The Regressed Blood Knight’s Strategy

Chapter 177

After the SG Games Data Center explosion, they saw the Stairway of the Gods when they opened their eyes.

Seeing the altered surroundings, Ray asked, blinking in confusion

"Is it over?"

Lami clapped her hands and said,

"If it weren’t for Kane, you’d still be wandering forever in the Future Room. Lucky for you."

Kane, now accustomed to this space, asked Lami,

"Are there only two trials left now?"

"For you, Kane, yes—just two trials. But for Ray, there are three. Do you want to proceed right away?"

"There’s no point in delaying," Kane replied without hesitation.

Ray, however, barely had time to process the upcoming challenge.

"Wait, I haven’t even grasped the situation properly yet!"

Lami added with a playful tone,

"Well, now that you can use mana, I hope you’ll clear the trials quickly."

Kane made his decision without a moment’s hesitation. Between death and the Past, he chose the latter, stepping confidently into the Room of the Past.

Lami watched Kane with unhidden curiosity, then turned to Ray.

"What about you? Which of the three will you choose?"

"Can’t I just take a break?" Ray asked hopefully.

"The longer the time gap between those undergoing the trials, the harder it becomes for the one who starts later. Are you okay with that?" Lami replied.

Ray jumped up, alarmed.

"Why didn’t you tell me that earlier?"

"You didn’t ask," Lami shrugged.

"No wonder my trial was harder than Kane’s! Damn it, I’d better clear mine quickly too."

Ray chose the Room of Present. Leaving Past and death for later seemed like the wiser choice, he thought. Opting for the easiest path first felt strategic.

After all, Kane had also cleared the Rooms of Present and Future, so Ray judged this sequence to be the most practical.

As the two disappeared into their respective trials, a mirror appeared in the space where Lami stood.

The trials of Past and Present unfolded in real-time within the mirror.

Munching on a snack, Lami muttered to herself,

"Such interesting humans, those two."

* * *

When Kane opened his eyes, he was utterly dumbfounded.

The space before him was strangely familiar.

“This is the Teverland Continent. Why am I here?”

He was inside War of the Gods: Infinite Defense.

Then it happened.

Knock, knock, knock.

There was a knock on the door.

“My Lord, it is time to rise.”

The voice was familiar.

‘That’s Camilla’s voice.’

He tilted his head in confusion.

When he didn’t respond, a louder voice came from outside.

“My Lord, it is time to rise.”

“Come in.”

He finally replied.

The door opened, and a woman clad in armor stepped inside.

It was Camilla, now grown into a mature woman since she was twenty.

“Camilla, you…”

He began to speak to her but turned his head.

Then he saw his reflection in the mirror.

Just as Camilla had matured, he too had aged.

A face in his thirties stared back at him.

It was still bright and cheerful, but undeniably older.

“It is time for the morning assembly.”

Her voice was polite and formal.

It felt distant.

“Be yourself.”

“This is my usual demeanor, My Lord.”

“It feels awkward.”

“What are you all doing? How can you leave My Lord improperly dressed?”

Her commanding voice filled the room.

At Camilla’s order, maids carrying fresh garments approached Kane.

Following their lead, he changed into the new attire.

Then, guided by Camilla, he stepped outside.

This, too, was a familiar space, though slightly different from what he remembered.

“Civilization has advanced quite a bit, hasn’t it?”

“It is all thanks to your efforts, My Lord.”

“Camilla.”

“Yes, My Lord?”

“How old are you this year?”

“I am thirty-one, My Lord.”

“Ten years have passed…”

It had been ten years since he last saw Camilla.

Of course, much had changed.

“If I’m the head of the House of Rehinar now, does that mean my father has passed away?”

At his murmured question, Camilla halted her steps.

“It seems you are still waking up, My Lord. The former head has retired and is living well within the family estate.”

“That’s a relief.”

He placed a hand on his chest, exhaling deeply.

He had feared something unfortunate might have happened in the past decade.

But hearing that his father was happily living out his retirement eased his mind.

They arrived at the gathering hall where the retainers of House Rehinar awaited.

All the faces were familiar.

Mikhail, Yoshua, Joseph, and Anna.

Then his eyes landed on Gillip.

“And what are you doing here?”

“Wha—!? Did another order get sent to Philaec first?”

“Aren’t you the lord of Philaec? Do you really have time to be here?”

“How could you say such a thing? Even though I’ve established Tegelo’s foundation in Philaec, my loyalty as your retainer remains unchanged. Besides, with the spatial portal, traveling here is easy. If I didn’t show up, I know I’d be reprimanded later.”

In ten years, it made sense that a spatial portal connecting Rehinar and Philaec would exist.

Even as the lord of Philaec, the portal allowed him to attend morning assemblies without fail.

This was clearly not the first time Kane had asked this question.

Gillip’s prepared response proved as much.

“By the way, where is Elder Daniel?”

Gillip answered before Camilla could.

“He is spending each day joyfully with the former lord. Ever since his retirement, he’s been so happy that I can’t help but feel envious.”

