Access

Throughout all the previous regressions, the Control Tower had always displayed the message [Access to this location is restricted.]

It was a storage facility for dark energy, but I couldn't fathom why it needed a separate Control Tower—or what could possibly block entry to a place like that.

In truth, the fact that there was a Control Tower in the dark energy ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠storage or that it contained an area I couldn't access wasn't even the real issue.

What truly bothered me was...

'When... did I first learn about this place?'

My first awakening, ascension as the Demon King, the world's destruction, and the start of regressions.

And the 998 regressions that followed.

In none of those memories did I have any recollection of how or when I'd first discovered this place.

Given how much of my time was spent out of my mind, it wasn't all that surprising to have no memory of it.

I'd always assumed that at some unknown point in time I didn't remember, I'd learned about it, and it had just become natural knowledge afterward.

After all, that unchanging message [Access to this location is restricted.] had always blocked my path.

But...

I was already registered?

How was that even possible? I couldn't wrap my head around it.

Being unable to enter during 998 regressions, but gaining access now that I'd arrived in the demon world with a sound mind, suggested that mental corruption was part of the entry restriction.

However, since this 999th regression was the first time I'd escaped mental corruption, entry might be allowed, but registration shouldn't have happened.

Yet here it was: 50 million demon stones' worth of entry fee already paid, membership registered. I was utterly baffled.

'Anyway, maybe going inside will reveal what's going on.'

I'd registered before, and a password existed.

And I knew that password.

For some inexplicable reason, it was etched in my memory.

If I'd come here during some unconscious episode I couldn't recall or think about, then instead of fretting in confusion and anxiety, I just needed to open this door and step inside.

'That's the only way to know exactly what happened to me.'

Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep... Ring-a-ding-ding.

A cheerful input tone, utterly out of place in the eerie underground Control Tower of the demon world, echoed through the air.

As soon as I stepped inside the tower, a landscape utterly unlike the demon world's underground unfolded before me.

A dazzlingly bright sky with occasional clouds drifting by, and an endless abyss below—like standing on a hologram suspended in midair.

It felt just like gazing down at Earth from the upper atmosphere.

In this vast space stretching like the infinite cosmos, the only things visible were the crisp messages floating before my eyes.

And the more I read, the more confused I became.

I remembered the underground storage and even the password to access it, yet this scenery inside the Control Tower felt utterly alien to me. That discrepancy only deepened my bewilderment.

'Why are there three managed planets?'

Demon world and Earth. There couldn't possibly be a third planet under my management.

I clicked on the message.

Excluding Earth, the other two were Beltatron and some unnamed planet.

'So the demon world has a proper name... Beltatron.'

Despite having this legitimate name, no one in the current demon world knew it.

'The previous Demon King must have known.'

He'd existed longer than anyone in the demon world, secretly built this dark energy storage to sustain it, and was the only one likely managing this Control Tower.

I'd inherited his demonic power through 999 regressions up to this loop...

Maybe knowing this place existed, or remembering a password I shouldn't, was because of that inherited power?

Like how Barbatoss, that 'aghulma,' learned about the dark energy storage by devouring the Demon King's body.

That thought settled my confusion somewhat.

I tapped on [????].

If I could learn even a little about this third planet beyond Earth and the demon world, my unease would ease further.

The message said I still couldn't access info on the ???? planet.

'Terraforming Gauge... How do I even get that?'

The term 'Terraforming Gauge' shimmered.

Naturally, I clicked it, and details appeared.

Earth's gauge was lower than the demon world's, which was somewhat reassuring, but 68% was hardly low.

Plus, since World Trees affected the gauge, in past loops with the Corrupted Demonic World Tree planted on Earth, the number must have been even higher.

'At least this loop, I uprooted them all, so it's at this level.'

What did this mean?

Akashic Records—I knew they were a super-dimensional repository of all cosmic and human history.

Intervening in them—what did that entail?

"!!"

It was shocking.

