Died for a Million Times: I can Copy Infinite SSS Talents!-Chapter 68 --I Only Care About the Present

After Ryze finished explaining, Link finally understood why the Thousand-Eyed Altar was set as the final location for talent acquisition.

It wasn’t random. His newly acquainted mentor had deliberately arranged it this way, doing everything in his power to protect Link’s safety.

Regardless of whether Pryde’s theory held true, as long as Link could acquire a sufficient number of SSS-level talents, it would inevitably interfere with the perception of Gaze of Truth—even if only slightly.

But even that slight interference could be the difference between life and death.

Link felt a surge of warmth in his heart. He cast a grateful glance toward Ryze before voicing a bold thought:

"Mentor, I understand your reasoning. But I want to say—since I have Death Rewind on my side, even if I get spied on by a Thousand-Eyed Clan using Gaze of Truth, I can just... kill myself and try again."

Ryze sighed softly at that.

"Link... you’re still young. Reckless. Daring. You’ve never learned the importance of concealing your edge."

"Huh?" Link looked confused.

In his view, as long as he had Death Rewind, he could reset the timeline anytime something went wrong. Any events, knowledge, or memories from the previous timeline would be completely wiped out. Nobody would remember anything. In that context, wasn’t hiding his abilities a meaningless act?

Ryze seemed to sense what was running through his mind and began explaining patiently.

"Yes, you have Death Rewind—a formidable talent, no doubt. You can indeed restart at will when things don’t go your way. But, Link, remember this: there are always exceptions."

"We humans still know far less about talents than the moonfolk do. Until you’ve grown into a truly independent esper, I can’t allow even the slightest piece of your information to fall into moonfolk hands. Not even for a moment—not even as a flicker in their memory."

"What’s more, the Thousand-Eyed Clan is an extremely peculiar species, even among the moonfolk. So far, all we know about Gaze of Truth is that it sees through illusions and pierces into reality. But... what if one of them awakens a variation of that talent?"

Ryze narrowed his eyes. His voice was steady but full of warning.

"We can’t afford to take that risk. We must be cautious in every possible way."

"Remember what I say, Link. Unless you’re in a truly desperate situation—never reveal your abilities in front of any moonfolk. Not a trace of them!"

Those words sank deep into Link’s heart.

Until now, he had always walked his path alone. Sure, he’d met mentors and elders along the way, but most of them only taught him superficial techniques. Few had ever offered genuine concern or guidance from the heart—aside from his parents.

But today... with Ryze, something felt different. Familiar. Comforting.

Although the two shared no blood ties, Ryze’s sincerity, his desire to help, his relentless care—it moved Link more than any blood relation ever could.

So much so that it even made Link uneasy.

He had never met anyone like Ryze before. Someone so completely selfless, always speaking from the heart, always prioritizing Link’s safety above all else.

Why?

Was it simply because of Link’s powerful talents?

Or was it because Ryze believed that, someday, Link might be the one to save humanity from the brink of destruction?

Link didn’t know. He couldn’t figure it out.

So he decided to test it subtly.

"Mentor, you’re really thinking everything through... perhaps too thoroughly," Link said, trying to sound casual. "But I feel like sometimes there’s no need to be so overly cautious. If you ever want to know more about my talents—anything at all—I’d be happy to..."

"Stop!" Ryze cut him off sharply, his voice unusually stern.

"Mentor...?" Link blinked, surprised by the abrupt reaction.

After a brief silence, Ryze’s tone softened. He looked at Link with gentle eyes and said, "It’s fine. I just need you to remember something."

He paused, then asked, "Do you recall the Soul Oath I made when we first met?"

Link nodded.

Ryze continued, "That oath was sworn upon my very soul. Which means, as long as I, Ryze, still exist, no one can ever force me to divulge anything about you—not even the tiniest detail."

"But..." He looked off into the distance. "You also know oaths can be broken."

"And I don’t trust myself fully—not because I’m weak—but because I’ve seen what the traitors and moonfolk are capable of. Their tricks are insidious. Their methods, vile. One wrong step, and even someone like me could fall prey to them."

"So whatever you were about to tell me just now—I must not hear it. The less I know, the safer you’ll be. If even I don’t know your secrets, then no one else stands a chance."

"I understand it may seem like I’m overreacting, like I’m being too paranoid. But this... this is the safest path I could come up with."

"Link, my only wish right now is that you can grow stronger in safety, picking up powerful talents that’ll actually help you in the long run. As for all the trouble and danger along the way—leave them to me. I’ll take care of them."

His voice wasn’t loud. But every word hit Link like a hammer against his chest.

Ryze’s generosity and righteousness were unlike anything Link had ever seen or imagined.

And it wasn’t blind loyalty either. Ryze wasn’t just following his instincts—he had thought through every scenario, every risk, every possibility. He wasn’t driven by emotion, but by calculation and conviction.

And Link... truly respected him for it.

"Heh, enough with the heavy stuff," Ryze suddenly said with a light chuckle. "It’s just a shame I can’t stay with you for long. The academy still has mountains of work waiting for its principal."

"But don’t worry. Once you finish your training in the camp, I’ll make sure everything is ready for you on your return. All the annoying matters—you can leave them to me."

Link stood frozen, unable to speak.

When someone is that kind to you—truly kind, from the heart—it’s not easy to accept it without hesitation.

Especially for someone like Link, who carried enormous responsibilities, who had long learned to be guarded and wary.

So he decided... to test Ryze one final time.

In a quiet voice, Link asked, "Mentor... have you ever considered the possibility... that I might not be the kind of person you think I am? That I might, one day, become a threat to humanity?"

He stared intently at Ryze, analyzing every twitch of his expression, every subtle movement.

And just as he expected, Ryze stiffened for a moment.

But the old man quickly smiled bitterly and replied, "Then tell me... are you that kind of person?"

Link thought for a moment, then shook his head slowly. "No."

"Then I have nothing to worry about," Ryze said calmly.

"I don’t care about the future. I care about the present. And as far as I’m concerned, the person you are today is someone I can trust. That’s enough for me."

"As for what may happen in the future... let those who live in that future deal with it." frёewebnoѵēl.com

"If there comes a day when you truly change—when you betray humanity—then that, too, is fate. Something I cannot control with a few words of warning."

"All I can do is accept the path ahead, whatever it may be. Isn’t that right?"