Omniscient First-Person’s Viewpoint-Chapter 507: Even Beasts Are Free

The regressor silently stared at me with a blank expression. I hadn’t done anything wrong, yet I somehow felt guilty. I clasped my hands together and waited. Finally, the regressor unfolded their arms and spoke.

“Why are you just watching?”

“What do you mean?”

“You can do it. You might not be able to fight the Wolf King yourself, but you can deceive and coax those pig-headed fools. Convince them to stop fighting for a moment and work together against the Wolf King.”

...Are they serious? Do they really think I can manipulate those pig beastmen so easily? That’s not something a king does—that’s the work of a hypnotist. How would that even be possible?

I was about to say it was impossible. That is, until I read the regressor’s thoughts.

‘You can do it. You could achieve a better outcome—so why won’t you?’

...Fine. If they want to overestimate me, I won’t argue. The future is uncertain, so I won’t outright claim it’s impossible.

But I won’t do it. It might betray their expectations, but I’ve decided to let go of the strange faith the regressor has in me.

“Setting aside whether I can do it or not, it would create an odd picture. I’m the King of Humans, but not a king. That means I can’t just go out there and command the pig beastmen.”

“Why not?”

“If you ask why, I don’t really have an answer. It’s like how Azzy doesn’t convince dogs to love humans—because the King of Beasts is a representative, not a ruler.”

Dogs love humans, and because of that, Azzy loves humans.

Azzy loves humans, but that doesn’t mean dogs love humans because of Azzy.

That’s how the causality between a beast and its king works. I only uncover the nature of humanity—I don’t control or shape it. No, I can’t. Like a shadow that can never break free from the person casting it.

“If the King of Beasts tried to rule over all beasts by force, they’d be no different from the King of Sin.”

The regressor, despite all their intelligence, had a wealth of experience. This explanation should be enough. Satisfied, I was about to end the conversation.

But the regressor tilted their head and asked again.

“It’s for Azzy.”

“...What?”

“You made a promise to Azzy. You have to defeat the Wolf King. This isn’t like Tantalus—this is something you have to do. With everything you’ve got, with all your heart.”

Well, sure. I have to keep my promise. But does it really matter how I keep it?

In our little community of Kings of Beasts, that’s what counts.

“You know it too. Ende’s situation isn’t the best right now. Shouldn’t you make it the best it can be? That way, you can fulfill your promise to Azzy more effectively. You may lack strength, but you have the ability to make that happen.”

‘Hughes is different from the King of Sin. That’s clear. But... he’s too different. He doesn’t /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ make things worse, but he also doesn’t try to make them better. He just lets the chaos spread. He’s competent, sure—but I can’t tell if he’s actually helpful.’

Even if they believe in my ability, I don’t have that much power.

Protecting this city isn’t my wish—forcing it upon me won’t change that.

Not that there’s no way... but, ugh. Hold on.

“If I refuse, will you and Azzy abandon me and run?”

“Idiot. I wouldn’t just leave you because things aren’t going my way. Not unless they went really bad.”

“That’s kind of scary.”

So if things get worse, they might leave. Okay. Got it.

I should probably break that baseless faith they have in me.

Actually, no—this is unfair. Where did they even get this high opinion of me? Haven’t they seen me? I’ve spent nearly a month in Ende doing nothing but loafing around. I’ve been useless and unmotivated.

‘He could do it if he tried. So why won’t he? Even if he’s the King of Humans, he’s still human. It’s not even for me—just show a little effort. That way, I can still have hope for you in the next loop.’

Why are they trying to have hope in me?

Look at humans, not at me.

The pig beastmen are human. Officials are human.

Other beastfolk are human too.

Ende is in this state because that’s just what humans are like.

I thought things might change, but in the end, one human is the same as another, and things go back to the way they were.

So expecting me to do better is a contradiction. The King of Humans is still human, after all...

“Woof! It’s okay!”

Azzy suddenly wedged herself between me and the regressor, her transparent eyes shining with clarity—or maybe ignorance. She barked brightly.

