The Author's POV

Time flew by.

It was unclear to me how much time had passed, but I was aware that there was not much longer to go before Jezebeth would show up here on earth.

Had it been before, by now, I would've been palpitating with fear over the prospect of Jezebeth coming, but at the moment, I was rather calm.

Nervousness stems from one's lack of confidence. If one wasn't confident in what they were up against, that'd be when one would start to feel nerevousness.

More than anything, I didn't have the time to even think about those matters.

"Your entire body is a mess. I don't understand why you'd let so many different types of energies roam inside of your body?"

I was currently being scolded, if one might call it that.

"When you made the decision to allow so many energies to enter your body, did the thought 'more is better' cross your mind?"

"No."

I shook my head, keeping my head low at the same time.

"…I just wanted to use methods that you wouldn't be able to predict or be familiar with."

The room fell into an abrupt silence as a result of my words, and when I looked up, I saw my own love in his eyes.

His face was as indifferent as it always had been, but for some reason, he had a look that seemed to be looking down on me.

"I'll have to praise you for that."

To my surprise, I was complimented rather than reprimanded.

It came as a bit of a surprise to me given that, ever since he began helping me, all he ever did was criticize everything that I did.

It brought to mind instances when we had been together in the Demon Realm. Back then, he used to treat me the same way that he did now.

He was a harsh teacher, but he was the best teacher I could ever ask for.

There was no one else who understood me better than he did.

"On more than one occasion, I found myself rather taken aback by the actions that you took. It's true that some of them were incredibly dimwitted, but there were also some that were admirable... having said that..."

He looked at me dead on in the eyes.

"The key word here is 'some', and that's on rare occasions. Do you really think I haven't tried everything in my pursuit of power? You think that I've never taken the path that you're currently undertaking? Scrap that nonsensical thought from you mind. Whatever you tried, I've tried it before…"

He pointed at his head with his index finger.

"…You've only caught a glimpse of my hell. Not the entirety of it."

"…"

I pursed my lips and didn't say anything at his words.

Deep down, I knew that he was right.

If there was anyone who knew the best path, it had to be him.

"It was as simple as following the story's plotline. I made it so that the only thing you'd be able to concentrate on is following the plot line, and yet... like a complete moron, you chose to deviate from the plot line that I designed for you to take advantage of."

I wasn't completely certain, but I thought I detected a hint of irritation in the tone of my other self's voice.

choices that I made

back of

had to discard the plotline. The butterfly effect was getting

"Was it, though?"

was stopped mid sentence and I felt a cold gaze fall on my face. I turned to look at him, and

situation

head a little, staring intently in

control, and what you think of as a butterfly effect, I've already factored in a long time ago... You should've just been obedient

"Eh…"

I smiled at him.

out in the end,

only worked out because I made them work

stinged, and I turned my head

you had followed the plotline. You would

then, I don't regret my

under

of choices that I made, and I regretted none of them. Sure, in the end, those choices ended up being accounted for by

That…

the most important thing for

regret your decisions. If you had,

looked back at me and pointed at the sword in my

Start practicing again. So long as you carry

"Got it."

I unsheathed the sword and got into a

deep breath,

Swoosh―!

***

throne, his eyes closed

sense that the time was drawing

any longer;

Rustle―!

eyes slowly opened,

gaze rested upon the

the sight of him and quickly bowed his

"Your majesty, we're ready."

his voice

lips curled into a

the Seven Patriarchs

"Yes, your majesty."

The demon replied.

"Good. Let us go."

himself up and stood up from his

Jezebeth strode out of the tent and onto

from thin air and

Rustle!

an army of demons kneeling down in front of him. They numbered in the millions and covered the large plot of land that stood before his very

"We greet his majesty."

demons chanted

nodded in acknowledgement, his eyes scanning the

formidable, and felt satisfied. They weren't as strong as him, but they were strong in

feel a certain something coming out of their bodies, and his confidence

looks like everyone

smile tugging at the corners

gaze fell on a certain someone beside him; he wore a white mask and had his gaze directed away from him. Jezebeth