Omniscient First-Person’s Viewpoint-Chapter 476: Flip ‘Suicide’ Around, and You Get ‘Survive’

Do you want to destroy the world?

How was I supposed to answer that?

Of course, I would deny it.

Anyone in their right mind wouldn’t want to destroy a functioning world.

But what if they weren’t in their right mind?

What if someone truly wanted to destroy everything?

Even then, it would be smarter to deny it.

Admitting it outright would only earn a crushing blow from some hero trying to save the world.

And anyone dumb enough to openly declare their intent to destroy the world? They were already dead.

That kind of person wouldn’t survive long enough to reach this point.

So my answer was already decided.

Which meant—

I shouldn’t answer right away.

“Shei, before I answer, let me ask you something first.”

“I asked first. If you’re just trying to dodge the question—”

“Just listen. You’re not the only one with questions.”

Annoyed, I met the regressor’s gaze and spoke.

“What’s your connection to the Holy Crown Church?”

“What? What do you mean?”

“You search for the King of Sins. You warn of the world’s destruction. You know the future. On top of that, you’re carrying divine relics like Tianying and every other holy treasure imaginable.”

I narrowed my eyes.

“It’s obvious, isn’t it? Even a passing mutt could tell you’re deeply connected to the Holy Crown Church.”

“Woof!”

Azzy, who had no idea what I was saying, still nodded along in agreement.

Correction.

Even a mutt doesn’t know.

Which meant—

Everyone except Azzy had already figured it out.

Tyrkanzyaka, even Hilde had their suspicions the moment they saw the regressor.

Honestly, they hadn’t said it out loud, but they might as well have.

“That leaves just one question,” I continued. “How deep is your connection to the Holy Crown Church? What kind of leverage do you have over them, to the point where they’d give you treasures they wouldn’t even hand to a saintess?”

The question landed like a dagger.

The regressor muttered under their breath, as if caught off guard.

“I figured someone would realize it eventually... I guess you finally caught on.”

What? Eventually? Finally?!

I had been trying to keep this conversation serious, but that—

That was too much.

I couldn’t hold back anymore.

I yelled at them.

“What do you mean ‘eventually’?! I already knew, you idiot!”

“What? How?!”

“I just told you! Look at yourself! Tianying, Pocket, Seven-Colored Eyes! You’re covered in divine relics related to the heavens, space, and light, and you thought no one would notice?! What, are you an ostrich?! Just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean the rest of us can’t!”

It wasn’t like I hadn’t called them out on it before.

It was just that no one had bothered to press the issue.

Even Tyrkanzyaka, for all her indifference, had figured it out immediately.

‘Sure, if you analyze each thing one by one, it might be suspicious, but... to recognize it immediately? Is the King of Humans some kind of genius?’

Genius, my ass.

Did they think my phrase about a ‘passing mutt’ was just a figure of speech?

Even one of those details was enough to raise suspicion!

Still completely unaware of how blatantly obvious they had been, the regressor tried to play it cool.

“...You figured out more than most people. Most just assume they’re rare treasures. You really are the King of Humans.”

“There it is. ‘You really are the King of Humans.’ I’ve always known! From the moment we met, you’ve been suspicious as hell! Head to toe, you’re pure suspicion!”

Of course, a lot of my certainty came from mind reading, but they didn’t know that.

Which meant the regressor was genuinely shocked.

‘They’ve always known? That entire time in the Abyss?’

‘I didn’t notice at all...!’

No shit.

There was no point in explaining.

Back then, they had locked themselves away for ‘personal training,’ and I had thrown up enough smokescreens to keep them from catching on.

Now, I pressed harder.

“Answer me honestly, and I’ll answer you honestly.

What the hell are you?”

For the regressor, it wasn’t an unfamiliar question.

They looked young.

Yet, their strength was monstrous.

Their abilities—were they talent? Supernatural power?

People had always questioned them.

The thing was, since the next timeline would reset, none of their past feats ever carried over.

Which meant they always had to deal with suspicion.

I already knew the truth—thanks to mind reading.

But I still had to ask.

Because if they said it out loud, they’d be less inclined to cause me trouble.

The regressor bit their lip, thinking hard.

But they weren’t me.

There was no way they could come up with a perfect lie in this situation.

They gave up quickly and answered truthfully.

“I have no connection to them.”

“...You expect me to believe that?”

“It’s true. I have no obligations to them, and they have no obligations to me. Everything I have was given to me.

I don’t owe them anything, and I don’t plan on returning anything.”

