Lewd System: Every Scream and Moan is EXP Chapter 315 : A Mirror Doesn’t Choose What It Reflects

Jax finally turned, his gaze devoid of any emotion as he faced her. His eyes were back to being completely blank.

"I won't judge you for doing whatever you must to become the protagonist of your own narrative. Just never forget that in my story, you are merely struggling to survive."

He took a step nearer. "And you will continue to survive as long as you focus all your efforts on me, not on the people close to me."

His voice remained steady. "If you're expecting an apology, you can forget it. Because I know I did nothing wrong."

He met her stare. "Plot your revenge against me all you wish. But let me be perfectly clear: If you ever pose a threat to the peaceful future I am building, I will eliminate you from this world without a second thought."

Then, his voice took on a chilling edge. "And don't you forget, Delphine. Every breath you take is a privilege. I resurrected you from that grave in the forest; you are alive only because I permit it. Therefore, if I must end your life, heaven will not condemn me. I would merely be reclaiming a life that already belongs to me."

He moved past her towards the stairs, speaking without looking back. "If my warning has still not registered in your stubborn mind, I strongly suggest you speak with your mother. Because I can promise you, even a woman as wicked as the one you're trying so desperately to shield has already learned it's unwise to stand in my path."

Delphine was left uncertain of her next move, a flood of questions overwhelming her thoughts. Was Jax telling the truth about her mother? That revelation could explain why he was still alive, and why her mother allowed him to leave unscathed.

Beyond that, other questions plagued her mind. Why was he confiding in her, of all people?

Amidst the crucial, critical inquiries she should have posed, the most foolish question escaped her lips: "Where are you going so late? Don't you need to sleep?"

Jax retrieved his coat, draping it over his shoulder. "As I mentioned, my responsibilities are immense. I cannot afford the luxury of rest when my people are out there, worried and awaiting my return. Don't concern yourself with my well-being; I mastered the art of foregoing sleep long ago."

Delphine Voice filled with confusion, she spoke softly. "I truly don't understand you. It's as if two entirely different individuals stand before me."

Jax paused on the staircase, not turning, simply responding over his shoulder.

"I am not two distinct people, Delphine. I am merely a reflection. Offer me a child in distress seeking sanctuary, and you'll find an unwavering protector. But bring a weapon to my door, and you'll face the monster. Just as your mother did."

A moment of silence followed.

"I become precisely what this world compels me to be. It's quite straightforward, isn't it?"

He continued down the steps. "Had I classified you as an enemy, we wouldn't be having this conversation. I don't waste words on the deceased."

His voice resonated with the insight of someone who had dissected the nature of every person he encountered. "My entire existence has been dedicated to understanding people's core. In your case, you attempted to shroud yourself in animosity, allowing your arrogance to convince you that you could take an innocent life merely for retribution."

He cast one last glance back at her. "However, the hand of a true killer does not tremble, Delphine. Your pride made a promise your spirit couldn't fulfill. Your humanity prevailed tonight. And because it did, I chose to educate you rather than annihilate you."

And then, he was gone.

Delphine stood there, utterly bewildered. 'What is wrong with this man?'

Suddenly, an image flashed through her mind: Jax catching her as she fell, his arm encircling her, his hand silencing her lips as his face hovered inches away. The warmth of his chest against hers—

A blush crept onto her cheeks, and she shook her head vigorously. 'No. What is wrong with *me*?'

She snatched the dagger from her waist and flung it over the inn's railing into the darkness below. Turning, she began walking back to her room. It was then she noticed a black cat perched on the windowsill, its unblinking eyes fixed directly on her.

Meanwhile, from within her own chamber, Athanasia observed every unfolding event... through the cat's eyes.

—x—X—x—

Jax traversed the deserted streets of the capital, the city slumbering while his mind raced.

His steps halted abruptly as he sighted a man seated on a bench outside a library. The man spoke without rising.

"They are inside, but there are intermittent surges of unusual, oppressive mana emanating from the location. Master, this place appears perilous. Furthermore, the individual you instructed me to shadow is not human. He continually shapeshifts to evade detection, accompanied by four associates."

Jax nodded, a flicker of satisfaction crossing his face. "Well done, Bruise Lee. You've performed admirably. Now, rest."

Earlier, while traversing the capital, Jax had sensed an unsettling aura emanating from a particular individual within the throng. The person seemed suspicious, shrouded in mystery. Jax's instincts urged him to maintain surveillance on this man. Consequently, he had dispatched Bruise Lee to follow their movements.

Now, Jax infiltrated the library himself, scaling the roof and slipping through an upper-level window. The instant his feet made contact with the interior floor, the first sound that assaulted his ears was a piercing scream.

He pursued the source of the voice deeper into the structure, navigating through corridors that seemed out of place for a library. Eventually, he discovered them: two cloaked figures engaged in a sinister ritual, with a child suspended in mid-air. A searing spellbind had been burned onto her back, and her body convulsed violently.

The child was enduring unimaginable pain, and her screams were the sole testament to her suffering.

Jax clenched his fists, every fiber of his being clamoring to obliterate the entire establishment and everyone within its walls.

However, at that precise moment, Echidna, who had remained silent for hours, finally uttered a sound. Her voice carried a tone Jax had never heard from her before: one of profound pain.

"Do not act, Jax. Your intervention could alter your own present."

Jax inwardly grumbled, "How many times must I instruct you not to interfere in my affairs?"

Echidna's voice wavered. "What if that child does not require your assistance?"

Jax halted his movement, bewildered. "What do you mean by that?"

"Because," Echidna's words fractured, barely holding together, "if you interfere, I shall cease to exist. The suffering this girl is presently enduring is what will draw Mother to her location. And Mother's arrival is what will liberate me from all this torment."

The realization struck Jax with the force of an unseen wall. The girl suspended before him, the child being subjected to torture by the robed figures, was Echidna. The very same girl whose soul currently resided within his body. She had previously confided in him about undergoing experiments and enduring torture for her powers until a savior arrived. He was witnessing that exact pivotal moment.