Chapter 12: Overcoming Gratitude and Grudge

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Translator: Soafp

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Maybe, just like with the ring, there were other causal chains branching from Nick's unique causality, “The Bridge of Merrill Village.”

It was possible that such paths existed, but I was never able to discover them.

In the meantime, the results were announced every cycle.

38926／65535
36497／65535
34258／65535
32164／65535
30592／65535

The number on the right was fixed.

Only the number on the left changed.

From this, and from Nonoa's skill “Master of Numbers,” I formed a hypothesis.

“This is… the Demon King's life force, made visible as a number, isn't it?”

If my hypothesis was correct, then when the number on the left reached zero, the Demon King would die. In other words, Nonoa would win.

After reaching that conclusion, I began choosing blue-letter causalities that would reduce the left-side number as much as possible.

Obtaining the accessory in Valhant reduced it by 5000.

Compared to 65535, it was less than a tenth. But compared to other causalities, it was a very large reduction.

That was one of the reasons Faran became a fixed member of the party.

Likewise, there were quite a few causalities where only one option could be chosen.

For example, a festival in the eastern city held at the same time as a martial arts tournament in the western city.

I weighed these options, discarding some while selecting others, always choosing those that could overlap with as many other causalities as possible.

However, the blue-letter causalities had an unexpected pitfall.

Even after expelling her, there were cases where Nonoa's skill “Master of Numbers” did not awaken.

When that happened, Nonoa died easily.

Apparently, there were conditions tied to specific combinations. Simply piling up causalities at random did not work.

Some events, like the “Eastern Festival,” which seemed inefficient if you only looked at the total number of overlapping causalities, were actually effective when it came to awakening her skill.

Why a festival?

I wondered, but in the end it wasn't my skill, so there was no point overthinking it.

I decided to accept that much.

I would rejoice when the number dropped significantly.

I would be disappointed when it increased instead.

There were times when I felt confident, only for Nonoa's skill not to awaken at all.

Every five years, when the number was announced, I rode a roller coaster of emotions.

“Yo, Dragon Fang. I've been hearing all kinds of rumors about you. Sounds like you're doing pretty well?”

Two years after forming the party as usual, while we were eating in the inn's dining hall, the one who spoke to me was Ignis, the leader of “Fall of the Great Tree.”

This, too, was nothing new.

He was smiling.

But I knew better.

Inside, he wasn't amused at all—by the success of our party, which was little more than a newcomer.

This wasn't the first or second time he'd come to pick a fight like this.

This time I hadn't confirmed it, but I also knew he'd schemed to damage our reputation before.

Having repeated my life countless times, I was already used to people like him.

But my party members were not.

“Huh? You picking a fight again, Ignis? Sure, ‘Dragon Fang Bite' is doing great, but take your frustration somewhere else. We're not responsible for your party not making waves.”

Phalan shot back provocatively.

In truth, the reason Ignis's party wasn't clearing labyrinths as efficiently as in the original history was because I kept getting there first.

Labyrinths that would normally take time on a first attempt—I could clear them at maximum efficiency.

As a result, when you combined the labyrinths his party would normally clear with the ones we cleared separately, our total far surpassed theirs.

Naturally, our reputation pulled far ahead as well.

That didn't mean I could afford to slack off.

If there was one lesson I'd learned through all these repetitions, it was that you could never have enough money.

At Phalan's words, Ignis finally dropped his smile and replied in a low voice.

“Huh? I wasn't talking to you…”

“Oh come on, how annoying. Just because our leader's capable, weird guys keep picking fights with us.”

“You b*****d…”

“Hm? If you want to go, I'll take you on. Me, ‘Mighty spear,' anytime.”

When Phalan stood up, tension rippled through the dining hall.

I knew both of their abilities well.

If they fought, Phalan would win without question.

And as for Ignis… I had my own history with him.

After all, I'd once been part of his party—and been betrayed.

But—

“Stop it, Phalanran.”

I spoke up.

Because I knew.

If I didn't stop this here, Ignis would never accept my proposal.

“But, Erius…”

“Phalan. Ignis is a senior adventurer who has led his party while thinking of the kingdom. Show him the respect he deserves. Ignis, I'm sorry. My member spoke out of turn.”

I mediated between them and bowed my head.

—Even though I knew the truth. That this man cared nothing for the kingdom, only for money.

Still, he cared deeply about appearances.

By apologizing in front of others, I could soothe his pride.

“H-Hey, Erius… you didn't have to go that far for a guy like him…”

“Phalan. Don't trouble Erius any more than this.”

“O-Okay…”

At Lena's admonishment, Phalan looked down awkwardly.

