The Villain's Second Time

Chapter 17

A black club crashes down like thunder.

It closely resembles the club Kelth always carried at his waist.

Whoosh-!

Huh, but why is that falling toward me?

I don’t know what it is, but I hate being pointlessly hurt, so I bent my waist to dodge the club.

A heavy gust of wind brushed past the top of my head.

Whoa, a chill ran down my spine for a moment. Getting hit squarely by that club might make it hard to keep my life intact.

"You bastard!"

A youthful cry pierced my ears. It was a boy’s voice, one that hadn’t yet reached puberty.

The club relentlessly targeted me. Naturally, since I had no intention of just standing there and taking it, I twisted and turned my waist to evade.

Whoosh-! Whoosh-!

But, you can’t just keep running away forever. My labored breathing was proof enough of that.

When I lifted my head, the face and frame of the person wielding the club came into view. To my surprise, it was a demon I knew well.

My second brother, Leonard Lucifer. That brat who tormented and belittled me mercilessly as a child. A jerk with absolutely no decency.

But why is that guy attacking me? Judging by his appearance, he looks about ten years old, but why is he at eye level with me?

I’m sure I died at the Empire's Square, facing the Saint on the guillotine....

.......

Ah! This is a dream!

Or maybe it’s that life-flashing-before-your-eyes phenomenon people talk about before death? Whatever it is, it doesn’t matter! It’s just an illusion anyway! I might as well take this chance to beat up my nemesis to my heart’s content!

"Argh! Why can’t I hit you?!"

Leonard’s voice rose with frustration. His movements grew increasingly erratic in his agitation.

But isn’t this strange? Are you even supposed to be able to move this freely in a life-flashing moment? I wouldn’t know, since I’ve never died before.

Well, this is a dream-like moment that could disappear at any time, so who cares? For now, I’ll indulge in the revenge I couldn’t take in the past.

"You won’t dodge this one!"

Whoooosh-!

Leonard raised his club overly high and prepared to bring it down in one swift motion. Perfect timing for a counterattack.

I lightly raised my fist, ready to strike straight.

"Huh?"

Unexpectedly, my hand felt heavy. When I looked down, I saw a club in my hand as well. It was identical in color and weight to the one he was holding.

Even better. Although I was slightly late, his large motion hadn’t stopped yet.

I gripped the club harder, channeling my strength into it and swinging it upward with centrifugal force.

My target was his jaw.

Like delivering an uppercut, I aimed to shake his brain by striking his jaw. After roughly sketching out the move in my head, I immediately put it into action.

Snap-!

"...! You… you’re attacking me...!"

I missed.

Why? The distance was perfect, his posture was awkward, and I exploited his openings without error.

Just before I could connect with his jaw, the distance ended. Even when I stretched my arm as far as it would go, I couldn’t reach him.

My reach felt strange.

Thud-!

"Ugh!"

"Haha! I knew it! You only dodged by sheer luck before!"

Missing my attack threw me off balance, and in the meantime, his club struck the top of my head. The long-forgotten pain of being beaten spread through my skull. Damn, this stings. Is this really a dream?

Of course, I’m not careless enough to expose a weakness while fighting. After all, I’ve withstood 1 hour and 25 minutes of pummeling from the Demon King before. A mere headache won’t make me cower.

It didn’t take long to figure out why my arms felt short. This is a life-flashing moment, so my body must have reverted to match my younger self. This time, I’ll step in two paces deeper and swing the club.

Whoosh-!

"You… you’re still not giving up...!"

Leonard was clearly a novice at real combat. After landing a single hit, he got cocky as if he’d hit a jackpot, letting his guard down.

That only worked to my advantage.

Crack-!

"...!"

I pulled the club back briefly and then swung it forward with force. The tip of the club struck his philtrum, causing it to ripple like waves.

Even with just one hit, this is how you’re supposed to strike.

But I won’t make the same stupid mistake of letting my guard down like he did.

With a single blow, he staggered significantly. I wouldn’t waste this opportunity.

