X
In the end, it was a journey of wrapping the “take this and get lost” sentiment in a layer of plausible nonsense. As I channeled a loyal subject, squeezing out every flowery metaphor I could muster, the Slug Queen’s expression turned bizarre. She was practically glaring at the Tears of a Dead Wildflower in my hand.
Wait, is this wrong? Did I trust Sephiroth’s head-canon guide too much?
“……How could a mere jewel like this ever cover the sacrifice of our young Slugs?”
Crap, I knew it. Should I have just slaughtered the Orcs? Did I waste all this energy chasing a “path of righteousness” for nothing?
While a thousand panicked thoughts raced through my mind, the Slug Queen’s dialogue continued.
“However… you are right that revenge born of misunderstanding only invites tragedy.”
Using her sticky, mucous-covered tentacles, the Queen took the gem from my hand. A thick residue remained on my palm. I really want to wash my hands. I stood there blankly as her next lines pierced my ears.
“Seeing as you brought this orb, it seems you know something.”
“Well, the other Slugs mentioned Your Majesty liked this kind of thing…”
“I can see your past.”
She spoke as if she hadn’t heard a word I said.
“Go to the place where you are destined to head next. There, you shall receive a new path.”
Without giving me a chance to reply, the Slug Queen turned her body and slithered deeper into the humid cave.
I was dazed. When I checked my quest window, the status had been updated.
<The Missing Orcs – 2>
<Wrath of the Slug-kind>
<Suspicion of the Orange-flower Lions>
Amazing. It was amazing that Sephiroth thought of this, and even more amazing that it actually worked. I clicked ‘Collect Reward’ and turned to Sephiroth.
“I guess it really was the right way.”
“Sure you don’t want that acting school recommendation?”
“Shut up. Please.”
I had worried that traveling with Sephiroth would make leveling impossible, but the quest reward was massive. Since I received a lump sum of experience, my level jumped by 12 in a single go. Alerts for unlocked skills, unlocked stats, and various other systems began sparkling all over my UI.
Furthermore, the item I had just received was peculiar.
[Giant Slug Queen’s Mucus] Mucus shed by the Giant Slug Queen. Can be broken down into ‘Giant Slug Mucus’ through crafting.
“It really was a quest you could clear without killing anyone.”
“Why?”
“It says if I craft this, I get ‘Giant Slug Mucus’.”
This meant I could deliver the items to Bibi without ever touching a Slug. If Sephiroth’s chosen path was the “Massacre Route,” this was a “Pacifist Route.” (Though, in my mind, I didn’t count the monsters in the ruins as “alive.”)
“That’s impressive.”
“Can you sound a bit more sincere?”
“I’m just busy thinking about our duel later.”
Is the problem his constant use of double entendres, or is the problem me for being prejudiced and projecting meaning onto everything he says? I glared at him for a moment before heading toward the Orange-flower Lion King.
Naturally, Sephiroth followed, still babbling about that damn acting school.
I told a similar story to the Lion King. Having sold the “snake oil” once, the second time was easier. I didn’t even care that Sephiroth was cracking up behind me. Fine, laugh all you want. We’re parting ways after the duel anyway.
“For the sake of the sincerity shown in bringing this treasure, it is only right to end this meaningless revenge here!”
The Lion King’s reaction was largely the same. I nodded along while letting his dignified lines go in one ear and out the other. My mind was full of plans for where to spend my new level-up points.
The mane will probably drop in a similar way, right? Then I just take it to Bibi? Just as I was calculating the most efficient route…
“You! You are one with a past!” the Lion King suddenly shouted.
“Excuse me?”
“You have returned to this point in time from the distant future! I know not what you sacrificed or desired to come back to the beginning! Surely, there are many stories behind it! Am I right?!”
“What is he talking about?” Even Sephiroth, who had been laughing with his arms crossed, turned serious.
How should I know?! I was more flustered than anyone—this was an event even Sephiroth didn’t recognize. While I stood there blinking, unable to answer, the Lion King turned his gaze toward Sephiroth.
