Chapter 860
Chapter 860
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 860
Chapter Title: Tyrant for You
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Stepping on the moon, I gazed at the white temple before me and smirked.
"Looks like I found the right place."
I headed toward the temple.
I'd expected something to try and stop me, but there was nothing.
Just before entering the temple, I drew Arondight and gripped it in my hand. I'd figured there'd be some kind of barrier blocking me, but even that was absent.
Thud. Thud.
I walked through the vast temple. The only sound echoing was my footsteps.
And at last, I reached the Heavenly God.
The Heavenly God was seated.
He was a handsome man with golden hair and red eyes, draped in a single white cloth.
"You've finally come, my child."
He looked down at me with languid eyes. His voice was serene as well.
"Not pleased. I came here to kill you."
"I figured as much. You can't stand anyone above you. Just the fact that I'm higher up must irk you."
I furrowed my brow. The Heavenly God's demeanor didn't match someone on the verge of battle.
"Stand up. I like your throne, so I'll kill you and take it. But I won't forgive you staining it with your blood."
"I can give you my seat anytime."
The Heavenly God said. I couldn't make sense of his words. So I just hurled my sword at him in irritation. Arondight flew straight and embedded in the Heavenly God's shoulder.
"That hurts."
The Heavenly God grimaced.
"...What are you playing at?"
I demanded.
The Heavenly God is an extraordinary being. He's the one who regressed the original story's male protagonist. He did it because he favors humans. I'd assumed he hadn't intervened yet because of that favoritism toward humanity.
So I'd thought he wanted me to unify the human empire on the continent.
'...If he knew everything I've done, he should've stepped in ages ago.'
There were far more humans killed by my direct orders than those who died in wars with other nations.
After a long silence, the Heavenly God finally spoke.
"I'm different from the Earth Mother God. She has almost no ego—she's as plant-like as her form suggests. But I'm different. I think like a human and feel emotions. I have a heart. Though it's worn down now, barely holding its shape... I wish for oblivion."
"If you want to vanish, why not just kill yourself?"
"If I did, the world would suffer the consequences, whether it likes it or not. Just as the land withered when the Earth Mother God died."
"...So you're saying you'll die, and I have to clean up the mess?"
"Exactly. I was planning to wait until after you'd lived out your human life. But you came to me anyway. The seat of a god and a god's power—I'll give them to you. You can handle it. You're qualified."
I eyed the Heavenly God with suspicion.
"Spit out whatever scheme you're hiding."
"But on one condition."
"Knew it."
Of course he had an agenda. I nodded curtly, signaling him to continue.
"Protect this world. With the power I've accumulated, even without the Earth Mother God, it won't perish."
"Oh? Really? If you're handing it over so nicely... Not bad. Give me the god's power."
If I gained a god's power, I'd use it however I pleased. If the world ended, so be it. This wasn't my real world anyway. It was just a quest realm.
"Swear it on everything you have."
"Swearing's easy enough."
I could always swear falsely. No one was watching anyway.
But the Heavenly God wasn't so naive.
Dazzling light poured from his hand, binding me.
"...What is this?"
"As the arbiter of the oath, I'll stake this world on it. If you break it, the world perishes. You'll lose the chance to wield a god's power."
My face twisted in rage.
"Now, swear."
"I refuse. Thought you'd make it easy... Fine. I'll kill you and take the power."
I shattered the binding light and closed in on the Heavenly God.
"As expected."
I swung my sword high. It sliced into the Heavenly God's body. Crimson blood sprayed, soaking me. But his wound healed instantly.
"I can't give you a god's power without conditions. You'd surely use it to destroy the world."
"Damn you. I said I'd kill you and take it."
I severed the Heavenly God's head. It tumbled toward the floor, only for time to rewind, snapping it back into place.
"I've thought of another way. Why not give everyone else a chance?"
"What nonsense is this?"
"I know you. You didn't move to destroy the world—you sought to rule it. Even if you did some incomprehensible things, in the end, you were the emperor."
Stab.
