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-You, you’re a regressor, aren’t you?

-Well, I’m a regressor too.

The conversation they had shared during the nomination ceremony quickly flashed through his mind.

And there, Hilda had said something that could not be easily overlooked.

-Well, even though all the turns granted to me have already ended.

The word “turns.”

It meant that regression could be repeated multiple times.

In fact, the visions Theo had seen also carried a nuance that the previous life memories persisted every time he turned twelve.

“How many times can regressions repeat?”

It was only natural that Theo’s first question would be this.

There was a significant difference between regressing once and having multiple turns.

A smile appeared on Hilda’s lips as well.

“You ask that kind of question the moment we meet? You really are your father Kyle’s son—so cold. Come on in. Let’s talk while we eat.”

Hilda stood up and turned her body.

Then, the tightly shut castle gate slowly opened.

Creak—

The space beyond the gate was filled with darkness for some reason.

Theo walked slowly into it.

* * *

In contrast to the ruined exterior, the interior of the castle was adorned with lavish furniture and decorations.

It was almost hard to believe that this was truly an abandoned old castle.

It seemed Hilda had been living here, contrary to what was known.

The place Hilda led him to was the dining room.

A long dining table, over 3 meters in length, was covered with a variety of steaming, luxurious dishes.

“Sit wherever you’re comfortable.”

Hilda sat at the head of the table and poured red wine into her glass.

Theo cautiously sat across from her, scanning the surroundings. He was a bit late in noticing the chef who placed the main dish in front of him.

It was a familiar face.

“Master Upsurging Dragon…?”

“Haha, have you been well? Didn’t expect to meet like this, did you?”

“Why is Master Upsurging Dragon here?”

“Why, you ask? It’s only natural for a sword to stay by its master’s side, isn’t it?”

“…!”

“I haven’t cooked in a while, so I don’t know if it’ll suit your taste. But there’s plenty of food, so enjoy as much as you’d like.”

Upsurging Dragon winked at Theo as he filled his wine glass, then quietly left the room.

‘So that’s why he, who was supposed to be in seclusion, suddenly appeared as a judge… Was this the reason?’

Theo was momentarily flustered.

But as his thoughts began to settle, he had a feeling that his relationship with Upsurging Dragon and Hilda would become even more intricate from now on.

“Even though he might look like a cranky old man, his cooking skills are so good that even I, who have lived twenty-one lives, keep him by my side. So, don’t worry and enjoy it.”

Hilda laughed as she tore into a piece of meat.

It could have looked rough, but somehow, the act suited her perfectly.

However, Theo was focused on something else.

Twenty-one lives.

“So, regression can indeed be repeated.”

Theo spoke while cutting into the steak that Upsurging Dragon had brought over.

He wasn’t one for late-night meals, but it would have been rude to refuse the host’s hospitality.

“Well, I don’t know. Didn’t I tell you that last time?”

“What exactly do you mean by that? It’s hard for me to understand.”

“Why should I tell you?”

Hilda smirked, wiping the grease from her hands with a napkin before lifting her wine glass with her right hand.

“Why should I bother? You’re the one who needs information, and I’m only indulging you out of ‘kindness.’ I’m not obligated to answer all your questions, am I?”

The wine danced in the glass as she swirled it.

Theo had a strong sense that Hilda was testing him.

‘The eyes of a ruler.’

It was a gaze that only someone who had spent their entire life reigning over others could have—a gaze that pierced through him.

“Yes, I’m in a position where I must rely on your kindness, Lady Hilda. So, if you don’t wish to answer, what can I do? I have no choice but to accept it.”

“Hm?”

Hilda raised one eyebrow, seemingly surprised.

Then, at Theo’s next words, she let out a small laugh.

“In exchange, you, too, will be left in the dark. You won’t know what the ‘previous’ world was like, or how the flow of time will proceed from here.”

“Hahaha! You think I would naturally be curious about the future? Why do you think that? I’m already over 150 years old. If you count the past regressions, I’ve lived for hundreds of years. Of course, I have no great attachment to life anymore. So, there’s no reason for me to care about the future…”

“No, I’m sure you’re curious. Because you’re a regressor.”

The corners of Hilda’s mouth lifted into a full smile.

At that moment, Theo was certain.

He had given the right answer.

“Regressors know the future. The information that comes from that is the most critical factor when living life and making plans. In fact, regressors understand the importance and utility of time better than anyone else.”

