TOMWDET Chapter 196

Fourteen

 

The one who caught Su Li was the [Tiger]——

 

The youth on the paw pads was so small in stature that he was even smaller than the sharp claws exposed between the gaps of the paws. However, for Clemens, what he cared about more was not the size difference between the youth and his original form, but… why had he chosen to catch him?

 

This was an enemy, wasn’t it? Without a doubt.

 

Su Li and Clemens, human versus [Tiger] – this was an opposition in stance that could never be changed fundamentally.

 

But he had still reached out to catch him, this youth who would definitely die if he fell from high altitude to the ground.

 

He would die.

 

Once this thought appeared, before Clemens’ rational mind could even analyze why Su Li would die, he had already extended his hand on his own and caught him.

 

Su Li…

 

Just a human.

 

Seriously speaking, this was only the second meeting between the human and the [Tiger].

 

“You…” The [Tiger] made a sound from his throat that was almost like purring.

 

But only after making the sound did he realize in shock that he didn’t know how to continue the conversation at all.

 

Why catch him? What should he do now? Kill him? Set him aside? Or… pretend nothing had happened?

 

Su Li, who had been caught, was tilting his head to look at Clemens.

 

Below the [Tiger], a group of ant-like humans surrounded him vigilantly, constantly watching for any crisis the human above might encounter.

 

“Why did you actively destroy that ring?” Clemens finally spoke, though he appeared especially struggling when speaking.

 

“How should I answer this question?” The youth positioned on the [Tiger]’s paw pads propped himself up with one hand behind him, feeling the softness under his palm. Su Li’s mind instantly recalled his family’s cat from before he transmigrated…

 

Reining in the thoughts that kept extending in his mind, Su Li pondered for a second before giving his answer. “Rather than being controlled by power, I prefer to control power. And if the cost of possessing power is definitely being dominated by that power, then in my view, this isn’t a choice question at all.”

 

Su Li looked into the [Tiger]’s eyes. Compared to the humans below, his gaze contained no worry or panic. “Abandoning power and maintaining oneself – isn’t that the natural thing to do?”

 

He spoke too naturally, so naturally that the [Tiger] hadn’t even had time to savor the deep meaning in his words before he felt something in those green pupils…

 

Compassion.

 

Between enemies, both seemed to possess abnormally intense emotions.

 

Clemens’ heart, which had been beating irregularly, seemed to return to its proper rhythm.

 

“But have you considered that without the power to oppose me, what you’ll face is the death of all humans?”

 

“Expecting mercy from enemies – I consider this the most foolish behavior.” Clemens hadn’t noticed at all that the human’s compassionate emotion stemmed only from his momentarily thinning hairline.

 

Su Li felt truly ashamed.

 

Only the [Tiger] continued speaking: “You shouldn’t have done this.”

 

“Then what do you think I should have done?” Su Li had no intention of hearing the answer to his question from Clemens’ mouth. “Kill you, then analyze how many cloaks could be made from the fur of a [Tiger] as large as you? Or perhaps turn your body into a specimen and place it in an exhibition hall to collect admission fees?”

 

“I chose to abandon these powers, which certainly couldn’t have been on a whim.”

 

Situation analysis sounded very sophisticated, but essentially it was just the decisiveness an adult should have.

 

“Do you know how fast human thinking can be in one second? At least in my view, the only concept comparable to it is the universe that can birth four thousand stars in one second.”

 

Su Li was speaking words that everyone couldn’t understand again.

 

The vigilant thoughts of the humans below instantly turned to helplessness, yet in the next second they began to feel their heads going bald…

 

This was a battlefield! Why could they be so relaxed?

 

This was perhaps Su Li’s strange demonic nature.

 

The person in question wasn’t aware of other humans’ overthinking. Su Li only told Clemens: “The wounds on your body earlier weren’t caused by me. Although I’m not clear what this harm stemmed from, ultimately, your opponents, your enemies, are only humans and monster beasts.”

