The regressor watches me sullenly without a word. Even though I haven't particularly done anything wrong, I somehow feel guilty. As I stood still with my hands clasped together, the regressor uncrossed her arms and spoke up.
"Why are you just watching?"
"At what?"
"You can do it. You might not be able to go out and fight the Wolf King, but you can deceive and coax those piggy idiots. Tell them to stop fighting for a moment and join forces to face the Wolf King."
Is she serious? That I can deceive and coax those pig beastmen and control them as I please? That would only be possible for a hypnotist, not the King of Humans. How could that even work?
I was about to say it was obviously impossible. Until I read the regressor's thoughts.
'You can do it. You can produce a better outcome, so why aren't you willing to do it?'
...Well, I'll let it slide that she's overestimating me. Since I don't know how the world works, I won't say it's impossible.
But I can't do that. Even if it means betraying her expectations, I decided to let down the strange faith the regressor had in me.
"First of all, putting aside whether I can or cannot, the picture would become weird, wouldn't it? I am the King of Humans, not a King. So, I can't step forward and order the pig beastmen to do this or that."
"Why?"
"If you ask why, I have nothing to say. Just think of it as similar to Aji not persuading dogs to shout that they love humans. The King of Beasts is a representative, not a ruler."
Dogs love humans, so Aji loves humans too. It's not that Aji loves humans, so dogs love humans.
The causality between beasts and the King of Beasts is structured that way. I only uncover human nature; I don't try to move or mold it. No, I can't. Just as a shadow cannot leave a person.
"If the King of Beasts tried to dominate all beasts according to his will, that would be no different from the King of Sins."
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The regressor has a lot of experience separate from intellect. With just this much explanation, she would understand. I was about to finish my explanation with satisfaction.
But the regressor tilted her head and asked back.
"It's for Aji's sake."
"Pardon?"
"You have to keep your promise with Aji. You have to defeat the Wolf King. Unlike in the Abyss, this is something you have to do. Sincerely, with all your might."
Uh, well. I do have to keep the promise, but. Regardless of the method, isn't it enough as long as the promise is kept? In our King of Beasts community, that's the standard.
"You should know too. That the current situation in Ende isn't the best. If so, you have to make it the best, so you can better fulfill the promise you made with Aji. You might lack martial prowess, but you have the ability to do that."
'Hughes is different from the King of Sins. That's for sure. But even if he's different, he's too different. He doesn't make the situation worse, but he doesn't make any moves to make it better either. He just lets it fall into chaos. It's somewhat ambiguous. He's capable, but it's unclear whether he's helpful or not.'
No, even if she believes I have the ability. I don't particularly have that kind of ability. Protecting the city isn't exactly my wish, so I can't forcefully blow it into them.
If you ask if there's no method, it's not exactly like that either... Hah, wait a minute.
"By any chance, if I say I won't do it, will you abandon me and Aji and run away, Ms. Shay?"
"Are you an idiot? Just because things go wrong doesn't mean I'll irresponsibly let you go. Well, unless things go terribly wrong, that is."
"That's a bit scary."
Meaning if things go even more wrong, she could drop everything and run. Got it, got it.
I should probably break that baseless faith she has in me first... No, come to think of it, it's unfair. What have I shown for her to overestimate me like this? Didn't she see? Even after coming to Ende, I lived the life of an unemployed person for nearly a month. Incompetent and lethargic.
'If you do it, you can do it well. Why aren't you willing to do it? Even if you're the King of Humans, you're human. It's not even for your own benefit, so show a bit more effort. Only then can I hold onto hope for you in the next loop too.'
Why is she trying to have hope while looking at me? Look at humans, humans.
The pig beastmen are humans. The Gong-in are also humans. Other beastmen are also humans.
The reason Ende ended up in this state is simply because humans are originally like that. I thought it might change a little, but since they are who they are, the end result is similar.
But telling me to do better while looking at me here is a contradiction. If humans are like that, there's no use expecting anything from me, the King of Humans...
"Woof! It's okay!"
