"I am actually a regressor."
Shay's shocking confession from last time was surprisingly not all that shocking.
First of all, there is a Saintess in this world. Since there is a Saintess who prophesies the future, knowing future information isn't unique or special.
Moreover, the people here are all entangled with the Saintess, whether they like it or not. They aren't the type to be appalled upon hearing the word 'regression' for the first time.
"...Hughes."
"Yes? What is it, Shay?"
"It seems like no one believes that I'm a regressor."
Is that why? Shay became somewhat downcast. I was about to comfort her, but suddenly became curious and asked.
"No. Everyone believes you, Shay. But Shay. What are we supposed to do about it?"
"What do you mean what? The apocalypse is coming. We have to stop it!"
"So how?"
So, how?
The King of Sins is 'Sister'. Even in my eyes, 'Sister' is more than enough to become the King of Sins.
But what? 'Sister' isn't right in front of us, and I don't even know what she's plotting. I know the world is moving somewhat unusually, but I can't really feel it.
"Somehow!"
"Even so, are we going to invade another country and attack Sister? That's interfering in internal affairs, and more importantly, it's like throwing an egg at a rock."
"We have to do at least that!"
"That's not something you can say we 'have' to do."
Even with the apocalypse, it doesn't feel real. It's like prophesying that I'll eventually die when my lifespan runs out.
Sure, I'll die someday. But is that something I need to worry about? Will worrying change anything?
"Maybe Sister will become a wise ruler. Why don't we watch with warm eyes?"
"Like she will! I don't know about others, but you will die!"
"Huh? Why me?"
"Because the world doesn't need two kings! You will be attacked for the sole reason that you are the King of Humans!"
How do you know that? A prediction? Yeah right. And this is coming from someone who says we have to do 'at least that' when asked for a countermeasure.
"I'll be honest. It's not that we don't believe you, Shay. We believe you. But there's something lacking in your words."
"What is it?"
"An explanation."
I said firmly.
"Your explanations are extremely scarce and completely disorganized. We can't understand the situation clearly. No matter how much we listen, we get 'I see' and 'there's something going on,' but we don't know what attitude to take or what to do about it."
"T-That means you don't believe me!"
"I'm telling you it's different from not believing you. How was it when I took classes in the Abyss? You listened, but it didn't resonate deeply in your heart, did it?"
Shay, who pondered for a moment, shook her head.
"No, I didn't listen at all."
"I know that! I'm just comparing it to a past experience to build some empathy!"
I tried to at least create empathy since she couldn't understand, but she wouldn't even do that! Do you really think you can make anyone understand like that?!
"That's your problem, Shay! You end up in a situation where no one understands you, just like the Saintess's prophecy. Then you should try even harder to make them understand! You say you know the future, but if you don't properly explain what's going on, what are we supposed to do?!"
"But...! Even if I explain, no one believes me!"
Shay said with emotion, as if she had been caring about it quite a bit.
"I explained it in painstaking detail. But most of them just doubted, tested, and investigated me. There were very few people who believed me from the start!"
"It's surprising that there were people who believed you..."
"Hey!"
"Calm down. I believe you, Shay. Haven't I ever doubted your words?"
"Huh? T-That's true."
"And I also believe in your catastrophic eloquence. With average comprehension and empathy, it's really hard to believe your words."
"...Wasn't that just an insult?"
Her comprehension is poor, but she understands insults like a ghost. Is she just quick-witted?
"Who believed your words during your past regressions?"
"First, my master. My master always believed in me unconditionally."
"The Sword Empress has a special commonality with you through the Heaven Pan Mirror, so let's put her aside. What about others?"
"Other than my master, there's Elkid and Elisia. And the other Saintesses."
"Elkid was the Thunder Lord, right? A Holy Swordsman. What? They're all from the Holy Emperor's Court and the Holy Sword Order."
The White Tower Master had a close relationship with her, and the Blue Tower Master who agreed with her cause must have also been a member of the Holy Sword Order. As a fellow Saintess, there was no reason for her not to help Shay, who was trying to stop the King of Sins just like her.
"They were all people who either saw the future or believed in that future. Actually, didn't they believe in the Holy Emperor's Court and the Saintess rather than believing in you?"
