The Tale of the Redeeming Villain

For a few minutes, Catherine asked some questions so they could verify that the person in front was Carlson. If not, she would definitely take some steps to escape this place with Blake. After all, they can't have some random person know about this location.

...in that way, Blake would run away with Catherine and they might have to start their life in some small town. Ehe~

However, all those questions were answered to the point. Those incidents about which only Catherine and Carlson knew were in the knowledge of this young man as well—proving his identity as a chrononaut.

"I can't believe you still remember such fine details even though it has been a year since that happened," Blake exclaimed, clearly surprised to hear that Carlson—who is twenty-eight years old now—still remembers the incident that happened in the first year of the Academy.

Carlson looked at Blake with a strange smile which narrated a very complicated tale. However, neither Blake nor Catherine understood the meaning behind that smile.

The truth is, Carlson was barely holding himself from bawling his eyes out after seeing his first love and best friend alive in front of him once again. However, crying while being an old man(Carlson thinks of himself as like that) didn't feel cool.

"Anyway, now that we have the confirmation, can we know how and why did you return to the past?"

Blake himself was a transmigrator, so the theory of time-travelling didn't seem much of an unbelievable feat. He was much more interested in Carlson's intention to travel back to the past.

Carlson's expression sobered up, but he didn't show concern but rather sorrow.

With his gaze falling to the ground, he began, "Next year...the great battle of the heavens and underworld would begin."

Catherine's eyes widened in utter shock and horror while Blake didn't show much of a reaction other than a frown. He was already aware of it.

Blake held Catherine's hand fondly to comfort her and asked Carlson to continue.

The red-haired man scratched his thumb on his palm mindless as his mouth voiced what would possibly happen in the future, "Everyone died...the deities...the devils...everyone. Those who survived were mostly magicians from Nebula(the planet they live on) and some other realms. The Supreme Goddess was gravely injured and the whole Infinity was out of balance."

Infinity was the loop of realms in which all the worlds co-exist. They aren't neighbours but belong to different dimensions. And have separate deities looking after each realm. The Supreme Goddess is the mother of all the realms and the one who looks after the Infinity.

And...to think the Mother Goddess was injured?

Tears welled up in Catherine's eyes and despite having numerous questions at the tip of her tongue, she wasn't able to utter anything.

Blake took the role to clear some doubts, "Who...in the world could even harm the Supreme Mother?"

A look of embarrassment appeared on his face as Carlson rubbed the back of his head.

"Wait! You hurt the Supreme Mother?!" More than anger, it was a shock that was laced in her tone when Catherine asked him.

Carlson didn't show much of a reaction since he was already prepared for this question from the Saintess. Heaving a heavy sigh, he asked, "Did you forget? What kind of Dragon am I?"

Catherine's pointed finger lost its strength as while backing down, she slowly muttered, "Ragnarok..."

"I was born for this. I was created to end the ultimate battle between the two worlds...but nearing the end, I lost control over my hunger. And in the end, the Supreme One had to interfere before I could have engulfed the Infinity."

With a clear sense of regret and deep sorrow in his voice, Carlson confessed what could possibly happen.

Blake frowned. This...was definitely not what was supposed to happen.

In the final battle, indeed Carlson goes berserk since the beings he would be battling against were all deity class. However, when everything settles down, Carlson has a reason not to go on a further rampage. And that reason was...

"Wait! In the future...does something happen to Catherine?" In an urgent voice which surprised Catherine, Blake asked.

The sole purpose of the Saintess was to comfort the Dragon of Ragnarok once he achieved what he was made for. And if Carlson failed to bring himself back in control, then it means...

"Catherine....died during the final battle."

Utter silence befell after Carlson uttered those words.

Blake's hold on Catherine's hand became stiff to the point it was hurting her a little. His demeanor shifted and the current Blake even made Carlson shocked a little.

'He really is mad for Cathy huh...' Carlson felt slightly relieved to see that reaction.

"Blake, there is something I want to ask," Carlson suddenly changed the tone of his voice and asked Blake seriously, "Why in the world would you get involved with some mercenary to kill the Emperor?"

"Hmm?" The previous vigour converted into plain astonishment as Blake asked, "Why do you ask that?"

Blake did not refuse by saying, 'Why would I do that?' rather, he asked why Carlson was interested in knowing his intention.

Carlson glanced at Catherine and didn't find her reacting...which meant she knew about it.

"Because when you try to do that, you will be captured and sent to Hell's Gate."

"---!!" Blake's eyes stretched a little. Did he get caught? But how?

"Hell's g-gate?" Her eyes trembled when she heard that. She had heard about that place which was between Nebula and Underworld.

Why would Blake be sent to such a place?! The literal abyss of prisoners where they could only beg for death rather than getting tortured every single day.

Carlson asked for some water which Blake passed to him.

Carlson took several big gulps, not only because he was thirsty but also because he wanted the other two to settle down a little.

A few minutes later, and once he assessed that they had regained their composure, Carlson revealed,

"There is a reason why the Emperor is so madly obsessed with Blake all of a sudden. And because of that obsession, Catherine loses her life and I end up nearly consuming th

is whole world."

—TBC.

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A/N:- Bro is a living spoiler cart. Stop him!