little and my vision

"Not again..."

my head and stared

"Fuck."

curse silently left my mouth while more blood dropped down

with my arm, I raised my head to stare at

"What's wrong, nervous?"

up a recognizable voice as my

Slowly, my face sank.

"Huuuu…"

deep breath I was able to calm myself

came as a result of

was starting to be increasingly difficult for me to contain my

going

Slowly raising my head, I glared at the

Our eyes met.

to Smallsnake? Two years have already passed, move on. Why even bother

anything. Only then did I open

body after what you've done, you can

"Oh?"

eyebrows of

wait a few more years? The seal Jezebeth placed on you will put an end to things even

"Right..."

the side of the sink with

Cra..crack…

slowly started to form on the

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

my head

"You think I'm stupid?"

asked while calmly staring at the

I drew nearer to the

think that I wouldn't know this was something you devised? I may be stupid at times, but I'm not mentally

sink as I recalled

at the time...Jezebeth sustained damage. He may have not been a clone,

the core. Even if he didn't show it, I could tell. I may have not been able to defeat him, but I sure as heck would have been

that transpired back

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

unexpected appearance. You aren't this negligent. His appearance was unquestionably something you wanted to

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

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

from the enigmatic words he said after his memories stopped playing, I knew that he wasn't planning to end the loop

to glare at

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

anything, he

a little bit before he opened his mouth

death. In a way,

tightened when I heard

'I knew it.'

in lying about it now. Jezebeth's imminent presence and everyone's appearance on

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

exactly why I did what I

I ground my teeth.

Nonetheless, he continued speaking.

that you would succeed in fighting him was

Bam—!

The glass shattered and

in

the room my breath

have