The Butterfly Effect of a Single Choice

After running for a while, I arrived at my destination.

It was the Deep Blue Forest.

Not far from where I had created the Mana Heart, there was something I had left behind.

Click.

I put on the mask I had taken the other day and pushed through the thickets.

When I uncovered an unnatural-looking spot, a deep pit was revealed.

"Did you sleep well?"

"…Moonlight."

"It's Full Moon."

It was the assailant who had been identified as the leader of the group I captured while rescuing Asha.

"What's your connection to the Demon God's Cultists?"

"What's that?"

"Don't play dumb."

"Just kill me."

Hahaha.

He laughed like a madman. I spoke to him again.

"Then Count Valentine will be sad."

"…Who's that?"

"The family that will be annihilated by Moonlight tomorrow."

For a moment, his mouth shut tight.

After pondering something, he slowly opened his mouth.

"…Hey."

He glared at me, veins bulging.

"You came here knowing who I am, didn't you?"

I smiled at him.

"Nice to meet you, Vernon Valentine."

3.

The Valentine Family was on the verge of collapse.

They said that those people had approached the family when it was on the brink of bankruptcy.

-All you need to do is support the Underworld in the Empire's capital from behind the scenes.

They refused several times, but with the Countess's life at stake, they eventually agreed.

The family was revived almost instantly.

It was thanks to the Demon God's Cultists, who had deeply rooted themselves within the Empire.

From then on, it was a tragic drama.

The wife they had barely saved died, and Count Valentine was drawn into the Underworld.

The sons were no different.

The Third Son, grieving his mother's loss; the Second Son, burdened by guilt for losing his father; and the First Son, overwhelmed by the responsibility of protecting the family.

Each had their reasons for stepping into the shadows, and the shadows refused to let them go.

-If only someone had helped me back then….

-If only someone had reached out before those damned Demon God's Cultists approached….

-If only someone had helped me save my wife….

Living like trash, they blamed everything on the world.

-The Demon God will grant us peace.

It was persistent brainwashing.

-What you have now means nothing. Just prepare for the next life and assist with the plan.

They were already Demon God's Cultists. This was the current state of the Valentine Family.

Because I had saved Asha from them, the future had changed.

"Did you order the kidnapping of children?"

"…Yes. I was told they'd be sold to brothels, but when I went to check, they had been taken elsewhere."

The assailant whose tongue I had ripped out came to mind.

He was someone who deserved to die.

As my expression hardened, Vernon grew flustered.

"You said you'd spare me if I talked! You promised not to touch my family, you f*cking bastard!"

"…I did."

"Th-then why the hell do you look like that?!"

I pulled out Vernon's long sword, which I had set aside. It was a weapon far too good for him.

"Let me ask you one last thing."

I placed my hand on the sword's hilt.

"You said you sold the children to the brothel."

"So what!"

Hoping desperately that his answer wouldn't confirm my suspicions, I asked without hesitation.

"Why did you go back there?"

"That's—!!"

Vernon twisted his body in panic.

"Th-that's…!!"

He struggled for a long while.

I didn't need to hear it to know.

He had gone there to prey on the children. Though rage surged within me, there was still one thing left to confirm.

"Your whole family was involved, weren't they?"

"Except for that bastard Clark——"

Snap.

Vernon shut his mouth.

He gave a self-deprecating smile, as if exhausted or disgusted with himself.

"…Just kill me, you son of a b*tch."

For the first time, I found him likable.

4.

Why hadn't I met Vasselo Salvatore in my first life?

Why had he hurried off after merely ordering me to wash up in my second life?

It must have been an interrogation.

Unlike me, who killed everyone but one, he would have tried to extract information from them.

As the Wizard of Truth, he must have uncovered something, which was why he couldn't smile.

Why had the Young Lady's partner changed?

Because I had kidnapped the Third Son.

'Butterfly Effect.'

Even a small action, like the flap of a butterfly's wings, can drastically alter events.

But I had no regrets.

If Asha had been captured by them, she would have lived a horrifying life for years to come.

Whenever you gain something, there's always something you lose in return.

What I gained was Asha.

What I lost was Vasselo's vigilance against the Demon God's Cultists and the Young Lady's complete awakening.

I needed a concrete plan to resolve these two issues.

"It can't be helped."

I sighed and stood up.

I immediately sought out Ian. He stroked his white beard, deep in thought.

"Things have become complicated."

"Even so, I have no regrets."

"I imagine I would have done the same."

"That aside…."

I sighed and asked.

"Are you going to keep speaking formally?"

"Yes, I am."

Ian had begun speaking formally.

-Even in a Secret Society, there are ranks.

-I'm truly fine with it.

-I find this more comfortable. Ah! Why don't you drop the formalities as well?

In my previous life, it had taken me a long time to stop speaking formally.

-I'll do so when I feel comfortable.

For now, it still felt awkward.

"Understood for now. Let's continue the meeting."

We deliberated for a long time. However, we kept going in circles.

Just as the meeting was sinking into a quagmire, Asha, who had woken up, appeared.

"Grandpa!"

"Oh, the Princess is awake."

While the old man stalled for time, I quickly hid and observed them.

"Show me that again!"

"Hoho, do you like my sword that much?"

"Yes! It's pretty!"

She seemed to be referring to swordsmanship or the nightscape.

"Ah, right."

Ian glanced at where I was hiding and lightly swung his sword.

"It seems I can wield a sword again."

"What?"

"Huh, that sounded like Yuri's voice."

I quickly hid myself again and watched him.

"Focus your Aura into your eyes."

Following Ian's words, I concentrated my Aura.

It was true.

The Aura I hadn't been able to sense before now surged as if it would overflow.

"Since you've confirmed it, I'll take my leave."

Ian concealed his energy once more.

He was still far from being a Sword Saint, but at this rate, he would surely regain that title someday.

For some reason, the Sword Saint Ian Estevan had returned.

'He could've told me earlier.'

With this, a plan began to take shape.

A method of certain victory that Moonlight had often used in my previous life.

5.

While Asha went to bathe, I firmly grasped Ian's hands.

"I've come up with a plan."

"Please share it."

"We'll break through head-on."

Ian looked concerned.

He checked my heart and dantian one by one, then scratched his head.

"Your Aura is still at a low level, and your Mana Heart appears to lack a Circle."

"That's correct."

"And yet, you're proposing a frontal assault? The security will be tight since it's hosted by the Imperial Family."

"I'm truly fine with it."

"No, but still—"

"Ian. I. Am. Fine."

I cut him off.

I met his gaze and spoke sincerely.

"I'm not going to do anything."

"What?"

With a bright smile, I revealed the plan.

"Because Ian will be the one attacking the Imperial Palace alone."

.

.

.

After a long pause, Ian asked again.

"What?"