348. REGRESSOR’S REUNION

He looked towards the person standing at the window. The Goddess of Fate.

She was gazing out towards the darkness– the small troupe of luminescent critters shining in green.

“Morning,” she said without as much as to meet his gaze. It was as if she had grown eyes at the back of her head.

She had been like this ever since that incident at the royal ballroom. Jiwon thought she would eventually get over it.. apparently not.

Who exactly was this ‘creator’? To what extent did Moirae worship him? 

Jiwon had already gotten used to her cold attitude, it wasn’t something he should mind as he had no control over it. He’ll wait years if he has to if that’s what it’ll take for her outlook of him to recover.

He was just glad she didn’t decide to leave him.

Previously she descended to help Jiwon change the inevitable, to stop the demons from casting rule over the world.

However, having met the ‘creator’, the line between foe and friend had blurred.

Jiwon tried to recall the last time he saw this ‘creator’ in his previous life.

Nothing.

Which meant one thing– the ‘creator’ was an external factor. An existence that shouldn’t even be here. When he heard it from Moirae, he had his doubts. But after seeing the changes that had happened due to the ‘creator’s’ influence, and how so much of what happened didn’t match his past life, there weren't any better explanations for the phenomenon.

“By the Creator’s grace.”
He still remembered that day a few weeks ago, Moirae simply walked up to him and dropped his swords on the ground. Crimson Ether and Nebula Sword, the weapons that were lost in the fight had now returned to him. 

“Laura-san is back in her home land,” was the next thing Moirae said back then.
Were they enemies, or allies? On the trip towards the Southern Axis of the Elven Territory, Jiwon thought about it over and over again.

What was the relationship between Liliath Toren, Javiel Myst and this mysterious ‘creator’?
Jiwon couldn’t connect the dots.

“I sense an insinuation,” Moirae said, pulling Jiwon back to the present.

“Insinuation?”

“It’s a mess, tangle webs being unraveled ever so slowly. Someone is tampering with the outcome of the future.”

“You said it yourself, they’re the only ones capable of doing so.”

“I know.”
“I’m getting up. We’ll stop by the elven palace first to find Laura-san.”
“Understood.”

===

Elven royalty was a weird one. As elves may live up to centuries old, many of the previous kings and queens still remain alive. The manner in which the country is managed is done without organization. It was similar to plants in that they follow cultural principles in which they grow. Slow but in an unpredictable fashion.

Most of the time, the royalties would just go on their own errand. After all, they were elves and their sense of time was different from normal humans. One could say they weren’t serious in their duties, however, unlike the volatile human civilization, there weren’t many changes in the elven world. Thus, the management of the country in such a lax manner.

Jiwon stood in front of the gigantic tree. Fields of white flowers stretched on both left and right. A ivory path parted the sea of flowers down the center, leading up to the entrance.

“State your name and reason for your presence!” A male pixie asked, almost shouting. 

“I am Jiwon, here to meet Her Highness Laura.”

“Her Highness is currently busy, please come another time.”

The pixie folded his arms and floated in front of him.

How gaudy. 

Jiwon wanted to cut this pixie up into bits.

“Pardon, we’ve been a long time friend of hers, are you certain Her Highness is currently not it?” Moirae attempted to pry information out of him, leaning forward.

“Who are you?”

“Moirae.”
“Moirae.. Moirae.. The Goddess of Fate?! M-My apologies! Her Highness Laura has left for the second palace raised by Mother Goddess.”

The pixie panicked.

“I see.. that Goddess really..” Moirae held her head.

“Did someone call?”

“Mother Goddess!” the pixie jumped into the air and flew around the person who had just appeared.

Green hair, similarly gold eyes– The Goddess of Nature, Gaia.

This was the first time Jiwon was meeting her in flesh.

Gaia chuckled.

“Are you surprised child? Moirae-san, how has it been?”

“Unfair. I can barely exercise my powers in a mortal body.”
“I can see that. Though, it seems you’ve grown to see the world differently? Won’t you agree, now that you’ve seen, the mortal realm is an interesting one?”
“I can’t deny that..”

“That asides, my child,” Gaia turned to Jiwon with a gentle smile, and even though she meant no harm, he couldn’t help but feel the weight of the world’s nature pressing against his shoulder. Gaia spun gracefully, her sleeves danced, she pointed up towards the hill. “The person you seek is over there.”

“Thank you for the directions, Goddess of Nature.”

“My child, you need not be so anxious. I’m sure Laura-chan is willing to accept your return.”
Jiwon looked down to the ground– the petal crushed down on his foot.

He nodded.
Who exactly is his ‘enemy’?

===

Jiwon and Moirae made their way over to the second place– the one granted by Gaia for Noel.

A trail of lanterns followed the climb towards the main gate. The ambience of forestry and small wildlife, the sounds of flowing water, as if a creak were near. 

