A world that is doomed to destruction because the gods have abandoned it.

The only way for such a world to exist, even forcibly, is through the repeated return of a single human, looping over a specific time period. This was the role that the Returnee, Reid, had been forced into.

The world repeatedly killed and revived Reid, all in a desperate effort to avoid its inevitable demise.

Reid had experienced many deaths. Most of them, regardless of his natural lifespan, were caused by the same humans.

There were times when he was betrayed by his comrades, pushed to death alone. There were times when people he had saved turned on him, demanding even greater sacrifices, making him their offering. There were times when those he thought were on his side—holy knights, surrounded him, each of them stabbing him once with their swords, assassinating him. There were even times when, at the hands of a saint he had trusted, he was falsely accused of heresy and cruelly executed.

Indeed, the most effective tool for killing a human is often another human.

Reid had also experienced many lives. Despite the repeated suffering of those harsh lives, he never gave up on his will to live as a human, as a hero.

Thanks to that, a young man who had nearly died, tearfully expressed his gratitude.

Thanks to that, a poor old woman who had regained her son's belongings, made a thin porridge for him, saving her meager food for him.

Thanks to that, a young girl who had been reunited with her parents, handed him a nameless wildflower, saying "thank you."

Like that wildflower, fragile and precious, he wanted to protect those kinds of people. So, through enduring a life that felt like an ordeal ninety-nine times, he lived as a hero.

Indeed, the most effective tool for saving a human is also another human.

The beings who both killed and saved him.

It was always humans who were the problem.

And even now, after giving up on being a hero, it remained the same.

"The new Archmage seems to be incompatible with our Magic Republic."

"I agree. The White Mage is a public resource of the Republic, yet they're planning to entrust him to some fringe cult like the Order of the Word."

"There are more than thirty laws in the Sacred Scripture that cater to their convenience. The use of power is frequent, and dissenting voices are silenced."

"The Archmage's immense power will surely become a poison. We cannot let it slide."

"Everything is for the greater good..."

In the closed Magic Council room, a secret conspiracy took place. The elder wizards, who had lost their power, were immersed in their plotting, believing in the soundproof barrier.

However, as Reid approached, the barrier, as fragile as glass, naturally exposed itself and shattered into fragments of light with just a slight touch, vanishing quietly.

No spell was needed to dissolve it, and no signs of any anomaly appeared.

Reid's surroundings were always like the territory he ruled absolutely, and it would not be an exaggeration to say that everything operated according to the laws he set. And that territory could expand further, depending on his will.

This was the power a transcendent, someone who had reached the pinnacle of magic, could wield.

Sadly, the elder wizards had underestimated the person they sought to face. This complacent perception was reflected in their conspiracy as well.

"Being a 9th Circle wizard, is there a way?"

"In a one-on-one fight, the Aura Master is the strongest. Though the Night Eagle’s Fliegel is missing, the continent's strongest, King Hispenril, would be..."

"Considering that even with repeated summons, they couldn’t open the gate to the Great Demon Battle, it seems they barely crossed the threshold of 9th Circle. I think there’s a good chance of success."

"King Hispenril is a righteous man. He won’t act without a just cause..."

"That works out well. It's easy to create righteousness."

"Oh? You’re saying you’ll create righteousness...?"

The old men, envious of talent and coveting power, closed the distance between each other. The conspiracy was whispered in lower, more secretive tones.

"You intend to use public opinion, don’t you?"

"Exactly. In fact, I’ve already started. I’ve spread ominous rumors about the Archmage."

Even a smoke could rise from an empty chimney.

Those who had been paid loyally spread the tale. Once a big voice repeated an absurd story, there were always those who would believe it. Lies gained power in this way.

The rumors about Reid that spread were as follows:

The new Archmage sought forbidden talents and made a contract with a demon.

He is actually a monster over a thousand years old, sustaining his magic and youth by eating children.

The demon he made the contract with is named 'The Word That Constructs the World,' and the Sacred Scripture is also complicit.

One of the conspirators proudly confessed, “Soon, the results will come. If things go as planned, the Sacred Scripture will be handed over to the Order of Disorder and burned at the stake, and Hispenril will be tasked with hunting down the Archmage.”

