[This place is so aweso... This is my first ti visiting a factory of this scale...]
Hearing Shadow's words, Rio rembered that this guy never went on trips, never had long- term friends, and didn't enjoy vacations at all.
'This guy is kind of similar to in this aspect... I was the sa in my previous life... Maybe it's the similarities between us that caused us to end up in the sa place...'
The only difference between the two now is that the original Rio at least saw his parents face and even got to live happily for the early parts of his childhood.
As for him... he was just a random kid from the slums wandering the cold streets and never knew who his parents were.
'In this life, I must wander around a lot and enjoy life as much as I can when I am free from all the troubles...'
The main goal Rio has right now is to beco strong enough to protect himself and the ones he cares for from the inevitable calamity that will co in the future.
Once that calamity is successfully dealt with, Rio will just go on a world tour with Lia in tow, and the two of them will enjoy the amazing scenery of the world.
Eventually they will co back in a few years, and then he will settle down, open a tea shop, and just enjoy the life of a househusband.
(He's already imagining himself making tea for Lia when she cos ho from her company work...) 'As for shadow... although I am not sure... But this guy will likely disappear after I deal with Alverto...'
Rio himself knows that the only reason this guy is still preserving and is able to maintain his consciousness from falling apart is because he has imnse hatred for Alverto and his subordinates.
Hatred is one of the 'Paths' that is extrely destructive in nature; once you walk the 'Path' of revenge, it won't even let you die a peaceful death.
'Well, I was going to defeat Alverto regardless anyway; putting his breaking consciousness to rest will just be another side-quest, I guess...'
While walking through the gigantic factory, a thought ca to Rio's mind.
'By the way, do you rember what happened that day when you slept and I ca to your body... The mories of that day are kind of fuzzy...'
[Honestly speaking, I never felt it coming... I just went to sleep like normal and 'tadaa!', then I found myself waking to my body enjoying a banquet...]
'Ah, you must be referring to the 'Award Ceremony' that happened after the tournant of supre talents...'
'That ans you nearly slept for two years?... No, it can't be called a sleep anymore; you went in a coma, I guess...'
'Maybe when my soul entered your body, the impact was too strong, and when our souls rged, your weak consciousness wasn't able to withstand the burden...'
[That... might be true, I guess...]
Although Shadow felt awkward thinking that soone took over his body and was now even blaming it on him for having a 'weak' consciousness, he didn't bother arguing with Rio.
He knew that what had happened couldn't be changed; in the first place, he himself could have never achieved what the other party has.
Now he just wants to see Alverto die a miserable death, and then he will be able to let go of his regrets and hatred.
As long as the 'Wandering Soul' fulfills his lifelong wish, he doesn't have any other
grievances, and he will hand over the body to him honestly.
[Right now... I have very little control over the body, but that much is enough...]
[If you don't want to cause problems for you in the future, you better help out, and I will help you out in return...]
[I use you, you use ; it's a win-win situation, partner...]
'You don't want to live a long life or anything else... You always shout about marriage and stuff... What about that then?'
[No... those are just the regrets that I couldn't fulfill... They are nothing more than that...]
[My only wish now is to see Alverto dead... That much is enough for ...]
If not for Alverto, the original Rio would have lived a happy life, and maybe even Kevin would have co to his senses eventually, and then he would have gotten the love of both parents.
And even if he hadn't achieved anything great in life, even if his talent was bad, he had no hope of becoming even a B-ranker in his whole life.
At least he could have lived a decent life that everyone aspires for.
The destruction of the world, the great calamities, and the increasing density of mana have no bearing on ordinary individuals like him.
It would have been the responsibility of the SS-rankers and the world's protagonist to resolve that issue; it would have been of no concern to him.
'Well, consider your wish granted then; I will have to deal with Alverto eventually anyway; it doesn't matter if I help you out along the way...'