Hilda’s smile grew deeper.

Theo continued speaking.

“For someone who has experienced multiple regressions, they would inevitably become more ‘dependent’ on the future. However, you mentioned that all the turns granted to you have ended. This means you can no longer know the future… and that must cause even more frustration, regardless of any lingering attachment to life.”

“Couldn’t it be possible that I’ve already lived through this period in a previous turn? If so, I wouldn’t really need new information.”

Theo shook his head.

“No, quite the opposite. You would need my information even more. The flow of history has likely been completely altered, thanks to the butterfly effect.”

The time Theo had traversed was just over a decade.

Yet, even in that short time, history had already begun to shift dramatically.

One prime example was Wellington and Erika, who had not returned to their family but instead remained with Ragnar.

What would happen if more time passed?

Even if Theo stopped interfering with the course of history, the changes that had already occurred would cause events to unfold in ways completely different from what he knew.

Ten or twenty years into the future, the history Theo was familiar with might no longer exist.

Especially for Hilda, who had rewound time well over a hundred years ago.

Even if she had lived as long in a previous turn, the trajectory of history would have completely changed by now.

‘There’s no guarantee that the history I came from and the history Hilda lived through are the same.’

Thus, for a regressor—especially one who had repeated multiple turns—future knowledge was like an addictive drug.

A drug they could never quit.

Theo was using this information as bait to propose a deal with Hilda.

“Hahaha!”

Hilda burst into laughter.

She seemed deeply satisfied.

“It seems this generation’s regressor is quite the clever child. It looks like this is your first time regressing, but you’ve already realized something it took me two turns to understand.”

Hilda downed the wine in one gulp and slammed the glass onto the table.

Crash!

The wineglass shattered into pieces.

Each sharp fragment reflected the glint in Hilda’s eyes.

“I think I now understand why Kyle has only been watching over you.”

This time, it was Theo’s eyes that lit up.

Once again, his father’s name had come up.

First Lothbrok, and now Hilda.

What secret did they know about Kyle?

“What is the connection between my father and regressors?”

“There is a very significant connection. No one in this world hates—no, despises—regressors as much as your father does.”

Hilda’s words caused Theo’s face to harden.

“Do you know how your father came to hold his current position?”

“I know that he seized the seat of the previous head… through a coup.”

There was only a five-year gap between the retirement of the previous head, Hilda, and the rise of the current head, Kyle.

The reason for this was simple.

Kyle had staged a coup and ousted his own father, the former head of the family, from power.

Some called it an act of betrayal, but in Ragnar, where the victor took all, it was considered a natural event.

“That’s right. But did you also know that the former head you speak of was a regressor?”

“…!”

Theo’s eyes widened.

Hilda smirked as she continued speaking.

Red liquid, indistinguishable as either blood or wine, dripped from her hand, which had shattered the wineglass.

Drip.

Drip…

“The former head, who also happened to be my nephew, was utterly insane. To call him a tyrant or a mad emperor wouldn’t even begin to describe how far gone he was.”

Theo nodded.

The Mad Dragon Emperor.

That was the title given to the former head, now just a piece of history.

The five years he ruled were considered one of the darkest periods in Ragnar’s thousand-year history.

Countless vassals and household members perished in wars, or were purged.

The “Nine Snow Families,” as they were once called, were reduced to the current six during this time.

The most troubling part was that no one had been able to stop the Mad Dragon Emperor’s rampage.

He had been too powerful.

‘If the Mad Dragon Emperor’s strength was truly the result of regression, then it all makes sense.’

But that raised another issue.

‘Then what exactly does that make my father, who overthrew such a grandfather?’

“And so Kyle, unable to endure any longer, eventually staged a coup with his like-minded siblings. That’s why your father hates and despises regressors so much.”

“So my father…”

“Are you asking if he’s a regressor?”

Theo nodded gravely.

“Yes. He is not.”

“…!”

“And that’s what makes your father a monster. A man who hasn’t regressed. A man who wasn’t chosen by Lothbrok. A man who doesn’t wield the relics of the Ancient Dragon. Yet, he defeated someone who had grown stronger through multiple regressions.”

The image of Kyle flashed through Theo’s mind.

The immense light that had once split the sky.

That was not something any ordinary human could create.

It was a miracle only achievable by those who dared to reach the realm of gods.

“Kyle’s disdain didn’t stop there. He even ruthlessly dealt with one of his siblings who was a regressor.”

