Chapter 49: The Ink-Stained Phenomenon (Patreon)

It had to be said — Rudy's strength had truly exceeded Ruijerd's expectations.

At first, Ruijerd had thought Rudy and the others simply weren't strong enough. On the brutal journey home, if they ran into trouble, it could have ended badly.

But after getting to know them over these past days, and especially after their brief clash of blows just now, Ruijerd had to admit it —

Even though Rudy was only ten years old, the boy's overall abilities already far surpassed his own!

Given that, was there still any need for him to keep following and protecting them?

Sitting on the ground with his back against a rock, Ruijerd wrestled with the thought.

Just then, Rudy walked over and sat down beside him with a smile.

"Mr. Ruijerd, are you thinking about whether to stay or go?" Rudy asked, smiling.

Ruijerd blinked, caught off guard. He hadn't expected Rudy to see through his thoughts so easily. What a sharp kid.

Impressed despite himself, he answered, "Yes. I used to think your group wasn't strong enough, but now I can see there's nothing to worry about."

Rudy nodded and smiled. "Even so, if you leave, Mr. Ruijerd, will you go back to rescuing children?"

"I'm not saying that's a bad thing. I just think your talents, Mr. Ruijerd, deserve to be put to better use."

"The reason I founded the Justice League wasn't just to make money. Or rather, money is only a small part of it."

"I have much bigger hopes than that. I want the name of the Justice League to echo across the whole world! I want it to become the strongest organization there is! I want every member of the Justice League to be respected and admired by everyone!"

Hearing those forceful words, Ruijerd — no fool himself —

Or rather, though his thinking had once been simple, after hundreds of years of experience, his once-simple mind was no longer quite so simple.

He understood exactly what Rudy meant.

Before, Rudy had already told him he wanted to wash away the disgrace attached to his tribe's name.

And now, Rudy was saying it again — he wanted the members of the Justice League to be respected by the world.

If they were respected, then the disgrace would naturally be erased along with it.

Honestly, hearing Rudy say this again moved him deeply.

But having lived so many years, he also knew just how hard it was to wash away such infamy. Could Rudy really pull it off on his own?

Or rather — Rudy surely had a far greater future ahead of him. If he kept a notorious Superd like himself at his side, it would surely hold Rudy back a great deal.

With that thought, Ruijerd's resolve hardened. He was about to speak the words of parting.

But before he could, Rudy had already placed a hand over the back of his.

Looking at the startled Ruijerd, Rudy asked seriously, "Mr. Ruijerd... have you truly decided to leave, no matter what?"

Ruijerd nodded and smiled. "Yes."

His answer was brief, without much explanation.

Mostly, he feared that Rudy, so sharp-witted, might read too much into it.

So he simply gave a definite answer and left it at that.

Seeing this, Rudy sighed helplessly. "All right, then."

Ruijerd raised his hand and pressed it over Rudy's.

He smiled broadly. "It's really been a pleasure getting to know you all, this while."

Rudy nodded and smiled. "Since you've decided, then I'll look forward to our next meeting!"

"By then, I hope you'll have grown even stronger, Mr. Ruijerd. And I'll definitely be stronger too!"

Ruijerd nodded earnestly. "Right. Next time I won't lose to you so easily!"

Rudy smiled. "Then I'll look forward to our next meeting too."

Ruijerd nodded with a smile and turned to walk back the way he'd come.

Rudy quietly watched him go, all the way until Ruijerd's figure disappeared completely from sight, never once making a move to hold him back.

That first time around, he had deliberately sparked Ruijerd's curiosity, which was why Ruijerd had ended up following them all along.

But this time, after looping back, he hadn't laid much groundwork for it. All along, he had kept his true strength hidden.

Now, having suddenly unleashed it and defeated Ruijerd in an instant, he had naturally dealt a blow to Ruijerd's fierce warrior pride.

Perhaps his leaving was inevitable.

Did he regret it? Not really, not much.

Honestly, he had already anticipated today's outcome. It could have happened at any time.

Having made a breakthrough in looped summoning magic, he had, in fact, deliberately engineered this whole situation.

And next, Hitogami would likely reach out to connect with his spirit again.

Rudy's own goal was the same — to reconnect with Hitogami's spirit. There was one thing he wanted to confirm.

Why did Hitogami know about the Dragon God's time loop, yet know nothing about his own?

Was this the Ink-Stain Phenomenon?