Chapter 238 - 3−42 Alec's Perspective
Alec Tratia.
Born with that name, I didn't know I was royalty until I was six years old. The woman who whispered into my ear like a curse, “You will become the Emperor of this country,” had already lost her mind by the time I was old enough to understand.
“Alec, Alec... please... help me...”
Ignoring the woman’s pleading voice, I swung my sword as I pleased. Before me lay the abominable woman who had brought me into this world, bleeding and collapsed. I didn't need to check to know her heart had already stopped.
This woman is the source of everything.
This greedy, presumptuous woman had given birth to a demon like me.
In that small house, a single servant witnessed me killing my mother. The servant fled the house in a panic, and shortly after, a group of knights appeared and took me to the grand castle. From that day on, my world changed completely.
The man who claimed to be my father was the Emperor of this country. And I learned that I was the Third Prince of the powerful Tratia Empire. So what my mother had said wasn't just nonsense? As I was thinking about this, the Emperor looked at me with a gaze that seemed to be appraising my worth.
“Why did you kill your mother?”
“Why? ...I wonder why.”
I truly didn't know. Why had I killed my mother?
“Maybe... because she was noisy. Yes, she was noisier than usual today.”
“You killed your only mother for just that? If so, could you also kill me, your father?”
What was this man saying? A father I had met for the first time today was no different from a stranger.
“If you wish, at any time.”
That answer seemed to be a passing grade for the Emperor. My residence was moved from a small, dilapidated house to a luxurious and grand detached palace near the main building of the Imperial Castle. My father assigned those called first-class as my teachers and told me he wanted me to support my brother, the Crown Prince, in the future.
However, at the same time, he seemed to have trouble with me killing one teacher after another, having learned to kill people by killing my mother.
“You’ve ruined another teacher. ...By the way, I heard you’ve never handled a sword since you were born. But your swordsmanship is that of a veteran. ...Where did you learn it?”
One day, my father asked me that.
“Where... In my dreams, I suppose.”
In my dreams, I fly freely through the sky as a dragon. Furthermore, as a human, I wield a sword and master magic. When I told him about the dreams, my father told me to demonstrate the magic I had never been taught.
“Then, I shall show you by destroying that tower.”
When I said that, my father laughed as if it were amusing. A child’s nonsense. It was impossible for a six-year-old child to destroy such a sturdy building. That’s likely what he thought.
When I easily turned the tower to dust using ancient magic, my father looked at me with eyes that saw a monster along with his surprise. The rumors of that day spread in an instant. From then on, the people around me became even noisier. Those who hailed me as a genius and those who feared I might threaten the throne. I had no interest in such people, yet my irritation grew day by day because of the noisy ones.
I destroyed anything, whether it was a person or an object. Seeing my destructive behavior, those who were infatuated with me became even noisier, saying, “As expected of the Dragonewt bloodline. High destructive urges are a sign of high Dragonewt ability.”
“As expected of His Highness the Third Prince. It is no wonder he is called the Reincarnation of the Progenitor.”
“His birth is unfortunate, but the Third Prince is indispensable for the revival of the Tratia Empire.”
“It might be better to re-select the Crown Prince.”
“If we re-select, the Empress, the mother of His Highness the First Prince, will not remain silent.”
Noisy, noisy, noisy.
The sight of powerless people desperately flattering me and trying to harm me was both ridiculous and bothersome. Why is this world so noisy? Why am I so irritated? Why must I live in such a bothersome world?
As I grew, the bothersome feeling turned into intense anger. Around that time, I met my cousin, Lute Calria, who worshipped me like a god.
From the moment we met, he affirmed everything about me, kept away the things I found bothersome, and taught me how to vent my stress.
“Your Highness should just act as you please. I will take care of all the cleanup. That’s right, if killing people calms your anger, you should just destroy other countries. That way, you will feel even better.”
I thought he had a point. Since a young boy was promoting war, the Dragonewt race must truly be a group of madmen. While thinking that in the back of my mind, I repeatedly waged war according to my instincts and made anyone I didn't like a victim of my sword.
Even so, momentary pleasure quickly turned back into irritation.
Something is wrong. I need a more massive power to calm this bothersome feeling.
“Your Highness is the Reincarnation of the Progenitor Dragon, right? If so, wouldn't Dragonification, which the weakened Dragonewts cannot achieve, be possible for you? If you do that, you could gain even more powerful strength and make this entire continent yours, Your Highness.”
