Shei's long and rambling explanation had finally come to an end.
Everyone was struggling to find the right words. Shei's story of the previous cycle was about events that hadn't happened in the current timeline; even if their minds understood it to be the truth, it didn't resonate emotionally.
It felt like looking at a clueless kid rambling for six hours about a story only they knew while everyone else was just there. They knew it was an important story, but the emotional temperature was different. It was hard to empathize.
"You've taken on a duty you never wished for, nor had any reason to bear."
Only the Sword Empress offered Shei sincere comfort.
If the Sword Empress hadn't been here, who knows what would have happened to Shei. She probably wouldn't have been able to stand the atmosphere and wouldn't have said a word. As expected of a master.
...Wait, isn't it weird that the Sword Empress, who has only known her for a few days, completely empathizes with Shei? What am I supposed to do if her empathy surpasses mine when I can read minds? I'm feeling a wall here!
"Now, now. It's a hard story to believe, but let's say we believe it all and summarize the situation."
I clapped my hands and organized the situation.
"So, Shei, you infiltrated the Bottomless Pit to eliminate in advance the beings that would bring disaster to the world. And finding the Jizan as a bonus."
"Yeah. The Bottomless Pit had Azi, Tirkanjaka, the Jizan, and the Corpse Golem too. Beastmen, vampires, Earthly Immortals, and Earthly Mother Goddesses... I could solve a lot of problems at once."
"Azi is safe, Tir went back to the Principality in one piece, and you got the Jizan, so you've basically achieved all your goals in the Bottomless Pit, right?"
"...I guess?"
"I guess?" she says. How can she not know whether she achieved her goals or not?
"But even though you dealt with all the disasters inside the Bottomless Pit, the King of Humans was still resurrected, right? Doesn't that mean what you did in the Bottomless Pit was meaningless?"
"That's probably not the case. The King of Humans now... no, the King of Sin is different from before."
Shei was only now starting to talk about the important things she should have mentioned earlier.
"The King of Sin in my past cycle appeared when war, disaster, and conflict reached their peak, more so than now. And then went around finding and killing all humans."
"That's quite different from their current actions."
"I'm not sure of the reason. Maybe a change occurred because we dealt with the disasters in the Bottomless Pit?"
"What you did in the Bottomless Pit was amazing, but it's probably not because of that."
Shei's speculation was refuted by the Blue Tower Lord. The Blue Tower Lord spoke without seeing Shei pouting.
"Listening to what Shei said, the King of Sin in the previous cycle appeared 3 to 4 years from now. When Shei was a bystander, it took much longer than that. It's hard to say the cause of the different timing of appearance lies in the Bottomless Pit due to a lack of connection."
"Then?"
"The way the King of Sin appears. That might be different."
In Shei's description, the King of Sin was a cruel and ruthless judge. A monster that continued its slaughter without communication or mercy.
However, that was quite different from the appearance of 'Nuna' shown now. The Blue Tower Lord pointed that out.
"The King of Humans who died in the distant past was asleep in the Tree of Origins, and the Demon God Nevida tried to awaken it. They probably wouldn't have cared about the means or methods. Since her Demon God explores the origins of species, she might have had several ways to awaken the King of Beasts."
"Ah!"
"In other words, in Shei's past, Nevida resurrected the King of Humans by making it become the 'King of Sin'. This time, that method was different. That explains why the King of Humans was resurrected at an earlier point, and why it acts differently from the 'King of Sin'."
After finishing her words, the Blue Tower Lord tilted her head slightly and spoke.
"This is my hypothesis. What do you think?"
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"That seems... right! That's amazing, Elisha!"
"It's too early to call it amazing. Anyone could make this simple deduction up to this point."
Anyone? Are you saying Shei doesn't even count as 'anyone' and is an idiot? How dare you ignore my precious easy mark, Shei. Even if heaven forgives you, I won't!
As I was shouting inwardly, the Blue Tower Lord suddenly looked at me, and our eyes met. After looking at me briefly, the Blue Tower Lord turned her gaze away.
"You said Nevida sent Hughes to resurrect the King of Humans this cycle?"
"Yeah. I don't know exactly what method it was."
"In the previous cycle, you said the Bottomless Pit collapsed and the Corpse Golem crawled out, right? There's a high probability that Hughes died or met with an unexpected accident. With the method of utilizing the King of Humans gone, Nevida must have chosen a more wicked method."
What that method was could only be known in the previous cycle. Right now, there are no clues. Given the situation, there's no real need to find out either.
