Chapter 205
Chapter 205
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 205
>Chapter Title: One Word, Then Another
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It felt like someone had smashed the back of my head hard.
‘Okay, let’s think this through calmly.’
What Shain was saying boiled down to this.
Decullan had brought down Blandoga and killed Parun. And now, I was bowing my head to that very Decullan...
‘...Bowing my head?’
Was this a joke?
The thought crossed my mind for a moment, but Shain’s eyes glaring down at me were far too vicious for a joke.
Which meant it was true.
But why? What possible reason could there be?
I tried to grasp the situation calmly, as rationally as possible, but I couldn’t regain my composure.
My thoughts were blocked, but I forced them to flow somehow—right then, my mouth opened.
“You heard everything, so why ask?”
“Is it... really true?”
“Of course it is.”
My voice was flat. Like we were discussing something trivial.
To me, it was unbelievable.
Me, actually bowing to Decullan? And still breathing so calmly, living my life?
But then.
“Bullshit.”
Shain twisted one eye and spat out the curse.
“Don’t spew that crap. Others might buy it, but not me. What’s your real scheme this time?”
“Scheme? That’s quite the entertaining story...”
I slipped my hand into my pocket. My fingertips touched something cold and hard. Metal, probably. I tossed it right in front of Shain.
Clang! Clang, clang.
It bounced on the ground a couple times before settling quietly, a metal token.
“This is...”
“A Vassal Token. Believe me now?”
Yes. That was... something I’d received from Pahren in my past life, only to shatter it later.
The mark given to vassal families under the Decullan Family.
Shain silently took in the token at his feet.
If I’d truly accepted even this, it clearly proved I’d bowed to Decullan in the future. But his mouth opened soon after.
“Didn’t I just tell you? No bullshit. What does a scrap of metal prove? That you took it and meekly bowed? Even a dog wouldn’t buy that!”
Shain growled the words, but he dropped to one knee and stared into my eyes. His gaze still burned with anger, but it no longer held pure hatred like before.
His eyes boiling, Shain spoke again.
“Fine. After losing Damian and Chenbi, you got scared? Worried more blood would spill in your feud with Decullan?”
“...”
“Riley’s death was his choice. Schwertz the headmaster? He gladly chose death for you too. You think it’s all your fault?”
What was this about?
I’d anticipated Damian’s death when Blandoga fell. But Chenbi too?
And Riley and the headmaster senior chose death for my sake.
I wanted to know the circumstances of their deaths. And why Parun had died, as mentioned earlier. Questions piled up.
But I pushed my doubts aside and listened to Shain’s continuing voice.
“Tell me. You think bowing to Decullan will stop the blood from flowing? Is that why you’re doing it?”
“Quite the amusing bullshit—”
“Bullshit!”
Shain’s shout cut me off. His fist slammed the ground—boom!—the space reverberating.
Before the echo faded, Shain steadied his breath and spoke.
“Bullshit... that’s what you’re spewing, you sly bastard. What’s your plan?”
“...”
“There’s no way you’d bow meekly like a defeated dog. You plan to grovel under them until you spot an opening? ...Oh, I see. So that’s it.”
Shain nodded as if he’d finally figured it out.
At this point, even I could guess my ‘future’ self’s scheme.
No, I had to.
So...
“You planned to burn your whole life on revenge.”
“What are you—”
“You know? When you’re flustered, you curl your left lip up. Like you’re sneering.”
“...”
Was I really flustered? My future self stayed silent.
Shain smirked with satisfaction, letting out a ‘ha!’ before plopping down on the spot.
A shadow of sorrow soon darkened his eyes.
“Was it... that regrettable? Your choice?”
“...”
“Blandoga yielding the tower’s spot on their land was their decision. And they stood against Decullan to protect their own territory.”
Unlike the sharp tone moments ago, now it was soft.
Maybe because of that tone—my chest tightened. This was... the emotion my future self felt. No, the physical reaction it triggered.
It felt just like... that day long ago, longing for the wyvern. A heart-wrenching sensation.
“Parun choosing to enter the tower... that was his greed. Chenbi wasn’t killed by Decullan. He chose to fight of his own will and fell in battle.”
“...”
“Riley not selling your info even in death—didn’t you promise each other that? The day you left the Great Forest, he swore to follow you. He just kept that promise. And Schwertz the headmaster... didn’t he say it himself? He didn’t have long left anyway.”
I couldn’t know the exact details of how they died.
But Shain’s emotions as he said this hit me vividly.
