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The Villainous Noble Who Kept Rewinding After Death: The Story Somehow Changed When I Committed Suicide

Chapter 199: Little Lizard

Time rewinds once more, after Iris and Miria left the inn.

I used the water magic ‘Mirrored Butterfly’ to attach one to each of them for monitoring.

“How surprising. Are you worried about them?”

Sharueina said this while glancing at the images of Iris and Miria displayed on the water board she created with magic, perhaps misunderstanding my intentions.

“Worried? What do you mean?”

“Hm? Is it not because you are worried about them that you’re monitoring their actions?”

“Ah, I see. So you think I’m keeping an eye on them out of concern for their well-being, huh?”

“Isn’t that so?”

Currently, I was using soundproofing magic so that the voices in this room didn’t leak out, thus reverting our speech and names to our usual casual tones.

Realizing that Sharueina mistakenly believed my magical surveillance was out of concern, I reluctantly decided to reveal the truth.

“That’s not it. Sure, I would be inconvenienced if they died now because it would complicate the aftermath of losing their bodies after dragging them into my plans. But I’m not concerned about their injuries or whether they might die.”

“Then why are you watching their actions?”

“There are two reasons. As I mentioned, if they die now and their bodies disappear, it will complicate matters. However, if I can retrieve their bodies after they die, I can use storage magic to revive them with Sephiria. So, I’m just monitoring things so I can quickly go retrieve their bodies if they do happen to die.”

Sephiria’s resurrection magic has several limitations, one of which is that she can’t revive anyone beyond 24 hours after death.

Once that time has passed, their souls depart from their bodies, rendering revival impossible.

However, by using my storage magic, I can resolve this issue, as the time within the storage space is effectively stopped when an item is placed inside.

So even if they die, as long as I can retrieve their bodies, everything else will be manageable. It’s not because I don’t want them to die that I’m keeping watch over them.

“The second reason is to ensure I gather information. As I said, the issue isn’t them dying. However, if they were to die, I wouldn’t be able to obtain new information regarding the cause of death, how far they’ve accomplished the tasks I assigned them, or how many enemies remain. Thus, this is essentially an insurance policy.”

In battle, information is the most crucial element.

As long as you have information, even if your combat strength is inferior, you can strategize and utilize the environment to secure victory.

In other words, their role in this is not only to reduce enemy forces and gather evidence but also to act as decoys for me to collect information.

“That’s quite a cruel thing to say.”

“Is it cruel? This is how battle works. Especially in wars between countries, reconnaissance teams and assassins maneuver between each other’s camps, using vanguard troops and expendable soldiers to gauge enemy strength. It’s no different. Besides, they should be aware that this is their role. There’s no problem here.”

“You’ve changed, haven’t you?”

“I’m not sure which past version of myself Your Highness is comparing me to, but no one remains the same. People can be as good as they are cruel based on their surrounding environment, experiences, and the people they interact with. You understand this well, don’t you?”

“Yes… you’re right.”

Sharueina seemed to contemplate my words and said nothing more, gazing quietly at the waterboard displaying Iris and the others, a slight hint of loneliness in her expression.

“Ha ha! That poison is something else! Oh, I can’t get enough of it! The activation conditions are to touch it and make a clapping sound? Heh heh, interesting. To create such poison, you’re really something else, Miria!”

Through the Mirrored Butterfly, I watched as Miria dealt with basement-dwelling poisonous snakes effortlessly, killing her companions at the tavern without hesitation.

What really piqued my interest about Miria was the special poison she used last, the type that activates upon sound; it was an unknown toxin I’d never seen before, even including my past experiences.

“I wonder what would happen to me if I were exposed to that poison? The Hydra’s poison melted flesh because of its strong acidity, but what kind of effects would that one have? I want to try it out. Is she likely to do it if I ask? Nah, if I order her, she’d probably comply. I’ll ask her when she returns.”

My mind was solely preoccupied with trying that poison on my own body, completely oblivious to the complex expression on Sharueina’s face beside me.

“Did you find a secret passage?”

As Miria completed her mission, Iris discovered a hidden door concealed within the Guild Master’s room, pausing her movements in thought before making eye contact with the image of her on the waterboard for a brief moment.

“Did Lady Iris just look over here?”

“She probably noticed we’re watching her through the Mirrored Butterfly. Given that it’s the same water magic, if she employs her exceptional mana manipulation for detection magic, she would have a reason to be aware.”

The butterflies I had attached to them incorporated recognition obfuscation and detection obscuration, making it ordinarily undetectable.

However, Iris excelled in the same-type magic, and if she utilized her precise mana-based detection magic, it would not have been strange for her to notice some oddity.

Iris then decided to move forward and touched a purple door, so I attached a butterfly to her shoulder and transported us both inside.

Once inside the door, Iris cautiously advanced and discovered a beastman man confined in a cell, chatting for a moment before freeing him.

Then, just as they tried to leave the place together…

“Could that be a Dragon Kin!!”

The figure that appeared on the waterboard had a single horn protruding from its forehead and dragon-like wings on its back—a male Dragon Kin.

Sharueina looked surprised at the sight of the Dragon Kin, but I couldn’t help but laugh at the unexpected entrance of a foe I hadn’t anticipated.

“Your Highness. I’m going to play a little.”

“Huh? Is, wait, are you planning to go to that place…?”

“I suspect that beastman will be coming to this inn, so when Miria returns, please handle it together with her. Well then!”