I plunged my sword into the Heavenly God's chest. Blood trickled from his mouth, yet he remained calm.
'How do I kill this bastard? Aurablade works... but his power is so vast he recovers instantly.'
I realized the way to kill him quickly: exhaust all his power.
"I don't hate you."
The Heavenly God said. His voice grew warmer. At the same time, immense power emanated from him. Instinct told me this was dangerous.
Something wrapped around my very existence.
'Heavenly Heart!'
Activating Heavenly Heart dispelled the bindings. The Heavenly God looked surprised for a moment before resuming his composure.
"Watching you was entertaining. You were more thrilling than any human I've seen. But sometimes I regretted it. If I'd acted sooner, the world might not have suffered so much."
"Fuck. What the hell are you planning?!"
"......"
The Heavenly God didn't answer. Instead, he looked up. Through the gaping hole in the temple ceiling, a beautiful blue star shone.
"Farewell, world. Letting it all go feels refreshing. Even without me, the Earth Mother God remains—no big issue."
Dangerous.
The Heavenly God's power filled the surroundings. No, not just here—it stretched into the cosmos.
I gritted my teeth and slashed at him with full force. He didn't dodge.
"Emperor, you are the world's true master."
Light flashed.
I instinctively raised my arm to shield my face. Something shackled my body, trying to steal my power. But as I resisted fiercely, it failed. Probably thanks to Heavenly Heart.
Swirl, swirl.
I felt the world spinning.
Am I dying?
No—if I were dead, the death resistance message would appear. I wasn't dead.
'...Heavenly Heart again?'
But I couldn't be optimistic. Heavenly Heart's effect was ending soon. I needed a way out.
'...Damn it. No way out.'
The moment Heavenly Heart wore off, I lost consciousness amid the world's vortex.
???
Flash!
My mind snapped awake. I bolted upright. I was lying on a cheap bed.
"Eek!"
A brown-haired maid with twin braids. Protruding buck teeth and a freckled, ugly face. I remembered her from my memories.
The first maid I'd encountered upon arriving in this world. Miranda.
Seeing her, I roughly grasped the situation.
'Heavenly God, you bastard. You rewound time. Just like with the original protagonist, you regressed me. Crazy fuck... Did you think regressing me would make me repent?'
Irritation surged, and I ground my teeth. I wanted to hunt down and kill the Heavenly God right now. But first, I checked the most important thing.
[Current Tyrant Score: 129,127,495]
Fortunately, my Tyrant Score hadn't reset. I could end the game and claim my rewards anytime.
'Annoying. I'll kill that Heavenly God bastard.'
Next, I checked my power. It was still there, though only about half of what it had been.
'...I'll reclaim the Holy Grail's power. Then I can grow even stronger. This regression might actually help—I can get everything again.'
I rose from the bed.
It felt like today was the 13th Prince's coming-of-age ceremony. If not, no big deal. Nothing would change.
Thud!
As I stood, Miranda collapsed to the floor.
"P-Please spare me, Your Imperial Majesty! Have mercy..."
I flicked my finger. A blue aurablade shot from the tip, severing Miranda's neck. I opened the wardrobe and donned a black uniform. In my hand, I summoned Stormbreaker in its greatsword form. No need for armor this time—unlike before. No one in the empire could stop me.
Heading out, I paused.
'...Did that wench just call me Your Imperial Majesty?'
The title was so familiar now that I almost overlooked it.
'...Whatever.'
I walked the corridor. I remembered running into a few people at first—I'd killed them without a word back then. But now, no one was in sight. My senses picked up a few hiding. I didn't bother hunting them down.
I headed to the Great Hall. More Royal Guard knights than usual confirmed it was the 13th Prince's ceremony.
"Make way."
I said ritually, knowing they wouldn't. But what happened next defied my expectations.
The Royal Guards cleared a path to the Great Hall and knelt on one knee respectfully.
"We pay respects to the great Imperial Majesty!"
They shouted in unison.
I walked the path they'd made.
"...Indeed."
