A Villain's Way of Taming Heroines

[Day Eight Hundred and Sixty Eight.]

The third stage of the mechanical armor already has a concrete concept; these secret tomes have helped me immensely. In terms of knowledge reserves alone, the me here and the me outside are worlds apart, not on the same level of existence.

Once Ansel's issue is resolved, I can begin preparing for the great transformation. As long as Ansel's issue is resolved, the arrival of the new world is only a matter of time.

...How utilitarian, Ravenna, you are indeed becoming more and more like the person Ansel despises.

Or rather, why have you not even thought of purely using him until now? He has only been with you for less than a year, yet you are willing to go to such lengths for him.

Is Ansel really that important? I ask myself, and the answer is obvious.

How could I possibly stay in this cold, dark basement for three years, risking a split personality, watching myself work every day, for someone insignificant and disposable?

No matter how utilitarian, Ansel is absolutely important, Ravenna.

[Day Nine Hundred.]

After parting from Ansel, I realized how arduous creation truly is.

As an observer, I could vividly sense the pressure the outside me endured over these two years.

Not merely talent...but a rift in thought. I could not communicate on the same plane as these individuals.

In complete detachment, I could perceive the surrounding environment and reality more clearly, prompting doubts—

Does the Tower of Babel truly serve a concrete purpose?

As the vessel bearing grandfather's will, the vanguard pioneering the future, can the Tower of Babel...and its constituents shoulder this responsibility?

Aside from Hendrik and others, are there truly trailblazers here, driven to forge a new world?

Even Hendrik and his cohorts seem...

No...I may be overthinking, an overly independent perspective breeds unnecessary thoughts. The outside me is thriving, yet...unavoidably, a price must be paid.

Making choices firsthand is infinitely more arduous than observing. She now appears colder and more resolute than I.

[Day Nine Hundred and Fifty-Six.]

The framework Ansel imposed on me now seems so...correct?

I have indeed become an extremely rational yet callous individual, and the outside me acknowledges this, with no intention of halting.

Raised in that environment, I transformed into what Ansel could never accept—one who would forsake even friends to realize grandfather's ideals. The current outside me...two years ago, likely would not have contemplated Ansel's concerns.

Yet observing all this, I struggle to accept that external self.

Perhaps...it depends on whether choices are made firsthand?

As a mere observer, uninvolved in that gradual transformation, once our "consensus" reached a certain threshold, I could no longer recognize her.

I scarcely recognize myself.

[Day Nine Hundred and Eighty-Seven.]

I have found the reason, the true cause of this rift between us.

Because Ansel is no longer by my side, simply put.

If Ansel remained beside me, if we were still friends, still striving together, I would never have become...like that outside self.

Without Ansel's company, not only creation, but life itself became so arduous...I had to make so many choices, so many unavoidable choices, merely to progress one step further on that narrow, protracted path pursuing ideals.

If the outside me had more choices, she would never have become this unrecognizable form...but she did not, nor did the Tower of Babel.

Only now do I understand, Ansel was never merely a companion, a friend to me. The aid he provided extended far beyond bringing me closer to ideals.

He cared for me, looked after me...spared me so much trouble, freeing me from worry, vexation, from being forced into difficult choices, sacrificing for any cause.

He understood me so well, knew when I wished to do what, knew when I needed what. He always provided...the best response for me, at precisely the right moment.

He allowed me...to be more human.

So that is why, after all these days here, I have never felt the slightest regret.

Not merely because I wish to resolve Ansel's plight, but because...Ansel is so vital to me, the sole, irreplaceable presence in my life.

I cannot lose him.

Ansel, where are you now, are you well?

I miss you.

[Day One Thousand and Eighty-Seven.]

Nearly three years have passed, yet there is still no news of Ansel. The outside me has abandoned pursuing Ansel, the cause of our rift years ago.

She has immersed herself in research. In her current mindset, given my conditions, perhaps she could surpass my present self within a year. But is it truly worthwhile?

This is after experiencing a period with Ansel. Without those experiences with him, what would the original me have become?

Ansel...

[Day One Thousand, One Hundred and Twenty-One.]

Finally...I have heard news of Ansel. In the Northern Lands, he found his first pact head, one extraordinarily gifted enough to bear the power of two pact heads.

Seraphina Marlowe...how did Ansel find her? The outside me scoured so many records, only to reveal she was a mere village girl. This situation...is uncannily similar to mine.

Was my conjecture correct?

Regardless, I am prepared. If that girl can help liberate you, wonderful. If not...

I will save you, Ansel. Believe me.

Day One Thousand, One Hundred and Thirty-Seven.]

You have grown taller and stronger, without a trace of the child you once were.

Is that girl clinging to you Seraphina? It seems you truly adore her.

Are you imposing the same stringent standards on her as you did me? Or...have you changed in other ways these three years? I hope you have extricated yourself, even slightly, from that endless quagmire. I truly hope so.

I miss you, Ansel. Do not leave me again.

*

From Power:

I had intended to burn my midnight oil, updating several chapters ... lol

However, I realized the next chapter adopts Venna's perspective, observing Ansel's entire taming process depicted thus far. To maintain coherence, I must meticulously align every detail. Therefore, I have to carefully review the narrative, ensuring no errors in this crucial segment...After such preamble, my point is — there will be no mass release xDDDD

Please do not hate me. The climax awaits~~~