The regressor wore a bewildered expression at the unfamiliar phrase, "catching up to humans."
"Catch up... to?"
"Yes. I am aware of my position as the King of Humans, but I lack any such power. I'm not entirely sure why, but there is no King of Beasts for humans. It's as if humans broke away from beasts and became an entirely different existence."
When I call myself an ordinary human, it is my genuine feeling, without a hint of exaggeration or false modesty. As I am now, I am an ordinary human who lacks power, knowledge, and will. Thanks to my telepathy, I can at least represent the person right in front of me, but that is all.
I really don't know how it came to this, but the King of Humans has been separated from humans.
"As you know, the King of Beasts has things it must do. Or should I say, a reason for existence?"
"What is it?"
"Don't you know? The work of representing and executing the general will of the species. That's why wolves fight dogs, elephants honor the death of their kin and guard their graves, beavers build dams, and horses run across the plains. Things like that."
It might seem like such a trivial thing, but precisely because it is, the King of Beasts clings to such duties all the more. Possessing all the universal characteristics of a species, the King of Beasts is an archetypal existence.
It should have been the same for me... but.
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"What is the thing the King of Humans must do?"
"I don't know."
I don't know.
Actually, it might not exist. Because humans are creatures that do all sorts of things. Even though they aren't elephants, they guard graves, and even though they aren't beavers, they build dams.
But if they do all sorts of things, shouldn't I have that ability too? But I don't. As if someone stole it from me.
"You're the King of Humans, right? But you don't know your duty?"
"That's why I'm trying to find out. You have to know first before you can do anything. So I'm wandering around looking for the existence that changed humans. I'm not sure, but if it's a catalyst that changed humans, it can only be that."
The regressor was also well aware of what I was referring to. Entities that even a regressor who had undergone over a dozen loops couldn't easily fathom. With a reluctant expression, the regressor uttered their name.
"The knowledge that pierced the world and the power that changed humans. The Demon God."
"That's right. The power that irreversibly changed humans. I don't want that power itself, but the background surrounding the power. Because knowing that will tell me how humans changed."
What a frank and straightforward explanation. Even the most suspicious regressor would have no choice but to accept it in the face of this simple and clear explanation. As they say, truth and sincerity always get through.
'...There are still some doubts, but no contradictions. The King of Sin I saw was a different person from Hughes, but they too clearly wielded the power of the Demon God.'
Convinced, the regressor asked with a much softer expression.
"Is that your reason for chasing the Demon God?"
"Yes."
"Lie."
"I'm glad you understand... Yes? What?"
When I asked back at the unexpected words, the regressor answered with a stiff expression, crossing their arms.
"It's different from the information I know. You're hiding the truth, right? Don't try to hide it and spit it out."
'There's nothing particularly contradictory with my information, but still, they're the King of Humans. There must be more information they're hiding. I don't have certainty, but my gut tells me there's definitely something. If I prod a bit more, it'll come out.'
Bluffing? Without any certainty? So vaguely?
What the hell. Dumbfounded by this level of arbitrary stubbornness, I asked back.
"What's different?"
The regressor racked their brain to find something to poke at, but everything I had said was the truth. There was no way there could be any contradictions or inconsistencies. Unable to find any flaw, the regressor answered stubbornly.
"Anyway."
"Hah. You caught me. That's right. Actually, I don't care about the Demon God at all, and my real goal is to travel the world and meet women from every country. Isn't it an instinct for any beast to find a mate? I just acted faithfully to that instinct."
"Just as I thought!"
"That was a lie, you human! What do you mean 'just as I thought'!"
When I yelled out, the regressor flinched and asked back.
"...It's not?"
"Of course not! If I was going around to meet women, I would have stayed comfortably as Tir's concubine instead of running away! If you're going to bluff, do it properly. What were you going to do if I just went along with such a nonsensical lie!"
Don't you know the saying that you shouldn't make a bet if you're not sure? If this were a gambling den, you would have paid dearly for failing at such an absurd bluff.
Perhaps knowing their own embarrassment, the regressor turned away from me with their arms still crossed. Having seized the upper hand, I immediately pressed the regressor.