Theo had a person in mind.

The Wind Lord!

“Kyle! Kyle, Kyyyle! Robert! Roooobert! I… I hate you… I hate you all!”

The tragic hero who had been exiled by Kyle and the Black Dragon, barely clinging to life, only to fall into Qi Deviation.

His journal had been filled with nothing but hatred and resentment.

If this was the reason behind it…

If the disdain for regressors that began with the Mad Dragon Emperor had extended to the Wind Lord, it all started to make sense.

Kyle’s words to Theo during the Third Blossoming Ceremony.

-That’s right. The enemies I defeated to reach this position, the masters who threatened this place, the challengers who coveted this seat… The position of the head of Ragnar is a lonely one. Constantly threatened and challenged… It’s a place where one must never let their guard down for even a moment.

-From now on, I will treat you not as my son, but as a challenger.

-Let’s see how well her teachings have shaped you.

Kyle had already noticed that Theo had visited Lothbrok’s Nest.

And with the Heart Sword, Kyle had cut through Theo’s very soul.

A brutal strike, far too severe for what was supposed to be a simple test of the Blossoming Ceremony.

What would have happened if Theo hadn’t overcome it?

I would have died. I probably wouldn’t have even been able to regress, as my very soul had been cut.

Kyle didn’t declare Theo as having passed until he regained consciousness.

At the time, it seemed like Kyle was merely keeping an eye on him, waiting for something more.

“I found it curious that he did nothing when he realized a regressor was born among his own children. That’s why I wanted to have this conversation with you.”

Theo fell silent at Hilda’s words.

The newly revealed secrets of his family were overwhelming, and he wasn’t sure how to process them all.

Suddenly, a question came to mind.

“You said you’re a regressor too, Lady Hilda. Then why…”

“Why did your father leave me alone?”

“…Yes.”

“I already told you, didn’t I? All of my turns have ended.”

“Ah.”

“In Kyle’s eyes, I’m no longer a regressor. And, well, I’m not someone who’s easily trifled with, either. But remember this—your father’s hatred for regressors isn’t just an emotional response. He sees them as a hindrance to the prosperity of Ragnar.”

Hilda waved her hand lightly in the air.

At that moment, a wine glass that had been resting on a shelf behind her floated gently over to land in front of her.

“You know as well as anyone that your father is a madman, obsessed with Ragnar, right?”

“…Which is why I find it even harder to understand. Wouldn’t he need information about the future even more if he truly cared about Ragnar?”

Drip—

As Hilda refilled the glass with wine, she spoke again.

“Regressors are typically filled with arrogance and stubbornness. To them, the world revolves around them, a stage they can manipulate whenever they please, like a puppet show.”

Suddenly, Theo recalled the past vision he had seen of Hilda while passing through the forest.

With each repeated turn, her humanity had eroded, leaving only madness in its place.

Perhaps…

The madness displayed by the Mad Dragon Emperor was born from a similar situation.

No matter how many times the cycle was reset, the outcome didn’t change.

In fact, if things grew worse with each repetition, it wouldn’t be surprising for someone to go mad.

‘So, you believe that the path regressors inevitably pursue and the path you have set for Ragnar are irreconcilable.’

Regressors would always prioritize their own benefit.

As someone who placed the family above all else, Kyle had no choice but to eliminate them.

‘Perhaps that’s why he seized Lothbrok’s Heart—to ensure that no new chosen ones would appear.’

Theo clenched and unclenched his fists, continuing to think.

‘And yet, despite all of that, he’s left me alone… Could it be that he’s simply watching, waiting to see how things unfold?’

The idea that Kyle’s sword could be aimed at his neck at any moment sent a chill down Theo’s spine.

And then, a thought occurred to him.

-Then why didn’t the Mad Dragon Emperor or the Wind Lord return through regression to overthrow my father?

It was a paradox.

The conversation had dragged on, and the meat in front of him had grown cold.

Theo’s gaze fell on the blood from the steak pooling on his plate.

In its reflection, he saw his own face staring back at him.

“…What exactly is a regressor?”

Theo realized that he needed to circle back to the core question.

In order to understand the root of all these events and secrets surrounding his family, he had to get to the bottom of this.

“They are the chosen ones,” Hilda said, raising the wine glass to her lips.

“And they are also, in a way, relics left behind by the Ancient Dragon itself.”