Chapter 292
Chapter 292
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 292
Chapter Title: The Regressor (8)
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[No target exists for ‘Grudge Revival’ to be applied to.]
[The skill's activation is canceled.]
The body that had been regenerating began to disappear again.
The look of victorious certainty that had been on Shuten-doji’s face just moments ago was now completely gone.
[What…?]
Shuten-doji stammered, his face drained of color.
[W-What in the world is this! Why does my revival not obey!]
It was only natural.
To be precise, Izanagi's Stratagem was a power that altered the past and twisted the threads of causality.
It might sound simple, but its effects were intricately connected.
“Grudge Revival activated the moment after your neck was severed. In other words, the skill’s target was you, ‘at risk of death from decapitation.’ Not you, who had your chest pierced *after* being decapitated.”
The moment he was attacked by Izanagi's Stratagem, the original timeline shifted to a new future.
However, the skill had already been activated before the future changed, putting it on cooldown.
With the future altered, the target for the skill no longer existed, and since it had already been activated, it couldn't be used again.
If there is nothing to be offered as a sacrifice, the summoning ritual is also nullified.
This was the power of ‘Izanagi,’ which transcended time and twisted causality.
The final trump card Shuten-doji possessed had been completely neutralized by this single move.
[Heh, heheh. I see. A sacred treasure containing the power of that god. You got me good. I never imagined you’d be hiding something like that.]
And yet Himura, the owner, lacked the power to draw out its full potential.
But if used properly, it was capable of completely nullifying an opponent's ultimate move like this.
*Clang.* The dagger fell to the floor with a metallic ring.
There was no longer anything for it to be embedded in.
[So I have been defeated by humans once more.]
Shuten-doji let out a low laugh.
[But I do not die, even in death. I have an immortal body. I will one day revive and avenge today’s humiliation.]
“...He’s right. A demon like Shuten-doji can only be sealed, not killed. Just as he lived on even after his head was cut off hundreds of years ago.”
“But we don’t have the strength left to seal him…”
Seimei’s brows furrowed in frustration.
Mayuri, looking utterly exhausted, added a word.
“Can’t we just burn him until not even a trace is left? We have not only me, the Successor of Heavenly Fire, but also Han Hyeok-jun with his Authority of Flames. The children with the blue flames. And that guy with the black flames.”
Yaogami’s gaze fell on me last.
She called Han Hyeok-jun by name, but referred to me as ‘that guy.’ Guess I’m still someone to be wary of.
“It would be difficult. Shuten-doji’s body can be recreated anytime as long as there is demonic energy… The texts say it’s impossible unless you destroy the soul itself.”
“I see.”
By now, everything but the part of Shuten-doji’s face above his nose had vanished.
According to Seimei, we had no choice but to watch him escape.
But there was nothing to be done.
You can’t make the impossible possible.
Even in EOA, the ‘Disaster of Folklore’ part ended like this, without any particular twist.
“Lasty?”
Lasty, who had been hiding quietly in my clothes until now, jumped down.
She trotted over to Shuten-doji and opened her mouth.
*Sluuurp!*
Then, in the blink of an eye, she swallowed every last bit of him.
It happened so suddenly that no one could speak, their eyes fixed on Lasty with dumbfounded expressions.
‘No way…?’
A dry laugh escaped me as I watched Lasty even let out a burp, as if she had enjoyed a delicious meal.
I had completely forgotten about the unique trait of the Dragon of the End race.
To think she would devour a disaster on the verge of dissipating.
Even for Shuten-doji, for whom true death did not exist, there would be no way to revive now.
What could he do when his entire existence had been eaten?
“Annihilated… I see.”
Seimei muttered, as if he couldn't believe it.
I scooped Lasty up before more attention was drawn to her.
Seeing no significant change in her appearance, it seemed the energy she absorbed wasn't that much.
I didn't want Lasty to grow up too quickly and regain her memories, so this could be considered a relief.
“Kibou!! Get a hold of yourself!”
Just as the tension was about to break with the disaster’s demise, Kaede's voice came from behind.
Bouichi and Kibou were lying side by side, unable to get up.
‘The curse of Dojigiri.’
Whoever uses Dojigiri to slay an oni will have their life force drained by the sword and die.
Kibou was suffering from the aftereffects of his corruption, and Bouichi from the death of his separated soul.
They had used it in bodies that were already far from normal.
It was no surprise they weren't in good shape.
[I shall take that one.]
With Tenryo’s voice, Bouichi faded away.
I had left Bouichi’s fate in Tenryo’s hands, so I could check on the situation later.
Kibou was the more pressing matter.
Kibou was pale, looking as if he could stop breathing at any moment.
“Maybe this is for the best.”
“What are you talking about!”
“Too many people died. Far too many.”
Kibou's hand, held by Kaede, trembled faintly.
For Kibou, that was the most unforgivable thing.
Especially if it was partly his own fault.
“But you’ll just regress again, won’t you?”
“It’s fine. I’m used to it. Still, I saw that this world, at least, can advance further into the future than I knew. That fact will be enough for me to endure starting over. Then… after that, I will come to find you all. I’ll find you, and this time, I’ll strive for a better outcome…”
Kibou began to recite what sounded like his last words with an incredibly peaceful expression.
But I cut him off sharply.
“Don’t be ridiculous. Drink this potion.”
“Ugh!?”