"Anyway. You understand now, right? So you'll have to cooperate with me a bit."
"Cooperate? With what?"
"The Cheonang you have. That's a relic of the Demon God, right?"
"This?"
"Let me see it."
When I reached out toward the invisible sword, the regressor fiddled with Cheonang.
'It might be dangerous to carelessly hand the Demon God to the King of Humans, but... Eh, no way. What could happen?'
Their thoughts were simple, and their actions were fast. The regressor gathered Cheonang and handed it to me. I carefully grabbed Cheonang with my hand so as not to be cut.
I can feel the power of space swirling within the small area. What I feel from the compressed space is a wind like a captured typhoon. If I make even a small hole, the wind seems like it will burst out. I could swing it too, but it looked difficult to truly draw out this power.
This is definitely a Demon God. But I have no idea what kind of Demon God it is. In the first place, I can't feel any will or lingering attachment here.
Perhaps worried, the regressor stared at Cheonang and spoke.
"Done looking? Then give it back. Cheonang has immense power compressed within it, so it's dangerous to leave it in a novice's hands."
"You certainly had the nerve to leave such a dangerous thing to me."
"You said you were different!"
'I thought it would bounce back the moment you touched it. Nothing happened? Well, you casually picked up the Jizando that those who are not chosen cannot wield. Can the King of Humans wield all tools freely?'
Wait. What? The one who might be in danger was me? You weren't worried I'd hurt you with the Demon God's power?
The regressor's mind is so fickle and sudden that it's hard to gauge.
Nothing more to gain. Having seen all I needed to see, I gave it back to the regressor and asked.
"This is also a Demon God, right?"
"So what?"
"But Cheonang doesn't have that. The will of the Demon God who changed and twisted the world. They died and disappeared, but I don't see the remnants of the will that should still remain as it carved into the world. It's not the Demon God I was looking for."
"I guess what you're after isn't the power of the Demon God itself."
"Yes. The will and enlightenment of the human who became a Demon God are far more important. My goal isn't to obtain power, but to catch up to humans."
Reminding myself of my purpose once again, I asked the regressor.
"Where is this Demon God?"
The Demon God of the Sky. The source of this bizarre power that manipulates space and wind must be somewhere. And the regressor, who had collected treasures and authorities through twelve regressions, was the fastest route to the Demon God.
...If possible, I wanted to travel together and secretly gather clues, but since I was caught, there's nothing I can do. I questioned the regressor point-blank.
"Whatever kind of god the Heavenly God is, there must have been a human who first discovered it. That person became a Demon God and left Cheonang behind. You obtained Cheonang there, didn't you, Mr. Shay?"
"...So what if I did?"
"Stop pretending you don't know and tell me. Where that place is, and what kind of Demon God is there. If you don't want to tell me, then just say so."
You don't have to answer. I can just read your memories anyway.
Surprisingly, the regressor hadn't recalled how they obtained Cheonang during this iteration. Maybe it became a complete routine after going through regressions, or maybe it's because they recognize it as their own. There must have been a process of going to get Cheonang, but it had disappeared from the regressor's consciousness.
'The Sacred Mountain, Yullim. The sanctuary of the Holy Church where the first saintess made contact with the Heavenly God.'
However, if I question them like this, they have no choice but to recall it. I concentrated my mind and read the regressor's thoughts. The information about the Demon God that the regressor had already found, hidden behind the veil.
'A little further up from there... if you stand on the altar at a specific time, only those who perceive that existence can see the space and grasp Cheonang. Since I already know Cheonang, I easily found it, but it would be difficult for others.'
Ooh. The information is pouring out. The regressor may be unreliable, but the information they know is real. The experience they gained through repeating the iterations was too sweet to ignore.
The Sacred Mountain, Yullim. And the Altar of the Sky. As I was recalling the information I had obtained and trying to read the method...
The thought cut off right then.
What? If you're going to think, think it through to the end! Why are you stopping your thoughts at the most important part?! Don't stop thinking. Remember it to the end!
While I was vomiting my grievances inwardly, the regressor gave a completely unexpected answer.
