Chapter 33
Chapter 33
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: Forming an Alliance
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At Harpy's words, Rachel was shocked. She never imagined that even an information guild would have figured out this much.
"That's ridiculous!"
"Even I think it's hard to believe."
Harpy nodded at the others' denials and replied.
"But those sensitive to mana have experienced déjà vu or brief precognition. Though it's still not enough for them to do anything about it?"
Déjà vu was fine. But if time rewound to the point of precognition, if they could perceive the future, that would be a problem.
Rachel had assumed no one else was aware of the regressions.
She was aware she needed to restrain herself since she didn't know how many times she could regress, but inwardly she'd thought things like, 'Just this once, it should be okay one time,' or 'If not this time, then next time.'
But if there was someone else who remembered the future besides her? They would all become variables.
If events spiraled out of control in places Rachel couldn't manage, it would be hopeless.
"That young lady over there seems to know something. Is it because she's the core?"
"The first time we met, she emphasized our deep connection. I can't know what our relationship was before the time rewind, but that's your memory—it's something that hasn't happened for me yet."
Rachel was flustered by Abyss's words.
In the 16th loop, as soon as Abyss learned of her ability, he revealed his own, suggesting they build trust in the next loop as well.
But the current Abyss was emphasizing that his past and present selves were different people.
'Why? Because Paris Emporus died? Or because the timeline is different?'
In the 18th loop after that, when she had formed a friendly relationship with Abyss, it had been within two weeks of the regression.
At that time, the two had exchanged letters through Priestess Peace, revealed Paris Emporus as a common enemy, and built trust through their interactions.
Now, several months had passed since the regression, and above all, there was no common enemy.
'My mistake! He has no reason to join hands with me now that he's lost his target.'
"Is that true? That you rewind time?"
While Rachel reflected, Henri asked Harpy and Abyss if their words were true.
But they were wrong.
"No!"
Abyss, pinned under Evelyn, let out a groan.
"I'm not the one rewinding time."
This was the truth. She and her family died and regressed, but that didn't mean she was the one initiating the regression.
"I do know of the ominous future because of that, though."
Harpy called out to Abyss, who was grimacing.
"Boss?"
"Her words are true."
"Then she's not the core?"
"I'm not the one rewinding time, but I do know the conditions. So, still no interest in teaming up with me?"
Rachel answered in Abyss's place at Harpy's question. She looked down at him and asked, and he closed his eyes for a moment.
He soon opened his purple eyes.
"Just one question. I'll decide after hearing the answer."
"I'll answer if I can."
"Are you a black sorcerer?"
"You call that a question? Absolutely not! If I were a black sorcerer, Mother would beat me to death!"
Rachel snapped back. Even Evelyn, who loved her family dearly, was a different story when it came to black magic.
Rachel shuddered at the sight of Evelyn nodding at her words.
At Rachel's reaction, Abyss smirked and gave his answer.
"I'll help."
"You said it yourself. Back out, and it won't end well for you."
"Is that a threat?"
"Yes!"
With that, Abyss and Rachel joined hands. For a moment, she worried things might go awry, but fortunately, the outcome was good.
"Well, since it worked out nicely, I'll let you go now. Rachel, I'll hear the details later."
Evelyn released Abyss. He stood up and rubbed his wrists where he'd been grabbed.
"I thought it was serious since you even drew your knife, but it was nothing."
Harpy said as she stepped down from the counter.
'This is all because you guys showed up out of nowhere!'
"If a presence suddenly appears out of nowhere, anyone would get suspicious."
Rachel nodded vigorously behind Evelyn, who spoke as if reading her mind.
"Hehe, I see. Good thing it resolved without a fight! Star, the usual for me, please."
Harpy inserted herself at their table as if the tense atmosphere had never existed.
Henri and Chris exchanged glances and returned to their seats, and Evelyn plopped down in her chair.
Abyss dusted off his clothes and sat down as well.
"Now that we're in the same boat, I'd like to hear the rest of the story."
"This part isn't something I can just casually reveal..."
Rachel glanced at Evelyn and sipped her cold milk. There were too many hang-ups about explaining it with everyone there.
She had explained to her family that she foresaw an ominous future, but she'd never breathed a word about regressions.
Above all, she was reluctant to explain it in front of Chris.
"Then when we're alone later?"
Rachel silently showed the hand signal that Abyss had taught her via letter in the 18th loop, meaning it was possible.
"Did I even tell you that?"
He looked surprised at Rachel's hand signal and asked, and Rachel nodded.
"But that's not the important thing right now. As I said earlier, I need information to protect Chris and defeat Uncle Sari."
Even as she spoke, Rachel couldn't tear her eyes away from Harpy standing behind Abyss.
Harpy's hands trembled as she staunched Abyss's wound and carefully applied drops of healing potion with a dropper atop it. Her regret was plain on her face.
"By any chance, is your organization short on funds? Can you really help me? I welcome talent anytime, so if you're low on money, come to my merchant group..."
Chris, oblivious to the situation, made a recruitment offer to Harpy, who was lamenting the healing potion.
No matter how much he coveted talent, Rachel clicked her tongue at his attempt to poach the subordinate of someone who could help him.
'Like father, like son, they say.'
