Omniscient First-Person’s Viewpoint - Chapter 537



What Does the Tiger Leave Behind

That’s quite an unexpected answer. I’ve read Nebida’s thoughts before, and Nebida is the person furthest from sin.

Nebida is an ancient druid who has lived since before the first year, when the king of humans still existed. Sin? Not interested in that at all. It’s not something to eat, so why should one care about sin? Better to go hunting or farming. Ideologically, Nebida is probably the closest to me.

When I read it, Nebida’s interest was solely one thing. The long-lost king of humans. It seems they don’t necessarily think it has to be me.

“Does the Grand Druid not know sin? How so?”

“I’m not sure. But….”

‘When I wasn’t involved, the king of sin was the woman’s form within the fruit that grew from the Tree of Betrayal.’

Ha, I feel like things are getting a bit complicated.

The Regressor doesn’t seem to be lying. It’s true that Nebida tried to create a king of humans. Nebida’s divine tree, the source tree, branched out in countless ways, but its destination was aimed at one human.

And the king of humans, ‘created’ while breaking all kinds of taboos, could indeed become the king of sin. The Regressor’s speculation is reasonable.

But there’s still an unresolved question.

“Wait a minute. Then what about Aji? How do you explain that halo?”

Aji was still struggling to hold onto their ring. Now it looked purely playful. The appearance seemed to have fallen on the opposite side of the concept of sin, leaving the Regressor puzzled.

‘Right? The halo is given only to saints, so why did it appear for Aji?’

“…Hmm. That’s something I think I need to ask.”

“Who should I ask?”

“Well, the saint.”

“Geck?”

Even if there’s no one to ask, you want to go to the Holy Palace?

The regressor glanced at me and continued speaking.

“Hey, don’t take it the wrong way. You wanted to go to the Seongsan Yullim where the Cheon-aeng was sealed, right? Seongsan Yullim is the sanctuary of the Holy Palace. To enter Yullim, you’ll need to seek permission from the Holy Palace anyway. So, we might as well ask.”

“The saintess is going to absolutely hate me. Is there a chance I’ll die just by asking?”

“You don’t need to go directly. There should be the Rakion Great White Wall at a nearby monastery. You can contact the saintess from there. If I explain, she’ll give you an answer.”

The Rakion Great White Wall is a wall of revelation through which the Holy Palace conveys its intentions to monasteries across the continent. If that exists, then surely we can make contact without going to the Holy Palace.

But “being able to contact” and “receiving an answer” are not the same thing. Even if I ask a question, it’s up to them whether they respond.

“What’s your deal, Shea?”

“I’m the master of the Cheon-aeng. The Cheon-aeng is a treasure closely related to the Holy Palace.”

“I happened to receive the Cheon-aeng that the Heavenly Holy Sword Commander was holding in the seventh cycle, and in the eighth cycle, I passed the saintess’s trial and became the master of the Cheon-aeng. After that, the Cheon-aeng came to me without me needing to go to Yullim. Just showing the Cheon-aeng should guarantee my status to some extent.”

Will that really work? Well, if it does, that would be nice. The Holy Palace is closely related to the demon, but it’s practically impossible for me to approach it. I, too, wouldn’t even be able to step foot in the Holy Palace if I weren’t a regressor.

I admit it, though. Hm.

“A treasure closely related to them, huh… Hm.”

“…Why? What?”

“Nothing. It just seems like you’re not really hiding your identity anymore.”

As a mind reader, I know I’m a regressor, but if you don’t know, I just look like a holy knight. It seems like the Holy Palace raised me as a strategic weapon, showering me with all sorts of treasures.

How long do I want to live under this misunderstanding? It would be tiring to reveal that I’m a regressor, but rather than being suspected all the time, I might as well just come clean.

“…You won’t believe me even if I tell you my identity.”

“You don’t say it, so I can’t believe it. I’ll do as I please whether I believe it or not, so go ahead and tell me.”

