Chapter 205

Chapter 205

Chapter 205 – One word, then another

I felt as if someone had struck the back of my head with great force.

‘Okay, let’s think about this calmly.’

What Shain was saying boiled down to this.

Decullan had defeated Blandoga and killed Parun. And now, I was bowing my head to that very same Decullan…

‘…Bowing my head?’

Was this a joke?

The thought crossed my mind for an instant, but Shain’s glaring eyes were far too fierce to be taken as a joke.

Which meant it was true.

But why? What possible reason could there be?

I tried to comprehend the situation calmly, in the most rational way possible, but I couldn’t regain my composure.

My thoughts were blocked, but somehow I managed to make them flow; right at that moment, I opened my mouth.

“You’ve already heard it all, so why ask?”

“Is it… really true?”

“Of course it is.”

My voice was monotonic. As if we were talking about something trivial.

To me, it was unbelievable.

Me, bowing to Decullan? And breathing so calmly, living my life?

But then.

“Shit.”

Shain twisted one eye and spat out the curse.

“Don’t talk such nonsense. Others might believe it, but I won’t. What is your real plan this time?”

“A plan? Now that is an entertaining story…”

I reached into my pocket. My fingers touched something cold and hard. Metal, probably. I tossed it right in front of Shain.

Clang! Clang, clang!

It bounced on the floor a couple of times before coming to a stop, a metal token.

“This is…”

“A vassal token. Do you believe me now?”

Yes. That was… something I received from Pahren in my past life, only to tear it apart later.

The mark bestowed upon the vassal families of the Decullan family.

Shain silently observed the object lying at his feet.

If I had really accepted even this, it would have been clear that I would submit to Decullan in the future. But shortly after, he opened his mouth.

“Didn’t I just tell you? Seriously. What does a piece of metal prove? That you took it and meekly bowed? Not even a dog would believe it!”

Shain growled the words, but then he knelt down and stared straight into my eyes. His gaze still burned with anger, but it no longer reflected the pure hatred from before.

With eyes full of fury, Shain spoke again.

“Fine. After losing Damian and Chenbi, did you get scared? Were you worried that more blood would be spilled in your feud with Decullan?”

“…”

“Riley’s death was his own choice. Schwertz, the principal? He chose death for you too. Do you think everything is your fault?”

What was this about?

I could already imagine Damian’s death when Blandoga fell. But Chenbi too?

And Riley and the principal chose death for me.

I wanted to know the circumstances of their deaths. And why Parun had died, as previously mentioned. The questions were piling up.

But I set aside my doubts and listened to Shain’s steady voice.

“Tell me. Do you think bowing to Decullan will stop the bleeding? Is that why you’re doing it?”

“What a hilarious piece of nonsense…”

“Shit!”

Shain’s shout cut me off. His fist struck the floor —boom!— the space rumbled.

Before the echo could fade, Shain calmed his breathing and spoke.

“What nonsense! That’s what you’re saying, you cunning bastard. What is your plan?”

“…”

“There’s no way you would meekly bow like a defeated dog. Do you plan to humiliate yourself before them until you find an opportunity? …Ah, I see. So that’s what it is.”

Shain nodded as if he had finally understood.

By this point, even I could guess the plan of my future self.

No, I had to.

Then…

“You planned to dedicate your whole life to revenge.”

“What are you—”

“You know? When you get nervous, you lift your left lip. As if you were making a sneer.”

“…”

Was I really nervous? My future self remained silent.

Shain smiled with satisfaction, letting out a “ha!” before dropping onto the spot.

A shadow of sadness soon clouded his eyes.

“Was it… that pitiful? Your decision?”

“…”

“Blandaga decided to cede the place where the tower was located on their lands. And they opposed Decullan to protect their own territory.”

Unlike the sharp tone of a few moments ago, it was soft now.

Perhaps because of that tone, I felt a tightness in my chest. This was… the emotion my future self felt. No, the physical reaction it triggered.

It was like… that day a long time ago, longing for the wyvern. A heartbreaking sensation.

“Parun’s decision to enter the tower… was the fruit of his greed. Chenbi wasn’t killed by Decullan. He chose to fight of his own free will and fell in battle.”

“…”

“Riley, didn’t you promise yourself that you wouldn’t sell your information even after you died? The day you left the Great Forest, he swore to follow you. And he kept his promise. And Schwertz, the principal… didn’t he say it himself? He didn’t have much time left anyway.”

I couldn’t know the exact details of how they died.

But the emotion Shain felt while saying this struck me deeply.

Shain… pitied me. He pitied the pain my future self felt.