Paris Emporus was an enemy, but his skills were undeniable. Yet his son Chris was hopelessly sloppy.
"I'll pass, young master. It's not that we're short on money—it's just a waste to spend it on our boss!"
Harpy didn't mince words even in front of Abyss. He ignored her as if accustomed to it and looked at Chris.
"And I'll charge a hefty fee for helping you, so no need to worry about our organization's finances."
Chris looked at Rachel at Abyss's words.
"It's cheap compared to losing everything and dying. Did you think they'd work for free?"
Only after hearing Rachel did Chris recall his plight and look dejected.
Rachel shook her head at his thoughtless demeanor, which made his desperate pleas at the mansion feel like a lie, then looked at Abyss.
"First, let me state the specifics. I want to reclaim Harpa Castle from Uncle Sari and clear Chris of the charges of human trafficking and illegal gambling den operation."
These two were the most urgent matters now. Abyss's eyes gleamed at Rachel's pinpoint accuracy.
He leaned in close to her face.
"Why not run the intelligence yourself? You seem like you'd be great at it."
He wasn't oblivious, whispering so Chris couldn't hear.
"I haven't learned that stuff."
"But I bet you'd be amazing at it."
"Thanks for the compliment. So, can you do it?"
"Of course. The relevant info is on our side. We can't deny the previous Baron Emporus's involvement, but we can prove the current baron has nothing to do with it."
Chris's face lit up at those words.
"And that Sari Emporus is involved as well. It'll cost a lot—okay with that, Baron?"
Abyss looked at Chris and asked. Chris nodded eagerly at the hope.
"I'll pay any amount. So please, save me."
"Alright! We'll treat you as our top-priority client! Let's draw up the contract first!"
Harpy jumped in, holding out a contract. She linked arms with Chris and led him to another table.
Henri, satisfied that his nephew's issue had resolved well, leaned back comfortably.
"Impressive! You saved your cousin brother."
"I have a lot of questions, but I'll wait until you're ready to talk. Though I can't wait forever."
Rachel nodded at the relieved Henri and Evelyn, who decided to wait.
Just as she was about to make a personal request to Abyss, Harpy's voice rang out loudly.
"Speaking of which, customer. There's something you need to know right away!"
Rachel involuntarily turned toward Harpy.
"An assassin sent by your uncle is approaching. How shall we handle it?"
Chris's face drained of color at Harpy's words.
He quickly scanned the tavern interior, spotted several burly men, and looked relieved.
"Handle it."
"Yes, yes. This'll be added to the bill."
"Don't worry about money—I have plenty!"
Most of that money was in Harpa Castle, but Chris seemed to think he'd reclaim the castle from Uncle Sari soon, his expression triumphant.
Rachel inwardly thought Harpy would fleece Chris to his limits.
'His head's full of flowers. Well, it's not my money.'
"Then we should talk as well. Seems like something hard to discuss in front of family, so I'll provide a special service."
Abyss pressed something, and a thin, opaque barrier formed around the two of them.
Her family jumped up in surprise or opened their mouths, but nothing could be heard.
Rachel felt her stomach churn again but patted her chest and asked without showing it much.
"What is it?"
"Soundproof barrier. Didn't think you'd like moving to a private room alone. This way, we can see each other, so no need to worry."
Harpy stood from the other table and moved her lips, and then her family sat back down.
"Looks like Harpy explained well. Now, let's talk."
Abyss pulled his chair closer and leaned his upper body right up to the table.
"I still think you're the core. Just that you're not intentionally causing the phenomenon."
Rachel smiled, thinking it was convenient talking to someone sharp.
"Right. I'm regressing to the past."
"The condition?"
"When I die."
His purple eyes shook at that short phrase.
"How many times have you died?"
"Several."
"Harpy said the previous Baron Emporus wasn't supposed to die then—did you intervene?"
"Yes. In the last loop, we teamed up to take down Paris Emporus."
"Related to him joining hands with the black sorcerer?"
Rachel's lips parted in a grin at the info he hadn't grasped.
"Correction. It wasn't just related—he was a pseudo-contractor himself. He tried to sacrifice me, which is why I've regressed so many times."
"So time won't rewind anymore?"
"If I don't die for three years."
"You're leaving something out."
Abyss immediately pinpointed the missing info.
Testing how far Abyss's abilities went, Rachel gave an innocent smile as if she knew nothing.
"Actually, not just my death—family deaths trigger it too."
"You're really not the one rewinding time?"
"Nope, even if you say so."
"God has bestowed a one-sided blessing on your family."
Abyss muttered at Rachel's words, and she shook her head.
"It's hardcore difficulty for a blessing."
"Hardcore? What's that?"
Rachel flinched at his question. She had to watch her mouth, but used another term only she knew.
Pretending he didn't even know that, she explained briefly.
"Means extremely difficult. Anyway, it's not that great."
Fortunately, Abyss didn't press further.
Instead, he asked about the rewind point, when this started, if anything special happened before regressions, and so on. Rachel selectively answered some questions.
Even so, his questions poured in, and Rachel cut them off.
"But aren't you asking too one-sidedly?"
"Ask if you're curious."
Abyss replied as if he hadn't given her a chance to ask.
Rachel immediately asked what she was curious about.
"Then, do you know about Daimon?"