The Villain Reborn as Game's Final Boss

That... was manageable.

Even if my emotions were somehow amplified, my willpower was strong enough to keep my brain in control and not succumb to the intensity of the emotions.

Though I knew that it would be arrogant of me to think that the amplified emotions would not have any effect on me whatsoever.

The headaches that had constantly plagued me for the last two years had been reduced to a near negligible level, yet I knew that there was still some issue with my soul.

Even if I was in control of the body, I didn’t know anything about Kael’s real soul.

How strong was it?

What were its actual emotions?

I couldn’t even tell if the person in control was me, though my memories on Earth felt like the dominant ones, so maybe I was the one in control.

Then there was that thing about my sudden memory loss—

Huh?

Yeah... The headaches had indeed reduced, but again making my mind go through emotional fluctuations didn’t seem to be the best decision... Not that I had any choice in it.

"What about hiding the rank entirely?"

There were two reasons for asking Alfred to create the device before my eyes.

One of them being hiding my actual rank from the general public while displaying a lower rank as Kael Frost.

Not too low to be seen as weak, but not too monstrous either.

If I used all my capabilities, including absorbing the mana essence, then evolving my core to the gold and higher ranks was easily achievable, and I had planned to do so.

But... As Kael Frost, I had to increase my power in believable margins. Being Silver 3 at such a young age was already considered monstrous by the world.

If such talent increased by another margin, then... I would end up attracting the attention of people I had no interest in interacting with at the moment.

As for the second reason—It was more important than the first.

The device would play an important role in hiding my mana core’s actual rank as X from everyone’s eyes, including my own organization.

No one would be able to sense my rank at all, as the device would enclose my entire core.

As Kael, I would use it to display a lower rank, while as X—my rank would be as mysterious as me.

But there was a small issue with it, and that being—Alfred was the one who had created it, so there was a possible risk in using the device.

When actually meeting X for the first time, Alfred would find it difficult to sense the leader’s rank despite using all the devices at his disposal.

Alfred himself was unable to sense anyone’s rank as his cultivation was far lower. But—The guy had created devices capable enough of sensing others’ core ranks, as they were the same devices that had allowed Alfred to sense that Arthur was at the peak of the Immortal rank during our first meeting.

So... Giving me a device that could hide my rank and seeing that the leader of D.X. was capable enough of doing the same would surely arouse suspicions in his mind.

Still, the saving grace was that the ability to hide one’s actual rank from the senses of everyone was possible after reaching the Immortal or higher rank.

Arthur could have hidden his rank too, but there was no need for him to do so. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Still, only Arthur and the Sovereigns were capable enough of hiding their rank perfectly from the eyes of an individual like Alfred Symer.

So... The possibility of Alfred actually suspecting that I and X shared the same device was low, yet it was there.

Haa...

Honestly, it didn’t really matter even if Alfred knew about me.

I still had his life in my hand, but controlling Alfred at the blade’s edge was a dangerous endeavour.

Naturally, it was better to be on his good side and engage in mutual cooperation.

"It’s capable enough to hide from the eyes of everyone, including the Sovereigns... under controlled circumstances."

"Hm?"

Alfred shrugged his shoulders in response.

"If you get into a fight, depleting all your mana reserves or doing anything that could place your body in a critical stage, then maybe... there is a chance for the device to not function at its best ability. The possibility of malfunction is low, but it’s there, so be careful in that regard."

It was weird of Alfred to wish me well in such good faith.

Maybe it was because there were some issues with his device that he had been unable to resolve completely... in the limited time that he was given.

"So... Is it ready for use?"

I could tell from Alfred’s reaction that it was, but chose to ask nonetheless.

Alfred didn’t reply to me as he walked towards the cube, while taking out some small instrument that had pincers at the end.

"Take off your shirt, I will implant the device into your core."

Alfred spoke as if it were a side task for him, not worth his full attention.

"Here?"

"Yes."

"Shouldn’t there be some preparations for it?"

I mean... I thought that Alfred would place it in my core through some high-level operation—

"The device is capable enough."

Haa...

Seeing that there was no use debating with Alfred, I unbuttoned my shirt before taking it off.

My upper body was now bare, my muscles visible for all to see... Not that there was anyone present here, except—him.

I looked at Alfred, who had already picked up the cube using the instrument in his hand.

It was only due to the monocle that I was able to see the cube being picked up, or else someone would have thought Alfred was pinching the air, as the cube was too unique to be seen by the naked eye.

With the cube in his possession, Alfred slowly made his way towards me before standing just inches away.

"Should I sleep or—"

"No need."

Alfred cut me off as his hand, holding the cube, moved towards my lower abdomen, where the core is usually present.