A Regressor's Bucket List Chapter 93

Just like the black aura shrouding the palace, the throne itself was also veiled in a dark energy, so its exact appearance was not revealed.

『…Demon King.』

But with that single short word uttered from U-jin's mouth, Loxy was able to conjure an image of the figure in her mind.

‘…….’

The Demon King.

The leader of the Demon Federation, which divided the Upper Plane with the Order's Allied Forces.

The primordial demon, known as the progenitor of all Demonic Species.

It was impossible not to know him.

He was the one who had exerted the greatest influence on the Upper Plane since the ancient savior, the Messiah.

And even now, the one who commanded the entire War against Demons taking place in the Upper Plane was none other than the Demon King.

If there was anyone living in the Upper Plane who didn't know of the Demon King, it was as good as saying they were a spy from the outer worlds (外界).

…Moreover.

Loxy was a Succubus.

Though from a distant branch, she was undeniably part of the Demonic Species.

From Loxy's perspective, he was a figure no different from a father, so there were few things more absurd than the idea of her not knowing him.

‘…….’

Of course, she couldn't be certain if the one sitting on that throne was truly the Demon King.

Whether it was because this was a dream or because it was actually so, she didn't know, but an unidentifiable black aura around him obscured most of his appearance.

And even if it wasn't there, Loxy had never seen the Demon King in the first place.

‘That person is…….’

However.

To think of this as a fabrication, the harmony of the atmosphere it created was too natural.

So much so that there was no room for even a sliver of doubt. This space, fabricated by U-jin's dream, was unfamiliar and familiar, yet terrifying.

It painted a very plausible and unsettling picture.

‘This seems too vivid to be just a dream…….’

Around that point, Loxy suddenly realized that this dream was not a product of imagination, pieced together from non-existent events.

It possessed the nature of a 'recollection', based on U-jin's memories.

Having traversed dreams thousands of times, she knew this best.

A clarity and completeness of this level were difficult to achieve unless it was a recollection dream.

In other words.

This wasn't something to be dismissed as a mere illusion, but rather something to be considered an event that U-jin had ‘personally experienced before his regression’.

And not just a simple recollection dream where one relives a past event.

It was a special kind of recollection dream with a precognitive nature, one that had not occurred in Loxy's timeline. Although it wouldn't be exactly the same due to the intervention of variables, it held the nature of a 'coming future'.

‘…I never expected this kind of development.’

At first, Loxy had thought that U-jin might have set some kind of 'trap' to gauge her trustworthiness, but as time passed in the dream, she became more convinced that wasn't the case.

Of course, the speculation that U-jin was deliberately exposing a weakness to test her wasn't impossible.

‘…But why would he?’

Loxy hadn't plotted anything suspicious, nor had she attempted to escape, so there was no reason for him to set such a risky trap.

Loxy knew well that from U-jin's perspective, she was nothing more or less than a 'tool' that could be replaced if needed.

Therefore, it was right to view this current phenomenon of him exposing his past as an unforeseen incident beyond U-jin's control.

‘…Perhaps.’

For Loxy, this was an incredibly welcome development.

Who was it that said it?

Knowledge is power, and fear comes from the unknown.

If this 'dream-peeking' wasn't a one-time happening, perhaps it could become the key to freeing Loxy from U-jin's grasp.

Of course, that didn't mean she would immediately use this to grab U-jin's weakness and threaten him.

But from her position as the absolute subordinate, it was better to have a final trump card.

『…Impressive.』

At the sudden mutter from the throne, Loxy's mind focused back on the scene before her.

『It has been nearly a century since anyone invaded Our palace alone…….』

『…….』

『Are you truly alone?』

The man shrouded in black aura, the 'Demon King', looked down at U-jin and asked.

Shrug—

『Well, you can see I’m not two people, can you?』

『…That is true.』

Nod—

U-jin answered the Demon King's words nonchalantly, but.

Loxy could detect a faint tremor in U-jin's voice.

No, actually, it wasn't even faint.

It wasn't a tremor from emotional turmoil, but a physical shaking from the accumulated damage to his body.

Loxy had no way of knowing the circumstances that led to this scene or why U-jin was in the Demon King's Palace at this point in time.

But the fact that U-jin was not in a normal state couldn't be concealed by his plausible appearance.

…As if U-jin himself was well aware of this, he didn't even try to hide his trembling voice.

『That emblem… is it the Suicide Squad formed by the remnants of the Order?』

Nod—

『…Strange. We were reported that all Suicide Squads were annihilated, with the last being the one commanded by that conical-hat-wearer.』

『…….』

『Was there another Suicide Squad We were not aware of?』

Without immediately answering the Demon King's question, U-jin remained silent for a moment, then took a breath and replied.

