Broken Possessors of Infinite Regression Academy

When I returned to the Imperial Palace, the Royal Guard was waiting for me, as the Sword Saint had apparently informed them of my arrival.

“The Sword Saint instructed me to escort you to the basement as soon as you arrived.”

The Royal Guard showed me the way, maintaining a respectful attitude despite the fact that their status was much higher than mine, which could be attributed to the spread of rumors about the healing magic.

The source of the rumors was probably one of the three Grand Magicians who had participated in the Magician’s Association. After all, they were the only humans who knew how to use healing magic, so they would have done whatever it took to protect it.

“This is the innermost prison in the basement.”

The Royal Guard continued deep into the basement, even after arriving at the underground prison.

It was the same cell where the serial killer, Karna, had once been imprisoned.

“We’re here. Sword Saint Huff.”

As soon as the double doors of the prison opened, a murderous aura assaulted my skin. It was so intense that even the Royal Guard, who was standing next to me, flinched.

It was different from the aura I felt when I first met the Sword Saint, which felt like a choice between immediate counterattack or death. This aura felt purely oppressive, pressing down on my body and mind.

Of course, it was much more bearable for me now. I only felt the sensation of the aura, whereas before, I had to suppress the urge to draw Eternity and counterattack.

“You’re here?”

Karna approached with a smile, and the Royal Guard next to her stiffly saluted. Karna had told him that she was no longer the captain, so he didn’t need to do that, but the guard remained unwavering.

The Sword Saint, her eyes still cold, glared at the people locked in the innermost part of the basement. She only relaxed when he turned to face me.

“Thank you for your hard work. You may leave.”

“Yes!”

The Royal Guard, who had been struggling to maintain his composure, saluted and left the basement. The clanking of their footsteps faded into the distance, and the Sword Saint sighed deeply.

“I apologize for my behavior.”

“It’s fine. But what is this…?”

This was the first time the Sword Saint had shown such intense emotions since Karna returned to being human. Even when she came to see me after Brynhild and I almost died, she hadn’t been this intense.

“That day, when I was a serial killer, that person said something terrible to me…”

“Stop, Karna. Don’t put that filthy memory in your mouth. I’ll say it instead.”

The Sword Saint shut Karna’s mouth like a knife.

“Do you remember that I kept this child locked up for a long time?”

“Yes.”

“That day, I was repeatedly failing, and somehow, this child found me here.”

Her gaze towards the Crown Prince softened.

“When I asked why he had come, he said he hadn’t tried being with a serial killer yet and asked me to have sex with her just once.”

“Huh…”

“He also said something ridiculous, like if she was in a good mood, she might return to her senses.”

“Why didn’t you kill him then and there? Why have you kept him alive until now?”

I looked at Igor, cowering in the prison, with the same gaze as the Sword Saint.

He seemed crazy about women from the moment I first saw him, but he was even crazier than I thought. I wondered what gave him the confidence to say such things to the Sword Saint, whom the Emperor cherished so much.

“…… I once made a promise to the Emperor. As long as I live, I will grant one wish to a direct descendant of the Imperial family, once in their lifetime. It was the price for saving my life a long time ago.”

The Sword Saint frowned, apparently experiencing phantom pain, and rubbed her right arm under her clothes. The promise seemed to be related to the incident where she had challenged the Demon King and been defeated long ago.

“Why didn’t you just ignore it and kill him? If you had killed everyone who came with him, no one would have known.”

“I know myself.”

His eyes clouded with sadness. The phantom pain seemed to worsen, causing her eyelids to twitch. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead and cheeks.

“Even though I haven’t held a sword in a long time, my essence as a warrior remains. Denying a promise made to my sword is the same as denying the life I’ve lived. Surely, the child must also have a line he should never cross? I think my oath to my sword is the same as the child’s line to me.”

Priscilla had told me about this. After the Sword Saint developed PTSD from facing the Demon King and couldn’t hold a sword anymore, she started to obsess over the concept of a warrior.

It was probably a form of self-defense. If the Sword Saint, unable to hold a sword, denied her own essence, there would be nothing left of him.

