Chapter 157: Tit for Tat

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Allen looked at Riddle with a solemn expression; the situation had developed beyond his expectations, and he hadn't anticipated that Yodel would harbor such an obsession.

"Then why did Voldemort leave this diary behind?" Allen softened his tone, conjured two chairs inside the Mind Chamber, and gestured for Riddle to sit and talk.

He decided to change the subject first to ease the atmosphere.

"Since things have come to this, there's no harm in telling you: the diary is one of Voldemort's Horcruxes, containing a fragment of his soul; Horcruxes allow Voldemort to evade death—as long as this soul fragment isn't destroyed, Voldemort can resurrect indefinitely," Riddle said in a deep voice.

Allen felt the matter becoming increasingly complicated. "I remember you once said that the diary's creator copied and extracted memories from before the age of eighteen and placed them into the diary. Why would Voldemort put the first eighteen years of his life into his Horcrux? You said Horcruxes are only meant to preserve souls, so why did he additionally inject memories—and so many of them?" This had been Allen's lingering doubt all along.

"You're very perceptive!" Riddle said admiringly. "I didn't want my efforts to be in vain; I wanted people to know I was the Heir of Slytherin. Since I couldn't obtain recognition at the time, and I believed my bloodline to be exceedingly glorious, I hoped someone would read that diary, hoping it could control someone to release the Basilisk left by Salazar Slytherin from the Chamber of Secrets, thereby fulfilling Salazar Slytherin's last wish!"

"That soul fragment, without the support of memories, could only perform instinctive actions, so to achieve this goal, I injected all my memories from before the age of eighteen!"

Allen calmly watched Riddle deliver that impassioned speech; suddenly, he understood why Voldemort had done this.

"It seems Voldemort's childhood was utterly tragic," Allen said softly. "Only by fully experiencing everything from Voldemort's childhood could that soul fragment comprehend how important and glorious the Slytherin bloodline was to Voldemort, and thus fulfill Salazar Slytherin's last wish, correct?"

Riddle paused, examining Allen with his black eyes...

"You're absolutely right! I'm starting to appreciate you more and more; why don't you join our cause?" He suddenly began trying to subvert Allen.

Last year your main body tried to subvert me and ended up being killed by me instead; this year you still haven't learned your lesson... uh... well, I suppose there's no way for you to learn it. Allen complained inwardly.

"Do you still remember what I said back then? You are an independent magical lifeform; you shouldn't live for someone else." Feeling quite helpless, Allen decided to try a different approach to persuade Riddle.

"Do you still cling to such ridiculous notions? Voldemort and I are one!" Riddle emphasized coldly.

"You just said yourself that a soul fragment can only perform instinctive actions, yet the diary contains all of Voldemort's memories from before he turned eighteen; these memories are continuous and complete, possessing a full worldview, philosophy of life, and value system. Under the influence of that soul fragment, a magical wonder was born—that is, you!"

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"You and Voldemort are completely two different people! You shouldn't bear burdens that aren't yours to carry on his behalf."

Riddle wanted to say something, but Allen immediately cut him off.

"You must have realized this yourself: why did you refer to yourself as 'Yodel' in front of me and Ron?"

"That was to deceive you both more effectively," Riddle said in a deep voice.

"To twelve-year-old wizards like me and Ron, 'Yodel' and 'Riddle' are essentially the same, yet you still chose 'Yodel,' which shows that subconsciously you don't consider yourself to be Riddle." Allen stared intently at Riddle.

"So deep in your heart, Voldemort is Riddle, and you are merely Yodel."

Anger flashed in Riddle's eyes...

"So what if that's the case? I understand all the joys and sorrows of the main body.

I am one with the main body; I am willing to fulfill Salazar Slytherin's last wish for the glory of Slytherin!" Riddle did not agree with Allen's words.

"How ridiculous! Your entire understanding of Slytherin's glory comes from Voldemort's memories; you don't even have blood vessels, and Slytherin's blood has never flowed through you for even a second. Why should you strive for the illusory glory of Slytherin?" Allen said without any courtesy.

"You are nothing more than a tool Voldemort created to realize his own obsession!"

"Shut your mouth!" Riddle's expression finally changed. "I am not a tool!"

"Haha! Voldemort surely knows of your existence too! You are a lifeform with an independent personality, possessing your own joys and sorrows!"

"And how has Voldemort treated you? I recall you saying that since 1968, you haven't communicated with anyone; he must have hidden the diary in some secret place. Is this the benefit of being together with him? The diary is merely the prison where he confines you!" Allen continued to pour cold water on Riddle.

Riddle looked at Allen in silence...

"For a lifeform with independent consciousness, what is it like to endure decades of imprisonment in pitch darkness? You have struggled alone inside this diary for decades, while during those same decades Voldemort gradually grew powerful and even reached the pinnacle of the British Wizarding World; but what do those glories and honors have to do with you? You are nothing but a pitiful prisoner!"

"I don't believe that during the years when Voldemort was at the peak of his power, he had no way to release the Basilisk from the Chamber of Secrets to fulfill so-called last wish of Salazar Slytherin. What does this indicate? It shows that later on, he simply didn't care about this matter at all, and you are merely a casual creation born from one of his obsessions. Don't you find it ridiculous to persist in something he doesn't even care about? Don't you find it somewhat pathetic?" Allen dared not relax in the slightest and continued his verbal assault on Riddle.

Riddle's face grew gloomy; a sense of powerlessness arose within him—he actually found some truth in Allen's words...

"You were born from a temporary obsession of Voldemort, but you are a lifeform with an independent will, so don't let yourself be trapped by Voldemort's obsession. You must learn to let go, and learn to enjoy life as an independent being." Allen softened his tone and looked gently at Riddle.

Riddle's expression kept changing; confusion, fear, hope, and anger flashed across his face repeatedly, and his body fluctuated between light and dark due to the violent shifts in his emotions...

"Perhaps you are right..." Riddle said somewhat blankly.

"You must learn to live for yourself. From the moment you were born, you've been locked inside this narrow diary for nearly fifty years; during these fifty years, you've been so utterly lonely. Even if Voldemort created you and deserves your gratitude for that, these fifty years of lonely perseverance are more than enough to repay him. Moreover, this world is so magnificent; there are still many things waiting for you to do." Allen walked over to Riddle and spoke gently.

Riddle's expression grew increasingly blank...

Just as Allen thought he was about to persuade Riddle, Riddle's gaze suddenly turned sharp...

"Even if I let go of the obsession in my heart, so what? Your purpose is merely to use the Mind Chamber inside the diary; my situation won't change at all—I'll still be trapped within the diary. So what meaning is there in everything you've said?"