>BOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!<
"Guh!" Kahn flew backward after one final hit stopping short only a small distance from me.
He appeared disgruntled by the fact that the enemy had gotten the better of him, but this was only to be expected.
'Even when he split himself to attack from multiple directions, Jared simply uses Spellcraft to control the surplus Miasma around to create a solid defense and multi-layered Spells.
In that regard, I had to admit that this world's Jared was overpowered.
'Unfortunately for him, hie overpowered status ends is limited to the confines of this world.'
I didn't know how many branches were out there, but I knew this world—and even mine—was just one of the several that existed.
'If this world's Magic is so unadvanced than mine, then I can only expect that there are worlds that have higher possibilities of Magic than mine.'
If that was the case, would I really call myself strong as well?
That was another thought for another day, though. For now, I had to take care of the menace in front of me.
"Kahn, that's enough." I told the Shadow Demon, seeing as he was about to rise and return to battle.
"I... apologize, Master."
"It's no problem." Perhaps if I allowed him to use the Magic Suit that I made for him, he would have stood more of a chance, but at this point, he was too weak.
"Return."
Kahn nodded gently, turning into darkness as he merged with me once more.
'Well, that was educating...'
"It seems your summon is no match for me, just as mine wasn't a match for you." Evil Jared said in a distance, a smug expression on his face.
'Would you look at this guy? Is he shamelessly comparing the two of us?'
Unlike me, who just effortlessly let my Magic Item nullify everything he threw at me, he actively engaged in battle with Kahn.
'He has replenishable Miasma, and he uses Spellcraft too. Of course, he would win! Yet he's feeling so proud about his victory? Isn't that laughable?'
During my first battle with Kahn, I was severely disadvantaged, but I used my wits and resources to gain a slight edge.
'I still lost that fight, but it just goes to show how a real high-stake battle is.'
"So, are you going to fight me now? Or are you just going to watch in a distance? If it's the latter, then I'll be coming for you."
Right now, I actually wanted to fight him myself. I wouldn't be satisfied otherwise.
However, there was something that kept causing a tightening knot within my heart.
I couldn't ignore it anymore.
"May I ask you a question?"
"Hm? I'll allow it." He responded dismissively.
I nearly leaked out an annoyed expression, but controlled myself at the last minute.
'I'll decide my next course of action based on his answer to my question.'
With that in mind, I heaved a heavy sigh and looked at him honestly.
"Why are you doing this?"
Silence.
For a moment, silence took over completely.
Both of us looked at each other. I maintained my serious, curious gaze, while he gave me a slightly surprised reaction.
"Why am I doing this? Well... I guess there are lots of reasons. It could be to prove a point to everyone who has ever doubted me. Also obtaining ultimate power and ruling everything in sight... there's that too."
But, was that really all there was to it? I didn't think so.
"If I was to give a real reason, though. I would say it's because I love Magic. I guess I've always loved it." Jared paused mid statement and stared at me.
I could see the sincerity in his eyes.
"I love it more than anything else. That's why I want to pursue it and see how deep it goes—where it leads—and I don't care how far I have to go in order to obtain it."
In essence, all of this—his grand conquest for power, and all the destruction he had wrought... it was all to satisfy his lust for Magic.
"I will explore the vastness of this universe, and I will encounter other realities. I will attain more power and develop new Magic—Jane and I will see this through to the end."
'So that's why they got together. They both have an obsession for Magic.' My thoughts trailed, though thinking about their relationship still disgusted me.
"And no one is going to get in my way. Not Merlin. Not Neron. And definitely not you."
I listened in silence, and after hearing him conclude, the heavy weight in my heart slowly lifted.
'It looks like Aether was right.' A sad smile formed on my face.
If I had been given Magic in my first life, there was indeed a high chance that I would have wrought an imbalance to the world due to my obsession for it.
Perhaps not.
'Looking at this twisted version of myself, I can't help but be grateful to everyone I got to meet—both in this life and in my first one.'
The experiences I had must have shaped me into who I was, allowing me to pursue a different path compared to this world's Jared—or rather, Lewis Griffith.
'I could have easily become this monster...'
"How about you, Outer? Why are you standing in my way? Why are you risking it all to stop me and help those losers?"
Why indeed? It wasn't like this was my original world, and using more power meant having less for myself.
However, this guy was wrong about one specific detail.
'I'm not exactly risking it all. It's just like a minor inconvenience.'
As for why I would even choose to make the effort, well...
Slowly, my hair changed color, reverting to my original blond type.
My face also returned to it's usual state, and I donned my flowing white coat, with the black inner shirt and trousers.
My outfit was coated with golden designs, and a couple of Magic Items served as accessories on it.
In no time at all, I was back to my original state—as Jared, of course.
I could see Jane and Jared's eyes widen in shock as they watched me unveil my true identity to them.
It seemed I had gotten my answer, thanks to Jared's answer, and his follow-up question.
Why was I going so far for a place as inconsequential as this, compared to my own world and the grand scheme of things?
The answer was quite simple.
"I guess I've taken quite a liking to this world."
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[A/N]
Here's the link.