Shake shake—

『No.』

『…….』

『It’s that Suicide Squad. It’s just that everyone but me died.』

『…I see.』

Thanks to the black aura, not a single feature of his appearance was discernible, but the Demon King's voice was enough to reveal his presence.

As if to prove that his long reign over the Demon Federation's army was not merely due to good fortune.

Despite the lack of force in his voice, it was imbued with a captivating dignity and a heart-stirring sincerity.

So much so that even Loxy, who was merely peeking into the dream, found her thoughts momentarily ceasing at his voice.

His voice had the power to stir people.

『…The defenses of the outer castle would not have been particularly lax.』

『…….』

『Are there still mages of the Order left who can open a path while avoiding the eyes of ‘Chaos’?』

Shrug—

『Did you not hear me? I told you. Everyone but me is dead.』

『…….』

『Well, I did have a hard time getting through those lumps on my own.』

『…Are you saying you broke through Our Royal Guard yourself?』

Step, step—

After nodding at U-jin's words and pondering for a moment, the Demon King descended from his throne.

He took two steps toward U-jin with a graceful gait and spoke.

『What is your name?』

And the short question that followed.

At the Demon King's sudden question, Loxy couldn't help but frown.

The Demon King asking for a name.

That seemingly insignificant act carried a meaning that was, in reality, anything but light.

『I shall personally remember your name.』

『…Is that something I should be thankful for?』

『There are not many names that I personally remember. Whether you receive it as an honor or not is your prerogative, but…….』

『…….』

『I can assure you it is not a common occurrence.』

Indeed, it was so.

The names the Demon King personally remembered were, at most, those of the Titled Demons who had been directly bestowed a byname along with their title from the Demon King himself.

Even the names of the Dark Knights, his direct Royal Guard whom he had personally selected, were not all remembered by him. So, for the Demon King to remember a name was, at least to the Magical Beasts of the Demon King's Territory, an exceptionally rare and glorious event.

Perhaps sensing some intent.

U-jin, who had been silent for a moment in thought, soon shook his head, shrugged as if he didn't know, and spat out his words.

『…Seo U-jin.』

『Not a difficult name. I will be sure to remember it.』

Nodding with a brief comment on U-jin's answer, the Demon King picked up something from the right of his throne.

‘……?’

What the Demon King held up in his hand was none other than an hourglass.

『This is my gift to you.』

『…….』

『It seems this is the first time My interest has been piqued like this since Isaac. I shall personally grant you My time.』

『…….』

『You may think of it as a reward for coming this far.』

Having picked up the hourglass, the Demon King then turned it upside down and placed it on the armrest of the throne.

Chwareureu—

『…It is approximately five minutes.』

『…….』

『You may ask a question, or you may request a duel. This time is time that I have prepared solely for you, so do as you please.』

A low-ranking servant from outside the palace like Loxy would not know the delicate parlance of the royal court.

But considering the relationship between the two in the current situation, his words did not sound like he was truly giving a gift.

Of course, from the perspective of the Demon King offering it, his words might have stemmed from a pure heart.

But that was only from the Demon King's perspective.

In fact, looking at it from the other side, it meant that U-jin was only given five minutes.

Rather, to Loxy, it seemed to carry a warning: if U-jin couldn't appeal a reason why he should be kept alive within five minutes, or if he couldn't render the Demon King combat-incapable within five minutes, he would inevitably die.

…If Loxy's thoughts were correct.

This place was the center of the Demon King's Territory, the cradle of the king where countless Titled Demons and Dark Knights visited for an audience.

It had to be the 'Demon King's Palace'.

『You may do whatever you wish.』

『…….』

『However, as I have spared my precious time, I hope you do not waste it.』

Despite the Demon King's urging to hurry, U-jin did not answer immediately.

Instead, he looked up at the Demon King standing before the throne and approached him step by step.

Step, step—

As U-jin slowly ascended the tiered ramp, a deep, intense emotion was imbued in his footsteps.

Of course, having entered the dream without any context, there was no way to know what was dissolved in those steps.

But even from Loxy's position of merely sharing his vision, she could tell that U-jin was savoring a highly concentrated emotion.

‘…….’

Keeping his gaze fixed on the Demon King, U-jin quietly ascended the steps, and it was when he was about a third of the way up that he opened his mouth.

『…A gift, you say.』

The word uttered from beneath his upturned lips was quite unexpected, even for Loxy.

Grin—

『I prepared a gift, too.』