Raised the Villainous Daughter and Ran Away

160. Revengeful Ghost

He swung his sword.

Carelessly.

The Zodiac was full of signs of devastation and destruction. Once-prosperous cities were now shadowy ruins.

He swung his sword.

Cruelly.

The streets were strewn with ashes and broken pieces, and the only sound was the lonely sound of things blowing in the wind.

He swung his sword.

Without blood or tears.

The sky was covered with dark and gloomy clouds, as if it was mourning the coming of a disaster. The sunlight was covered with cold and dark shadows, and the sight of it shining on the ground brought about a terrible gloom.

He swung his sword.

Brutally.

Plants hit by the aura of destruction withered and died, and trees also died longing for stagnant water and nutrients.

─Mom, Mom…!

I heard the child’s pitiful cries. My eyes did not flinch.

─Oh, what should I do…! Son, son!

─Mom… Mom… I’m sick… .

The voice of the shaking hat was heard. There was no emotion whatsoever.

─Why on earth, why on earth is this happening… … .

─My daughter was everything to me…!

─It hurts…! It hurts… … .

─I want to live, uh… … .

From all sides there were cries of agony, writhing and desperate longing.

It was lacking.

This alone won’t be enough to reach the sky where she is.

A requiem called Scream was needed, a more fitting memorial song for her.

He swung his sword.

Harshly.

People fell into despair in the face of an unstoppable disaster. Their faces were etched with helplessness and fear.

He swung his sword.

I was a conductor who played screams.

He swung his sword.

Screams formed a chorus at my command.

I wanted to be one hell for her.

I shed blood to become people’s hell, to become despair. My abyss for her deepened day by day.

The pile of corpses began to pile up.

I realized that the faces of the people I killed still had emotions on them.

Of course I know why.

But what does that mean?

It’s the last day of a perishing world. Who cares what anyone does?

“… … .”

When I came to, I was standing at the edge of the continent. The pure white aura had turned black, and the blood on my hands and face would not come off no matter how much I washed it.

Moreover, with all life lost, there were no more requiems left to offer to her.

I looked up at the sky with eyes filled with sorrow. Rain was falling from the gloomy sky.

Swaaah.

Just like the day the war broke out and took everything from me.

Swaaah.

Just like the day I lost the woman I relied on, even though I had lost everything.

Swaaah.

It rained.

“Kilkil, who would have thought that in less than a year, all the humans on the continent would be wiped out? It really is Jin Barenberg.”

I turned my head towards the direction of the sound. There was a familiar face there, a transcendent wizard. I immediately unfurled a pitch-black aura.

“Has the color of your aura changed now? You have become the Demon King.”

The Transcendent Wizard made a suggestion to me with a chuckle.

“I have a chance to set this all straight, why don’t you listen? Let’s make a deal.”

I opened my eyes shallowly and looked into the eyes of the Transcendent Wizard. I don’t know what his purpose is.

“What do you gain from trading?”

“Magical research results.”

“Why are you proposing a deal now?”

“Because you too have seen the end of this world.”

“… … .”

A proposal from a transcendent wizard who has lived for hundreds of years. I have my doubts about many things, but now it doesn’t really matter. I have nothing left.

“Okay, let’s deal.”

* * *

A contract with a transcendent wizard. I turned back time through a deal that included an oath to the goddess. The time is right after I was sold into slavery.

“Follow me.”

Fortunately, I was able to see her again, but I didn’t get emotional. I had work to do.

Her life went on as planned, just as I knew it.

He was rejected by everyone in Descartes, and was betrayed even by his trusted Persian successor. Nothing was allowed to a man who had nothing.

“Can I have nothing?”

“Aren’t I here?”

“… That’s right. You were there.”

She smiled bitterly.

I intended for Frances to rely more on me. To be everything to her, as if she couldn’t live without me. So that she could make different choices later.

But she.

“I will take revenge on the saint.”

She always made the same choices. The same ending was repeated over and over again, as if her fate was set.

“Kilkil, I guess I failed.”

“Turn it back.”

“Are you okay? Your soul is being consumed.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“If that’s the case.”

Exactly! Time was turned back by the Transcendent Wizard. The point in time was the same as before.

This time, we took a different approach. If we couldn’t change her choice, we wanted to increase her attractive options.

“Jin, if I run away with you like this, will I be happy?”

“I will be happy if that is your choice, Your Majesty.”

“…okay?”

Frances, with her lifeless face, stroked her chin and thought for a moment.

“Okay. I can’t run away like this. I’m going to get revenge on the saint who blocked my future.”

He quickly shook his head.

“…Is that so?”

This time it went the same way. She failed to assassinate me, and I took her and fled to the abandoned forest of the Imperial City.

“I command you by imprint. Get out of here.”

Same place. Unavoidable death. Her choice that couldn’t be reversed. Why? Why didn’t she use me? I didn’t understand.

The transcendent wizard came to me again as I was looking up at the sky with a vain face.

“Hmm, I guess I failed again this time?”

“…give it back.”

“This is the third time I’ve done it?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

Even if time were turned back, she would have met death as if it were her predetermined fate, but there was a harvest. Even if the result was the same, the process was different.

If you don’t give up, you can save her. You can change her fate.

I spent my soul to turn back time once again.

But even though the process changed, the result did not change.