“And you are the bond that has followed him from that past!”
No. We definitely don’t have a past.
“How noble of you to try and help one who carries memories of the past! Even though there must be moments of frustration when dealing with someone who has lost everything but their memory!”
Noble? Him?
“Did you drag me around just to be called ‘noble’?”
“That’s not exactly a title I’m fond of,” Sephiroth replied, looking equally bewildered. If he didn’t know what was happening, who did? Suddenly, the quest story had plunged into a labyrinth.
<Suspicion of the Orange-flower Lions>
The quest window on the right was glowing gold, but the King’s dialogue continued.
“I see! You have come to work together to fix the wrongs of the future, starting from now!”
“No, that’s not really—”
“Tell me! What happens to our Orange-flower Lion tribe? What awaits us in our future?!”
I don’t know! I literally started playing yesterday!
The Lion King, looking at me with desperate eyes, had clearly mistaken me for someone else. But do AIs usually make mistakes? Was this a limitation of deep learning? Even so, telling him “You’re a glitchy AI” wouldn’t count as an answer. After a moment of thought, I visualized one specific future.
“The Orcs, the Slugs… and all of you. You are all massacred.”
The future where Sephiroth descends.
The Lion King flinched at my answer. I heard Sephiroth grumbling under his breath, “Why is he copying my playstyle for his lore?” Such a petty bastard.
While I cursed Sephiroth in my head, the Lion King let out a low groan. He sighed so deeply the earth seemed to sag and stumbled back onto his throne.
“……I see. So that is the future that ultimately came to pass. That is why you have come from the future to set our transgressions right.”
No. I really didn’t.
The once-shouting Lion King became suddenly depressed. His ears drooped, and the orange flower blooming on his head lost its vigor, wilting sadly.
“You must know better than I what needs to be done next. But wait a moment. It seems the owner has come to claim the treasure passed down through our tribe.”
“What is it?”
“I don’t know.”
“Huh?”
The King struggled to his feet and trotted toward the back of his den, his tail swaying weakly. A clump of mane sat where he had been. I picked it up, but I wasn’t even thinking about Bibi’s quest anymore.
An event is unfolding that even Sephiroth doesn’t know about.
“Sorry for the wait! This is for you!”
His energy had returned; the King’s voice was booming again. He was carrying an amulet in his mouth, and when I looked up, he dropped it into my hands. The moment I caught it, a warm sensation spread through my palm.
“O, Knower of the Future! And the Helper! Go! Go and fix the broken future and fulfill your duty!”
Simultaneously, a massive notification appeared.
<You have achieved a Great Achievement that no one has ever accomplished.> Achievement Title: [The Regressor]
……Regression? Like the kind I know? The one that’s in every second fantasy novel these days?
While I stood there dumbfounded, Sephiroth’s murmur from behind me rang clearly in my ear.
“’Infamy penalty is removed for 30 minutes’?”
Wait, what? Why would you give a guy like him that kind of power?!
“Okay, let’s summarize.”
We emerged from the empty den and sat down to share our status.
“First, I got the ‘First Achievement’ title: [The Regressor]. I got this mysterious amulet, and my ‘Virtue’ points went up by 10.”
“I got the ‘First Achievement’ title: [Helper of the Regressor]. My Virtue went up by 10, and my Infamy penalty is temporarily suspended for 30 minutes.”
“And we both got a hidden quest: [The Regressor’s Path].”
“Right.”
“So, according to the system, the ‘setting’ is that I’ve regressed from the future?”
Sephiroth nodded.
“I started this game two days ago, what kind of regression is this? And look at this quest description: ‘You shall know the way.’ What kind of hint is that?!”
To my surprise, the new hidden quest was incredibly cryptic. I’d played countless games, but I’d never seen anything this unhelpful.
The adventure continues! If you loved this chapter, Why Does a Daughter Come Knocking After Defeat?! is a must-read. Click here to start!
Read : Why Does a Daughter Come Knocking After Defeat?!
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