Chapter 51
I thought I was the only one with a terminal illness—but turns out, everyone is essentially terminal.
Quite the surprise.
Still, my plan hasn’t changed much.
If I’m going to die anyway, isn’t it better to live as healthily as I can until then?
And if I want to grab the Grim Reaper by the collar and land a punch after death, I’ll need to build up some strength.
Anyway, Goal #1 remains: Overcome this sickly body!
“……”
And my newly updated Goal #2 is: Find the body that Persetos is hiding in.
Though Evan doesn’t seem to know how yet either.
I’ll need to put our heads together for that—but judging from Evan’s current state… that may not be easy.
“Who are you? How do you know about me?”
“A reader… No, you wouldn’t understand even if I told you.”
‘Of course he’d be suspicious. …His gaze did seem a little different than before, though.’
I sensed someone approaching and had to hurry out before I could finish the conversation.
“Anyway, Persetos…”
Persetos was said to be a powerful embodiment of evil sealed away by an ancient dragon.
A demon strong enough to bring about the end of the world.
And as long as Persetos is inhabiting a human body, the overpowered male lead Evan seems capable of taking him down.
The problem is, no one can predict whose body Persetos will return in—which is why Evan keeps repeating regressions, unable to defeat him.
And right now, Evan isn’t exactly friendly toward me.
“If I think through all the possibilities, the only choice is to wait.”
This would be the perfect time for the system to reveal Persetos’s identity, but it’s being stingy and won’t budge.
“Shasha.”
“Big Brother.”
In the library, Jin was walking over to me.
When will my short legs grow longer? I can’t wait to be tall like Jin.
“I need a favor.”
Hector Winchester had left the mansion with no promise of return, and Ricardo was staying in Rosento for three days to attend the Four Great Families’ monthly council.
Which meant—it was the perfect time to do something we couldn’t when the adults were around.
Something a little dangerous.
“…?”
Jin furrowed his brow at me, puzzled.
Once the guards stepped away for a moment, a blue flame flickered in Evan’s hand.
With a click, the shackles binding his wrists unlatched.
Setting them on the nearby table, Evan leaned against the cold stone wall and sat down.
For a month now, he’d been imprisoned in Winchester’s underground cell, deprived of sunlight.
During that time, spies sent from the Tailors family had visited occasionally.
Chenoa Tailors had even ordered him to weaken himself—injure himself if he had to—so they could flip the mood at the upcoming Verus council meeting.
Maybe they were hoping he’d just die.
It was around his sixth regression when he realized his father Chenoa had only ever seen him as a tool.
Suddenly, Evan remembered the little girl who had visited a few days ago and curled his lips.
The one who twisted the empire’s fate, invaded his Square, and somehow reactivated Clarity, which hadn’t manifested in this timeline.
She possessed a mysterious ability.
If he wanted to kill her, he could’ve just snapped her neck.
It’s not like he was stuck in here because he couldn’t leave.
Even with his abilities sealed by those cuffs, his raw strength and skills far surpassed any supernatural power.
“So you’re possessed by Persetos.”
And yet…
“……”
That voice, which knew his past and pierced through him.
Evan rubbed his forehead and frowned.
“I’m seven years old.”
Glowing green eyes came to mind.
But they weren’t unpleasant.
After Persetos possessed him and made him slaughter all living things in sight, Evan had grown numb to killing.
He didn’t even flinch when old men or children died.
But when that little girl spoke those words, something deep in his chest rattled loose.
Why had he been repeating regressions in the first place?
Forgotten emotions began to resurface.
Evan looked up at the dark ceiling overhead.
“…Maybe I was right to come here after all.”
His empty voice echoed in the cell.
Darkness settled into Evan’s cold blue eyes.
[Character View]
[1. Ricardo Winchester]
Title: Lord of Black Flame
Affinity Rate: 18%
[2. Jin Winchester]
Title: None
Affinity Rate: 18%
[3. Othello Winchester]
Title: None
Affinity Rate: 19%
[4. Chenoa Tailors]
Title: Lord of Clarity
Affinity Rate: Not Applicable
[5. Evan Tailors]
Title: 28-Time Regressor
Affinity Rate: 13%
[6. Permetis Winchester]
Title: None
Affinity Rate: Not Applicable
[7. Hector Winchester]
Title: Guardian of Black Flame
Affinity Rate: Not Applicable
I’ve learned that affinity rate is generally tied to closeness. I still don’t know why my dear Grandpa Hector shows up as “Not Applicable,” but just like how only some people I meet appear in the character view, I’m sure there’s a reason.
