The restriction imposed on me, compelling the use of time Reversal within a minute, was a result of its immense power. Back then, my feeble shell could only endure such a duration. However, now, the information about the insignia had been changed, aligning it with my enhanced capabilities.
Back then, it was only one minute back then, but with my current abilities, it would last one hundred years.
***
My first impression upon facing that majestic energy was that it would be difficult for me to deal with. As expected, my concentration soon shattered. I saw the bastard resting with its upper body on the table, and the world stopped.
The asshole hastily explained.
[Doom Man, sir… You used Time Reversal right after this… You will end up being in your mother’s womb, so I, Lu-neah, quickly stopped the stage.]
It was not wrong. Although the constraint on the insignia had increased to one hundred years, nothing else had changed. Back then, I had used the insignia with only five seconds remaining. Therefore, my records in this world would vanish after fifty-five seconds of getting the insignia. If time flowed naturally, then I would move into my mother’s womb. That was the moment when I had to inevitably suffer from pain in order to obtain the reward, the Man Who Overcomes Adversity.
However, there was still a way. This was the mental world, where infinite possibilities existed!
I ordered the bastard, “Continue replaying the stage, starting from the instant I obtained the insignia until fifty-five seconds have elapsed.”
I intended to stay in that time frame and continue my investigation, at least to the point where I could check the blueprint.
[You mean…nonstop?]
The bastard showed discomfort in its face.
[I, Lu-neah, am grateful that you trust and rely on me. However, I haven’t fully recovered from my injuries as you know. I may need to repeat this countless times, but I don’t know how long I can do that.]
[I am telling you this to ensure I don’t interrupt your plan.]
“Do I have to consider your situation as well?” I asked sharply.
[It is not that… I, Lu-neah, have a brilliant idea. All we have to do is find a way to revive Doom Man’s priestess, right? So, instead of pushing yourself in this timeframe, why not move to the time when she obtained the Revival insignia?]
[Wouldn’t that be easier? *(๑•⌓•๑)* ]
I snapped, “Let’s move to the Demon Kings’ meeting.”
[Excuse me? Which meeting are you talking about…?]
I snidely said, “The most recent one. The time when you were desperately pleading for life.”
[Wait. Why do you choose the difficult path when there is an easy one…? Okay, I get it. I cannot dare to understand your intentions with my lowly thoughts. Yes, sir! I, Lu-neah, will do my best to continue replaying this stage.]
[So, please never say such terrible things again, okay? ^^;;]
I no longer felt anger boiling up as facing a grand and solemn power that I just encountered had greatly influenced me.
The bastard blinked its eyes as I didn’t show any reaction, then asked, tilting its head sideways.
[I am asking this just in case…but your misunderstanding with me has been resolved, right? You are not thinking of killing Lu-neah after all this, right? Hehehe…]
[Of course, you are not, but please don’t be upset and listen. Lu-neah is the one and only witness. In order to prove that Entegasto defied our master’s order and tried to kill Doom Man on his own…!]
[You absolutely need Lu-neah.]
The bastard continued to speak.
[Entegasto is not an idiot. Doom Man knows that, too. What happened to the priestess was out of our master’s sight.]
[Therefore, the conclusion is this. You can kill me, Lu-neah, but that will be the end! You won’t be able to pin the crime on the real criminal, Entegasto. What is the point of killing me, then?]
[Entegasto is the root of all this trouble, and…]
Then, the bastard straightened its upper body.
[Of course, the priestess’ life is important, but ultimately, what Doom Man desires is the stability of the mainland. For that, Doom Man will betray our master at any time.]
[But, I, Lu-neah!]
[Lu-neah has witnessed Doom Man’s entire life and the great path you took. Just as Aslan turned to Doom Man’s side, Lu-neah’s heart is no different.]
Then, it added after lowering its head toward me.
[Lu-neah’s loyalty is more sincere than ever. I, Lu-neah, would love to follow in your footsteps, Doom Man.]
[If Lu-neah follows the great achievements that Doom Man has accomplished, there will be a moment when Lu-neah can promote beyond the veil of darkness.]
[Lu-neah will remain unchanged until the day Doom Man reaches the highest step and defeats the Old One. Forever and ever.]
The bastard even shed disgusting tears.
[It may be difficult to forgive me, Lu-neah, but please do.]
[And please accept Lu-neah’s loyalty. It will benefit both me and you. I will help you to fulfill your goal by all means.]
[Look. Lu-neah knows that my natural character has caused many misunderstandings for Doom Man. However. However! Lune-ah’s loyalty is more sincere than ever. (*≧o≦)੭♡ ]
“...”
