[Regression (2)]
With the tip of the dagger, I slashed a long cut down my forearm. The blood that oozed out gathered, transforming into a dark crimson spear. Flames so intensely black they were blinding wrapped around the spearhead and trailed down the shaft.
-Grrrrr
Lautitars, who had always looked down on me, raised all three of its heads stiffly. The spikes on its back stood on end as if on high alert at the appearance of the spear that had taken its eyes. Its mouth opened wide, revealing rows of jagged teeth.
If I were my usual self, I would have collapsed before even meeting its gaze, unable to withstand its sheer presence. But now, I didn’t even feel a shred of anxiety.
I was certain. That thing was weaker than me.
“You wretched lizard bastard, come at me.”
-Kraaahh!
As if in response, it howled. The entire cavern trembled from the force of its killing intent. The three-headed dragon fully raised its massive, crimson body. It had no wings. Instead, it was sleek like a leopard, but wrapped in layers of terrible curses. Its long, mottled tail whipped around, bristling with spikes.
Boom!
Its four legs pounded the ground. Claws like a grim reaper’s scythe carved deep gashes into the earth. Despite its enormous size, its movements were frighteningly fast. With a single leap, it crossed half the width of the vast cavern—movements that my past self wouldn’t have even registered.
But now, I…
“You might as well be crawling.”
It felt like nothing more than a puppy playfully bounding toward me. My younger brother, ranked third among the world’s strongest, was one of the fastest of the top ten rankers. If he were alone, he wouldn’t have easily allowed that three-headed lizard to strike him. But right now, in this moment, I was faster than he had ever been.
Thwap!
With a twisted sneer, I leaped into the air.
Crunch!
Its claws tore through the spot where I had just been. Looking down leisurely at its futile attack, I activated another skill.
“Blue Willow Leaves.”
Leaves that only the caster could see scattered in the air. Using them as stepping stones, I soared even higher.
Lautitars, infuriated, jumped after me, but I easily dodged its claws. The curse it shot at me like a poison dart was blocked by my shield.
Thud!
The lizard landed back on the ground, growling. If you’re so pissed off, why don’t you grow some wings?
My brother didn’t have a flight skill. But he used this Blue Willow Leaves to dance in the air as if he were standing on solid ground. That bastard was good at everything.
“No, not everything—he couldn’t cut off his useless older brother.”
Muttering to myself, I held the spear horizontally. Wrapping it in the flickering black flames, I pulled it back like I was drawing a bow.
Swoosh!
-Kraaaahhh!
The spear shot forward, piercing Lautitars’ left head. The black flames surged, and the impaled head melted away in an instant. The crazed lizard thrashed about, slashing and biting wildly, but it was far too slow.
Thud! Thud!
It looked like an eel flailing on land, slamming against the ground with every jump. What a pitiful sight. That bastard was laughable, but so was I.
I created another spear, drawing more blood.
Crunch!
-Kurk! Kurrrgh!
I shattered its right head too. The middle head, now blind, flailed about aimlessly. The creature’s scales bristled as it stopped moving and curled up tightly. It almost seemed scared.
“…This is too easy.”
So easy it almost made me want to cry. Just like that, the bastard curled up and gave up.
Even though burning away the last head would surely kill it—no matter how resilient a dragonkin might be—I aimed for its legs instead. Like a fish drying out on hot sand, the now-helpless creature’s limbs were severed, one by one.
Slowly, methodically.
Its cries became screams, then whimpers, then the ragged breaths of something near death.
The ground beneath it turned into a sludgy swamp of blood, but Lautitars was still alive. I crouched down on top of its limp, lifeless body.
Time was almost up. Once the skill’s effect ended, I’d die just from the poisonous miasma seeping out of Lautitars’ corpse.
What a useless guy I am.
“But what’s the point of surviving?”
If word got out that Yuhyun had died because of me, wouldn’t I face a public execution? If they tied me up in the town square, people would flock from all over the world to throw stones at me.