“I’ve regressed and returned after experiencing the destruction a dozen times. Even if I say that, you probably won’t believe it. No, if I say it, my true intentions will be doubted. I’m a stranger to time, able to move from this cycle to the next…”

Ha, seriously. Should I just reveal that I’m a mind reader from the start? If they realize my true thoughts, I won’t be able to hide anything anymore.

But if I do that, they might not approach me at all from the next cycle onward. The risk is greater on my side. For a regressor, it’s just a matter of flipping the board and starting over, but for me, this board is the last one!

“…If we reach Seongsan Yullim.”

“Yes?”

“I’ll tell you everything. What I am, and what has happened.”

Having said that, the regressor turned their head away, as if there was nothing more to say.

It doesn’t meet my expectations, but getting this far is a significant improvement. Digging deeper into the regressor would only raise their wariness, and since I have to go to Yullim anyway, it’s a fair trade.

“Got it. Don’t forget that.”

Just then, the doorbell rang from outside. The food had arrived. I left the regressor behind and moved to receive the food. Once we arrive at Yullim, everything will become clear.

—

…Wait a moment. Thinking about it, if it’s Yullim, then it’s the sacred place of the Seonghwangcheong, and if I go there, wouldn’t I essentially know everything? If I read the thoughts of the saint, I’d uncover almost all secrets, right?

What’s going on? Have I been played for a fool? By that regressor?

…For now, let’s eat first and think. I turned my gaze away from the unbelievable truth.

“…It’s difficult.”

“Woof? What is?”

“Huz is wary of me.”

“Woof woof?”

“It’s understandable not to trust me…. But I feel the same way. There’s something off about Huz. You know it too, right?”

“Woof? Woof?”

“…Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Woof, you don’t know? Human!”

“Human? The king of humans? Are you talking about Huz?”

“Woof!”

“Why’s that? He’s lost his strength and is just a cunning little thing.”

“I know! Human, beast. Simple!”

“You think Huz is simple? Are you serious?”

“Woof!”

“How can that be? Huz is all twisted up inside, isn’t he?”

“No! Woof! He likes humans.”

“I can’t even believe that Huz likes humans…. That guy goes around saying humans are beasts.”

“Exactly! Beasts! So he likes humans who like beasts! Just like me!”

“A human who likes humans?”

“I like humans. Because humans like dogs. Humans like me. Dogs like humans too. We’re friends.”

“Friends….”

“And you, you like humans!”

“Me, like Huz?”

“No, not just one human! Woof! You’re kind!”

“Oh, that’s what you mean… Huh? That’s a bit strange, though. I don’t really….”

“You like them! Woof! I know!”

—

“You probably won’t like it….”

“So, humans like you!”

“…that’s it!”

Surprisingly, Theia had come to deliver the food herself. I wondered if the leader of the Pabal clan had nothing better to do than make deliveries, but Theia wasn’t just here as a delivery person.

“Did you hear? What do you think!”

It seems Ende has a lot on his mind. He’s even seeking my advice. Well, even if he asks for advice, I won’t be able to help.

“Yes. But just because I heard it doesn’t mean I can do anything about it.”

“No! You know best about that… um! The thing we can’t call by name! I just wanted to ask your opinion!”

“Well, that’s for sure. Just because you use the name of the Mountain Lord doesn’t mean he’ll get upset or seek revenge. After all, he’s a beast too.”

Even though I answered kindly, Theia looked back at me with a face full of fear.

“Is it really okay to call that… that which cannot be named, so recklessly?”

“What is that which cannot be named? The Mountain Lord?”

“Roar. Did you call?”

Before the words had even finished, the Mountain Lord appeared behind us as if enchanted. Who was it that said a tiger comes when you speak of it? Because of you, I can’t even call the tiger properly.

The Mountain Lord licked his lips as he looked at me and Theia, who were both terrified.

“Slurp. How lamentable. I have answered your call, yet you are the ones who are frightened.”

“How can we not be scared when a tiger appears behind us…?”

