Chapter 4

EP.4 Lifting the curtain and peering into the future, but there was only

"Everyone, rest assured! Tantalus is safe. I am your ally!"

I shouted with fierce conviction, delivering lines that would make anyone listening feel at ease and return to their daily lives.

However, the regressed one snorted at my speech.

'An ally of ours? How absurd. Is there such a thing as an ally in a military state?'

Oh, they don’t believe me.

Well, let’s try to show a bit of a friendly attitude. They say there’s no woman who dislikes cute animals.

Then, I looked at the King of Dogs and smiled.

I kicked the broken golem with my foot. The crystal orb embedded in its eye socket fell and rolled on the ground. I picked it up with my foot and tossed it in the air a few times.

“Woof! Woof!”

The King of Dogs approached, wagging his tail enthusiastically.

Though the King of Dogs appears in human form, his essence is that of a dog. He goes crazy for games that stimulate his hunting instincts.

The King of Dogs fixed his gaze on the crystal orb, bouncing up and down each time I threw it.

I could feel his excitement from his perked ears and sparkling eyes. Sensing that I had captured his attention, I threw the crystal orb with all my might.

“Fetch it!”

“Woof!”

The crystal orb drew a parabola and flew far away. The moment it did, the King of Dogs kicked off the ground and chased after it. He quickly disappeared into the distance.

There’s nothing better than a game of fetch when playing with a dog. I smiled warmly and spoke.

“What a cute puppy. Do you keep him here?”

This should be enough to ease their guard. I glanced at the regressed one’s eyes to read her thoughts.

Let’s see.

‘Puppy, you say? Treating the King of Dogs as just a dog?’

Strange. I was trying to ease her guard, but it only increased. Why? People usually feel at ease when you show kindness to animals.

One more time.

“Dogs are truly wonderful creatures. They are loyal to humans, helpful, and above all, cute. There aren’t many animals that are so helpful without providing high-quality meat.”

‘…And you treat dog anthropoids as completely inferior to humans. Even calling them livestock? Are you some kind of speciesist?’

Oh. I didn’t expect another misunderstanding.

But I didn’t treat the dog anthropoids as dogs. The King of Dogs, while appearing as an anthropoid, is actually a dog in human form. What’s the problem with treating a dog as a dog?

You wouldn’t send an envoy to a queen ant, would you? Even if the King of Dogs is a human, he can’t sit at the same table as us.

“I came here to establish a friendly relationship with you. I….”

The first step in interacting with someone is to form a rapport.

Saying that I was captured and brought here just like you would make me seem safe. They wouldn’t be overly cautious, right?

Just as I was about to say that,

‘One year from now, this Tantalus will collapse. The abyss will sink, and countless lives will fade. Only a handful will survive.’

Wait.

Tantalus? This place will collapse?

‘King of Dogs, Azhi, the progenitor Tirkanjaka. They survive the collapse of Tantalus but… they become corrupted in the abyss.’

And the progenitor of vampires, who once shook the world.

The King of Dogs, representing the will of all dogs… corrupted? Corrupted?

‘The seeds of corruption will hasten the apocalypse that will come in ten years. They will massacre people indiscriminately, plunging the world into chaos. And.’

No later than ten years. When that fateful day arrives.

A true ‘apocalypse’ will come.

The world will end.

Reading this, I was stunned.

Even when I was captured by the military state and brought to Tantalus, I felt desperate but believed I could survive somehow. I planned to use mind-reading to curry favor with instructors and prisoners, build a reputation, uncover secrets, and either threaten or negotiate my way out.

But the facts I just read completely derailed my plan.

A predetermined future is a tragedy and a despair in itself. It’s no wonder countless prophets took their own lives or went mad.

Moreover, if it foretells an inevitable apocalypse.

…What should I do?

‘And, in any future I know, this man does not appear.’

Of course, I’m invisible. I’m just a common criminal. I wouldn’t be involved in a world-saving battle. What a ridiculous thought….

I grumbled inwardly, but my face stiffened as I continued to think.

‘Even in the previous cycle, when Tantalus collapsed and I immediately arrived, this man was not there. Only the bodies below were present.’

The regressed one glared at me and thought.

‘A man who arrives in Tantalus at this late stage might be a seed of corruption. Or perhaps an unfortunate victim, but… one thing is certain: this man does not exist in the future I know.’

So, in summary.

The world will end in ten years.

And I will die in the abyss before the end even arrives?

“Haha.”

I burst into laughter, feeling utterly defeated.

My life has been spoiled.

Worse, the end is a tragedy, and given the nature of Tantalus, a horrific death awaits.

Reading the thoughts of the regressed one who came from the future, I, too, read the future.

Like countless other prophets.

But.

I am different from them.

This time, there is a regressed one, and I read her thoughts. The regressed one, who travels through time to change the past and find a non-existent future. Since I read her thoughts, my death, which is part of the future, can also be changed. Observed prophecies can be altered.

Don’t be tense. Relax. Wear a smile and step forward confidently.

It’s the same as always. When have I ever survived by being strong? I made strong people my allies and avoided them if they became enemies. Knowledge, not strength, was what I needed to survive.

