I blinked. “What? You and he made the Returner’s Clockwork?” “Yes,” Mutia replied. As she said “yes,” I heard her teeth grinding, so the pronunciation was closer to “grryes.” However, I was a generous man, even to those who had been defeated. I pretended not to hear. Whether Mutia ground her teeth or not, I had the right to ask what I wanted to know. “I got the Skill from the Fire Emperor. As far as I know, he received his Skill from the Mirage-Walking Princess. I’ve never actually heard that you and he were involved in its creation.” I tilted my head. “Huh?” “I said it’s like the movies you humans enjoy watching.” The Constellation of Gold glared up at me with hatred. I had the right to demand that the defeated keep her knees on the ground. “To make a movie, you need a director, a producer, and sponsors. In your world, Class EX Skills are like blockbuster masterpieces. The Mirage-Walking Princess is the director, or closer to the producer, of that movie.” “I’m really sorry, Death King! I’m the Pillar who gave the Fire Emperor his Skill long ago!” The princess had once said that to me while headbutting the ground. The princess didn’t create the Skill alone from start to finish. I asked, “Then what were your roles?” “The etiquette of a duel is that the victor asks the questions and the loser answers, so I’m following this etiquette for now. But may I stand up and respond instead? It’s embarrassing to do this in front of my followers.” “Come on, it’s more comfortable to sit down. Speak.” “Damn you...” Mutia dug her nails into the ground. “One day, the princess came to me and said, ‘I want to create a regression Skill,’ asking if I was okay with it. Since regression is my power, she needed my permission first.” “Did she need permission from you so she wouldn’t overstep?” “Something like that. I initially refused, but I agreed to allow a Skill that only allows regression for a single day as an exception, provided it comes with a very powerful penalty. Just as I was about to agree, the snake jerk standing nearby interjected.” “The Labyrinth-Dwelling Eye.” “Yes, the snake jerk.” Mutia seemed to think she had the right to call the traitor whatever she wanted. It was a valid argument. I respected that. The Constellation of Gold went on, “The snake jerk suggested that the Skill only activates when the owner is killed. I found it to be an interesting penalty and agreed, but that wasn’t all. The snake jerk is the Constellation of secrets and labyrinths. They wanted death not to be an ending, but a labyrinth to rise upon death.” A labyrinth, or a trap. I took out the Skill Card of Returner’s Clockwork and glanced at it. Effect: It is activated automatically upon your death. You will return to twenty-four hours before your death. Your memory and abilities will be preserved even after your return. ※ You will receive a penalty after the Skill activation. ※ The higher your Class is, the stronger the penalty is. ※ The Skill has been copied from Hunter Yoo Soo-Ha. “So that labyrinth was the trauma penalty, huh?” “Yeah.” Mutia nodded. “The snake jerk said, ‘Human life is often compared to a path, as in having walked a long way. But when seen by others, that path is a twisted, enigmatic labyrinth. The lives of others, the past, the paths—I consider that to be the labyrinth of labyrinths. Humans are lowly beings. Yet each one hides a labyrinthine palace within their heart. Isn’t that what is truly worth being called a labyrinth?’” As Mutia recited the serpent’s words, she clenched her teeth. “It was indeed a proposal befitting them. That’s why we decided to set up a death labyrinth in your Skill. I’m sure we’re not the only ones involved. The Tower master...” Mutia suddenly frowned, looking up at the sky. Where it lost its blue color and turned pitch black, the Primordial Staff, one of the Pillars, was floating. Mutia asked, “Is it okay to tell him this much?” The Primordial Staff yawned. “Huh?Oh, yeah, it doesn’t matter. The Death King has met the Tower master in person, so he’s treated like having the highest security clearance level. I’m pretty sure the Citadel Realm’s language is also translated to him without any censorship.” “What? He met the Tower master herself?” Mutia raised her eyebrows and turned to look at me in disbelief. “What the hell are you?” “Well, I don’t really know what I am, but I’m someone that Ruin-Harvesting Cow has to kneel before speaking to me.” “I should rip your mout— Never mind. Forget it.” Mutia sighed. “Anyway, the princess is the Tower master’s daughter. She might have asked the Tower master and used the other Constellations’ power, not just mine and the snake jerk’s.” With her golden eyes, she glared at me. “That is why you’re a nuisance. Because of you, both the snake jerk and I are in danger.” “As long as you’re alive, I can’t grant my believers’ wishes. No, my Faith itself is wavering!” Although I had heard the whole story about how my Skill was created, I still couldn’t understand Mutia and Hishimit Kritz’s hostility. I tilted my head. “You can’t grant the believers’ wishes because of me? Why?” “You connected time with that Silver Lily or something!” Mutia growled. “Regression has to be exclusive. Do you understand? The value of regression lies in the fact that only a regressor knows that they’ve returned to the past. If anyone else knows that time has been reversed, the value of regression—my power—becomes trash in an instant! You fool! You and Silver Lily conspired together and drew a line in time!” “If you return, Silver Lily will find out, and the other way around too! No matter what you do, one of you will realize that time has been reversed!” “Are you talking about A Certain Returner’s Love?” “Yes!” Mutia yelled, overwhelmed with emotions. “Even if I grant my followers’ wish and allow them to regress, they can no longer enjoy exclusive status because of the two of you! Do you understand? I can no longer claim absolute power over time. My power has been corrupted!” As Mutia wailed, I thought about Raviel’s Skill. A Certain Returner’s Love Effect: Love is like poison to a returner. No matter how hard you struggle, you cannot share the same time with the one you love, so a certain returner made