[James's Pov]
"So... what happens if I decline?"
I had finally made the doctor in front of me realize what was happening, and accept the truth that Zero was no longer in this world. Though that wasn't quite the whole truth.
To some extent, Zero was still alive, as he was merely just another side of me. A side that had now been completely merged with the James side of me to form a complete ego.
But that wasn't something he needed to know. All I needed for him to know was that I carried the memories of Zero, as that would give our continued conversation more meaning. It was a lot more likely for him to listen to me if he believed me to at least somewhat carry the same intentions as Zero.
Leaning back into the chair, I had no intention of answering his questions with falsehood.
"If you decline, I sadly cannot allow you to leave. Now, I will allow you to choose for yourself whether you want to continue living or not, but I cannot risk you running around spreading information about me visiting the academy."
I had no intention of taking his life if I didn't have to, but I also couldn't let him keep his freedom if he declined my proposal. So, all in all, it was hard to miss just how unfair this proposal was.
Letting his head fall down on the backrest, his gaze turned to the white ceiling.
"So, no matter what, I can't continue my work? Is that what you're telling me?"
'Of course, that's what he is thinking about...'
Selfishly unselfish, that was what the man called Dr. Smith was. He had most likely developed some sort of compulsive disorder after losing his daughter and he felt compelled to keep helping as many people as possible. That was his way of feeling better about himself.
For some people, they would regard him as valiant, heroic even, but to me, he merely looked like damaged goods. However, it was damaged goods that I desperately needed.
So, knowing that I couldn't just keep pressuring him, I threw him a bone.
"You will keep helping people even if you choose to work for me, that much I can promise you. In fact, if you choose to join me, I can promise you that you will be able to help a lot more people than you could ever imagine."
"Is that true?"
"That is the truth."
Even as he stared right into my eyes, I let him know that I was speaking with sincerity by not breaking eye contact. After all, for me, that was the absolute truth. Even if a lot of people would have to die, I would inevitably save an enormous amount of people as well.
Concluding that he didn't have much of a choice if he wanted to continue to desperately try and fulfill his goals, Mr. Smith finally started to open up.
"Haaa... So, what would I have to do? Why do you so desperately want me to work for you?"
Yes, why was it that I so desperately needed Mr. Smith by my side? The reason was quite simple, really.
"I need you to keep me alive."
****
[James's Pov] - Two weeks prior to the meeting with Dr. Smith
"Cough!"
*Splatter!*
Another handful of blood exited my mouth after testing the extent of my new abilities, my body unable to handle the recoil of what I had just done.
Looking up at the plains of the wastelands, and seeing the gigantic crater I had just created, I was both incredibly satisfied, while at the same time disappointed.
'-Hey, Loki... Why is it that even now when I shouldn't have a physical vessel, I am still coughing blood?'
'-Why, young apostle, I have no idea! Though I have many conjectures, I can only assume it to be more of a symbolic reaction to the fact that your vessel is perishing.'
'Figures...'
After the fusion between the two personas inside of me, something extremely weird happened with our vessel. To start with...
===Status===
Name: One
Rank: A-
Strength: D
Agility: B
Stamina: ?
Intelligence: A
Mana Capacity: A+ [∞]
--> Main Manual:
[Trickster of Endless Mist] - Major Understanding.
-Core Skill: [Double Trouble]
-1st Skill: [Swap]
-2nd Skill: [Materialize]
-3rd Skill: [Detonation]
--> Elemental Affinity: Mist, Water
->Elemental Skills: [Dome of Mist], [Orb of mist], [Chains of Mist], [Orb of Water], [Flowing Aegis], [Vessel of Endless Mist]
==========
Yes, our statuses had also combined, and once again my Manual had evolved, this time into an obvious combination of [Misty Trickster] and [Bottomless Trickster].
And just like how Zero was able to 'overclock' himself by drawing in mana from the surroundings, I had retained that ability. So combined with the fact that I wasn't able to die unless I ran out of mana, I should have become an invincible entity. The keyword being 'should'.
'-So, I am just going to die?'
'-Not necessarily. Although I can't be sure, I think you should be fine as long as you don't use your abilities too much. Though I think we both know that would be impossible! Hohoho!'
Not minding the one who found this situation a bit too amusing, my mind was still spinning quickly to try and understand how this could have happened.
'-Does this mean that even before Zero was created, I was going to lose my life then?'
'-That does seem to be the case. Though I couldn't see any signs back then; As Zero was just another side of you, it does feel likely that you were already inflicted with this kind of condition back then. Something along the lines of your mortal vessel being unable to bear the divinity I gave you.'
'-Then I just have to go a step further.'
'-That's right...wait, what did you say?'
Stretching my hands towards the sky, I had already made up my mind about what kind of solution I would inevitably have to use to stabilize my condition.
'-My body is still made up of mana, right? Then I'll just compile more mana into my being, enough so that one day I can shed the chains of a mortal.'
I still didn't know about what kind of logic ruled this world, but if there was something I was sure about, it was the fact that power would always point one in the right direction.
'-Ho... And how are you planning on doing that?'
'-I just have to meditate. Of course, I have to find some really good spots for it.'
Though I could collect mana endlessly from my surroundings, it wasn't quite the same as gathering mana when meditating. The major difference being the fact that the mana gathered when using my skill would disperse after usage.
But I still remembered another way to quickly gather mana. A way that Loki himself had deterred me from using. A way that I now couldn't care less what kind of ailments it would affect me with.
'-So, dungeons? Are you sure, dear apostle? Wouldn't it be a shame if you suddenly lost your mind in the search for power? And does that not mean that you will have to use your powers a lot to clear the dungeon?'
Bringing out the scythe that had mostly served to gather dust for a long time and conjuring my black and white wings, I prepared myself for departure.
'-I will. But as long as I make sure to stay alive until they are cleared, shouldn't I be able to stay alive by reinforcing the vessel? Also, losing my mind? After all I have gone through, I'm pretty sure that if it's possible for me to go insane, I already have. And if I already am insane, does it even matter?'
Taking a look down at the black and purple scythe, I couldn't help but smile as I thought about the future.
[Scythe of a Trickster]
Description: The divine artifact gifted from Loki to his undeserving apostle, who has no idea of the value that the weapon carries. Loki can only hope that he somehow realizes its greatness in time.
Grows together with the apostle and is bound to his soul.
Active abilities: [Spatial Jump], ???, ???
'-Hohoho! That's very true! But, the question still stands. How are you going to make sure you can survive until your vessel has evolved enough to bear the burden of your powers?'
'-Simple. There is still a certain man who has spent much of his time researching exactly this. So all I need is for him to...'
****
"What did you say...?
"I said, I need you to keep me alive."
Once again I smiled at the man who I knew couldn't let go of his own purpose, even if it meant he would have to give aid to the supposed enemy of the world.
"So... you are still dying..."
'Empathy? In this kind of situation?'
A tinge of sadness had suddenly emerged behind the oval glasses, sadness because of the fact that he remembered Zero's situation, and by extension remembered the times we had shared.
And despite the fact that I could easily use those feelings inside of him, a certain pride blocked me from doing so. A pride that found its bases in the fact that I didn't want to sully the image of Zero more than necessary.
Zero had already lived and died, and I didn't want anything I chose to do now to become the sins of Zero.
"Zero is already dead, Mr. Smith. What I want you to do is to keep me alive. And for that, you will become the next Zero. Because Zero is needed for One to exist."