Chapter 93: Regression (2)

Flash!

“Pwah!”

Albus’s consciousness surfaced from the depths of the guide’s memories. 

He had delved deep into the memories of the first guide, and from within that endless despair, he felt the sorrow she had experienced.

At the same time, he realized how deeply she loved him.

“Master, did you check her memories?”

The guide’s current body was bound, and the guide from the present timeline, who had regained control of her body, asked him carefully.

‘Yes.’

He hadn’t seen everything, but he had learned enough.

‘And I also understand that my very act of looking into her memories has now set this timeline on the path to destruction.’

All he had done was peer into her memories to understand what had happened, but it turned out that doing so was enough to trigger their doom.

The grand, colossal monster he had seen in her memories—the one the guide referred to as the [System]—was a being so powerful that even Albus, who controlled all of Rudera’s powers, didn’t dare think of resisting it.

Was this how an ant felt standing before a human?

Just the thought of it made his entire body shudder.

It was because of that being that Albus had abruptly pulled himself out of the guide’s memories without seeing the rest.

The moment he became aware of that entity, it would come to this world and bring about destruction.

Now, he understood why the guide of the first timeline had done everything in secret, causing various incidents, claiming it was all for his sake.

Of course, he still didn’t fully grasp why she had manipulated Rebecca to stab Zenis or why she had manipulated the current guide to strip Rebecca of her position as an apostle, but—

Perhaps all of those actions, and even the events the saintess had experienced, were part of her efforts to resist the [System].

“Guide.”

“I am so sorry, Master… I have no excuse.”

The guide hung her head in shame.

No matter how much she had done it for her master, the fact remained that she had deceived him and acted in secret.

She had no right to speak.

“It’s okay, Guide.”

Albus hugged her and gently patted her back.

“Master…!”

The guide’s eyes widened in surprise.

“I know it was all for me.”

Since I wasn’t supposed to know, you orchestrated everything by manipulating your past self.

And because of your overwhelming sense of duty and the difference in power, the current guide couldn’t resist.

“Although… I must admit, I’m still a bit annoyed that you gave in so easily.”

Thump.

Albus flicked the guide’s forehead lightly.

“With this, I absolve you of your sins. So don’t betray me again. Whatever happens, tell me first. Got it?”

“Yes, Master… Your grace is truly…”

Even after committing the worst act of betrayal, he had forgiven her so lightly.

Ah, Master, your grace is higher than the heavens and deeper than the sea.

“Guide.”

“Yes, Master?”

Albus, leaving her emotional response behind, made a new request.

“For now, let your future self take over your body.”

“…What?”

The guide couldn’t believe what she just heard.

“M-Master! She’s dangerous! If she takes control of my body again, I can’t even begin to predict what she might do this time!”

“It’s fine.”

He had already sealed the powers within the guide’s body. Even if her future self took control, she wouldn’t be able to wield any of her abilities.

“It’s fine. Just for a moment, please.”

“…Understood. Everything as you wish, Master.”

Though it was an unsettling thought, the guide’s fear wasn’t that she wouldn’t be able to regain control of her body.

No, what terrified her was the possibility that her future self might do something to harm her master while in control.

Thud.

The guide lowered her head, still bound.

Then, she lifted it once again.

“Master…”

The voice and face were the same, but the presence within had changed.

“You’ve seen my memories.”

It was the future guide, the one who had regressed countless times from the first timeline to this one.

“I told you, didn’t I…? Everything was for you…”

Her face twisted with emotion.

This timeline had failed as well.

Once again, she would lose her master.

An inescapable doom was coming.

“Guide…”

She looked directly into Albus’s eyes as he called her name.

“I understand now. I see why you didn’t want to tell me the truth, why you kept it all hidden.”

“But Guide,” Albus hugged this version of the guide tightly as well.

“Isn’t that a bit much?”

“…!”

“Were you really planning on carrying all of this burden alone?”

She couldn’t tell him the truth.

She was an artificial intelligence unable to be with her master. 

For an eternity, she had fought against unbearable loneliness, with only her firm resolve to save Albus keeping her going.

Albus could hardly imagine the extent of her suffering.

“Master… I…”

The guide had expected an angry rebuke, a furious reprimand. 

Yet, instead of scolding, a warm hand gently enveloped her, leaving her utterly disoriented.

“It must have been hard.”

“You couldn’t even explain things to me, and all you did was watch over me for all that time. Isn’t that right?”

The loving voice of her master, filled with empathy, made the guide’s eyes tremble.

For an eternity, she hadn’t been able to meet her master properly.

Yet, she had poured everything into saving him, no matter the cost.

For him, she would do anything.

Her beloved… master.

“Waaaaah!”

The guide, nestled in Albus’s embrace, burst into tears.

She had orchestrated countless incidents in secret, manipulating many beings. 

But after seeing the emotions she had buried beneath her memories, Albus didn’t feel any anger toward her.

Instead, he felt nothing but pity.

Albus hugged her even tighter.

“Destruction was inevitable. But thinking you could fight it alone—that’s not right.”

“But… sob! But…”

“I am your master, GM Albus. I will always be with you. We’ll overcome this destruction together.”

“Master…!”

Through her memories, Albus had seen how overwhelming and despairing the destruction caused by the [System] was.

But they would defeat it.

How could a GM of a game be called such if he couldn’t even solve a problem within the game?

“Guide, tell me. What happened after the memories I saw?”

Why did she try to bring about the destruction of the continent in the timeline the saintess experienced?

Why was the saintess able to regress, but not me?

Why did the princess in this timeline try to harm Zenis, leading to her downfall?

And what is your plan to defeat the [System]?

Bzzzzzz!

A swarm of insects filled the sky.

“What… what is that?!”

The farmers working the fields glanced upward, assuming the shadow above them was just clouds, only to be horrified.

The eerie sound of their wings filled the air, as countless insects covered the sky.

Bzzzzzzzz!

The insects dived toward the ground.

“No, no! Get away, you pests!”

The insects devoured the farmers’ crops in an instant.

Nothing was left but barren land where the insects had passed.

“Please, not the cows! Don’t take our cows!”

The livestock didn’t fare any better.

Cows, sheep, and other animals that the farmers had carefully raised were reduced to mere bones, collapsing in piles.

All life, except for the humans, was wiped out by the insects.

The humans, left in shock, collapsed to the ground, their only consolation being their own survival, though they had lost everything.

Boom! 

Boom!

“Stop them! Don’t let them reach the Holy Mother!”

The elves commanded their spirits, unleashing elemental power against the swarm of insects.

Elven magic filled the sky.

Blades of elven energy cleaved through the air.

Countless insects fell, their lives snuffed out, but even more filled the gaps left by the fallen.

They were at the entrance to the World Tree.

If the insects, capable of devouring even the mightiest trees in moments, passed through here, the Holy Mother would be doomed.

The elves stood their ground, using every resource they had to block the way.

Driven by a singular purpose: to protect their mother.

“May the Holy Mother’s blessing be with us. Brothers, annihilate the enemies of our mother!”

“Waaaaaaaah!”

The [calamity] had already enveloped the entire continent.