"I wouldn’t say you did well but... I guess this passes"

Ragnar commented on the results of Richard’s "killing spree".

He watched and cheered as Richard moved like a blur from one person to another. The first kill after that amazing "bomb kill" was done through a "head squeeze".

In front of his comrades, Richard squished the head of a man shooting from a raised platform. He did so slowly, making sure that the man in his arms experienced the pain and horror of a slow and agonizing death.

After that, he proceeded to execute all the other agents who, despite their professionalism tried to beg for mercy.

Yet, their begging was not "for life" but "for freedom".

<They live in the mystical world, they know the fate they would have if they are killed by a mystic>

Because most mystics were like Cindy who had to use systems similar to necromancy, the fate of those that die by the hands of mystics were likely to be "worse than hell".

Even mystics who use the system of faith that Merlin had created still resorted to cruel methods.

After all, the power of belief was, in the end- a shared pool of power.

There are limits and requirements to access such power and even those that wish to be "holy" would at times choose to take the "necessary" actions.

Richard didn’t give them solace though-

He killed them and used the same method he used to create his workshop and weapons, sealing the souls of his targets.

While using them left a bad taste in his mouth, giving them to Cindy as a gift would allow him to calm his emotions while letting go of the "evil act".

Just like how those people who should protect those not connected to the mystical world from the evil of mystics chose to turn a blind eye to Andrea, Richard too would turn his eyes away from their fate.

Now, Richard was busy "fixing" Andrea’s corpse, why he did so was obvious.

<You can’t bring her back>

"If there’s a will, there’s a way- literally"

<No, I’m telling you, even Merlin couldn’t bring her back>

Richard paused as he turned to the Goddess who manifested behind him and was lecturing him about how his plan would fail.

"Why?"

Like a student fighting back against their teacher, Richard did not believe that the Goddess was telling the truth.

She already gave him a good reason to believe that she was manipulating his life. That she could lie and twist the facts, he didn’t say it outright but he always dealt with her half truths in such a manner.

<Because she doesn’t want to>

"And you know how she feels? What, is she some Goddess who communicated with you through telepathy or something?"

Richard scoffed as he shot back at the Goddess, his words were basically just random BS he thought would be the most improbably thing and yet-

<Yes, she’s a goddess, a reincarnation of one at that>

Her words were like a bomb and left Richard speechless.

A goddess?

Andrea?

How?!

Richard couldn’t even begin to process it, he couldn’t see why and how such a thing would happen.

<Her soul did not linger and it had a special air about it>

"..."

<The moment she died, her soul was dragged out of her body and pulled into the cycle of life and death>

The words the goddess said were getting more and more absurd.

Cycle of life and death?

Reincarnation?

First it was magic-

Then it was him being the descendant of Merlin.

It was one thing after another with the Goddess, everyday he learns something new and while it sounds like a fun life. It was different when every new "discovery" ends up rewriting past knowledge of his!

Like a stupid retcon an author decided to put on because they realized they could do something else!

The Goddess was basically spewing bullshit on his face making him move-

"So that’s it..."

As if finally getting an understanding of things, Richard chuckled as he glared at the Goddess.

"First you tell me this, then you make me chase after a ghost, then you make me look for something like Atlantis... then what? Look for Merlin only to find a corpse? Then you tell me that I was actually Merlin’s Reincarnation all along?!"

<You’re getting in over your head, a week of studying and talent is what allowed you to reach your place. Even mystics who lived for a hundred years and studied the true history of the past would not claim to know everything. Even as a deity, my own influence and knowledge is limited. Do you really think that I’m leading you along?>

The words of the Goddess fell to deaf ears, Richard didn’t bother with her as he continued his actions.

So what if she’s a goddess?

So what if she could read his mind?

Richard won’t let her manipulate him just because she can and if she tried... this time, he would resist.

His self-implosion would not only harm him right? The pact is like a connection... all he has to do is-

<Stop your stupid thoughts, you’re young, you lack experience and lack a true understanding of the world. Letting your rage control you is the worst thing you could have ever thought of doing>

Richard didn’t bother with her, carefully fixing Andrea, he handled her body with care as he continued to fuel her with hope. A will of hope...

Seeing as Richard didn’t really let himself get talked out of his madness, the Goddess just rolled her eyes and manifested a chair to sit on.

Ragnar took neither of their sides and only watched along.

To him, Richard was his grieving student while the Goddess was an ally who truly wanted what’s best for Richard.

But Ragnar would not stop his student, after all, he himself had seen many companions perish and after a mad rage, many of the berserkers would simply sit on the ground and stare at empty space. They cleared their minds of thoughts and anything that would twist them.

War is hell, Ragnar knew that well, but that did not mean that he would let Richard self destruct.

Still, he can’t just force him to bottle it up.

Sometimes, a release was necessary and although he didn’t see what the Goddess saw, Ragnar didn’t let her words just exit his mind.

If Richard was not going to contemplate on the Goddess’s words then as his teacher, it was his job to help out his student in his time of need.

Even then-

"A goddess huh?"

If the lover that Richard had was truly the reincarnation of a goddess... then it wouldn’t be a coincidence that they fell in love with each other.

Moreover, Ragnar was able to read out the words that Robert said to Richard.

About how the woman, Andrea, called out to Richard, how she went through so much suffering and still remained loyal.

Through all the suffering, she still clung to Richard and in death...

’That tale sounds awfully familiar’

Ragnar thought as he tried to recall all the Goddess’ he knew were related to Merlin.

After all, if a Goddess reincarnated and became the lover of Merlin’s descendant, such a thing won’t be a coincidence!

There was a reason for that and the only people who would so such a thing were enemies or allies-

Given the situation, Andrea was obviously an ally yet- even then...

’Merlin’s womanizing really is annoying!’

He didn’t bother with it before but now, the fact that there were countless Goddesses that loved Merlin gave Ragnar a headache as he couldn’t really find a way to match Andrea to any one of them.

Moreover, the mysterious Goddess who summoned him...

The way she acted and her words made it appear as if she didn’t know of Merlin but was that true?

Ragnar may be a close ally of Merlin but he wasn’t a confidante of the Legendary mage.

In the end, all Ragnar could do was continue to watch Richard’s actions.

So long as the goddess was here, he could at least be rest assured that nothing "too bad" would happen to Richard.

"Wow! It’s done?"

At that moment, Cindy finally arrived and with her was a bunch of tools from the enemies that were spying on them from afar.