The Villain's Second Time

Chapter 21

Huh, what’s that sound? Suddenly calling me a regressor? On what grounds are you spouting something so accurate yet utterly nonsensical?

If I knew that, I’d either affirm it, deny it, or subtly lie about it.

And what? You’re *also* a regressor? There’s another regressor besides me? Someone who found the King before me?

"It’s possible to have high insight at a young age, but it’s rare for someone like you to leave such a ‘cunning’ impression."

"Ah."

"If you’re one in a million, a genius among geniuses, I have nothing to say... But just in case, let me ask. Are you a regressor?"

"A regressor? What’s that?"

"Don’t play dumb. Like the hero from two generations ago... a being who has rewound time from the future. In this generation, it’s probably you. Don’t ignore the signs of the old demon."

Ah, so that’s what it was. How cute of you to explain it so smoothly. I was so touched I almost shed tears of gratitude.

Is this why people say the elderly are considerate? Now I understand why humans value respecting the elderly.

By the way, the hero from two generations ago was a regressor? I heard that person never failed, but I didn’t know such a secret was hidden. Another piece of knowledge added today.

Now then, how should I answer that sharp and clever question?

A false denial? Or a truthful affirmation?

"No, what are you talking about? A regressor? Where would such a thing exist in this world?"

"Hmm... Did I misstep...?"

"Why are you hesitating? You’re right in front of the Duke, aren’t you?"

The answer is the latter. There are many reasons, but the first is that there’s no harm in admitting it.

"Hoho, you’re quite good at wordplay. Making this old demon dance to your tune."

"It’s just eloquence. Even so, it’s only enough to get by on the streets."

I didn’t mention that those streets belonged to nations. To embrace light, one must be humble. A great and noble truth I learned from the Saint.

"Still, I didn’t expect you to reveal it so easily."

"Really? Didn’t it cross your mind that I might be lying?"

"...Surely not. Considering the mind games during chess, you’re definitely not a ten-year-old."

"Ah, there’s nothing in this world that can be definitively concluded. Who knows? Maybe I’m an unknown super-genius."

"......."

"Kekeke, just kidding. Let’s just move on, shall we?"

Perhaps because I toyed with him, the King glared at me with a hint of resentment. I responded with a slyly curved eyebrow.

"Also, I needed to reveal that fact for the ‘topic’ I’m about to discuss."

"You were planning to confess from the start?"

"Whether I was or not, I’ve already said it. Does it matter now?"

"...Are you avoiding the answer?"

"Rather than avoiding, I’m considering efficiency. I’m a busy child, so I value time management highly."

It’s not wrong. Time, unless you’re a regressor like me, is something you can’t reclaim once it’s gone. For the sake of the future, I can’t afford to waste even a single moment.

Of course, I don’t have a concrete plan yet. I’ll formulate one after hearing about causality from the King.

Those insolent brothers who’ve accumulated karma against this kind-hearted regressor will be at the top of the list.

"Then, what does our esteemed ‘regressor’ wish to ask this humble old man?"

"Ah, the time has finally come to ask this. Duke, do you happen to know anything about ‘time’?"

"Time?"

"I mean... There’s someone who needs to be born into this world about five hundred years from now. But if I change the past and that person isn’t born, what should I do? That’s the kind of worry I have."

"Is that person important to you?"

"Hmm... As important as you are, Duke."

"Hoho, it seems I was quite close to you in a past life."

"A friendship rivaling that of Guan and Bao."

At my jest, the King burst into hearty laughter.

A past life? We weren’t that close, but since it’s a past life, what’s the harm in sprinkling a little seasoning?

Whether it’s a past life only I remember is uncertain, but friendship is subjective, so I didn’t lie. By my standards, that’s how it was.

"I don’t know much about that person, but it’s only natural that changing the past alters the future. That’s undeniable."

"Hmm."

"However, that’s only assuming the future is connected. If you rely on the butterfly effect theory spouted by meteorologists, then any past could be related to any future."

"That’s not something to blindly believe in."

"True. If that were the case, your very presence here would have already altered the future. So... You said that person is human, right?"

The King asked with some purpose in mind. Was the Saint human? Of course.

"Yes, and from the Holy Nation at that."

"Is there any chance they have demon blood mixed in at birth or something like that?"

"I’m not sure, but probably not. The Holy Nation wouldn’t accept anything impure."

To be precise, they didn’t just accept but revered and worshipped it, but anyway.

"I see the general picture now."

"What is it?"

"Ultimately, what you’re asking is about your range of action, isn’t it? How far you can go without affecting the birth of that human in the future."

"Oh, right."

"Then it’s settled. The worlds we reside in are different, after all. Humans live on the continent, and we demons live in the Demon Realm. Without something like a Dimensional Gate, there’s no way to move between the Human Realm and the Demon Realm. So as long as you stay in the Demon Realm, it shouldn’t matter."

"I see, then..."

As I trailed off, the King twitched his pepper-shaped eyebrows. The flimsy vegetables swayed limply.

Ugh, even if it’s art, isn’t that a bit too much? I’d rather explore the virtues of explosions. My brow furrowed slightly at the over-the-top design.

