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nAna and I walked through the woods in deathly silence. She still has a flushed expression as an aftereffect of what transpired between us earlier.

nI'm just going to ignore the look she has on and kept walking.

nI can immediately warp to our destination if I desire, but that means both Talia and Shamac won't have enough time to defeat the Imperial Knights I told them to. I am a fair person after all

nBy giving them enough time, if they somehow end up disappointing me, I'll replace at least one with Ana. Out of the two, I am nearly certain in Talia's victory. She is very inexperienced, but I'm sure she'll be victorious. As for Shamac, it's not certain but there's also a high chance of him winning. If he makes good use of his Shapeshifting factor, and uses his wits he'll be able to secure his victory. Well then, I suppose I also want to see the results of the battle I left in their care.

nSuddenly, I felt a faint sensation in my body, causing me to halt immediately. Ana, who stayed beside me as we walked, halted as well, confused by my sudden stop.

nI looked around myself and focused on a particular location, east of my current position. I smiled.

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"So that's how it is. I expected this much... You cockroach

" I said with a smile.

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"M-My lord...?

" Ana said, obviously very confused by my reaction.

nI turned to her when she spoke and observed her expression. She seems interested in what I'm thinking about. Well, it's not like I'm telling her anyway.

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"Ana, I'll have to leave you at this juncture

" I told her.

nHer eyes widened as she looked at me perplexingly.

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"W-Why? Have I been bad?

" She asked me with a teary and desperate look.

nThis is why being too enthusiastic and earnest is a bother.

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"Not at all. I just have other businesses to deal with. You'll continue down this path and rendezvous with my servants. Assist them if they require it, and wait for my arrival.

" I told her.

nHer face lightened up as she heard this and she calmed herself.

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"O-Oh... So that's it. Okay my Lord. I will do exactly as you have said.

" She said energetically. She made her body rigid and made a salute at me.

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"She's so tense

" I muttered to myself.

nUnlike Talia, who is energetic and free, Ana is very rigid and earnest.

nUnlike Shamac who prefers to be silent and subservient, she is able to take the initiative. Looks like I have a pretty good card in my hands.

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"Go

" I told her.

nImmediately, she ran ahead, leaving me in the woods alone.

nI watched her as she disappeared into the thick cluster of trees and shrubs.

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"Now then...

" I said, enhancing my senses and concentrating on my target.

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"Hex #71 Warp

" I said.

nImmediately, I warped to my predetermined location. It was also located in the woods, but east of it.

nMy target being none other than the central character in this little game.

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"Where do you think you're going, Julius?

" I asked the person who stared at me with bulging eyes and sweat covering his body.

nJulius, who was tightly gripping a mirror by his side, huffed as he stared at me unbelievably.

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"Y-Y-You... H-How?!

" He mumbled, pointing his finger at me in terror.

nI smiled at him and took a step forward.

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"No! S-Stay back!

" He yelled fearfully, taking a few steps back.

nHis legs accidentally hit the root of one of the many trees around us, causing him to stumble and fall hard on his buttocks.

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"That's a much better position

" I said to him.

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"Eek

" He squeaked.

nLooking at his pathetic face, it's unbelievable to even imagine that this man was once the distinguished person I met before. I suppose this is what fear does... He looks so ugly now.

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"Did you really think you could escape me? You thought you'd sneak away while everyone was too busy fighting and make your grand exit?

" I asked him.

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"How did you... How did you find me?

" He asked me with a confused and frustrated look.

nHis eyes slowly turned from perplexity to realization. It finally dawned on him that his question was unnecessary.

nFor someone who managed to orchestrate such an event, keeping tabs on one of my players is really nothing spectacular. Surely he has grasped that by now.

nAll I did was track down the coins he has in his possession. Using Root, that went smoothly. The rest was up to Hex.

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"W-What are you going to do to me? What do you want?

" He asked me with a stuttereing tone.

nIndeed, what should I do? I've run out of use for him, and he'll only serve as a disturbance for my future plan. There's really nothing left for his existence rather than being a bother to me.

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"You'll die. That much is certain

" I said with a tone of finality.

nHis face fell when he heard this. I suppose he always knew that would be his fate, but he didn't want to accept it until I finally gave the verdict.

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"I-I see...

" He said, with a short pathetic laugh.

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"I really thought I had it all figured out... I thought I was the protagonist of this tale. I thought I was the one in control of it all, but I-I guess I was wrong...

" Julius muttered.

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"You're not wrong. You thought what I wanted you to think. You were indeed the protagonist of this tale, for that is the role I made you play. Heh, I suppose in that regard I am similar to 'THEM'.

" I said with a snicker.

nJulius didn't understand my last statement, but he didn't make any attempt to. I could see in his eyes that he still had questions... He had doubts, he still had some little fragment of uncertainty left in him.

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"Why did you do all this? Why would you ruin me? What could you possibly gain from all this... I just don't understand...

" He said, repeating what he asked me back when I first revealed my involvement to everyone.

nIt's going to be a bother, but perhaps I should let him know a bit.

nThat should kill some time.

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