Rogue Villain-Chapter 394: Balance

"I’m afraid I can’t let you do that, Sword God."

However, before the Sword God could make the world’s fear come true, a bald man in soft monk-like clothes appeared between the Sword God and the Observer.

<Get out of my way, extra.>

Before the Sword God could do anything to the sudden addition to the fight, the Observer sent his attacks at the bald man. They passed right through him without him being able to do anything.

No.

He didn’t need to do anything.

The bald man’s figure trembled like a reflection in water before recovering.

"Observer. Stick to watching. You aren’t cut out for combat."

<What is wrong with this place? There are so many impudent gnats. Die.>

Imperceptible energy spread out from the Observer’s body and surrounded the bald man, encapsulation him in a cocoon of cosmic energy.

Ackster furrowed his brow as he saw the Observer crush the Hermit of Equilibrium. He was a little worried when the Hermit blocked the Sword God. Fortunately, it didn’t seem like the Hermit was on the same side as the Observer. If anything, it seemed like he was more against the Sword God than anything else.

The Sword God gave Ackster a bucket of popcorn as they watched the Hermit slip out of the Observer’s trap by transforming himself into something like a slip of paper before transforming back into his real shape.

The Hermit looked at the Observer for a moment before deciding to ignore the weird cosmic being that proclaimed itself a real god. The Hermit looked at the Sword God.

"I can’t let you interfere, Sword God."

"Good thing you don’t have a say, whoever you are."

"Sword God. This world has already ended once. We have already ended once. Can’t you feel it yourself? We are nothing but empty husks of our former selves. Reanimated, recreated dolls made to dance for this thing’s entertainment."

"If you want to dress up as a doll, you do that. Don’t involve me in anything that doesn’t have with swords to do. No, wait. Don’t involve me in anything at all. Yes, that’s better."

The Hermit sighed. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

"Your interference will upset the balance. The world has ended. But since it was brought back, it needs to end again by the chain of consequence. If you destroy it, the world will have ended one too many times."

"So what?"

"I can’t let that happen."

Ackster raised an eyebrow.

"What’s the difference if the world ends one too many times or at the Sword God’s hands instead of returning to its original state? Aren’t we all going to be dead anyway?"

One of the Observer’s purple balls passed right through Ackster’s head after he grabbed everyone’s attention by speaking up.

Attacking the bald Hermit or the Sword God didn’t work. So, the Observer decided to attack Ackster instead.

The Hermit looked at Ackster’s headless body.

"You can still hear me, right?"

*Yeah.*

"If the world returns to its natural state of destruction from the original timeline, the celestial realm, the demon realm, and Millmeria’s core will still remain. The fundamentals of the world’s existence still exist. In a few million years, the world might be born anew. Life as we know it will be different. But Millmeria might continue. If the Sword God attacks with enough power to kill Observer, he will destroy the world."

The Hermit paused for a moment as he looked toward the stars.

"The ensuing effects of his attack will upset the balance. I can’t be certain about the details. But the equilibrium of this part of the universe will have been thrown into the trash. All life and existence will cease, forever erased from the universe. The laws of the universe will see it all, including Millmeria, as a mistake and get rid of it."

"That’s the worse of two bad endings, then."

The Hermit glanced at Ackster as the latter recovered from the Observer’s attacks.

"Good thing there aren’t only two possible endings."

The Hermit gave Ackster a wink before turning to the Sword God and stepping through space to grab the Sword God’s arm and stop him from slashing apart the Observer and the world.

"I’ll take this guy away."

The Hermit of Equilibrium looked the Sword God in the eyes.

*Sword God. That’s your sword, isn’t it? It has finished being forged. But it’s currently being tempered. If you interfere, you will ruin it forever. It might still be useful since its forging process was great. But do you want a useful sword or the strongest sword?*

The Sword God’s eyes widened as he understood what the Hermit talked about.

*Of course, I want the best sword. I need a sword to match me. Do you know how long I’ve been searching?*

*No. And I’m not interested. Let’s take a step back and let them finish. I’m pretty sure you won’t care, but this is also the only option where the world continues, and we come back permanently.*

*You’re the only one who’ll come back.*

The Hermit’s eyes widened in alarm as he turned to look at the Sword God after they distanced himself.

*What do you mean?*

The Sword God’s words worried the Hermit.

However, the Sword God just tilted his head.

*Why should I answer someone I don’t even know? Now that I take a closer look at you, aren’t you the guy who keeps stealing my swords?*

*That’s not me. I’m known as the Hermit of Equilibrium.*

The Sword God raised an eye and pointed at his empty hand.

*You sure? Because I was just holding this neat sword. But after talking to you, it’s gone. Care to explain?*

The Hermit nodded in Ackster’s direction.

*Your disciple has it.*

*My disciple? I don’t have disciples.*

*No, but you have a disciple. And it’s the greatest goddamn disciple I’ve ever seen. It’s almost got me feeling envious. Do you know when I last felt something, Sword God?*

*Nope. And I don’t care. Just give me back my sword before I’ll let you feel something.*

The Hermit sighed and shook his head.

*I don’t remember, either.*