“Then simply don’t call. I cannot dance to the tune of humans.”

Now that I think about it, the Mountain Lord often disappeared in between. He must have shown up every time he was called to instill fear in the people of Ende.

Thanks to that, it seems Ende is trying to spread the ridiculous rumor that this land is under the Mountain Lord’s rule.

Even Theia, who has the fastest feet in Ende, couldn’t escape the fear of the Mountain Lord. She prostrated herself and offered up the pot.

“O Mountain Lord! Here’s the meat… huh?”

“Slurp. This meat is too tender for her. I hardly even know I’m eating.”

“Hardly know? You know very well! You’ve already devoured ten pieces!”

“Ten pieces? For her, it’s just a mouthful.”

The Mountain Lord slurped the meat like noodles, wiping his mouth with his front paw as he savored it. He’s more of a pig than a pig itself. But what can you do? He’s a tiger.

“W-Well then, I’ll take my leave!”

Theia set down the pot and dashed away. As she ran off, her tail wagging, it seemed to catch the Mountain Lord’s attention, and he stared at her retreating figure. But after a moment, perhaps losing interest, he pulled out a piece of meat and began to chew on it, bones and all.

Phew, what a relief. I thought he might chase after her without breaking the habit.

—

“Hey. Tiger.”

“Grr?”

“How long do you plan to stay here?”

“That depends on the whims of the lady. However, I feel something.”

From noble mtl dot com

“What is it?”

“The dog is stealing away the lady’s ferocity.”

The mountain lord, gnawing on bones, glanced at the mansion.

“There were far too many calling for the lady in this land. Thus, the lady, despite the annoyance, tended to her territory. Yet, the humans with ears screamed and turned their backs to flee. It made one want to chase after them.”

“You held back well?”

What happens when you provoke the instincts of a beast? The mountain lord would leap and use their back as a scratching post, and there would be no words to say. It seems people these days have forgotten how to deal with tigers.

“That is a strange thing. The lady has no reason to endure.”

Chasing after a person to kill them is something that should never be done by a human. But for a tiger, it is as natural as instinct. Restraining that urge is impossible unless one is exceptionally tamed.

But the mountain lord, the king of tigers, could not have been tamed. The reason lay elsewhere, and the tiger instinctively realized it.

“As the wolf did, the dog is also influencing the lady. No, perhaps it is the humans who influenced the dog.”

The very existence of Aji was suppressing the mountain lord’s aggression. The mountain lord could kill a human if he set his mind to it, but if he wasn’t hungry, there was no need to kill. Aji, having become the king of kindness, must be emphasizing the mercy of the beast.

Ende seems to want to keep the mountain lord here for a long time, using him as a restraint, but it’s not easy to use the king of beasts like that. Coexistence is not easy unless one is a domesticated animal or at least a beast friendly to humans.

I must send the mountain lord home before he destroys Ende.

“We’ll be leaving soon. You have nothing to do in the city anyway, right? What if you waste time here and another tiger settles in your territory?”

“Grr.”

Tigers are territorial animals. At the very least, they need to claim a mountain peak to sustain their large bodies. The only enemy of a powerful and fearsome tiger is another tiger. That’s why tigers do not form packs.

Recalling his territory, the mountain lord rose without a hint of hesitation.

“I shall return. The wolf… that bothersome beast has caused me trouble.”

“Just think of it as a quick outing. Anyway, take care. It wasn’t that pleasant meeting you.”

“Likewise. Humans, you are far too violent. Being near you, the lady would also be swept away.”

With no lingering thoughts, the mountain lord leaped away. In an instant, he was atop the roof, his garment fluttering as he looked down at me.

“The lady will return to the mountain of the lady. Humans, I wonder how your violence, which even changes the lady, will change you. I shall watch from the hilltop, beyond the mountain’s waist.”

Leaving only those words, the mountain lord vanished into the air, leaving behind a pile of bones.

…Ah, that tiger. He ended up eating everything. I’ll have to go get more.