The world around me shifted, everything feeling blurry again, after which I arrived at the other side, within the academy. The portal behind me whirled down, and my eyes met with the other mages around, a small nod being given between us as I focused on my surroundings. The mana around me was as pure and dense as it always is within the walls of this floating city, especially in the academy.
‘Sigh… I have a lot to do, don’t I?’
As I mused over this question, a disguise came over me. The mages seemingly understood my reason as I headed out of the teleportation hall. Several students of different species and power were always moving heavily around, as the time for the leave given would soon be coming to an end. The exam leave, along with the leave that was given due to the special incident, would soon come to an end.
This would mean that classes would resume again, and the script of things would only start to get even worse. Lots of powerful events are still to occur, many I know and some which I will have no control over. This is not a game anymore, and even with me trying to keep a low profile, I am still a target.
There are the two main events that would take place in the sea and then within the Elven Empire. The specially organized visit to the sea for educational purposes, along with the special spirits festival that will take place in the Elven Empire, which can also be considered as another educational trip, will include certain special events that I should be ready for.
‘Though the sea event isn’t that much useful to me anymore.’
The event at the sea was something that was supposed to happen for the players to finally make their move to win Marlene’s heart, and if done well, they would even be able to win over Catherine too. But in the current situation, they are already in love with me. It doesn’t mean that the event won’t be useful to me, though. I will be able to at least pull over different types of profit from it too.
‘Not to mention that the final will that Xavier left me still has to be completed.’
There exists a lot I have to do, and these events will soon come in chronological order, in which I have to be careful with the events for Sabrina. By now, she must be knee-deep into the old relics and information, while also trying to find out any and more info she can. It won’t be long before she will stick to my side like glue to get everything out of me.
Her events, too, with the revival of that damn woman, should be handled correctly, or else the woman we will end up with will be a mix of Sabrina and that blood-craving woman, which would make for a certain bad end in the game.
‘Though right now the main aim should be Trisha.’
I don’t have to guess that her situation would be a bit extreme with all the dreams, feelings, and duties being pushed on her while I was gone. The pain of not having me beside her will have made amazing cracks that I will be able to use, after which I shall be able to use her grandmother in ways from the War Council that will be very, very useful.
‘Not to mention that her brother would soon leave that place and join the academy.’
This would mean that my time for taking action is slowly increasing, and I would soon have to deal with two of those blessed with that ridiculous luck. Thankfully, while Leonardo has become mildly famous thanks to his achievements and the fights from before, he still hasn’t reached even the tail of the peak he should have reached in the game.
‘Not to mention that the anger of those guys is now focused on him too.’
With the dark side really pissed off with his actions, they are aiming deeply for his life. So, with the help of my informant, I have kept Leonardo in check, keeping him training within the academy in the past times. However, that still hasn’t put a stop to his attempts at trying to get back to Sonia, trying his level best to see her.
This has, in a way, only worsened his reputation around my people, which is another reason he can’t reach his peak of popularity and power as before. No one wants to mess with me, especially by getting close to the guy who has pissed me off.
‘By now, even Angelina will take the hint and start creating distance.’
Sure, she wants to use him, but with her feelings for me getting more and more defined, she would find it very difficult for her to keep Leonardo close to her, knowing that I don’t like him. In that case, I know the perfect enemy of mine that will take Leonardo in, where Leonardo will work as my inner agent to dismantle his faction from the inside out.
‘Looks like the Illuminati will have to give poor Leonardo new jobs to work on.’
I chuckled inwardly at that thought, knowing it was another task I would have to deal with. But the main thing here is that things are getting tougher, while variables that no matter how hard I try to prevent are appearing, which would mean that some small, certain things need to change. Some power I kept hidden needs to be activated.
‘Not to mention there are still a lot of places that I have yet to conquer.’
Even though I am feeling a bit anxious, especially with the two regressors out there whom I can’t deal with yet, and who can cause me a buttload of trouble, I have to hold on for now, take small steps, because even to the end, losing my cool would only create issues for me. Thus, my steps were light as I walked through the academy.
A small smile on my face as I kept watching the whole lot of students moving, living their daily student academy lives. The many buildings spread around, a teacher walking around with a group of students trying to catch up to the teacher, either for marks, to get their missed attendance, or to ask questions.
For a moment, I stopped my steps, not rushing towards Trisha. I stood within this flowing crowd as I took a deep breath, my mind relaxing in a way, as the fresh breath of mana flowing around slowly flowed through me, my body relaxing as I opened my eyes, watching everything moving around, feeling the wind as it hit me.
As I did so, I widened my ears, taking in the loud sounds produced by everyone moving around—their chatter, the footsteps, and the small instruments being moved around. All of it started to flow into my mind, the beauty of it sticking to me, as once again I realized that I am in the academy, but what kind of student life have I lived here?
The faces of the friends I made in the academy flashed through my mind, especially the ones from my faction. Their support and loyalty are something I appreciate, and all of them being their own unique selves with their own quirks is something I like too.
‘There is so much peace around the world, yet I only keep running into its darkness.’
I mused as I felt my mana seemingly settle down, the will I have slowly been cultivating settled down. The abilities, my powerful body, the special eyes, the special protection I keep around myself, the special surveillance I keep around the girls, the special blessing of the gods around me, the special duties I bear in my mind, and more—all of it seemingly settled down for a moment as I felt like a simple mortal.
I took in the feeling of weakness I felt when I first opened my eyes to the world as that young little boy who would have tragically died if he hadn’t done anything.
‘I guess the special regressor thing has been affecting me more than I gave credit for.’
To be truthful, I don’t have that much of a grand goal. I just simply want to live a happy and content life, but for me to get it, I need to climb through a lot of difficulties.
This world isn’t a kind one, and my situation also isn’t a kind one. I always told myself, I am greedy, and in no way don’t I like having sex with these girls or having them love me. But if I were given the open free choice, I would just select the few I really love, love them, and live a simple, happy, and rich life. That’s all I would do.
‘But life never takes the steps you always plan, diversions always happen too…’
My mind isn’t broken. I have long overcome that issue of mental instability. The issue that I find myself in now is the fact that I am still running. I have to deal with the girls’ mental shit. I have to be careful not to let the girls meet themselves. I have to be careful not to say anything hurtful that might bite me later. I have to manipulate the girls to make sure they don’t accidentally speak of the things they have done with me, and I have to do a lot more.
I enjoy the position I am in, the power I have, the strength I hold, and the family that I have, but it’s hard to maintain it all—living faces with lies everywhere and having variables thrown in your face too. I am in an academy, but when have I lived a student life here? Did I even have a good childhood?
‘Haaaa… so peaceful.’