Why is it acceptable for a face to be filled with vegetables, but only pepper eyebrows are disgusting?

Because peppers are delicious. I don’t mind playing around with tasteless food, but peppers are tangy and juicy, which makes them quite tasty.

"Would it be okay to guide a few useless individuals who might hinder the future to heaven...?"

"Hoh."

"Not many. Just one or two."

"Are there demons who dared to offend the regressor?"

"Just some stale revenge."

"As I said earlier, the continent and the Demon Realm are on different world lines. So even if you cause chaos in the Demon Realm, it won’t significantly affect the Human Realm. Naturally, killing a few demons won’t be a problem."

"Oh, that’s a relief."

"One concern is, are there any demons among them who might come into contact with the Human Realm? Before the ‘human’ you mentioned is born, I mean."

Ah, come to think of it, Leonard and Retavis have a future where they meet a gruesome end in the Demon Beast Forest. What should I do about that? Does death in the Demon Beast Forest have no connection to the Human Realm?

It’s ambiguous. The Demon Beast Forest is a twisted forest where dimensions overlap, serving as a bridge between the Demon Realm and the Human Realm. It’s a place where demon or human extermination squads occasionally clash, creating awkward and complex situations.

"...Still, I can’t let them take the lead."

"The lead?"

"How unpleasant would it be if the person I want to kill is killed by someone else? You’re a demon too, so you’d understand, right?"

"Certainly, even after living for what feels like an eternity, I still feel uneasy if someone I’ve marked dies prematurely."

"Right? You’d feel the same, Duke, wouldn’t you?"

As if seeking agreement, I asked, and King readily nodded. See? The frustration of not being able to kill someone you want to is universal, right? If it were the Saint, she’d probably say something different.

If the Saint were listening to our conversation now, she’d be horrified. Heh, this is what real demon conversations are like, Saint.

"Ah, and even if they reside only in the Demon Realm, there are those you shouldn’t touch. Beings whose very existence has a significant impact on the world."

"For example?"

"Like the newly ascended Demon King, or the Four Great Dukes of the Demon Realm. Their mere existence instills wariness and tension across all dimensions."

"Oh, now that you mention it, that makes sense. I guess I can’t kill the Demon King."

"The Demon King? It seems you didn’t get along with him in your past life."

"Out of the five hundred years I spent with him, four hundred and ninety-nine were good. It was the last year that went wrong."

The Demon King Kanos. A being who always gazed at the ominous night sky of the Demon Realm, eagerly anticipating a duel with a powerful opponent.

But at some point, the Demon King began to crave power and changed. In the end, he captured me and locked me in Babel Tower to maintain his authority. Whether revenge is possible against such a strong being is uncertain, but if he’s my enemy, then he’s my enemy.

"Hmm, well, I get the gist. You’re saying that as long as it’s not influential demons, a massacre within the Demon Realm is fine."

"Yes, since souls are managed by the gods, trivial matters like that shouldn’t be a problem."

"Good. Ah, and one more thing."

King, realizing my business wasn’t over, smiled warmly. Another demon might have been annoyed, but King, already intrigued by me, saw me as a fascinating subject to study.

It’s all part of the plan, so I don’t mind. In fact, with so much still to learn from King, the living encyclopedia, I’m all smiles.

"Earlier, you mentioned knowing something about Regressors, like the Hero from two generations ago."

"That’s right."

"Do you happen to know anything about Regression? I woke up in the past without understanding why, so I’m a bit lost right now."

"Hmm... Regression? Regression..."

King, pondering my question, soon raised his grape-like arm and wiggled his banana-like fingers. A faint but clear mana escaped from his hand.

The purple mana seeped into a coffin in the corner. It was an antique wooden coffin that seemed to belong to a bygone era.

"You’ve slept long enough. Wake up now."

Creak— Thud.

"Groooan..."

King issued a low command, and the coffin faithfully obeyed. As the lid opened, a corpse emerged.

Its shoulders were broad enough to line up five adult humans, and its height easily exceeded three meters. The nail embedded in its temple and its square jaw brought back memories of the corpse’s identity.

The immortal giant, Frankenstein.

Once a renowned knight of the continent, he became King’s subordinate after receiving a dead heart from King upon his death.

"Groan... Master... It’s been a while..."

"It has, Frankenstein."

"Master... You look delicious... I want to eat fruit..."

Upon waking from his long slumber, Frankenstein drooled at the sight of King. To the monster, whose faint rationality was overshadowed by its primal instincts, the sweet scent of fruit was irresistible.

"Now, now, I’ll prepare your meal separately. For now, head down to the underground library and fetch a book."

"Groan...? A book...?"

"There’s a book by Evans. A treatise on time. It’s titled , I believe."

"Groooan... The Flower that Eats Time... I want to eat it too..."

"Sigh, if you bring it back properly, I’ll give you premium meat. Hold on until then."

As the word "meat" left King’s lips, Frankenstein’s white eyes lit up. His drooling intensified, and with heavy footsteps, he disappeared into the darkness.

Left alone with King, I swallowed hard, unable to let a certain word pass without comment.

"...Wait a minute."