The Regressor Is The Villain

Morning sunlight filtered gently through the cracks of the shoji, illuminating a quiet room. In the center of the room, the Murasaki family's only daughter, Yoon Murasaki sat at a low table with her purple hair reflecting the sunlight.

In front of her lay a roll of white paper, a blank canvas waiting to be filled with her heavy thoughts. Her small hands held a calligraphy brush, her movements gentle and calculating.

Each stroke of black ink formed a beautiful character, but this time was different. The word she wrote was jihi-"sacrifice."

Yoon's heart trembled as the brush completed the last stroke. Yoon paused for a moment, looking at the character with mixed feelings. To Yoon, the word was a reflection of her current destiny-an imminent engagement to Zend Wolfled, a noble from a neighboring kingdom known for being cold-blooded and evil.

This engagement is a step towards saving her people from crisis, but the price she must pay is her freedom and perhaps, her own happiness.

Yukiko, her loyal servant, approached slowly with a tray containing a cup of green tea.

"Hime-sama"

Yukiko said softly, her voice almost a whisper. "This tea might ease your mind."

Yoon smiled a little, taking the cup gracefully.

"Thank you, Yukiko. You always know what I need."

"It is truly an honor to receive those words, Hime-sama."

Yukiko stared at the calligraphy that Yoon had just finished writing.

"Jihi. What a meaningful word, Hime-sama. Is that how you feel right now?"

Yoon looked at her maid, then nodded slowly.

"Yes, Yukiko. I feel like this is my destiny. Selling my freedom for the people and territory of Xian. If with this I can protect them from the crisis, then I have no reason to refuse."

"Hime-sama..."

Yukiko bowed respectfully, but her tone of voice contained worry.

"You are too noble. But, what about your own heart? Are you not afraid? Hime-sama must already know that the rumors about Zend are very bad."

Yoon let out a long breath.

"Of course I'm afraid. But I have to put that fear aside. As the daughter of the Murasaki family, I can't just think of myself. Besides, I won't judge someone based on rumors alone."

The sound of footsteps came from outside, followed by a soft knock on the door.

"Yoon, it's your father. May I come in?"

Yukiko quickly opened the door, and Lord Takahara, Yoon's father, entered with a dignified yet tired-looking face. He was wearing an oversized robe, indicating that he had just returned from an important meeting with officials.

"Yoon."

Lord Takahara said in a soft tone, looking at his daughter who sat quietly in front of the table.

"I'd like to talk to you."

"Please, Father."

Aiko replied, inviting her father to sit near her.

Lord Takahara looked at Yoon's calligraphy, then nodded slowly.

"Jihi. You've always been a very smart boy, but you don't need to use that smartness right now."

Yoon smiled slightly.

"Responsibility comes at a high price, Father. I have decided what I want to do. If it is for the people of Xian, I will do it."

Lord Takahara's face softened.

"My daughter, this decision is not something I want to force on you. But the world of politics does not give us much choice. I know that Aamon Wolfled's son has a reputation for being... frightening. However, I don't hear him committing violence against his people. Perhaps, you will find another side of him that will make your life happy."

Yoon did not reply, but her gaze did not waver. She had accepted this fate with an open heart, though the shadow of fear remained within him.

Lord Takahara stood up slowly, patting his daughter gently on the shoulder.

"Father knows you are strong, Yoon. You are the hope of Xian city and the Murasaki family."

After her father left, Yoon returned to holding her brush to continue her hand movements but this time her hand movements felt a little shaky.

...

1 week has passed since my meeting with father about the engagement. I'm currently sitting in my room drinking dozens of types of poison.

Yes, a poison.

I'm currently trying to awaken the poison antidote ability that I had in episode 1.

After a week of drinking poison and getting blood poisoned many times, I finally awakened that ability.

[Skills: Low Poison Antidote (New)]

Although the skill level is low, it will still be very helpful against third-rate assassins. Starting in the future, I will often encounter assassins who are after my life so I must be prepared to fight back, one of which is getting this skill.

Besides, starting tomorrow I'll be leaving the territory to go to the border as my first inaugural mission as an heir. A mandatory mission that every heir must do, although father originally wanted to delay it because of my body condition but thanks to my persuasion father finally allowed it.

Abyys, a terrifying region where the center of all monsters appears and in the future is the place where The Evil One and his army will appear.

Although I'm going there but I won't be so close to abyys because the monsters near abyys are currently dangerous monsters of rank B and A and there might even be Rank S.

My mission tomorrow is to exterminate weak monsters together with the squad that father has prepared.

Although the place I went to had mostly weak monsters, there was an irregular monster that had risen to rank C- hiding.

Thanks to that monster slaughtering my squad, I was severely traumatized in episode 1 and that bitch used it to make me even more dependent on her.

This time I'm going to kill the monster with my own hands. Killing that monster will help me execute my plan.

*Knock*

A knock sounded from the door.

"Come in."

An old butler appeared, he immediately bowed his head to me.

"I brought the items you need young master."

"Hmph, good job for a lowly butler. Put the stuff there then you can go."

"Okay."

The butler put some items into the place I pointed out. After finishing, the butler left the room.

After making sure the butler was really gone, I picked up the items the butler left behind.

"Calajin's venomous tail and Ros' gallbladder."

These 2 items came from monsters and would be essential for fighting the C- rank monsters that would appear.

As for the potions, the weapons had already been prepared by father so I just needed to figure out how to fight the monsters.

I grabbed a knife from the drawer and started preparing experiments with these items.

...

"What for?"

"I don't know anything either, sir."

In the head family room, Aamon was interrogating the butler who brought the items Zend had requested earlier.

"Calajin's tail can be used for weapons and poison but what is Ros's gallbladder used for?"

Aamon was a little unaware of what Zend wanted to do with Ros's gallbladder since it had no use as far as Aamon was concerned.

(What was Zend planning to do with those two items?)

Aamon had been seeing less and less of Zend lately, although Zend was continuing his education as an heir well but that was the only contact Aamon had with Zend.

Although Aamon was happy to see his son growing up, Aamon was also a little saddened by the lack of interaction between the two lately.

(Is this what it means for a child to grow up so fast?)

Even so, Aamon was happy to see Zend's growth. Even these days, he often heard Zend's stories from the maids and butlers who came in contact with Zend.

From the nasty behavior Zend did to the maids to what Zend did alone.

(In the end, I still don't understand why Zend is trying to be hated by the people around but for now I'll keep an eye on it first.)

Aamon though still didn't understand what Zend's actions meant but decided to watch for the time being.