Large, long-living creatures are naturally endowed with vitality. This isn’t limited to humans alone. Any beast that exists and impacts the world accumulates vitality, and instinctively learns to use it.

Of course, only humans can harness this vitality with technique.

Humans apply technique to wood, stone, iron, and even magic. So, it’s hardly surprising that they’d also apply technique to the vitality within their own bodies. Yet, since humans live barely sixty years or so, relying on the complex art of Qi Gong often leaves them chronically deficient in vitality. When that happens, humans invariably seek something outside themselves to replenish it.

That’s where other beasts’ vitality comes in—the essence of creatures, which is now called an elixir. By hunting beasts, humans would fill their bellies while also replenishing their depleted vitality.

But do humans realize? There’s actually no difference between a beast’s vitality and a human’s.

And back when humans were beasts themselves, the easiest beast to hunt was another human.

The first taboo: gluttony. A forbidden act where humans consume other humans to extract magic and vitality.

All humans consider this act taboo, a crime even to imagine. Yet this taboo still persists.

In my stomach.

Sigh. It’s no use, is it? No matter what I do, there’s no sign of it working. The elixir is certainly in my stomach, but there’s no indication of any interaction.

Frankly, I’m not sure why. There’s no rule that says even a beast king can’t change, but my body feels…fixed. No, rather, it feels regulated. Whether I consume a hundred elixirs or devour hundreds through gluttony, it’d make no difference.

The minuscule vitality gained from this precious elixir is barely a speck. And even that speck seems likely to vanish eventually. But to form a mountain, even specks must be gathered.

As I stubbornly scraped together every tiny bit of energy, a voice reached my ears.

“…I heard elixirs are dangerous. Is there no side effect?”

“There’s almost no danger~. Most people think elixirs are dangerous because of side effects, but side effects actually occur when your body’s own energy gets triggered by external energy, just like an allergy!”

“Isn’t that what makes it dangerous?”

“But my father’s vitality is as small as a rat’s tail! Even if that rat’s tail lashes out, it’s barely a tickle! So the worst that might happen to him is a full-body itch! Rest assured! Even ‘I’ took that into account!”

A rat’s tail? Even if it’s true, that’s a bit too much of a metaphor.

Just wait. If I ever get stronger, I’ll give her a good smack on the head first thing.

Despite Hilde’s assurances, Tyr still voiced his concerns.

“However, Shei said you must be still to absorb an elixir. If it’s not due to side effects, then why?”

“That’s for what happens afterward. If the absorbed vitality doesn’t settle well within the body, it becomes problematic. Vitality that lingers without being fully digested is more likely to cause side effects later!”

“Ah, I see. Then, the instruction to avoid touching the body and maintain focus was….”

“It’s said that if you move during energy absorption, it disrupts the Qi of the body, and if your mind is disturbed, it disrupts the Qi of the mind! Well, it’s knowledge I’ve only heard about, never experienced personally!”

Or so she says. Advice of little use to me since I can’t even digest it. If you have no energy, you have no difficulty managing it.

“By the way, to prevent disrupting the Qi of the body, you should minimize anything touching the body!”

“Touching the body, you say….”

Tyr glanced at me, then suddenly blurted out.

“Wait! Hue is wearing clothes! Fabric touches his entire body!”

…Not that it really matters. I wear clothes every day, and if I didn’t, the wind and dust would be more of a problem.

Hilde will probably clarify it.

Hmmm? While some do strip, clothes don’t really make much of a difference~. But perhaps I should stir things up a bit for fun!

Don’t stir things up.

“Oh dear, how could I forget! I’d better take his clothes off right away!”

Don’t take them off.

“Wait! Hold on! How can you think of undressing a man who is not your own…!”

“Oh? Is that really the issue?”

“Of course it is! Such an act is only allowed between those who’ve pledged to be together for life!”

“But he’s ‘my’ father, you know? Isn’t it only natural for a dutiful daughter to serve him?”

