The Author's POV

As I sat in the dimly lit room with Waylan, I couldn't help but feel a growing sense of curiosity about his role as a 'Protector.' I had always struggled to comprehend their roles and the motivations behind their actions.

It had been gnawing at me for quite a while now.

Waylan was calm and collected, and he seemed to know everything there was to know about the Records, the universe, and our place in it.

I eventually shook my head.

"No, I do not know why you do the things that you do."

"So he hasn't told you…"

Waylan calmly nodded his head.

I frowned in response to what he said, but I did not move from where I was sitting.

He continued.

"The universe… you can say that it was something that was created by the Records. It's their body, and we are both creations of the Records."

This portion was one that I had a general comprehension of. Despite this, it did not clarify for me what the records' objective was in engaging in all of this activity with creating the Protectors and keeping this so called 'balance'.

Perhaps seeing the confusion on my face, Waylan shifted his posture and changed his wording.

"Think of it like human anatomy. The universe is the Record's body, and we are the components that make up their body."

The things that he said got me nodding my head in agreement. In all honesty, this made much more sense.

"A body is composed of millions of distinct cells and bacteria that work together to keep it functioning. Cells generate energy, and the body grows gradually over time..."

"In light of the aforementioned, because the human body contains such a vast quantity of cells and bacteria, something is bound to occur sooner or later, right?"

I pursed my lips. Somewhat starting to get where he was coming from.

"If there is a virus or some cells begin to multiply too rapidly, the human body will attempt, on its own, to find ways to correct the problem. One such route could be accomplished by deploying white blood cells... antibodies..."

While I listened to him speak, I kept my eyes closed. Even though I couldn't see my face, I could tell that it was getting more and more ugly with each passing second.

"Are you trying to imply that you, Protectors are the antibodies of this system?"

"You catch on pretty quickly."

Waylan happily smiled.

get rid of anything that even has the remotest possibility of being hazardous. We respond to things that might be harmful to us in the same way that your body does

have to do with the fact

give us the means to grow strong to that extent

glance for a split second before questioning me

you think the

was a straightforward inquiry; however, at that very moment, I began to gain a better

every other being in the universe so that we could play a game with you? Do you honestly believe that we even want

Waylan shook his head.

choice but to bestow mana upon you. You are, as I've already mentioned, merely a part of a much larger network. It is our responsibility as Protectors to see to

paused and stared

to know

and I stared straight at him, unable to utter a single word

at a loss as to whether I

has helped me get a better understanding of what was going on, but at the same time, it demonstrated to me just how insignificant I

not so

was no longer as insignificant

reached my ears

here… arrogantly thinking that you've found some big secret. Reality is… it

stood up from his

You were never a threat to us from the very beginning, and even if that 'traitor' has helped you achieve your

it was at that point that a smile crossed my

He probably felt it.

really think I'd come here

that world, it was immediately abundantly clear to me that I was not a match for a Protector. Even with all of my abilities and skills, I was able to see that there was no way that I could overcome

That was before, however…

be aware that there'd be no way he'd let me come to you knowing just

But the point of sending me to that world wasn't just to help me understand what was going on behind the scenes; it was actually to help me

a transition before my very eyes as his power worked its way into my system slowly but surely. The process was smooth and harmless, and gradually I witnessed my power undergo changes that I

from the next big level shattered, and I broke through to

Waylan, the corners of

if we were to fight,

to me that the Protector of the Seat of Diligence was someone on an entirely different level than anyone else I had ever encountered in my life, but… I already knew this beforehand, and I was

Ba.. Thump! Ba… Thump!

I stood in front of him, I could actually feel the beating of my heart in

"Must we fight?"

an air of calm composure. He did not give any indication that he was unhappy with either my actions