“Your Highness! Are you alright?”
“It’s okay. Was this the last time?”
Nike, who had drawn his sword, asked while shaking off the demon's blood.
“Yes! This expedition was also a success!”
The adjutant was proud of his young superior, Nike, who had fought half the enemy alone without showing any signs of fatigue.
“Your Highness, your contribution is great!”
Nike scoffed. It was funny how everyone praised his martial arts.
In fact, thanks to the ability to rewind time, he can just erase hundreds or thousands of death lines and try again.
“The wounded are being treated in the barracks.”
Nike walked out of the forest with his adjutant. For some reason, his steps seemed hesitant.
When the subjugation is over, there will be casualties.
Some get hurt, some get disabled, some get killed.
So, Nike was afraid of the moment when he received a report on the situation after the truce.
"The monsters inside the forest have all been annihilated! The subjugation is a success!"
“Wow!”
As the barracks came into view, the adjutant raised his sword with all his might and shouted. The soldiers cheered.
Nike quickly scanned the wounded soldiers lying throughout the barracks.
Those who are bandaging and stopping the bleeding, those who have splinted their broken limbs...
His heart was pounding with nervousness.
He hopes that no warriors lose their lives without a fight.
"Your Highness!"
Then a familiar shout was heard.
It was Reiner, a member of the Imperial Knights and Nike's longtime comrade. His face darkened, causing Nike's heart to sink.
“I think you should go say goodbye to Anton...”
"What?"
Nike knew what those words meant. He ran madly toward where Reiner pointed.
“Anton!”
"Your Highness..."
Nike was speechless. Blood flowed ceaselessly from Anton's horribly torn abdomen.
"There's no hope. The wound is too large to stop the bleeding, and a lot of blood has already been lost."
The therapist who was taking care of Anton reported in a sad voice.
"When!"
Nike shouted.
“When did Anton get injured?”
The Blessing of Return, <Poem of Retrograde>.
Nike could rewind time, but his ability was not perfect.
This is because he is a 'created' ability user, not a member of the Wassenberg bloodline who should be able to handle this ability.
“If you are referring to the fatal wound to the abdomen, it was received almost immediately after the subjugation began.”
An injury was received as soon as the expedition began.
If so, it is a fatal wound that has been there for at least three hours.
"No..."
Nike's clenched fist shook.
The limit of time he can turn is only 30 minutes.
He can turn back time further, but it's pointless. Anything longer than 30 minutes will erase Nike's memories.
Three hours before the suppression began.
If he were to return to that time, Nike wouldn't remember anything. Not even the fact that he had used regression.
“Anton...”
If he rewinds 30 minutes while still possessing memories, he'll have to wait for that amount of time to pass before he can use this ability again. Continuous reversion was impossible.
Then...
What if we just go back three hours?
Anton would live, but Nike would forget that Anton was about to be mortally wounded. Then, there would be no way to respond, so winding down time would be pointless.
“I’m fine... huh.”
Anton forced a smile.
Nike, Anton, Rainer.
They have been together ever since they were children, practicing with wooden swords in the palace martial arts hall.
Friend.
Comrade.
Precious...
"It's a miracle I've lasted this long. I've been waiting to say my final farewells to Your Highness. Please send me off with a smile."
Reiner approached Nike, who was standing there blankly, and said.
“Anton, I...”
Why am I so helpless?
At that moment, when Nike's desperate hand was caressing Anton's cheek.
“Oh, really!”
A clanging voice came from behind. He turned around and saw someone getting out of a gold-decorated carriage.
“How many times have I told you that I don’t want to come to such a dirty place?”
Her black hair was elegantly tied up, as if she were about to go to a ball. She was a woman clad in expensive clothes and jewelry.
“Watch your step, Your Highness!”
“What should I do, my Princess? Are you hot?”
Two maids stood beside her, holding an umbrella and fanning her.
"You're here! I'm sorry, Your Highness. There are quite a few seriously injured soldiers. If we escort them to the territory for treatment, I'm afraid some of them will suffocate."
The private commander who had been waiting courted the woman in a friendly manner.
'No way?'
Nike's heart began to beat with hope as he watched the whole scene.
Because he knew who the woman was, dressed in flashy attire that didn't seem to fit the bloody battlefield.
