Ultel’s eyes opened wide. Although he had chatted and laughed about Glen with Zich until now, the smile on his face suddenly disappeared. All that was left was a man full of ambition to control the world while using Glen as a puppet.
“That’s a pity. I simply wandered around doing kind deeds. If you had to suffer the damages for that, you should just bear it quietly.”
“Did I hear wrong? Kind deeds? Is this really coming from Zich Moore? Am I hearing hallucinations or am I drunk from the wine? Or are you not Zich Moore but Brave?”
“Nonsense.”
“That makes it harder to understand. I know that the words ‘Moore’ and ‘kind deeds’ do not go together. Are you joking? If you are, quit it because it’s really not funny.”
“No, I’m being serious. Did you perhaps check the timeline right before this one?”
“I did.”
“Do you know what Glen said to me at that time?”
“No. I don’t look at each timeline in such detail. I just glance at it quickly to see if the plan is progressing well.”
“In many ways, the previous timeline could’ve been the perfect timeline that the hero idiot dreamed of. He was boasting his name across the world as the perfect hero, and I eventually lost as the Demon Lord.”
Ultel leaned closer toward Zich as if this story interested him very much.
“Before throwing the final blow, he told me to live a kind life if I am reborn again.”
“...So, because of that, you lived a kind life after regressing?”
“Despite how I seem, I respect those who defeated me. Thus, I tried living a kind life.”
“And that eventually led to you blocking Glen Zenard.”
“Yes. Isn’t it ironic?”
“To think that he was the one who hindered his own plans. How many more stupid things does he have to do before he is satisfied?” Ultel clicked his tongue.
“It was a good deal for me. I could approach the truth while going around killing Demon People who were the bad guys. Above all, I met Lyla.”
“Yes, the Brushel System’s core,” Ultel sighed. “In a way, she is the biggest reason why you and I are meeting here right now. Honestly, I was always afraid she would meet Glen. Though most of her memories are erased when she is awakened forcefully, and her self-identity gets wiped out, not all memories disappear. If Glen Zenard met her and began to wonder about the origin of his regression ability, things could turn really messy. So it was more shocking that you regressed and met that thing.”
“That was a great fortune for me in many ways.”
“It was a great misfortune for me in many ways.” Ultel sighed one more time.
“Let me ask you one thing.”
“Aren’t you continuously asking me questions? What’s the point of making a big deal about one more question?” Zich asked lightly, but Ultel remained serious.
“Did you read the Core’s memories?”
“Hm? I thought Lyla’s memories could only be read through the Brushel System’s restriction device.”
“That’s what I thought until now, but the information you have is too detailed.”
“It’s thanks to our great efforts.”
“Especially your knowledge about Bellid’s history is too detailed. Those kinds of things aren't even left in records. They were passed down by word of mouth and only I should know of them.”
Ultel’s eyes glinted sharply. “The only thing I can think of is one thing. During the time I was regressing, I explained to my subordinates about the history of the Bellids a couple of times.”
“There must have been some loose lips among your subordinates.”
“Even if that’s true, everything turns back to like it had never happened if one goes through a regression. In other words, the only one who should know about the information I spoke about becomes only me again. Of course, besides all the information that was inputted into the Core.”
“If that’s the case, what are you going to do from now on?”
“Nothing is going to change.” As if the burst of passion he recently showed had all been a lie, Ultel’s voice became calm again. “Whether it’s me or you, we are both trying to put an end to this right now. I am just asking you since we are conversing already, but I am becoming more and more determined as we talk.”
Ultel lifted his glass and slightly swirled the remaining amount of wine.
“Many unique events have happened to you in this timeline. I am well aware of how much of a genius you are, but I couldn’t understand the sudden burst of power that you displayed from time to time in this timeline. That level of power and talent was only expected of Zich Brave or Zich Moore at their peaks when they had perfectly honed their talents. No matter how much of a genius you are, I didn’t think you would’ve freed up all your mana at that age—especially since the amount you have is so absurd that a normal person can’t logically wrap their heads around it. Thus, I guessed that you must have some special method to free up all the mana you have.”
After drinking all the wine he had, Ultel said in a self-assured voice, “And I have something similar to that.”
Ultel touched the ring on his finger. It was the Emperor’s Ring that gave him authority over the Brushel System.
“It was then that a thought came to me. Perhaps, you possess something similar to this ring I have. Or perhaps, you have the authority to control the Brushel System like this ring.”
“You sure thought of a lot.”
“There’s more. From my sources, it appears that you don’t always use all your power. Of course, it could be that it was unnecessary. Maybe it’s a power that you can only use under special conditions. Or, like my ring, you need the power of the World Tree to use it.”
A deep smile hung on Ultel’s lips. “That means in the places where you released all your mana, there’s something related to the World Tree.”
Although it was a bit off, Ultel was definitely approaching the truth. “In some ways, your understanding of the Brushel System may be greater than mine. Thinking back, you said Glen Zenard can no longer regress, right? The device that controls the regression ability broke and that seems to be your doing.”
“Hey, don’t put all the blame on me.” Zich shrugged, and Ultel got up.
“It doesn’t matter. I will hold you here, snatch information from you, and thoroughly search every suspicious place. Then, I will put the Core back in her place. I’m sure the information she had while traveling with you is also in the Core’s head. I guess I have you to thank for that. Thanks to you, I will be able to get to the root of the Brushel System that I haven’t been able to find out no matter how many times I regressed.”