“...Dragonification, I see. I suppose so.”
Lute said that with sparkling eyes. At that moment, a flash of inspiration hit me. I have no interest in reclaiming past glory or continental conquest. But I thought that if Dragonification were possible and I could regain power equal to the Progenitor, I might be released from this bothersome feeling.
I see. The root of all evil was the Progenitor Dragon.
This body dominated by anger and destruction, and this bothersome world, were all created by the Progenitor Dragon. The reason I was born into this world as the Reincarnation of the Progenitor must be because I was given a similar role. In other words, the role of bringing an end to this country.
If I did that, the bothersome world would end, and a quiet world would come. A quiet world for me alone.
“I see. ...So that’s it.”
“Your Highness? Did something interesting happen?”
Lute stared at me in surprise as I suddenly started laughing.
“Ah, it’s just as you said. If I achieve Dragonification and gain power equal to... no, surpassing the Progenitor... this world will become mine.”
“T-that’s right! Everything belongs to Your Highness Alec. We can show those foolish people who said they weren't afraid of a weakened Dragonewt country!”
Lute is dreaming through me. The dream of the revival of the Tratia Empire and continental unification, which past Emperors could not achieve. But, of course, I have no intention of fulfilling such things. I will create my own world, for myself. I will destroy everything in this world and turn everything to nothing.
“I will surpass the Progenitor and change this world myself.”
And I will end everything. That became my everything.
I succeeded in a coup d'état with Lute and took the throne. My father, the Emperor; the Empress, who tried to assassinate me many times; and the First Prince, the Crown Prince. I swept away the obstacles and gathered the pieces necessary to construct my world. I didn't kill royalty who had awakened their abilities, but utilized them. I gave preferential treatment to those who could be useful pieces as informants, whether they were from other countries or commoners.
One day, I obtained an important piece for me to surpass the Progenitor. It was Margaret, the Seventh Princess, whose existence had been forgotten.
“In the western frontier, the... Dragon's Heart Your Majesty is looking for... should be sleeping there.”
At first, I thought she was just desperately telling lies because she didn't want to die. But my thought was quickly proven wrong.
“Your Majesty! We found it! The Dragon's Heart!”
One of the knights shouted. The Dragon's Heart that past Emperors had desperately searched for. I was about to obtain it right now.
“This is... the Dragon's Heart.”
I decocted and drank the Dragon's Heart I brought back, as described in ancient books. Then, I felt power surging through my body like never before. I wanted to use this power right away. Its power would likely be double... no, five times what it was before.
I must tell Lute to prepare for war immediately. I want to test this power.
But a mysterious event occurred that stopped my actions.
『Are you planning to go to war again?』
“...Who is it?”
A voice of someone I didn't know echoed in my head. I reached for the sword at my waist while staying alert.
『It is useless to do that. For I am within you.』
I frowned at the voice that seemed to mock my actions.
『I am Alexandros Tratia. The one who created this country.』
“...Alexandros? ...Ridiculous.”
That name is the name of the Progenitor Dragon of this country. My name is also nothing more than a name my mother borrowed and gave me, dreaming of a status she didn't have.
『If you think it is a lie, try saying the incantation I am about to tell you.』
An incantation? What is this voice trying to do to me?
『Jurond ma Daried.』
“...Jurond ma Daried? What kind of incantation... Ha, this is...?”
While thinking it was stupid, I repeated it as the voice desired. Then, a distant memory surfaced vividly in my head. It was exactly the memory of the time of the Progenitor Dragon that I had dreamed of since childhood.
“This is...”
『Body where my memories sleep. That is the proof that you walked as the Progenitor.』
“Are you truly the Progenitor?”
『Yes, indeed. You are truly my reincarnation.』
The Progenitor explained to me that by consuming the Dragon's Heart, the Progenitor sleeping within me was awakened. The existence I was trying to surpass and hated the most was within me. Even though a very strange thing was happening, I found it interesting. If the Progenitor was sleeping within me, I should just pretend to be obedient.
Fortunately, my actions and words seemed to be monitored by the Progenitor, but my thoughts were not shared. If so, I should just use the Progenitor. In that way, I would deceive even the Progenitor and fulfill my own desires.
