The Villainous Noble Who Kept Rewinding After Death: The Story Somehow Changed When I Committed Suicide

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The Villainous Noble Who Kept Rewinding After Death: The Story Somehow Changed When I Committed Suicide

Episode 103: Poison Dragon

“First, we were at the Magic Kingdom Falmel before we came here.”

“Falmel? That’s the place where the misdeeds of the royal family were recently exposed, leading to the abolition of the monarchy and a new regime, right?”

“Impressive. You already know that information. So, how about the royal family’s misdeeds?”

“Of course. They formed an alliance with the demon race and committed atrocious acts… wait a minute.”

“That’s right. While I was in Falmel, I met that demon race. They mentioned that they’re targeting the Elf Kingdom next, claiming they would resurrect something sealed there.”

“About 1,400 years ago, before this country was established, the powerful elves sealed the poison dragon Hydra deep within the forest. What the demon race referred to as resurrection is likely about that Hydra, isn’t it?”

“That’s certainly a possibility. But how do you know about the Hydra? It’s just a fairy tale in this country, and hardly anyone knows it actually existed.”

Yes. As Kaylee said, the Hydra is known among elves as a fairy tale, but very few are aware it once existed, and even fewer know that it is sealed.

The reason is that back then, the Hydra existed in the forest that now makes up the Demon Domain, but someone invited the Hydra into this forest.

It was done by some elf comrades living together, who, by teaming up with the demon race, lured the Hydra into this forest.

To cover up the shame brought by their kin, the elves of that time only passed down the existence of the Hydra as a fairy tale, hiding the facts of its real existence and that it was sealed.

By the way, when the Hydra appeared in this forest, it was said that the poison caused plants to wither, and most of the elves who fought perished in a disastrous outcome.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t tell you how I know this story.

What’s important is that the Hydra will soon be revived, and this country will face an unprecedented calamity.”

“Hmm…”

After Kaylee listened to my story, he fell silent, deep in thought, while Shuvina seemed anxious, tightly gripping Fiera’s hand.

“Kaylee, shouldn’t we first verify if this is true and investigate the location where the Hydra is sealed?”

Then, Cecil, who had been listening until now, suggested this to Kaylee, but Kaylee looked a bit hesitant as he explained.

“Well, the last time the Hydra appeared was 1,400 years ago, and the sealing location isn’t clearly documented.

Even if it was a shame for our kin, I didn’t expect there would be no records about the sealing site. I was surprised to hear this as well.”

“No way…”

Not knowing what to do if they couldn’t find the sealing location, Shuvina let out a voice filled with despair.

“Eir…”

Shuvina called out to me as if clinging to hope, and I smiled at her and spoke about the results of my earlier exploration magic.

“I found the location. It’s sealed about 20 kilometers further south from the southern district.”

“Is that really true?! But how did you find that out?”

“I used exploration magic. I had quite a struggle with the barrier here, but somehow I located it.”

“What on earth…”

Kaylee stopped moving, surprised that I found the sealing location with my exploration magic.

“Impressive. The barrier here is quite powerful, and even we elves can’t deploy broad-range exploration or detection magic.”

Cecil nodded in admiration at this, oddly satisfied.

“If that’s true, should we send an investigation team there?”

“I think that would be unwise.”

“Why’s that?”

Kaylee began to consider sending the investigation team to the Hydra’s sealing site, but I advised against it.

“The demon race probably doesn’t know the exact location due to the magic cast by the artifact either, but the sealing site is currently leaking toxic substances as its seal begins to weaken.

If we send an investigation team now, those people probably won’t make it back.”

“I see…”

When I found the sealing site using exploration magic, there was already Hydra’s poison seeping out, and most of the surrounding plants were dead.

The same goes for the World Tree, whose roots extend throughout the entire forest that covers this elven kingdom.

From those roots, the Hydra’s poison flows into the World Tree, causing abnormalities as well.

“Then, what should we do?”

“I’ll go.”

“…Huh? What did you just say?”

“I’ll go defeat it.”

When I declared that I would go defeat the Hydra, Kaylee seemed rendered speechless by the shock, and Cecil continued to observe me intently.

“I’ll handle it, so you all stay here or evacuate in case I die.”

“N-no! What are you talking about? There’s no way you can take it down alone!”

“Well, you won’t know until you try. My original intent was to fight that Hydra. So, even if you try to stop me, I will go regardless.”

“…Does that mean you’re doing it to help us? In that case, we might as well work together…”

“Hm? What are you talking about?”

Kaylee seems to think I’m fighting the Hydra to help the elves, but that’s a complete misunderstanding.

“I’m doing it because it sounds fun. I have no intentions of helping you. To begin with, I have no reason to help you.”

“B-but… Didn’t you say before entering the country that you were here to help us?”

Remembering that I did say something to Jill about coming to help this country at the gate, I made sure to clarify that matter as well.

“I only said that thinking it might let me in. Besides, if I defeat the Hydra, this country can be saved. It’s not like everything I said was a lie.

I get to fight a strong foe, and you all might be able to save this country unharmed. Isn’t that an ideal situation?”

As I said this, genuinely smiling, Kaylee looked at me as if I were some crazy monster.

“Aren’t you afraid? The Hydra is a terrible monster. Don’t you fear losing or dying against such a foe? And do you think nothing of us elves?”

“Well, first off, I don’t really care about dying. Even if I suffer and die from the Hydra’s poison, I feel no fear about death. Rather, when I die, I can laugh and feel grateful for having fought such a strong enemy.

As for the elves, I’m sorry, but I really don’t care about them. I have no desire to save elves who I’ve just met or don’t know at all, and even if we became close, it wouldn’t change anything.

I’m not a good person or a hero. To me, others are all equally irrelevant, and I have no interest in anything other than my own goals.

Whoever suffers or dies in the process is of no concern to me. That’s all there is to it.”

“…You’re insane.”

Upon hearing my words, Kaylee muttered as if unable to help himself.

“Haha! I hear that a lot. But I can’t live without being a bit crazy. Oh? Am I crazy because I’m alive? Well, either way works.”

I’ve forgotten whether I went mad to survive or if I’m alive because I’m mad; it doesn’t matter now, so I’ll let it go.

“Welcome back. So, Shuvina really is back. And you too, Kaylee. What’s going on? And who are these people?”

Just then, a kindly-looking man with light green hair that fell around his shoulders opened the door and entered, looking curious at us.

“Dad.”

It seems this man is Shuvina’s father, and indeed, he bears a resemblance to her.

“Welcome back, Shuvina. Has your journey ended?”

“I’m back. No, that’s not it. My companions seem to have business in this country, so I just came back for a moment. Once that’s settled, I’ll leave the country again.”

“Is that so? Oh, by the way, I ran into Ryan when I was on my way here…”

“Hey, Shuvina! You made it back!”

While Shuvina’s father was talking, a mysterious man entered the house, calling out her name loudly.

“Ah, Lord Ryan, wait!”

The man called Ryan ignored her father’s words and suddenly kneeled before Shuvina, taking her hand and kissing it.

“Have you heard from Pale and Cecil about that matter? I really hope you’ll consider it positively.”

The moment I laid eyes on this man named Ryan, I had a strong premonition that I was about to get wrapped up in something incredibly troublesome, and I knew this premonition usually turned out to be true.