“Will that be as easy as you make it sound?” Zich also got up. The joking and carefree attitude they had before was completely gone now, and the space became filled with a deep sense of fluctuating bloodlust.
“It seems like the end of the most important battle would be between you and me, though I had hoped Glen Zenard would accomplish his goal if he could.”
“Did you become attached to your puppet?”
“I was planning to make him pay the price of trying to crawl beyond his means and limits in the end, but he was someone who worked so hard for me. I was planning to let him have the dream he wanted. The way that guy obsessed about you was nothing to joke about. That’s why I let him try to be a great hero after giving him the power of regression.”
“Hmph, didn’t you just want to dig up information about me by imprinting into him that I was his worst enemy?”
“Ha, was I found out?” Ultel laughed exaggeratedly. “My judgment wasn’t wrong. No, it was a very impressive one. Glen Zenard’s obsession eventually led you to this place, along with information about the Brushel System that I didn’t know of.”
“Aren’t you being overly confident? Everything will be over if I just kill you here.”
“That would certainly be scary.” Ultel cowered back as if he were afraid, but his smiling face and exaggerated movements clearly showed that he wasn’t afraid at all.
“Of course you are strong—no, that would be an understatement. As someone who has gone through many regressions directly and indirectly, I can guarantee that you are the world’s best. There is probably no one like you in the past or future; and even if there are some, they are very few.”
“Hm, hmph!” Zich nodded in agreement.
“Furthermore, there’s the deal with your companions too. The Karuwiman Saintess, Aine Primel Lubella; the men who would be called the three Demon Lords along with you, Walwiss Dwayne and Til; even the Lake Tribe’s princess, Leona Pearl in Droud. It really is the best party one can have. If someone had told me to battle you all with no preparations, I would’ve chopped off that person’s head and surrendered quietly or escaped.”
“Does that mean you think it’s worth a try if you make the necessary preparations?”
“No matter how amazing you guys are, you guys still are few in number. If I mobilized a huge number of forces, your team would be pushed back. Even when the Demon Lord of Strength, Zich Moore, and his subordinates fought against the world, the world wasn’t normal then. Besides Zich Moore, there were two more Demon Lords, many Demon People, and all sorts of chaos added on top of that. As countries and empires weakened and crumbled under the fists of the Demon Lords and Demon People, you guys were able to rule by terror. If you guys really fought against the world by yourselves, even you all wouldn’t have been able to survive.”
Zich didn’t deny Ultel’s words. “That means you secured enough forces to push back my companions and me right now.”
“Of course.” Click! Ultel snapped his fingers, and Zich felt the mana flowing through the tower change.
“This is my second fight with you on this island after the first timeline.”
“Talk properly. It’s not with me, but with Brave. Also, you didn’t fight him. You just backstabbed him.”
“I won’t refute that.”
“You should also change your wording about the event. You didn’t backstab anyone while Brave and Serpina were fighting. At that point, Brave had won.”
“That’s true, everyone could tell that Serpina was almost dead during that time. That’s why I backstabbed her. Since both were exhausted, it was the best time to make a sudden ambush.” Recalling the time, Ultel shook his head. “Thinking back to that time, that was the most dangerous moment for me. Though I used the opportunity when both lost all their energy from fighting, they resisted so fiercely, even Serpina who was half-dead. I threw my subordinates at them and tried to distance myself as far away from the battle as possible, I even went to the top of the tower, and I almost lost my life in the process.”
Ultel shuddered, but that didn’t last for long. “However, it was I who won in the end. It will be the same this time.”
Zich pulled out his sword. Ultel raised his staff from the top of the table.
“Ah, I forgot to ask you one more thing.”
“What is it?”
“What is your relationship with the Core?”
“We are soon-to-be lovers,” Zich said confidently.
“Really? It’s not just your one-sided delusion?”
“She’s the one who confessed to me first. I’m actually the one who only fell for her recently.”
Ultel scowled.
“Why? Are you jealous?”
“Of course, I am. I am crazy jealous. I’m also a man and can’t help but think things when seeing a beauty like that. I only watched her without doing anything because I couldn’t dare to do something against the Brushel System’s Core. If I woke her up as per the correct procedure, she would wake up as Serpina and create a huge commotion. If I tried to wake her up with a new self-consciousness, I would have to destroy the container holding her, and I didn’t know if that would cause the regression ability to disappear.”
“Lyla’s abilities have nothing to do with the regression, though.”
“I couldn’t be sure that was the case, and I couldn’t take the risk. It seems like there’s no need for me to hold back from now on.” A sly smile formed on Ultel’s lips. “If I gain a deep understanding of the Brushel System, I will be able to pull her out at any time and play around with her. I’m sure it will be excruciatingly painful for you, her soon-to-be lover, but don’t worry. You won’t be able to remember anything anyway.”
All expressions disappeared from Zich’s face.
That merely lasted for a moment, however, and a very deep, cruel smile formed on his face. Only his lips were smiling, and there was a frigid coldness in his eyes.
“Are you trying to provoke me on purpose? Well, that’s the sort of tactic I would expect from you.” Zich’s voice was very calm, but there was something indescribably frightening deep within; it was to the point that a bit of sweat could be seen on Ultel’s forehead.
“Let me give you my congratulations first,” Zich said. “You have definitely fulfilled your goal, and right now, I am angry to the point that it even surprises me. So, let me ask you.”
While holding Estellade, crunching sounds could be heard coming from Zich’s hands. “Do you think you can handle the aftermath?”