Episode 106: Regression to the Origin
And so, the story returns to the beginning.
“… Phew.”
In a damp alley not far from Kern’s western gate, the breath I’d been holding finally escaped.
I lay sprawled on the ground, staring blankly at the sky.
“Kaha. So entertaining. So amusing!”
Ruthika, the Undying Demon King, now known as Ruci, sneered from where she stood over my fallen form.
I wanted, oh how I wanted, to grab her cheeks and yank them, but alas, I couldn’t do that.
I couldn’t even fight back or cover her mouth; after all, I was armless and bleeding like a broken faucet because of it.
“So, Hero. How many times is this now?”
With a thud, Ruci sat on my stomach and asked.
The searing pain in my shoulder made my face contort, and I let out a hollow laugh.
“You know better than I do.”
“Kaha. That’s true.”
“While we’re at it, let me ask something. How many times have I died?”
My question earned me a snort from Ruci.
She had been fiddling with her feet carelessly, but now glanced down at my wounds and responded.
“What is this, a riddle? Obviously, it’s been eleven times…”
“Not the ones I remember.”
“…”
“How many times have I died, including the ones I don’t remember?”
“Hoo.” Ruci exhaled with apparent curiosity. Her gleaming red eyes lit up as if she was impressed with my development.
‘Try dying in an unconscious state like I do, and your instincts get sharper even when you don’t realize it.’
“There’s such a thing as ignorance being bliss. Must you know?”
“I must.”
“86 times. If you die this time, it’ll be the 87th.”
“…!”
The number was staggering, and my mouth snapped shut reflexively.
I chuckled helplessly, half-embarrassed, half-a sigh.
“Damn, I’ve died a lot, haven’t I? For real.”
“Indeed. Honestly, at first, seeing you reduced to a rag was satisfying. But now? It’s becoming irritating. Kahaah.”
Ruci replied nonchalantly, sprawled on top of me while playing with her feet. She tilted her head upward, and I followed her gaze.
The night sky. Dotted with stars, a whistling sound pierced the air, followed by a colossal explosion high above.
‘That signal must belong to Zenon.’
I know what that was. Zenon’s signal flare. Trouble must have reached him. He agreed to use the flare as an alert, so this must be it.
The burst of fiery light illuminated the night beautifully, like fireworks.
“Certainly a spectacular sight, isn’t it? Next time something like this happens, bring me along.”
As if thinking the same, Ruci muttered with anticipation.
My world was fading, overwhelmed by excruciating pain from both my shoulders, yet I managed a mocking smirk on my face.
“Say that one more time, and I’ll kill you first, you hear?”
“Serious faces don’t suit you, Hero.”
I tried to threaten her seriously, but it didn’t work. Besides, retaliation wasn’t pretty either, so I kept quiet.
I sighed and turned my head slightly.
“…”
Seop Baek’s lifeless body lay there.
Her form sprawled lifelessly before me, her neck upward completely formless. Her body’s joints were twisted unnaturally, her clothes reduced to rags, revealing a horrifying contrast of red over flesh.
I could see parts where bones protruded through the rags.
‘At least this time, she’s in better shape compared to before.’
This was true not only for Seop Baek but also for me; fighting with a fragment of Astarte only cost me my arms this time.
‘Hmm. Lucky.’
But even thinking that, I felt a deep sense of powerlessness.
I deliberately avoided looking at Seop Baek’s head.
“Hmph…”
It hurt. This failure, this inevitable feeling of helplessness, was familiar.
And like always, that hollow, desolate feeling brought with it a burning defiance and stubborn will to keep trying.
“Hey, Ruci.”
“What is it?”
“Somewhere around here, there should be my sword.”
“Sword… Ah, so you mean that one?”
Ruci gestured somewhere and questioned me. I nodded without looking. After all, this area was littered with weapons. Mine would be the only one nearby.
Anyone armed I encountered didn’t survive—skulls smashed with Seven Sword Pierce, brains stomped for good measure.
Central districts, residential zones, commercial zones—snipers, monsters, even marauding demons—none were left standing by the time I reached this alley.
“Still… we couldn’t stop the ritual, huh?”
The few remaining members of the Resurrection Sect had slipped unnoticed through the alleyways and reached the Promised Plains. I realized too late.
When Zenon teleported everyone back to Kern after cleaning up the Sect, it was a critical mistake. The bodies in Kern were far too numerous, becoming the source for the ritual to proceed.
‘Damn it… If only I were a bit more powerful, I could have stopped them.’
I was ambushed by the fragment of Astarte, which devoured both my arms. Despite having leveled up significantly, I inflicted deep wounds but couldn’t kill it.
Zenon fled back to the Promised Plains with Gena while Astarte decided to go after her instead, hence the ongoing battle. At this point, both are likely dead.
‘Even if I wiped out all the sect members alone… it’s not enough.’
Yes, I wiped out the Resurrection Sect but still—couldn’t prevent this.
That realization hit me.
‘Impossible.’
Even if I grow stronger, it doesn’t matter. I’m proof, having tested my strength up to level 390. Ultimately, no matter how powerful I become, I’m just one person. One person can only do so much. I couldn’t prevent the mass murders happening across commercial zones, residential districts, central towns, and all the back alleys.
