Chapter 253

Chapter 253 – ……Five Is a Bit Much

A familiar proverb notes that foes frequently cross paths on a narrow wooden plank.

People of the past might have encountered each other on such bridges, but for me, wasn’t this very academy serving that exact purpose?

‘First it was Prezen, and now it is the Young Patriarch of the Decullan line.’

During my previous existence, that Young Patriarch had resorted to dark, prohibited sorcery to compensate for his own deficient natural skills. To bolster his own might, he had callously extracted the vitality of my closest allies, driving them directly to their graves.

He didn’t just target Lucifer; he wiped out every single member of the Single Numbers, leaving only me behind.

Furthermore, even if they weren’t strictly my brothers-in-arms, a multitude of Numbered Troubleshooters and innocent townsfolk met the same fate.

In a sense, he was the true culprit behind the burden of this wyvern I now carry, so encountering that very same person in the flesh once more brought a chaotic rush of memories to the surface……

[Me? Companion, did you summon me? Me?]

‘……No, I was not referring to you.’

[Do other wyverns exist?]

……There are none, buddy.

I pulled a luminescent moonlight stone from my attire and tossed it to pacify the glaring beast, sinking right back into my reflections.

In all honesty, I could have struck down Prezen without a moment’s pause.

There wouldn’t have been a shred of reluctance when the time came to end his life.

Yet, why was it that……

‘Things…… are different now.’

It was highly probable that my inner resolve and psychological clarity had evolved further after dealing with Prezen.

If I had to identify the exact catalyst for this change, it would be No. 17 and those former Troubleshooters.

I recalled the question I had posed to Shine back then.

• Let me turn the question on you. Is it truly justifiable to end a life simply because that individual possesses the potential to commit wickedness in the future?

Those words had been entirely genuine.

Consequently, if I applied that exact same principle to Salier, the Young Patriarch of Decullan, then……

‘Is it truly justifiable to execute him for the atrocities he enacted during my previous life?’

In the past, such a dilemma wouldn’t have even warranted a second thought.

However, after successfully purging my deep-seated terror of Decullan and confronting my own conscience directly, my emotions had settled into this murky, unresolved state.

……And yet.

The dim, moisture-laden cellar beneath the quarters of Decullan’s Young Patriarch.

The pungent odor of decay and fungus that drifted past my nostrils.

The recollections of that fateful day remained incredibly sharp.

My companions, their expressions contorted in agonizing pain, stretching their arms toward the exit as their bodies shriveled away into nothingness—the rough, crumbling texture of their dehydrated corpses remained permanently etched in my mind.

The embers of fury ignited on that day had not yet been extinguished.

‘……Why?’

Was uncertainty actually taking root within my spirit?

“…….”

Overwhelmed by irritation, I shoved open the residence door and began pacing through the gardens of the second-year campus.

Since the curfew hour hadn’t arrived yet, a fair number of students were strolling around the grounds. Yet among the crowd, I remained isolated beneath a solitary lamppost, trapped in my own mind.

The crescent hanging in the heavens looked incredibly sharp.

Yet it lacked clarity.

Staring up at the celestial body as it cast an eerie, corrupted radiance blended with a crimson hue, I made no effort to block the dark thoughts tunneling deep into my consciousness.

Each time that ominous crescent obscured itself behind passing vapor, my bloodlust would subside, only to flare up violently the moment the scarlet gleam pierced through again.

Oscillating in this manner with my intent to kill, I came to realize that Salier represented a pivotal obstacle cutting right through the trajectory of my current existence.

For what reason?

Because if I overlooked his villainous actions simply because they belonged to a past timeline, it would amount to rejecting the reality of who I am today.

Reflecting upon it……

‘……The Decullan of this current timeline hasn’t actually committed a crime against me either.’

I couldn’t speak for this exact moment, but immediately following my regression, that was an absolute truth.

Yet how had I behaved?

While I had established the ascent of the spire as my primary objective, I had never once wavered regarding my retribution against Decullan.

Furthermore, that campaign of vengeance was actively ongoing.

So, would it be correct to abandon my retaliation against Decullan?

That was hardly a straightforward conclusion to reach.

Fine, let us assume that punishing Salier for historical crimes was the correct path.

If so, that choice would invalidate the person I became when I liberated No. 17 and those former Troubleshooters.

The moment my deductions reached that crossroads.

A humorless chuckle escaped my mouth.

“That is just how the world works, I suppose.”

After attaining a state of transcendence and completely eradicating my dread of Decullan with the assistance of Shine.

I had genuinely believed I had evolved into an enlightened being.

Evidently, I was mistaken.

Observing how easily my resolve could falter, it seemed that even the mental elevation of transcendence was incapable of comprehending every single variable.

