Chapter 310: Observation (2)
An unknown world.
That was the first thought that came to Eleanor’s mind as she wandered inside Dowd’s consciousness.
She stealthily looked around while holding onto the consciousness that she used to wander around in this place.
Or rather, she was trying her best to take in the world ‘through Dowd’s eyes’ a bit more accurately.
Because all of the information she was receiving now was from Dowd’s point of view.
“-”
What she found out so far was that this world was big and filled with great splendor. However, it was filled with things that she had never seen before in her life.
-I see.
But instead of questioning such a thing, she decided to just fold such questions and cram them all into a cabinet with ‘things that I won’t bring up anymore’ label that was located deep inside her mind.
In the first place, that question was in line with the doubts she always had regarding something more fundamental about that man.
His ‘origin’. It was clear that something was off with it.
He couldn’t be considered as just another freak running around in the world.
Because she always felt this faint feeling that his ‘way of thinking’ itself was a little different from the people of this world.
This was why she didn’t feel that surprised when she found out that he came from another world like this.
Besides...
Questioning such a thing wasn’t her priority, focusing on this situation was.
After all, this was her lifetime partner’s ‘deepest’ thoughts. There was no way she could just miss these.
“Are you listening?”
As such words entered her ears, Dowd’s unfocused point of view as he looked around blankly became more focused.
Though Eleanor was seeing the world through someone else’s eyes, she could observe the shifts in Dowd’s psychology.
-!
She flinched.
Every part of this memory she was watching was reconstructed based on the information stored in Dowd’s consciousness.
Which meant, the emotions she felt so strongly was the exact emotion that the man felt about this particular memory.
And the emotion that she felt when he looked at the girl who said such words were...
Intolerable sorrow.
Longing, reminiscence, and...
Trauma.
...-
If she could move the muscles on her face right now, a frown would’ve appeared in her face.
Because she noticed it immediately...
That the small girl, who was grinning from ear-to-ear in front of Dowd’s eyes right now, was a very important person to him.
“An aptitude test?”
He replied to her in a half-hoarse voice.
Nevertheless, at this point in his memory, he didn’t seem to consider this girl as someone so important.
She couldn’t feel the sense of mourning that she felt earlier from his voice, only dreary apathy.
It felt as if the girl was merely a rope for him to escape from the red-light district and his poor family, nothing less and nothing more.
So...
“Intelligence, reflexes, ability to adapt to circumstances, combat aptitude... Nothing is over three out of ten.”
“...”
“Honestly, everything about you is below the standard. You’re completely useless.”
“...”
Eleanor could feel Dowd’s expression stiffened when he heard those words.
Because it was clear what the girl was trying to say.
Resignation, confusion...
And mortification at the fact that he had no choice but to return to that hellish place.
All those emotions were probably mixed in his reaction.
But the moment the girl’s next words fell, everything was completely reversed.
“Which means, I need to teach you a lot of things. I’ll assign teachers to you, so study well.”
“...”
Eleanor could feel Dowd’s eyes widened.
‘What is the reason for her to do me a favor like this—to make me useful—even though she clearly called me useless just now?’
‘Seeing her wealth, it won’t be difficult for her to find a substitute.’
As Dowd wondered so inwardly, the girl continued.
“Although, there’s one interesting thing about your aptitude result. Wanna know what?”
“...What?”
“You actually scored one ten out of ten.”
The girl smirked while pointing at an item on the list.
“Survival instinct, ten out of ten.”
“...”
“They said you’re someone who could crawl up and survive even after you’re shoved into the bottom of hell.”
“...”
“It’s strange, no? You’re said to have no abilities to protect others but you could take care of your own life to that extent.”
“...”
“And that will do for now.”
“...Wha...?”
“You see, I need someone who can survive for a long time.”
What the girl said next were...
“...So that I’d be less lonely.”
Words that were filled with loneliness.
●
“...Hmm.”
Professor Mobius stroked his chin, looking very dissatisfied.
Because even though he was watching Dowd Campbell’s every move, he couldn’t understand anything that he was doing.
...What the fuck is he up to?
He knew that Dowd was trying to do something with the empire’s representative, Chancellor Sullivan.
However, all they did was spend time together.
...I was going to interfere right away if he’s trying to do something weird, but...
Though Professor Mobius had received a very daring declaration of war from that man, he had no reason to accept it at face value—a natural reaction to take.