“They might even write about me in history books. I’ve already been cursed at plenty, but now I’ll be reviled for generations. Haha.”
So why the hell did you die in my place, you stupid brother? It was such a pointless thing to do. Damn it. I should’ve died when my leg got broken back then. Then I wouldn’t have had to see all this crap, and Yuhyun wouldn’t have died. Why the hell did he have to save me when I should’ve been left for dead?
I tapped the scales of Lautitars with my palm as it took its final breaths.
“I don’t think I’ll last much longer either, so don’t feel too bitter. Why did you come out of a D-Rank dungeon anyway? Or did those management bastards mess up the measurements?”
Either way, it didn’t matter to me anymore.
“Maybe I should’ve just lived quietly, cheering Yuhyun on from behind with a lightstick.”
I should’ve just leached off my brilliant younger brother and lived comfortably, but that damn inferiority complex…
Just then, a reward window popped up, signaling Lautitars’ complete death.
[An impossible achievement! You have slain a dragon alone!]
Yuhyun also helped, so why does it say “alone”? Is it because there was a big time difference?
[Legendary title ‘Dragon Slayer’ granted!]
Dragon Slayer, huh. Sounds like a title with amazing stats, but I didn’t bother checking it. Who cares? No matter how you dress up a pumpkin, it’s still a pumpkin.
Then came the level-up notifications, and items started appearing one after another.
[Gate Stone x10]
[Grade 1 Enchantment Fluid x5]
[Greatsword of the Red Dragon]
[Wishing Stone]
Huh? Wishing Stone?
I was scrolling through the item window absentmindedly when the Wishing Stone caught my eye. It was an item I’d never seen before.
“Just by the name, it sounds like it could grant a wish.”
No way. No way it could be that kind of cheat item.
Even as I thought it was impossible, I sprang to my feet. Opening my inventory, I saw a small, red orb, slightly smaller than my fist.
Swallowing dryly, I pulled out the orb and checked its information.
[Wishing Stone – Mythic Rank
Grants the user one wish of their choosing.]
Is this for real?
“Then my brother—!”
[※However, resurrection of the dead is not possible.]
“…You’ve got to be kidding me?!”
The final note appeared belatedly. What’s the point of calling it mythic rank if it can’t even bring someone back from the dead? If it’s supposed to be a god-tier item, it should be able to control life and death!
“Damn it, then what good is it! Can it do anything aside from bringing someone back? All I want, all I wanted was just…!”
I clenched the Wishing Stone tightly, feeling like I could crush it.
A flood of possibilities filled my mind in an instant. If it could grant any wish, I could even become stronger than Yuhyun. I could maintain my current state indefinitely.
Then there’d be no more reason for anyone to hate me. People would quickly forget the old hero and start praising the new one.
I could take the place I’d always envied.
From an even more glorious position, I could rise higher than anyone else.
Caught up in the fantasy, my eyes darted around before I let out a long sigh.
“…Yuhyun, you. You’re really screwing me over, even to the very end.”
I might regret this. No, I’m almost certain I will.
Then I’ll just add it to the pile of regrets.
My life is already coated with layer upon layer of regret—what’s one more?
“Hey, Wishing Stone. Can you turn back time?”
As if answering my question, the red orb began to glow. You can’t bring back the dead, but you can turn back time? That seems even more impossible, doesn’t it? What a joke.
“Then take me back to before I entered here—no, send me back about five years. Let me keep my memories. This time, I’ll live quietly.”
If I don’t step forward, I won’t get hated. My leg will stay fine, and Yuhyun won’t have to deal with headaches because of me. Everything will be better.
I’ll just live as a useless bum, leeching off my brilliant younger brother.
[Do you wish to turn back time?]
“Yeah.”
The orb’s light intensified. My vision turned bright red, then flashed to blinding white.
And then.
As my vision cleared, I found myself in an unfamiliar room.
–TL Notes–
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