Upon hearing Devil’s remark, Michael proceeded to send him a death stare that would have made even gods shudder.
"See? Uncle is on my side!" Scarlett’s eyes sparked in delight. "You said that you wanted to warn you when I think you are making a mistake... Well, I believe that making go back will be one!"
Michael’s eyebrow twitched. Before he could utter a word, Devil grinned, ending the call abruptly.
"We will call you back later." He exclaid, hanging up, isolating himself with Michael.
"What do you think you are doing?" Michael spoke slowly, fury barely contained. "Do you have any lingering idea how dangerous it is to leave her alone in the underground cities, no less?"
Devil’s eyes narrowed, remaining silent for a few seconds.
"Oh, is that so? Then sure, go ahead... Track her location from the call and bring her over, even by force if you have to."
Devil proclaid, taking hold of a chair and slamming it down before Michael.
"After that we can safely chain her down, so nothing like this ever happens again. Keep her legs and arms constantly constrained, away from outside influence. We can’t be too careful now, can we?"
Michael blinked.
"What are you getting at?"
Devil scoffed.
"Co on now, don’t play dumb. Isn’t this what you want? Regardless of where she goes, it will be too dangerous for her, no matter who is escorting her. Even you could be tied down if too many foes appear at the sa ti. I reckon the safest place for her would be to lock her sowhere far underground, only having contact with others when she needs to be fed."
A frown twisted itself on Michael’s face.
"I will never do that."
Devil seed surprised.
"You won’t? But... isn’t this what you have been doing all this ti? It took so much effort just to convince you to train her. Like a prince on a white horse, you are constantly looking over her, making decisions for her, like she is so damsel in distress. The way I see it, there is no difference in our thods."
Michael shook his head. "Your very nature isn’t human. There is no way for you to understand that I am simply worried—"
"Worried?" Devil interjected with a shrug.
"No, you are not. This is different. At extre lengths, overprotection leads to nothing more than stagnation, sluggishness, dullness, and liability. Co out and admit it... You are keeping her locked in a cage like a caged bird. You might enjoy her presence, but you will never allow her to be truly free."
Michael’s lips parted, yet no words ca out. For so reason, Devil’s remark ran dangerously deep. Was it perhaps because the soul weapon was inherently part of his soul and understood him like no other?
"You, by nature, are being hypocritical." Devil declared. "You say that you love her, that you will do anything for her, even burn the whole world. But you feel reluctant to let her be truly free, for there is a danger of sothing happening to her, and it’s unknown how it might affect your psyche if that were to happen."
Devil crossed his arms.
"Forcing her to always be by your side is not care or love for her... it’s for yourself. You fear what can happen to her in the unpredictable world, like helicopter parents that always seem to stunt the growth of their children."
mories resurfaced of Michael’s past life, where he had witnessed his sister’s demise.
Noting his darkening eyes, Devil sat on the chair.
"With the exception of Queen Seer, I alone know that you are a Regressor. Despite missing the details, I can detect that Scarlett originally died, right? Maybe even by a mistake you have committed? Of allowing her to run free?"
Leaning forward, Devil continued.
"So what? Is the excuse of her potential demise enough to forever stagnate her progress? If that is the case, I proposed an idea! Let every concerned parent lock their child away for safety reasons!"
A wicked laughter escaped from his maw.
"Imagine it! What a tornting life she is dood to! Her brother soaring to unmatched heights, while she is always kept safe. Slowly rumors will spread that she is nothing more than a burden. Inevitably she would co to hate her own life and existence, never even given the chance to catch up to you!"
Devil’s laughter faded.
"Tell ... is that the life you wish for the sister you claim to care for so deeply?"
Michael gritted his teeth.
"No."
Devil scratched the top of his head with his long claw.
"In that case, let her conquer sothing... to attain a higher sense of purpose. This is what my training has instilled. She knows enough by now."
A nacing smile spread across Devil’s face.
"Conceptualize a future where she rules the underground colonies... Queen of the Underworld is a hell of a title, right? One that is worthy of being compared to yours, perhaps? Picture the bliss she would experience when she can finally stand proud and look at herself in the mirror."
He paused briefly.
"It’s either this or condemning her to a life of diocrity. Do you love her, or do you truly love her? It’s ti, oh mighty owner, to make your stance. Feel the pain of letting go and allow her to develop her own persona... or keep her sheltered until the end of ti."
Of all the things in this world, Devil being right stung the most.
What would have happened if Michael had been looked after by a higher authority? The answer was obvious. He would have never beco what he was today.
Being pushed to the brink and enduring overwhelming hardships was what made him who he was.
Unknown to him, this was the sa tornting feeling Isabella had felt when Michael had chosen to venture into the army. At the ti, being a simple young man barely entering adult life, she had spent many sleepless nights torn between convincing him to stay or letting him go.
At the end, she let him go.
For her motherly affection ran that deep.
Were Michael’s words of love for his family a reflection of his own needs, or did he truly cherish them?
"If you love sothing, you have to let it go..."
Suddenly, the quote started to make more sense. Who would have thought that a corrupted Devil that thrived on slaughter and profanities, of all things, would be the one to make Michael see reason?
Michael nodded sincerely. "Thank you for pointing out the flaws in my own judgnt. I hate to admit it, but being a Regressor carries as many negatives as it does positives."
He proceeded to call Scarlett and allow her to venture amidst the underground colonies, though only after reviewing the basics of survival and reminding her to be careful.
Once the call ended, Michael rested on the sofa. By now, the situation in the Indomitable Alliance had cald down.
With the crisis averted, everyone turned their attention to preparing for the next day, when the semifinals would be held and they would face the Golden Vanguard.
A suspicious grin spread across Devil’s face as he handled a freshly brewed tea in an unexpected gesture.
"You must be exhausted. Better let yourself relax." He reasoned.
Michael arched an eyebrow, gazing at the tea with doubt.
"Say... You didn’t happen to slip an aphrodisiac into the drink, did you?"
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