Chapter 477: Then, Let This Rotten World Turn Upside Down

The Regressor made a puzzled face at the unfamiliar phrase.

“Catch up… with humanity?”

“Yes. I’m aware that I’m the King of Humans, but I don’t actually have that power. I don’t know why exactly, but humans don’t have a Beast King. It’s as if humanity has become something different, something beyond beasts.”

When I say I’m just an ordinary human, I’m not exaggerating or being modest, that’s genuinely how I see myself.

Right now, I’m just a plain old human with no power, no knowledge, and no will.

At best, thanks to my Mind Reading, I can represent the person standing in front of me.

And that’s about it.

For some reason I can’t understand, the King of Humans is separated from humanity.

“As you know, Beast Kings have roles to fulfill. Or maybe I should say, they have a reason to exist.”

“Like what?”

“You know, right? Representing and acting on behalf of the collective will of their species. So wolves fight dogs. Elephants mourn the dead and guard their graves. Beavers build dams, and horses gallop across meadows, those kinds of things.”

It might sound trivial, but because it’s so primal, Beast Kings cling to it even more.

A Beast King, who embodies all the traits of their species, is a prototype, a pure archetype.

I should’ve been the same… but—

“What’s the King of Humans supposed to do, then?”

“I don’t know.”

I truly don’t.

Honestly, it might not even exist.

Humanity does everything.

They guard graves without being elephants, build dams without being beavers.

But if humans do all those things, shouldn’t I, as the King of Humans, also have that ability?

And yet I don’t.

It’s as if someone stole it from me.

“You’re the King of Humans, right? And you don’t know your own duty?”

“That’s why I’m trying to figure it out. I need to understand before I can do anything. So I’m searching for the beings who changed humanity. I’m not sure, but if there’s a turning point for humans, it has to be them.”

The Regressor knew exactly who I meant.

Even after dozens of regressions, she still couldn’t grasp them fully.

She made a grim face as she spoke their name.

“Knowledge that seeped into the world… Power that changed humans. The Divines.”

“That’s right. Power that irreversibly transformed humanity. But I’m not after that power, I want the context behind it. I need to understand how humanity changed.”

Such a simple and honest explanation.

Even the most suspicious regressors would have no choice but to accept it.

Truth and sincerity always get through, after all.

｢…I still have some doubts. But there’s no contradiction. The King of Sin I saw wasn’t Hughes, but that girl also wielded the power of the Divines.｣

So the Regressor softened slightly and asked,

“That’s why you’re chasing the Divines?”

“Yes.”

“Liar.”

“Glad you— wait, what?”

At her unexpected accusation, I blinked and asked.

The Regressor, arms crossed and looking sullen, replied.

“That’s not what the information I have says. You’re hiding something, aren’t you? Spit it out. Don’t bother trying to hide it.”

｢There’s no contradiction, but he’s the King of Humans. He’s definitely hiding something more. I’m not sure what, but I feel it. If I press a little harder, something’s bound to come out.｣

Bluffing? With zero confirmation?

Seriously?

I was so dumbfounded I had to ask.

“What part of it doesn’t match?”

The Regressor racked her brain, but everything I said was true.

There was no contradiction.

Unable to find anything wrong, she blurted out.

“Just… anyhting.”

“Tch. You got me. You’re right. I don’t care about the Divines at all. I’ve just been wandering the world to meet women from different nations. Isn’t it natural for every beast to seek a mate? I’m just following my instincts, that’s all.”

“I knew it!”

“That’s a lie, you idiot! What do you mean you knew it?!”

I shouted, and the Regressor flinched.

“…It’s not true?”

“Of course it’s not true! If I wanted to meet women, I would’ve stayed cozy as Tyr’s consort instead of running away! If you’re going to bluff, at least make it believable! What were you expecting from a lie that dumb?!”

Does she not know the saying don’t gamble unless you’re sure?

If this were a real betting table, that pathetic bluff would’ve cost her everything.

Apparently ashamed of herself, the Regressor turned away with arms still crossed.

I seized the opening and pressed on.

“Anyway. You get it now, right? So I’m going to need your cooperation.”

“Cooperation? With what?”

“That sword, Chun-aeng. It’s a Divine’s relic, isn’t it?”

“This?”

“Hand it over.”

When I reached toward the invisible sword, the Regressor hesitated.

｢It might be dangerous to hand over a Divine to the King of Humans, but… come on, it’ll be fine. What could go wrong?｣

Simple thought, quick action.

She handed Chun-aeng to me.

I took it carefully, making sure not to get cut.

Inside, I felt the swirling power of space.

A wind like a storm sealed inside. one pinprick would probably unleash it.

I could wield it, but it didn’t feel like I could draw out its full power.

This was definitely a Divine, but I couldn’t tell which one.

There wasn’t even a hint of intent or obsession in it.

The Regressor watched anxiously, then asked,

“You’ve seen enough? Give it back. It holds too much power, it’s dangerous for a beginner.”

“And yet you handed it to me without a second thought.”

“Because you asked for it!”

｢I thought it’d reject him instantly… but it didn’t? Then again, he did pick up Jizan without any trouble. Maybe the King of Humans really can use any tools freely?｣

Wait.

She wasn’t worried that I might get hurt.

She was worried I might hurt her.

What the hell?

There’s no use in keeping it.

I handed it back and asked.

“This is a Divine, right?”

“So what if it is?”

“But Chun-aeng is missing something. The will of the Divine that changed the world. The lingering imprint of a human who may be dead but left their mark on the world. It’s not here. This isn’t the one I’m looking for.”

“So you’re not after raw power.”

