Quick Note: Up until now, I have foreshadowed a lot of things in random chapters but you guys haven't noticed any of them xD.
But 30-40% of my foreshadowing are in chapters where Cepheus shows up. So when that mf starts talking, try to lock in.
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The endless grasslands stretched beneath a sky that never changed.
A gentle wind rolled across the hills, stirring the sea of green.
And sitting at the center of it all was the same man Tanaka wished he never had to see a
Cepheus.
The moment he spotted him, Tanaka clicked his tongue.
"Tch..."
The sound carried across the quiet plain.
Far away, Cepheus sat at a long table that shouldn't have existed in the middle of nowhere. One elbow rested against its surface, his chin propped lazily on his fist.
Despite the distance between them, his voice arrived as clearly as if he were standing beside him.
"Is that truly the attitude one should show toward the person who saved his life?" Cepheus sighed. "You possess a remarkable lack of gratitude."
Tanaka laughed dryly. "Oh yeah? Thank you very much for saving me after being the one who screwed over in the first place."
The white-haired man didn't even bother responding.
His expression remained unchanged.
That irritated Tanaka even more.
"Whatever." He waved a hand dismissively. "Since I'm here, I'd rather not argue meaninglessly."
He absolutely didn't want to spend any time here but there was something more important.
"The Mad Prince."
For the first time since arriving, his tone became serious.
"Tell me everything you know."
A faint silence followed.
The wind continued to sweep across the endless fields.
Eventually, Cepheus answered.
"I do not know much."
Tanaka immediately frowned.
"You're screwing with me."
"Things are unfolding differently in this timeline."
Cepheus leaned back slightly.
"The Mad Prince was never supposed to escape now. His imprisonment should have lasted another fifteen years."
Tanaka blinked.
"...Fifteen years? What changed?"
"I do not know." The answer came immediately. "This timeline is already playing out differently unlike the others. A notable example is that
Tanaka folded his arms.
A familiar feeling crept into his chest.
"Is this going to be another one of those world-ending catastrophes?"
The slightest deviation in the timeline could cause a disaster, and when impactful events such as a power house escaping his imprisonment 15 years earlier and this fucker doesn't know the reason, it is something Tanaka should be concerned about.
Cepheus remained silent for a few seconds, then...
"We will have to observe how events unfold."
Tanaka groaned loudly.
Again...
Another meaningless answer.
The white-haired man ignored him.
"As always, intervention should only occur if absolutely necessary."
Tanaka stared at him.
Then something suddenly clicked in his head.
His eyes widened slightly.
"Wait."
Cepheus looked up.
"Odglass."
The name alone caused the atmosphere to stiffen.
"That was your doing, wasn't it?"
Nora said that for the contact between the church and Odglass began to lessen since 400 years ago. And for the last one hundred years, she completely disappeared.
However, she was still present, roaming around Cepheus.
And even recently, he saw him seal her with his own eyes.
Tanaka's voice grew sharper.
"And now the guy leading Gusteko wants to wipe spirits off the face of the world."
He took a step forward.
"So tell me something. How much of this mess is your fault?"
For the first time, annoyance appeared on Cepheus's face.
A small twitch, it was barely noticeable.
Yet it was there.
"You continue arriving at conclusions before understanding the facts."
Cepheus exhaled slowly.
"The sealing of Odglass had nothing to do with Vague Adgard's escape."
He then looked toward the horizon.
"When Vague Adgard escaped in other timelines, he immediately sought out Odglass."
"And then?"
"He killed her."
"..."
"As long as Odglass remained active and accessible, her death was inevitable. She stands no chance against him." Cepheus continued, "Despite me not anticipating him escaping this early, her withdrawal from public affairs and my eventual sealing of her were the most optimal option."
Tanaka clenched his fists.
"Even if I accept that..."
His voice grew colder.
"What about the succession? At the very least, you could've let her choose another ruler before sealing her, instead of relying on the bloodline."
That way, at the very least he wouldn't rise to the throne and starts threatening crusades on neighboring countries.
Tanaka took another step forward.
"So explain that one."
For the first time in the conversation, Cepheus looked genuinely irritated.
"Will you stop that?"
