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."

the meeting and exposed my strength on a

to me for a certain

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

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

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

Bang—!

"Damn it."

thought sent me into

felt a wet sensation running down my nose. I saw a noticeable red stain on my hand when I wiped

'Blood...'

a little and my vision blurred. This lasted for a good minute

"Not again..."

head and stared at my

"Fuck."

silently left my mouth while

raised

"What's wrong, nervous?"

recognizable voice as my

Slowly, my face sank.

"Huuuu…"

calm

sudden outburst came as a result of

increasingly difficult for me to contain

not going to

water dripped down toward the sink. Slowly raising my head,

Our eyes met.

what happened to Smallsnake? Two years

anything. Only then did I open

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

"Oh?"

eyebrows of my

seal Jezebeth placed on you will put an end to things even if I don't

"Right..."

of the sink

Cra..crack…

started to form on

was the one behind it? It could just be you blaming

his words, my

"You think I'm stupid?"

while calmly staring at

icier as I drew

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

grip on the sink as I recalled

may have not been a clone, but

have not been able to defeat him, but

the events that transpired back then haunted

to prevent such a situation

way you could have overlooked Jezebeth's unexpected appearance. You aren't this

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

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

memories stopped playing, I knew that

to glare

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

he just

for a little bit

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

heart tightened when I heard his

'I knew it.'

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

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

exactly why I

I ground my teeth.

Nonetheless, he continued speaking.

the time, 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.

Bam—!

The glass shattered and shards fell on the

in the

the room my breath felt

don't have