489 – I Don’t Dominate or Rule
Since sharing the regressor’s dining table, there have been countless benefits. It doesn’t cost anything, the taste is guaranteed, and the menu is diverse. Even the slight inconvenience of getting one bite-sized portion at a time feels like a price to pay for trying various dishes.
But there is one downside. And that one downside outweighs all the other benefits. And what is it?
“Hugh.”
“Yes?”
“Anyone who doesn’t work, shouldn’t eat either. Understand?”
It was all because of the reprimand from the Regressor.
I swallowed the food, feeling the fresh salad dressed with yuzu vinegar heavy as if made of steel. I looked at the Regressor and justified myself.
“Everything is done well.”
“What’s done well? This was meant to happen from the beginning.”
‘If I say it like this, it seems like I know too much about the future. Let me change my words a bit.’
“Whether you like it or not, we’re in a position where we have to fight the Wolf King. It doesn’t matter if a shaman muddies the water.”
“If it doesn’t matter, then it’s settled, isn’t it?”
“A shaman shouldn’t have muddied the water in the first place! I called you to prevent that!”
This is why grown-up kids don’t try to reason with their parents. What’s the use of cooking a good meal? It’s not like they’ll listen.
“The shaman is blatantly targeting the heir, and you’re doing nothing! At least you should take care of the heir!”
“I did take care. I didn’t anticipate that person going berserk.”
“If it was unexpected, can’t you handle even one thing? This is why I can’t trust you with anything!”
“Ugh. Scratching the bottom of the barrel.”
“Bottom?”
Unable to endure any longer, I slammed the tableware down and stood up. I also have pride. No matter how comfortable a creature is, or rather, being a creature makes it even more sensitive to criticism.
“Constantly pressuring and blaming! Every day, I’m served a dish of scorn, and the food won’t go down my throat!”
“No. Being the head and the heir. I do everything, don’t I?”
“If you do your job well, how boastful you become! Claiming success in a topic where you’ve only had a little success so far!”
“When did I engage in such topics?”
“Well, pretending not to know about the future like a saint is the biggest thing! Pretending and trying to gain benefits! Honestly, tell me. Did you look into the future again this time?!”
Pierced at the core, the regressor justified himself with lightning-fast reflexes.
“I’m not a saint. I’m a man.”
From Noble mtl dot com
“What?”
‘Did I say something unnecessary? But it’s annoying to be suspected as a saint when I’m a woman. Tyrkanchaka even antagonized me the moment he found out I’m a woman.’
Are you still lying about that? Didn’t Tyrk find out about it? When we parted ways in the empire, I was unconscious, but when I read Tyrk’s memories, he just thought of you as a saint.
‘…Hues wasn’t there, so he wouldn’t know? That’s right! Tyr hasn’t shown much awareness of my gender so far!’
What do you mean he hasn’t shown awareness… Ugh, let’s drop it. If you want, just treat me as a man. It’s funny to think that the king of humans can’t even distinguish human genders.
“Now I don’t know how the future will turn out. The only certainty is that the king of sins will appear and the world will perish. Dealing with the Wolf King is not about foreseeing the future, but just preparation. The wolf’s power is too strong, so it’s trying to gather strength from here and there. You were part of that plan too…”
The regressor, with the concept in mind, looked at me and let out a deep sigh.
“I didn’t know you’d be this weak and useless… Well, it’s okay. I’ll think of you as Azhi and Setra.”
“What? What are you talking about? Azhi and Setra?”
Fine. I admit it. I’m weak. Even if I regained some strength through my journey, I’m still meager compared to formidable warriors. Regressor? What regressor. Even Nde’s noble guard Welshi is equal to or stronger than me.
But even so, even so! Getting involved with a dog and Setra?
“Azhi is more than just a pet! Eating and sleeping is more than me!”
“Woof? Me?”
“At least Azhi is the king of dogs, so he can garner the favor of canine beings. He’ll even fight the Wolf King. Since he’s a dog, a bit of laziness is acceptable.”
“Woof woof? Suddenly?”
“I wouldn’t have led humans if I hadn’t been successful! If something hadn’t drained my strength, wolves would have been nothing! On the contrary, isn’t it more noble for a weakened human king to strive to keep his promises? You should be more grateful!”
“Woof woof woof! Thank you!”
“Striving! Without making any effort! What have you done by coming here?”
“Woof…?”
Azia, why are you tilting your head? When I think about how I need you more than anyone else, I guess I’m making a face that says, ‘Really?’
These things, are they real? Do I really look like a parasite just because they say so? Fine. If you want, I’ll work for you. It’s not that I didn’t do it, it’s that I couldn’t!
“Huff. Mr. Shea, do you want me to do something? Really?”
“Of course. Do something, anything. You’re the king of humans.”
