Chapter 34

“My liege has arrived.”

“Welcome!”

“Welcome most graciously!”

–It sounds like someone is shouting loudly. My heart sinks. My rapid heartbeat makes my breathing rough.

Right now, the reason for this is a demon standing about 10 meters away from me.

None of the Four Great Dukes of the Demon Realm came to the funeral, not even Leonard’s father, the Duke of North. Yet someone so high above even them has attended the funeral – someone they wouldn’t dare look at directly.

An event no one could have imagined. I certainly couldn’t have predicted it either, not even in my dreams. The Demon King didn’t come to Leonard and Retavis’ funeral in my previous life.

…Should I kill him?

The Demon King was my enemy in my past life. Originally an ally, but the power-hungry Demon King betrayed me. There’s no guarantee he won’t become my enemy again in this life.

The continent will be plunged into war. What is war? It’s when people on opposite extremes gather in groups and clash like blue and white flags.

There can be no middle ground between them.

I don’t intend to be the second-in-command of the Demon King’s army again this time around. Getting used and discarded is definitely something I want to avoid, and I need to go to Eden Academy as the Holy Maiden requested.

So if I’m not with the Demon King’s forces, should I join the Continental Army? But that’s problematic too. Why should I side with the humans I killed in my past life?

War is truly a strange thing. I won’t let my older sister Adela die this time around, but she will inevitably end up on the Demon King’s side. That means the Holy Maiden Maria and Adela, whom I love, could end up as enemies.

Which side I end up on can be decided later, but the fact that the Demon King is my enemy doesn’t change.

Don’t tell me living quietly in the Demon King’s army will prevent purges?

No, I’m talking about making him my enemy.

The Demon King is the one who killed me. Therefore, I will kill the Demon King.

Revenge is the most beautiful act a demon can perform. It gives psychological legitimacy even to the worst crime known as kin-slaying – that’s what revenge does.

Other demons might question why the Demon King had such enmity toward me that he killed me, but who cares? There’s no reason to listen to other people’s opinions or words.

What matters is my will. In my world, my will is paramount. Nothing can compare to it.

The Demon King is strong, but still young. If I devise some way, it might be possible to kill him. For example, putting an extremely powerful hypnosis on him to make him commit suicide.

Breaking through the mental defenses of a young Demon King would be very difficult, but it might be possible for me. Though I’m not entirely sure.

“…”

My whole body tingles. An overwhelming desire to cut off the breath of that young demon rises within me. My mind becomes clouded with emotion.

But…

“I must restrain myself.”

“Hmm? What are you restraining, Oscar?”

“There’s something.”

The King said it.

The death of someone as significant as the Demon King could affect the birth of the Holy Maiden. If something goes wrong, someone else might be born instead of the Maria I know.

That can’t happen.

Holy Maiden Maria.

My light, my lord, my mirror opposite.

The only being that can make me whole, silently accepting trials and death.

Maria is the only human who has ever captivated me. Her goodness, virtue, and purity lured me in like a bee drawn to the nectar of a flower bud.

Even though Shine Stella, the hero I pinned my hopes on in my past life, failed…

Holy Maiden Maria can fulfill my eternal wish. No, she must. She promised me herself.

Maria must show me the value of my reincarnation. Recalling her upright nature, it doesn’t seem like she would lie.

In any case, because of these reasons, I cannot kill the Demon King now.

What a shame. Having to pass up such a golden opportunity.

The Demon King will only grow stronger endlessly from here on out. How many more chances will I get to kill him?

However, I suppress my desires. I am an intelligent demon. I don’t want to become a thoughtless lump that forgets the greater cause for fleeting desires.

“That person… is His Majesty the Demon King.”

“…Do you know the Demon King?”

“I’ve seen him once from afar before. For His Majesty to personally attend Leonard’s funeral… I hope it brings some solace to Leonard’s spirit.”

Well, considering I’m here too after pushing Leonard to his death, will it really?

Actually, thinking about it, Leonard didn’t commit sins worthy of death. Poisoning your brother’s food is a common tactic in the savage Demon Realm for succession battles. He wasn’t even seriously trying to kill his younger brother.

The problem was that the younger brother was me.

That’s right. Leonard’s sin wasn’t restraining his younger brother by poisoning his food. His sin was messing with a reincarnated person from the future.

