At around the same time, Michael was also dreaming.
The place where he met the great sage of the spruce forest was also the same as Eve, on a rooftop where the Aurora could be seen.
With his keen senses, he realized sooner than Eve that he was not having a normal dream.
“If I am invited, then show up.”
“Oh, don’t be alarmed. I just wanted you to admire the aurora I put so much effort into creating.”
The great sage revealed herself as Michael had requested. The first impression of a person with his face covered by an owl mask was naturally not very trustworthy. Michael did not let his guard down.
The great sage calmly said something that could be considered a self-introduction.
“It's one of my roles to answer valuable questions. You seemed to have something to ask me, so I invited you to your dream separately. Since it is a rule to receive questions privately, I did not invite the disciple along.”
The word 'disciple' became a clear hint as to identity.
“The great sage of the spruce forest...?”
"Exactly."
Only then did Michael let his guard down and change his attitude. He even apologized for his rudeness earlier and made a formal statement.
He greeted her politely.
“Excuse me. My name is Michaelis Agnito, a direct knight of Her Highness the Seventh Princess. I am here to meet the sage of the Spruce Forest.”
Then the great sage answered.
“The King of Homunculus has no need to bow to me.”
The exact same words that Galamut's thought form had said came out. Michael suddenly raised his head.
“I guess you just thought of a question for me.”
The great sage reacted as if she truly knew everything.
Michael asked seriously.
“Why do you call me that?”
“You were born with the ability to command all homunculus, so shouldn’t you be called a King?”
“Command all the homunculus? Isn’t that something only an Emperor can do?”
“It is different from the Emperor’s oppressive brainwashing or restraint. An ability that is born in you but has not yet been awakened. When you awaken it, the homunculus will take precedence over the imperial family, and a bond will be formed around you."
“What about the homunculus that swore loyalty and underwent the imprinting ceremony?”
“Of course. The power of the King will have a binding force that transcends the imprint.”
A confused light flashed in Michael's eyes. Then the great sage spoke as if hammering a nail into his mouth.
“You are a natural ruler. You are a King who was born after 300 years of longing from the minds of the homunculus.”
“I can’t believe it.”
“Didn't you know you were special? You could reject the Emperor's loyalty indoctrination. It wasn't for nothing."”
While protecting Michael's will, he also learned the secret of his constitution that made his life more painful and miserable.
Michael was lost in thought.
'If the great sage's words are true, then in the future all homunculus will be liberated from the royal family.'
The Hadelamide Empire has enjoyed a wealthy and powerful nation by exploiting the labor and fighting power of homunculus.
It would have been a fatal day for the fishing boat.
On the contrary, it was a golden opportunity for the homunculus.
If it were he, who was locked up in a floating prison, he would have even planned a rebellion.
But now Michael had this woman. His thoughts very naturally revolved around her.
'It's like all the homunculus are reorganized under me. If so, it will be helpful to the Princess. Isn't it ability?'
Dominion over homunculus is the most highly demanded quality for the Emperor of Hadelamide.
If so, Michael, the King of homunculus, could empower Eve with his very existence.
'The Princess wants me more.'
The moment his thoughts reached that point, Michael felt a thrill.
Michael, realizing his own condition, swallowed a laugh inwardly.
No matter how he looked at it, he was not fit to be a King.
“The title of King does not suit me. I am not fit to be in charge of a homunculus.”
“There is no need to doubt yourself from now on. Once you have the power, you will find a place that matches your power.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Even in your previous life, you did not wish to be King, but eventually you became King and ruled your people."
Besides the words “King of Homunculus,” there was another word that surprised Michael.
“Previous life? Are you talking about a past life?”
“No, it’s different from your previous life. It’s literally your previous life.”
The great sage continued her explanation.
“Even though you don’t remember, this is your second life.”
“Second life? Does that mean I'm living the same life twice?”
"Exactly."
“How is that possible?”