They reached the top.

“I will stop here. The rest will be left to you,” the male pixie which had earlier clashed against Jiwon bowed politely. Having done so, it flew into the air like a firework.

Moirae directed her gaze to the second palace.

It resembled more of a gigantic house than it did a mansion or castle. The path leading up to the main door was beautifully crafted, water weaving its way down the squarish stone platforms.

“Let’s go.” Jiwon stepped through the gate.

He prepared himself to pull out his sword at any time.

They reached the door.

Jiwon pondered how he should approach this. Kicking the door down was normally the way, however, this was a palace granted by the Goddess of Nature. 

So thus he decided.

He knocked.

“Anyone inside?” Moirae called out.

Nothing.

Wrong.

There was something. Soft voices of anguish.

The regressor focused his hearing.

“Pull!!”

“”Heeavvee.. Hoooo!”’

He grabbed the handle and pushed. The door opened without a hitch, he heard the pixie cheer– until they realized that the door opened not because of their efforts, but because Jiwon had twisted the door knob.

The pixies fell sullen.

“Welcome to the palace. May I know if you’re a guest? Could you give me your name?” A stern, blue haired fairy floated in front of him. This was Jil the head fairy in charge of managing the palace.

“Park Jiwon”

“Goddess of Fate, Moirae.”
“Mister Park Jiwon and Goddess of Fate Moirae-sama, I heard that Nine-san had been expecting you. Unfortunately, both of them are currently away, would it be alright if we prepared a space for you until their return?”

“Yes.”

Jil led them to the second lobby and served them some tea and cookies. Jiwon touched them a few times, having lost interest, he just sat there and meditated. Moirae on the other hand, began asking questions about Laura and the other Irregulars.

Jil gave light responses as she herself did not know a lot about their affairs. All the fairy knew was that each person went separate ways and had different interests. 

Additionally, Moirae was surprised to learn that there were two heroes living here too, Aoki Kaito and Takata Sayu. 

Jiwon suddenly opened his eyes.

“They’re here.”
“I’ll go receive them, please wait here.”
Jil bowed and flew to the entrance.

This time, the pixies had rope and a magic pulley system in place. Jil pressed her fingers to her forehead. These pixies really don’t know when to give up do they?

In any case, Jil joined them. She had lost once to the door, this was her chance to redeem herself.

They were waiting for a knock.

“Are you sure you want to try peanut butter? We don’t even know if peanuts exist?”
“I don’t like peanut butter, why is that even a thing?”

“You don’t like peanut butter?!”

“What’s peanut butter?”

Jil tightened her grip on the rope.

349.

Then there was silence. All conversations stopped, the pixies readied themselves.

“We’re back!”
Nine burst through the door open, everything fell into chaos.

“Wow, what’s going on?”

“Did we mess up something?”

“It seems so.”
Prune looked at the crying pixie with sympathy; Sayu and Kaito looked at each other in confusion.

“I think I forgot to knock.”

“W-Welcome back Nine-sama, Prune-sama, Aoki-sama and Takata-sama.” Jil calmed her teary voice and greeted them. The pixies all fell into a line and bowed. All the effort they put into installing the magic pulley had gone to waste.

“Were you trying to open the door again?”

“Yes. It’s unfortunate we failed to notice the possibility that one could simply enter.”

Jil should’ve locked it, had them knock, before releasing the deadbolt.

“Mission failed, you’ll get it next time,” Nine said.

“Nine-sama, you have guests.”

“Oh right, I’ll go meet them right now.. Laura-san is not here though.. give me a moment.”

Nine operated her system UI and called Laura. They exchanged a few messages, Nine popped a door into existence, Laura appeared from within.
“Where?!”

“Follow me,” Jil, who had seen such absurdities for the nth time, responded with calm.
Laura stopped just as they were about to make it past the last corridor. She took a deep breath and attempted to calm her nervous heart.
“It’ll be fine,” Nine said.
“I said things I shouldn't have.. whatever it is, I have done wrong and he has the right to withhold his forgiveness.”

Nine blinked a few times. Such drama. Was there a need to keep hesitating? Just face it head on and just accept what comes.
“I’m ready.”
“Good luck,” thought Nine was a little skeptical about the reunion, she said so anyways.

===

Jiwon played with the spoon in the tea cup, the ring it created when it stuck the ceramic of the cup was soothing. 

A feeling of familiarity washed over him, he looked up– her gaze. Bright green eyes stared back at him with concern, longing and..

“Laura..” Jiwon called out.
“How have you been?” Moirae asked.

“I’ve been.. well..” Laura lowered her head, hand clutching her magic staff tightly.

“Nice to meet you again Jiwon-sama, don’t kill anyone this time alright?” Nine said with a pout.

“Who are you?”

