Chapter 2499

2499 - The Heavy Disappointment

"...And what did you answer?"

Billy's heartbeat, and those of the universe's inhabitants, slowed drastically.

All side conversations faded in that moment, and whoever couldn't stay silent was beaten until they lost consciousness... Everyone wanted to hear.

"I told him that I prefer survival with my followers, of course." Robin chuckled, "Why would I die for people who wouldn't pay me any attention or honor me with reverence?"

"Uh..." Billy's heart fell into an icy abyss.

"Our conversation that day went on for a long time. It ended with me pursuing my own method of seeking Glory, and he would continue his path as the Guard who never compromises with evil, who protects everyone without waiting for a word of thanks." Robin then laughed, "Guess what happened after that?"

"What?" Billy asked, weeping.

"Rumors spread that he had died, so the people of the entire universe began cursing the Guard about whom they knew nothing." Robin chuckled, "Imagine, yesterday they didn't know that someone had been protecting them for millions of years, and when they heard that this Guard had died and could no longer provide free protection, they began cursing him and damning his memory."

"....."

"Immediately after that, I went and treated the Old Man with what I could, which is why he looked younger when he appeared and killed the space beast that was terrorizing people that day…" Robin sighed, "But right after that, he withdrew from everyone and started finding wives for himself and fathered a large number of children." Then he shrugged, "You could say he was convinced by my words."

"The Cosmic Elder himself… was convinced to save only himself and his followers, and leave the universe to burn?" Billy found it hard to believe.

"Of course." Robin shook his head, "The Cosmic Elder, Zolan, used the Master Law of Balance in a manner befitting the Law's name—with justice and fairness, preventing evil from transgressing against good, planting seeds of goodness everywhere… but he forgot one thing." Then he narrowed his eyes, "He was planting in land that was not his."

"…?"

"That is how favors work without recompense, my friend—without making the person in front of you aware that you are doing them a kindness." Robin sighed, "When people grow accustomed to a favor, it becomes an acquired right, and when you withhold it for any reason, you become the villain." Then he pointed into the distance, "That day, the people forgot Qarun who controls the Stellar Academies, forgot Sevar who is renowned for his power approaching that of the Cosmic Elder, and forgot Athena who let those beasts in to begin with, and they began cursing the Cosmic Elder

the dead one

"Imagine? Why doesn't he change his mind?"

Then he shook his head and went back to reading the book, "Regrettable, extremely regrettable… whoever truly understands human nature will realize that what happened with the Cosmic Elder was inevitable, he was simply too optimistic about the good in human hearts, and in the end he saw what I see… he saw the truth."

Then he smiled as he read, "And I will not put myself in that same position, I will not take my forces and fight in silence for people who have no idea what I'm doing, people who will curse me and spit on my grave if I fail in my mission, instead of raising my banner and saying I did all I could… yes, that is my answer."

Billy tried to speak, "That was your answer… back then… when you were still young… but now, with all those forces and armies and responsibilities and the—"

But he didn't finish—

At that moment Robin's smile vanished completely, he stood up and

Baaam

He threw the book to the ground, shaking the mountain violently, "More memoirs! More damn memoirs!!"

Then he reached his hand toward a metal tablet and flipped through its contents at an incredible speed, "Morgana's memoirs about establishing the Cosmic Academies and her experiences with the White Shadow? Memoirs, memoirs, memoirs!!!"

"E—easy!" Billy stood up and took two steps back. He could feel Robin's anger blazing. "What happened to all this? Why do you hate the memoirs this much?"

"If it were from one or two people, I'd have swallowed it, but this is no longer tolerable!" Robin shouted angrily and pointed toward the pile of books. "Do you know what it means to write all those memoirs and advice at this particular time?"

"W—what?" Billy tried to force a smile, hoping to calm Robin down.

"It means they're certain we'll be defeated in the war!"

Robin's furious roar shook the arrays guarding the mountain.

"It means they're telling me to flee and rebuild everything from scratch using their experiences when things reach the point of no return!"

Then he pointed at Billy angrily. "You yourself wrote your memoirs. Look me in the eye and tell me you didn't think of this while writing them!!"

"….." Billy took a step back in unease. "…I—I… I don't know about others… but it's good intention…"

Crack

Robin clenched his fist tightly. "You say it's good intention, but I see it as a lack of confidence and the belief that I'm a reckless fool who doesn't know his limits!"

Then he struck his chest, "I am the one who postponed my revenge for the murder of my wife and the torture of my son for decades until I gathered enough power. All of you think that I suddenly became an easy prey now because three clowns decided to stop me? That I suddenly became reckless and can't assess the situation?"

Then he raised his voice even more, "All of you think that I'm sitting here sunbathing and waiting for you to die so I can start over in some ruin? What the hell are you thinking?!"

"...." Billy took another step back. He had never seen Robin this angry before.

"You think..." Robin took a step forward, panting heavily, a tear escaped his eye as he clenched his teeth, "...that I will watch all of you die at the hands of scum who don't deserve to lick any of your shoes, and then I'll go start over using your memories? Start with what... and for whom?" Then he narrowed his eyes and raised his voice even more, "How exactly do you see me? What kind of monster am I in your eyes?!"

"......" Billy kept retreating. This was the first time in his life he was truly afraid of Robin, and the first time he felt this amount of disappointment in a single person. "W-we didn't mean..."

"Good... good, good..."

Robin cut him off, stood in place and wiped his eye, then began nodding.

"It's clear that even my children and closest followers haven't yet understood my power or my personality deeply enough."

Then, with red eyes, Robin walked until he reached the edge of the cliff, and raised both hands to his sides until they barely rose above his shoulders.

"Then let me explain to you… and to the entire universe… who Robin Burton truly is."

Whooooooosh

The Golden Light erupted from Robin's body.