“I keep promise! Protect humans! Protect you! Even if they’re gone!”

You should lower your expectations a bit.

Why do you keep your promises no matter what, regardless of whether someone expects you to or not? You idiot.

The regressor, caught off guard by Azzy’s words, pointed at themselves in disbelief.

“...Me? Even if I’m gone?”

“I trust! Woof! Not running!”

“I already said I won’t run!”

“Woof woof. That’s what they all say!”

“I mean it!”

‘Ever since I got Tianying, I haven’t run from a single fight! No matter the situation, no matter the outcome! You have no idea—!’

Ah, right. The regressor is a regressor.

This isn’t the end of their timeline. I might not be someone who plans for the future, but I can at least recognize that in the endless cycles of their regression, my future self will have to keep dealing with them.

Maybe... maybe I should try a little harder.

That way, my future self can reap some benefits too.

Damn it. This is harder than the afterlife.

Doing good? Anyone can understand what that is.

But the regressor’s heart? Even they don’t know what they really want.

Well, whatever their heart wants, a promise is a promise.

“Shei.”

“What?”

“From now on, follow my lead. Don’t ask too many questions.”

“Why?”

“...Didn’t you tell me to do my best? I lack strength, which limits what I can do—but with you around, those limits are a bit looser.”

Fair enough.

They might not agree with the whole not asking questions part, but I can deal with that.

The regressor, apparently satisfied with my answer, nodded.

“Fine. Go ahead. I’ll help however you need.”

‘Last time, I let him work alone. I never actually saw what he was doing. This time, I’ll see for myself. Let’s find out what kind of person Hughes really is.’

Sure. Watch all you want. Judge me as much as you like.

But while you’re at it, I’ll be testing just how competent this cooperative regressor actually is.

“For now, stay in the house. Keep Azzy company.”

“Why?!”

“...Sometimes, that’s just how things need to be. Or you can follow me in secret. If you show your face, some conversations won’t happen.”

“What conversations?”

The Wolf King will attack soon.

I could just sit back and wait for it, but... why not offer an early choice?

Not all choices need to be paid in blood.

Though, ironically, they might end up wishing they had paid in blood instead.

“Shei, you said it yourself. The orcs will sit around and wait for the Wolf King to invade, only to be wiped out.”

“Yeah.”

“We need to move that timeline up a bit.”

“There’s no time.”

“Exactly. That’s why we’ll see their true nature.”

The more desperate they are, the clearer they’ll reveal themselves.

Let’s go.

Time to scrape the bottom of humanity’s barrel.

Urukfang was a pig beastman mercenary. And like most mercenaries, he wasn’t born into that life.

From a young age, he had a towering physique and led a gang of pig beastmen. If any beastman dared to bully or discriminate against pigs, he would track them down and beat them senseless. The pig beastmen revered him as their leader, and Urukfang secretly enjoyed their admiration.

It was just another ordinary day. He was at a tavern when he overheard a group of humans loudly yelling. Their rough voices rang through the air, laced with sneering laughter as they spat out the phrase “filthy beastmen” like a curse while using Ende as the subject of their drunken mockery.

Of course, Urukfang wasn’t the type to sit idly by. He gathered his gang and surrounded the humans. The frail-looking men found themselves encircled by hulking pig beastmen. They glanced around once before breaking into sly grins.

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Those humans were mercenaries hired to operate in the Enger Plains. Mercenaries trained in qi techniques.

In an instant, dozens of pig beastmen were writhing in the dirt, squealing like pigs. Urukfang himself knelt among them, his broken tusk dangling, begging for mercy. The mercenaries dragged him out of the wrecked tavern like a stray dog, hauling him away.

The mercenaries had been searching for a guide in the vast Enger Plains, and Urukfang had unwittingly offered himself as the perfect servant. Even more so because he was a pig beastman. For nearly five years, they worked him to the bone, treating him worse than a mutt.

The days were filled with pain and humiliation, but he learned much.

How to navigate the land.

How to command people.