"I'll tell you."
"What?"
It was so unexpected that even after reading their thoughts, I couldn't believe it and asked back.
"Really? This obediently?"
"Why are you surprised? You're the one who asked."
"Look at your behavior, Mr. Shay. You've only been prickly and never revealed your true intentions until now. But you suddenly come to me and say you'll obediently help, so suspicion comes before joy."
"Then don't take it!"
"I'm just saying, why are you getting pouty again. If you really help me, I welcome it."
It's baffling how cooperative they are for someone who just pointed Cheonang at me. I used telepathy once again to catch up with the regressor's thoughts, which were shifting wildly in real time.
'The King of Sin will definitely appear. Even if I destroy Nebida's fake World Tree and the forbidden fruit that breeds sin, it eventually appeared and ravaged the world. Like the other Beast Kings, there will be one King of Sin per generation. I cannot prevent the birth of the King of Sin itself.'
What?
A fake World Tree? A forbidden fruit? It breeds sin?
Now I'm getting curious. What exactly did the regressor see and hear in the previous iterations? Strange knowledge keeps popping up one after another.
I knew thirteen regressions weren't a joke, but... Based on what they've shown so far, I thought they were just a greedy person who was swayed by the world and hoarded treasures through regression. But even deep and dark knowledge that a mere witness shouldn't possess is popping out. What exactly is regression, and why can't I even read their thoughts properly when they're right in front of me? They're suspicious from head to toe.
'Maybe Hughes will become the King of Sin. I might be feeding the Demon God to the King of Sin...'
Likewise. He might be the secret weapon of the Holy Church created by the regressor to target the King of Humans.
'But it's worth checking. Let's give it a try.'
But there is value in verifying the regressor's knowledge. What the hell. If we've come this far, might as well go for broke.
The betting was over. Now all that was left was to show each other our hands. The first to open their mouth was the regressor.
"But, I have a condition."
"I knew it was going too well, you're being difficult. Where's the harm in just doing it?"
"It does harm. Because this is for me, but at the same time, it's also for you."
Dismissing my grumbling, the regressor said with confidence.
"If you are truly the King of Humans, keep the promise you made with the King of Dogs. Then I'll trust you and take you to the sanctuary. Without telling the Holy Church, of course."
"The promise with Aji?"
I looked back at Aji. Aji, who had been nervous in case the regressor and I fought, was sitting down, looking much more relaxed as the conversation flowed smoothly. Then, catching my eye, Aji tilted their head.
The promise dogs and humans made long ago. Neither I nor Aji have memories from that time. But as the King of Beasts, the contract between the two species is still valid. That is why Aji and I must keep our promises to each other.
Aji protects humans, and I protect Aji. Just as dogs protect humans and humans look after dogs.
...Having lost all my power and authority, I also lost the binding force of the promise. But I had only put it off due to a lack of ability, not because I intended to break the promise.
Why? Because it's a promise.
Promises are meant to be kept, yeah. I'm no scammer.
"Well, I intended to keep it. But how does that help?"
"It helps. The fight between dogs and wolves. Depending on the outcome..."
Just for a very brief moment. The regressor's thoughts deepened.
Beastmen. Mixed with beasts by Muho Agartha, a race within a race that has been distinguished from and discriminated against by humans until now. They possess superior senses and physical abilities compared to humans, but were marginalized due to their nature, which was so naive that it bordered on stupidity.
Distinction and discrimination create differences. A thick levee built with perception and custom separated beastmen and humans. Without even knowing how the other side of the wall was changing, humans relied on this single levee to enjoy a tranquil peace.
However, nothing in the world is eternal. One day, a disturbance arose in the tranquil peace brought by the levee. Over that incredibly high and thick wall, the raging currents of pent-up emotions began to spill over. By the time they noticed, it was already too late. The disparities that had piled up as high as they could were now ready to burst at the slightest touch.
And among such beastmen, the dog beastmen were the most numerous and friendly to humans, serving as a buffer zone in the middle of the conflict.
The regressor murmured, recalling their appearance from a future that had not yet arrived.
"Because it will change what choice the dog beastmen make."