“Who am.. are you trying to make me angry? Cuz that’s super effective,” Nine remember recommending korean dishes to this guy last time, and he couldn’t spare a brain cell to remember her name? 

“No, I remember, don’t look at me like that,” Jiwon brushed it off as a joke. He did remember that her name was a number.

“Jiwon-san,” Moirae nudged.
“I know,” he stood up. Nine pushed Laura from behind, saying: go, go!
He stopped in front of her. Their height difference was obvious. Laura even had the thought that he had even grown a few centimeters taller since she last saw him.

“Are you hurt anywhere?” 

He said these words with expressions of such sorrow it took Laura by surprise. She couldn’t help but be taken aback by such sincere words. 

She turned away, embarrassed.

And then a soft embrace.

“I’m sorry I hurt you.”
Laura's heart jumped.

They stood there in each other’s arms for a while, Nine nodded in satisfaction. Moirae gestured at Nine.

“Yes?”

“I don’t see Creator-sama anywhere.”
“Oh, about that, you see, he’s at Toren Kingdom.”
“Toren Kingdom?”
“It’s to meet Liliath’s family and request permission for their engagement,” Nine said with a wry smile, “Of course, they also intend to do something about dampening Javiel-san’s influence.

Noel said he received a duel invitation just a few days ago, Nine can’t help but find it skeptical. This was the pinnacle of cliché.

Moirae nodded, though a little confused by it all.

“Let’s talk,” Jiwon, who had finished consoling Laura, carried her to the couch. Laura’s yelp left ignored.

“You’re like a gangster you know?” Nine said with a slack expression.
Laura slammed her staff lightly on his head, grumbling, he decided to finally let her free. She sat up properly.

“Currently, Noel isn’t here,” Nine began.
“I heard that earlier.”

“Okay. So, question time. What do you want to know?” Nine sat on the floor. Jiwon didn’t understand why she was doing that. Nine was already pretty small. Was she trying to tell him that she means no harm?

In any case, Jiwon requested information. Information regarding their movements and Javiel’s movements, the number of people involved in both sides and Laura’s measures to prevent the demon from gaining influence in the Southern axis of the Elven Territory.
Including what Noel, Liliath and Rin were doing. Jiwon still doubted his ears when he heard that these bunch had the ability to revive people. He’ll have to see for himself if their words were true.

“Do you recognize the title [Vixen’s Pawn]?”

“Vixen’s Pawn..?”

At Nine’s question, a scene flashed past the Regressor’s mind.

Her desperation.

Her will to live.

The sorrowful life she led– as a tool.

“I have.. it’s something I saw on that girl’s status. Her title.”
Nine tilted her head. 

“This so-called, creator, Noel-sama’s wife.”

“What do you mean?”

“That girl.. what was her name again?”
“You mean Liliath?”
“Yes, Liliath-sama. She was the one I saw with that title in my previous life,” Jiwon said, “And that was during the brink of her death. She disguised herself as the Demon Monarch, against her will.”
“So doesn’t that mean..” Nine pull up her dual status and looked again. Both his male and female avatar had [Vixen’s Pawn] on them. 

Previously, they had said that [Vixen’s Pawn] wasn’t effective against females.

Was that a lie? Or will they improve on the spell in the near future?

“That’s questionable, should I take off my title..”

Nine explained to the Regressor how [Vixen’s Pawn] affected her male form, but not her female form– which the Regressor didn’t seem to comprehend. The ability to change genders? What lunacy? 

And it wasn’t like Nine could show him either, on the off chance her male avatar might do something unnecessary.
Though, it wasn’t like the male Nine was completely possessed. He can still exercise some restraint against the orders.

An example would be Shea wanting to meet Prune. By using the supplementary command of ‘without being suspicious’, it had become an excuse which Nine used to prevent the two from meeting.. for now.

“What’s our biggest priority?” Jiwon asked, puzzled by all the information.

“Reconciliation with that demon lord.”
“Excuse me?” Jiwon’s tone turned sharp.

“Reconciliation. You didn’t hear it wrong.” 

“Why reconciliation? You have the capabilities to kill him and resolve the issue right here, right now. Why reconciliation?”

“Because it’s unfair.. at least, that’s what Noel said.”
“Unfair? That guy turned people into disposable pawns and ruled as a tyrant.”
“Look, we can remove all your status too, you know, Jiwon-san? Wouldn’t that be unfair?” Nine looked at him with cold eyes.

“You dare..”

“Stop!”

“Oppa, don’t.”
Jiwon clicked his tongue and decided to stand down.

“We’re not here for revenge, if you want, you can kill him after Liliath reconciles with him. It’s for her sake, it’s so that we can return to our world.”
Jiwon’s eyes shook.

Return home.

Right.

Way back before he decided to take revenge, the reason why he ventured out far and wide– it was to find a way to return.

“Oppa?”
“So even the creator has his limitations huh..”