CHAPTER 165 – INTERROGATION

HIRAYA MISTELTEIN – PREVIOUS TIMELINE

After sealing our pact, I invited Lysander to join our council at the Dragon’s Fortress. With the imposing Six Dragon Lords present, Lysander was met with intense scrutiny from my allies and friends. All of the Dragon Lords, along with their formidable dragonoid partners, encircled Lysander, creating an inescapable barrier around him.

I positioned myself protectively in front of Lysander, shielding him from my allies' suspicions.

“Are you certain he can be trusted? He is a human Erudite, after all,” Darlix questioned, his eyes narrowing with suspicion.

“And you mentioned he is the best friend of Arthur. Are you absolutely sure he won’t betray us?” Velissa added, her tone dripping with doubt.

“Why have you brought a human into this fortress, oh Oracle?” Gazelle demanded, her voice a mix of curiosity and disapproval.

“Do not worry, my allies. I have known Lysander since our high school days. He owes me his life, and I trust he will not betray me. Isn’t that right?” I said, giving Lysander a reassuring wink.

“R-Right,” Lysander muttered, clearly uneasy under the intense gaze of the Dragon Lords.

“Hiraya, isn’t he the one…” Alris began, his voice trailing off.

“That’s right, Alris,” I confirmed with a nod. “He possesses the Heart of Exceria, and he will be the one to save us from eternal damnation.”

Alris then took a step forward and extended his hand. “Whatever my Dragon Lord wishes will be my command. I will trust this man with every cell of my being, just as I trust my own love.”

The Dragon Lords and their dragonoid companions exchanged glances and murmured among themselves. It took a moment before my friends began to act.

“Well, if Hiraya trusts him, then so will I,” Kate declared, stepping forward with determination.

“U-Um, I will too,” Gaeun added shyly, taking a hesitant step forward.

“Of course, count me in,” Charlotte said as she flicked her hair nonchalantly. “Are we all satisfied now? Fools stepping forward together? A bunch of idiots supporting one dumb human.”

“Fuck off,” Lysander muttered under his breath. It was fortunate that no one else but me heard those words, or else Lysander would have clashed with Charlotte.

“Okay then,” Gazelle said as he stepped forward, his Eye of Deus glaring intensely at Lysander, instilling fear in him. “As the Supreme Leader of the Republic of Dragons, I will permit this madness, Daybreaker. But if he proves to be a threat to any of us, I will personally deliver him to hell.”

Through our heart connections, I sensed Lysander’s heartbeat quickening with fear. To ease his tension, I grabbed his wrist and addressed Gazelle. “Do not worry, Supreme Leader. I will ensure that he behaves. Right?”

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“Right,” Lysander responded, his voice steadying.

“Let us commence with the interrogations,” Gazelle declared, turning away. His metal armor clanked with each step, and his black cape flapped dramatically as he led the way towards the meeting room. The Dragon Lords and their dragonoid partners followed in a formidable procession.

Only Alris, Lysander, and I remained behind.

“Wait, am I about to be tortured?” Lysander asked me, his voice filled with worry. “I have this unsettling feeling that Gazelle Lockwood might hang me upside down and treat me like a punching bag.”

“You’ll be fine. I’ll make sure they won’t hurt you,” I replied with a reassuring smile.

“Let’s go now, Hiraya, and um…” Alris began in a welcoming tone.

“Lysander Faradeiss. And you are Hiraya's consort, right?” Lysander asked, trying to hide his anxiety.

“Alris Vortigern. Nice to meet you,” Alris responded, extending his hand for a handshake.

Lysander took Alris’ hand and shook it. There seemed to be a friendly aura between the two, and I couldn’t be more pleased with the prospect of them working together. This brought a wide smile to my face as I gently pushed their backs towards the entrance of the conference room.

“Let’s go now, shall we?” I said to them, my voice light and encouraging.

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Lysander was positioned at the center of the podium, surrounded by six imposing seats occupied by the Dragon Lords.

“Let’s begin the interrogation with your introduction,” Gazelle commanded, his tone authoritative.

Lysander, visibly nervous, took a deep breath before speaking. “I… I am Lysander Faradeiss, also known as Lysander the Runner of the Erudites Eight. We Erudites serve and act directly on the Emperor’s behalf.”

“Emperor?” Earvin inquired, raising an eyebrow.

“Emperor Arthurius Elkyria Neos. That was Arthur’s true name,” Lysander explained. “He revealed himself as royalty after the Emperor-consort and Empress perished during your campaign known as the Purge of Humanity.”

“Where is he now?” I asked, my voice steady but curious.

Lysander glared at me momentarily before responding. “He is hiding in the Empire’s Sanctuary. We now call it the Final Sanctuary, as it holds the largest post-apocalyptic human city. It is a floating fortress, much like this island, situated in the middle of the Elysian Ocean.”

“This is fantastic! We can finally attack the last human fortress, and humanity will crumble!” Darlix cheered, his excitement palpable.

“Not so fast, Darlix,” Earvin interjected, his voice calm but firm. “There are still significant challenges before we can annihilate humans from this planet.”

“Deo. And the Regression Magic,” Gazelle muttered, his eyes narrowing.

“Regression Magic?” Lysander gasped in surprise, his eyes widening.

“What is it, Lysander?” I asked, sensing his sudden unease.

“N-Nothing. It’s just… Arthur asked Johnny and me to work on some magical circle formulas that incorporated time circuits. He called it Regression Magic, a safety feature where, if he is killed, he can go back in time to ensure humanity’s survival. My best friend Johnny wasn’t suitable to be an Erudite, so the responsibility for modifying the spell now falls to me.”

“Do you know how to cast the Regression Magic?” I asked urgently, rising from my seat.

“Y-Yeah,” Lysander stammered, visibly shaken. “But it’s pointless. It’s a Curse of Time, binding the caster in an endless time loop. It doesn’t change fate or destiny. I have heard that Arthur has tried six million six hundred sixty-six thousand, six hundred sixty-six times, but all of it ended in a failure.”

If Lysander’s understanding of this Regression Magic was accurate, then everything we had fought for was in vain. The Purge of Humanity, the destruction of the planet—it all seemed meaningless. The universe would be trapped in an infinite time loop, with no future, only an eternal repetition of the past.

It reminded me of the Yggdrasil Tree. Once it was destroyed, a new sapling would be born, and this sapling would grow into a tree. It represented an indefinite existence, a cycle stuck in a loop of time.

“Wait, that’s it!” I exclaimed, a smile spreading across my face. I immediately stepped forward and grabbed Lysander’s wrist. “Come with me, I have something to show you!”

“Huh?” Lysander looked bewildered, his confusion evident.

“Daybreaker, the interrogation is still ongoing,” Gazelle scolded, his voice stern. “What could be so urgent that you must interrupt the questioning?”

“I have found a way to bring new hope!” I grinned, my excitement palpable. “And it will be with Lysander’s help!”