‘What should I do? Even if I level up, is there even a way to stop the ritual?’
No matter what, the ceremony will proceed. If I grow stronger, I might wipe out the Resurrection Sect members. But I couldn’t stop the ritual.
Then, I lost. This fight, no matter what, was a loss. Despite eradicating the Sect, Seop Baek is dead.
The verdict for this cycle is clear, which leaves me with only one choice.
“Ruci, bring the sword over.”
“Grr… How dare a Guardian order me around…” she muttered, but moved towards the sword without arguing.
A sharp, cold sound followed.
I turned my head and saw Ruci struggling under the weight of my pitch-black sword, stumbling towards me.
She alternately glanced between the sword and me, asking:
“So, you brought it. What do you plan to do?”
“Help me end it.”
Ruci froze immediately.
Her eyes widened in puzzlement, like she was looking at a strange lifeform impossible to comprehend.
“Huh?”
“My arms are gone, so I can’t kill myself. My endurance makes bleeding out take too long.”
“…”
“Kill me quicker. Start cycle 88.”
I closed my eyes, patiently awaiting death.
Holding the hilt of the sword, Ruci paused in contemplation…
“Haha! Kahaha! AHAHAHAH!”
And then she burst into uncontrollable laughter. That laughter made me open my eyes again.
With a flourish, she slowly lifted my blade to my eyes.
“Let’s see…”
“What kind of relationship do you have with that woman?”
“No.”
“Is she so important that you’d die 88 times to save her?”
“No.”
“Then what do you gain by enduring pain worse than death?”
“Quit prying, oh great Undying Demon King. Just do as I ask.”
My casual answer only made Ruci more perplexed.
She tapped my neck gently with the sword, frowning.
“Why do you insist on this foolish behavior? Are you lacking intelligence, Hero?”
“…”
“You could have survived by abandoning her. Women with her beauty and skills abound in this world. Let me even recommend one of my own subordinates.”
“…”
“As your contractor, I advise you. Value your life more. I can’t stand seeing a toy I care for breaking so easily.”
It was sincere advice. I could see the serious look in her deep red eyes, filled with concern.
This sounded familiar.
—Abandon baseless chivalry. Value your life above all else.
—Please… don’t break so easily. These were the words Minerva spoke in the white space before the curtains of trials descended. It feels like years ago, but it was less than half a year.
‘Guess I’ve made it in life. Beautiful women now worry about me.’
I chuckled, avoiding her gaze.
And then I spoke.
“Do you know the defining feature of suckers like me?”
“What?”
“They love to put on airs.”
“What the heck does that mean? Explain yourself.”
I turned my gaze to the stars again. Fireworks continued to decorate the night sky. In the red haze of my vision, Seop Baek’s sorrowful smile appeared.
I remember Seop Baek was crying then. Right? My memories are overlapping and mixing now, but…
—Yes! We absolutely have to. Fireworks… we absolutely have to watch them together…!
As soon as her voice came to mind, any hesitation disappeared.
I have to turn back. I must survive this with Seop Baek.
Because…
“I already made plans to go on a date with her, you know.”
“Huh?”
“Damn it, I lived for 24 years as a lonely virgin. Now I finally want to enjoy life, but the entire world conspires to stop me. This godforsaken alternative world does nothing but interfere! What gives?”
“… Huh?”
“Just wait and see. I’ll make sure it happens. No matter how dirty or underhanded I have to be, I will see fireworks with Seop Baek. Damn bastards.”
And to achieve that… well, yeah.
I’d be happy to try 100 more times.
“Up to 13 times, easy. Kill me if you dare! Come on, you pathetic world!”
I might be a sucker, but I’m not weak-willed.
Cassas or whatever the hell your name is, mysterious conspiracy forces.
You underestimated me.
Did you honestly think I’d give up the chance to lose my eternal curse of virginity so easily?
Hell no, you bastards.
“Khar! Frankly speaking…”
Ruci started. She awkwardly lifted Vestark to aim at my neck.
Her piercing red eyes flickered with interest.
“You’ve really lost it. You sound like someone already consumed by a malevolent spirit, or maybe you’ve always been like this?”
“…”
“Ahahah! In all my 150 years, I’ve never met anyone as entertaining as you, Hero Park Jeong-yong.”
“…”
“How many more times can you endure death? I’m truly curious.”
Whether she awaited a response wasn’t clear, but immediately after speaking, she swung the blade forcefully.
As I watched the descending blade like an executioner’s axe…
“Alright, let’s see how far you can squirm. I intend to watch until the end.”
The last thing I registered before fading away was Ruci’s cheerful laughter.
“Here’s the swift execution as promised. Pull yourself together! Kahaah!”
Although I failed to stop the ritual this time, I successfully eradicated all Sect members.
There is some hope left. Life isn’t over yet.
‘Next time… for sure.’
Next time, success is inevitable. It has to be.
Thinking of that, a fleeting thought crossed my mind—maybe all those 86 versions of me from my past lives thought the same way—and I decided to stop pondering such things.
—Hmm. That’s enough. Time to wake up from this dream, I think.
A leisurely voice seemed to echo through my mind.
But it faded quickly.
The Demon King’s blade struck my neck.
