Rogue Villain-Chapter 420: Surprise And Question

Ackster’s party members and anyone he deemed worthy of joining in on the celebrations were a little surprised when they suddenly discovered white sand beneath their bare feet. However, Ackster’s presence and the cocktails in their hands calmed them, and they soon started accepting the festive atmosphere.

There was a sunset, a bonfire, soft background music no one could tell where it came from, and happy people. It was a little sudden. But Ackster’s mood was infectious, and the entire world could feel it.

There were some places where the Guild’s and the Creator’s efforts had yet to reach. But even in the darkest of slums, there existed sparkles of light. Ackster’s mood strengthened that light and helped it shine upon its surroundings, illuminating the world and raising everyone’s spirits.

Even in darkness, there was light. After darkness, that light would shine like nothing else.

After the successive catastrophes of The Calamity, the Voice, and the Observer, it was time for an era of bountiful light for Millmeria. No one was in the mood for war. And all people could think about was the future.

For some, that future was what dinner they were going to prepare for their family the next day. For others, that future was seeing their children grow up and marry their soulmate.

For a rare few, that not-so-distant future was a civilization that could start returning all the grudges from the Calamitous Cycles.

However, there was one person, the source of the world’s joy, who didn’t care about the future.

Ackster only cared about the present.

He had spent so long living in the future that he was done with it for the foreseeable future. He just wanted to enjoy what he had now—what he had worked so hard for.

Ackster sipped on some strange drink that Mio had given him while leaning against the bar.

It was the sandy beach, clear blue ocean, green palm trees, and starry sky that he sometimes imagined when he dreamt of the paradise he would settle down in after he saved the world. It was what had kept him driven that decade when everything felt hopeless.

But it was only when he looked at the connections he made those ten years that his heart was full.

Wilma. Kargas. Karandiel. Mara. Trana. Mastrax. Makkel. Shanshi. Dala Storm. Willow. Tenrick. Tararat. Bo. The Sword God. The One Outside Time.

Gerrick. Melia. Jim. Tommelier. Mike. Tunk. Hoga.

Without the people who made it home, any paradise would be nothing more than a pretty view.

Ackster could feel the tension in his shoulders slip away just by looking at everyone enjoying themselves and getting to know each other without fully knowing why they were there.

He wanted to join in on the party he had started.

However, there was one thing that Ackster had to do first.

When he looked for Dala, she wasn’t the only person he had brought to his beach in a secluded corner of the world.

It was the first time Ackster had felt genuine surprise in quite a while.

Dala had been with the rest of The Hero’s party, which, by itself, wasn’t strange. The surprising part was the fact that the party was intact. Every member was accounted for.

Including The Hero.

After his surprise settled, Ackster realized he could finally settle one of his doubts.

Why had The Hero said what he said when Ackster arrived after The Calamity’s death?

After looking at The Hero for a moment, The Hero excused himself from the group around him and went over to Ackster’s lonely side by the beach-side bar.

"Hello."

"Hello."

Ackster returned The Hero’s greeting with a stiff one of his own as he sipped his strange but delicious drink.

It was the person Ackster had spent running away from and toward while filled with fear, anxiety, horror, stress, and admiration for ten years. He wasn’t sure how to talk with him.

"Ahem." 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

Ackster cleared his throat. He didn’t need to fear any longer.

"What did you mean when you said that? You know, when I chopped your head off."

"You’re pretty blunt."

"You too."

"I guess it’s just how we are. And I meant what I said. I wasn’t sure if you would show up. But you did, and everything turned out alright, so I’m glad I let you handle it."

"You let me handle it?"

"Mm. I’m not too sure about what happened after the Voice took over me this time, but you know about time being rewound, right?"

Ackster nodded.

"Long story short, I regressed. When the Voice guided and controlled my body, he ended up forcing my soul out of it when he rushed the world’s destruction. Then, something happened, and everything returned to ten years ago. I saw the world spin in reverse and situations unfold backward until that moment all those years ago. I had no idea what happened. I thought it was a second chance at first. With the knowledge of the future fresh in my memory, there was no way I would get fooled by the Voice again."

The Hero paused and took a sip of his own drink with a ruminating expression on his face.

Ackster didn’t need to say anything for him to continue.

"That was until my duel with you, Ackster Phileam—But I guess you’re not him. Not quite, at least."

Ackster nodded slightly.

"I knew as soon as I cut you that you were different. I wasn’t the only one who had regressed. Man, you should have seen how stressed I was back then. I had no idea who you were since there was no way the original Ackster Phileam could have done that. I don’t think even I could have done that. Your plan was ingenious. It would have given you enough of a headstart if I hadn’t regressed."

The Hero sighed wistfully.

Ackster frowned.

"You’re saying all my sneaking around was for nothing? You knew from the beginning?"

The Hero nodded.

"Yeah. After the duel, I tracked you for a bit while thinking about what to do. It’s almost paradoxical. The old me wouldn’t have noticed at once, but he would have killed you at once. But the me back then, after experiencing everything I did during the ten years that vanished, hesitated. I saw how fresh you were. You didn’t know the first thing about fighting. It was like watching a baby learn to walk."

The Hero looked into his drink.

"But I could tell that you learned to walk faster than I did. Your talent was greater than mine. I was close to killing you on that realization. Extremely close. But then I realized, what if the time rewinding wasn’t for my sake? What if it was for you, who had the potential to become greater than me? It was nothing more than a hunch. But this was my hunch, not the Voice’s guidance, so I decided to trust it."

The Hero smirked a little.

"I started regretting my choice when the whole debacle with the Blood Moon occurred. But that’s when I started losing track of you, at least until you popped up at the Land of Dragons again, much stronger. I was also secretly growing stronger than in the past. But there wasn’t much I could do."

The Hero sighed again.

"I couldn’t compare to your growth. All I could do was trust my instincts and let you save the world. After a while, I also realized that I couldn’t get rid of the Voice. I needed the power of the world to stop The Calamity. But if I used that power, the Voice would be able to take over my body."

Ackster got an answer to his doubt and question. But he couldn’t claim satisfaction at having satisfied his curiosity.

"...Fuck."

"Yeah...."