Thud! Thwack-! Bam!

"Argh! Gah! Ugh!"

I pummeled him like one might beat a Cerberus on Dog Day. I targeted vital spots, hitting areas where pain would be most intense.

Thwack! Crack-! Thud!

"Aaargh! Stop! I surrender! I surrender!"

Surrender? Why is he bringing up surrender in a fight?

At the age of ten, when we sparred with clubs, it meant we were training. Naturally, surrender would decide the winner in a sparring match. But this is a dream! I can do whatever I want without any consequences!

This might as well be a paradise that God prepared just for me!

Thwackthwackthwack-!

"Agh! It hurts! I said it hurts!"

"Ah, this feels so good. If I’d known it’d be this satisfying, I would’ve died sooner. I’m finally getting the revenge I couldn’t have while alive."

I beat him thoroughly, from the tips of his toes to the crown of his head, as he lay flat on the ground groaning. The rhythm of the beating was so precise, it could’ve been set to a lively dance.

Back in the day, I only ever got beaten like a dog, but getting to hit back, even in this life-flashing moment, is so cathartic.

Thwackthwackthwack-! Crack-!

"Please stop! Hey! Oscar! Have you lost your mind?!"

"Ah, this feels so refreshing. Is this catharsis? That mouth of yours is too noisy—should I pull out all your teeth first?"

Talking to oneself is never done without reason. I raised the club high into the sky, preparing to strike down like a thunderbolt.

"Oscar! Stop this instant!"

Thwack-!

What stopped me was the sudden command-like shout and the sensation of something gripping my wrist. It was a soft, pale hand.

The grip was so strong that not only my arm but my whole body felt immobilized. I quickly turned my head, only to see a woman—a Demon.

She had eyes imbued with a deep crimson hue and a face so pale it was almost ghostly white.

The woman, with her jet-black hair seemingly staring straight at me, was someone I could never forget.

My one and only elder sister, Adela Lucifer.

- Oscar...! I will buy us some time, no matter what...! You must run away...!

- Can't we just go together? Staying here will only lead to death.

- I'll follow shortly... You are the sole heir of the Lucifer family...! You must survive to preserve the family line...!

- Tsk, fine. I'll go ahead first. Let’s meet again with smiles later.

A few years before the war between the Demon Realm and the Empire broke out, she resisted alone against the encircling Imperial army to ensure my safe escape.

In the end, she met a gruesome fate, her body turned into a hive of wounds, and her severed head displayed in the square—my pitiful sister, Adela Lucifer.

Later, she became the reason I slaughtered the arrogant citizens of the Empire in droves.

Why is she here?

Ah, right. Whenever Leonard and I sparred, Adela would always act as the referee. Is this some kind of recreation of those memories in my life flashing before my eyes?

"You've hit him enough, Oscar. You've won."

"Huh?"

"Look ahead. Continuing to hit him now will do no good for either you or Leonard."

"...??"

But, were life-flashing memories always this vivid? Damn it, I've never died before, nor have I seen anyone die, so this feels like I'm charting unexplored territory.

Leonard, who had barely managed to get up after my beating, was biting his lips in frustration, tears streaming down his face.

"D-damn it... why, why me... why did I lose to someone like him...!"

Leonard was covering his face with his arm. When I slightly bent down to peer underneath, I saw the familiar face etched clearly in my memory. Without a doubt, this was my second brother, Leonard.

Both Leonard and Adela were people who had long since died, yet seeing them now filled me with an inexplicable sense of joy.

"Just wait...! I won’t let this slide...!"

"Oh, Leonard. One must not hold grudges over things that happen during a sparring match."

But their voices were far too vivid. Could this really be life-flashing memories? Could a world created by mere imagination before death feel this real?

......Ah, I think I understand now. This isn’t some fleeting memory.

"Is this a surprise party?"

Since I’m dead, this must be the afterlife.

My family must have prepared a surprise party to welcome me in death!

To revive memories of our childhood! Even Leonard, who had a notoriously poor relationship with me in life, must have wanted to reconcile with me here in the afterlife!

