"Hm? Why have you gone all silent? I thought you''d scream and rage at her death, but you''re just standing there like a retard. Oh my, was her death so traumatic? Were you in love with her? Did I kill your first crush~?"


    "...Shut the fuck up, Reno. You''re the one to talk when you try to pass yourself off by using your dead sister''s name."


    The hall, which was filled with non-stop taunts of the sadistic killer, went into a pin-drop silence. Reno, which was apparently his name ording to Xavier, went silent with a serious face that betrayed his shock.


    "How do you-"


    "How do I know this? Well, those ck tentacles aren''t amon ability. I saw them being used by ame-ass Lace bastard who tried to y mastermind with me. Some guy told me your whole backstory when I interrogated him a few decades back, but never did I expect to meet you here.


    This is good, you were a headache for quite a long while, and it''ll be good for my mental peace to bury you here. Plus, you just killed someone you never should''ve touched."


    Reno was both shocked and confused at the same time. He realized that this Xavier kid who was supposed to be just a seed knew a lot more about him than he ever imagined, but the way he knew was something that utterly confused him. He also just joined Lace a few years back, so why was he talking like it was an event that happened decades ago?


    Xavier cared not for the concerns of Reno, as his mind was too preupied with his thoughts. He realized that the reason Lafia got the confidence to attempt this quest in the first ce was because of him and his strength, and if he had not acquainted himself with her, perhaps he would''ve had a chance to meet Logan once again.


    Xavier raised his hands to look at them, and then, in an unexpected fashion, pped himself hard.


    ''What kind of thoughts was I having? Being worried about influencing the timeline? What kind of stupid nonsense was my brain filled up with? I decided to live freely, how can I concern myself with superfluous shit like changing the future? The future was destined to change with my return, and I decided to care not whether it would be for the better or not.


    How pathetic of me to have such thoughts when things aren''t going my way?''


    Xavier now quietly walked towards the dead bodies of Lafia and Alina. Reno, who was extremely perplexed by his actions, reflexively backed off and took a prepared stance. He was definitely the stronger party, but ever since a few moments ago, he had been getting a bad vibe from Xavier.


    "I know people like you. You guys think you''re some hot shit when all you''ve been doing your whole life is ying around like a big frog in a small pond. You think the world is in your hands, unaware of the horrors beyond yourprehension that exist out there.


    Mark my words, Reno. I will be your horror. I will not just kill you, but slowly crumble your walls of delusion and give you such a painful death that you''d wish you never crossed me. I should congratte you, you managed to be the first one to piss me off to this extent in this life."


    Xavier kneeled over the lifeless bodies of Lafia and Alina, ruminating over his thoughts and…


    A crazy n that he had.


    ''...I can''t save you both, but I can probably save one. Alina, if you were alive, you would''ve gone to extreme lengths to make sure I''d choose Lafia, so that''s what I''ll try to do.''


    He put his hand on Lafia''s chest, feeling her core whose energy was fading away by the second.


    ''I can seal your essence, your existence, inside me, just like I did with my Demon King self. Though you will exist as a concept, an imaginary entity, you will be whole. For that, you need to be a part of me just like Demon King was.


    Hah, I can give no guarantee that I''ll revive you, but that''s the best I can do right now. Find it in your heart to forgive me, because I''m doing the one thing I promised to never do to you.''


    Xavier''s hand pierced Lafia''s chest and dug out a small, white core. It was shining with an ethereal light so bright that it darkened the room.


    ''The mana core of a Pure Nature Spirit, who was of royal descent. This is probably the rarest core in this world, disregarding the mythical beasts… Lafia, I''ll borrow your strength for a while.''


    Xavier put the mana core in his mouth and began eating it. For a split second, he lost consciousness, and Reno took that chance to attack Xavier. He didn''t know what was going on, but the obvious conclusion was that it was best for him to kill this anomaly as soon as possible.


    While Reno was approaching at speeds that Xavier couldn''t even react to, the person in question had slipped into his subconsciousness, where time hade to a stop.


    ''...A familiar white space.''


    Xavier looked around, and unlikest time, he could not find his Demon King self, but he did find the sword that he had manifested during the fateless trials, gently wrapped around that de were bloody bandages, sealing and concealing its sharpness from the world.


    Beside that de was a young girl with ck hair and green eyes, and Xavier recognized her with a single nce.


    "...Lafia."


    "You do not need to say anything, Xavier. Never did I imagine that I''d be once involved with a person like you, one who had the world in his hands. Demon King, what an apt title, but I think the title of visionary would''ve suited you more."


    Lafia spoke as if she knew everything about his past, and she did, because Xavier himself had invited her inside his soul.