"Don't insult my comrades! They were comrades who truly believed in me and helped me!"
"No, I didn't say anything bad. I'm saying that was the reason they believed your words. Honestly, if they believed your words, there's no reason not to help you. Whatever you do, you just regress anyway."
If one believes in regression, they must help Shay. That is the rational and only way. Whatever they do here, they can't stop Shay's regression, and ultimately, to save the future, they must cooperate with Shay to pass on more information to the next cycle.
"But right now, everyone is acting on their own will and belief. If you expect absolute and devoted faith like a religion in the midst of this, well, it's not that they won't believe you at all, but it'll be hard for them to help with all their might like you said."
"I'm not just asking them to help me alone! But right now, the King of Sins' tempo is much faster. A war hasn't even broken out yet, but she's becoming a war herself! If we don't act first, she'll create her own sins, drink them, and become the King of Sins!"
UlFRblVJeEt0R01oWGZFZXFXMGFSKzExZU1CYytXYldyUjdVYkhKSG5kZUdHMnp5R0kwcXRlZ3IzOHprV0VPaQ
I'm saying you need to explain that fast tempo first.
It seems Shay's previous cycles were plunged into a gutter. In the chaotic times, people found their own answers, and it seems they followed Shay's opinions well.
But right now, it's not quite a chaotic era. It's confusing, but the system is somewhat maintained. In this situation, no matter how much an eschatologist like Shay shouts, it's hard to react.
"Alright. Shay. You need to explain that part first."
"Huh?"
"What happened in your past. What the apocalypse is. How you need help. Everyone needs to know all of that. We need to share and understand it. Only then can we prepare for it."
"Didn't I explain?"
"Your explanation only consists of the future being destroyed and the King of Sins appearing, and that's it."
Coincidentally, there was a large blackboard and magic chalk in the room. It looked like something a mage would use when drawing magic circles. I grabbed the chalk for the first time in a while and stood in front of the blackboard.
First, I drew a long horizontal line. Then, writing the years on that line, I asked.
"First of all, your explanation lacks a timeline. There's no chronological order or causality of the events. If we don't know what comes first, what the cause is, and what result it leads to, we can't even know where to start. We need to start here. What happens in what year first. Could you please explain the chronological order of the events you know?"
Shay furrowed her brow and scowled before blurting out.
"...Ugh. I'm confused too. Give me a moment."
"That's understandable. You're a regressor, after all. You've experienced the same time period multiple times, so it's natural to be confused."
I figured as much. I had intentionally left plenty of blank space. I repeatedly drew identical lines below the long line I drew.
"So I decided to write the cycle numbers on the timeline. 1st cycle, 2nd cycle, 3rd cycle. We'll rewrite the timeline centered around the events you experienced. Even with the same information, looking at it from a different perspective can yield different information, so we might get some unexpected insights."
"Uh, that's a good idea."
"It seems you haven't really thought about organizing it until now?"
"Until the 8th cycle, I think? I scribbled it down roughly... but it disappears when I go to the next cycle anyway, so I stopped. I have to memorize it with my head anyway, right? Then I'll just use my head."
A thought typical of someone who doesn't study. Humans are creatures of oblivion. You have to assume they'll naturally forget things.
"First, how many times have you regressed so far, Shay?"
"Thirteen times. I vividly remember the number of times I died. It's engraved on the Heaven Pan Mirror."
That's exactly what I read. I drew thirteen more lines extending below the blackboard. Then I tapped the blackboard with a bang.
"The things you experienced while dying thirteen times. Let's create a timeline for each cycle and overlap them to grasp the overall outline. How about it?"
"I vaguely remember... but I can't guarantee I'll remember everything."
"I'm not expecting you to. Just tell me what comes to mind. Other people will take care of organizing and deducing."
Shay glared slightly at the part where I said I wasn't expecting much, but she was self-aware that she wasn't a person excelling at deduction. She also wasn't diligent enough to refuse when someone offered to do it for her.
"Alright. Then I'll tell you what happened in the previous cycles. First..."
"Hold on. Let's call the Blue Tower Master and Hilde first. It's better to listen to this with someone who knows the situation. They are also key figures of their respective countries, so they might know information that you don't."
