Chapter 476: Let’s Live By Turning Suicide Upside Down

How should I answer the question, “Do you want to destroy the world?”

Of course, I should deny it.

No one in their right mind would want to destroy a perfectly functioning world.

But what if I’m not in my right mind?

What if I do want to destroy it?

Even then, logically speaking, I should still deny it.

Admitting it carelessly would only earn me a sword to the face from a hero trying to save the world.

And if someone’s truly insane enough to openly confess they want to destroy the world?

A person like that wouldn’t even be alive.

That kind of intelligence is incompatible with survival.

So, the answer I should give is obvious.

Which is why… I shouldn’t give it right away.

“Ms. Shei. Before that, let me ask you something too.”

“I asked first. If you’re just trying to dodge the question—”

“Just hear me out. You’re not the only one with doubts.”

I snapped back, annoyed, and looked up at the Regressor.

“What’s your connection to the Sanctum?”

“What? What are you talking about?”

“You’re out looking for the King of Sin. Warning about the world’s end. You know the future, you’ve got the Chun-aeng and all sorts of artifacts in your Pocket? Isn’t it obvious? Even a passing dog would know you’re deeply connected to the Sanctum.”

“Woof!”

Azzy nodded along despite being oblivious to the meaning.

Correction: the passing dog doesn’t know.

In other words, everyone knows—except the dog.

Even the Earth Sage, even Tyr, even Hilde suspected the connection at a glance.

No one said it outright, but it’s the unspoken truth.

“So the next logical question is just one: How close are you to the Sanctum? What kind of dirt do you have on them that they’d hand over artifacts they wouldn’t even give the Saintess?”

To the pointed question, the Regressor murmured like someone pricked by a needle.

“I figured it’d be discovered someday… so it’s finally happened, huh.”

Yeah, admitting it a bit too la—wait, what? Someday? Finally?

I tried to stay serious, but I lost it and shouted at her.

“What do you mean someday you figured it’d be found out?! It’s been obvious this whole time!”

“What? How?”

“I already told you! Look at yourself! You’ve got Chun-aeng, a Pocket, freakin’ rainbow eyes! You’ve got the Divine related to sky, space, and light slathered on you and expect no one to notice?! What are you, a pheasant? Even if you can’t see it, do you think the rest of the world is blind?!”

Nobody actually believed your excuses. Not even Tyr!

｢Sure, each little thing might seem suspicious, but to figure it out all at once? What is the King of Humans, a genius?｣

Genius my ass. It’s so obvious.

The Regressor, oblivious to how suspicious she really is, tried to stay calm and responded.

“You’re surprisingly informed. Most people just think they’re rare treasures. You really are the King of Humans, huh?”

“Oh great, another ‘as expected of the King of Humans’ line. I’ve known from the start, okay? From the very first time we met, I thought you were fishy. You’re one big bundle of red flags from head to toe!”

Most of it I picked up through Mind Reading, but the Regressor didn’t know that and was clearly thrown off.

｢From the start…? All that time in the Abyss, and I had no clue…!｣

Well, that’s because you were holed up training solo, and I was throwing up smokescreens left and right.

I pressed further.

“If you answer honestly, I’ll give you an honest answer too. What are you, really?”

It wasn’t a new question for the Regressor.

Young age, yet possessed of overwhelming strength.

Powers that seemed less like talent and more like god given blessings.

She had always lived under suspicion.

Her strength and its backstory got reset with every loop, so that was inevitable.

I already knew through Mind Reading how she got her powers…

But I had to ask anyway.

Because it might make her less annoying.

She bit her lip and thought for a moment.

But she’s not me, she couldn’t come up with the perfect lie to get out of this situation.

She gave up quickly and answered plainly.

“I have no connection to the Sanctum.”

“You expect me to believe that?”

“It’s true. I have no ties to them whatsoever. This was all ‘given’ to me. I don’t feel indebted, and I don’t plan to repay them.”

｢They were useful, but that’s it. We’re just using each other.｣

Unless she reveals the premise of “regression,” that’s as close to the truth as she can get.

It was also the most honest answer she could give under the circumstances.

Still, it’s the kind of answer only a fool would trust.