“Exactly. The thoughts and realizations of the human who became the Divine are much more important. I will say it again, my goal isn’t to gain power, it’s to catch up with humanity.”

I reaffirmed my goal and asked the Regressor.

“Where is this Divine?”

The Divine of the Sky.

This strange power over space and wind must have a source.

And the Regressor, with all her loops and relics, was the fastest route to that source.

…I wanted to just tag along and gather clues quietly, but since I was found out, whatever.*
*I went for a direct approach.

“Whatever the Sky God is, someone had to be the first human to discover it. That person became a Divine and left behind Chun-aeng. You got it from them, right?”

“…So what if I did?”

“Stop playing dumb and tell me. Where is it? What kind of Divine is there? And if you don’t want to talk, then just say that.”

I don’t need an answer. I can just read her thoughts.

Surprisingly, the Regressor had never once recalled how she got Chun-aeng during this loop.

Maybe it had become so routine through her regressions, or maybe she thought of it as inherently hers.

She must’ve had a process for acquiring it, but it had vanished from her conscious memory.

｢Sacred Mountain Yullim. The sanctuary where the Saintess of Origin communed with the Sky God.｣

But once I pushed her, she had no choice but to recall it.

I focused my mind and dove into her thoughts, toward the shrouded knowledge of the Divine she had already found.

｢A little further up… If you stand on the altar at a certain time, only those who perceive the presence can see the space and take Chun-aeng. I already knew Chun-aeng, so it was easy. Others would have a hard time.｣

Oh ho. The information’s flowing.

I don’t trust the Regressor much, but her intel is real.

The experiences she’s gathered over thirteen regressions are too valuable to ignore.

Sacred Mountain Yullim.

The Altar of the Sky.

As I retraced the knowledge and tried to read the method—

Her thoughts abruptly cut off.

Seriously? Don’t stop there.

You’re thinking about it, so finish the thought!

What’s with stopping at the most important part?!

I was mentally ranting when the Regressor spoke unexpectedly.

“I’ll tell you.”

“…Huh?”

I’d read her thoughts, but I still couldn’t believe it.

“Really? Just like that?”

“Why are you surprised? You asked, didn’t you?”

“Look at how you’ve been acting. You’ve never been this cooperative. Instead of being happy, I’m just… suspicious.”

“If you don’t want it, forget it!”

“It’s just a figure of speech, no need to get snippy. Of course I’ll take the help if you’re offering.”

For someone who had just aimed a sword at me, she was being surprisingly helpful, and I was honestly thrown off.

Trying to keep up with her constantly shifting attitude, I used Mind Reading again.

｢The King of Sin will appear no matter what. Even if I destroy the false World Tree of Nevida and its cursed fruit that bore sin, it always appears and ravages the world. The King of Sin exists like every Beast King, one in every generation. I can’t stop its birth.｣

What the…?

False World Tree? Forbidden fruit that births sin?

Now I was curious.

Just what did the Regressor see in her previous loops?

I knew thirteen regressions were no joke, but until now, I’d assumed she was just a glory-hungry collector tossed around by fate.

But now she’s pulling out knowledge that’s deep and dark, way beyond what a mere witness could’ve picked up.

What the hell is regression, really?

Even when she’s right in front of me, I can’t fully read her.

She’s suspicious from head to toe.

｢Maybe… Hughes will become the King of Sin. Maybe I’m the one feeding Divine power to him…｣

Same here.

For all I know, the Regressor could be the secret weapon the Sanctum crafted to target the King of Humans.

｢Still, it’s worth verifying. Let’s give it a shot.｣

But her knowledge was worth confirming.

To hell with it. We’ve come this far, may as well raise the stakes.

The bet was in.

All that was left was to reveal our hands.

The Regressor spoke first.

“On one condition.”

“Knew it. Things were going too smoothly. Just tell me what it is.”

“It’s important. It’s for me, but it’s also for you.”

She cut off my grumbling and declared confidently.

“If you really are the King of Humans, then keep your promise to the King of Dogs. Do that, and I’ll take you to the sanctuary, without alerting the Sanctum.”

“My promise to Azzy?”

I turned to look at her.

Azzy, who had been tense while we argued, had relaxed now that the conversation was going smoothly.

When our eyes met, she tilted her head.

The promise between man and dog from long, long ago.

Neither of us remember it, but as Beast Kings, the contract between our species still holds.

And so, Azzy and I must honor it.

She protects humans. I protect her.

Dogs guard people, and people care for dogs.

…Though I lost all power and authority, I’d never planned to break that promise.

I only delayed it because I was unqualified.

Why?

Because it’s a promise.

And promises are meant to be kept.

I’m not some con artist, after all.

“I was planning to keep it. But how does that help?”

“It matters. The fight between dogs and wolves. Depending on the result…”

For just a moment, the Regressor’s thoughts grew heavy.

The beastkin.

Born of beast and human through the intervention of Heirless Agartha, they had long been separated and discriminated against.

Though they had sharper senses and stronger bodies than humans, their overly innocent nature made them marginalized.

Distinction and discrimination breed division.

Thick levees built from perception and tradition separated beastkin from humans.

Sheltered behind those walls, humans enjoyed their peace without ever knowing what was brewing beyond them.

But nothing lasts forever.

One day, ripples stirred the calm waters.

Emotions spilled over the levee, and by the time people noticed, it was too late.

The pent-up gap threatened to explode at the slightest touch.

And among the beastkin, the most numerous, and most human-friendly, were the dog beastkin.

They had served as a buffer, easing tension.

The Regressor recalled a future not yet arrived, and murmured sorrowfully.

“The choice the dog beastkin make… could change everything.”