But that's a story from the previous cycle. This cycle is different.
"There's still a lot we don't know, but there is one certain fact. Shei, this current cycle is better than any other cycle you've experienced."
"Huh...?"
The Blue Tower Lord didn't particularly intend to praise her. It was closer to a cold analysis of the situation.
However, the words that things had improved due to the regression were sweeter to Shei than any praise or comfort.
"Is... that so?"
"Definitely. The King of Humans that has appeared now is doing something, but isn't committing widespread slaughter like you said. Isn't that alone a huge progress?"
Having finished her judgment, the Blue Tower Lord offered a gentle smile toward Shei.
"This is the result you've achieved. You can be proud of it."
Was it because the praise was so unfamiliar? Shei couldn't answer right away and hesitated. After a long while, Shei spoke in a tiny voice.
"Thank you..."
I can see everything about Shei being embarrassed. She's actually the type who's weak to praise. She suits the Blue Tower Lord who gives out praise easily.
'If regression truly has practical efficacy, the experiences and actions I've gained here will eventually return. What remains is Shei. I need to coax and support Shei well so she keeps her favorable impression of me and that will.'
But what if one could read the Blue Tower Lord's inner thoughts?
The Blue Tower Lord is a genius who ranks within the top five of the Floating Castle, and is currently acting as the Demon King. Such a Blue Tower Lord would never move entirely on emotion and compassion. It was all the result of calculated self-interest after thorough computation.
Still, instead of deceiving or pressuring Shei, she comforted and encouraged her, right? That must mean her personality is that good.
Alright, let's assume that's the case. The problem is.
"Eung~."
Hilde next to me has been whining continuously. She's been making noises for a while now, to the point where it's getting on my nerves.
She's protesting for me to talk to her, right? I did as Hilde wanted.
"Hilde? Why are you whining like a dog that needs to take a dump?"
"...Eung. You're really not delicate when speaking to a lady. Though I'm sure you're doing it on purpose~."
Letting out a deep sigh, Hilde looked back and forth between me and Shei. Then, she narrowed her eyes and asked.
"You knew about the regression a long time ago, didn't you, Father?"
"I haven't known for long either."
"Hmm. Is that so~? Since you were always together, I thought you would have told her sooner~."
"Unfortunately, Shei hated me."
"I never particularly hated you! ...Not that it means I like you!"
Hilde looked at Shei with cold eyes and then flopped down on the floor. She pulled a blanket she had taken out from somewhere up to her body.
"We'll have to see the King of Humans eventually to progress with the rest of the story, so shouldn't we at least rest for now~?"
"Already?"
"In conclusion, Shei worked hard. Thanks to that, an opportunity has arisen. Isn't that all there is to it~? I don't know what more there is to say~."
Hilde turned her head, speaking as if it were no big deal. I didn't particularly need Hilde's opinion, but she was right that there was nothing more to say. The Blue Tower Lord spoke.
"There is still talk left to do. We need to track down what has become of the disasters Shei mentioned. But that's something to do after we meet the 'King of Humans' this time. Even if we're not going to fight, we need to be prepared."
"The fact that your comrades have grown closer to you is a sufficient achievement, my disciple. Clear your mind and rest comfortably like that child."
The small-statured Hilde was buried in the blanket so that her face wasn't even visible. As the Sword Empress spoke while looking at Hilde, who was sleeping soundly, Shei muttered in disbelief.
"That 'child' is probably older than you, Master..."
"...?!"
She didn't show it, but the Sword Empress seemed quite flustered.
With the lights of the Floating Castle's mini-cabin turned off and everyone ready for a short sleep, a quiet thought echoed in the darkness.
'Did Shei really not notice? Or did Father intentionally hide it?'
It was Hilde. She was the first to say let's sleep, but she herself was wide awake until the end. Staying up late having useless thoughts. No wonder she's not growing.
'The disasters Shei was worried about are gone now. Beastmen, vampires, the Bottomless Pit, and the war... The disasters that were to happen in the future, Father has already taken care of them all.'
Hilde had been separated from us since the Principality. She must have been a little short on clues. But with her shapeshifting abilities, she is a genius at gathering information, and through this conversation, she figured out a lot.
'I thought there was no consistency in Father's behavioral patterns. Your tone and actions are those of a self-preservationist, yet you always risk your life at crucial moments to change the outcome. Compared to living in hiding in the Military Nation after Hameln, your current actions are clearly strange, right? But if what Shei says is true...'
Just go to sleep. Having useless thoughts.