At that moment, Aji wedged himself between me and the regressor. With transparent eyes that made it unclear whether he even knew what was going on, Aji barked brightly.
"I, keep promise! Protect humans! Protect you! Even without that one!"
You should drop the expectations a bit. Why do you steadfastly keep your promises regardless of whether someone expects it or not? Stupidly.
Suddenly pointed out, the regressor pointed at herself and asked back.
"What? Even without me?"
"I, trust! Woof! Won't run!"
"I told you I won't run either!"
"Woof woof. Anyone can say anything!"
"I'm telling you it's real!"
'Ever since I obtained Cheon-aeng, I haven't avoided this fight! No matter the situation, no matter the outcome! Even without knowing people's hearts!'
Ah, right. The regressor was a regressor.
This loop is not the end. I'm not a diligent person who thinks about the future, but I can't just stand by and watch my future self being tormented by the regressor in the future eons of loops.
I guess it wouldn't hurt to show a slightly more diligent side. That way, my post-regression self will also receive some leftover benefits.
Good grief. It's harder than the afterlife. Everyone knows what a good deed is, but even the regressor herself doesn't know her own heart.
Well, putting the regressor's heart aside. I do have to keep my promise.
"Ms. Shay."
"Why?"
"Then please follow my instructions from now on. Don't ask too much about the reason."
"Why?"
"...No, I mean, you told me to do my best. I'm weak in martial prowess so there are restrictions on my movements, but if you're here, Ms. Shay, that becomes a bit less of an issue."
Right. She hadn't agreed to my request not to ask for reasons yet, so she could do that.
Convinced by my explanation, the regressor nodded and said.
"Alright. Give it a try. I'll help you completely."
'Last time, when he said he'd work, I just sent him off alone; I've never seen what he actually does. This time, let's watch clearly. What kind of human Hughes is.'
Yeah. Look as much as you want. Evaluate me to your heart's content. However, I also need to test how capable a cooperative regressor is.
"First, please stand by at home. While playing with Aji."
"Why?!"
"...There has to be a time for that once in a while. Or you can secretly follow me. I have to talk about things that wouldn't come out well if you show your face, Ms. Shay."
"Like what?"
The Wolf King will invade soon, so I could have just waited until then. But wouldn't it be okay to give a slightly earlier option? The price of the choice wouldn't necessarily have to be paid in blood. Although it might make them want to pay it in blood instead.
"Didn't you say earlier, Ms. Shay? That the orcs will dilly-dally until the Wolf King invades and then get swept away."
"I did."
"I think we need to bring that point a little earlier."
"We don't have time?"
"That's why we'll be able to see the bottom even more."
The more urgent it is, the more true nature reveals itself. Let's go. To scrape off the bottom of humanity.
Urkupang is a mercenary of pig beastman origin. And as is usual for most mercenaries, he wasn't born as one.
Having a large physique since he was young, he led a gang of piggies, and if there were any beastmen who bullied or discriminated against the piggies, he would go find them and beat them soundly. The pig beastmen revered him as their boss, and Urkupang secretly enjoyed those gazes.
It was a day like any other. He witnessed some humans shouting noisily in a tavern. A few fierce-looking humans were repeatedly spouting 'dirty beastmen' like an exclamation, chewing over Ende as a drinking snack.
Naturally, Urkupang wasn't one to just stand by. He led his gang and surrounded the humans. The frail-looking humans were surrounded by burly pig beastmen. The humans, looking around once, grinned.
Those humans were mercenaries who had come to the Enge Plains on a request. Ones who had learned Qigong.
Dozens of piggies oinked like pigs and crawled on the ground. Urkupang dangled his broken tusk and begged for forgiveness. The mercenaries left the ruined tavern behind, grabbed Urkupang, and dragged him away.
On the vast Enge Plains, the mercenaries were looking for a guide, and Urkupang provided a convenient excuse to be exploited. Moreover, since it was a pig beastman, even more so. Urkupang was treated worse than a dog and exploited by them for nearly five years.