The third son of the Wassenberg family.
A woman with the power of healing.
Princess Diana Wassenberg.
“Have you gathered all the kids?”
"Oh, of course. I've gathered everything so you don't have to worry, Your Highness. These three barracks are our children."
The platoon leader pointed ruthlessly to only three barracks out of over twenty.
This expedition force includes not only Wassenberg's forces, but also private soldiers from various territories, including the Imperial Knights.
“Ugh. I feel like I’m going to explode like an idiot.”
Diana stood before the wounded and groaning soldiers of her family.
Not yet.
Restoration of Light
A bright light fell upon them.
Those who had been dying just a moment ago got up and examined their wounds, which seemed to have healed as if they had been washed.
“As expected, our Princess is the best!”
"Thank you!"
Broken bones healed, and torn flesh returned. The only trace of injury was a shattered and cracked piece of armor.
The soldiers of other families watched the scene with envy.
The situation was miserable for the therapists who had to personally care for the wounds and had only bandages, styptics, and painkillers.
“Princess!”
Nike ran over in a hurry and grabbed Diana, who was about to leave as if she had nothing more to see.
"Who?"
Diana tilted her head at Nike.
“I am Nike Valencier, the Third Prince of the Valencier Empire.”
“Oh my god.”
Diana was surprised.
“I think I saw you when you were really little. Has the Third Prince grown up so well already?”
"There's a wounded soldier who can't be helped with physical therapy. Could you help him just this once?"
“Yes? What? Are you asking me to do something?”
Diana added with a laugh, as if she found it ridiculous.
“Are you holding your neck up so stiffly?”
“...”
Nike, who had hesitated, immediately bowed down before her.
“Please.”
A member of the royal family bows before a noble lady.
It was a shameful picture.
“Guys, aren’t his waistlines a bit high?”
“He is a member of the royal family, so I guess anyone below him would feel hurt.”
Diana and her maids at her side mocked Nike.
“That’s true. His knees must be heavy.”
In the midst of the ridicule, Nike realized what Diana wanted.
What are you hesitating for?
It was a situation where his friends' and comrades' breath could pass away at any moment.
Bam.
Nike knelt before Diana and said:
“Please, please help me.”
“Ahahaha!”
Diana laughed heartily. Her maids and soldiers laughed too.
Arrogant and insolent.
But no one could point out their actions.
The imperial knights could only grit their teeth and tremble at the humiliating sight of Nike on his knees.
“I will make the Prince kneel down.”
Diana's pointed heels pressed down on Nike's kneeling thighs.
“Not bad.”
“Time is of the essence. Please...”
“Your Highness. You know our Elliot, my second eldest brother, right?”
Second young master, Elliot Wassenberg.
He is a man who does not get caught up in all the illegal activities going on under the surface of the empire.
"For the past three months, my brother's nagging has been driving me nuts. He's making the immigration screening for trade ships too strict."
Nike closed his eyes tightly.
Elliot Wassenberg, who runs the largest trading company in the empire, began importing medicine three months ago.
A highly addictive hallucinogen.
It was a kind of drug.
“I’m talking about my brother’s boat. Could you just let them in?”
Now, this woman was demanding that illegal drugs be allowed to be distributed openly within the empire.
The imperial family, the masters of the empire.
To the Prince who is a member of it.
"That..."
This is what the evil Nike said.
“...It is not within my authority.”
“Really? That’s too bad.”
Diana added, lowering the shoe that was on Nike's thigh.
“It’s not enough for the Prince to do it on his knees.”
“Princess, please...”
"Your Highness."
At that moment, the adjutant's voice was heard.
“Stop it.”
Nike turned around. She saw Anton lying in the distance. His eyes had already lost their light.
“Oh my, he must be dead. I can’t stand it.”
Diana clicked her tongue.
"That guy will go away resenting the Prince. Thinking that his life was worth less than turning a blind eye to immigration inspection."
“...”
“It’s too bad. I don’t have the talent to bring the dead back to life.”
The woman who left the last taunt left cruelly.
Nike remained dumbfounded and silent.
And after a while, he got up and walked weakly. He reached Anton's body and knelt down.
There was nothing he could do.
"...Sorry."
All he could do was close the eyes of his comrade, whom he hadn't noticed before, and say a pitiful farewell.