But since I’d already read her mind, I decided to be slightly more lenient.

“So you’re not hostile to the Sanctum.”

“Right. If it’ll help me save the world, I’ll join hands with anyone. And the Sanctum, for all its flaws, is probably the most trustworthy group trying to restore justice.”

“And yet, that very Sanctum rejects the King of Humans. You do realize that, from the my perspective, you’re just as untrustworthy as they are?”

“That’s why I’m asking you this!”

The Regressor gripped Chun-aeng tightly.

It trembled on my right shoulder.

She hadn’t struck yet, but that didn’t mean she wouldn’t.

If she decided to act, she would.

“The King of Sin who’ll bring ruin to the world! That’s the corrupted King of Humans! And you are the King of Humans! So tell me the truth. What are you planning to do with this world?!”

So she’s finally ready to listen.

I carefully chose my words.

How do you answer a question where the answer is already predetermined?

Simple.

It’s not a question, it’s a plea.

A desire to believe.

She’s asking me to give her something to believe in.

“You’re just like me, Ms. Shei.”

“Like you?”

Then I should give her something to believe in.

“I feel the same way. I don’t really care whose side you’re on, or what your real identity is. Just like how I didn’t take sides when you fought the Earth Sage, I didn’t feel the need to kill you or worry about some hypothetical apocalypse. I don’t even have the power to do anything like that.”

She’s driven by emotion.

Because she can afford to be.

She’s allowed to mess up.

Which ironically makes her more approachable than the perfectionist Sanctum.

That also means one bad mood swing and my head could roll.

That thought gave me chills.

So I mirrored her doubts, to draw out a sense of solidarity.

｢It doesn’t really matter who he is. What matters is what he’ll do. I don’t think Hughes is secretly working to end the world. Compared to the King of Sin, he’s just a bug.｣

Yeah, yeah. Got it.

When trying to convince someone, don’t fight them from the opposite side.

That just leads to conflict.

You walk forward from the same starting point, finding common ground.

Although… calling me a bug compared to the King of Sin? Really?

The King of Sin is what’s weird, not me!

I’m the normal one here!

The very model of a King of Humans!

｢But he is the King of Humans. That’s dangerous. Even if he hasn’t yet gained power, the power of humanity itself belongs to him. If humanity continues to sharpen its blades against each other and hurl their malice outward, the King of Humans will inevitably become the King of Sin.｣

While fuming internally, I caught something strange in her thoughts.

Wait. She knows the origin story of the King of Sin?

Even I don’t know that.

Her thoughts can’t be trusted entirely.

She probably learned that in a past loop, and even then, it was likely something someone else told her.

If the Sanctum planted that “truth” in her blank slate of a brain, she’d believe it without question.

I can’t take whatever she knew as is.

But that’s not the important part.

The real question is…

If she knew this all along, how did she never show it?

Did she just forget?

Or was she subconsciously avoiding the thought?

Either way, that’s pretty impressive.

Just as I was feeling a bit of admiration, she asked one last question.

“What if… humanity wanted to destroy itself? What if ordinary people wished for their own end?”

What if humanity wanted to self-destruct?

What a stupid question.

I answered right away.

“I’ve lost most of my claim to speak for humanity as its king, but… if it gets to that point, I don’t think the King of Humans is even the issue anymore.”

“…Tch.”

She couldn’t argue with that.

She pulled Chun-aeng back.

The blade that had been ready to sever my right arm quietly sheathed its fangs.

Looking sour, she stepped back and asked.

“Was coming to the Abyss your way of finding the Earth Mother?”

“Can’t really hide it now, huh? Yeah. That’s right.”

｢So I was right. Hughes snuck into Tantalos for a hidden agenda. …Not that I have any room to talk, I came down here for Jizan myself. Still, my suspicions were valid!｣

Sure. But I don’t regret lying about it.

If I’d revealed my identity back then, I might’ve lost my right arm on the spot.

“And why are you searching for the Divine’s relics?”

“I don’t owe you an answer. But I’ll tell you honestly anyway.”

A little showmanship, with a sprinkle of sincerity. I revealed my true motive.

“To catch up with humanity.”