Chapter 443 – Small Peace

Regression.

It means returning to the original place.

When applied to a person, it means going back in time to the past.

In simple terms, it means living life again.

This has recently become a very hot and stimulating topic in web novels.

To the extent it’s classified under the term ‘rebirth.’

[It hasn’t even appeared on public broadcasts.]

“F*ck, now rebirth is going to go downhill too.”

Above all, it has the advantage of easily obtaining a forced plausibility.

Why did they kill an innocent person? Because they knew they’d become the villain in the future.

What’s the reason to help that person? Because they saw them as a significant power before regression.

How do they grow so quickly? Because they saw the position of special abilities and then regressed.

Why invest in worthless places? Because they confirmed that it grows significantly in the future.

This is one of the flawless materials that use the advantage of information for fast development.

Of course, there is one precondition for this.

The regression point must be ‘before’ childhood or an event that would cause regret.

However, here, I am the reference point for that regression, which is why such loopholes are largely distorted.

“Are you asking for the standard of regression?”

[Indeed. A regression without a standard is merely half-assed.]

Through Piece’s words here, I felt I understood a bit about what that dog bastard was aiming for.

Even if there’s a regression that one can do anytime,

If it can’t return to the desired point, it can’t be perfectly utilized.

It’s obvious it won’t flow as they intended.

“In the end, you’re trying to determine the standard of regression with this ability.”

[So that’s why they are targeting you.]

Pondering that statement, I organized the events that had transpired.

The creator, that bastard, spread regression to everyone and then took it back.

What he was desperately searching for was none other than me.

To be exact, the ability that is the standard point of regression.

And all of this pointed to one fact.

“You want a complete regression, don’t you?”

[There’s a high probability of that.]

The creator wants a perfect regression.

“But why?”

[I don’t know either.]

Honestly, I have no idea what that’s for.

“A useless woman.”

[That bastard.]

The same goes for Piece.

Was there something they wanted to change from everything that had happened until now?

Did they want to create a different change because they weren’t satisfied with something slightly?

Or are they just bored, and since they can’t even pull that off properly, it’s frustrating?

Well, whatever the reason is, it doesn’t really matter.

In the end, their actions conclude that they are targeting me.

As long as I struggle to survive as much as possible, that’s enough.

At that moment, two worries suddenly crept up.

“But what if they target me again?”

[Like this time?]

“Yes.”

First, what should I do if they come to target me again?

To be honest, I was really lucky this time.

Even amid the threat of death, I managed to seize an opportunity somehow.

And in the end, Piece even delivered a flashy counterattack.

“Let’s be honest, it was really dangerous, wasn’t it?”

[Well, that much is true.]

But there’s no guarantee that it will be resolved so well again.

If anything, they’ll likely prepare even more meticulously next time.

They’ll try to eliminate any possibility of making mistakes entirely.

They can’t possibly be that stupid.

[The only one repeating the same mistake is your gacha plan, isn’t it?]

“Don’t say bad things, f*ck.”

Still, this worry seemed unfounded as Piece spoke leisurely.

[Anyway, don’t worry. That will definitely not happen.]

“Why not?”

What on earth allows them to remain so calm?

When you think about it, Piece is in as dangerous a situation as I am.

If I die, it’s obvious that Piece will also be targeted by that bastard.

The fact that Piece had devoured their own kind means that the bastard can do the same.

[Isn’t part of that bastard eaten by me?]

“What does that matter?”

But the more I listened to Piece’s words, the more I felt.

[If they’ve lost that much power, it would be difficult to interfere easily.]

“And there’s also more power from you, Piece.”

[Correct. Even if they can’t chase, escaping shouldn’t be an issue at least.]

I felt like I could lower my worries a bit.

When I thought about it, in the dream world, Piece had significantly widened the distance between me and that dog bastard.

It wasn’t an event caused by either party moving.

The distance merely widened infinitely in an instant.

“Was that possible thanks to your power, Piece?”