I directed my steps toward the dining hall of the second-year dormitory, purchased a hot beverage, and claimed a nearby outdoor seat to continue my brooding.

A figure strolled up to my position just as I had finished roughly half of my drink.

“Companion, what are you occupying yourself with?”

“Kwak, suppressing your presence once more?”

Had this fellow developed an obsession with masking his spiritual signature?

This time, however, I had detected his approach beforehand.

To be perfectly accurate, I had simply elevated my specialized awareness regarding Damian.

“Weren’t you resting inside the dorms? What brings you back out here?”

“I am currently operating as New Prototype Damian 2. I dedicate two hours to academic review every evening following my meal.”

“……Huh.”

Understood.

While New Prototype Damian 1 hadn’t shown much alteration, Damian 2 was undeniably an enhanced iteration.

He must have caught sight of me while returning from his study session……

“Furthermore, Evelyn predicted that you were likely engaging in some sort of foolish behavior again. She instructed me to verify.”

“…….”

Evelyn was the mastermind behind this?

Just like before, she had observed me sitting around with an intense expression and simply deployed the Damian she happened to encounter by chance.

It felt as though I was being monitored like an unstable explosive device; it seemed Evelyn was overdue for a rigorous mental conditioning session in the near future.

‘The reprimand I gave her back then was far too lenient, it seems.’

Damian seated himself casually right beside me and cast a glance toward my beverage.

“……Go purchase your own.”

“…….”

A brief moment of silent eye contact ensued.

“Very well, you handle the errand.”

“An excellent decision.”

He accepted a silver piece from me and spun around toward the dining hall.

I tracked his departure briefly before plunging back into my internal debate. I was well aware that this type of obsessive pondering was the breeding ground for an inner demon, yet I possessed no method to disrupt the cycle.

Remaining there, letting the cool evening air brush past as my thoughts swirled, Damian reappeared carrying a beverage piled high with sweet cream and reclaimed his spot at my side.

“……Where is my coin return?”

“Consider it a service fee.”

The domestic upbringing provided by the Blandoga clan was highly questionable.

Regardless, Damian began enjoying the beverage funded entirely by my funds, resting his forearms against his legs as he bent forward.

“What exactly are you staring at?”

“Engaging in self-scrutiny.”

“Staring directly into the void, I see.”

“…….”

I locked onto him with a freezing glare.

Detecting immediate peril, Damian pointedly avoided making direct eye contact with my intense stare.

Sigh, what was I even accomplishing by conversing with a youngster.

Right at that moment, Damian’s voice broke the silence.

“People say that when a person is weighed down by worries, they ought to voice them.”

“It cannot truly be classified as a worry.”

It absolute was a worry, yet……

Though I assumed confiding in Damian would yield little result, I found myself parting my lips anyway.

The internal pressure had simply become that unbearable.

“So, give this some thought. This does not concern me—it pertains to an acquaintance of mine.”

Throughout the entire duration of my explanation, Damian kept his head tilted, sporting a completely perplexed countenance, showing zero indication that he was actually grasping the nuances of my narrative.

Nevertheless, without a doubt……

‘……Articulating it aloud truly does alleviate the mental burden.’

It provided no concrete resolutions, but it allowed me to systematically catalog my own internal chaos.

In that manner, braving the somewhat chilly currents of the springtime air, I delivered a modified rendition of my past and present lifetimes to Damian.

Once my chronicle concluded, the dynamic shifted entirely to Damian posing queries and me providing clarifications.

When the dialogue finally reached its end.

“It is quite uncomplicated.”

“……?”

I shifted my gaze toward Damian, struck by the unexpected clarity in his tone.

Damian offered a beaming, completely naive smirk, as though my existential crisis was entirely trivial.

“I recognize this dilemma. I studied it during ethics lessons at my estate. The debate over righteousness and wickedness, correctness and error? Penalizing an individual for an action that has not materialized in reality?”

“Well…… that is the general premise, but isn’t the situation far more intricate than that?”

“No, it is basic.”

After making that declaration, Damian turned his head to scrutinize me directly. Yet for what purpose? Those eyes possessed an unreadable, profound depth.

Damian spoke once more.

“What does it matter if it is hypocritical? It is perfectly fine to lack consistency.”

“…….”

“An individual cannot exist in a state of pure righteousness at all times. Confused about what is right or wrong? Merely act upon your internal desires, correct? Furthermore……”

Damian paused briefly, seemingly structure his final thoughts, before forging ahead.

“The acquaintance you spoke of retains the capability to penalize the villain at any given moment, do they not?”

“That…… is true, yes?”