Anyway, the higher the affinity, the more favorably someone treats me—and the more likely they are to help me when I ask.
But like a double-edged sword… it can also lead to bad endings, like in that nightmare I had.
One curious thing: Othello’s affinity keeps rising even after going to the Tailors mansion.
And despite having an argument in the underground cell, Evan’s affinity has jumped significantly too.
“Shasha.”
What I’m about to do now is worth boosting Jin’s affinity for.
I wanted to move around this mansion more freely—and be safer.
“I can smell you everywhere. There’s no point hiding.”
My heart pounded.
I was crouched and hiding, and Jin was approaching down the corridor.
His tall shadow flickered closer, and the aura of Black Flame surrounded him.
“I like to put the things I love on display—just for myself.”
“Will you play hide-and-seek with me?!”
It had been my idea.
I would hide. Jin would find me.
“I’ve thought about it for a long time. You really do belong at the center.”
Step. Step.
Okay, yes, I asked for this to feel real, but did he have to act this scary?
“I’ll put a shackle on you. Small things need to be restrained so they don’t run away.”
It really felt like being chased by a serial killer—my heart was in my throat.
I dashed off with my little legs as fast as I could.
“Of course you’re cute now, but I bet you’ll be even more lovely as an adult.”
Honestly, he could’ve been an actor instead of a villain.
…Wait. Was this really acting?
If he was serious…?
The thought sent a chill down my spine.
I ran for my life to avoid getting caught by Jin.
Imagining what would happen if I was “stuffed and mounted.”
Then, as I turned a corner, I saw what I’d been waiting for.
A black dog with three heads.
It looked like a monstrous Doberman, snarling with hideous teeth and drool dripping from its mouth.
‘Found you.’
It approached me, and I instinctively shrank back.
Ricardo had once shown me this beast and warned me.
Don’t wander the mansion carelessly.
Grrr—
I had read about this dog in a library book.
Its name was Kater. An ancient monster trained to serve as the family’s guard dog.
As a proper guardian, it would viciously attack intruders and usually hid in a pocket dimension when idle.
It showed absolute loyalty to its master, but any frightened or fleeing being was seen as ideal prey.
Growl—
To anyone but its master, Kater was extremely hostile.
Even the mansion staff avoided summoning or interacting with it—and hide-and-seek games were considered forbidden for that very reason.
Snarl—
Its three heads locked their feral gaze on me.
It looked like it was deciding which part of my neck to bite first.
Then, its six eyes gleamed.
Growl— Bark—!
As Kater lunged toward me, I activated my skill.
[Activating skill: ‘Black Dominion (SS/Lv.4)’]
Kater stopped just inches from my face, baring its teeth.
It clearly wanted to tear me apart, but I glared back with all my might.
There was only one way to be recognized as Kater’s master:
Subdue it with my own strength.
Jin and Othello had already done it and now moved freely around the mansion. But I hadn’t yet.
Kater snarled and showed its fangs, but couldn’t approach me.
‘I really have gotten stronger.’
With each level, the skill’s mental toll lessened.
‘That’s why I can do this now.’
They said Kater’s strength rivaled that of a well-trained knight.
I’d once stopped an assassin controlled by Kaisa when my skill was Level 1—now I was stronger than that.
It was a bit risky, but for my safety, I had to claim Kater.
“Kater!!”
I called out.
“I am Shasha Winchester, daughter of Ricardo Winchester!”
I could feel Kater using all its strength to rip into me.
Cold sweat poured down my back, and my energy waned, but I shouted again.
“You will obey me!”
Grrrr— Bark—!
Kater’s howls echoed through the corridor.
If I lost focus for even a second, I’d be dead.
“I am Shasha Winchester.”
I knew this was a reckless challenge from the start—but if it came down to a battle of wills…
Growl— Yelp— Whimper— Whine—
“You will obey me!”
And I will win.