‘It makes sense that Daniel would retire. He’s old enough for it, and after being reinstated as chief steward at his age, dealing with nothing but paperwork, it’s about time he enjoyed a peaceful life.’

One person caught Kane’s attention.

Seated beside him, to his right, was a young man he didn’t recognize.

‘Who is this guy? I’ve never seen him before.’

There were a few unfamiliar faces among the gathering, and this young man was one of them.

Yet, something about him felt oddly familiar.

Noticing Kane’s gaze, the young man scratched the back of his head nervously.

“My grandfather insisted I stay away, but… I haven’t finished the tax reforms you entrusted me with, My Lord. My apologies.”

The mention of “grandfather” gave Kane a hint about his identity.

‘He must be Daniel’s grandson. If someone his age is handling tax reforms, it means his abilities have already been proven.’

The burden of serving as Rehinar’s chief steward during its peak years was not a light one.

“Fine. You’re in charge of it, so I’ll leave it to you.”

Kane’s gaze shifted to Eki Hughes, seated beside Mikhail.

The way they sat close together made it obvious they were married.

They made a wonderful pair, perfectly suited for one another.

It seemed everything was progressing just as he had envisioned.

There was, however, one lingering question.

“Where is Desdemona, and why are you here instead?”

One of Desdemona’s closest allies, a vampire count, was seated in her place.

“My Lord! Did we commit some offense…?”

The vampire count’s panic was palpable as he glanced around, seeking help from others.

Everyone avoided his gaze, pretending not to notice.

If Mikhail hadn’t stepped in, the vampire count might have fainted on the spot from the shock of thinking he’d earned Kane’s ire.

“My Lord, your teasing is far too mischievous. If you continue this during every assembly, the count won’t live much longer.”

“Ha, ha. Sir Mikhail, you’re the only one who shows me any concern,” the vampire count said, wiping the cold sweat from his brow with a handkerchief.

Click.

The previously closed door opened.

Desdemona entered, holding a teacup in her hands.

“I greet you, My Lord.”

Desdemona, who once spoke so casually, now addressed him with proper decorum.

Once known for her decadent and sultry demeanor, she now exuded an aura of grace and nobility.

Gone was the pallor that used to define her.

It was as though she had become entirely human.

Her magical presence was completely concealed.

“When you didn’t come to my quarters last night, I assumed you were elsewhere. But I heard you fell asleep in your office.”

At her blatant remark, Kane frowned.

The vampire count flinched in alarm.

"Maintain your dignity, my lord!"

"What’s the point of dignity when I’m speaking to my own husband? Don’t you all agree?"

At Desdemona’s words, everyone present nodded in agreement.

Joseph burst into hearty laughter.

"The First Lady is correct. Since the Rehinar bloodline is so rare, our lord has a duty to fulfill diligently."

"Ah, Sir Joseph, you always understand me so well. My father-in-law wishes for a third child, yet my husband refuses to cooperate."

"Well, that won’t do! My lord, at this rate, the former lord will scold you. The children born between you and the First Lady are extraordinary. Leave the administrative tasks to your retainers and focus on your nightly duties!"

Joseph shamelessly voiced his provocative remarks, but no one found it surprising.

Kane’s bloodline was unique, as was Desdemona’s.

The two children they already had were exceptional. Even at their young age, they exhibited remarkable powers.

Their eldest son, for example, was born with an innate mana affinity, and also had the third form of blood rune: Blood Bond.

This was unprecedented.

A child not yet five years old possessing Blood Bond had left everyone astonished.

Even Kane\'s father, Carl Rehinar, was immensely fond of Desdemona.

He believed she was the perfect match for his son.

Her cold beauty and extraordinary powers aside, she treated everyone in the household with kindness, earning their unwavering respect.

"My father-in-law says that before you marry the second princess, we should have one more child. So, my lord, you must cooperate with me," Desdemona said with a voice that could enchant anyone.

If it had been someone else, they would have easily succumbed to her charms.

But Kane was so taken aback that his mind went blank.

"Wait, Kane married Desdemona? What kind of twist is this?"

This development was completely unexpected.

And to make things more bizarre, he was supposedly going to marry the second princess as his second wife.

If Isaac’s personality was anything to go by, it was no surprise he had maneuvered this marriage.

The result of his efforts seemed to be on the verge of fruition.

"I need time to process this."

After the assembly ended, everyone dispersed.

Kane wandered through the garden alone.

The scenery had changed drastically.

It was richer and more peaceful than ever before.

"I entered my old room but woke up in Kane Rehinar’s body. Isn’t this supposed to be a game?"

The fact that he had awakened as Kane Rehinar puzzled him deeply.

Could this be his past life?

"Then… have I been reincarnated?"Nôv(el)B\\\\jnn

"Was I playing a game based on my past life?"

His mind was a tangled mess of thoughts.

This seemed like a trial set by the gods.

It could be his past life—or not.

"If I accept this as my past life, what comes next? How do I clear it?"

He had no idea what kind of trial awaited him.

"For now, I’ll have to stay and observe."

At the moment, there wasn’t a single clue to guide him.

Perhaps, as time went on, he’d figure out how to escape the Room of Past.