If I interpreted this correctly, I could create, change, or erase parts of Earth's history.

'Then...! I could go back to before gates and monsters appeared on Earth and reset everything, right?!'

If so, Earth's civilization wouldn't be destroyed like this, and I could prevent my parents' deaths.

My heart pounded so hard I could barely breathe—but this time, from hope, not rage. A bright smile spread across my face.

With trembling hands, I tapped 'Intervener-Accessible Planets.'

Damn... Come to think of it, I'd uprooted every last World Tree on Earth.

'Screwed.'

Hope turns to despair in an instant.

In the demon world's high castle, where crimson flames roared eternally, incubi with severed limbs and wings groaned in agony, dripping red blood.

"Ughhh."

"Aaaah... P-please."

"K-Kill... me..."

Beside them, the cyclops Yamadan trembled pitifully, his massive frame shrunk in fear, stealing glances at the figure on the distant dais.

The master of the elevated platform on the red carpet: Balpador, lounging sideways in a black chair, glaring at them all.

"Say that again. What did that red devil Baldr send me?"

The cyclops's single eye flicked toward Balpador before flinching back.

"Th-That... Elevating the 1st Legion Commander to Demon King's guard..."

"RAAAAAAGH!"

"GRRRRRR!"

"KAAAAAH!"

Before Yamadan could finish, the three lion heads adorning Balpador's back roared in fury.

"H-Hiiiik...!"

The startled cyclops clutched his crotch tightly, hunching even smaller to avoid any mistake.

"After that dog sent his insolent letter last time and insulted me when I went there, now this?! Trying to mock me with another scrap of paper?!"

"Th-This time it's real! We've nearly finished preparations to elevate Legion Commander Balpador to the Demon King's throne...!"

"Hmph!"

Balpador and his three lion heads snorted in unison.

"Fine, let's hear what scheme he's calling me for this time. Recite it, Yamadan."

"Y-Yes! Yes!"

Relieved by Balpador's slightly softened tone, the cyclops pulled a letter from his ornate pouch and read it aloud.

Balpador's eyes narrowed at the letter's markedly more respectful tone compared to last time.

"Hoh. Quite the formal appointment letter. Indeed..."

"But this letter could be a trap too!"

"Baldr would never betray the previous Demon King. You mustn't trust it!"

Balpador's aides, standing at his sides, shouted their opposition in unison.

"It could be, but Yamadan's been Baldr's long-time aide. Sending him here, to certain death, suggests the letter might be genuine."

"To us, Lord ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Balpador is already the Demon King. Is there any need to go to Baldr?"

"It's not about going to Baldr. A Demon King belongs in the Demon King Castle. I'm just claiming my rightful place."

"But..."

"Silence!"

Irritated, Balpador swung his arm, sending the dissenting aide flying amid rippling flames of mana.

"Kuh!"

Crash! Thud! Boom!

The aide tumbled to the wall, blood trickling from his mouth.

"No more arguing. Whatever Baldr's true intent, I'll march on the Demon King Castle as always! Understood?!"

"Yes! New Demon ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠King!"

Balpador shot up from his seat and bellowed.

"I am the true Demon King now! Follow me, all of you!"

"Waaaaaaah!"

"RAAAAAAGH!"

His troops roared in response to his resounding voice echoing through the hall.

"Haha... Glad you see it..."

Boom!

Thud! Boom!

Rumble rumble rumble.

Balpador stormed out, stepping on Yamadan in the process. The castle shook as if about to collapse.

"Kweh!"

Once more, 100,000 gathered troops began their march toward the Demon King Castle.

'This time, I'll claim the Demon King's throne no matter what.'

Balpador bared his red fangs, steeling his resolve anew.

Frustrated, I'd spam-clicked the World Tree points, and it recalculated them.

Who knew those 998 hellish regressions would come in handy like this!

'Yes! Now ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I'll access Earth and bring my parents back to life!'

I hit access without hesitation.