The same applies to fate. There’s no need to confront it. I just need to ensure that fate doesn’t kill me.

Fortunately, I have the pieces in place.

The progenitor of vampires.

The King of Dogs.

And the regressed one.

I will win their favor. I will form friendly relationships, build connections, and ensure they don’t kill me. No, I will make them protect me.

I will survive. By any means necessary.

Good. I’ve made up my mind.

In the previous cycle, I probably told the truth in front of them. I would have said I’m a laborer, captured and brought here with you, and that we are not enemies. I would have convinced them and lived quietly, avoiding entanglement with these dangerous races. That’s the best way to survive.

But now that I’ve read the future, sticking to the original plan is foolish. To grasp a different future, I must avoid the inevitable choices.

I will deceive fate. I will become a different person from the previous me and the previous cycle.

I lifted my head proudly and shouted loudly.

“I am an instructor sent by the military state to guide the trainees!”

“Instructor?”

The regressed one asked sharply.

Impersonating a soldier in the military state is a serious crime. But what does it matter? Being caught as an impersonator is better than dying in a year.

I decided to actively intervene. To stick my nose into everything, having a title is better. I shouted boldly.

“Yes, trainees! You possess extremely dangerous abilities and have violent temperaments, lacking social skills, and were supposed to receive socialization training in Tantalus, isolated from the world! However, an unfortunate incident occurred in Tantalus!”

Repeating what the golem had said, I continued.

“Following the recent mass escape, the military authorities deemed it urgent to provide resocialization training to the dangerous trainees and dispatched me personally! I will reside here to manage and supervise you!”

I changed the first button.

A small step, but it will significantly alter the future. The situations and positions I will face will change dramatically…

But wait.

A variable… I narrowed my eyes and looked at the regressed one.

The regressed one, who was not in Tantalus in the previous cycle, is a variable, isn’t she? Since a variable has already appeared, was it necessary for me to step in?

Was it a futile act? As I felt a vague regret,

“Instructor… Yes, that’s right.”

A cold killing intent pierced through me.

Before I knew it, she had already drawn her sword. Her sharp hostility towards the military state was evident, and it was clearly aimed at me.

I made a mistake.

I knew the regressed one had the ability to return to the past upon death, so I let my guard down. I overestimated her based on her ability. I mistook her calm observation for a lack of emotion.

It was just the regressed one’s characteristic observational stance.

Having strengthened over thirteen cycles means she died thirteen times.

In other words, she is a walking PTSD.

Moreover, seven of those deaths were directly or indirectly caused by the military state, carrying the grudge of seven lives!

‘Kill.’

The killing intent surged suddenly, a level of emotional fluctuation that suggests psychosis. Well, if you’ve died thirteen times, having a few mental issues isn’t surprising, but to immediately draw a sword…

Moreover, my right arm was in the path of the blade.

‘First, I’ll cut off one arm and start the interrogation. What business did you have in a prison where all the prisoners escaped? What are you after?’

Did I trigger a self-destruct switch? Or is this the force of fate?

Whatever it is, the reality I face now is.

A weightless sword aimed at my right shoulder.

The Sword of Heaven, a weightless and thin sword. Compared to the speed of the Sword of Heaven, my body is excruciatingly slow. The blade extends with just a flick of her wrist.

I saw the future. The Sword of Heaven would graze my shoulder, and my right arm would fall off. If I were an ordinary person, I would have lost my arm without a chance to react.

But I can read thoughts.

Just before the regressed one swung her sword, I detected the killing intent and quickly thought.

Block? Impossible. The regressed one, who honed her skills over thirteen cycles, would slice through my defensive stance.

Dodge? Too fast. Even with my ability to read thoughts and act first, the Sword of Heaven is too fast. Dodging well would only change a severed shoulder to a severed neck.

What’s left?

Nothing.

Wait, am I dead? Surely not in a minute, but in a year?

That can’t be.

I must survive. I must continue this wretched life by any means necessary.

How have I survived so far? How have I survived in those dark alleys, living in such a despicable and miserable way!

I didn’t survive to die in this damned abyss!

“Ah!”

I flailed my limbs in a panic. It was a desperate act, just to increase my chances of survival by 0.1%.

But, humans are only saved by those who save themselves.

‘What? ’

A clear ringing sound echoed. The transparent blade rippled. The slightly skewed trajectory grazed just above my shoulder.

Sparks flew along the path of the blade. The Sword of Heaven, which can cut through air, left a lightning-like mark as the air it touched shattered. A moment later, thunder assaulted my eardrums.

The hair on my body stood on end. Whether from static electricity or fear, I couldn’t tell.

‘Did I deflect the Sword of Heaven? ’

Wait, am I alive?

Arm, intact. Body, good. No pain.

I’m alive. The Sword of Heaven missed.

No, wait.

Did my flailing hand deflect the Sword of Heaven?

What? How did this happen?

‘This… I didn’t block it, but deflected it with my finger? Impossible. He doesn’t look that strong…! Could he be hiding his strength?’

I read the regressed one’s thoughts and understood what had happened.