"Impressive, Count Nauen."

"It’s like getting the job done without lifting a finger."

Compliments poured in toward the middle-aged man, who tossed his graying blond hair back. The instigator and the accomplice had now been confirmed.

"Interesting."

"Ugh!"

In a low, deep voice, all the wizards were frozen in horror. Their gazes fixed on Reid. The dark, silent man, who had seemed like an embodiment of shadow, calmly stared at the ringleader.

"It’s been a while, Gast Nauen."

"...Huh?"

Count Nauen was a 6th Circle wizard, who had only recently secured a seat at the Magic Council, and in the previous timeline, had been the puppet Archmage under Reid’s command.

His connection to the Chaos Demon showed the true nature of Count Nauen. Reid looked at him with a strangely nostalgic yet scornful expression.

"It was an interesting story. Especially the part where I’m a thousand-year-old monster."

"..."

"But burning the Sacred Scripture at the stake? That’s not all that interesting."

The smile on Reid's face quickly disappeared.

Once again, the world tried to take something precious from him. There was no smile left to give to such a world.

"Gast Nauen. How far have the rumors spread?"

The red gleam in Reid’s eyes swirled as if something eerie were swimming through them. He cast a hypnosis spell that subtly urged a confession.

"Th-the source is untraceable... the rumors centered around the slums... I, I paid them and spread the rumors, and in the slums... quite a few people..."

"Quite a few isn’t enough. Get to work and spread the rumors throughout the entire capital."

"Y-yes...?"

Count Nauen and the elder wizards looked at him with puzzled eyes. They thought it was sarcasm, but Reid continued with utmost sincerity.

"Keep going. Spread the word that the Archmage made a contract with a demon, that he’s a monster who eats children, and that he might snap at any moment."

"Why...?"

"Because it’s the truth."

"..."

"But I don’t discriminate. Whether it’s a child or an old man, as long as there’s red blood flowing through their veins, I can feed myself with it."

Everyone flinched but dismissed it as a joke. As Reid laughed with a deep, resonant voice, they all forced a laugh along with him.

Reid casually extended his right hand. Shadows on the ground began to seep out, taking form.

"Is that a sword...?"

But it scattered and vanished in an ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) instant.

Reid added a human-like reason they could accept.

"It’s better to be feared than to be seen as comfortable. Let them call me a monster, an evil man. Spread the word diligently."

An evil man was convenient. He didn’t have to save the world.

"But..."

Reid approached Count Nauen. The tall man had to bend his back to meet Reid’s gaze. The pendant necklace hung in the air, shimmering as it swayed.

"I would like it if you also mentioned that the one holding the leash of that mad monster is the Sacred Scripture."

"..."

The red in Reid’s eyes hid no madness. The wizards instinctively felt it.

If the Sacred Scripture touched Ayleth Rodeline, they would see a madness beyond imagination.

Reid straightened his back and turned away once he was sure his message had been delivered. As his crimson eyes turned away, the pressure that had gripped them lifted.

‘I... I survived.’

But something happened that mocked the wizards’ sense of relief.

Just after Reid took three steps...

Boom, boom, boom!

"What... what is that?"

"Why is there a tremor...?"

With a heavy, grinding shake, the magical lights on the ceiling started blinking rapidly in orange. It wasn’t a natural earthquake, but a magic tool that detected disasters.

"Dungeon Sync! A Dungeon Sync has occurred within a 500-meter radius of the Archmage's tower!"

"It’s so close! This has never happened before!" 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"We can feel the demon's presence. This doesn’t seem like an ordinary dungeon..."

"So, what’s the exact location... AAH!"

With a scream, the elder wizards were able to pinpoint the location precisely. It was where they had been.

Just three steps away from where Reid had stood, the disaster bypassed him.

Reid looked at the wizards with an indifferent expression.

They were each struggling with the relentless force of the Dungeon Sync, clinging to the edge like people hanging on a cliff, unable to resist for long.

One by one, they fell. In the end, only Count Nauen remained, begging at Reid’s feet.

"Please, spare me. Please, spare me, Archmage!"