Chapter 310: Poison (3)

Perseus POV

"You know what they are." the noble said, "Their powers are unnecessary, both the gods and those half-breeds, they're the root of all our problems, spreading their filth like a disease."

To think that there are other kinds of poison stronger than the ones used on those in the patients' tent earlier. Hearing this noble spew such hateful words made me feel like I was witnessing the very embodiment of poison, I'm kinda impressed.

Besides, fighting and winning against the gods, that's an impressive level of optimism.

I left the scene and went back to interrogating the members of the anti-magic cult, but I didn't, really learn anything new, but...I did ask them how to steal and for tips and advice on it. I still need the drawing for the summoning circle and reverse engineer it to send me to the other side.

I then snuck them a key I stole earlier, I gave them a chance to escape and by doing so, they'll create a lot of problems for the noble who shit talk my village earlier.

I met Trevor before I left and I warned him about the people concocting the false antidote, I told him that I premixed them beforehand and that what I did was just for show so that people won't suspect I put poison in beforehand.

"Tell them not to use them on anything or anyone, it'll be very inconvenient for them."

"Hah, man, why can't the world just be peaceful for once?" he sighs, "Demon lord this and demon lord that everyday got tiring real quick."

"Weren't you excited to come into our world?"

"I was, but as amazing as magic is, I miss a lot of things about my previous world." Trevor replied, "There's the internet, there's...just a lot of things. Not saying that your world isn't great, but I'm a bit homesick."

"Got parents?"

"Yep, only child as well, the thought sort of dawned on me, you know. Their son just disappeared, poof, out of existence, they must be really heartbroken. While I was fanboying over a fantasy world, they may be still trying to search for me, if possible...I would give up everything here to go back."

Damn, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, this guy wasn't lying...well sending him back won't be a problem, but...I'll ask Dawn how to strip of someone's magic and the blessing they receive through the summoning ritual.

I rather not want a guy as strong as him to go back to that world, our world has no use of super powers nor magic, it's more peaceful that way, it's not that I'm scared Trevor will go power crazy, it's his children that I worry about, because if by chance he finds a lover even after promising not to do so...

I can't guarantee that his descendants will use them for lawful purposes, Dawn said magical surgery can make someone infertile, but that's only for when she loses her immortality and goddess status, same for a hero, a magical surgery will work temporarily since their physique would heal them back.

My distrust toward his future possible descendant is what's holding me back from telling him that I currently have a way to send him back home.

"How old are your parents? If they aren't that old, you can defeat the demon lord and go back in time."

"That's what I'm planning." he replied, "Just a question between me and you...whose side are you on?"

"My own."

"That was too quick even for my liking." he murmured, "And does that make the demon lord your enemy?"

"I wouldn't say so, what I'm doing is called hedging."

"I heard about that before, but isn't that business or insurance-related?" he asked, "Like hedge fund or something?"

"Well, it's more like this, I believe in keeping my options open. In this complex world, things can change quickly, and I don't want to be tied down to just one side. So, I try to be adaptable and flexible in my approach."

"So you're a two-faced bastard?" he said nonchalantly.

"It's more or less like observing and understanding different perspectives, and when the time comes, making a decision that aligns with the best possible outcome, given the circumstances. You know, like not putting all my eggs in one basket...yeah, I think I've read too much in the library."

The outcome that ensures my safety of course, and I need to eliminate both heroes and demon lord for that to happen, if Trevor can prove himself to not be hostile, I'll spare him, we share a lot of things in common, except that he's a much nicer version of me.

He hesitates to kill, and that alone already made him a better person, I don't need to bring up his other qualities. He's probably the me that was never put through that project.

"Playing it safe, huh?" he smiled.

"You might be friendly with me, but I can't say the same for the rest of y'all."

"Yep, many of them think that you're more likely to side with the demon lord."

"Exactly," I agreed. "Who knows what the future holds? Being open to different possibilities helps me navigate this stupid world better."

*****

I got back home and I can see my Leilah serving tea to the 2 gods of summer and winter, they sat on the opposite end of the sofa and didn't even look in the other's direction, it seems that they'd never met in a long time.

Maple called them over instead of having me go to them, and Leilah whispered to me that the 2 gods will temporarily forgive me for my attitude when I sent them the message earlier.

"Where's my parents?"

"You know how Saber is, we didn't want him to leer at your mothers, so we sent them on a fool's errand for now with Vince to delay them." Leilah answered.

"Is Lilith still sleeping?"

"No, she woke up earlier, went on a rant, and went out to steal the blueprint for the summoning circle herself so that she can find a way for a rematch, she said that she felt humiliated to lose to a little girl, she wants to meet them again."

"She has an adult form."

"Well, didn't matter, the sword spirit wasn't even a goddess, it hurt her pride a bit."