Treatise Of A Failed Knight

"...."

My question hangs in the air for a moment.

Everyone stares at me, evidently dumbfounded by the barrage of questions.

It is almost embarrassing—how their stares seem to burrow into my very soul and peer into my existence. These people are all my seniors in the Leviathan world, so they ought to know more than I do.

That is why I asked the question.

’The Paradox accounts for the lives of the Leviathans, but it remains unclear about the mortals and which effects will be had on them...’ My thoughts flow as my brows knot in confusion.

’If I can get the answer, then maybe...’

But what is with these complicated expressions on their faces? It’s... almost like they themselves do not know the answer to my query!

"It is as you can imagine..." Alistair smiles and shakes his head. "It belongs in the 6th Leviathan Paradox."

"What does it say?"

"The inconsistencies which we cannot understand, and those which the other five Paradoxes do not account for, are placed in the 6th Leviathan Paradox. Apparently, only those who have crossed the threshold and dwell in the Forbidden Territory know the answers."

"Forbidden... Territory...?"

"Although we are Leviathans of the Ouroboros Sect, we do not know everything. There are mysteries of the world that only the superiors have access to, as they should. In fact, there exists certain knowledge we are barred from ever seeking out. Lucien is aware of one of such secrets, hence why he poses a great danger to your Kingdom." Alistair’s tone is rather grim, almost as though he is offering me a stern warning.

His grave expression and the manner in which he speaks discourage me from seeking out any further clarification or answers to my other concerns.

I simply nod in response.

"The good news is that we have many resources, as well as methods, which we use to keep a close look at the Temporal Activities within the Randalorion Kingdom. As such, Lucien cannot move very carelessly in the present. We have also been keeping a close eye on the immediate past and future of key members of this Kingdom, including yours, to see if Lucien has tampered with or will tamper with anything. Any inconsistencies we perceive can be drawn to him, which will help us narrow our search and close in on our target."

"I understand..."

So many things have been explained to me, which I can say I clearly comprehend.

However, one thing remains a terrifying mystery.

—Regression!

For one, it completely breaks the law of Jumping, which essentially replaces a past frame with the current frame of the one who travels to that point in time.

I returned fifty years into the past, yet I was not a sixty-five-year-old man.

I had my past age, but my future memories and personality.

Why is that the case?

Also, since we currently operate in the fixed present, that means I didn’t travel to the ’past,’ but rather, I came from the future to the ’present.’

This can explain why these Leviathans do not view my existence as an anomaly.

I have been organically integrated into this world’s history.

This is so strange...

Even as a Leviathan, I find my current situation absurd and rather unique.

Is this actually the effect of a Leaper’s Conception?

Could it be something else?

All I know is that my regression appears to be an exception to the phenomenon that Leapers cause.

But why?

I wish to ask Alistair this question, but that would mean exposing my Regressor identity to them.

In the right circumstance, I wouldn’t mind doing this.

However, this strikes me as a wrong and frankly disadvantageous period to seek answers to my personal circumstances. I simply do not know these people enough, and trust is very limited between us.

Perhaps I could ask it as a hypothetical... but this might draw some suspicion to me.

Thankfully, my regression happened a long time ago.

I am currently 26 years old, and it has been over 10 years since I found myself in the present, which I can now consider the past.

Even if a Leviathan wishes to investigate this matter, they would need to at least have access to the Decade Layer. By my calculations, said Leviathan would need to be in Rank 5.

In essence... a Master!

None of these Leviathans possesses that Rank.

’They can’t use Vision to look too far into my past and observe my previous actions... so I guess my secret is somewhat safe.’

Of course, this isn’t a perfect assessment of my circumstance.

If the Seeker or Leaper were to observe moments when I let my regression secret slip, I could be in big trouble. For example, when I told Zarius about my return to the past, as well as the time I told Uncle Damon and Leon.

There were also many times I talked to myself in my dorm room as a student, or during my lone adventures as a Traveling Mercenary.

If these periods are investigated, I could be screwed.

But, even then, they all occurred years ago.

None of these Leviathans has access to the Year Layer, so my safety can still be preserved.

