Chapter 21

Huh, what’s that sound? Suddenly calling me a reincarnator? What evidence do you have to make such an accurate but absurd claim?

I could answer properly, deny it, or subtly lie if I knew what it was about.

And what? You’re a ‘reincarnator’ too? There’s another one besides me? Someone who found the king faster than me?

“Hmm, one can have great insight at a young age, but it’s rare to leave an impression as ‘cunning’ as yours.”

“Ah.”

“If you’re one in a million, a genius among geniuses, there’s nothing more to say… But just asking, are you really a reincarnator?”

“What’s a reincarnator? What is that?”

“Don’t play dumb. I mean someone who has traveled back in time from the future like the heroes of two generations ago… In this era, it’s probably you.”

“Huh? Really?”

“Stop pretending. Even with the instincts of an old demon, don’t ignore them.”

Oh, so that’s what it is. Explaining it so cutely. I almost cried tears of gratitude.

Is this why we respect elders? I understand why humans value respecting seniors now.

Still, the hero from two generations ago was a reincarnator, huh? Never failed, they say, but there was this hidden secret. Learning something new again today.

So, how should I respond to such a sharp and smart question?

False denial? Or truthful affirmation?

“No, what are you talking about since earlier? Reincarnators? Where would such things exist in this world?”

“Hmm… Was I wrong…”

“What’s shaking? Aren’t you right here in front of me?”

The answer is the latter. There are various reasons, but first off, there’s no harm in saying it.

“Hehe, you sure know how to mess with an old demon.”

“Yeah, my eloquence is top-notch. Though, it only gets me by on the streets.”

Skipping the fact that those “streets” were national ones. To hold light, one must be humble. A great truth I learned from the Saintess.

“Still, I didn’t expect you to reveal it so easily.”

“Really? Don’t you think I’m lying right now?”

“…Hmm, considering your chess psychological tactics, you’re definitely not ten years old.”

“Pfft, nothing in this world is certain. Who knows? Maybe I’m an unknown super-genius.”

“…”

“Ho ho ho, just kidding. Let’s move past it.”

Because of playing with him, the king glared at me slightly resentfully. I retaliated with a cunning furrowed brow.

“And, for the sake of the ‘subject’ I’ll mention next, I also needed to disclose this fact.”

“Did you plan to confess from the start?”

“Whether or not, since I’ve already said it, does it matter now?”

“…Are you dodging the question?”

“Not dodging, just evaluating utility. I’m a busy youth, so time management is very important to me.”

That’s not wrong. Time, once lost, can never be regained unless you regress like me. For the sake of the future, I can’t waste even a moment.

Of course, I don’t have a concrete plan yet. But after hearing about causality from the king, I’ll set it up. Those audacious siblings who accumulated karma against this benevolent reincarnator will be priority number one.

“So, what does our esteemed ‘Reincarnator’ sir want to ask this humble old man?”

“Ah, finally getting to it. Duke, do you happen to know anything about ‘time’?”

“Time?”

“You see… About five hundred years from now, there’s someone I need to ensure is born. But if I change the past and they aren’t born, what then? That’s the worry.”

“Someone important to you?”

“Uh… As important as you, Duke.”

“Hehe, seems I had quite a close relationship with you in my previous life.”

“A friendship rivaling Guan Zhong and Bao Shuya.”

The king burst out laughing at my playful words.

Previous life? We weren’t that close, but since it’s the past, adding a little seasoning—what’s the harm?

Though now, whether I alone remember that past life is uncertain. Friendship is subjective, so I haven’t said anything wrong by my standards.

“I don’t know much about that person, but changing the past naturally changes the future. That’s inevitable.”

“Hmm.”

“However, that applies assuming the future is related. If we lean on meteorologists’ fallacies like the butterfly effect, every past could affect all futures.”

“That can’t be trusted.”

“True, if that were the case, your coming to me would already have altered the future. So… you said this person who needs to be born is human?”

“Yes, from the Holy Kingdom.”

“Any chance their birth involved mixing demon blood?”

“That’s unlikely. The Holy Kingdom wouldn’t accept impure beings.”

“Exactly. They worshipped and revered them instead.”

“Roughly getting the picture.”

“What exactly?”

“Ultimately, what you’re asking is your range of action, right? Up to what point should you not cross to avoid affecting the birth of this person later?”

“Oh, right.”

“So, problem solved. You’re living in different worlds anyway, aren’t you? Humans live on the continent, and we demons live in the Demon Realm. With no means of travel between Human World and Demon Realm except through dimensional gates, staying in the Demon Realm won’t affect you.”

“Got it, then…”

Trailing off, the king wiggled his bell pepper eyebrows. The soggy vegetable shook around wildly.