 

“As one among humans, I don’t think I’m great enough to represent all humanity and use this to directly confront an existence like you, only to be praised as a hero by others afterward. Honestly, if an RPG game’s storyline were written this way, it would only anger players who would furiously criticize whether the planner’s brain was connected to the Atlantic Ocean.”

 

After saying words the [Tiger] couldn’t understand, Su Li said naturally, “If you can’t understand the above conversation, I can also give you a simple summary.”

 

“Simply put, your opponents weren’t just me from the beginning. Your other opponents have long possessed the ability to resist and fight back against you.”

 

Clemens understood this.

 

But he would still say: “But…”

 

Su Li: “Are you thinking they would sacrifice greatly, or that if there’s no hero-like character appearing, with disaster divided among everyone, the pain all would need to bear would far exceed the suffering only one person would need to endure?”

 

Su Li had spoken what was in Clemens’ heart.

 

The [Tiger]’s expression showed surprise.

 

Unlike the feeling of being seen through during battle, this current feeling was like a growing cub suddenly having all its future behaviors predicted by an elder who had been watching over the cub.

 

Somewhat strange.

 

But the current feeling was different from the fear produced after being seen through in battle. The current sensation was filled with a kind of…

 

——He could understand my strange cognition.

 

“Sacrificing the small self to achieve the greater self – there’s no need to elaborate on encyclopedia explanations.

 

I’ll only speak of what these words mean to me.

 

Between my simultaneous desires to travel and to work overtime, choosing to abandon the former achieved my unlimited future travel options.

 

No need to make choices about travel destinations based on time length, nor consider whether money savings were pitiful.

 

Ultimately, reasoning backward from results to the beginning, the choice I made was equivalent to sacrificing the small self to achieve the greater self.”

 

“This is an individual’s choice; this shouldn’t become a group’s choice. You can’t demand that someone who wants to travel must work overtime – this is just coercion.”

 

“And I,” Su Li revealed a brilliant smile, “I am a very self-centered person who, when facing choices between [myself] and others, would only choose [myself] – a selfish person.”

 

Clemens’ eyes had already begun spinning in circles.

 

He listened in confusion, but still knew: “You’re not selfish.”

 

“You clearly acted out of knowing that my other opponents already had the power to confront me, and whether you possessed power had no decisive key influence on the confrontation between groups.

 

And then, after considering that your actions wouldn’t affect others, you finally chose to abandon those powers that, once they affected you, might even indirectly bring unknown influences to others…”

 

“This has nothing to do with selfishness…”

 

“Then now allow me to ask you a question.” Su Li interrupted what Clemens still wanted to continue saying. “You who can understand humans – why must you make choices that go against human nature?”

 

Su Li had directly led Clemens into the ditch.

 

When the [Tiger] caught him, Su Li wasn’t without feeling strange, but when the [Tiger]’s stuttering conversation style appeared, Su Li suddenly understood that Clemens actually didn’t know why he was doing this either.

 

After that, all topics Su Li actively brought up flowed naturally under his guidance.

 

The youth felt no shame about guiding others’ thinking. Su Li increased the force in his hands that supported his body to sit up:

 

“You know, don’t you, that once you choose to abandon Beast Tribe territory, those places occupied by Leia will never again have the possibility of being handed over.

 

Even those monster beasts within those territories could become souls under the aquatic monster beasts’ claws at any time.”

 

“This isn’t the correct action a Beast King with human consciousness should have.”

 

“I no longer want to investigate various information and carefully probe. I only want to know now whether you, as the monster beast in question, can give me a convincing answer.”

 

The [Tiger]’s gaze was like a late autumn city welcoming misty drizzle, filled with confusion.

 

Clemens spoke with difficulty, “But I remember that not long ago, we were still opponents wanting to kill each other.”

 

When the youth’s internal organs were attacked by the dark elements he controlled, there had been completely no light in his eyes.

