Ch.310310. Observation (2)

●

A world I don’t know.

That was Elnore’s first thought as she drifted through Darwood’s consciousness.

She grasped his consciousness while she floated within it, taking a quick look around.

Or more precisely, she was trying to perceive more clearly the world “through Darwood’s eyes.”

After all, all the information she was receiving now came from Darwood’s perspective.

“-“

It’s large and magnificent, that much she could tell. But the things filling the interior and their style were things she had never seen in her life.

‘-I see.’

But instead of questioning such things, she decided to fold away all the questions arising in her mind, stuffing them into a display case labeled “things never to recall again” within her consciousness.

From the beginning, she had always harbored some degree of doubt about the fundamental aspects of this man.

The “origin” of this man was somehow misaligned.

It wasn’t simply a matter of him being eccentric or strange.

There had always been a vague awareness that his “way of thinking” itself was somewhat different from the constituents of this world.

Rather than being surprised that he came from such a different world, it felt more like it made sense.

‘More importantly.’

Before questioning things, focusing on the current situation took priority.

These were the deepest thoughts harbored by her life partner. How could she miss such things?

“Are you listening?”

With those words, Darwood’s unfocused gaze suddenly sharpened.

Though she was viewing the world through someone else’s eyes, she could still keenly observe the movements of his psyche.

‘-!’

Elnore flinched.

The past scene she was now experiencing was entirely reconstructed based on information within Darwood’s consciousness.

This meant that emotions tied to memories would also rise intensely.

And what rose from the depths of Darwood’s consciousness as he looked at the girl who had spoken those words. Those emotions were.

A melancholy that felt like his liver was being severed.

Longing, nostalgia, and.

Trauma.

‘…-‘

If Elnore could make an expression with her face right now, her brow would have immediately furrowed.

It was something she could intuitively recognize immediately.

This small girl smiling brightly before Darwood’s eyes was someone extremely important to him.

“Aptitude test?”

The response to the girl’s words came out in a half-broken voice.

Perhaps until this point, Darwood hadn’t thought much of this girl.

There wasn’t even a trace of the previous poignancy in his voice, only a barren emotionlessness.

A lifeline to escape from brothels and slums. That feeling of nothing more, nothing less.

So.

“Intelligence, reflexes, improvisation skills, combat aptitude… none of them score above 3 out of 10.”

“…”

“Honestly, you fail everything. You’re a person with absolutely no use, you know?”

“…”

Elnore could feel Darwood’s expression hardening.

The meaning behind the girl’s words was clear.

Resignation, bewilderment.

The resentment of having to return to that hellish place.

Those feelings were probably all mixed together in his reaction.

But with the girl’s next words, all of that was instantly reversed.

“So, there’s a lot to teach you, right? I’ll assign teachers to you, so learn well.”

“…”

Elnore could feel Darwood’s eyes widening.

After just saying he was a useless person, why would this girl go out of her way to bestow such a favor to make him useful?

Just from the glimpse of her wealth, finding a replacement wouldn’t be difficult.

While such questions arose, the girl continued.

“But do you know what’s interesting?”

“…What?”

“There’s just one thing you got a perfect score on.”

The girl chuckled and pointed to one item with her finger.

“Survival instinct, 10 points.”

“…”

“They say you’re the type who would crawl back up and survive even if thrown into the depths of hell.”

“…”

“It’s strange, isn’t it? You don’t have any abilities needed to protect others, but you’re remarkably good at preserving your own life.”

“…”

“And for now, that’s enough.”

“…What…?”

“I need someone who can survive for a long time.”

What followed from the girl’s mouth was:

“…So I’ll be a little less lonely.”

Somehow, it was a sentence filled with loneliness.

●

“…Hmm.”

Professor Mobius stroked his chin with a highly dissatisfied expression.

From his position of monitoring Darwood Campbell’s every move, everything the man was doing was completely incomprehensible.

‘…What is he doing?’

He understood the intention of scheming something with Sullivan, the minister coming up from the Empire. After all, that man was currently…

But all they seemed to be doing together was just spending time.

