Chapter 45: Chapter 45: Confession

"You'll come back, right?"

Those words echoed from the depths of Theodore's mind as he began to black out. He could see it, the teary eyes of the little girl he grew up with, the person who he saw as his little sister, Fio.

She was tugging on his shirt, not wanting to let go. Theodore told her that he would return, even though he knew that the chances were slim.

"You promised, right?"

As his consciousness became murky, Theodore could hear those words as if they were being spoken to him right this moment. It was as if she was right there, begging him not to go. Remembering her lonely expression, a sudden surge of energy ran through Theodore's body and his eyes snapped wide open.

Gasping for air, Theodore opened his mouth wide. However, with Albatross weighing on his chest, he found himself unable to inhale anything. Feeling his life fading and that death was near, Theodore's survival instincts flared up in a desperate last stand, and in that single moment, his mind sharpened.

A few measly Threads of Aether, too few to be of any practical use, emerged from the depths of Theodore's throat and shot out of his mouth. The sudden occurrence shocked and repulsed Albatross, causing her to reflexively back away just enough for Theodore to inhale a mouthful of air. Suppressing the urge to cough as the sudden flow of air flooded his lungs, Theodore spoke.

"There is no need for either of us to die," he said in a strained voice. "I will let you know my secret as I know yours. If you tell this to the mages, they won't let me off easily either."

In response to his words, Albatross only remained silent. Her eyes stared into his, looking into his soul as she searched for traces of deception. It was only a moment after did she give her reply.

"You get one chance. Best make it a good one."

For the moment, Albatross stopped applying weight onto Theodore's chest, though her knife was still pressing against his threads of Aether. She knew that if she let up and gave him an opening, he'd use his threads against her next. She wasn't about to give up her advantage so easily. If he makes any suspicious moves, she'll finish him right there before he has a chance to restrain her.

Theodore knew that he did not have much time to think about it. Any hesitation or delay on his part would be seen as an attempt to trick Albatross, something she would surely not take kindly to.

"I am the Demon Lord reincarnate. Within this body contains the memories of the Demon Lord," confessed Theodore. It was a secret that he was supposed to take to his grave, but given the situation, he decided to spill the beans.

In truth, Theodore wasn't sure what the Circle of Mages would do once they knew his true identity. However, from his conversation with Kalman the other day, he surmised that the Circle already suspected him of being a Demon Lord Larva. Despite that, they had left him be for the moment. Of course, it was unlikely that Albatross would know that.

While Theodore could certainly make up a story making himself out to be an enemy of the Circle of Mages, perhaps an exiled mage who held a grudge, returning to take his revenge via the magic of reincarnation, he had to consider that perhaps this conversation was being listened to. Alternatively, Albatross could also be some kind of agent sent to test him. If he told a lie that made him out to be an enemy of the Circle that was not the Demon Lord, he couldn't predict what might happen to him.

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In the end, he could only confess the truth. If this was a test, then revealing that he was the Demon Lord would only confirm what the elders already suspected. They would probably not change their plans too much from this revelation. At the very least, they weren't likely to torture him or kill him immediately. If they had wanted to, they would have done so the moment they suspected him of being one, and as such, Theodore surmised that they must have something long-term planned.

On the other hand, if Albatross was not an agent, then she could be convinced that Theodore being the Demon Lord was a secret that could be used as collateral against him. After all, the Demon Lord was the 'ultimate evil.' To be known as the Demon Lord was to be known as the enemy of the world, or so it was the common sense at the time.

And so, Theodore determined that revealing himself as the Demon Lord was the safest bet.

"The Demon Lord..."

Albatross's expression was blank and Theodore could not read her at all. However, she did not take further steps to end his life. Perhaps there was a chance to work something out after all. 'Ultimate evil' he might be, the mages weren't exactly saints either. If they both despise the mages, then maybe they could work something out. As far as Theodore was concerned, he thought this to be a good sign.

Well, he thought wrong.

But a moment later, Albatross's eyes became bloodshot and began to apply even more force onto her knee as she pressed against Theodore's chest. So strongly did she press against him that Theodore felt his ribcage beginning to break.

"Looks like my luck's finally turning around," said Albatross. "I guess good things do happen from time to time if you managed to survive long enough."

The situation had taken a turn for the worst. Twice he had gambled on this day and twice he had lost miserably. It would appear that gambling was not to be Theodore's calling in life. Of course there would be those with a grudge against the Demon Lord. Of course there would be those wronged by the Demon Lord's deeds. Naturally, there would also be those that weren't particularly affected and remained apathetic to the so-called 'ultimate evil,' thinking them to be just another warlord. Albatross was apparently one of those with a grudge, a terrible one at that, it would seem.

"Maybe you're just making it up, maybe you're telling the truth, but let me thank you regardless, Theodore. Thanks for letting me have the satisfaction of revenge. I've wanted to kill the Demon Lord with my own hands for the longest time."

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End of Chapter 45

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