Chapter 13
For a brief moment, Bihan was thrown into confusion.
Why do I know her name? I’ve never even seen her before.
‘Ah!’
And with the question came sudden clarity.
It was her.
How had he not realized until now? She was so vivid, so unmistakable, that it seemed absurd he hadn’t noticed. Tangled fragments of memory swiftly fell into place.
The moment when Kyle had tampered with his memories resurfaced. Because of Kyle, he had failed to remember the woman he had truly given his heart to, wandering instead toward poor, undeserving Sophia.
But instead of anger toward Kyle, Bihan’s heart surged with longing for her. He tried to steady the trembling of his chest, wanting only to greet her.
— You dare defy me because of that woman?
Kyle’s voice cut in with ease, as if his silence until now had been nothing but an act.
In an instant, the balance shifted. No matter how desperately Bihan struggled, Kyle’s control over him was unyielding. The raging force of Kyle’s fury was overwhelming.
Taking possession of the body again, Kyle attacked both Bihan and Luen without hesitation. With a manic laugh echoing inside, he sneered coldly at her.
“You lowly thing. How dare you lay your hands where they don’t belong.”
— No, stop! Please, no!
Bihan screamed. He thrashed with all his soul, but it was useless.
“A fleeting night that left no memory in me is not a name worthy of your lips. And yet you believed in that lie and dared to stand before me now?”
— Stop it, I beg you!
Kyle only grew more vicious. His words, sharp and cruel, cut deeper with every syllable. Shadows gathered on Luen’s face, and Bihan cursed himself.
I should never have gone to the office that day. This is all my fault.
To see himself, under Kyle’s control, hurling such merciless words at the woman he loved—it sickened him. For ten years he had lived under Kyle’s domination, but this moment was the most humiliating, the most crushing.
I’m sorry, Luen.
As she collapsed unconscious and was dragged away, the image seared itself into Bihan’s eyes. His breath caught with anguish as Kyle’s merciless voice rang out.
“Dispose of her at once.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Silence fell in the office, broken only by Kyle’s malicious laughter as he taunted Bihan.
“She died because of you. The woman, and even your child. All of them died because of you.”
— My child? What are you talking about?
Bihan faltered in shock, and Kyle cackled at his reaction.
“Do you not understand why she came here so suddenly?”
Bihan froze. Realization struck him with brutal clarity. Rage burned within him—rage at his own helplessness, forced to watch the woman he loved destroyed.
And then, because of Kyle’s cruelty, because of the unjust death of Luen and their unborn child, Bihan awakened. Power surged from the core of his being.
—I can’t endure this any longer.
A fierce, silent battle erupted within his body. To the outside, nothing seemed amiss, but inside the clash was merciless. Blood filled his mouth, his body nearly breaking apart from the strain, yet Bihan refused to yield.
— You worm! What are you doing?!
Drawing upon a power he hadn’t known existed, Bihan overpowered Kyle.
“You’ve committed atrocities no human should. And not just once—countless times.”
— Fool! Do you think I’ll submit so easily?!
Kyle thrashed against the reversal, but the balance had already shifted. Unable to overpower him, Kyle turned to threats.
— You’ll regret this for eternity! As long as your blood runs through this land, my curse will remain!
“Do you not realize? It’s too late for your threats to control me.”
And at last, Bihan succeeded in sealing Kyle back into the sword.
The moment Kyle was imprisoned, Bihan felt a profound change in himself.
“The mana obeys me…”
A storm of energy coursed through him, more than enough to suppress even a Swordmaster like Kyle. Every step he took felt different—the ground itself seemed lighter, the world slower, gentler.
He had gained the strength he had long desired. Yet there was no joy in it.
The mana trembled with his despair. He had obtained everything he had wished for—but far too late.
If only this power had come to me sooner…
Thus, the Empire witnessed the birth of its fourth Swordmaster—the youngest in history.
— Do you think sealing me will let you live with a clear mind?
Kyle still raged from within the blade. In his arrogance, he believed Bihan had only bested him due to a moment of carelessness. With patience, he thought, he could one day seize control again.
— Why not join me instead? Together we could place the world beneath your feet. I would help you.
Now confined, Kyle lusted after the young, powerful body he had lost, his tongue snaking with poisonous promises.
If I, a Swordmaster, could possess the body of another Swordmaster…
The thought alone thrilled him. He longed to twist Bihan’s mind, to reclaim the body once more.