“Because someone couldn’t bear the loss of a loved one and performed a ‘return ritual.’”
It was then that Michael, who had been listening seriously, showed a sharp reaction.
“What a fool he is. To change the world's fate by changing an individual's life or death. It’s only when the wrongdoers disappear that things become unusual.”
“...It’s my personal opinion, but is it a problem for you, great sage?”
“Ahem, no..."
The great sage couldn't bring herself to tell Michael that he was the caster, but the one who requested it was Michael.
The great sage asked.
“Have you ever heard anyone besides me call him the King of Homunculus?”
“I heard it from Galamut on Galapagon Island.”
“Ah, even great magic and great alchemy that are like miracles can work on a being as big as a Lord-class dragon. There is a limit. The body may return, but it is natural for the spirit to inherit its previous life.”
“What I encountered was not the real entity, but an ideology.”
“The thought form is the essence of the spirit, yes. Moreover, the thought-form is the one that met you in your past life when you were awakened. It must have been easier to recognize since there were enemies.”
In his past life, Michael also participated in the Demon Hunting Tournament as a direct knight of Rosenit.
At that time, the power of the King had awakened and he was much stronger than he is now, so he quietly turned the ideology into dust.
Thanks to that, the incident didn't get any bigger and passed so quietly that it didn't even remain in his memory.
'In short, this means that only Lord-level demon dragons recognize me and consider me the number one target for elimination.'
It wasn't good news that only the strongest dragons were rushing in with a life-or-death decision, but it was still better than all dragons.
Then Michael asked a sharp question.
“The fact that the wise man recognized me was because I had a high level of spiritual achievement and was able to inherit the memory. Why?”
“That’s right.”
In fact, it was more because he was involved in the regression ritual, but the great sage did not reveal the truth.
At that time, dark thoughts were taking hold in Michael's mind.
'If someone has regressed... He will know the future. He is no different from a prophet. If even one person with the ability becomes hostile to the Princess, it will be a big problem. At worst, he might try to return again.'
A glimmer of life flashed in Michael's eyes for a moment.
“Who performed the return spell?”
“What do you plan to do, if you know?”
The opponent is a great sage. He chose to answer honestly.
“I will kill him.”
“He who knows the future and can turn it back. He's a threat in existence, or the possibility itself."
“Who dares to threaten you?”
“I am not worried about the threat to me. I am worried about the Princess’s cause being hindered.”
“So, for my disciple?”
"That's right."
Michael's sincerity reassured the great sage.
But she still felt it was difficult to answer the question.
For a great sage, the most important thing is her disciple Eve.
It was impossible for her, the master, to reveal at will what her disciple was still keeping a secret.
The great sage avoided giving a direct answer.
“The answer to that question will come to you naturally when you regain your memories of your previous life.”
“Is that possible?”
It wasn't a bad story for Michael either. It was because it was a way to find out who the time regressor was and to become a time regressor himself.
The great sage nodded.
“You are the King of homunculus. Mentally, you are closer to a lord-level dragon than a human. If you awaken your power, there is a chance that the regression spell on your mind will be lifted.”
“Didn't I already wake up as a King when I returned from my previous life? My memory was not maintained."
“That’s why I said you are close beings rather than the same being.”
“Then what should I do?”
“Awaken the power of the King.”
“Is that all? So it’s no different from my past life?”
The great sage smiled under her mask and explained.
“Chronos, the time of humans, and Kairos, the time of the world, are different. One life is one cycle for humans, but the world is made up of tens of thousands of lives. If you awaken as the King not only in your past life but also in this life, you will be seen as twice as a giant in the time of the world. So, wouldn't the past be very different, too?"
“You’re talking about cause and effect. I think I understand it to some extent.”
Now the question remains: how to awaken the power of the King.
Michael wanted to ask that too, but the great sage quickly got up and left first.
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Thank you, I look forward to the sequel.
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