‘…I was ready to interfere immediately if they tried something strange.’

He had received quite a bold declaration of war from that side, but naturally, he had no reason to accept it at face value.

Of course, killing that man was out of the question. That was a measure to be saved for the absolute last resort.

‘His knowledge of demons is too valuable.’

The greatest stepping stone on his path to the ultimate goal of “perfect new humanity” was the power of demons.

More precisely, the very existence of Darwood Campbell, who had transformed into a different being by gathering such demonic powers, was Professor Mobius’s research subject itself.

“And that’s where your role becomes important.”

Professor Mobius twirled his wand in his hand and spoke.

“Such a man has volunteered to cooperate with my research if he loses a ‘match.’ I can’t miss such an opportunity.”

“-Heh.”

At those words, Marquis Bogart chuckled and rattled the shackles on his hands.

It seemed he was prepared here as a “safety insurance” for that purpose.

Not just stopping at Professor Astrid, but ready to use anyone nearby as a hostage.

“I probably shouldn’t be the one saying this, but you really have a nasty personality.”

Professor Mobius snorted at Marquis Bogart’s words.

Hadn’t he already been defeated twice by that man?

Although Professor Mobius always had an extremely high opinion of himself, at this point, he had to admit one thing.

Darwood Campbell was a bundle of variables.

“In tomorrow’s final experiment, if you move exactly as I say, I won’t harm Professor Astrid.”

At those words, Marquis Bogart’s smiling expression slightly hardened.

Professor Mobius’s words were touching on the root of the purpose that had led him to become a prisoner in the Demonic Spire.

“Did you think I wouldn’t know something so obvious?”

“…”

“You, that Darwood Campbell, all of you are moving with that motivation. I find it laughable that you would challenge me with such a thing.”

“…”

“Don’t forget. I’m the one holding your lifeline.”

Such sentences fell one after another in a calm voice.

He seemed confident that since he held the leash, he would ultimately be the victor.

‘…And that’s probably likely to be true.’

Anyone would acknowledge that the position of Demonic Spire Master is not a title one can win in a card game.

Although he had been thoroughly beaten by Darwood so far, if he prepared properly and resolved not to be careless, he had the capability to give anyone a hard time.

But.

Well.

‘Thinking that you have everything under control is exactly what makes you vulnerable to carelessness.’

Arrogance is like a swamp.

By the time you realize you’re too deep in it, it’s already difficult to escape.

‘Give him a good beating, Darwood Campbell.’

That man would surely…

Come up with something extraordinary again.

●

“-“

I suppress my cold sweat with a deep breath.

The minister sitting across from me looks at me with concerned eyes, but I manage to show through a smile that I’m fine.

Well.

From the outside, it probably just looks like we’re having a conversation.

Considering Mobius’s suspicious nature, he’s probably observing everything from start to finish. So it would be troublesome if it didn’t appear that way.

But just now.

I nearly died at least 10 times.

Because the minister and I were continuously “exchanging” something in an invisible space. My heart nearly burst.

Physically.

“…Darwood.”

I hear the minister calling out to me in a worried voice from across the table.

He wants to dissuade me somehow, but my will is too strong for him to suppress.

“I understand what you’re trying to do. I also understand the effect. But it’s too dangerous. If you continue like this, you might die-“

“I can do it.”

I cut off the minister’s worried voice.

Well.

Honestly, I know how crazy this is. I agree the evidence is flimsy.

But.

I distinctly remember hearing it before.

“I’m exceptionally good at surviving.”

Survival instinct, 10 points.

One of my innate talents that I possessed from the point when I hadn’t received any education.

So.

“…Let’s keep practicing.”

The “Yellow” Demon who lost power traveling from the future to the past.

The “Black” Demon who ascended from human to demon through the Seal of Tacheon, but whose power is still incomplete.

Two unstable beings who aren’t complete demons.

But precisely because of that.

Something possible only for these two.

“…The process of ‘fusion’ of authority.”

Fusing with the minister means exactly what the sentence implies.

●