“So don’t worry about it.”

One word.

“It’s not your fault.”

Another word.

“You don’t have to carry their deaths on your shoulders.”

…With that last sentence.

Flash!

I lost my vision again.

Returning to reality, I narrowed my eyes and stared at my hand.

Fsssh—

Had it fulfilled its purpose?

The fragment of the Inverse Sky, rigid just moments ago, crumbled into ashes and seeped into the palm of my hand.

The absorbed character settled into my left chest, forming the third Mark of Fire.

Amidst all that, I calmly reviewed the memories.

‘So…’

In the future, the Fragment of the Inverse Sky showed this, this is what I learned.

The fall of Blandoga, Damian and Chenbi, Parun, Riley, even the senior principal.

Decullan was involved in all those deaths.

And, judging by the circumstances, the primary cause was…

‘…The tower.’

Yes, the tower I built.

More precisely, the fundamental reason for Blandaga’s fall was that I built the tower on their lands.

But.

One question remained unanswered.

Why on earth did Decullan attack the tower?

That was all.

The tower? Yes, it was a monstrosity.

In my plan, it would overflow with the secret arts of every noble house, and those of Decullan could not be omitted.

But think about it.

‘…Would I be so foolish as to publish it unprepared?’

No way.

Revealing all the secrets of the noble houses was only for the final form of the tower, perfected to the maximum.

I didn’t know if the future was years away or how solid my position was then, but regardless, I wouldn’t make that mistake.

“So Decullan must have had a reason to attack the tower…”

It was then that I thought about that.

[…Savior?]

I snapped out of my thoughts upon hearing Gaias’s voice.

“Yes, speak.”

[Did you see it? The future?]

I nodded slightly at the question.

Right after, the atmosphere became bustling.

[It’s over!]

[We are free!]

[That was terrifying!]

[We can leave now!]

Sensing that their bonds had been broken, the spirits emerged from the crystal orb one after another. As their lights filled the chamber, the wyvern emerged late from the orb and rushed to my side.

[That was terrifying!]

Trembling —perhaps remembering years of suppressed freedom— it climbed onto my head.

I hesitated whether to downplay it, and then asked.

“Did you see the future?”

[No. It was completely dark.]

It seems only I saw it. Not bad.

Even the spirits watching our future together would have felt uncomfortably close.

[But friend. Your face… looks bad.]

“Maybe your face is the bad one?”

[…? My expression is bad?]

Ah, it was about expression?

I smiled awkwardly at the misunderstanding when I heard the wyvern’s worried voice.

[Don’t worry too much about the future.]

“…?”

[The future can change. Don’t get caught up. Obsession is forbidden.]

I guess my face looked really bad.

Granted, the future was too unsettling to ignore.

Blandaga falls, Damian, Chenbi, Riley, the senior principal, and even Parun die.

And it’s my fault.

But.

“Alright, I won’t stress.”

[Really?]

I answered without hesitation to the wyvern’s cautious question.

“Of course. It’s a future we can change.”

[Then… great!]

The wyvern cheered up instantly, as if its fainting had never happened. Chuckling at the flapping of its wings, I turned to Gaias.

“Well, we already have what we came for. Ready to go?”

[Yes, let’s do it.]

Unlike the simple wyvern, Gaias still looked at me with concern, but turned around without protest.

The spirits followed.

[We are going too!]

[It’s time to say goodbye!]

As we walked.

Gaias, unable to shake off its concern, finally asked.

[Are you sure you’re okay?]

I replied.

“What’s wrong with it?”

The future is a mess, but it hasn’t arrived yet.

And as the wyvern said, it’s something we can change.

The shock lingered, but… now was not the time to obsess over a future yet to be written. Focus on the present.

However, one thing remained engraved in my mind.

‘…Things can’t go on like this, huh?’

I believed I had minimized the risks and grown fast enough, but the future proved otherwise.

So, what to do?

‘I need to think about it.’

But the direction was vaguely defined.

No matter how the future unfolds, Decullan should not be able to reach an impregnable fortress. That is the tower I must aim for.

Only then…

“Friend! You’re back! Look, Bish also knows how to do tricks…”

“Mmm, Damian. I taught you to treat spirits as friends.”

“Lord Mysern, do you think Damian behaves differently with his friends? Isn’t that too optimistic?”

I silently watched as Damian and Chenbi welcomed me back.

Damian was spinning Bish around, forcing him to do something, while father Mysern and Chenbi watched the scene.

As I contemplated that peaceful and everyday scene, I thought.

Only then… without regrets.

Yes, that was it.