He was weak when it came to Lena.

“W-Well, if you say so… I guess that's fine.”

Ignis sounded relieved, though he still tried to put up a front.

The tension in the dining hall eased, and the onlookers returned to their meals.

After confirming that the attention had faded, I spoke to Ignis about my real purpose.

“Besides, I had business with you anyway. This saved me some trouble.”

“Business?”

Ignis looked puzzled.

Probably because nothing came to mind.

“The next job… you're heading to a labyrinth together with the royal army, right?”

“How do you know that?”

“I have my connections.”

“…I see.”

Yes.

The labyrinth his party was about to enter was the one I'd once guarded for the royal army—before they vanished.

And it was also the labyrinth Ignis and I had conquered together back when I was part of Fall of the Great Tree.

The lesser demons in that labyrinth used a troublesome technique.

During the fight on the lowest floor, we gradually lost control of our bodies.

They were probably dispersing a colorless, odorless poison into the air.

We'd overwhelmed them with numbers and won quickly, but if the battle had dragged on, it would have been dangerous.

In other words, without me, Fall of the Great Tree shouldn't have been able to clear that labyrinth.

But—

“I've heard that place has swallowed many parties. So… would you take this with you?”

I pulled a small stone from my pocket and held it out to Ignis.

He took it and raised it in front of his eyes.

“What's this filthy little rock?”

“Filthy is harsh. Believe it or not, this is a valuable charm.”

“Huh… doesn't look like it.”

“Made by Belias… does that ring a bell?”

“Belias!? That ‘Gray Hermit'!? I heard he's been working as an instructor at the training hall lately!”

“That's right. I happened to rescue him once, and this was his gift of thanks.”

“I see… hearing that, it kinda feels like this stone has some dignity after all…”

How straightforward.

As usual.

After staring at the stone for a while, Ignis asked his usual question.

“But… if it's so valuable, I don't get it. Why give it to me?”

“Like I said. We're both parties fighting the Demon King's army on the front lines. I want to cooperate.”

“I see… sorry about that. Maybe… I misjudged you.”

“It's fine. A competitive spirit is an important quality for an adventurer.”

“You're right.”

We exchanged smiles, then I grew serious again.

“Ignis, I wish you luck. According to Belias, if you step on that charm in a desperate situation, it will grant you protection. If the worst happens, try it.”

“That's a strange way to use it. But if the Gray Hermit says so… I'll use it if it comes to that. Thanks.”

Ignis tucked the stone away and left.

Watching him go, Faran spoke with exasperation.

“Tch, Erius. You didn't have to give a valuable item to a guy like that…”

“Come on, don't say that.”

I soothed Phalan as we finished our meal.

Yes, it was valuable—but useless to me.

And to Nonoa as well.

That stone was something I simply had no need for.

Several weeks later, while we were eating together again, Ignis and his party returned from clearing the labyrinth.

Ignis rushed over to me, barely bothering with greetings before grabbing my hand.

“Erius! I'm sorry—thanks, you saved us!”

“Huh…? What do you mean?”

His sudden change in attitude made Phalan ask suspiciously.

“Well, actually…”

Ignis began recounting what had happened in the labyrinth.

Of course, I already knew the story—I'd heard it many times before.

During the battle with the demons on the lowest floor, they gradually lost control of their bodies.

Thinking they would lose at this rate, Ignis suddenly remembered the stone I'd given him.

He placed it on the ground and stepped on it, just as I'd told him.

At that moment, he regained control of his body.

“Probably an antidote or some kind of status ailment recovery effect. The stone itself shattered, so we can't test it…”

That was how Ignis concluded his story.

“I'm glad I could help.”

At my words, Ignis seemed to hesitate for a moment.

Then—

“…Hey, Erius.”

“What?”

“You're seriously aiming to defeat the Demon King, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Then… are you interested in information about a demon man?”

“A demon man…? You know something? Then I'd love to hear it.”

“There's a knight from my hometown. He lost his right arm fighting a demon man and now lives in seclusion. Unlike me, who ran away, he has actual combat experience. I want to introduce him to you.”

“Please do.”

The man Ignis introduced to me was Reganis Irving.

Because he owed my father a debt, Reganis accepted my persuasion and became an instructor at the training hall.

The blue-letter causality recorded was “The One-Armed Old Knight.”

Reganis generally disliked people, and without an introduction from Ignis, he would have turned me away at the door.

In other words, depending on the cycle, Ignis could be the cause of my death, or someone who dragged me down.

And yet, I still had to help him.

It was a nasty trick question.

That was the lesson I learned.

—to guide the Demon King to his death, I must move beyond both grudges and gratitude.