The Progenitor sought the past glory of the Tratia Empire from me. It was the same future Lute dreamed of. I pretended to follow that and, according to the Progenitor’s advice, temporarily stopped invading other countries and permitted Lute and Margaret to study abroad in the Kingdom of Dutoit. And for several long months, I waited patiently for Lute to bring back a woman from Dutoit.
That woman was Rachel Marcel—the woman Margaret had declared was my destined partner.
『For me and you to unify and obtain the original power of the dragon, the power of the Spirit of Darkness is indispensable. Rachel Marcel is the Dark Saint of this era. Make her create a Pure Magic Stone.』
“What will you do after making her create that Pure Magic Stone?”
『That power is the final piece. The power of the Spirit of Darkness calms the dragon’s anger and revives ancient power. The pure magic stone created by the maiden called the Saint will return you to an innocent state. Then, I, who am separated, will unify with you, and we can finally regain our original power.』
“Your explanations are always long. Don't speak in such a roundabout way. ...In short, the Pure Magic Stone created by the Dark Saint will make it possible for me to achieve Dragonification.”
『That is correct.』
To think the key to Dragonification is a maiden from a small country at the edge of the continent.
“Destiny is not something to be scoffed at.”
When I heard from Margaret that I had a destined partner, I couldn't help but laugh at how ridiculous it was. But since that woman would fulfill my purpose, she might be worthy of being called destiny. I never thought that woman would bring a Combat Dragon, which was supposed to be extinct, though.
When Lute, who was studying in Dutoit, brought back Rachel and the Combat Dragon, and I saw my destiny for the first time, I was disappointed. To think such an ordinary woman is the partner I’ve been waiting for.
However, she is a person who plays a particularly important role among the pieces. I must treat her with courtesy. The problem is how to make her create the Pure Magic Stone. While I was thinking about that, Lute said,
“Shall I manipulate Rachel Marcel’s memories with my power? If I do that, she will become your puppet.”
“No, that is not necessary yet. If she becomes unable to create the Pure Magic Stone due to memory manipulation, it will defeat the purpose.”
Furthermore, the Progenitor had said, 『A magic stone filled with particularly strong feelings is desirable. The strength of the feelings becomes the strength of the magic stone.』 If so, if we used Lute’s ability of memory manipulation, it would be difficult to make a magic stone filled with strong feelings.
Now, what shall I do with that Saint?
“I have an idea.”
Lute, who had been thinking for a while, brightened his eyes.
“How about using Theodore Camus, the strongest magician in Dutoit?”
“Theodore Camus? I’ve never heard that name.”
“He is an intruder who entered the Tratia Empire following her. I and the imperial guards cornered him when he was trying to sneak into the castle and enter the dungeon.”
“Ah, that rat.”
“I gave him a fatal wound, so he would likely die if nothing were done. I was treating him at my mansion just in case he could be used.”
A magician from the Spirit Country. For a magician from a weak country, he seems to have more backbone than expected to be able to sneak into the castle.
“Can he be used?”
“Probably. I observed Rachel Marcel quite a bit while studying abroad, and she is a soft-hearted person. She has a tendency to disregard danger for the sake of others. Moreover, Theodore seems to be a trusted friend of hers. She wouldn't think of betraying him and escaping alone.”
I was convinced by Lute’s words. Certainly, that woman I saw once seemed different from anyone I knew, as expected of someone called a Saint. While she possessed a quiet and calm aura, she had eyes that seemed to have a strong will. Unlike me, she is likely sensitive to the pain of others.
“I have a plan. May I handle this matter?”
I curled my lip into a grin at Lute, who seemed confident.
“Fine. But failure will not be permitted.”
“Of course. I will stake my life to deliver the Dark Saint’s Pure Magic Stone to Your Majesty.”
“I’ll leave it to you.”
Perhaps if the Reincarnation of the Progenitor had been Lute, the wish of the Progenitor dwelling in this body would have been fulfilled. The beautiful desire for the peace and prosperity of the Tratia country would have been achieved. But Lute and the Progenitor are also being slowly strangled by an abnormal demon like me. That is also ridiculous and pitiful.
Everyone will likely become unhappy along with me. Just because a demon like me was born into this world.
The 5th volume of the "Villainess Who Reversed Time" comic is on sale today!
The cover features a beautiful Rachel and Louis at their debutante, drawn by Bin Sakamoto-sensei.
Please check out the comic adaptation as well.