“It’s okay. Was this the last time?”
Nike, who had drawn his sword, asked while shaking off the demon's blood.
“Yes! This expedition was also a success!”
The adjutant was proud of his young superior, Nike, who had fought half the enemy alone without showing any signs of fatigue.
“Your Highness, your contribution is great!”
Nike scoffed. It was funny how everyone praised his martial arts.
In fact, thanks to the ability to rewind time, he can just erase hundreds or thousands of death lines and try again.
“The wounded are being treated in the barracks.”
Nike walked out of the forest with his adjutant. For some reason, his steps seemed hesitant.
When the subjugation is over, there will be casualties.
Some get hurt, some get disabled, some get killed.
So, Nike was afraid of the moment when he received a report on the situation after the truce.
"The monsters inside the forest have all been annihilated! The subjugation is a success!"
“Wow!”
As the barracks came into view, the adjutant raised his sword with all his might and shouted. The soldiers cheered.
Nike quickly scanned the wounded soldiers lying throughout the barracks.
Those who are bandaging and stopping the bleeding, those who have splinted their broken limbs...
His heart was pounding with nervousness.
He hopes that no warriors lose their lives without a fight.
"Your Highness!"
Then a familiar shout was heard.
It was Reiner, a member of the Imperial Knights and Nike's longtime comrade. His face darkened, causing Nike's heart to sink.
“I think you should go say goodbye to Anton...”
"What?"
Nike knew what those words meant. He ran madly toward where Reiner pointed.
“Anton!”
"Your Highness..."
Nike was speechless. Blood flowed ceaselessly from Anton's horribly torn abdomen.
"There's no hope. The wound is too large to stop the bleeding, and a lot of blood has already been lost."
The therapist who was taking care of Anton reported in a sad voice.
"When!"
Nike shouted.
“When did Anton get injured?”
The Blessing of Return, <Poem of Retrograde>.
Nike could rewind time, but his ability was not perfect.
This is because he is a 'created' ability user, not a member of the Wassenberg bloodline who should be able to handle this ability.
“If you are referring to the fatal wound to the abdomen, it was received almost immediately after the subjugation began.”
An injury was received as soon as the expedition began.
If so, it is a fatal wound that has been there for at least three hours.
"No..."
Nike's clenched fist shook.
The limit of time he can turn is only 30 minutes.
He can turn back time further, but it's pointless. Anything longer than 30 minutes will erase Nike's memories.
Three hours before the suppression began.
If he were to return to that time, Nike wouldn't remember anything. Not even the fact that he had used regression.
“Anton...”
If he rewinds 30 minutes while still possessing memories, he'll have to wait for that amount of time to pass before he can use this ability again. Continuous reversion was impossible.
Then...
What if we just go back three hours?
Anton would live, but Nike would forget that Anton was about to be mortally wounded. Then, there would be no way to respond, so winding down time would be pointless.
“I’m fine... huh.”
Anton forced a smile.
Nike, Anton, Rainer.
They have been together ever since they were children, practicing with wooden swords in the palace martial arts hall.
Friend.
Comrade.
Precious...
"It's a miracle I've lasted this long. I've been waiting to say my final farewells to Your Highness. Please send me off with a smile."
Reiner approached Nike, who was standing there blankly, and said.
“Anton, I...”
Why am I so helpless?
At that moment, when Nike's desperate hand was caressing Anton's cheek.
“Oh, really!”
A clanging voice came from behind. He turned around and saw someone getting out of a gold-decorated carriage.
“How many times have I told you that I don’t want to come to such a dirty place?”
Her black hair was elegantly tied up, as if she were about to go to a ball. She was a woman clad in expensive clothes and jewelry.
“Watch your step, Your Highness!”
“What should I do, my Princess? Are you hot?”
Two maids stood beside her, holding an umbrella and fanning her.
"You're here! I'm sorry, Your Highness. There are quite a few seriously injured soldiers. If we escort them to the territory for treatment, I'm afraid some of them will suffocate."
The private commander who had been waiting courted the woman in a friendly manner.
'No way?'
Nike's heart began to beat with hope as he watched the whole scene.
Because he knew who the woman was, dressed in flashy attire that didn't seem to fit the bloody battlefield.
The third son of the Wassenberg family.
