Ch.7675. Omen (4)

# 75. Signs (4)

“Even those with complaints had to keep them to themselves, believing that good results would change people’s minds.”

In reality, while many people did rebel, just as many united under one banner.

“And thankfully, quite a lot of people rallied together, though perhaps it was because Lilith was the only one they could trust.”

Nevertheless, the result was a successful unification of the previously fragmented imperial factions.

“We joined forces to resist the Babylon Kingdom once again. Since Bael had already suffered significant damage in the previous battle, we barely managed to gain the upper hand, and only at the end of that long, drawn-out war were we finally able to kill Bael.”

“And then?”

“The new Demon King who appeared after Bael’s death wasn’t a madman like him, though he didn’t like humans as much as Lilith did.”

The new Demon King chose to sign a peace treaty with the Kainis Empire, and as a result…

“Finally, ‘peace’ came to us. After that, the two countries actively engaged in exchanges and got along well… That’s the predictable ending.”

“That sounds like a happy ending…?”

“Not really?”

Whatever others might think, that ending wasn’t happy for me at least.

“Actually, I was happier during those times of conflict than in that era of peace.”

“That’s…”

Looking at her expression of disbelief, I said:

“You weren’t in that ending. I couldn’t accept that fact. And at the same time, I developed a certain ‘desire.'”

“A desire…?”

Her clear eyes trembled slightly, and I gazed at them with a satisfied expression.

“Yes, a small desire to see my master again. And to fulfill that desire, I spent hundreds of years searching for a way to meet you again.”

“So that’s why you’re… here now?”

“I couldn’t find it then. Despite trying everything for hundreds of years, I ultimately failed to find a way until I was on the verge of death.”

During that time, I did everything I possibly could.

I searched for and studied books on resurrection and time travel.

And I tried everything described in those books.

But I failed nonetheless, and afterward, I conducted my own research.

However, it was simply beyond my capabilities.

A mere 400 years wasn’t enough to make me a god.

“So before I died, I had no choice but to put my faith in one skill and trait.”

“Skill? Trait?”

“I had a rare trait that no one else possessed—a trait called ‘Desperate Person’ that helps fulfill what I desire.”

That trait, which had been in my status window for as long as I could remember, had always helped me when I needed it most.

“And perhaps because of that trait, a strange skill appeared in my status window from the moment I developed that ‘desire.'”

Looking back now, that skill was both evidence of my desire and my last hope.

“From then on, an F-rank skill called [???] appeared in my status window, though I didn’t pay much attention to it at the time.”

But at some point, I couldn’t ignore that skill anymore.

“As the skill’s rank gradually increased and my death drew nearer, I became more aware of it and started to hope a little—’Could this skill fulfill my desire?'”

It was certainly a foolish and vain hope.

I’m sure I knew that even back then.

But I had no choice—all other methods had long since been exhausted.

“And when I stood at death’s door, that hope reached its peak. By then, the skill had surpassed even the highest SSS+ rank and reached EX rank.”

“EX rank?”

“Yes, even I had never seen such a rank in my long life.”

Usually, when a skill reaches SSS+ rank, it almost always evolves, and since no one had ever reached SSS+ with a unique skill, the nature of this EX rank was even more mysterious.

“And then, just before I died, that EX-rank [???] skill activated, dropping me into this timeline.”

Despite what I said earlier, Riel, who was listening to my story with the most interest, asked me:

“So when exactly did you return to?”

“Last year, July.”

“Wait a minute! Didn’t you say you couldn’t even properly kill a single monster until you met the Princess?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Riel gave me a look of disbelief and questioned me again.

“So you grew from that state to your current level? In less than a year?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“That’s… impossible.”

And then, she who had been listening attentively to my story finally spoke.

“So that’s why you cried back then…”

“Seeing you after so long… the tears just came naturally.”

“Then you protected Mother knowing in advance?”

“Yes, I thought the Emperor’s suicide was caused by the Empress’s death, so I tried to prevent it however I could.”

“I see… That’s quite surprising….”

It must have been bewildering for her.

Even I, who had experienced these events firsthand, found it hard to believe, so how much more confusing must it be for her who knew nothing about it?

It would surely take her a long time to understand and accept these things.

That’s what I firmly believed.

But then, with an expression that made it impossible to guess what she was thinking, she smiled brightly and said to me:

“And… thank you.”

“What? Thank me?”

“Yes, after hearing your story… you went through all that hardship because of me, and yet you still came looking for me.”

The hardships I endured weren’t her fault.

They were choices I made and things I wanted to do, and I was happy doing them.

But because it was her, of all people, who said those words, I couldn’t refute them.

“So has Albert’s ‘desire’ been fulfilled now?”

“No, after fulfilling my first desire to see you again, another desire emerged.”

Human desire is inherently endless.

It’s a uniquely human characteristic that can be both good and bad.

“What is it?”

“You said that in your past life, the Princess had an arranged marriage with someone she didn’t know.”

“Yes, that’s right…”

“I hated that. So this time, I developed a somewhat presumptuous desire unlike the first one.”

Though I’m a nobleman, I’m only the son of a baron.

Ordinarily, she and I could never be together.

In fact, in our past life, even though we knew each other’s feelings, we were separated by the wall of social status.

But now I didn’t want that to happen.

“The presumptuous desire to make the Princess mine.”

Those words made her smile, and with a pleased expression, she said to me:

“Haven’t you already fulfilled that desire?”

“Not yet. I’m not satisfied with just dating.”

When I said that, she blushed and turned her head away.

Then, with that adorable look, she opened her trembling lips.

“I-is that so?”

“Wow! Already thinking about marriage? You two definitely suit each other, even though you’re quite opposite in style.”

Riel seemed overly excited, while Aelin quietly marveled beside her.

“You really are… insane.”

“Thanks for the compliment.”

“It is a compliment, but… never mind.”

Aelin seemed to have something she wanted to say but held back.

And so my long life story came to an end.

By the time I finished that lengthy tale, the clock was already pointing to 3 o’clock.

“Anyway, the story got quite sidetracked, but to answer the Princess’s initial question—I have that information because I came from the future.”

“I’ve heard so much today… It was a good time.”

“Yes, I should get going now. It’s getting late…”

As I said that and stood up, Riel, who had been just watching, asked me with a rather mischievous expression:

“You’re leaving in this atmosphere? Why not just stay here? We can leave you two alone.”

“Riel! What are you…!”

Both she and I were startled by that outrageous suggestion, while Aelin burst into laughter, finding the situation amusing.

I chuckled awkwardly and said to Riel:

“We’ve only held hands so far.”

“You’ve already held hands!? That’s pretty fast progress for you two! I thought you’d be much more awkward… that’s a relief.”

“People usually hold hands on the first day…”

To be honest, I didn’t really know.

I had zero dating experience, and this was my first time.

“I’ll be going now. See you tomorrow.”

With that farewell, I left her room and headed back to the men’s dormitory as originally planned.

‘It feels good to have said it all…’

It was a relief to have revealed that secret and told the truth, and she responded positively to my story, just as I had expected.

Thinking about that made my steps toward the dormitory feel considerably lighter.

Of course, having been awake since 5 AM, I was quite sleepy.

“Finally, I can sleep…”

After ending this exhausting day full of extraordinary events, I lay down on the comfortable bed.

And then I fell asleep with incredible speed.