It’s how the world works. You can mess with the weak all you want without issue, but if you mess with the strong, you’ll be obliterated. Not recognizing a strong individual caught between the weak is the same.

“Hmph…”

“Oscar? Why are you sighing?”

“I’m paying respects.”

“Paying respects, good thinking. It feels like just yesterday I was carrying you on my back… you’ve grown so much.”

What are you talking about, you idiot?

“Though he was your competitor… he was still your brother.”

“…”

“I hope you become a principled demon, Oscar.”

My brother Leonard, who crossed over to the point of no return.

This time around, I picked the wrong brother and met a tragic end, but…

Hopefully next time I’ll meet an easy younger brother and become a great demon.

Unlike last time, don’t foolishly enter some useless Demon Forest and die meaninglessly.

“…”

As I mourn Leonard being buried in the ground, I keep feeling someone’s gaze.

It’s a crimson-eyed, pitch-black gaze.

“Hmm… Why is His Majesty wearing a dark butterfly on his eyes? It’s quite perplexing.”

That’s true.

Now that I think about it, I’m curious too.

A few days have passed since Leonard’s funeral.

During those few days, the family was quite busy. Power shifts and successor issues and whatnot…

I was at the center of it all.

“Sister.”

“Oscar, what is it?”

“I’ll leave everything to you from now on.”

“Hmm? What do you mean?”

“I left a letter in your room. Read it.”

“Hmm, are you giving me a gift? I appreciate it. Good job.”

“It’s a gift, I suppose.”

Since I gave up the position of heir to the highest power in the Demon Realm – the Duke of the North.

Of the Duke’s three sons, the eldest is missing, the second is dead, and the third has run away. That’s how the world will know.

I sent separate letters to my stepmother and mother asking them to assist Adela. Both are quite calculating individuals, so they’ll properly support Adela, who will soon be at the center of power.

And I will be behind the scenes.

Not that there’s much to it. Since I won’t be returning to the Duke’s mansion for 500 years.

If I need anything, I can just ask Adela, who will become the heir.

After that, once my training in the Demon Forest is complete, I’ll head to Eden Academy as the Holy Maiden requested.

By that time, Adela should have become a proper head of the household.

Adela isn’t smart and lacks depth in scheming. Naturally, she doesn’t fit in the Demon Realm where plots and tricks dominate.

But there’s something important to note: our father won’t pass away for the next 500 years. All governance and personnel decisions are his responsibility.

In other words, Adela will be tied to the family as the heir for 500 years! A full 500 years, just like I was in my past life!

…It was quite a shitty experience. Now it’s Adela’s turn, hehe.

In short, it’s enjoying pleasures while passing on all responsibilities. What a wicked deed!

I also left a letter in Father’s room. I don’t know when that traveling enthusiast will return home, but when he reads my letter, he’ll agree to making Adela the head of the household.

Why? Because Leonard and Retavis are already dead. The only remaining son, me, has run away. Father has no choice.

He only has the obligation to accept the situation I’ve created.

Clunk.

I’m inside a carriage now. I’ve left home after finishing up at the Duke’s mansion.

Clunk.

The carriage is heavy. It’s filled with the best treasures and elixirs Adela worriedly gave me for my head injury.

Clunk.

The Demon King who attended the funeral left quietly without much fuss. None of the attendees except Adela recognized him despite his presence.

I don’t know why he came. I never got a chance to speak with him. Such a taciturn guy.

Clunk.

My current destination is the western part of the Demon Realm. There’s something I need to bid on at the auction house there.

I absolutely need to buy it before entering the Demon Forest. It’s <The Wolf King> that was stolen by Lilith in my past life, and it’s there now.

Clunk.

Passing time in the carriage is boring. I tried yawning lazily and even took a nap, but the carriage ride seems endless due to the vastness of the Demon Realm.

Clunk.

This is when reading comes in handy. I pulled out Evans’ book <The Flower That Eats Time> that I carefully packed. I didn’t get to read much of it last time.

This time, I’ll finish it. There’s nothing else to do anyway.

Flip.

I grabbed a few dusty pages at once to find where I left off last time.

About ten pages later, I found the section I was looking for. I rubbed my eyes and narrowed my focus.