“Sealed? Did you truly think I would stop at merely sealing you?”
Bihan’s voice was like ice. No longer the man who once cowered before Kyle’s rages.
Kyle faltered.
— Th-then what will you do?! All this over a mere woman’s death?!
Crash—
Bihan’s fury shook the office, a wall collapsing into rubble and smoke. He didn’t care. All he wanted was to crush Kyle utterly.
“There was a reason they bound you to the Crimson Flame Sword with sorcery.”
Bihan bent and lifted the blazing sword. The blade throbbed in protest, but he was unmoved.
“How many lives did you trample to reach your throne? Did their sacrifices bring you happiness?”
You killed my parents. You slaughtered my vassals.
You stole countless innocent lives.
You warped my mind, stole my memories, and in the end—killed the woman I loved.
As the memories surged, Bihan’s heart grew still, cold. His resolve crystallized.
“There will be no more victims. I will end you.”
— W-wait! I can give you what you desire!
“My desire no longer exists in this world. I’ll destroy you—and then take my own life. I’ll see you again in hell.”
His voice was calm, his grip steady. He had nothing left but the blade of vengeance in his hands.
Panic crept into Kyle’s words.
— Do you know why they called this sword the Crimson Flame? It was forged from a dragon’s fang! My power, fused with it—immeasurable!
“Too many words. Get to the point.”
At last, Bihan’s interest flickered. Kyle seized the opening.
With a crooked smile, the devil whispered:
— I can turn back time.
“What? And you expect me to believe that?”
— Listen. I come from an age when ancient magic was real. I’ve seen it myself—the magic of regression.
It was true. Even the first Emperor was said to have wielded such a spell. Bihan, raised as a noble, knew his history well. There was no error in Kyle’s claim.
If it’s true… if I could see Luen again…
— There’s a condition.
The spark of desire in Bihan’s heart emboldened Kyle.
“Be careful. I’d still rather erase you entirely.”
— It’s simple. Show me respect. Use honorifics when you address me.
Bihan’s eyes narrowed. Kyle was clearly stalling, weaving nonsense to confuse him. And yet…
But if there’s even the slightest chance… If I could just see her once more, hold her in my arms again…
“…Like this, then?”
Even for a sliver of hope, Bihan would not let go of Luen. He would do anything. Even kneel before Kyle, if it came to that.
— Yes, yes, that’s it! Sharp as expected from a true heir. Quick to understand.
Kyle’s grin twisted. He had spoken only part of the truth.
It’s not lying. If the fool swallows it, that’s his stupidity.
The magic of regression was dangerous, said to trespass into the domain of gods. Few in the ancient era had ever mastered it, and soon it was abandoned—because of its horrific consequences.
The poor wretch has no idea. He’ll dance in the palm of my hand forever.
Even if time could be rewound, what had already happened could never be erased. The dragon of time always left its scars, twisting events back upon themselves, dragging mortals helplessly through repetition.
To think of him weeping blood in regret—it delights me.
The further back one regressed, the greater the tragedy that followed. Ancient sorcerers had learned this the hard way and left no legacy of the spell.
But Kyle told Bihan nothing.
Worse still, Bihan had not even specified an exact date or hour to which he wished to return. Kyle intended to cast him into an arbitrary point in the past.
Regression isn’t the only magic I command, boy.
A Swordmaster with long years of life was bound to have vast experience. Bihan, newly risen, couldn’t know the breadth of Kyle’s mastery.
Though he mouthed apologies, Kyle had never repented. He would take revenge in his own way.
Does he dream of undoing fate, of living happily with that woman? I won’t allow it.
As he prepared the regression spell, Kyle wove in other enchantments as well. He would ensure things did not unfold as Bihan wished.
When you awaken, you’ll already be surrounded by women. Let’s see if you can still find her among them then.
And more—people would inexplicably fear and shun him.
Do you think I’d let a traitor live unscathed?
Even in dreams, Bihan would find no refuge. Night after night, his nightmares would replay his greatest torments.
Can you endure, even then? Kyle chuckled.
Once Bihan was thrown into the past, unable to change what had been, Kyle would lie low, conserving strength until the next victim came.
And then…
The Crimson Flame Sword gave a sinister groan, glowing pale white—like Kyle’s mouth tearing open in a wicked grin.