‘Grateful? Sure. But that’s all.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

We’re just using each other.’

Without mentioning regression, this was the most honest answer they could give.

Normally, I wouldn’t believe something like that.

But I had already read their mind.

So I decided to pretend to take them at their word.

My voice softened slightly.

“So, you’re not hostile toward the Holy Crown Church.”

“No. If it means saving the world, I’ll work with anyone.

Updated from freewёbnoνel.com.

And out of all the powers in the world, the Holy Crown Church is the most trustworthy.”

“Oh really? Because they don’t trust the King of Humans at all.

So from my perspective, neither they nor you seem all that reliable.”

“...Which is exactly why I’m asking you.”

The regressor clenched Tianying. The blade embedded in my right shoulder trembled. They weren’t swinging it down just yet, but I couldn’t be sure.

If they had to do it, they would.

“The King of Sins who will destroy the world—that’s the fallen King of Humans! And you’re the King of Humans! So tell me the truth—what are you planning to do with the world?!”

Now they were ready to listen.

Having set the stage, I took my time choosing my words.

How do you answer a question when the answer is already decided?

Easy.

That question wasn’t directed at me.

They wanted to believe something.

They were asking me to give them a reason to believe.

“Same as you, Shei.”

“Me?”

Then, I just had to make them believe.

“I don’t really care what side you’re on or what your real identity is. Just like how you didn’t take sides when you fought Jisen, I don’t have any intention to kill or destroy something just because it might be dangerous or suspicious. I don’t even have that kind of power.”

The regressor was an emotional person. They could throw away ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) an entire lifetime on a whim.

Unlike the Holy Crown Church, which was rigid and inflexible, their unpredictability made them easier to maneuver.

But that also meant one bad mood could get me killed.

The thought sent a cold sweat trickling down my back.

That’s why I turned the question back on them—drawing a parallel between us.

‘It doesn’t matter... That’s true. Who I am doesn’t matter. What I do does. And I don’t think Hughes is secretly working toward the world’s destruction. Compared to the King of Sins, he’s as weak as an insect.’

Mhm.

That’s right.

You understand now.

If you want to persuade someone, you can’t start from a position of opposition.

That’s just an argument.

Real persuasion is when you start from the same place and find common ground.

Still... did they really have to call me an insect?

Hey!

The King of Sins is the weird one!

I’m just a perfectly normal, average King of Humans!

‘But you’re the King of Humans. And the King of Humans is dangerous. Even if you don’t have power now, the power of humanity will become yours one day. If humans hone their malice, sharpening their swords and spears against each other, one day, the King of Humans will inevitably reach the King of Sins.’

I had been fuming inwardly when that thought surfaced.

Wait.

They knew how the King of Sins was born?

Even I didn’t know that.

I couldn’t take the regressor’s thoughts at face value.

Their knowledge came from past timelines—ones I couldn’t read.

And even then, they had likely heard this from someone else.

Their mind was a blank slate, and the Holy Crown Church had written their knowledge into it.

Of course, they believed it was true.

I couldn’t take it as fact.

But that wasn’t the real issue here.

If they knew, then why hadn’t they shown any signs of it until now?

Had they genuinely forgotten?

Or had they been subconsciously avoiding the thought?

Either way, it was impressive.

Just as I was silently admiring their mental gymnastics, the regressor finally asked their last question.

“What if... humans wanted to destroy themselves? What if ordinary humans wished for extinction?”

What kind of dumb question was that?

I immediately answered.

“I don’t know much about what the King of Humans represents anymore, but... by the time that happens, I don’t think it’ll be a problem for just the King of Humans.”

“...Tch.”

They clicked their tongue.

I was too right.

They had nothing to say.

They withdrew Tianying, which had been poised to take my right arm at a moment’s notice.

The fangs of the blade, ready to bite, quietly disappeared.

With a sulky expression, the regressor took a step back and asked,

“Did you come to the Abyss to find the Earthmother?”

“No point hiding it at this stage. Yeah, that’s right.”

‘So I was right. Hughes had his own schemes when he infiltrated Tantalus! Then again... I came down here to find Jizan, so I guess I don’t have much room to judge. My suspicions were valid!’

Yeah.

But I had no regrets about lying before.

If I had revealed my identity back then, I might have started this with one arm less.

“And why are you searching for the Demon Gods?”

“I don’t have to answer, but I’ll be honest with you.”

I made sure to emphasize it, adding credibility to my words.

Then, I revealed my true goal.

“To catch up to humans.”