“Ah, and…”

“The preparation period required to rewind time is essential. Few know this fact, so please take note. Once this book disappears, you will be the only one in the world who knows this fact.”

Preparation period?

“111 days.”

“…”

“Time overseer Chronos may be great, but rewinding time is not a simple matter. All preparations for the world, space, and providence must be completed before regression is possible.”

Hold on, hold on, hold on.

“Thus, a minimum preparation period of 111 days is necessary. Of course, this is just a side note, so there’s no particular need to pay attention…”

111 days. The duration sounds familiar.

I’ve heard it before. I’ve experienced it before in my past life. Something that stole exactly ‘111 days’ from me.

What was it? I search my memory. There was definitely something, but it doesn’t come to mind easily.

111 days. The more I repeat the phrase, the darker its color becomes. Dark clouds fill the surroundings.

I closed my eyes and continued tracing similar situations.

What is it? What is it? What connection do I have with the number 111?

What is this darkness? A time when my surroundings were filled with black ink, extremely suffocating, unbearably hot, and each breath felt like hell…

Tartarus!

It’s Tartarus! The greatest prison in the world where only the worst criminals are seen, Babel Tower! The lowest level of that Babel Tower, where only death row inmates gather!

The place where the Demon King imprisoned me! Where I spent a week with the Holy Maiden! The background of my memories until I ascended to the guillotine!

The dark Tartarus like a blackout world!

I was locked up in Tartarus for 111 days. Then I ascended to the execution square’s guillotine with the Holy Maiden and regressed the moment my neck was cut.

If those 111 days were the preparation period for regression, it fits perfectly. Someone locked me up in Tartarus for 111 days and completed the ritual on execution day to regress me.

…Then, who is that someone?

Snap.

I closed the book to think deeply. I trace the threads of memory to recall who was involved in my trip to Tartarus.

This time, I didn’t wander much. A very clear demon came to mind.

[To Joker Osca Lucifer, Duke of the North, sentenced to 111 days in Tartarus and execution by guillotine.]

The Demon King.

The one who falsely accused me, acted as both defense and prosecution, hastily judged me, and decisively sentenced me to exactly <111 days in Tartarus> and .

Currently the most likely candidate behind my regression.

“…”

My head feels like it’s been shot by a sniper rifle. Demon King Canos. My long-time friend and betrayer. Questions about him pile up endlessly.

When did he start planning this? How did he contact Chronos? Who conspired with him to carry out the plan? Is there someone unknown behind the Demon King?

And… why did he make me regress?

What was the Demon King thinking?

What did he know that I didn’t? What goals did he dream of? What kind of future did he desire?

I don’t know.

But there are some fragmentary memories that come to mind.

[Does the Holy Maiden have any idea why the Demon King locked me up here?]

[…]

[Holy Maiden? Why aren’t you answering? Are you asleep?]

[…That.]

The Holy Maiden, who always answered even my silliest questions promptly, slowly opened her mouth in contrast to her usual behavior.

[Though I know, I cannot inform you.]

[What?]

[Please understand.]

[Kick, if you don’t know then just say so. Don’t pretend to know.]

[Ha ha.]

The conversation with the Holy Maiden that I casually dismissed at the time.

If I think about that memory a little more, the Holy Maiden had just learned from me that I received the 111-day sentence. Did she already know the time needed for regression beforehand and foresee the upcoming situation?

[Mother…]

[I miss her…]

No, the Holy Maiden was clearly afraid of death. If she was certain I would regress, she wouldn’t be trembling with fear.

Judgment. Just that level.

It feels like I’m overanalyzing the word 111 days.

Come to think of it, when we were on the guillotine…

When I told the Holy Maiden that the Demon King wasn’t visible, she smiled faintly then.

Afterward, she told me to go to <Eden Academy>.

At that time, when I said it seemed like the Demon King wasn’t in the square, the Holy Maiden was jumping to conclusions.

That the Demon King would make me regress.

“…”

Unresolved questions stretch endlessly.

Did the Demon King regress with me?

Was that why he attended Leonard’s funeral that he skipped in my past life?

What was the modern item he wore, those sunglasses? Does it connect with the Holy Maiden’s rosary regressing with me?

What did he give Chronos in exchange for regression?

My jumbled mind doesn’t care as the carriage continues rolling toward the setting west.

Clunk.

Clunk.

Clunk…

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