For the last few years, a single question has been gnawing at my mind: am I too extreme?
The question seemed simple, but the answer was far more complex. After acquiring Calm Mind and Manipulator, I realized a crucial part of me was starting to vanish. I was reminded of a naive, idealistic young soldier. At first, he fought for honor and justice, only raising his sword to protect the weak. He still saw his opponents as fellow humans, and every wound felt painful.
But as time went on, the survival and killing skills forced upon him by battle began to take root. Those skills not only trained his body, but also dulled his heart. He stopped seeing enemies as people and instead as threats to be eliminated as quickly as possible. The eyes that were once full of compassion turned cold, focused, and emotionless.
In the end, he might win the battle and serve the same purpose, but the soldier who returned from the battlefield was a different person. The extreme skills had eroded his humanity, leaving behind only a highly effective tool, a shell of his former self. He was a sword that moved on its own, no longer guided by a conscience.
"Wait, am I like that?" I let out a bitter laugh. Of course, the analogy was an exaggeration. I wasn't human anymore, and emotions were something I found difficult to access. However, looking at myself now, I couldn't deny the comparison. I had let my skills dominate my personality. This couldn't be allowed to continue.
"Libertas, lock and ensure that I do not use the Manipulator Skill before I become a True Demon Lord. Remind me if I'm about to use it!"
A mechanical voice from the depths of my soul echoed.
I let out a sigh of relief. This was a wise step. Relying on Manipulator could backfire, especially if I wanted to become a True Demon Lord.
It's like a highly skilled artist who suddenly loses one of their primary colors. They can still paint, but every canvas feels empty and soulless, especially in the parts that should stand out. The paintings would look flat and monotonous. It's like a sorcerer who loses one of their elements—they can still use the others, but they've lost the essence and combination of powers that made them unique.
One part of my plan had gone smoothly; now it was time to begin the other. I closed my eyes and, through the corridors of my soul, contacted Umbra.
"Umbra, how are things there? Did that damn Dryad find you, or did you sense anything strange like a detection spell investigating you?."
Through a mental wave that felt like a stream of data, Umbra replied, "No, Master. So far, I haven't sensed any spells spying on me. Your plan is still proceeding perfectly."
I breathed a sigh of relief. If that Dryad had found Umbra, my years-long plan would have been for nothing.
The flawed Artificial Demon Lord Seed. This had always bothered me and reminded me of the feeling of death I experienced during my battle with Caelus. I'd thought about this problem countless times. Was my evolution flawed and on the wrong path? Or did I not meet the requirements, so the voice of the world remained silent? No. Based on what Caelus said, I could conclude that he and I were fundamentally different in how we acquired power. He was a test subject, while I evolved by relying on fighting and killing. So what made us different? After all, if we compare, my evolutionary path was perfect, while Caelus was just a product.
From this, I thought of a detail I'd been missing all this time: Emotions. Yes, emotions themselves are closely tied to everything in this world, from Guy's Pride to Milim's Rage. Living for so many years, I had forgotten such a simple thing. So what should I do to unleash my deepest emotions and desires? I was at a loss for how to do it.
After thinking about it for so long, I found an idea with an enormous risk. It might kill me or even destroy my soul outright. The Chaos Dragon. Yuki Kagurazaka would still be a while before being summoned, and this was my chance.
The Chaos Dragon Project, that's what I called it based on my in-depth analysis and research. This might be the first time I've taken a risk this big. I might offend one of the strongest Demon Lords by researching her pet. I intended to unlock the Chaos Dragon's seal and control it with Manipulator one last time before I evolved into a True Demon Lord.
This time, the risk was low for me because the Chaos Dragon was just a monster without a soul or spirit, only causing chaos, so it would be very easy to control. The project might end in failure, as the probability I calculated was very low. But my intuition told me that this research would yield something unexpected.
I intended to use the evolution project on myself by using the Chaos Dragon's essence as a catalyst, so that any flaws that might arise during my evolution could be replaced by a mutation that could be beneficial to me. It's like wanting to change a centuries-old family cookie recipe (self-evolution). The original recipe is good, but the results are often less than optimal and fall flat easily (flaws). To perfect it, you decide to add a very unusual and hard-to-control ingredient, like a very aggressive wild yeast (the Chaos Dragon's essence). You hope this yeast won't ruin the cookie but will instead make it rise in an unexpected way, creating a new, much tastier and more unique flavor and texture (a beneficial mutation).
The location of the Chaos Dragon's seal wasn't mentioned in the original work, but I believe it's in the Canaat Mountains. Although these mountains are north of the Dwarf Kingdom, Dwargon, the seal seems to be in an area called the "Dragon Peaks," which is a separate territory not claimed by Dwargon. The dragons that Milim would later catch to be bosses for the Tempest dungeon might be from there. Because a creature as strong as a dragon would not be willing to live in an area with a thin concentration of magicules. The chaotic energy overflowing from the Chaos Dragon itself is probably what attracted the dragons. I would do this mission alone because direct contact with the target was essential. If the seal were to suddenly break, Milim would surely notice, as she was the one who created it. It would be bad if Milim suddenly went berserk and unleashed Drago Nova; the entire Canaat Mountains could disappear from the map. Therefore, I would undertake this journey alone.
This would probably be the first time I set foot on land since leaving my previous one. I had to be extra cautious and wary, taking a roundabout route through the sea. I couldn't risk being detected by a passing Demon Lord.
I felt his presence. Umbra. The first subordinate I acknowledged and named. The soul bridge connecting us trembled. He wasn't here, but I knew he was. His eyes seemed empty, yet I felt his gaze, his calming presence, waiting.
"Umbra..." I whispered into the void. An invisible thread trembled, and I knew he heard me.
"...If I don't return this time... stay alive..." The words flowed not from my lips but from the depths of my soul. I hoped he could feel the tremor of my emotions, even though he was just a result of a test subject.
"Keep getting stronger..." I continued. "...Not because of an order, but live for yourself..."
A wave of thought surged. A nod. It might be too emotional for a creature like me who regards life as a test subject, but it felt strange. Fate really is unpredictable.
The sea wind hit my face. Below my feet, the waves roared, reflecting the chaos in my mind. This journey wasn't just a mission; it was a huge gamble that could change everything, or end it all. I brushed away my doubts and activated a Teleportation spell I had found in ancient ruins and modified. Instead of jumping to a distant location, I used it to pierce dimensions, creating a "hidden path" between the real world and a virtual space I had created. This was the safest method to avoid detection, although it consumed a massive amount of magical energy.
I reappeared in the middle of a calm sea. Around me, there was nothing but water stretching to the horizon. The silence was soothing, yet also a warning. Every movement, every ripple on the water's surface, could be a clue to those who were highly sensitive. I had to sail in the shadows, drawing no attention from anyone.
I manifested a small boat out of magic, just enough to hold me. The boat moved silently, propelled by a magical current that I controlled. My destination was the northern land, towards the mist-shrouded Canaat Mountains.
During the journey, I let my mind wander. Remembering the words I had said to Umbra. Was it a farewell? Or just a reminder of the risks I was about to face? I didn't know. What was clear was that something had changed within me. The battle with Caelus, the fear of a flawed evolution, and the insane idea of the Chaos Dragon had reopened a door that I had long kept shut. A door that led to the emotions and desires I had always considered a weakness. Perhaps this journey wasn't just about the Chaos Dragon, but also about rediscovering the lost essence of myself.