The Author's POV

Calm.

When Malik's eyes stopped on me and our eyes met, I felt completely at ease.

His pressure…

It was terrifying. More than I could've bargained for. Enough to make me feel suffocated with just a single breath.

' rank.'

Although it was unclear to those watching, I, who was close to achieving rank, could discern from a quick glance what level he had attained.

The way the mana around him bent to his will…

The way the world seemed so focused on him…

And the pressure that closely resembled a couple of figures I had met in the past…

Without a single doubt, he had broken through to rank.

"Hm?"

Before I knew it, he was a couple of steps away from me.

"You must be Ren Dover…or should I say, 876?"

His voice echoed out. It sounded crisp and pleasant to the ear, yet, at the same time, felt extremely chilly.

Nevertheless, I didn't get shaken up by his voice or pressure. At this moment, it seemed as though the emotion known as 'fear' had completely dissipated from my body.

My head tilted slightly as I asked in a rather monotonous tone.

At this point, I was starting to doubt whether the one speaking was me or the other me.

"What are you doing here?"

"Isn't it obvious?"

As he said, Malik Alshayatin, or lesser known as Hemlock, took a step to the side and gestured in the direction of Smallsnake's grave.

"...I'm here to pay a visit to my friend."

His remarks would've normally have made me angry, but as I've said before, the emotion known as "anger" vanished from my body. His reply aroused no emotion from within me.

At this point, I realized that something was wrong, yet at the same time, had no time to understand what was going on.

"Friend? Last time I heard, you were the one responsible for killing his own mother? I'm sure no friend would actually do that."

"…So he's still hung up on that."

Hemlock quietly whispered to himself.

The whisper was low, but it was audible enough for me to hear. He then repeatedly pointed toward his chest.

"You see, it was only because I was his friend that I did what I did. I did it to make sure he understood...understood just how serious the situation is. In the end, I did everything for his benefit. I wished to show him the reality of the world!...and the death of his mother was the only way that I could open up his eyes. I wanted him to understand just how feeble human life is."

Without realizing it, my brows knit as I noticed signs of agony on his face.

he making

to say?...and why did it

reality are you speaking

better of me in the

"He..."

his head and met my

demons is the only way for humanity to avoid extinction. We won't be able to protect ourselves in any

of nonsense

out loud these words, but as soon

numb when this realization dawned

to have noticed my reaction and a thin smile formed

that you are aware that they are not mere heresy from a psychopath, as the others appear to make

hand started to

it wasn't out of anger,

His words…

no means to correct them. After observing the various regressions that my body underwent, I

think that after multiple regressions defeating the demon king would be possible, but it didn't seem to be the case

of different regressions occurred,

been anyone else but me, they would've perceived Hemlock as an absolute psychopath, but for someone like me, who understood the truth…his words...they didn't sound that wrong. Rather,

…and that was worrying.

was a sudden look of understanding on Hemlock's

to have met his majesty based on the expression on your face. You can't really grasp how hopeless the situation is until you actually meet

words that snapped me

about the demon king and

much. I already knew and experienced the helplessness that came with meeting

know that

"Smallsnake?"

blinked his eyes a couple of times. Seemingly unable to understand who

pointed at his tomb that he understood who I was talking

"Oh, you mean Brian?"

"Right…"

indeed his

his head. Turning around to

too busy trying to break

side, he

Especially from someone like you whom we have been keeping a close eye on after it was revealed

stared back at

series of precautions to ensure that they didn't know all of my movements,

that I could find him as long as I was nearby. Just by feeling the mana, I would be able to get a general idea of where he was...It was also because of this that I knew that he

answer I received was far off

over the past couple of years because I hoped that

up again soon, but as I was too

way

definitely referring to the 876 incident. Who would have

vanished from the human realm as soon as I was preparing to approach him again after solving all the issues that you caused, but no matter how hard I looked for him, I was unable to locate him. How astonished was I, do you know? I briefly believed that he had passed away before realizing that I was

I realized that he was outside of the human domain, and waited. Waited for him to come

to cover his

came up. I got totally played by Octavious when he sent me a fake corpse of what was supposed

inched a

pressure that came out of his body became extremely overbearing, sealing all

low, deep and sinister voice

not one to get angry easily...but...you...you've managed to anger me more times than I could've ever imagined. First, with all