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chapter 8
“Ryan’s revenge didn’t come immediately after his release.”
I ran my fingers through Ryan’s messy hair and lost myself in thought.
“The reason he didn’t come right away is probably…”
Ryan possesses a terrifying ability, but like all ability users, his power is likely still incomplete.
Abilities are not perfect from the start; even after awakening, they require repeated use to grow stronger.
“He couldn’t have trained his ability in the detention center.”
So from the moment he was released, Ryan’s plan would have been to train his ability until he could take life without even lifting a finger.
His revenge was carried out when I was twenty.
“It means it took him eight years to perfect his ability enough to annihilate a family.”
Eight years left until Ryan would become a massacre machine that no one could stop.
Eight years is more than enough time to stop him.
Unlike Ryan, who knew nothing, I retained my memories from my previous life.
Yes.
If I stop Ryan here and return to my family, I can live a luxurious, stable life just like before, with no threats at all.
Because I knew this, my lover in my previous life had warned me: stop the revenge.
“When you return, stop him from taking revenge, Vania.”
My lover had one wish.
Ironically, it was the same goal Ryan himself had:
To destroy the corrupt Basenberg family that was eating away at the country.
But even though Ryan fulfilled that wish for him, my lover turned back time and erased everything…
Just to save me.
“Let’s never meet again.”
Why?
We had a love we were not supposed to have.
My lover… was royalty, with a duty to protect the empire from corruption.
And I was a member of a corrupt family destroying that empire.
“Don’t look for me. If you do… I’ll ruin you again.”
Yet that act of turning back time was essentially abandoning his country to save me.
If I stop Ryan after returning,
He must have known the filthy Basenbergs would once again thrive and rot this empire…
But he hoped I would forget him, close my eyes, block my ears,
And live happily, enjoying life freely within the fence of a corrupt family.
“Fool.”
All for love.
“What a waste.”
“Idiot.”
To betray his lifelong beliefs and betray his country…
“Never fall in love again.”
I lifted my head and spoke to Ryan.
“I’ll help you.”
- Discovering Ryan’s true intentions → Success!
- After understanding Ryan’s intentions:
If he has a cause: form an alliance.
I felt sorry for my lover who could never have imagined I’d make this choice.
From the moment I returned, living peacefully as a member of a corrupt family was never an option.
“What?”
Ryan asked, disbelief in his eyes.
“I’ll help you.”
This man—Ryan—would have me assist with his revenge.
“Let’s take revenge together.”
His revenge serves a greater good for many and fulfills my lover’s wish as well.
“Are you an idiot? Don’t you know who my father is?”
“I know.”
“If you fail, you’ll die.”
But unlike before, there can be no mindless massacres.
If the tragedy of that day repeats,
The true meaning of revenge will fade, and history will only remember Ryan as a “mass murderer.”
“If we fail, so be it.”
I held Ryan’s hand and stepped closer.
“Then we die together.”
Ryan’s eyes widened in shock.
“You….”
His lips trembled, unable to speak.
“You… you….”
“Yes.”
I kept eye contact so he could feel my sincerity.
Finally, Ryan said:
“Scarily brave.”
“….”
Phew.
As expected, serious moments with this man never last ten minutes.
“You’re so tiny, yet you talk about dying so casually! Are you twelve? Or is this your second life?”
Guilted.
“You’re suspicious. Are you one of your father’s lackeys? Did he send you to spy on me?”
“What? Isn’t your self-consciousness a bit too strong?”
I made sure Ryan faced reality.
“Your father’s powerless and has only muscles. Why would he send a lackey?”
“This?!”
If in my first life, Ryan had someone watch over him, that chaos wouldn’t have happened…
“…sad but true.”
He fumed for a moment, then admitted it.
“Even if you go and openly announce you’ll take revenge, the duke wouldn’t bat an eye….”
“….”
“Even if an ant comes back stronger, people don’t fear it, right…?”
“Ugh, fine! Stop hitting me!”
“Speaking of which… with no power, no money, no status—nothing—how will you take revenge?”
“….”
My blunt truth fell like silence.
“Shush, shush, shush.”
Ryan clenched his fists and punched the air, making small noises.
“See my muscles? See these punches? Men fight with their fists. Revenge is taken by hitting directly.”
I felt relieved.
‘As expected. He’s not going to reveal what ability he even has.’
A wise decision.
The first rule to succeed in revenge: keep the family thinking Ryan is powerless until the very end.
“Also… it’s a bit lame, but I have land too.”
Ryan pulled something from his bag: the deed to a fief he received from his aide after release.
“I’m the lord! Don’t mess with me.”
“Wow, cool!”
I clapped my hands, thinking:
‘How hard I worked to get even that tiny piece of land…’
Ryan will never know.
Thanks to me returning at age ten and preparing for two years, I could start this second life comfortably.
“Hey, but you… literally have nothing. How can you help me? You’ll just tag along and eat, what else can you do?”
“…I won’t eat your share. I’ll handle my own portion properly.”
“Huh.”
“Can you at least have someone stronger than me as a guardian?”
“You’re shameless.”
“I’m pretty capable! Better than nothing!”
“Fine? Then convert this into cash.”
Ryan suddenly handed me three gold bars, my previous allowance, bundled separately.
“You said exchanging them here would give an advantage, right?”
“Yes, but… alone?”
“Then come with me? I still feel seasick. Let’s go quickly.”
“This is a busy transit hub with lots of foreigners. Too many people and pickpockets. It’s dangerous for a child to carry gold alone.”
“It’s fine. You won’t die. There are military police, peacekeepers… all around.”
“You’re planning to send me off alone and escape yourself? I know everything.”
“….”
Ryan blinked several times, rubbed his forehead, and chuckled.
“Ah~ sharp, you are.”
After laughing, he got serious.
“Kid. You don’t trust me, do you? I really mean it when I say I’ll take revenge.”
“I do trust you.”
“Sorry if I seem cold. But I want to separate us before we grow attached. If you come along and get attached… then, really, you’ll just be a burden.”
“….”
“You won’t help with revenge, and even if you do, I won’t use you. Being with me is more dangerous than living alone. So we have to split now.”
“…Yes. I understand.”
“Good.”
Ryan turned his back and began packing.
“If you understand, go.”
“I have a confession.”
“I won’t listen.”
“I’m not powerless, actually.”
Ryan, busy with his hands, froze mid-motion.
