The Villain Is Destined to Die: But as the Creator, I know All Endings-Chapter 231: Day - 1: An Unexpected Recollection of Certain Someone

Chapter 231: Day - 1: An Unexpected Recollection of Certain Someone

Every soul, after death, ended up in the Astral Spectrum, and with it, their memories as well.

It lay just beneath the Spirit World, which was why higher-ranked spirits possessed the ability to influence Astral Matter to some extent.

Regarding the two souls Kiki had seen, one undoubtedly belonged to Haru. The other... could only be the real Leon’s soul.

But if that were the case, then that meant the old Leon wasn’t dead. He had been coexisting with him this entire time.

This was a completely new piece of information, even for Leon himself.

Yet there were still too many missing pieces. Leon couldn’t shake the feeling that his reincarnation into Leon’s body had never been random to begin with.

From the moment he entered the Astral Tale Library and obtained a fragment of Shin’s memory, to the revelation that his body housed two coexisting souls, there were too many gaps. Too many unseen hands at play.

It was a chain of events Leon couldn’t fully grasp yet.

Leon does have a hypothesis, but he doubted for it to be true.

"It’s rude to stare that much," Leon said coldly.

Kiki lifted her gaze and studied his expression. That sharp, piercing golden gaze suited his detached demeanor far too well.

"You’re very different from the old Leon Valentine we know of..." Kiki said softly.

As another Ice True Spirit, she had known Rumi back when she was with Princess Charlotte.

Also because of Veronica they likely knew what Leon had been like before.

The game only ever depicted Leon’s personality from the protagonist’s perspective. His life before the King’s manipulation, his private self, had never been scripted in detail.

Leon would uncover those answers eventually. Until then, he didn’t want anyone interfering.

Tilting his head slightly toward the curious Calamity Head, Leon spoke.

"You’ve met my spirit bond. Is there anything else you wish to say?"

"Heh," Aisha sneered. "Not an ounce of respect. You really are like your sister."

"I get that a lot."

"That reminds me," she recalled. "Veronica has been acting far too boldly these past few weeks. Do you know what caused it?"

"I know nothing about her," Leon replied flatly. "And even if I did, I see no reason to tell you."

Moonlight spilled through the open window, casting long shadows across the room as the two continued their exchange.

Kiki and Rumi remained silent, standing side by side, listening as their bonds spoke.

Aisha’s expression shifted.

"You do realize the one standing before you is a Calamity Head," she said calmly. "Even I have my limits."

"You’re in my domain. Just because I share a cordial relationship with your sister doesn’t mean you get to take it for granted." Her voice hardened. "Our priests and priestesses have been monitoring the Twilight Order’s movements closely. It would take only a single word from me to ignite a civil war in your kingdom."

Leon sneered softly.

"Is that a threat?" he asked. "And even if it is... do you really think I care about that kingdom?"

Aisha hummed. "That much is obvious. But you do care about the princess."

"..."

Her eyes narrowed.

"At this rate, she will die. You understand that, don’t you? You may fool kings and nobles, Leon Valentine, but you cannot fool a Calamity Head."

"Even after knowing her identity as the leader had already been exposed... she continues to act recklessly. I truly thought she would have learned from her sister’s mistakes."

Her lips curved faintly. "Oh well. Losing her head would be such a shame, wouldn’t it?"

Leon stared at her in silence.

Eula knew this. Her position as the leader of the Twilight Order could never remain hidden from a Calamity Head’s network.

"She will understand this soon." Leon finally muttered.

"I really hope she does... she would be a great leader if she had someone to guide her well", she said. "Your sister, Me, Emily, Winter, and Abacus.... Do not take us for fools. The princess was able to act this freely because we allowed it. And also because the existence of the Twilight Order benefits us."

The world operated on give and take. Mercy did not exist without compensation, even when it was unseen.

The Calamity Heads had no interest in crowns or aristocracy.Their goal was singular from the start

To reach the Calamity Rank before the others.

For that, they needed time and focus.

The Twilight Order’s existence, their purging of corrupt nobles and criminals, merely shifted the burden onto them. Even if the Order often went too far, even if they were branded criminals themselves...

But that, too, served a purpose.

Aisha wasn’t lecturing him. She was speaking about Eula.

Leon could tell. She knew exactly how thin the line Eula had been walking all this time. One wrong step, and the thread would snap.

But there was no need to worry now. Leon would make sure of that.

"Haaah..." Aisha sighed suddenly, rubbing her temple. "You’re making me recall something unpleasant. Ugh."

She straightened and looked at Leon again, her expression returning to its usual calm.

"Anyways, do pay a visit to my tower if you wish to learn more about your dual soul." Her lips curved faintly. "I’m sure I have more than enough resources on that topic."

"..."

"Until then," Aisha added, "enjoy your stay."

Her body dissolved into mist, dispersing into the night air. Kiki faded along with her, they both vanished without a sound.

"..."

Silence returned to the room.

A moment later, a familiar voice echoed inside his mind.

’Haru... they’re gone?’

Leon looked up at the ceiling, then let out a long breath.

"...Yeah."

He collapsed backward onto the bed.

"Fwaaaa...!!" he groaned. "That was hell." He covered his face with one arm. "Those Calamity heads are seriously annoying."

Leon remained sprawled on the bed for a few minutes, his arm resting loosely across his chest. His fingers brushed against his neck as his thoughts lingered.

"Two souls, huh..." he muttered quietly. "I wonder which one is the real me."

Rustle–!

A cold presence settled beside him.

Leon turned his head slightly and saw Rumi lying next to him, her body pressed lightly against the cushion.

"Haru," she said aloud this time, "how long are you going to keep avoiding it?"

Leon’s eyes narrowed faintly as he stared at the ceiling.

"Not now, Rumi," he replied. "You know why I’ve been holding onto it."

"I understand," she muttered.

Silence followed again.

Both of them lay there, gazing upward. Beyond the window, the sky was dark, the moon hidden behind drifting clouds.

Leon reached into his coat and pulled out his watch. He glanced at the time.

"...Almost midnight."

Ethan and Cyan would already be back in their rooms by now.

Leon pushed himself up and swung his legs off the bed.

"I’ll talk to them," he said calmly.

They needed to leave at sunrise. Unlike his previous plan, he would not take any more days.

Convincing Cyan and Ethan wouldn’t be hard, and either way, Leon now had a solid plan on how they would sail the sea.

With that in mind, Leon changed his appearance to Den Cooper and headed out of his room.

No spirit was keeping an eye on him this time.

Leon walked down the quiet corridor and stopped in front of Ethan’s door.

He knocked three times.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Click—

The door opened.

"Come in," a familiar voice said.

It was Cyan.

"...?" Leon raised a brow slightly.

’What is he doing here at this hour?’

They had agreed earlier not to make contact at night unless it was absolutely necessary.

Leon stepped inside and closed the door behind him.

"Oh?" Ethan said from across the room. "You’re here."

Leon looked at him.

Ethan was in his real appearance, not wearing his disguise.

"...Hey now," Leon muttered. "That’s risky."

Ethan waved his hand dismissively.

"Relax, relax. It’ll be fine."

"..."

"..."

Ethan tilted his head slightly.

"So? What’s the matter?"

Leon didn’t waste time. "We need to change the plan," he said.

Hearing this, both of them straightened subtly.

Leon continued. "We leave before sunrise."