a wish. “Please protect my lover’s memories.” The wish reached the Tower and came true. You share your lover’s time. When your lover goes back a day, you also go back a day. If you go back a day, your lover will also go back a day. This is the oath of the cycle and the marriage of time. May luck be with you both. ※It is only active when you and your lover love each other. I now grasped the full picture. “Indeed. If I were the only one who could return, it wouldn’t matter. Even if only Raviel could return, it wouldn’t matter, but because the two of us share the same timeline...” There was a link between us. From now on, even if a new regressor were to be born in this world, they couldn’t ignore the red thread of time between Raviel and me. Were they to return to the past, Raviel and I would immediately realize that the world had been rewound. From now on, it would be impossible for a regressor to have exclusive control over time except for Raviel and me. “I’ve been wondering why that Skill has been rated as Class EX, but I see it now. There was a reason it was ranked at the highest level.” "Because of you two, my value as a Constellation has plummeted!" Still, it wasn’t my concern, nor was it Raviel’s. I shrugged. “Yes, I understand why you targeted me, but no one forced you to make the Skill. It’s all your doing.” “Don’t be ridiculous! I didn’t suggest making it, the princess did!” “I’m not being ridiculous. You two are the ones who added the trauma penalty. When you think about it, it’s thanks to the penalty that Raviel got A Certain Returner’s Love. I’m sorry, but it’s really all your fault.” “Fuck the Tower and the princess!” Mutia cursed. [The Mirage-Walking Princess has appeared.] “Did someone call me?” “No one did! Get out of here, you plaguing demon!” [The Mirage-Walking Princess dips.] We all came to a silent agreement not to mention the princess’ head popping out of the ground for six seconds before it disappeared. I stared at the spot where the princess had just been. “Well, let’s say that was your reason for attacking me. What about Hishimit Kritz? Why was that Constellation so nervous that they allied with you?” Mutia turned her head away. “Hmph. Why don’t you ask the traitor yourself? Because of you, my power is in shreds. I can’t create new regressors. Even if I could, I’d need your consent. Because of that, I’m not even a proper Constellation anymore. How pathetic.” Some of the two hundred apostles who had regained their senses wept bitterly. “We have no one but you, Lady Mutia! We’ll never serve another Constellation!” “We will remain loyal until the end of time!” Mutia looked around at them and sighed deeply. “In any case, you’ll have to hear Hishimit Kritz’s reason directly from them. I have fulfilled my duty as the loser, so I’ll request that you refrain from further insulting me.” I nodded. In the domain of regression, I had proved that I was stronger than Mutia through this duel. If the time flowing in this Tower were a history book, only my time and Raviel’s would be the official history. The timelines Mutia created would be demoted to the side. Googlᴇ search 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵✶𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖✶𝓷𝓮𝓽 I have obtained everything I could from Mutia. Now, it’s time to... I looked up. The Primordial Staff, who had been watching the conversation between the victor and the loser, was still floating in the air. “Lady Pillar,” I said. “Two senior Constellations conspired to ambush me. I received no warning beforehand. I even had to discover on my own that I’m now a Constellation. I could forget about the rest, but isn’t the last part a bit unfair?” The Primordial Staff shrugged. “The Labyrinth-Dwelling Eye used their power and worked with the Ruin-Harvesting Cow. It’s their doing.” “But that doesn’t change the fact that it’s unfair.” “Yes, and that is precisely why I have appeared as the judge.” She looked down, her pink eyes fixed on me. “If you want something, say it. If it’s reasonable, I’ll grant it.” “Yes, I’m a Constellation now, so I won’t act like a child. I’m currently on the sixty-second floor, correct?” “Yes, unless our memories are severely impaired.” I beamed. “The reward I want is very simple. Please put the Labyrinth-Dwelling Eye in charge of the sixty-third floor.” The Primordial Staff tilted her head slightly. “That’s quite an interesting request. Why?” “It’s because they ran away during the battle.” “You could also call it a wise decision.” “Betraying a comrade you promised to fight alongside can’t be more pathetic.” “I still think there is room to see it as a wise move,” the Primordial Staff said. “Above all, they challenged me to a fight, so I have the right to finish it. Good should be rewarded, and evil has to be punished. And the one who untied the knot should tie it again. On that note, you’ll have to accept my request.” The Primordial Staff stroked her staff. “If the universe followed moral principles, there would be no need for the Tower. But this is the Tower. Alright, I’ll give you the reward you asked for.” [The Constellation eavesdropping on the conversation has become horrified.] [The Labyrinth-Dwelling Eyes protests the unfair decision!] Even though they had fled, they seemed to have been keeping an eye on this place. Their protest messages poured in, but the Primordial Staff didn’t even blink. She said, “It’s not that unfair.” [The Labyrinth-Dwelling Eye vehemently shouts that there is no way that the Primordial Staff can do this!] “I’m a Pillar. I can do this.” [The Labyrinth-Dwelling Eye will never forget this!] “It’s not that you won’t forget—it’s probably that you can’t forget.” I turned to my fox god. “My Constellation.” “Please declare that the floor has been cleared. Let’s go right away.” The fox, who was wrapped around my neck like a scarf, flicked their tail once. [The quest has been cleared!] [The sixty-second floor has been cleared!] [Following your request, you will be teleported to the sixty-third floor immediately.] [The Labyrinth-Dwelling Eye shouts that you can’t do that!] The message rang out almost like a scream. Of course, my reply was already decided. A sandstorm engulfed me.