They were days of pain and humiliation, but he gained a lot. How to find the way, how to manage people, and how to learn Qigong. Qigong wasn't such a precious secret as in the old days. Urkupang desperately learned the Qigong that the mercenaries bestowed upon them as if giving alms.
Fortunately, Urkupang had both talent and passion, and above all, his grudge made him strong. Having learned Qigong, Urkupang became quite strong. To the point where the mercenaries felt burdened to treat him carelessly.
So the mercenaries decided to kick Urkupang out.
Hearing the words to get out to his face, Urkupang was confused. He hated the mercenaries, but had grown somewhat attached to them. He had gained strength, but wasn't strong enough to take revenge. Above all, the money the mercenaries gave him as severance pay was quite hefty. He traded a bit of his pride for money and returned to Ende.
What he learned was power. If you have power, you are treated well. If you have power, you are respected. The reason pig beastmen are treated so insignificantly is because they lack power. Just as he was humiliated in the mercenary group.
Urkupang organized a pig beastman mercenary group. He taught Qigong to the mercenary group and decided to become the strength of the pig beastmen. So that all of them would be respected.
"Haa..."
But it wasn't enough.
Ende was too big of a prize. The pig beastmen lacked the strength and preparation to handle it right now. With his power, he couldn't control Ende's chaos. Urkupang tilted his glass, trying hard to ignore the continuous reports coming in.
"Time, I need time."
"You seem to have a lot of worries, Mr. Urkupang."
I naturally sat down beside him. Urkupang looked at me through his greasy hair that he hadn't washed in days.
"Keukkeuk. Magician. Just in time. I was in the mood to borrow the power of magic."
"You've already gotten everything you wanted. Why do you want to borrow more?"
"Everything?"
"The power of Ende. Thanks to your hard fight, a world where pig beastmen are treated well has finally come, hasn't it?"
"Hmph. Power isn't important. What's important is the strength that allowed us to obtain it."
Urkupang roughly emptied his glass. Downing the alcohol in one gulp, he burped and muttered.
"We lack strength. This is the power we seized thanks to Lord Grul's strength. But he doesn't show much interest in Ende. Our orcs need to grow their strength, but there's too little time for that. Of all things, the Wolf King..."
"I agree. The Wolf King is invading, so what are you going to do?"
"I don't know... I don't know. I can't release the Obelisk either."
I know. I swallowed the urge to laugh and said.
"Why can't you release it?"
"Why ask the obvious? If we release it, it'll immediately try to catch us. Absolutely not. All our necks will fly off."
But the chaos would be sorted out. Perhaps the Obelisk might propose cooperation to overcome the imminent crisis, and Grul might become a bit more proactive.
Of course, since the future is unknown, I don't know how it will turn out. But one thing is certain: it will move towards overcoming the crisis.
...Urkupang knows this fact too. He just can't choose it.
"Then it can't be helped. You have no choice but to overcome the Wolf King yourselves."
"Is there a way?"
"It's not that we're doing it because there's a way. We're doing it because we have to. As long as the King of Dogs is here, the Wolf King will 'definitely' come, and the Wolf King will try to kill all humans. If you don't want to die, you have to fight. All of you."
"You sure speak easily for someone who says it's not their business."
"Not my business? Me and Aji are the parties involved. We came to Ende to fight the Wolf King."
"Ah, was that so... Why did you have to come now of all times."
Urkupang, who had been blurting out words without much thought, suddenly shuddered with a chill running down his spine. As if the heavily consumed alcohol had evaporated in an instant, the tipsy feeling disappeared, and a cold chill set in. Urkupang, stiffening up, ruminated on the words he had just said.
'Wait. As long as the King of Dogs is here, the Wolf King will come...? That means.'
Yeah. Let's see how far this can go once.
Hiding my cold intentions, I patted his shoulder and stood up.
"I've already devised a strategy to deal with the Wolf King, so call me when you're ready later."
"Under...stood. Magician."
He understood well. Thanks. If he had been too drunk to understand, I would have been in trouble.
I left the tavern waving my hand widely. So that Urkupang could ruminate on that thought more carefully.