301 Chapter
“Damn… this is quite the predicament.”
The Goddess. A woman referred to as the first Magician.
Surrounded by mystery, she recognized my presence.
Her eyes contained a dreamy, vast energy as if capturing the universe.
I tried to look away, but it felt as though I were crushed under an overwhelming mass. My eyelids, fingertips couldn’t move.
Even though I still couldn’t feel any mana or unique power, my muscles instinctively tensed like a mouse facing a giant snake, and a drop of tension trickled down my spine.
“Should I move my mana? Or…”
In terms of time, it felt like barely two seconds passed.
The moment our eyes met was brief, but she clearly sensed I was an unusual existence.
Yet, she still didn’t move recklessly.
Was she observing me?
Not wanting to ruin the parade?
Whatever the case, if I moved my mana first, there was a risk of her countering with her own mana for suppression.
“……”
I held my breath and waited for her reaction.
About three additional seconds passed.
She turned her head, covering her fluttering eyebrows, like a butterfly searching for another flower.
The palanquin carrying the Magician continued on its way with the sound of percussion instruments.
‘…Is she pretending not to see me? Or… should I interpret it as her losing interest?’
Amidst the uncertainty of her intentions.
What came into view was a large book she was holding.
It was a thick hardcover book, about the size of her upper body.
The purplish leather cover made from an unknown material exuded a strange discomfort…
*
—Craaaack!
—Keeeek!
A horde of Monsters darkened the surroundings.
I stood right there.
—Kahaaak!
The smell of blood and innards filled the air, and the place was awash with the noise of a drum.
I instinctively activated wind magic against the rushing monsters that sought to devour me.
Swishhhh—!
With a light gesture, elemental magic at the brink of comprehension formed a tornado.
It cleaved through the crowd of monsters, clearing a path.
—Grrrrr!
—Kuhng kuhng!
Perhaps my counterattack exceeded their expectations, for the monsters hesitated to rush in recklessly.
With bloodshot eyes, they bared their teeth and seemed to be searching for my weakness.
In that moment, I quickly assessed the situation.
‘Huh…? This situation is…?’
I had been watching the Goddess’s procession.
Yet now, I found myself in the midst of a horde of monsters. It was an experience I had already gone through.
Right now, I’m at the center of a monster horde. This isn’t even my first rodeo.
I moved my mana to sense the power nearby.
Two energies caught my attention.
Neither of them is ordinary.
If it’s the Goddess Church, they’re at the level of an Archbishop… no, it feels like a high-ranking entity.
‘As expected.’
It’s definitely Schugenharz and Beled.
It lined up perfectly with the moment I first stepped into the past.
Zzzzz—
I fought off the monsters while using my mana to check for any curse magic that might be affecting me.
However, I sensed nothing.
Instead, a single blinking number appeared in my vision.
「5」
The number hovered as if it would vanish at any moment, but then it changed shape.
「4」
From 5 to 4.
It felt like it was distinctly trying to convey some information to me before disappearing.
“Ha…”
Finding myself in such a ridiculous situation made me chuckle.
I thought maybe I met the Goddess and died, but I ended up regressing.
Even showing me a number as if to kindly indicate my remaining life.
‘But I still don’t have a memory of activating the “Second Unique Spell”… What is going on?’
The second unique spell I just completed.
Ouroboros.
It compiles the information it has to create a simulated world.
As long as the mana allows, I can run simulations.
It was the bothersome spell I had to prepare extensively to help Alicia overcome her trauma. I simplified it and improved it so that I, the caster, can use it, not just anyone else.
The downside is the achievement from that simulation can’t be brought back into the real world.
But it’s far more effective than calculating predictions purely in my head, and it can be used in real-time during combat, which is a huge advantage.
Yet… I didn’t activate the Second Unique Spell this time.
Because there was a risk of being caught by the Goddess.
And yet, here I am, having regressed.
What in the world is happening…?
‘…Alicia must have felt something like this back then.’
The image of a woman with white hair occasionally popped into my mind.
I smiled wryly, recalling the events in Rubid Village.
For now, I decided to just accept the situation as it is.
“You!”
“……”
As before, the figure that approached was Schugenharz.
We eliminated all the monsters before we could face each other, and only when the area was thick with the stench of blood could we finally look each other in the eye.
Schugenharz couldn’t seem to take his eyes off me as he approached.
He looked somewhat frustrated, as if he had something to say but couldn’t quite articulate it.
“…You… You are…”
‘Schugenharz doesn’t remember who I am. Do I have to play the same charade again?’
I expected his next words to be, “Ah… sorry. I thought I saw someone familiar for a moment, but it must have been my mistake.”
However, contrary to my expectations, he cleared his furrowed brow and said something different.
“Yes, that’s right…! Organon! It’s you, Organon!”
‘What?’
He knows my alias.
Looking at his expression, he seemed genuinely happy to see an old friend.
“Just how many years has it been! Let’s see… 10 years… no, it’s been 15 years!”
“Ten years… no, it’s been fifteen years, hasn’t it?!”
“…Are you saying you met me fifteen years ago?”