"Oh, did I hit you too hard? Are you okay? I think I might’ve broken a couple of your bones."

Until I saw Adela looking at me with worried eyes, as though I were a lunatic, and Leonard glaring at me with murderous intent.

"Oscar...? Did you perhaps hit your head somewhere wrong just now...?"

"Do you think acting crazy will make me let this go?"

"What should I do about this...? Should I report this to Father...? Of all things, you had to get hit on the head...."

"This will not be overlooked! Prepare yourself, you insolent bastard!"

*****

Something unbelievable had happened.

Something more absurd than the Demon King losing to someone, more implausible than the Saint succumbing to the Devil's temptation.

When I raised my palm silently, a small, soft, white hand came into view.

This was my hand.

And that wasn’t all.

As I lowered my hand from midair, an ornate, antique ceiling came into view.

This was the ceiling of my house.

Specifically, the ceiling of the Northern Grand Duke's Residence, the second-largest building in the Demon Realm.

A silver lion with its mouth wide open adorned the entrance. Ugh, how tacky.

"Heh."

It had been about two hours since my head was severed by the guillotine. And in those two hours, I discovered one astonishing truth.

This place is the past. To be precise, the year 214 of the Imperial Year, when I was only nine years old. The fight with Leonard had been during a sparring session.

In the original timeline, I was supposed to be the one getting beaten.

Roughly 500 years before the day of my execution.

At first, I thought it was a dream. Then I wondered if the 500 years I had lived were all just a delusion.

After spending two days pondering, the conclusion I reached was—

"Life is... truly spectacular."

I had traveled to the past. Or perhaps the world itself had rewound. A full 500 years. And somehow, I retained the memories of my previous life.

Regardless of what it was, one thing was certain: I had been given a new life that I hadn’t expected.

The words the Saint had spoken to me before—those unforgettable words—now made sense when applied to the current situation.

[So, please don’t forget and come to the year 701 of the Imperial Year.]

[To the Reading Club of Eden Academy.]

She had told me to come to the Reading Club of Eden Academy in the year 701 of the Imperial Year, approximately 500 years from now.

How the Saint knew this, I couldn’t say.

What was clear, however, was that the Saint knew something I didn’t. That I would return. That the world would rewind.

Perhaps all of this was orchestrated by the Saint. Considering the blinding white light that engulfed the world when the guillotine blade fell, it wasn’t a far-fetched idea.

If that’s the case, then there’s only one crucial question left.

What am I supposed to do now?

I, Joker Oscar Lucifer, who knows everything that will happen over the next 500 years.

What kind of life should I live in this lifetime?

"Ha... What an interesting situation."

In fact, it's a question that's already been decided. The regret that overwhelmed me just before the guillotine's blade struck my neck is still vivid.

The beautiful light shown by the Saint. The great truth she taught me. That noble light, which I thought this vile and fallen demon could never reach.

I want to chase after that light, even if just a little.

One thing that's fortunate is.

[If you wish, I will help you with all my heart and soul.]

[I will help you, even if it means risking everything. I swear by the name of the Almighty Lord.]

The fact that the Saint declared she would help me.

The problem is, the time the Saint mentioned is 500 years from now. Moreover, the Eden Academy, which was the Empire's finest academy, has not even been built yet.

There is something called the law of cause and effect in this world. If I create a significant variable, it could mean that events that should have happened in the future might not occur.

For example, a person who existed in my previous life might not be born in this one.

The bigger the event I cause, the greater its impact will be. If I'm not careful, it could even harm the birth of the Saint on the continent 500 years from now.

"This is quite a predicament."

I could argue it's nonsense since I've already beaten Leonard like catching Cerberus, but I can't act rashly without fully understanding the situation.

Maria.

The Saint of the Hero Party.

Tartarus's classmate.

Black Nun's Habit.

White hair.

Gently curled eyes.

Black Rosary.

Lips forming a gentle curve.