 

In terms ordinary people could understand, Su Li had developed killing intent toward Clemens at that time.

 

The [Tiger] tried to escape from Su Li’s influence.

 

But Su Li, who had already discovered and learned that he possessed human cognition, wouldn’t give him this opportunity at all.

 

“You must understand that after a youth whose lifespan would at most span a hundred years and whose bone age in this world was only fourteen made a choice about his own life and death, he couldn’t control the giving-up behavior he displayed.”

 

Simply put, since he hadn’t died, everything was still within control.

 

Clemens’ action was breaking free from the [Tiger]’s own control over himself, yet coincidentally joining Su Li’s control over others.

 

This was an opportunity the [Tiger] himself had released, so Su Li had no reason not to make contact.

 

At least Clemens was now thinking about what kind of thinking logic a normal youth approaching fifteen years old, fourteen in nominal age, actually thirteen and a half years old, should have.

 

Facing death, he would definitely be afraid, right?

 

Afraid that the power in his hands would target his own people.

 

Unwilling to have his body controlled during battle, thereby dealing a fatal blow to his opponent.

 

And the most important point was that when that youth abandoned power and fell, he hadn’t considered at all the possibility that other humans might catch him.

 

Too far away…

 

And also…

 

In the youth’s cognition, the [Tiger] was the kind of monster beast that would never let go of enemies in disadvantageous situations, right?

 

If Clemens truly were that kind of monster beast that would use any means for victory, then the human youth’s unwillingness to aim at his weak points and indirectly abandon power would only become regret that wouldn’t dissipate even after death.

 

Should he respond?

 

There was no need to answer this question at all.

 

Clemens gently supported the youth’s body, sending him to the ground. The [Tiger] ignored other humans’ hostile stares, and after confirming Su Li had stood steady, Clemens said, “I won’t let you down.”

 

At least in the matter of honesty toward opponents.

 

Su Li was unwilling to achieve despicable victory through external objects, so naturally Clemens wouldn’t cheapen himself with him either.

 

Su Li: ???

 

“Hmm…?”

 

Su Li hadn’t had time to voice his doubts, so naturally had no chance to learn what exactly Clemens had been overthinking.

 

At this time, Egbert and others had already anxiously surrounded him in the middle.

 

“Lord Su Li… even though we know that whatever you do, you have your own unique perspective, you shouldn’t put yourself in danger on your own. If…” Egbert half-knelt on the ground, looking up and scanning Su Li’s body with extreme worry.

 

Afterward, he glanced at Clemens once, but after just one look, he forcefully turned his head away.

 

“If he hadn’t caught you, if we hadn’t been able to catch up with your falling direction, then you…”

 

Su Li interrupted his words. The youth lowered his eyes, looking at the young man whose eyes and heart were filled with himself, and reached out to press against Egbert’s dust-covered, somewhat disheveled brown hair.

 

Su Li said in a calm tone, “I’m fine.”

 

“Considering other possibilities is to make things look more complete. But if you consider too many bad consequences, then you’ll only ignore the present.”

 

Su Li’s words possessed, as always, what he thought was guidance and what others observed as manipulation.

 

For example, Egbert was now very willingly feeling the warmth of Su Li’s palm.

 

Roy really wanted to kick the instantly calmed Egbert’s butt, but the two-star mercenary’s expression hadn’t softened.

 

“Even if things turned out well and we don’t need to consider too many terrible consequences, little master, you gave us no hints before directly abandoning power and falling from high altitude…

 

Are you testing our telepathic connection with you?

 

Or that so-called trust? Should I feel honored about this?”

 

“Neither.” Su Li raised his head, looking at Roy’s chest. “…You’re standing too close.”

 

The nearly two-meter tall strong man compared to his one meter seven…

 

Su Li felt his fourteen-fifteen-year-old height truly made him appear excessively petite.

 

Roy stepped back upon hearing this, but his expression remained displeased.

 

Su Li continued, “This is only because Cyril’s next attack is about to be fired.”