Villain
"Hehehe. This is truly interesting."
"Yeah, it's interesting for you, but not for me," Lyxander muttered in front of the screen.
He was hoping for a satisfying answer to his question. But considering the strange personalities of the group chat members, he might just end up being told to write a will.
No Scope
"Honestly, you don't need to be afraid of being killed by me."
Pup Dog
"You're not going to kill me?"
No Scope
"Even if I wanted to, I wouldn't be able to."
"Wouldn't be able to?" Lyxander's eyebrow twitched slightly.
For him, it would've been much better if No Scope had simply said he wouldn't kill him. Unfortunately, that wasn't all he said.
Pup Dog
"You can't kill me?"
No Scope
"Didn't Admin tell you?"
Pup Dog
"Tell me what?"
No Scope
"That members of the group chat can't kill each other."
"That damn Admin, why didn't he put a rule list in this group chat?" Lyxander complained. If he had known earlier, he wouldn't have taken the risk of revealing his identity to No Scope.
Pup Dog
"Wait, why can't we kill each other?"
No Scope
"Just ask the man himself."
Admin
"Hehe, didn't I already say that organizations are just shackles?"
Pup Dog
"So you made this rule because the group chat is an organization?"
Admin
"No, I'm just too lazy to look for new members if one of you dies."
"This guy…" Lyxander was completely speechless at Admin's behavior.
After all, someone who isn't bound by anything is the least trustworthy kind of person.
Lamp
"You guys are done, right? I want to know if anyone has blood or body parts from a mythical beast."
Fraud
"Mythical beast?"
Lamp
"A magical creature that, under certain conditions, can have power equal to a 6-Star."
Lamp
"Mythical beasts are usually created when the Entity virus from a 6-Star magician transfers to an animal. When they reproduce, they produce more mythical beasts."
Lamp
"Their descendants aren't as strong or pure as the original, but if they meet the right conditions, they can become equal."
Fox
"I have a complete mythical beast corpse — a unicorn. If you want to buy it, let's talk in private chat."
This conversation piqued Lyxander's interest a little.
"So unicorns exist in this world too. The possibilities created by the power of Identity are truly incredible."
Pup Dog
"By the way, I still want to ask about how to form a 2-Star Identity."
Lyxander returned to his original goal. From the beginning, this was what he wanted to ask, but there had been too many interruptions.
Admin
"Oh? Are you still interested in buying the requirements?"
Pup Dog
"No, I already know the requirements."
Admin
"How disappointing."
Pup Dog
"I'm just confused about what 'characteristic trait' means."
Alice
"A characteristic trait is something that distinguishes you from others. Don't you know that?"
Pup Dog
"I know that. I just mean, what exactly differentiates one person from another?"
Alice
"I see. If you want to form a 2-Star Identity quickly, my advice is to use an object as the base."
Pup Dog
"Why an object? Can't Identity also be based on personality or profession?"
Alice
"Because that's the easiest way."
Pup Dog
"???"
Alice
"Do you know the biggest problem with Identity power?"
"The biggest problem…" Lyxander recalled the origin of this power. "The Entity virus!"
Pup Dog
"The Entity virus?"
Alice
"Wrong. The Entity virus is only number two. The real biggest problem is mental condition."
Alice
"Forming an Identity means adding a new personality into yourself. The more personalities you form, the heavier the mental burden."
Alice
"That's why most people only form one or two Identities."
Pup Dog
"Then how do you deal with that?"
Alice
"How to deal with it? The best way is to form an Identity based on other people's perceptions."
Pup Dog
"Other people's perceptions?"
Alice
"Identity formed from other people's perceptions means labels. Opinions. Stereotypes. In other words, your defining trait."
Pup Dog
"Then what does that have to do with object-based Identity?"
Even though Lyxander was smart, he clearly lacked information and understanding about Identity power. Right now, he couldn't guess what Alice meant.
Alice
"Objects have their own identities, unlike personality traits or professions, which come from individual behavior."
Pup Dog
"So in other words, an object-based Identity won't affect my mind?"
Alice
"Correct, but not only that. Object-based Identities are much easier to form, because you don't need to do a certain job or act strangely to create one."
Alice
"You just rely on other people's perception of the object attached to you to create your defining trait."
Pup Dog
"I see, but can an Identity really be formed from other people's perceptions?"
Alice
"Basically, a person's Identity is always determined by others. Someone praised as a hero is a hero, and someone condemned as a villain is a villain."
Lyxander fell silent.
"Why didn't I realize this? A person's Identity is always determined by others. It's not me who creates my defining trait — it's other people who decide it!"
For a moment, he felt enlightened. But only for a moment. Because—
Admin
"Hehehe. Identity determined by others?"
"Damn it." Lyxander already knew that once Admin started typing, he had to be ready to face reality.
Admin
"Let me tell you this: your Identity is determined by yourself, and so is your defining trait. If you need other people to define your Identity, it means you don't know yourself well enough."
Admin
"Don't look for an easy way by relying on others. If you want to reach the peak of Identity, you must know yourself."
Pup Dog
"Then how do I get to know myself?"
Admin
"You're the one who decides how, not anyone else. And once you've decided, you'll come to know yourself."
"That damn Admin, he really makes everything so difficult… Myself?" Lyxander questioned himself about himself. He paused for a moment to think before returning to the group chat.
Pup Dog
"Thanks for the advice, but I prefer the easy path."
In the end, Lyxander's contemplation concluded with the easiest choice. Right now, he was being pressured by an escort mission to become stronger.
Admin
"I see. I hope you come to realize yourself soon."
Some time later, the private chat between No Scope and King ended, and the group chat conversation also died down.
•••
Sunday, July 25th, 1740
Faulust Museum.
The morning air in Faulust City was quite cool. Lyxander was currently waiting in front of the museum, wearing a white shirt and black pants.
Occasionally, he glanced at his wristwatch. Just as he was looking, two hands covered his eyes.
"Guess who," a soft whisper said.
"Amethyst?"
"Hehe… Correct."
Amethyst stood there in a black skirt and a white shirt, making them look like a well-matched couple.
Seeing this, Lyxander's brows furrowed slightly. He tried to smile while pushing away a negative thought.
'How does this woman know what clothes I was going to wear?'
"Alright, let's go in." Without waiting for his response, Amethyst grabbed Lyxander's hand and walked ahead.