I can read thoughts, so I can predict the intentions and methods of attack of anyone, no matter who they are. This is one of the few advantages of my otherwise useless mind-reading ability.

The moment I read her intention to cut off my right arm, I instinctively flailed my hand, including my right hand.

The problem was that the regressed one’s sword was as fast as my thoughts.

Because the timing coincided, her blade collided precisely with my flailing finger.

Normally, this would be impossible, but the Sword of Heaven is a weightless sword. Just touching my finger caused the blade to bend, and I narrowly avoided losing my arm by a hair’s breadth!

To succeed in this. Wow. I’ve achieved a rare feat in life.

No, that’s not it.

The regressed one, shocked, stepped back and raised her sword. Her previous attitude of handling the situation had changed to a defensive stance, ready to face a formidable opponent.

Crazy woman. Why are you on guard? I’m the one who was suddenly attacked and should be on guard, right?

“…I made a mistake.”

Yes. A big mistake. I almost died.

The regressed one, tense like a cornered cat, glared at me.

“An instructor sent to Tantalus should have at least that much combat ability… I apologize for underestimating you.”

“No. You’re apologizing in the wrong direction.”

I’m grateful for the casual attack, but now is not the time. If the regressed one marks me as an ‘enemy,’ my future and the future of the next cycle are in danger.

Really. It’s unfair and infuriating to be suddenly attacked. But we’re both trapped in Tantalus, and we’ll be facing each other for months.

No matter how annoying the other person is, we need to at least maintain a friendly attitude.

So.

“You should apologize for attacking me out of nowhere! Do you have no manners?”

The regressed one’s brows furrowed at my sudden lecture. I pretended to be frustrated, running my hand through my hair and looking around.

“I understand your anxiety. A terrible incident happened here a few days ago… causing a riot, killing people, looting equipment, and escaping. It’s natural to lose trust in the military state. If you doubt the military state, it’s my duty to bear the consequences as someone who benefits from it.”

‘No, I never trusted the military state. Why would I trust this country?’

“But!”

I don’t trust it either! I just said so!

I interrupted the regressed one’s thoughts and shouted.

“Still, such an aggressive attitude is wrong! If you, who are already imprisoned for crimes, show such a lack of social skills, how can I, who came to help you, be in a position to help?”

“Help… us?”

“Yes!”

Just then, the King of Dogs, who had fetched the crystal orb, placed it at my feet. He seemed to be saying, “Stop making dog sounds and throw the ball again,” nudging my calf with his nose.

I kicked the crystal orb away, annoyed.

“Fetch it!”

“Woof!”

As the excited King of Dogs chased after the ball, I turned back to the regressed one.

“You remained at your post during the chaos, following the rules. Light appears in the darkness. The military state’s upper echelons are closely watching you, who steadfastly adhered to the regulations amidst fear and chaos.”

‘No. The King of Dogs had no intention of escaping until the ‘promise’ was fulfilled, and the progenitor of vampires was asleep. And I had something to do here.’

Why do you keep nitpicking? Why are you so negative? Just accept it!

Your attitude is bad. People like you, if given a moment to think, will come up with arguments to counter the other person. I didn’t give the regressed one a chance to think and pressed on.

“That’s why I was personally dispatched! To support you, the military state’s upper echelons sent me directly!”

It’s not a lie. I was sent here to do labor. The military state’s upper echelons did send me. They just needed a disposable worker who could die without issue.

But words can be twisted. If I emphasize ‘support’ rather than ‘me,’

“Please, let’s work together from now on! Follow me, trainees!”

I can make them believe I’m a great person.

If everyone believes it,

‘He’s a completely unpredictable guy.’

I will actually become a great person.

“Woof!”

Just then, the King of Dogs returned with the crystal orb. No matter how far I threw it, he always found it and brought it back. I kicked it away again. My foot stung from the hard crystal orb, but it flew farther than ever. The King of Dogs panted as he chased after it.

‘The ease with which he handles the King of Dogs… the calm and composed movement that deflected the Sword of Heaven… he’s a man of unknown depth. I can’t gauge his strength at all. With my current abilities…’

You can’t gauge my strength at all. In terms of physical power, I’m a bug on the street. A life of filth that you, who have encountered extraordinary beings like sword saints and holy maidens, can’t even imagine. The absolute cannot understand the filth.

But I understand you.

Anyway, it’s a success. I clenched my fist.

Humans are inherently animals. When faced with an unknown entity, they feel danger and become cautious. Ignorance is danger, and keeping a distance from danger is a basic principle of survival.

So, she won’t casually provoke me.

However, we can’t keep being cautious in this narrow abyss. We need to at least maintain a neutral attitude. I smiled kindly and extended my hand to the regressed one.

The regressed one flinched and aimed her sword at my arm. If she had applied force, my arm would have been sliced like tofu.

But if I showed fear and pulled back, I would be giving her a chance to attack. I maintained my composure and extended my hand for a handshake.

“Why don’t we shake hands to start on a good note?”

The regressed one alternated her gaze between my outstretched hand and my face, then sheathed her sword and turned away.

“…