“Alright. Wait there. I’ll bring you results too.”
It’ll be tough and difficult, but it’s better than begging for scraps every day. I prepared myself, putting on a coat. When I tried to leave, the regressor followed me and asked.
“It’s dark outside, isn’t it?”
“If it’s dark, then I’ll do things in the dark.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I’ll tell you after I try.”
“Need help?”
“No need. I’ll do it on my own.”
“Really? Then give it a try. I’ll praise you if it goes well.”
“Praise me? Whatever. Even if I regret and apologize later, it doesn’t matter.”
I put on my hood and impulsively rushed out with the remaining cards. As I stepped into the yard, the cold wind brushed against my cheeks. Suddenly, I didn’t want to go out anymore, wondering if someone would stop me now.
“I’m curious about what you’re going to do. Should I follow you?”
I have no intention of stopping you, do you even plan on wandering? You’re something else.
“No, I noticed even at the Muzheogang. Instead of giving excuses to someone who is already trying to work, let’s just let them do as they please.”
Unfortunately, the Revenant didn’t try to restrain or stop me. I had dashed out in high spirits, but now I couldn’t go back. I left behind the brightly shining mansion and opened the courtyard door. I leaped into Ender’s cold darkness.
Thinking about it now, it’s quite strange.
The king of beasts may be powerful, but he is not invincible. He is a conceptual being with enough power and influence to represent a species, separate from the natural order or a god or anything like that.
Even if the Asi is strong, it falls short compared to physicality, and the butterfly whimpered after getting hit by Tyr. Regardless of whether they have a lot or little combat experience, they are just like a beast causing chaos in the yard.
But the Revenant described the Wolf King as a disaster-level threat. Even if the pack is large, it still can’t be as organized as human society. In order for that to happen, all species would have to come together with one heart and mind, but can wolves accomplish what even humans cannot?
Why couldn’t I feel it at all… Today, in Oveli, I read their thoughts and understood the reason a little.
“Snort! I gave that creature who ate pork today a good beating. From now on, those bastards will suffer because of their tusks that shake every time they tear meat!”
It wasn’t a wolf problem.
Among the various mixtures in Ender, it was the lowest point. A space like the city’s intestines, filtering out the sewage that flows out of the town and taking what is necessary.
The pig werewolves, who gathered there, unable to endure like humans and would get sick and die, sat near the bonfire and boasted about today’s achievements with giggles.
“Hey, is that all? I cleaned the pigsty and came. Then, that bastard with a face like sh*t turned red and shouted like a whale? Should I pull out my intestines and spread sh*t on his face too? Puhahahahat! He should eat sh*t! If you’re going to spread it, spread it in the fermentation room!”
“They seem to only be able to move their mouths! They think everything will be solved if they just talk! What was it called when I turned the restaurant upside down? I said I won’t give any food to the pigs anymore!”
“When did they ever share with us? They only gave us curses that filled our mouths!”
“Let’s see who wins if we keep fighting in the mud. We who have always lived in the mud have nothing to lose!”
“But, isn’t this mud fight a little too pathetic? It’s not even terrorism, just a cute prank, right?”
The pigs, who were indulging in low and sticky pleasures in the darkness, didn’t notice my presence right away.
“Even pranks can be art if done sincerely! We are showing them. How outrageous we are in this city, to the idiots!”
“If you want to announce it, you should announce it widely. Even if you shout and scream in a similar sinkhole, you’ll only hear echoes.”
“Who’s there? The guy who’s been bothering us all this time?!”
The people who were clamoring turned around to find the source of the voice. They didn’t need to search for long. I was sitting right next to them, waving my hand.
“Hello?”
“It’s you…!”
That bastard recognized me.
There was no way he wouldn’t. Even if he’s a stupid prick, he couldn’t have stabbed so many people in just two days and forget the person he stabbed a mere two days ago.
“This bastard…!”
When he reached into his chest to draw his knife, I forcefully hit his pocket. He grabbed the wrong end of the knife and his hand got cut, causing the pitiful guy to scream in pain and writhe on the ground.
“Attack him!”
Whether it was a planned move or not, several pricks rushed in from all directions. At least five weaklings with complex intentions. A chaotic attack from weaklings who didn’t even know where their bodies were going.
If it was the old me, it would have been quite difficult to deal with, but not anymore. I swept up my sleeves and took out my card.
Spade 10, Gaia Ego.
I can’t manipulate the earth with geomancy or cause earthquakes, but I can create a small pit. The land where the pricks should have stepped suddenly twisted and formed ridges. The pricks who were jumping without checking their footing stumbled or tripped over the pits.
Their faces clashed with each other, one guy trampled on another. They pushed and pulled each other, stacking up one by one. The last remaining guy rushed towards me after knocking down the guy who had climbed on top.
“Die!”