Kibou swallowed in surprise as the potion was forcibly poured into his mouth.
He hadn't borne the penalty of Dojigiri alone.
It was split fifty-fifty with Bouichi.
Even if his life force had plummeted for a moment, it shouldn't have been enough to be fatal.
“The people you attacked were healed by Hwang Yu-jin, and the ones who fell into the sinkhole Shuten-doji created were saved by Jun Bo-ra's teleportation. The damage wasn't as great as you think. So you don’t have to worry so much.”
“But.”
“No buts. A world where no one is sad, or a world where everyone can be happy. What you seek is noble in itself, but reality isn't like that. Compromising at an appropriate level is the path to happiness for the greatest number of people.”
Kibou lowered his gaze.
‘And I’m not even sure what happens when a regressor dies.’
Does only the regressor go back, or does the entire world move with them?
What happens to the world the regressor leaves behind?
As long as there was a possibility of a bad outcome, I couldn’t let a regressor decide to regress.
“But isn’t a high-grade potion an expensive item, costing several thousand gold each…?”
“It’s fine. I’m rich.”
“B-But I can’t accept this… Ugh!?”
“If someone offers you something, just say thank you and drink it. I've got more.”
After glancing at me, Kibou ultimately chose to obey.
He was a ‘Hero,’ after all.
A special trait one could only obtain by being chosen by the angels.
In other words, helping such a person without expecting anything in return was a cheat code for earning the angels' sponsorship.
[‘Wise Follower of Light’ commends your deeds, saying you are also worthy of being called a hero.]
[You have received a sponsorship of 5,000 coins.]
[‘Noble One Who Reflects the Heavens’ expresses gratitude for your actions.]
[You have received a sponsorship of 10,000 coins.]
Sure enough, the numbers on the condensed sponsorship messages scrolling by were enormous.
Far more than the cost of the potions I used.
Among them, the biggest shareholder would naturally be the Angel of Benevolence…
‘…She’s not here?’
Nowhere in the sponsorship messages was the Angel of Benevolence’s name.
Something was strange.
The Angel of Benevolence had been watching over me and showing favor since the very beginning.
She wouldn’t just abandon me so suddenly.
‘Was there anything I did that would have greatly offended the Angel of Benevolence?’
No matter how much I thought about it, there was nothing.
No, in the first place, if I had done something that would make the Angel of Benevolence leave in an instant, the other angels wouldn't have remained.
Then, why?
‘If I had to pick something, it would be the Archangel’s Prayer she used to save me back then.’
If the problem wasn't with me, then it had to be with the Angel of Benevolence herself.
And there was one possibility for that.
…No, it couldn’t be.
With all the achievements I've accumulated, how could she have failed to get a majority vote in the archangel council?
At that thought, the corner of my mouth suddenly twitched.
No. On the contrary, because it's them, it might not be the case.
The one with the most influence was none other than Gabriel.
The Archangel who fundamentally disliked humans.
That was Gabriel.
If that guy had persuaded the archangels who followed him, and as a result, more than half chose to impeach the Angel of Benevolence…
‘The status of the Angel of Benevolence, who sponsored me with so many coins, would naturally fall, which in turn would slow down my growth.’
The circumstantial evidence was sufficient.
There was just no proof.
I suppose I’ll find out what happened during ‘The Fall.’
“How are you? Feeling better now?”
“I think I’m okay, thanks to you.”
Kibou managed a faint smile and pushed himself up.
But he immediately staggered and was supported by Kaede.
He had just exhausted the very foundation of his life to its limit.
Even after drinking a high-grade potion, it was natural that he hadn't recovered completely.
He would probably need to recuperate for a while.
“Kim Se-hyeon.”
This time, it was Yaogami.
She let out a heavy sigh, looking conflicted, then bowed her head.
“I thank you. If we had left that thing unchecked, the damage would have been immense. No, it’s questionable if it could have been controlled at all. I can’t even fathom how many innocent people would have died if you hadn't arrived at the right time to stop Ibaraki-doji. The Yamato Guild as well, of course. You are a benefactor to us all.”
Following Yaogami’s lead, the players of the Yamato Guild also bowed their heads.
Even the proud Himura. And Iwato, who likely still held a grudge against me.
Even Doje, who wasn't even a member of the Yamato Guild.
For them to express their gratitude so frankly was quite surprising.
“Just with words?”
“...Wasn’t that supposed to be a heartwarming scene where we wrap things up?”
“That's that, but I need to get what I’m owed. Do you know how much time I lost getting caught up in your mess? You plan to get away with just words?”
“You don’t make it easy.”
Yaogami clicked her tongue with a ‘tsk.’
“Fine. I will reward you and your party. The minimal damage was largely thanks to them as well.”
“In that case, I’d like to receive mine right here and now.”
“Is it something you can receive on the spot?”
“What I want is an answer to the question I asked last time. There’s an artificial player right here, so you can’t deny it any longer.”
It was the moment Han Hyeok-jun stepped in front of Yaogami.
[The main quest has been cleared.]
[Proceeding to the next quest.]
“Aaaaargh!!”
Screams erupted from all around.
People collapsing, their bodies convulsing.
People foaming at the mouth, the whites of their eyes showing.
All the people having these seizures had one thing in common.
They were all flame-wielders, presumed to be artificial players.
[Illegal copy detected.]
[System access for the corresponding players will be blocked.]