Shain... pitied me. He empathized with the pain my future self felt.
“So, don’t worry about it.”
One word.
“It’s not your fault.”
Another word.
“You don’t need to carry their deaths on your shoulders.”
...With that final phrase.
Flash!
My vision blacked out again.
* * *
Back in reality, I narrowed my eyes and stared at my hand.
Fsssh—
Had it served its purpose?
The Reverse Heaven Fragment, stiff just moments ago, crumbled to ash and seeped into my palm.
The absorbed character settled in my left chest, forming the third Fire Mark.
Amid that, I calmly reviewed the memories.
‘So...’
In the future the Reverse Heaven Fragment showed, here’s what I learned.
Blandoga’s downfall, Damian and Chenbi, Parun, Riley, even the headmaster senior.
Decullan was involved in all those deaths.
And from the circumstances, the root cause was...
‘...The tower.’
Yes, the tower I built.
More precisely, the fundamental reason for Blandoga’s fall was me building the tower on their land.
But.
One unresolved question lingered.
‘Why the hell did Decullan attack the tower?’
That was it.
The tower? Sure, it was an eyesore.
In my plan, it would overflow with the secret arts of every noble house—and Decullan’s couldn’t be omitted.
But think about it.
‘...Would I be crazy enough to put it out there unprepared?’
No way.
Revealing all noble houses’ secrets was only for the tower’s final form, perfected to the utmost.
I didn’t know if the future was years away or how strong my position was then, but I wouldn’t make that mistake regardless.
‘So Decullan must have had a reason to target the tower...’
That’s when I thought that far.
[...Savior?]
I snapped out of my thoughts at Gaias’s voice.
“Yeah, speak.”
[Did you see it? The future?]
I nodded faintly at the question.
Right after, the space grew rowdy.
[It’s over!]
[We’re free!]
[That was scary!]
[We can leave now!]
Sensing their bonds broken, the spirits burst out of the crystal orb one after another. As their lights filled the chamber, the wyvern emerged late from the orb and hurried to my side.
[That was so scary.]
Shivering—perhaps recalling years of suppressed freedom—it climbed onto my head.
I debated shaking it off, then asked.
“Did you see the future?”
[No. It was pitch black.]
Seems like only I saw it. Not bad.
Even spirits watching my future together would’ve felt uncomfortably intimate.
[But friend. Your face... bad.]
“Maybe your face is the bad one?”
[...? Is my expression bad?]
Oh, it was about expression?
I gave an awkward smile at the misunderstanding when the wyvern’s worried voice came.
[Don’t stress too much about the future.]
“...?”
[Futures can change. Don’t get trapped. Obsession is forbidden.]
Guess my face really looked bad.
Fair enough—the future was too unsettling to shrug off.
Blandoga falls, Damian, Chenbi, Riley, headmaster senior, and even Parun die.
And it’s my fault.
But.
“Fine, I won’t stress.”
[Really?]
I readily answered the wyvern’s cautious question.
“Of course. It’s a future we can change.”
[Then... great!]
The wyvern perked up instantly, as if its slump never happened. Amid chuckles at its wing-flaps, I turned to Gaias.
“Anyway, got what we came for. Ready to go?”
[Yeah, let’s.]
Unlike the simple wyvern, Gaias still eyed me worriedly but turned without protest.
The spirits followed.
[We’re going too!]
[Time for goodbyes!]
As we walked.
Gaias, unable to shake his worry, finally asked.
[You sure you’re okay?]
I replied.
“What’s not to be okay about?”
The future’s a mess, but it hasn’t arrived.
And as the wyvern said, one we can change.
The shock lingered, but... now wasn’t the time to obsess over an unwritten future. Focus on the present.
One thing I etched in my mind, though.
‘...Things can’t go on like this, huh?’
I thought I’d minimized risks and grown fast enough, but the future said otherwise.
So, what to do.
‘I’ll need to think on this.’
But the direction was vaguely set.
No matter how the future unfolds, an impregnable fortress Decullan couldn’t touch. That’s the tower I must aim for.
Only then...
“Friend! You’re back! Look, Bish can do tricks too...”
“Hmm, Damian. I taught you to treat spirits as friends.”
“Sir Mysern, do you think Damian acts differently with friends? Isn’t that too optimistic?”
I quietly took in Damian and Chenbi welcoming me.
Damian was flipping Bish around, making it do something, while Mysern senior and Chenbi watched the scene.
Absorbing that peaceful, everyday sight, I thought.
‘Only then... no regrets.’
Yes, that was it.