“W-wait! Is!”

Ignoring Sharueina’s call to stop, I used teleportation magic to transfer myself to the location of Iris and the Dragon Kin.

“What are you doing here, you?”

“Ah, hello, Dragon Kin! I’ve come to play!”

Having transferred to where Iris and the Dragon Kin were, I eased Iris back while also knocking her unconscious and directed my focus solely on the Dragon Kin before me.

“Come to play? Nonsense. There is no playground here.”

“Heh. You’re a funny one. There is the best toy right in front of me…”

“A toy, you say?”

Once the Dragon Kin realized I was referring to him with that remark, he shifted to an overbearing and arrogant demeanor typical of dragons.

“How dare such a diminutive human speak to me this way! Do you mock the Dragon Kin blood flowing through my veins?”

“I’m not mocking, it’s the truth. If you can’t comprehend, shall I say it again? You are my toy. It’s not you who plays with this, but rather me. Do you understand now?”

“You… lowly creature! Don’t let it get to your head!!”

The Dragon Kin was proud of their dragon bloodline and believed them to be the strongest species, consequently viewing humans as mere fodder that could be easily exterminated—they likened us to the numerous goblins.

And indeed, this man was a quintessential Dragon Kin; mockery from me shattered his pride, igniting his fury.

“Ha ha! So you’re a martial artist, huh? Good! I’ll face you with martial arts!”

The Dragon Kin primarily excelled in combat with spears and martial arts, typically augmenting their style with their racial dragon magic.

And now, the Dragon Kin before me appeared to prefer martial arts over spears, charging toward me with his fists ready.

In response, instead of my usual natural stance, I adopted a low stance and redirected his incoming punch with my palm.

“What?!”

“Hmm. As expected from a Dragon Kin, your strike is indeed heavier than that of Fiera. But that’s all there is to it.”

The Dragon Kin’s strike, while heavier than Fiera’s, was easily outmatched in terms of speed and technique.

“Next will be a kick from the right. Followed by an elbow strike to the left into a knee strike. Hah, too easy.”

Every one of his attacks was completely predictable; I could decipher their target by the motions of his gaze and could anticipate his subsequent movements based on how he stepped.

Perhaps it was his anger consuming him or his belief in being the strongest breed, but his strikes lacked finesse and were overly straightforward.

“This is something anyone can evade, even if it’s not me.”

Once accustomed, I could easily dodge all his attacks, and when I glanced at Iris, she was intently observing the Dragon Kin’s movements.

(Well, there’s a chance she might find it difficult due to stamina or physicality, though.)

While I systematically dodged the Dragon Kin’s attacks as if it were second nature, he struck the ground and landed a bit away to create distance.

“What are you scheming?! You have deflected all of my attacks and done nothing in retaliation! What is your goal?!”

“Goal? I told you, I came to play! Right now I’m practicing my new martial arts on you. Get it?”

“You’re saying you’re training with martial arts against me?!”

“Exactly. There’s a technique I read about in a book called ‘Sakura Flowing Fist’ that allows one to deflect all opponent’s attacks. The movement dances lightly like cherry blossom petals while flowing like water against their strikes. So? Did I manage it? I’d love to hear your thoughts!”

“Dammit! So, you intend to keep mocking me, do you?! I’ll definitely kill you!”

“Ah ha, haha! Indeed, I’d like you to try and kill me right now, but you might be a bit too weak for that. You see, you’re just too weak.”

“What did you say!!”

“Your technique is lacking, and you easily succumb to emotions. Sure, your attack speed and power are high, but that’s all there is. To be honest, you’re exceedingly weak. You’re among the younger Dragon Kin, right? Your actions and emotions reflect that naiveté. Your strength must be around A rank, I guess? That’s not enough to kill me.”

The Dragon Kin were indeed arrogant, but those that lived long enough possessed experience and valuable insights.

And that comprehension naturally encompasses the potential of the human race, so genuine powerhouses tread carefully around humans.

Why? Because if we delve into past history, humans have the most frequent survival rates in battles against dragons, armed with wisdom, skills, and overwhelming force in numbers.

“Damn! You irritating little girl! I am Fūshiru, descendant of the Wind Dragon, serving the Sky Dragon Fasfil! You dare call me weak!!”

“The Sky Dragon Fasfil, huh? That’s an SSS rank monster, right? And you’re a descendant of that Wind Dragon? No wonder you only reach A rank. By the way, your name is Fūshiru, right? Just now realized that.”

The Sky Dragon Fasfil is an incredibly powerful SSS rank monster known to rival Leviathan, who rules the seas. It’s rumored that this dragon reigns over the skies.

And one of the monsters serving that dragon seems to be the SS rank Wind Dragon, suggesting that Fūshiru indeed shares the bloodline of that dragon.

“Even if you have the blood of powerful monsters, you’re not utilizing it properly. I told you—experience matters. I’ll teach you that in battle, so come on, little lizard.”

“Damn it!!!”

Fūshiru’s anger peaked upon being called a lizard, and just like an imbecile, he charged straight at me without finesse or strategy, allowing me to easily fend off his blows.

Afterward, as I effortlessly redirected each of Fūshiru’s attacks, I refined the sensation of Sakura Flowing Fist, shaping it into the optimal form suited for my unique fighting style.

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If you also find interest in the concurrently serialized work, “The Former Hero, Becoming the Demon Emperor and Offering the World,” please check it out!

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