Bright smile, radiant smile, kind smile, hopeful smile, generous smile.

Now, there's a woman who has become inseparable from my heart.

'So, what should I do first?'

The first solution that comes to mind is naturally the Southern Grand Duke of the Demon Realm.

Known as the 'King' among the Four Grand Dukes, he is considered the oldest demon in the Demon Realm. There are theories that he has lived for a million years, or that he was the first demon created when the Demon God formed the demons at the beginning of time.

Nothing is certain, but it's undeniable that he has lived for a long time. Having experienced such a long period, he naturally knows a lot.

This means it's worth consulting him about what I've experienced.

The only minor issue is... his temperament is far from ordinary. He's not rough or energetic, but he locks himself in his Duke's Mansion and refuses to come out.

The Southern Grand Duke, like me, is full of the 'artist' spirit. When we conquered the Empire in my previous life, while the Eastern Grand Duke treated humans as tools and the Western Grand Duke Lilith left them to fend for themselves, the Southern Grand Duke King used humans to create art pieces for display.

But it's okay. It's just a tiny flaw in his personality.

On the contrary, because of his nature, he will show pure academic interest when I ask him. Other demons might wave it off as nonsense, but not him.

Yes, let's go see him first. You need to know everything before setting goals and preparing for life.

I won't make plans. Nothing is as uncertain and prone to failure as plans. The absolute truth of this is proven by countless beings in this world who have failed after making plans.

Making a short but crucial decision, I was about to get up from the bed where I had been lying.

Knock knock.

A soft knocking sound is heard.

I'd like to use my senses to identify who's at the door, but at nine years old, I don't have such abilities.

"Who is it?"

Instead, I chose to ask with words. The response was a gruff reply.

"What time is it that you're not coming to eat?"

A one-sided answer that ignores my question. It's not a big deal since I know who the voice belongs to.

It's just that my mood is slightly soured.

"It was my second brother."

Leonard, that damn demon.

If Adela died to save me, he was the complete opposite.

He's another demon corrupted by money, fame, and power, very interested in the succession. Because of that, he often did despicable things to me, his younger brother.

"Hurry up, everyone is waiting."

"Oh, of course. Let's go."

Throwing on a coat, I left the room, and Leonard was already far ahead. What a jerk.

"Brother, let's go together."

"Hmph."

"Is it right for siblings to be so harsh to each other?"

"Who would call themselves siblings with the likes of you?"

Even after being beaten so much as a child, he still hasn't learned his lesson.

Judging by his brisk pace, he's definitely still upset and unwilling to admit the difference in our abilities. What a narrow-minded, stingy, petty man.

Once someone is seen in a bad light, it's impossible to see them positively. I need to deal with him quickly.

"Let's go in."

As we entered the dining room, a long room filled with luxurious decorations came into view, with a table in the center. The food on that table was dripping with high-quality oil.

My father was nowhere to be seen. Instead, my mother, my Aunt, my second Aunt, my eldest Aunt, and others were seated around the long table. My sister Adela was also sitting upright at the head of the table.

"Oh, it's been a while since we all gathered. Wow, how long has it been since we ate together like this?"

"...?"

When I casually greeted them, they looked at me as if I were a weirdo, then started murmuring among themselves.

"Well, that... during the sparring earlier..."

Adela then kindly explained that I had been hit on the head during a sparring match with Leonard earlier, asking for their understanding, but I wasn't really interested.

"Wow, how long has it been since I last tasted Aunt's turkey? I'm already drooling."

Why, you ask?

Wow, look at the color. This is how a turkey should be. It's going to melt, melt away.

Sizzle-.

In this turkey dish that I'm tearing into, with the meat plump and juicy, there's actually a potent poison.

It was put in by Aunt, the mother of Leonard who's keeping me in check because of the succession.

It suppresses magic without anyone knowing, and during the period of poisoning, it even makes growth impossible.

While Leonard is alive, it turns me into a cripple unable to handle even a speck of magic.

Of course, in this life, I'll be the one to use it against them.

The damn poison.