Tanaka spat back, "Stop what, huh? Tell me exactly what to stop? Enlighten me!"
He had enough with his vague bullshit.
A long sigh escaped the white-haired man.
"The succession process is a sham. The public version is largely fiction."
Now he had Tanaka's full attention.
"A thousand years ago," Cepheus began, "there were two brothers. Caelum Verdandi and Gaddogi Guadozeaddo."
Those were names he has never heard off.
It was no wonder. After all, the history of this world was completely ambiguous until 400 years ago.
"One day, Gaddogi betrayed his brother. and Caelum entrusted Gusteko and Odglass, to his descendants."
Tanaka remained silent.
Listening.
"Those descendants multiplied."
"Generations passed."
"Centuries passed."
"The bloodline spread."
Cepheus raised a hand.
"And eventually, thousands carried fragments of that lineage."
"The so-called selection of the Holy King was never truly about choosing from all citizens."
A pause.
"It was about choosing from the descendants from the royal lineage. The chosen candidate could be a noble, a merchant, a farmer."
"It didn't matter. As long as even a trace of that blood remained."
"That being said, given the rumors circulating Vague Adgard, he might have wiped out anyone who could potentially claim the throne."
"So all this talk about anyone being chosen..." His lips twisted. "...was mostly propaganda."
Cepheus nodded.
For a few moments, neither spoke.
Then Tanaka rubbed his forehead.
"Great."
This was just lovely.
The time he spent here unwillingly, hoping to get some clues or answers, he just ended up with more questions.
"Anyway, this has been completely useless."
Tanaka let out an exhausted sigh and rubbed the bridge of his nose.
"If you're done dumping ancient history on me, send me back already."
The endless grasslands swayed beneath the wind.
For a moment, Cepheus simply stared at him.
"Before that, there are two things you need to know."
Tanaka groaned.
"The first warning concerns Zarestia and that spirit you contracted with." His expression grew noticeably more serious. "If you ever encounter Vague Adgard, hide Zarestia and the boy inside the bracelet immediately."
"There is concealment spell I added to it. It can no longer be distinguished from an ordinary gemstone. Unless someone inspects it directly with extraordinary means, neither spirit can be detected."
A brief silence followed, Tanaka stared at him.
"If Vague Adgard discovers their existence, he will kill them."
The image of Hugo's timid smile and Zarestia's childish pouting flashed through his mind.
His expression hardened.
"Either way, I wasn't planning on getting involved with him."
Cepheus responded immediately.
"Vague Adgard is not the only threat. The Church should concern you as well."
Tanaka raised an eyebrow.
"The Church?"
"They were always fanatics." His voice carried an unusual amount of contempt. "But after Odglass disappeared, they became worse."
"During my reign, I kept them in check. But after my death, they tried to expand their influence like parasites."
Tanaka remained silent.
This warning and the concealment thing certainly benefits him, but still he has no intention of thanking him.
"The second warning concerns return by death."
The atmosphere changed.
All traces of annoyance vanished.
"What about it?"
Cepheus folded his hands together.
"While it is true that I can determine your return point, there is a limit to how far I can rewind time. It depends on the distance from the source, Satella."
Cepheus continued.
"Satella remains sealed in the far east of Lugunica. In the Pleiades Watchtower within the Augria Sand Dunes. However, she continuously observes Natsuki Subaru. Right now, I can sense him in the far south."
Tanaka's expression slowly changed.
"The farther you move away from both locations, the shorter the time for the reset will be. At your current distance, the maximum amount of time I can rewind is approximately a quarter of a day."
Tanaka's eyes widened.
"Six hours..."
Cepheus nodded again.
"And that limit will continue shrinking as you travel farther north."
There was silence, after all he had no idea on how to react upon hearing such a revelation.
"What I'm saying..." Cepheus's voice cut through his thoughts. "...is that you should stop relying on it blindly, it's not omnipotent. That's all I have to say."
"Huh?"
Tanaka stared. His mouth opened slightly, he was searching for the words to say.
Then suddenly, the endless grasslands suddenly flipped upside down.
The sky cracked like glass and everything around him started collapsing inward.
"Hold on!"
Tanaka took a step forward.