[That’s right. Does this body look a little different now?]

Usually, they appeared quite incompetent, but maybe it’s because they’re an important character.

This time, they really performed surprisingly well.

“You look completely different; you’re not Piece, right? That bastard can’t be so competent.”

[That dog bastard, seriously.]

Still, one worry remains.

From the previous regression of Caressy, I had glimpsed the future.

Where I killed all the heroines and others.

I can’t be sure that has been resolved.

[In the end, your purpose was to avoid that future, wasn’t it?]

“To be honest, it’s difficult to say it’s resolved yet.”

So I desperately rack my brain to continue my thoughts.

And what comes to mind is a somewhat vague prediction.

No, it’s too pathetic to even call it a prediction.

But it was a slight possibility that couldn’t be ignored.

[Then do you have any thoughts in mind?]

“Well, I have one.”

A disaster that I wouldn’t commit if I had reason.

This conversely implies that there is some degree of possibility.

While I was devoid of reason, someone might have been manipulating me.

“Does that bastard, the creator, have the ability to manipulate someone?”

[Are you suggesting that they manipulated you to cause that outcome?]

If so, that makes some degree of sense.

“Maybe? Honestly, I can’t deal with everyone alone.”

[In that case, the heroines would at least hesitate to attack.]

Of course, this is still somewhat far from a perfect hypothesis.

Even though my fighting skills excel compared to others,

Even if the heroines don’t attack me,

It’s clear I would face limits against that many people.

“Is what I said really possible?”

[I can’t say for sure. Even if it is possible, there will definitely be conditions.]

In any case, I didn’t believe this was the end.

“So what will that bastard do now? They don’t seem to be thinking of giving up.”

[I don’t know that either.]

Besides the unresolved worst conclusion, that bastard will certainly do something else.

After all, they had obsessively clung to me while discarding all the regressed ones.

Well, for now, I decided to send a small thanks for surviving this moment.

“Seeing you so incompetent without knowing anything, you really are Piece.”

[You’re really dead. I’ll make sure to kill you.]

However the process went, I had taken a step back from the imminent danger.

As I turned my gaze to cool my heated head for a moment,

I unconsciously opened my mouth as a bottle of alcohol came into view.

Why on earth was I unexpectedly on the guild rooftop?

“By the way, why am I here? I don’t remember.”

[Huh? What kind of nonsense is that?]

Judging by the numerous bottles of alcohol around, one could say I came to drink.

However, as I’ve said before, I have absolutely no memory of coming up here.

Then Piece made an expression that seemed rather strange.

[You had a short conversation with the heroines and came up to the rooftop.]

“Oh, really?”

If what Piece said is true, this must be alcoholic dementia.

There were quite a few bottles scattered around,

But considering my usual drinking capacity, losing my memory from this alone is unlikely.

“Oh crap. It’s dementia.”

But how could I have absolutely no memories related to this event?

This is a serious warning sign that I need to quit drinking.

[Perhaps it’s because of what happened in the dream world that my memories got a bit clouded.]

“Good to hear. Then I’ll just drink one more bottle.”

[Idiot…]

Thank goodness I don’t have to quit.

Then suddenly, a fact popped into my head from what Piece said.

If I lost some memories due to what happened in the dream,

What if I forgot the appearance of HAL stored in my mobile phone?

Thinking that, I seemed to forget that horrific scene.

To prove this, I quickly turned on my mobile phone,

And I decided to recall the abyss into reality to see if I really didn’t remember.

“Oh, f*ck. This memory is intact.”

[It’s me who isn’t intact, you dog bastard!!!]

Sadly, as soon as I took it out, I was already thinking about it.

[If you don’t remember, that would have been a good thing. Why are you poking your head back in???]

“Oh, right.”

Of course, since I did this, even if I had forgotten some memories,

They would have been forcefully re-engraved in my brain again.

Anyway, for now, I decided to enjoy this little peace.

[……What about my peace?]

“There’s none of that, Piece.”

Just mine, without Piece.