“In that case, simply observe. If you experience the urge to penalize him this very second, proceed. If you find yourself wavering, merely observe. If that uncertainty persists, continue your observation. The moment the hesitation vanishes, enact your punishment. And should the hesitation remain but you still feel perturbed……”

“Perturbed?”

“Then simply proceed with the punishment regardless.”

“…….”

I sealed my lips shut.

His unvarnished perspective sliced clean through the obstruction clogging my consciousness. Right after, a gentle gust stirred my hair; as I smoothed down the strands, I directed my gaze upward toward the night sky.

And yet, why?

‘……It is unclouded.’

Only a brief moment ago, the celestial body had been radiating that malevolent crimson light, but now the moon shone with unprecedented brilliance.

It was so radiant it left a dull ache in my chest.

That was when Damian chose to speak once more.

“Your acquaintance appears to be tolerating far too much dead weight.”

Therefore.

“Perhaps your acquaintance should simply instruct him to drop the load.”

“…….”

For some inexplicable reason, the weight pressing down on my spirit dissolved.

Indeed, if absolute certainty eluded me, I could simply defer the choice. Even if I prolonged the delay indefinitely and never reached a final verdict, if that course of action brought tranquility to my heart, then it was the correct path to take.

If my fury boiled over at some future date, I could simply shatter his skull at that moment.

This marked the very first piece of wisdom Damian had imparted to me……

“By the way, did that acquaintance of yours actually possess any companions?”

“……What?”

“Chenbi? Evelyn? Dalia…… she does not qualify as a companion. Purion…… yes. Purion harbors resentment toward your acquaintance. Do you understand the reason?”

Damian then proceeded to ramble continuously regarding his personal theories on why Purion detested my existence.

I internally noted.

‘Purion, a mandatory mental conditioning session has just been scheduled for you.’

In any case.

In that fashion, the inaugural day of the new academic term drew to a close.

……The following morning.

“……It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. My name is Salier von Decullan…… um, moving forward, please…… extend your guidance to me.”

His skin appeared completely devoid of color, and his physical demeanor seemed incredibly intimidated.

Salier bore absolutely no resemblance to the terrifying entity preserved within my recollections, a fact instantly verified by the wyvern’s unique perception.

[Kind-hearted, spirit untainted.]

“…….”

[Companion is unkind. I hear……]

‘One moonlight stone is officially revoked.’

[The companion I referenced was Damian.]

Has anyone ever witnessed a spiritual entity completely subjugated by material wealth?

That is precisely what this wyvern is.

In any event.

I silently observed Salier as he drifted toward an unoccupied desk. And I officially deferred my ultimate verdict.

‘At some point down the line……’

The very day the reservations within my soul entirely evaporate, I will pulverize that skull.

For the time being, I completely banished Salier from my immediate thoughts.

The precise instant another internal demon tore away from my soul.

……In that manner, the tranquil routine of my second-year existence forged ahead.

‘And what is the deal with this person?’

Receiving an abrupt notification, I pulled on my facial concealment and directed my steps toward Parun’s newly established research facility located within the academy boundaries.

“You have arrived ahead of schedule. It is almost as though you possessed prior knowledge that I would be occupied within this facility.”

His surprisingly precise observation caused me to tense up slightly, though I quickly masked my reaction.

“Well…… we are currently within academic operational hours, are we not?”

“Hmm. Furthermore, it appears you have gained some vertical height, now that I reflect upon it.”

“Oh, is that truly the case?”

My spirits lifted slightly at his words, but Parun’s expression instantly grew freezing cold. It was the exact look one might give something utterly miserable.

“If you intend to conceal your true identity, at least execute the deception competently.”

“……What nonsense are you spouting now.”

Had he actually deduced that I was an active student?

“Ahem. Putting that aside, what was the purpose of this summons? Does it pertain to the Infinite Chain dilemma?”

“No, an entirely separate matter.”

“Wait a moment.”

I cut Parun off just as he began to explain and conjured the wyvern into reality.

“Wyvern, take flight.”

[…….]

“Two moonlight stones.”

[I shall fly. Excellent, I shall take flight immediately.]

With the preparations complete, I refocused on Parun.

“Very well, reveal the details.”

Given that the wyvern was currently soaring in high spirits, whatever information exited Parun’s mouth was bound to be positive.

No, it absolutely required to be positive.

I leaned closer to absorb his words.

“You previously indicated that you required a plot of territory to construct your sorcery spire? Desiring it entirely devoid of expense, without a single coin exchanged.”

“Yes……?”

“I have discovered a method.”

I cast my eyes upward toward the soaring beast.

For you, three moonlight stones.

Honestly, even relinquishing four wouldn’t be too painful.

……Though five feels a bit excessive.