"You can't just drop something like that and end the conversation!"
The world shattered.
"Wait a second—!"
"WAIT A SECOND!"
Tanaka shot upright.
The sudden shout echoed through the campsite.
For a brief moment, nobody moved.
The campfire crackled softly.
The forest remained silent.
Then...
Smack!
A small hand struck the side of his head.
Not hard.
Just enough.
Tanaka winced and turned.
Zarestia was half-buried inside her blanket beside him, her eyes barely open.
She looked completely exhausted.
"You are so loud, Jay..."
Her voice came out as little more than a sleepy mumble.
Then she rolled over.
Pulled the blanket over her head.
And immediately went back to sleep.
"..."
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The next morning arrived far sooner than Tanaka would have liked.
They took the road once again and continued their way towards the seventh city.
The dark circles beneath his eyes were impossible to miss.
Nora noticed immediately.
The red-haired girl tilted her head.
"Did something happen?"
Tanaka rubbed his face.
"I just didn't sleep much."
That was technically true.
Though saying I spent the entire night questioning the reliability of my ability to reverse time because an immortal white-haired lunatic decided to traumatize me before bedwouldn't be possible.
As the group continued their journey, Tanaka found himself repeatedly lost in thought.
The warning echoed endlessly inside his head.
Do not rely on Return by Death.
The words refused to leave him alone.
If Cepheus was telling the truth, then things had become significantly worse.
If he was lying...
'I swear if he's making that up just to screw with me again...'
His jaw tightened.
He would never forget those short loops back in Pristella and when he encountered two sin archbishops.
Before he could continue dwelling on it, he noticed someone staring at him again.
Tanaka slowly turned his head.
Tristan immediately looked away.
"..."
"..."
The silence lasted several seconds.
Finally, Tanaka sighed.
"Hey."
The knight didn't answer.
"What's up with you?"
"Nothing."
"Just so you know, I don't swing that way."
Tristan's eye twitched and then looked away.
"Good. Then stop staring."
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Several days later, the group arrived at Tenmitsu.
The seventh and northernmost city of Kararagi.
Their final stop before crossing into Gusteko.
The bustling trade city stood near the borders of multiple nations, making it one of the busiest transportation hubs in the region.
They spent most of the day replenishing supplies.
Everything they needed for a journey into a nation famous for its unforgiving climate.
Unlike the warmer lands of Kararagi, Gusteko was a kingdom buried beneath endless snow and ice.
The transition would not be gentle.
Their earth dragons would not be accompanying them any farther either.
Beyond this point, they would need to cross the Albis River by boat before continuing north.
Which meant tonight would be their final night in Kararagi.
The group gathered around a table inside a roadside inn as evening settled over the city.
The smell of grilled meat and warm soup filled the air.
For several minutes, Tanaka endured it.
The staring, again and again.
Finally, he slammed his spoon onto the table.
"Hey, you. If you have something to say, then say it."
The knight remained silent for a couple of seconds.
He then sighed and finally spoke.
"What do you plan to do afterward?"
Tanaka frowned.
"After what?"
"After removing your supposed curse."
"Huh?"
Tanaka leaned back.
'Is that what this is about?'
"As I already told you, I'm going to tell you where Kazuki Tanaka is."
"That's not what I'm asking." For once, Tristan's expression was completely serious. "That's a given, if you don't do that, your soul will perish."
"What I'm asking is what comes after that."
Tanaka froze.
The question caught him completely off guard.
Because the truth was, he had never thought that far.
Two months had passed since he fled Pristella.
More than a year had passed since he first arrived in this world.
A year since waking up in Roswaal's mansion.
A year since meeting Emilia.
Beatrice.
Ram.
Rem.
Subaru.
The people who had befriended him.
The people he desperately wanted to see again.
His original goal had never changed.
There were times when despair whispered otherwise. Times when he wondered if they had forgotten him.
But those thoughts always came from the worst parts of himself, those pessimistic thoughts.
Because reality told a different story. The alliance between the Emilia Camp and the Karsten Camp still existed and people were still searching.
Against all odds...
He had escaped the Witch Cult.
Yet there was one problem, one obstacle that still remained.