“Oh, don’t tell me you’ve forgotten my face? It’s me, Schugenharz. Remember? Fifteen years ago, I was stuck in Frikkanrisk’s prison with that giggling Lafez, and we successfully escorted all those trapped souls to safety—didn’t we strike down Frikkanrisk too?”
“…”
“Honestly, you can’t remember?!”
No way.
Schugenharz said it had been fifteen years, but for me, it hardly felt like any time at all.
I vividly remembered every minute detail of what had happened back then.
But… how do you remember those events?
Weren’t past forms supposed to not interfere with each other?
I asked to confirm the current timeline.
“Are you saying the extermination of Frikkanrisk happened fifteen years ago?”
“Since we met fifteen years ago, that’s for sure. I was shocked when you suddenly disappeared afterward…”
Schugenharz trailed off.
He furrowed his brow and tilted his head in confusion.
“That’s strange… Actually, the extermination of Frikkanrisk wasn’t fifteen years ago; it was eleven years ago… And back then, I don’t think Lafez and I managed to protect the safe zone…”
It seemed like two contradictory situations were clashing in his mind.
Then he looked up, blinking in surprise at me. The earlier joy had vanished, replaced by bewilderment.
“…Organon, didn’t we go through something like this just a few days ago?”
“That’s quite a stunning statement.”
It looked like fragments of the recent events were still lingering in Schugenharz’s mind.
Just to be sure, I continued the conversation.
While his memories were not perfectly clear, I could sense that remnants were floating around in his head.
‘Before the reset. Schugenharz clearly had more than expected fondness and trust for me upon first meeting. Could that be related?’
The more information I gathered, the more I felt like I was sinking into a labyrinth.
Soon after, Beled arrived, and I asked her.
“Do you remember seeing me?”
“……”
Beled shook her head, keeping her distance from the unfamiliar me, as if she was wary.
From the uneasy eyes peeking through her hair, it didn’t seem like she was lying.
‘Beled doesn’t remember me. Schugenharz vaguely recalls even parts of the past that he thought were disconnected.’
Also, facing the goddess brought about a mysterious death.
This current situation, similar to my second unique spell.
What connections do all these pieces have, and what are they trying to show me?
Everything has a flow.
There are definite causes and effects.
There must be a clear reason and cause for why this is happening to me.
However, despite what I shared with Ami and Zagan, the information I held was far too limited.
I needed broader and more diverse data.
Even if it comes with a certain level of risk. After all, anything is better than doing nothing at all.
“Schugenharz, this might come out of the blue, but do you see me as a benefactor?”
“…Benefactor? Well… that’s true. My mind is all jumbled, but thanks to you, we were able to take down Frikkanrisk and save countless lives—oh wait… did we fail to save them?”
“But thanks to you, we were able to defeat Frikkanrisk and save countless lives, right? Or… did we not save any?”
Even though the situation was unclear, fortunately, Schugenharz was friendly towards me.
I could use this emotion to my advantage.
After finishing my thoughts for a moment, I spoke.
“Submit the report on the eradication of the monster remnants later. For now, there’s a place we need to go.”
“But postponing the report is not a good idea….”
“Isn’t it better to return after properly assessing the situation rather than going back with a huge hit to the back of my head?”
I also needed to know exactly what time this world was in. Even after prying information from Ami and Zagan, there was still a lack of information about the goddess and too many matters I couldn’t comprehend.
At this point, there were six days left until I faced death.
Fortunately, there just happened to be someone who could greatly shorten this time.
I subtly pointed my chin at Beled and smiled softly at Schugenharz.
“It seems she is willing to follow your words. Let’s move right away. There’s someone we need to find.”
Moreover, it would be quicker to use those two rude individuals to find that person.
*
“Ah, what’s going on! Why are you suddenly barging in like this, mister!”
“Could you at least put that sickle away? What kind of state am I in with nightclothes on?”
Ami and Zagan were kneeling, looking quite flustered.
Even though night hadn’t fallen yet, judging by their sleepwear, it seemed they had gone to bed quite early.
Next to them, the future Ami, who had undergone Liberation, was threatening them with a sickle.
Schugenharz seemed to have not expected this situation and asked me.
“Isn’t this something that can be resolved through conversation? There’s no need to harm these kids.”
“Time is more important than gold. Even if the method is somewhat rough, it’s right to use the most effective one. Besides, those kids may look young, but they are already adults.”
“Y-Yes, but… this is a bit much. Furthermore, if you put the same disciple in trouble, it could lead to problems later.”
‘That’s true. It’s not me, it’s you.’
I held back my words and approached the kneeling Ami and Zagan.
As I got closer, Zagan seemed slightly scared, while Ami gritted her teeth and glared.
Just looking at the Grand Mansion they lived in, it’s easy to infer that the two kids could have a significant influence in this metropolis.
And even though the timing might be different, there’s no way ‘that guy’ isn’t active in a big city like this.
Having already confirmed the existence of that individual through Schugenharz, all that was left was to find him.
I told the two youngsters.
“Bring ‘Ultreman’ to me right now.”
In the future, known as Bishop Ultreman.
A big shot operating the massive Monster Trading Terrarium.
I needed to gain his assistance, who always wore a top hat.
From him, I would undoubtedly be able to understand the reasons and objectives for my arrival in this world and lay the groundwork to achieve them.
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