Of course, he wouldn’t just kill that man. He had to save it as the very last resort.
Killing him would make all his knowledge about the Devils go down the drain...
The Devil’s power was the biggest stepping stone on his way to reach his ultimate goal, ‘the perfect new mankind’.
To be exact, Dowd Campbell who had scraped up the Devil’s power and transformed into another being could be said as Professor Mobius’ research project itself.
“That’s where your role becomes important.”
Professor Mobius said while spinning a wand in his grip.
“He said if he loses in this ‘match’, he would voluntarily cooperate in our research. Why would I miss such an opportunity?”
“-Oho.”
Hearing that, Marquis Bogut smirked as the shackle on his hands clanked.
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It was clear that Mobius brought him here as some kind of ‘safety insurance’.
This showed how terrible of a disposition this man had. He didn’t stop at Professor Astrid, he wanted to take everyone around Dowd as hostages.
“I know I have no right to say this, but your personality is really trashy, huh?”
Professor Mobius snorted upon hearing what Marquis Bogut said.
He had been rejected twice by that man so far.
Of course, Professor Mobius had always had a really good assessment of himself, but at this point, he couldn’t help but admit...
That the man called Dowd Campbell was a lump of variables.
“If you do as I say in the last experiment tomorrow, I won’t harm Professor Astrid.”
Hearing that, Marquis Bogut’s expression, which was full of smiles, slightly stiffened.
Because what Professor Mobius said was touching the root of his goal, the reason why he willingly became a prisoner of this place.
“Did you think I wouldn’t know about something so obvious?”
“...”
“You and that punk called Dowd Campbell. She is the source of power that keeps all of you moving. This is why I find it hilarious that you’re all still coming at me.”
“...”
“Don’t forget. I’m holding the leash on you.”
Professor Mobius said calmly.
He seemed to be sure that he would be the final winner, since in the first place, he was the one holding the leash.
...And there’s a high chance that will actually happen.
Anyone would acknowledge this; his position as the head of the Magic Tower wasn’t a title that could be obtained by a game of card.
Dowd had been a stumbling block for him so far, but he had a hidden power that could make anyone have a hard time in battle the moment he began to prepare himself, always kept telling himself to ‘not let his guard down’, and erase all the variables in earnest.
However...
There was one thing that he overlooked.
Thinking that everything is under his control like that would just make him let his guard down in the end.
Arrogance was like a swamp.
The moment one realized that they were in too deep, it was already too hard to go out of it.
Get him good, Dowd Campbell.
Bogut believed that he...
Would definitely pull off another extraordinary feat.
●
“-”
I took a deep breath while suppressing my cold sweat with difficulty.
The chancellor, who was sitting on the opposite side, was looking at me worriedly, but I forced out a smile, telling her that I was okay.
Anyway...
On the outside, it would seem that we were just having a normal conversation.
Considering that punk Mobius’ sly tendencies, it was obvious that he was observing everything around me closely now. If he were to notice my current state, he would for sure give me trouble.
However, just now...
I almost died at least ten times.
What the chancellor and I were actually doing was ‘exchanging’ something somewhere couldn’t be seen. Because of that, my heart almost exploded a few times.
That wasn’t a metaphor, by the way.
“...Dowd.”
From across me, the Chancellor called out in a worried voice.
She seemed to be suppressing her desire to dissuade me from continuing after seeing how insistent I was on this matter.
“I get what you’re trying to do. I also know what kind of result you’re aiming for. But this is too dangerous. At this rate, you might die—”
“I can do it.”
I interrupted the Chancellor’s worried voice.
Well...
I also knew what kind of crazy attempt that I was trying to do, and that it was so ill-founded.
However...
A memory of the past came to me.
“I’m insanely good at surviving.”
Survival instinct, ten out of ten.
I heard that it was one of my God-given talents that I had since before I was trained for anything.
That was why...
“...Let’s continue...”
The ‘Yellow’ Devil who had lost her power because she came back to the past from the future.
The ‘Black’ Devil, whose power was still imperfect despite having ascended from a human to a Devil through the Fallen’s Seal.
Two unstable beings who were not perfect Devils.
But this was exactly why...
This became a possibility.
“...The process of ‘combining’ Authorities.”
Becoming one with the chancellor, I meant that literally.