Before he could return, he needed to reclaim what had been stolen from him.
He must get back his name and face.
For several moments, he simply stared into the steaming bowl in front of him.
Eventually, he answered.
"...I haven't thought that far ahead."
For a few moments, only the crackling of the lantern in the inn filled the silence.
Then Tristan spoke.
"Regardless, when this is over, I need you to return to the Royal Capital with me."
Tanaka blinked.
"Huh?"
The knight held his gaze.
"You will be detained. But if you cooperate, I will make sure you are treated fairly. I intend to personally report everything you have done in Kararagi."
"...Ah."
Understanding finally dawned on him.
So that was it.
Probably what he was pondering about the entire week.
About what should happen to the Sin Archbishop who terrorized Lugunica decades ago.
Frankly, Tanaka wasn't particularly bothered.
At least not by the imprisonment part.
Once the cursed blood was removed, he intended to reveal the truth anyway.
However, when his eyes drifted toward Zarestia, the spirit was already glaring at Tristan.
A very bad sign.
Tristan continued regardless. "I will admit something. You may be the only Sin Archbishop capable of reason and perhaps the only redeemable one. We will take from you all the information that you possess regarding the witch cult."
The capture of Sirius had briefly offered hope.
For the first time, the Kingdom had managed to seize a Sin Archbishop alive.
Yet that hope had quickly collapsed as communication proved impossible.
And regardless of his rationality. To Tristan, allowing such a Sin Archbishop to simply walk free was unthinkable.
Tanaka understood that. Yet hearing those words still left a bitter taste in his mouth.
Not because Tristan was wrong.
But because he wasn't talking about Kazuki Tanaka, his opinion towards Stride Vollachia was shifting positively because of him.
But he didn't want to argue any further.
"Fine."
The answer came far quicker than anyone expected.
Even Tristan looked surprised.
Then...
Bang!
The table shook violently.
Everyone turned.
Zarestia was standing.
Her palms pressed against the wooden surface.
Her eyes blazed with fury.
"Stop messing around!"
The sudden outburst stunned the entire table.
Tristan frowned.
"What exactly is your..."
"He saved your life, and the lives of everyone in the city, yet you are still talking about him like this."
Zarestia's shoulders trembled.
"And after all that, you're still talking about locking him up?"
"Zarestia, calm..."
"No!" She spun toward Tanaka before he could finish. "I'm not calming down!"
For the first time since they had met, genuine anger flashed across her face.
"You keep helping people." Her voice cracked. "You nearly died saving everyone."
Tristan remained seated.
His expression softened slightly.
But he didn't look away.
"Despite everything," he said quietly, "I cannot allow a Sin Archbishop to roam freely."
The statement was neither cruel nor malicious.
It was the responsibility he carried as a knight.
Unfortunately, that only made Zarestia even angrier.
Before she could explode again...
"Enough."
The word left Tanaka's mouth more sharply than intended.
Everyone looked toward him.
Including Zarestia.
Confusion filled her eyes.
Then disappointment.
Tanaka lowered his gaze.
"I'm..."
Kazuki Tanaka.
That was what he wanted to say.
What he tried to say.
The name rose to his throat.
And immediately...
Pain.
A cold invisible chain wrapped around his heart.
His lungs seized and his muscles locked.
The words died before they could leave his mouth.
Silence stretched.
Several painful seconds passed before the pressure finally loosened.
Tanaka released a slow breath.
Then forced himself to speak.
"Sin Archbishops should answer for their crimes."
The words felt like poison.
Zarestia stared at him, the hurt on her face struck hard. For a moment, she looked genuinely betrayed.
Without another word, she turned around.
Then stormed out of the inn.
The door slammed behind her.
Nora seeing that spoke up, "I will go after her."
The red haired girl then followed her trail.
Tanaka remained seated and motionless.
His gaze fixed on the untouched food in front of him.
It hurt.
But that's what it's supposed to be like.
He refused to let his actions cleanse the image of Pride.
He refused to allow the good he had done to become redemption for monsters like Sin Archbishops.
Even if it meant letting people hate him.
Even if it meant making Zarestia think he was a scumbag.
He could endure it because once the curse was gone...
Everything would finally make sense.