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.]

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

must find the

his eyes clouded once more, and his face went back

adjustments to his suit, he turned around

was going to personally

***

"It's as I expected…"

myself by drawing a deep breath, and then I sat myself down on the sofa. As I tried to organize the

'Fuck.'

combining them with what I already knew, I was

stare

I'm not wrong, the main reason why they're

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

it this world, or my world, he was the strongest

that he still learned the martial manual or skill that made him the way he

back at the memories that I saw from Melissa and seeing that

can't be too sure

my

be correct, then I wouldn't know how to

It was too much…

"Huuuu…"

another deep

was then that I heard Grandmaster Keiki's

"…Did you find anything?"

looked at him and soon nodded my

an 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

damn bastard, Octavious! Power has gotten to his

while gnashing his teeth in

three of us. I knew that something was wrong from the very beginning. He must

not necessarily be the

the armrest of the chair I was

guys, the motive behind it is definitely

everything he did. He was a man of great pragmatism and was the

the deaths of the three grandmasters who lived in my world. However, I knew that wasn't possible considering that he wasn't yet powerful enough to deal with them back when

the fact that there was

world were really not due to the demons, then I'm afraid there's some sort

could only think

still don't have enough evidence to

got out of my seat, bracing my hands against the edge of the couch as I did so, and stood up. After that, I turned

need to ask the three of

straightened their backs. Grandmaster

it's something that we can do, then we will

the looks in their eyes, I knew that they

It was just that…

side of my