A woman with the power of healing.
Princess Diana Wassenberg.
“Have you gathered all the kids?”
"Oh, of course. I've gathered everything so you don't have to worry, Your Highness. These three barracks are our children."
The platoon leader pointed ruthlessly to only three barracks out of over twenty.
This expedition force includes not only Wassenberg's forces, but also private soldiers from various territories, including the Imperial Knights.
“Ugh. I feel like I’m going to explode like an idiot.”
Diana stood before the wounded and groaning soldiers of her family.
Not yet.
Restoration of Light
A bright light fell upon them.
Those who had been dying just a moment ago got up and examined their wounds, which seemed to have healed as if they had been washed.
“As expected, our Princess is the best!”
"Thank you!"
Broken bones healed, and torn flesh returned. The only trace of injury was a shattered and cracked piece of armor.
The soldiers of other families watched the scene with envy.
The situation was miserable for the therapists who had to personally care for the wounds and had only bandages, styptics, and painkillers.
“Princess!”
Nike ran over in a hurry and grabbed Diana, who was about to leave as if she had nothing more to see.
"Who?"
Diana tilted her head at Nike.
“I am Nike Valencier, the Third Prince of the Valencier Empire.”
“Oh my god.”
Diana was surprised.
“I think I saw you when you were really little. Has the Third Prince grown up so well already?”
"There's a wounded soldier who can't be helped with physical therapy. Could you help him just this once?"
“Yes? What? Are you asking me to do something?”
Diana added with a laugh, as if she found it ridiculous.
“Are you holding your neck up so stiffly?”
“...”
Nike, who had hesitated, immediately bowed down before her.
“Please.”
A member of the royal family bows before a noble lady.
It was a shameful picture.
“Guys, aren’t his waistlines a bit high?”
“He is a member of the royal family, so I guess anyone below him would feel hurt.”
Diana and her maids at her side mocked Nike.
“That’s true. His knees must be heavy.”
In the midst of the ridicule, Nike realized what Diana wanted.
What are you hesitating for?
It was a situation where his friends' and comrades' breath could pass away at any moment.
Bam.
Nike knelt before Diana and said:
“Please, please help me.”
“Ahahaha!”
Diana laughed heartily. Her maids and soldiers laughed too.
Arrogant and insolent.
But no one could point out their actions.
The imperial knights could only grit their teeth and tremble at the humiliating sight of Nike on his knees.
“I will make the Prince kneel down.”
Diana's pointed heels pressed down on Nike's kneeling thighs.
“Not bad.”
“Time is of the essence. Please...”
“Your Highness. You know our Elliot, my second eldest brother, right?”
Second young master, Elliot Wassenberg.
He is a man who does not get caught up in all the illegal activities going on under the surface of the empire.
"For the past three months, my brother's nagging has been driving me nuts. He's making the immigration screening for trade ships too strict."
Nike closed his eyes tightly.
Elliot Wassenberg, who runs the largest trading company in the empire, began importing medicine three months ago.
A highly addictive hallucinogen.
It was a kind of drug.
“I’m talking about my brother’s boat. Could you just let them in?”
Now, this woman was demanding that illegal drugs be allowed to be distributed openly within the empire.
The imperial family, the masters of the empire.
To the Prince who is a member of it.
"That..."
This is what the evil Nike said.
“...It is not within my authority.”
“Really? That’s too bad.”
Diana added, lowering the shoe that was on Nike's thigh.
“It’s not enough for the Prince to do it on his knees.”
“Princess, please...”
"Your Highness."
At that moment, the adjutant's voice was heard.
“Stop it.”
Nike turned around. She saw Anton lying in the distance. His eyes had already lost their light.
“Oh my, he must be dead. I can’t stand it.”
Diana clicked her tongue.
"That guy will go away resenting the Prince. Thinking that his life was worth less than turning a blind eye to immigration inspection."
“...”
“It’s too bad. I don’t have the talent to bring the dead back to life.”
The woman who left the last taunt left cruelly.
Nike remained dumbfounded and silent.
And after a while, he got up and walked weakly. He reached Anton's body and knelt down.
There was nothing he could do.
"...Sorry."
All he could do was close the eyes of his comrade, whom he hadn't noticed before, and say a pitiful farewell.
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