[If you cannot trust me, please give me a chance. At the monarch’s conference. I will expose every sin of Entegasto to Doom Kaos on the stand of judgment!]
[Without your intervention, Entegasto will never be able to escape from the predicament!]
***
Its words that it had been moved by my actions was not a story that deserved attention, so the bastard’s nonsense could be condensed into a single sentence.
“Please spare my life.”
That was the only genuine plea it expressed. It was aware of my intention that I would throw it into the abyss once I achieved my objective.
[I, Lu-neah, will be honest with you since the topic has been brought up.]
[The fact that Lu-neah witnessed Doom Man’s entire life also makes forgiveness challenging. Therefore, if you find a way to revive the priestess, please erase Lu-neah’s memory promptly.]
[If only the memories of this moment remain, Lu-neah’s sincerity will remain unaffected.]
While I lacked mental attributes, the dynamics changed upon entering the mental realm. That was precisely what the bastard was alluding to. I could gain complete control over the mental world right now.
Additionally, the bastard had yet to recover from the injuries that had been inflicted by Yeon-Hee. Once I gained absolute dominance of the mental world, anything became possible against the bastard. I could transform it into anything or tear it apart. This was all because that bastard had come into my mental world.
However, erasing its memory was beyond that ability. It claimed it would pave the way for me to obtain control over that domain in the end. It undoubtedly desired to preserve its life desperately, even by suggesting that.
“You are going to confess Entegasto’s crimes on the judgment stand?” I asked.
[Yes, yes! The despicable Entegasto deserves the punishment of Doom Kaos.]
[Entegasto will not be sentenced to death because he is also an excellent resource for Doom Kaos. However, if Doom Man asks for it, perhaps you could receive Entegasto’s items as the price for his crime.]
[I, Lu-neah, have one more thing to tell you. As you know, Lu-neah is not a gossiper but a cautious spirit. Don’t get me wrong!]
All the words that came out of the bastard’s mouth were not to be trusted at all. However, there was no need to stop it as it rambled on as if it was revealing top-secret information. That was how the mental world was. A world where infinite possibilities were allowed as much time as needed. If it were reality, then this bastard would have had its head blown off the moment it stuck out its tongue.
[The Book of Death, the final volume.]
“Why are you mentioning that all of a sudden?” I asked suspiciously.
[I am telling you again, but Entegasto is extremely despicable. He killed the old Undead Emperor that he created only because it was getting too powerful to be under Entegasto’s control. Also, he collected all the Books of Death. You must know up to this point. However, you don’t seem to be aware of the next part.]
[Entegasto gave two of the three volumes away. One to a corps commander from the War of New Devil, and another volume to one of the corps commanders from the battle outside of this star.]
[Oh, right. I forgot to tell you. The battle outside of the star… It refers to a series of wars like in the Stage of Advent.]
[Anyway, what is the funniest thing is that he kept the last volume himself to prevent something like the Undead Emperor from appearing again~]
“How did you find all those out?”
[I, Lu-neah, had two missions. One was to be a messenger, and the other was to monitor the movements of the spirit world and prevent spirits from interfering with Saint Dragorin. Many of my children are still on that front, watching others.]
[However, many spirits have survived since the old War of New Devil.]
[So, I obtained all this information from them. I can confidently say that we are better than human corps in this way!]
“...”
[Ah, I ended up talking so much again, but I can’t help with that. There was so much information, but most of what I received was garbage. It was not easy to distinguish what was useful and not.]
[Moreover, to combine all those pieces into one great piece of information…]
[Especially, piecing together all the fragments to obtain the top-secret information that Doom Entegasto still has the third volume of the Book of Death was hella difficult. I thought I would die.]
Theft is never good, try looking at bit.ly/3iBfjkV.
[However, I, Lu-neah, am happy to be able to offer this top secret to Doom Man. From now on, Lu-neah and my people will do anything for Doom Man…]
The bastard finally shut its mouth after checking my gaze. However, that lasted only a few seconds.
[You must ask for the third volume of the Book of Death as the price for Entegasto’s crimes. Doom Kaos will surely grant it. Also, resurrect a being like the old Undead Emperor.]
[Joshua von Karjan, Osiris…!]
The bastard blurted it out as if it was unable to contain itself.
[If you accept Lu-neah’s loyalty, you will be able to gain all of these.]
[I, Lu-neah, will offer you everything. I will be your eyes and ears.]
I commanded, “Reset the stage.”
[Yes! Yes, Your Highness!]