For now...

’If I get further involved with these guys, there’s a chance I will run into even stronger Leviathans... for example, their superiors. These higher-ups could be Rank 4 or even Rank 5 Leviathans. If they were to take a special interest in me, my secret could be exposed.’ I swallow softly, trying my hardest to hide my nervousness.

Even with such a frightening prospect, I am still drawn to the possibility.

Why?

’My family... my friends... I want to save them.’

I still have not forgotten this goal of mine, even now that life has gotten terribly complicated.

My most sacred desire is still to stop Zarius and protect those dearest to me.

It was my fault that they met their end.

I must fix it!

But with all of these revelations greeting me, I have found the situation to be much more difficult than I initially predicted.

For one, I am not a Leaper, so I cannot freely travel to the past to prevent that tragedy.

Even if I were a Leaper, to comfortably achieve the results which I desire, I would need access to the Year... no, the Decade Layer.

That is at least Rank 5—Master Leviathan!

’I am still Rank 1, with only my Tracing Fragmented Conception being at Rank 2. The journey seems too far, it’s almost discouraging.’ I sigh deeply. ’Just how many Apotheoses will I have to experience to reach Rank 5? Each Apotheosis is a life and death trial, so what is the probability I will make it to Rank 5 without failing even once?’

Such a scary thing...

Yet I do not wish to give up on it.

’Unfortunately, even if I reach Rank 5, I cannot travel to the past due to my Fragmented Conceptions being unrelated to Jumping. All I can do is Tracing, Frontflow, and Clairvoyance.’

This means I will likely require the aid of a Leviathan.

A Rank 5 Leaper!

This Leaper will help me change the past.

But—

’If they change the past, it won’t change for me... due to the 3rd Paradox.’

No.

Maybe that’s a good thing.

If I won’t be affected by this change, I will remain a Leviathan. However, my friends and family will still be alive, albeit with different memories of what happened. They would exist in the present due to being saved in the past.

That works... right?

As long as they are saved—as long as they are alive.

That is alright.

’However, there is a concern. It’s why I asked the mountain question. Saving my friends and family from Zarius would mean they never met him. But only the Leaper who saved them would know this new change. Zarius would still have ’met’ them due to his Aego Mark. Thus, he would have killed them. The question is... whose interference would be imparted upon my family?’

Would they fall in line with Zarius’ actions... or the Leaper’s actions?

I don’t know.

It appears even Alistair does not know the answer.

’It’s a part of the 6th Leviathan Paradox, huh? Only those in the Forbidden Territory know the truth, huh? Then I have to inquire from them. But they sound rather scary, so doing so will be very dangerous.’ I sigh deeply.

All of these considerations can only be taken seriously if I have the strength to at least set some of them into motion.

To even seriously consider saving my family, I have to be a Rank 5 Leviathan.

The reason is clear.

Only when I have attained comparable status can I solicit the aid of another Leviathan—a Master Leaper—as an equal.

But another problem arises with this plan.

’Time... I’m running out of time.’

The moment I need to change is only about three years in the past.

They died in the Year 2027.

This is 2030.

Three years apart.

However, I don’t know how much time it will take me to become a Rank 5 Leviathan.

’No matter what, it can’t exceed seven years. I need to become a Rank 5 Leviathan before a decade passes since the incident.’ With resolute focus within my chest, I clench my teeth and strengthen this determination in my heart.

Seven years... no six.

I must become a Rank 5—a Master Harbinger—within that time.

Until then, I can only make connections with people like these and learn as much as I can about the world of Leviathans. If there are other Paradoxes and Laws that I need to be aware of, I need to learn about them within this period as well.

’If learning what I know requires that I divulge my regression secrets, then I will. But now is not the time...’ I sigh, staring keenly at the six before me.

I must wait.

At least, until I trust them enough.

Look at me making plans regarding these Senior Leviathans.

How laughable!

I am well aware that I am way out of my depths here.

These people know all kinds of mysteries, many of which I am still in the dark about. It is also very possible—no, this should be the case—that they are using me.

Yet I have no choice but to cooperate with them.