I could have given Frances other choices and presented her with other paths, but she always ran towards the same outcome.

As if it had to be this way no matter what.

“Turn it back.”

“Do you remember which number it was?”

“I don’t remember.”

“This is the 900th time.”

“What does that mean?”

The Transcendent Wizard clicked his tongue and shook his head.

“I knew you were a monster, but I didn’t know you could turn back time like this. Of course, I’ll keep turning back time as long as you want.”

Exactly!

Time has turned back.

I failed, failed, failed. I failed dozens, then hundreds, then thousands, and I couldn’t even remember which time it was.

“What on earth, what on earth should I do…?”

Confusion has come.

Assassinated the saintess who was the mastermind behind the incident. Killed the crown prince and Cassus Persia, who were at the center of power.

Even though we eliminated everyone involved in France’s death, her ending remained the same, just in a different form.

“Still feeling dissatisfied?”

“Turn it back. This time… … .”

“No, it’s over now.”

“what?”

I looked at the transcendent wizard with a life of purpose.

“Don’t look at me like that. Your soul can’t hold out anymore. Do you know how many times I’ve turned back time? Two thousand times, two thousand times. Even a goddess would be unable to do this.”

Is that so? Is there no chance now? Even if she is a transcendent being, she is still human. Was it wrong to try to change her fate, which was determined against her theme?

It felt like the dead emotions were sinking further into the abyss.

“But there is a way.”

“what?”

“It goes beyond the world.”

“…world?”

The transcendent wizard smiled and continued his explanation.

“If you leave this world and go to a new world, your fate will be twisted. Then you can escape from the certain death. How about giving it a try?”

Does this mean that fate is fixed since you no longer exist in this world? I don’t know much about magic, but I understand.

“What is the price?”

“Your everything.”

“…all?”

As I frowned, the Transcendent Wizard chuckled.

“Soul, life, existence. These are the three.”

It’s an absurd price to pay… … .

“I accept it.”

I nodded. There was no other way to save her.

“Are you sending Frances to another world?”

“No, you’re the one going.”

“… What does that mean?”

A transcendent wizard who continues to speak with a laugh.

“If a being that was here were to cross over to another world, it would be treated as an impurity and would not be able to endure. But you, I think you can endure it.”

I frowned.

“Will Frances’ fate change if I go? I don’t know what you’re trying to say.”

The Transcendent Wizard raised the corners of his mouth as if he had been waiting for this question and continued his explanation.

“Soul bond.”

“Soul bond?”

“Okay.”

At first, I couldn’t understand what he was saying.

“You don’t understand? Okay, I’ll explain.”

Snap! The Transcendent Wizard snapped his fingers and created pure white smoke.

“This is your soul, and that is the witch’s soul. I will combine the two and make them one.”

As I opened my eyes wide, the Transcendent Wizard smiled and said, “Do you understand now?”

“If your fate changes, the witch’s fate will change as well. The ending that couldn’t be changed even two thousand times will change.”

I asked sternly, holding my breath.

“Why didn’t you suggest that from the beginning?”

“Because the magic is not complete.”

The Transcendent Wizard continued, spreading his arms.

“This is the ultimate magic that I wanted, and that you wanted too. If you hadn’t regressed two thousand times, it would have taken hundreds or thousands of years to achieve.”

Did I perfect my magic during the two thousand years I spent returning?

“Is there anything unstable?”

“Only transcendent beings can do this.”

“… I see. It doesn’t matter.”

Even if you refuse now, nothing will change. I nodded and continued.

“I have a question.”

“what?”

“Can I come back?”

“Kill, of course.”

The Transcendent Wizard continued with a sinister smile.

“You don’t have to worry about that, as long as you make a few preparations you’ll be able to return without any problems.”

I don’t know what this damn wizard wanted that took him two thousand years to create this magic, but we’re already on the same boat. We have no choice but to trust him until the end.

I would do anything to save France.

“What are you going to do when I come back?”

“Kilkil, I’ll take care of that.”

“… … .”

“I think you’re curious, so I’ll keep it brief.”

The Transcendent Wizard continued, raising his index finger.

“What I will do is a magic that breaks the causality of the world. Those whose souls are bound to each other will transcend life and death, and interfere with each other’s fates. If I meet the conditions, you will return to this world at the time I have set. Even if you don’t want to. Kill kill.”

It wasn’t that difficult of a statement.

“I understand. Perform the magic right away.”

“Before that, I need to turn back time once more.”

“… What does that mean?”

His brow furrowed. Didn’t you say earlier that you can’t turn back time? The transcendent wizard explained with a bitter smile.

“I will turn you just a little so that your torn soul does not suffer any strain. Just before that witch dies. Then I will stop time and bind your two souls.”

That’s what it was. I understand.

“Start quickly.”

“It’s so urgent.”

Killkill, the laughing transcendent wizard snapped his fingers and turned back time.

The point of view is just after I escaped to the abandoned forest of the zodiac. Here, I have to beg Frances, but… … .

“Your Majesty.”

“…What is it?”

“I will change everything.”

“What the… all of a sudden…?”

Snap! Time stopped with the sound of fingers snapping.

“Kilkil, let’s start.”

Woof!!! A strong magical force swept through, and the dark sky turned red.

“A song of earnest soul.”