"Well, yeah..."
'...I don't really mind. But the things that happened before the regression are my most secret secrets. Does she think it's okay for it to spread further?'
What? Why is she displeased?
I also want to dig up more information by listening alone, and control certain information. But wouldn't that make you more uncomfortable?
She was close comrades with the Sword Empress and the Blue Tower Master, but she just met me in this cycle, didn't she? On what basis is she spilling her secrets only to me?
Shay followed my words with a sullen attitude.
Our most powerful ally right now is the Blue Tower Master. Her cooperation, as she practically manages the Magic Federation, is indispensable. Since she was Shay's collaborator in the past, Shay would feel comfortable, and since she herself is an outstanding mage, she'll be helpful.
But there was one thing I forgot.
"Hughes. Come quickly. I was just about to go look for you."
That the Blue Tower Master was also a certain type of human.
The outer wall, crafted by processing and stacking meteorites layer upon layer, was a perfect sphere. From a distance, it looked like a smooth ball, but up close, the bumpy texture unique to rocks could be felt. Dozens of magic circles were intricately engraved on the surface, and a soft magical light flowed along the sphere.
I examined the types of magic circles and spoke.
"Undetectable, temperature preservation, shock absorption, motion control... What is this? It doesn't look like you're going to throw it at them."
"Mini Floating Star. An external reconnaissance satellite made with the power of the Demon God. It's much smaller than the Floating Star, but it retains many of its functions."
"I thought you were gone for a few days, but you were making something like this? Why?"
"Shay said it, didn't she? That the King of Sins will destroy the world."
The Blue Tower Master is unnecessarily smart. Put another way, it means she worries a lot.
Knowing she would inevitably compete with her older sister, she gave up and ascended to the Floating Star, and due to the unpredictable meteorites, she joined hands with the White Tower Master and worked in the shadows to keep the Demon God hidden.
Shay's warning was also not something she could take lightly.
"Before the Floating Star fell, it had 'eyes' watching over the countries of the continent from below. The Intelligence Bureau was in charge of gathering and organizing that information. But do you know what happened then?"
"You said the information coming from the Lilac Principality was completely cut off."
"Yeah. All information coming through light was blocked, just like the Fog Duchy. It's fascinating. The Fog Duchy was able to do it because it was covered by the water fog caused by Haehyung, but for it to happen to the Lilac Principality, which is located in the middle of the continent. It's irrational and supernatural."
The Blue Tower Master continued speaking as she modified the magic circle with her pen.
"After that, the Descent happened right away, and with the clash of 'Arrogance', we couldn't confirm it... but if this is some kind of omen like Shay said, we have to verify it right this instant."
"Elisia...! You were thinking about it!"
"Because it's that important. We have to prepare."
Shay was deeply moved, looking as if she might cry. Seeing her expression, the Blue Tower Master smiled refreshingly and replied.
"There's no logic in your words, but I believe it's sincere. Even if you're half in doubt, it's something you must prepare for, and if you believe it, you must prepare even faster and more thoroughly. The Empire is also aware of the issue, so we must also acquire information faster."
"Hughes! Look! Sincerity always gets through!"
"Yeah, yeah. I can see how you two became friends in the previous cycle."
They fill in each other's shortcomings. They're a match made in heaven. May that bond last a long time.
As if her work was roughly finished, the Blue Tower Master put down her pen and leaned slightly against the Mini Floating Star. Catching her breath for a moment, she looked at me and asked.
"What's the matter?"
"It's about Shay's regression. I was thinking we might get more information if we draw out a timeline."
"Good judgment. It's also absolutely necessary. The more clues, the better."
The Blue Tower Master nodded and threw an apple. At that moment, the Mini Floating Star broke free from the earth's gravity and moved.
It was obviously a massive structure easily exceeding several hundred tons. It wouldn't lose in a comparison to the juggernauts of the various nations.
For such a massive thing to move as if swimming without any inertia or impact was still unrealistic. If it were a carriage, it would have been crushed under its own weight.
Having gained freedom through gravity control, the Mini Floating Star flew silently through the sky without making any noise or wind. The Blue Tower Master opened the hatch underneath it and said.
"However, you can do that while moving, right?"