A Background Character’s Path to Power Chapter 116 116: Thoughts weave the walls; Choices decide th

An awkward silence fell between us, heavier than the twilight air around us.

"...Um.. What about my mories, master? Can you help with that?" I broke the ice.

Virion didn't answer imdiately. His tail flicked absently as he stared into the water, as if searching for sothing in its depths. When he finally spoke, his voice carried an unusual weight.

"I'm afraid I won't be able to help you—not fully." He turned his gaze to , erald eyes glowing faintly. "Or rather, I could try, but you should understand—the mind is a mysterious and fragile thing. Tampering with it would be like diving into a storming sea with no map, no anchor, and no guarantee of surfacing again."

His scales rippled in what might have been unease. "One mistake could ruin everything. And yours... yours is particularly complicated."

My fingers tightened around the fishing rod. "Why? Is it because of the false awakening?"

"That too," Virion admitted. "But more than that..." His tail coiled tightly. "Your mind is shrouded, boy. Not just broken or scattered—deliberately locked away. Those barriers weren't ant just to keep the mories from you, but from anyone who dares to look too deeply."

I nodded slowly, my mind racing. Was it the System's doing?

But why? Couldn't it have appeared without locking my mories?

Hey, system, I'm talking to you.

Hmm...!

Wait a sec.... Could it be...

Did I fail so event or scenario before, and my mories were 'erased' due to a penalty?

The thought sent a chill down my spine.

It made a twisted kind of sense.

After all, the System had given a mory-erasing penalty right from the start. But the penalties lately hadn't been so severe—if anything, they weren't exactly about , and the rewards always ca exactly when I needed them without knowing they would be needed.

One thing was clear, though - the system seed to want my survival, my growth.

But... What kind of mission could my past self have gotten that they refused or failed to complete, even if it ant their mories would be erased?

...Urgh. That's why I hate this kind of setup!

Did the system want to kill soone or do sothing unthinkable?

Whatever happened back then, if this idea is really true...

...I hope my past self had a reason.

Still... I need to be careful in the future...

"Don't worry, boy." Virion's voice pulled from my thoughts. "Although I may not be able to restore your mories, I could take a look inside your mind—if you want that, that is."

I blinked at him. "Huh?"

He sighed dramatically as if to say I was really useless without my mories. "If I peer into your consciousness, boy, I'll see everything. Every embarrassing secret. Every thought you'd rather keep hidden." His erald eyes twinkled with mischief. "Even that ti you—"

"Oh! Right, that..." Heat rushed to my face as I finally caught on. "T-then I think I'll keep my mories to myself for now."

Virion chuckled, scales rippling in amusent. "What? You've got so truly embarrassing ones?"

I shook my head vigorously. "Even if I did, the most embarrassing thing would be getting beaten up by you every day!"

"Pfft—" Virion's laughter sent ripples across the lake. "That's not embarrassing at all! Not many can survive my training, you know."

"Exactly my point!"

As his mirth subsided, his expression grew serious again. "Jokes aside... the only ones who could help you properly are Mystics—true masters of the mind. Powerful ones can navigate mories like reading books." His tail coiled tighter. "But as I said, they'll see everything. Therefore, you'd need to find soone both trustworthy and skilled. I know a few powerful Mystics, but..." He grimaced. "Let's just say we're not on the best of terms."

I watched Virion's expression twist between distaste and restraint, a rare flicker of unresolved history in the otherwise composed draconian. It was strange to see soone like him—so powerful, so ancient—grimace like that.

Just what kind of Mystics did he cross paths with?

Still, I understood his warning. The mind was a dangerous place, especially mine.

Locked mories, a false awakening, mysterious penalties, the System's existence… Everything pointed to one simple truth: No one else could be trusted with what lay in my head.

But then...

A brilliant idea blood in my thoughts.

I narrowed my eyes, staring into the lake's surface. My reflection rippled—uncertain, murky… but mine.

"What if... I beco one myself?"

Virion's tail froze mid-flick. "...What?"

"I an, what if I beco a Mystic myself?" I clarified, watching the idea take shape in my mind. "Wouldn't that solve the problem too?"

Virion's tail unfroze, curling in thoughtful circles. "That's... actually not a bad idea." His erald eyes glead with approval. "But there are conditions. First, you'd need to complete your awakening—whether naturally or through the traditional ceremony. Second..." His expression turned serious. "The path of a Mystic isn't for everyone. It requires specific aptitude, years of brutal training, and most importantly—an innate talent for navigating the mind's labyrinths."

I nodded slowly. "I understand. So my options are either waiting for my awakening to complete naturally, or..."

"Or hoping the traditional ceremony works for you," Virion finished. "Unfortunately, they are your only current safest options."

As I stared at the lake's surface, another thought occurred to . There was a third possibility—the System might eventually reward with mory-related skills or even unlock my past directly. After all, it had provided exactly what I needed so far, even if unpredictably.

"Well," I said aloud, forcing a small smile, "as long as I'm alive, I'll uncover the truth eventually. Let's just hope it won't take too long."

Virion studied for a long mont before suddenly grinning. "That's the spirit! And until then, you can beco physically strong too! You just need to continue your training and do as I say."

My lips twitched, but I nodded. "Of course, Master. As long as I can get stronger, I won't mind the pain." I hesitated before adding, "But... can you add that stars' massage after every session?"

Virion's mouth curved in amusent. "...Already got addicted after one ti?" He chuckled when I didn't deny it. "Well, can't bla you. But little ones don't work for free, you know."

"So...?"

He pretended to think about it, his tail swishing lazily. "Alright," he conceded, "in that case, let's increase the training difficulty starting tomorrow. Little ones will need so entertainnt as a paynt, you know."

Are you sure it's not you who wants it?

Although I thought that, I knew that it would probably happen soon anyway.

"A-alright." I replied after hesitating for a bit.

"Hehe, good, good."

I know I will be regretting this...