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.

smoothly. We 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

does that have to do with the fact that you're the ones who

strong to that extent if they were so afraid

me a glance for a split second before questioning me about

you think the

moment, I began to gain a better understanding

you believe that we decided to give powers to you and every other being in the universe so that we could play a game with you? Do you honestly believe that we even want to get rid of you

Waylan shook his head.

have no 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

and stared at me

need to know

words, and I stared straight at him,

a loss as to whether I should

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

not so much

no longer as insignificant as I

reached my ears

thinking that you've found some big secret. Reality is… it doesn't

stood up

never a threat to us from the very

precise moment, he halted his speech, and it was at that point

He probably felt it.

I'd come here knowing of your

chapel in 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

That was before, however…

you know that Kevin has betrayed you… you should be aware that there'd be no way he'd let me come to you

sending me to that world wasn't just to

as his power worked its way into my system slowly but surely. The process was smooth and harmless, and gradually

next big level shattered, and I

attention on Waylan, the corners of my

defeating you if we were to fight, I might not necessarily

clear 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

Ba.. Thump! Ba… Thump!

feel the beating of my heart in my chest, but I forcefully calmed it down with a single

"Must we fight?"

exhibited an air of calm composure. He did not give any indication that he was unhappy with either my actions or my words while he was staring at me from