The Author's POV

[Agh! Someone help me!]

[M, monster!]

[Help me!]

The room was filled with the sound of people screaming in anguish. They originated from a specific video that was projected onto a screen, and showed an image of a young man with glossy black hair and deep blue eyes taking care of a series of guards in an effortless manner.

The expression on Octavious' face remained the same as he sat in front of the holographic projection. His eyes were as listless and hazy as they had always been.

It was as if the happenings in the projection were of no interest to him.

[Would you like to replay the video?]

The video soon came to an end, and silence filtered across the dimly lit room.

The next couple of minutes were spent with Octavious's gaze intently fixed on the projection. It wasn't until a subtle shaking began in the room that he finally showed any kind of reaction, and he got up out of his chair.

Swoosh―!

The entire room became tinged with white, and all of a sudden, a tremendous amount of pressure filled the space. The pressure began to have an effect on Octavious's face, and for the first time in a while, his eyes began to show visible signs of change.

He slightly lowered his head.

"How may I be of service?"

His tone was composed, but there was a hint of fear hidden deeply within his words.

[I trusted that you would've accomplished the mission without a problem. What has happened?]

An ancient, and deep voice reverberated throughout the room.

[There is a purpose behind why I have bestowed upon you the power that you currently possess. Because you haven't let me down in any way up to this point, you are still alive. That, however... is being tested at the moment...]

As Octavious listened to the voice, he could feel sweat running down the side of his face.

He hurriedly lowered his head further.

"I apologize for the situation."

[…Find the culprit behind the incident and make sure to eliminate them. I do not wish to expose myself.]

"I understand."

Octavious nodded his head, and knelt down on one knee. He then placed his hand over his chest.

"I will carry out the task to the utmost, Protector of the Seat of Diligence."

[I really hope that you won't let me down. There is no "next time" in this scenario.]

Octavious alone in the room. While he rested both arms against the table, a trickle of sweat continued to run down the sides of his cheeks. Heavy was his

find the

eyes clouded once more, and his

his suit, he turned around and quickly exited

to personally take

***

"It's as I expected…"

down on the sofa. As I tried to organize the thoughts and images floating around

'Fuck.'

combining them with what I already knew, I was able to form a hypothesis, which left me in a state of

to stare at the

why they're being targeted is because

had a strong intuition that this was almost certainly the case. From what I gleaned from their recollections, I was able

or my world, he was the

however, was the fact that he still learned the martial manual or skill that

from Melissa and seeing that they were practically the

information. I can't be

quickly shook my

be correct, then I wouldn't

It was too much…

"Huuuu…"

took another deep

then that I heard Grandmaster

"…Did you find anything?"

my head, I looked at

idea of what's going on. I just am not one hundred percent sure yet. However, from what I've gathered, you have indeed been targeted, and the reason is possibly because you

damn bastard, Octavious! Power has gotten to his

Gravar cursed out loud while

that something was wrong from the very beginning. He

not necessarily

over the armrest of

the motive behind it is definitely

he did. He was a man of great pragmatism and was the type of person who enjoyed having control over the circumstances surrounding

have assumed that he was to blame for the deaths of the three grandmasters who lived in my world. However, I knew that wasn't possible

thus aware of the fact that there was something

the three grandmasters in my world were really not due to the demons, then I'm afraid there's

only think

still don't have

seat, bracing my hands against the edge of the couch as I

need to ask the three of you

three straightened their backs. Grandmaster Levisha

that we can do, then we

the looks in their eyes, I knew

It was just that…

the side of my