Phew, isn’t that a bit excessive, even for art? Rather, I prefer the virtue of explosions. Crossing the line slightly makes me frown.

Allowing faces filled with vegetables, why hate the bell pepper eyebrows?

Well, bell peppers are delicious. While I don’t care about messing with tasteless food, bell peppers have a tangy juice that’s truly tasty.

“Will guiding some useless people to heaven in the near future interfere with the future?”

“Ho ho.”

“Not many, just two or three.”

“Is there a demon who dared offend the reincarnator?”

“Just ancient revenge.”

“Since the continent and Demon Realm have different timelines, causing chaos in the Demon Realm won’t significantly impact the Human World. Naturally, killing a few demons won’t be a problem.”

“Oh, good.”

“One concern though—is any of those demons likely to interact with the Human World before the ‘human’ you mentioned is born?”

Hmm, come to think of it, Leonard and Retavis met a terrible end in the Demon Forest. Does that count as unrelated to the Human World?

Uncertain. The Demon Forest warps dimensions and connects both realms through portals. Occasionally, demons and human extermination squads clash in awkward, complex situations.

“…Still, I can’t let others take my place.”

“My turn?”

“If someone I marked dies at someone else’s hands, it’s annoying, isn’t it? You being a demon, you’d understand, right?”

“Indeed, I’ve lived a near-eternal life, but when someone I targeted dies prematurely, it still leaves a lingering feeling.”

“Right? You get it, don’t you?”

Eagerly seeking agreement, the king nodded readily. See, regret over failing to kill someone is universal. The Saintess might say otherwise.

If the Saintess heard our conversation now, she’d panic. Kick, this is what real demon talk sounds like, Saintess.

“Also, while staying in the Demon Realm, there are some you shouldn’t touch. Those whose very existence affects the world.”

“Like?”

“The newly crowned Demon King, for instance. Or maybe the Four Dukes of the Demon Realm. Their presence alone instills caution and tension across dimensions.”

“Oh, now that you mention it, yeah. Guess I can’t kill the Demon King.”

“Calling him ‘Demon King’? Seems you two didn’t get along in your previous life.”

“For five hundred years we got along fine. It went south in the last year.”

Demon King Canos. Gazing at the night skies of the Demon Realm, always anticipating a battle with a worthy opponent.

Then he started craving power. Eventually, he locked me up in the Babel Tower. Revenge might be possible, but with his strength, it’s uncertain. Still, if he’s my enemy, he’s my enemy.

“Hmm, got the gist. Basically, as long as it’s not a powerful demon, slaughtering within the Demon Realm doesn’t matter, right?”

“Correct. Souls are managed by gods, so minor killings won’t cause significant issues.”

“Good. One more thing.”

Realizing I wasn’t done, the king smiled faintly. Another demon might’ve been annoyed, but the king already finds me intriguing enough to consider me a subject worth exploring.

All part of the plan. Not unpleasant. In fact, with much still to learn from this living encyclopedia, I’m smiling widely.

“You mentioned knowing something about reincarnators earlier, right? Like the hero from two generations ago.”

“Right.”

“Do you know anything about reincarnation itself? Woke up without knowing why, in the past, and I’m kind of at a loss.”

“Hmm… reincarnation… reincarnation…”

Pondering my question, the king raised his grape-arm and wiggled his banana-fingers. A faint but definite magic power emanated from his hand.

The purple magic seeped into a nearby coffin. An antique wooden coffin, stylish centuries ago.

“Slept long enough. Rise now.”

Creeeak – Thud.

“Grrr…”

The king issued a low command. The coffin obeyed faithfully. The lid opened, revealing a corpse inside.

Shoulders as wide as five adult humans lined up, standing over three meters tall. The nail embedded in his temple and square jaw revealed the identity of the corpse.

Frankenstein, the immortal giant.

Once a renowned knight of the continent, after receiving a dead heart from the king, he became the king’s loyal servant.

“Grgh… My Lord… Long time…”

“Long time, Frankenstein.”

“My Lord… Your fruit looks delicious… I want to eat…”

“Ho ho, your meal will be arranged separately. First, head down to the underground library and fetch a book.”

“Grgh…? A book…?”

“There should be one by Evans. A study on time. Title might be ‘The Flower That Eats Time.’ Probably.”

“Grghhh… Eat time… I want to eat too…”

“Shh, bring it back well, and I’ll give you premium meat. Be patient until then.”

At the word ‘meat,’ Frankenstein’s porcelain eyes lit up. More saliva dripped from his mouth. With heavy stomping steps, he disappeared into the darkness.

Left alone with the king, I swallowed and spoke, unable to ignore a certain word.

“…Hold on.”

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