He swung a sharp dagger without hesitation. He doesn’t hesitate to kill people… or rather, he doesn’t think that far. He’s just desperate to spew hostility towards me right in front of him.
It’s dangerous to provoke someone even if they’re stupid. I temporarily attached a card to the palm of my hand and blocked the dagger. The prick, perhaps thinking the card was ridiculous, exerted even more force to tear my hand along with the card.
But.
“Ta-da!”
As if the card had swallowed it, the sharp blade turned into scattered cards, leaving only the hilt. The prick looked at the scattered cards in bewilderment.
“No, what? A card?”
“Now it feels like magic.”
Certainly, with more cards to use, fights become easier. Let’s call it practical combat magic.
I flattened the defenseless guy’s nose with my fist. Stepping on him as he fell, I surveyed the surroundings.
They were nothing more than street thugs, slightly sturdier due to their pig-like features. There was no pride in subduing them. Looking down at the defeated thugs, I spoke.
“Well then, society’s trash. If you’re trash, you should be stuck in a garbage disposal facility. Attacking people just because you’ve had some pork? Do you really feel a kinship with piglets?”
“What?! What are you saying right now…!”
Someone was about to shout, but another thug cut in to stop him. One thug, who seemed a bit more coherent, boldly retorted.
“What are we! Do you have any evidence?!”
“Evidence? Weren’t you proudly causing a ruckus just a moment ago?”
“Just some jokes among us thugs. Who are you to falsely accuse us? Are you a law enforcer or something?”
Oh, they’re going to handle it like this? I scratched my chin and replied.
“Well, not exactly.”
“Without any evidence, you’re going to beat us and frame us? A human? Ha! Now, let’s really get it on, shall we?”
“You were the one swinging a knife first.”
“It was self-defense!”
Right. This is how they’re going to handle it? The reason lawless individuals survive is paradoxically because there is still some semblance of law. Even in a city of non-humans, there is a certain order and system. The pig-like non-humans are no exception.
If it were a true lawless wasteland, it would be resolved through survival of the fittest. But this land belonged to non-humans. You couldn’t just casually stir trouble because of suspicions.
That’s also why the terrorist group named Orcma managed to survive.
“Recently, pig-like non-humans causing trouble is known to both the heavens and the earth.”
“In Endea, there are over thirty thousand Piggies. Outside, there are even more! How can they confidently claim that we are the problem?”
“Are they going to punish us without any evidence? If the authorities do that, they’ll face backlash, won’t they?”
“Do you want to see thirty thousand Piggies rising up together?”
They say that even three people can deceive a tiger. With seventy Piggies murmuring, there’s no way to overpower them. I awkwardly expressed my dilemma.
“It’s true that you guys are lawless, but acting all high and mighty won’t change that.”
From Noble mtl dot com
“Bring evidence or witnesses! If not, we won’t stay quiet!”
“Go to the temple, or Oveli, anywhere, and make it public!”
Evidence, they demand. It’s truly difficult to find concrete evidence. Rarely does evidence of someone doing something linger so conspicuously. And even if it exists, who judges?
They are just ordinary Pigs, prone to mischief. Unless you carve out all the Pigs, there’s no way to drive them away. And there’s no way to determine who is mischievous and who is a virtuous Pig. Setting aside the notion of virtuous Pigs.
“Fine. Since it seems there’s no proper evidence, go ask your mother then.”
“Mother?”
“Oh, sorry. Did I say mother? Well, it doesn’t matter. If someone feeds you, they’re all called mother, right?”
But I don’t need evidence. I have my own tricks.
“Mother just occasionally gives us food, that’s all!”
“Yeah, yeah. The old Pig who generously feeds the Piggies causing terror. We need to find out who this mysterious Pig is and where the food is coming from. That’s what evidence is all about.”
There’s a joke in this world. Pigs can’t gather in groups of more than twenty. Because there aren’t enough fingers and toes to count.
Do these Pigs, living day by day, organizing themselves into an army and causing terror, make any sense? If they had the luxury, they wouldn’t have succumbed to a victim mentality, and if they had the organization, they would have established a country during the Orc era.
“W-who… who gave you that information?”
“Who knows? If you Piggies didn’t hear about Piggies from Piggies, who else could you have heard it from?”
To be precise, I read your thoughts. Secret organizations? Sub-organizations? All meaningless. In the end, it all connects people to people.
One by one, I must carefully approach the deepest place. To the existence attempting to create cracks in the city.
“Piggy…? No way. Is it the opposing faction?”
“Oh dear. Did I say too much?”
Seems like there’s a misunderstanding, but it doesn’t matter. Figure it out on your own.
Waving my hand generously, I pondered the thoughts of the piggies and walked through the darkness again. Tonight, there seems to be quite a few places to visit.
Bro just woke up and chose Chaos 😅