“Comically, when I got angry, he seemed genuinely surprised. He didn’t even understand why I hadn’t killed him.”

“…… I think you could have just left me out of it. You could have just killed him and explained that such a thing had happened, and I would have understood. Anyway, I didn’t plan to spare him.”

He was a maniac who was possessed by Succubi, and there was no excuse for his actions.

“You two suffered the most damage. So, I was waiting to see if you had any preferred methods of execution or if you wanted to kill him yourself. I was supposed to ask Laura about this, but…”

“She’s locked herself in her room and won’t come out.”

“I don’t have any particular ideas, so do as you please. However, I recommend postponing the disposal of Igor for a few days.”

“Why?”

“By then, the tower masters should have learned the healing magic. They’ll have learned a new magic, so they’ll need a subject to test it on, won’t they?”

They understood the hidden meaning in my words. The Sword Saint nodded with a brighter face. Karna, standing next to her, looked a little tense.

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.

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“Your Highness, I am deeply concerned that your health may deteriorate. Please open the door.”

The servants crowded in the hallway were stuck in front of Laura’s room, unable to do anything. I observed them from a distance.

“I implore you, Your Highness. Is there anything wrong? Please share your troubles with us.”

Despite the desperate pleas of the maid at the forefront, the tightly closed door refused to open. I approached the crowd, and a few of them turned at the sound of my footsteps, only to flinch when they saw me.

Perhaps the news about me had spread, or someone had given them a heads-up. No one stopped me. The maid, who had been desperately knocking on the door, took a few steps back.

“I came because I heard that Your Highness has woken up.”

“Yes. You certainly did. But as soon as she opened her eyes, she screamed at the sight of us and kicked everyone out. She has been holed up ever since.”

I was a little worried that they were making a fuss over just a few hours of seclusion, but if something like this had happened before she locked herself in, it was understandable. After all, we didn’t know what had happened inside.

“Your Highness. It’s me. Please open the door.”

I knocked on the door instead. After a short silence, we finally got a proper response.

“…… Come in alone. I won’t open the door for anyone else, even if they die.”

Hmm, the servants and I looked at each other. The voice was hoarse and cracked, but more than that, the way of speaking was completely unlike the usual Crown Prince.

“I’ll leave this to you. Since you have vowed not to open the door to us, there’s no point in us staying any longer. Please take good care of His Highness.”

They made a quick decision. The servants gave me a tray laden with zeal and hurriedly left. I knocked on the door again, now alone.

“Everyone’s gone. It’s just me, so you can open the door.”

“…… Alright. Come in.”

The door creaked open halfway. Laura poked her head out, glanced outside to make sure no one was there, and then gestured for me to come in.

“……”

As soon as I stepped inside, I was startled. The entire room looked like it had been hit by a bomb.

The furniture was smashed to pieces, the carpet was torn to shreds and lay limp on the floor, and the walls and floor were completely burned. Not a single spot was left intact.

Laura, who had come to open the door, was in the same state. Her clothes were in tatters, and her hair was a mess. In just a short time, she had dark circles under her eyes.

“Your Highness. What happened while I was gone? ”

“Don’t say that! It’s disgusting just to hear it.”

Laura reflexively snapped at me, then looked up at me and trembled, using awkward honorifics. Something was definitely wrong. She didn’t seem like the usual Laura.

Her trembling fingers took my wrist and pulled me along. There was no strength in her grip, but I followed her lead. As I stepped inside, the smell of smoke assaulted my nostrils.

Laura still held the notebook in her right hand.

“What happened while I was gone? And why are you speaking so strangely?”

Laura, who had been chuckling at my question, looked down at the notebook. The crimson eyes, usually full of confidence, were half-dead.

“Something you can’t even imagine.”

“It’s my judgment whether I can imagine it or not. Tell me.”

A faint smirk appeared on the corners of her lips. It was a challenge.

“Can you believe that this world was created by someone?”

“Of course.”

There were four of us who had been dragged into this ‘created’ world, so there was no reason not to believe it.

But Laura still didn’t let go of her faint smirk, even though I had so easily agreed.

“Then, what if I told you that I created this world?”