The Novel's Professor

Outside the academy, the pale crescent moon shone brightly. The stars glittered above the starry sky, illuminating the calm, frigid night. Under the trees, Rio stared at the mesmerizing scenery.

The tranquil silence of the night let him lose himself in his own world, contemplating about everything that happened. He didn't know how long he was standing outside, but the cadence of Samantha's voice still rang into his ears.

Can he really believe that there was still hope--?

Rio closed his eyes, remembering Samantha's message. Hope lost twice...can it even rekindle for a third? He knew his answer to that.

"Unfortunately..." Rio sighed, shaking his head. "I don't think there really is still a chance..."

No matter how many times he repeated Samantha's message in his mind, the hope within him wouldn't rekindle... Sadly, he was no idealistic fool.

Idealism, wishes, and hopes--all of those had long vanished inside him when he realized his answer. He was the void. And the void was him. The moment he accepted his origin, he can never be fulfilled and happy with his life.

"However..." Rio opened his eyes, his lips curling into a soft smile. Samantha's help was not at all useless--it brought him clarity. "Because of that... I finally have another reason to live before i die. I have to thank you, Samantha."

That's right. In the clarity Samantha brought to his mind, he found another goal to live on--and this time, there was no possible tragic ending he would regret.

If he couldn't ever live happily, then he was going to die fulfilled.

Rio chuckled. He never thought about it that way. But Samantha, even if unintended, gave him the answer he needed. If he could never live happily, he was going to die fulfilled. And if there was anything he wanted to do with all his heart...

At that moment, while he was contemplating, a husky laugh suddenly resounded in his mind, disrupting his thoughts as the smile plastered on his face vanished.

[Buw--No..! Buwahahahahah!] Faust laughed madly, unable to restrain himself as he dived out of Rio's body. [Hahahahaha...! I'm sorry, disciple. I really am...but... I am in awe of how you flawlessly escaped the topic. You're really good with your tongue, even with how quiet you are...but really..? Crying in front of a woman?? Buwahahahahah!]

Rio was startled, his body stepping back. He turned his head, shifting his gaze to the muscular, tanned skinned man wearing a japanese kimono. Seeing the man's uncontrollable laughter... he internally cringed at himself.

...The man saw. He forgot Faust was inside him all the time.

"....Shut up." Rio said, his lips pursing. He couldn't help it either. The emotions just assaulted him like a tide, completely overtaking his mental defenses as he crumbled.

[Still...still...buwahahahah!]

"No, really. Shut up for a moment." Rio sighed, his head shaking. It was a good thing the man came out. Faust contribution would help his plans be easier. "...I have something important to ask you."

[Hahaha...alright, alright...] Faust breathed heavily, restraining himself from laughing. He drifted on the air, staring at Rio. [So what is it that you want to ask?]

"I'll be straight to the point. I want your support." Rio answered, his back straightening as he stared directly into Faust's eyes. "I want to do something."

[...That's rare... I don't think I ever heard you request for something.] Faust raised his brows, interested. [Speak. I'm your master. You already have my support ever since you kneeled before me.]

"Is that so?.."

Rio muttered. That was perfect then. He paused, his eyes stared into Faust's eyes for a while, unflinching as he decided. He calmly continued:

"...I want to create the perfect legacy."

[....] Faust widened his eyes, his body slowly standing up as he stared at Rio directly. He crossed his arms over his chest. He gulped loudly as he asked. [...Did you go mental?]

"What? No." Rio frowned, his head shaking.

[...I doubt that.] Faust muttered as he sighed. [Legacies are only for the dead. Kid, you're still alive... you shouldn't worry about that. It will happen naturally as you live.]

"...You don't understand." Rio sighed. That was exactly the point. Legacies were for dead men--and what was he but a dead man? He shook his head as he continued. "I'm going to die."

[What do you mean...?] Faust narrowed his eyes, confused. [If it's about the corrupted energy...then I already have a solution for that.]

"It's not about that either. It's just all you have to know is, I'm going to die." Rio replied callously, his hand waving in dismissal. He spoke of death like a trivial matter, not expressing the slightest bit of concern. He had already died twice before all of this, so what if he died once more? In fact, he preferred that over living this life as Rio Salem.

Rio Salem's life, or the life he was currently living in, could be shortly summarized as too troublesome and tragic. He thought a lot about his future and all the conclusions he ended up... we're tragic to say the least.

If he tried to distance himself from the plot and live peacefully, it wouldn't work. After all, John Smith decided to bring him here for a reason. If he portrayed the slightest intent of abandoning the plot, then perhaps his former friend would turn him into a puppet slave. His former friend was able to erase his morals and principles, so it was entirely possible John Smith could also erase his will.

And even if he tried to do the opposite, supporting and following the plot like he had done, it also wouldn't work. There was another person behind the scenes that knew the existence of the novel. He didn't even have the slightest bit of a hint on who the mastermind was. But he knew that the person was willing to kill him.

After thinking things through, he realized--It didn't matter what his decision was, in the end, he was going to be controlled by others. And he frankly, with all his heart, despised that. He would rather die than to live controlled by others.

...And so, that was what he decided. He was going to die. He was going to craft the perfect death--a death he would decide for himself and own. And even after his death, he wanted his existence to influence the world. A perfect legacy on which not even John Smith and the hidden mastermind would be able to obstruct.

If he couldn't ever live happily, he was going to die fulfilled. Rio repeated in his mind. And if there was anything he found he wanted to do with all his heart... It was to take petty revenge over the two existence that were trying to manipulate him.

[Alright...] Faust grudgingly accepted. He turned his back as he returned, drifting to the air. [I'll help you then. As your master, I will support you. I'll help you create the perfect legacy.]

Rio blinked, his eyes widening slightly. He didn't expect the man to accept it quickly. He was prepared to explain more, but this saved him more time.

Rio nodded, a grateful smile rising on his lips. "...Thank you, Master."

[...So, what's your legacy going to be?] Faust asked, his back turned. [Will it be a legendary skill or technique? Or will it be an organization? What will it be?]

"Faust... I'm a teacher." Rio answered, his eyes staring at the starry sky. "It's already obvious what my legacy is going to be."

...It was obvious. His legacy was going to be his students. With the knowledge of the novel «The Last Stand» and Faust mastery over techniques as help--he was going to create the perfect legacy. He was going to use... John Smith's own creations against him.

Rio clenched his hand tightly.

This story was no longer solely humanity and the world's last stand. This was also his Last Stand. His final rebellion over the fate ordained at him. In the following events... It was time that he was the one controlling everything, not being controlled.