Miranda had called me Your Imperial Majesty before I killed her, and now these knights bowed, calling me the same. It was impossible not to realize by now.
The Heavenly God had regressed the world, giving everyone memories from before the regression.
And they knew I retained my pre-regression memories and power. Otherwise, they wouldn't be so subservient—they'd have attacked immediately.
I approached the Great Hall entrance. Two Royal Guards bowed deeply and opened the doors.
"His Imperial Majesty enters!!"
The doors swung open, revealing the interior. Every noble knelt, heads bowed toward me. Even royalty was no exception. All those I'd killed before trembled, not daring to meet my eyes.
I scanned the room once, then walked the red carpet to the throne.
The court orchestra played a lively tune I favored—without my prompting. They too had regressed.
On the throne, two were struggling. The former emperor and the Royal Guard Captain.
"I-Insolent! Let go! That bastard! The Holy Grail! I need the Holy Grail! If I gain its power...! That damned traitorous son won't ascend the throne!"
"Former Majesty! The Holy Grail belongs to His Imperial Majesty! He's approaching! Kneel and beg for mercy!"
"D-Don't make me laugh, Guard Captain! I'm not like you! He'll kill me! Even if I submit, he won't spare me!!"
The Guard Captain desperately blocked the former emperor from the throne's hidden Holy Grail. Too weak to break through, the former emperor got no help—not even from his wife or children.
And so, I arrived at the throne.
"Eeeeek! M-My son! I-I'll yield the throne. Please... just spare me...!"
"There's only one emperor in this land. Let the succession begin, Father."
He'd dared to covet my Holy Grail.
And even if he hadn't, I never intended to let him live.
I grabbed the former emperor's shoulder and thrust my sword into his chest.
"Gahk!"
The dead former emperor's body rolled from the throne to the floor.
I retrieved the hidden Holy Grail. It brimmed with holy liquid.
Gulp, gulp.
I consumed the Holy Grail's power.
The second Holy Grail.
I could sense it instinctively: I was stronger now than before the regression.
I sat on the throne. Familiar comfort enveloped me.
"Morgana. Show yourself."
"Hehehe."
Morgana appeared beside the throne. I wasn't surprised—I'd sensed her since entering the Great Hall. In her black dress, she placed a hand on my shoulder with a seductive smile.
"Nice to see you again?"
"Cut the crap and explain."
"As you see. The world regressed. As you guessed, I retained my pre-regression memories. And this time, new ones flooded in."
"New ones?"
"The Heavenly God's memories. Of your exploits as he saw them. Everyone in this world knows what you did, what you conquered. Unified the continent, slew the Dragon Lord, ravaged the World Tree, earned the Heavenly God's approval. Who would dare rebel after that? They all chose submission."
Morgana whispered in my ear.
After all, you're human. You'll die someday.
True.
I was still human. Even with the Holy Grail's power, I'd live maybe 200 years.
Someday, I'd die. So they chose submission. Bowing their heads only while I lived. Their sole hope was my natural death.
"......"
I sank into thought amid the music. All the prostrated figures watched my mood.
Then commotion stirred outside the Great Hall.
A massive presence approached.
"...Come to kill me?"
I gripped Stormbreaker and stepped out.
There stood the Grand General, Prime Minister, High Priest, knights, and soldiers. They dropped to their knees upon seeing me.
"We pay respects to the great Imperial Majesty!"
Not just them.
The Dwarf King, Twin-Winged King, Giant King, Sultan, Grand King, Elf Queen. Leaders from every nation knelt before me.
"We pay respects to the great Imperial Majesty!!!"
"......"
I looked to the sky. Dragons were there. They'd surely brought the leaders.
Thud.
The dragons landed before the palace. Transforming to human form, they knelt and bowed. Then the Dragon Lord spoke for them.
"We pay respects to the true master of this world, His Imperial Majesty."
I slowly surveyed my surroundings. Even Morgana knelt with bowed head. I was the only one standing on two feet.
"...Ha."
I curled my lips into a smirk.