How to wield qi techniques.

Qi techniques were no longer a closely guarded secret. The mercenaries, tossing scraps his way as if handing out charity, inadvertently taught him. And Urukfang, desperate and tenacious, absorbed everything like a starving beast.

Luckily, he had talent. He had passion. And most importantly, his unyielding resentment made him strong. With qi techniques under his belt, Urukfang became formidable—strong enough that the mercenaries started hesitating to treat him like a disposable tool.

So, they decided to let him go.

When they told him to leave, Urukfang was bewildered. He hated them, yet he had grown attached. He had gained strength, but not enough for revenge. And most of all, the money they handed him as severance pay was hefty enough to make him swallow his pride. Taking the gold, he returned to Ende.

What he had learned was simple: Power is everything.

If you have power, you are respected.

If you have power, you are treated with dignity.

Pig beastmen were looked down upon because they lacked power—just as he had once been humiliated by the mercenaries.

Urukfang formed a mercenary company of pig beastmen, training them in qi techniques. He would ensure that they all became strong—strong enough to command respect.

“...Haaah.”

But it wasn’t enough.

Ende was too vast a prize. Right now, the pig beastmen lacked the strength and preparation to control it. His power alone wasn’t enough to tame the chaos in Ende. Ignoring the flood of reports coming in, Urukfang took another swig from his drink.

“Time. I need more time.”

“You seem troubled, Urukfang.”

I smoothly slid into the seat beside him. Urukfang, his greasy hair unwashed for days, looked at me through the strands clinging to his face.

“Heh. Magician. What perfect timing. I was just about ready to seek out magic.”

“You already got everything you wanted. What more could you possibly need?”

“Everything?”

“Ende’s power. Thanks to your efforts, pig beastmen finally hold their rightful place.”

“Hmph. Power itself doesn’t matter. What’s important is the strength that gained that power.”

He downed his drink in one go and let out a rough sigh.

“We’re still too weak. The power we hold? It’s thanks to Grull. But he has no real interest in Ende. We orcs need to grow stronger, but there’s no time. And of all things, it had to be the Wolf King...”

“Exactly. The Wolf King is coming. So what are you going to do about it?”

“I don’t know... I don’t know. I can’t even release the Obelisk Soldiers.”

Ah, so he does know.

Suppressing a smirk, I responded, “Why not release them?”

“What kind of question is that? If we do, they’ll turn against us immediately. Absolutely not. We’d all lose our heads.”

But the chaos would be contained. The Obelisk Soldiers might even propose cooperation to survive the coming storm.

And perhaps Grull himself might take a more active stance.

Of course, I couldn’t predict the future—but one thing was certain: someone would make a move to overcome the crisis.

...Urukfang knew that too. He just couldn’t bring himself to make the choice.

“In that case, there’s no other option. You’ll have to handle the Wolf King yourselves.”

“Is there a way?”

“You don’t act because there’s a way. You act because you must. With the King of Beasts here, the Wolf King will inevitably come. And the Wolf King will try to wipe out every human. If you don’t want to die, you have to fight. All of you.”

“Tch. Easy for you to say when it’s not your problem.”

“Not my problem? Azzy and I are just as involved. We came to Ende specifically to fight the Wolf King.”

“Oh... right.”

Urukfang mumbled absentmindedly before suddenly freezing. A chill ran down his spine, sending tremors through his large frame. The alcohol in his blood seemed to evaporate in an instant. The haze in his mind cleared, replaced by icy realization.

His own words echoed in his mind.

‘As long as the King of Beasts is here, the Wolf King will come...’

That meant—

Yes. Let’s see how far I can push this.

Keeping my expression neutral, I patted his shoulder and stood.

“I’ve already devised a plan to deal with the Wolf King. Call me when you’re ready.”

“...Got it. Magician.”

You understood, didn’t you? Good.

If you had been too drunk to catch on, I might’ve had some trouble.

With a broad wave of my hand, I left the tavern, allowing Urukfang to stew in his thoughts a little longer.