[... You are... a kind person, aren't you, Wandering Soul? I am certain that you likely aren't one of those evil spirits that possess your body and make you evil...]
[No... I feel like you are actually too kind... Tell the truth. Have you ever killed anything before you entered my body...]
'Haha, you think too highly of ... I am but a very evil criminal...'
[No way, I refuse to believe it! You don't have that ruthlessness in you...]
[If not for your fading emotions, I think you must have been a gentle soul... soone like Riya, I
guess...]
'Seriously? I and Riya have nothing in similar, you know...'
[No, she's obsessed with her candies, and you are obsessed with tea! Quite similar, right?]
'That doesn't imply anything; don't go for the looks; if the worst-case scenario happens, Riya can definitely even commit genocide for Link's sake...'
'As for ... I already left my kindness behind long ago... Only selfishness can keep you alive in
a cruel world...'
In his past life, if Rio wasn't selfish enough and wasn't working hard for his own sake, he would have died on the streets from starvation when he was still a beggar.
'Forget it... I have co a long way since then; there's no point in ntioning that matter
now...'
Not to ntion the past life; Rio has already forgotten his past life's na long ago; he has no attachnts to his previous world, and he has no regrets left for that past life.
What he needs to focus on is his current self; his current life matters the most.
'Although there's been ups and downs along the way, I can't hope for a better life than this
one...'
'Friends, love, teachers, supporters, etc. I have been blessed with everything... Maybe I
consud all my luck to get this much for myself...'
[Well, you certainly seized my body for it, but I don't resent you either... Just make sure you live a good
life for my sake too, and we will be even...]
'I sure will...'
[That's the spirit! Now let's go and complete this so-called 'Practice trial'!]
'Yeah, enough chit-chat... We should hurry...'
Rio rarely gets to talk so much with anyone as he has too many secrets and he can't reveal them to anyone at all, but Shadow is the only one who can share his burdens to this extent. After Lia, Shadow might be the only person who knows the most about him.
Once he ended the inner monologue with Shadow, Rio sped up his walking speed and finally reached the deepest chamber of the factory.
The following words were written on a sign board hanging above the door:
[Here resides the 'Sentient One', Don't barge in without permission...]
Looking at that sign board, Rio hesitated a bit.
'Er... is this soone's house? I don't think it's a good idea to barge in randomly in soone's
house...'
*Knock* *Knock*
Rio knocked on the door politely so as not to cause trouble.
If there really is an SS-ranker here, he wants to solve the problem without having to resort to
violence, as that would put him at a disadvantage.
If you can solve sothing without needing to unsheathe your sword, why not do it
peacefully, right?
When Rio knocked on the door, a surprised voice ca from the inside.
"Huh? Was that a knock on the door!! Does that an soone finally ca to this place after
so many centuries!?"
The voice seed hoarse and rough, and it had a peculiar aura to it.
The very mont Rio sensed that aura, he imdiately beca vigilant.
'Sh*t! It's indeed an SS ranker! Sotis I wonder why my guesses always end up coming to
reality!'
Rio shook his head in helplessness and waited for the door to open.
When the door finally opened, a small floating golem, the size of a palm appeared in front of
him.
"Oh!! So there really was soone!! Wow!! You are covered in miasma from head to toe! Are you a demon? I have never actually seen one myself, but you sure look like one..."
Seeing that the other party couldn't see through him, Rio breathed a sigh of relief and decided
to go with the flow.
"I am actually a half demon; do you not like demons?" (That was a dumb question; nobody in
this world likes demons at all...)
At Rio's question, the small golem shook its head.
"Eh, no, I haven't t a living being for a very long ti now; I don't hate anyone, and I am
just happy to see soone after so long!"
Fortunately, the golem seed to have a calm personality.
...
Author's Notes.
Yo! It's your beloved author here!
Question of the day.
Why do you think Rio introduced himself as a half-demon?
(Tell your thoughts in the comnts)
By the way, don't forget to use those power stones!!
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