For my own ambitions, and also for the mere fact that it would be too dangerous to resist them.

"Lucien Zevalis... the Shadowstalker...." I mutter quietly. "Since the Dark Guild knows of his existence, they must also be aware of the current developments."

Alistair affirms with a nod.

"They were aware of the situation since he defected. After all, he acted as a part of the Ouroboros Sect for so long, so we had to correct this misconception. However, we told the Dark Guild to be quiet about our business the moment we stepped into the Randalorion Kingdom. That could explain why they didn’t offer their full cooperation and only provided you with vague information regarding the kidnappings."

"I see..." Muttering aloud, I piece all the events together and rapidly understand the situation.

It all makes sense now.

The Dark Guild only helped me with limited information, information that did not expose the Ouroboros Sect or their prey. This meant they were indeed ’assisting’ me, but they also did not break their agreement with these six.

Since Lucien Zevalis was originally from the Ouroboros Sect before defecting, I suppose it makes sense why they are trying to keep the matter lowkey.

Especially from other Leviathans.

"We planned to keep you out of the loop for as long as possible, but it turns out he was married to your Aunt. To think you had such a close connection to him. Because of that development, it was only necessary that we involve you more deeply in this."

I smile in agreement.

"Actually, that’s likely not the only connection I have with this person."

Alistair raises a brow the moment I say this, and looking around, I can see curiosity flashing in the eyes of the rest of the audience.

Of course, Elma hides her interest the most—a prideful look still etched on her teenage features.

Not that I care.

"A Leviathan by the name of Zarius graced this Kingdom some decades ago, and I defeated this person about three years ago. He was actually the one who turned me into a Leviathan, and I have strong reason to believe that he is connected to the man you are after."

"Oh?" Alistair’s eyes brighten up the moment I say this. "Do tell us more, Javier Aditi."

How strange.

It appears I now possess valuable information that these people want.

The feeling is oddly pleasant.

"Well..."

I go ahead and tell them all about Zarius’s notes involving the Rank 2 Leaper who turned him into a Leviathan. I also added the mysterious disappearance of the Special Resources within the vault I investigated.

Since the vault was beneath the burned building that Zarius appeared in, it only makes sense that he was connected to it somehow.

And since Lucien Zevalis had the ability to travel to the past to obtain those Special Resources, it only makes sense that he traveled to the past to steal all the Special Resources, which is why—at some point—I was no longer able to detect any of them.

When I opened the vault, they were no longer there.

Back then, I wondered how even a Leaper would be able to clear out the vault so quickly.

But if Lucien traveled to the past to take the Special Resources, and it affected the present, then although the Special Resources once seemed like they existed, once I left the location and returned, it was as though they were never there.

’That means if I were in that room, or if I was interacting with the Special Resources... even if Lucien changed the past, the Special Resources I was directly interacting with would not have vanished.’ I sigh deeply. ’But because they were behind the vault, and I had to retrieve Golden Dawn, when I returned, they no longer ’existed’ within the vault.’

The 3rd Leviathan Paradox is rather troublesome.

Regardless, after explaining the vault incident, as well as my theories regarding how it happened, the picture has become rather clear—especially when I consider how Lucien bears a stark resemblance to what Zarius described in his journal.

It all adds up!

The only difference is that the Leaper back then was a Disciple, while Lucien is an Adept.

However, so much time has passed since Zarius met Lucien Zevalis.

This promotion makes sense, does it not?

Oh my...

It appears the Zarius affair has come full circle at this point.

Naturally, this gives me yet another reason to be invested in the case.

Lucien Zevalis is the Leaper who turned Zarius, whose mission ended up being compromised by me since I had future knowledge, and as such, he killed my friends and family.

There remains only one last piece in this puzzle.

—Where does Lucien fit into all this?

He had Zarius run errands for him, one of which was surely tied to the vault filled with Special Resources. This raises a lot of questions, the most relevant being...

"... What exactly is Lucien planning?"

[A/N: And so the plot thickens. I hope you all understood everything that was explored in the past few Chapters. If you do not, leave a comment below.]