“Ugh, but… no! You’re not really father and daughter! No, it’s even worse then!”

“Then what should we do? If this continues, the energy will adhere to his clothes and get stuck! He might never be able to take them off again!”

As if that would happen.

“W-What a horrifying thought…. I’m stuck. Then what should I do…?”

“We have no choice but to undress him!”

“But….”

“The answer is clear; all you need is resolve! Tirkanjaka. In moments of uncertainty, be resolute! Persevere and move forward!”

“R-Resolve? That means… sharing a lifetime…?”

Tyr swallowed and looked at me, sitting there with my eyes closed. He cautiously reached out, his pale hand moving toward my clothes. But he soon noticed something and remarked.

“…There are no seams on the clothes. Where are the buttons or ties?”

“Ah, that’s a fabric packet. You need to infuse mana into the biological terminal.”

“I can’t wield mana!”

“Then you’ll have to tear it. Would you like to do that?”

“How improper…! No! If I tear it by force, it’ll defeat the purpose! Pulling on the fabric will only move the body!”

“Hehe, true!”

“This is a crisis…! What do we do?”

Oh my, oh my. I was only joking, but he’s taking it quite seriously. What should I do? If I admit it was a joke now, he might hold a grudge.

Just take the grudge. If you lie, you have to accept the risk of resentment.

At that moment, the Regressor entered the tent with a refreshed expression. Perhaps he was pleased with himself for gathering intel. He immediately began sharing all he’d learned, though I hadn’t even asked.

“I got all the information. There’s a large camp a day from here. Our next target is….”

“Shei! Perfect timing. Come and help me undress Hue!”

“Why?!”

Forget the elixir; at this rate, anything I consume will just sit there. I frowned as I stood up.

“Enough with the nonsense. Stop it, everyone.”

“Hue! Don’t get up!”

The Regressor, almost undressing a strange man, was still oblivious to the situation.

“Huh? Why? Why can’t he get up?”

“He swallowed an elixir! Moving could be dangerous!”

“Huh? He already took it? Without saying anything… wait!”

The Regressor turned his Seven-Colored Eyes on me, eyes that detect power. Those violet eyes examined me, assessing the total amount of energy, but he seemed puzzled.

“…There’s no increase in vitality? Did he just pretend to take it and stash it somewhere?”

“As if it’s not bad enough that my vitality didn’t increase, now you’re accusing me of theft?”

“No, you said you took the elixir! Then who stole your vitality?”

“If you find out, let me know. I’ll gladly sever their hand.”

The Regressor studied me with his Seven-Colored Eyes, cycling through various visions. Ultimately, he confirmed that I was telling the truth.

“Hold on. This can only mean one thing.”

The Regressor’s expression grew contemplative, though Tyr’s patience had worn thin, and he pressed for an answer.

“What is it?”

“…It means he has no talent.”

“Talent? Are you serious…?”

Other than power or treasures, doesn’t Hue’s talent seem on par with Shei’s?

Fortunately, the Regressor cleared up Tyr’s doubts.

“I don’t mean the talent to learn. I mean a physical talent for retaining vitality. Just as a blind person can’t perceive color, or a deaf person can’t speak, it seems like he has an inherent problem with accumulating Qi. It’s as if he can’t retain any energy beyond what he was born with.”

“I agree. Though I didn’t grow up in luxury, I didn’t lack nutrition, either. But my vitality has never settled.”

There’s a reason taboos are taboos. Methods like gluttony won’t work on me. It’s becoming clearer.

“Tch. That’s disappointing… you seemed to have some potential.”

“See? Now you understand. Next time, don’t bother dragging me into your training regimens. It’s a waste of effort.”

“That’s what matters? At this rate, you’ll never get stronger!”

“So what? Should I cry about my miserable fate? What good would it do? You’d just pat my shoulder and offer empty comfort.”

“I wouldn’t pat your shoulder even if you did cry!”

I thought the elixir would solve this. Tch, if he’s dead weight, I can’t keep him around every time. This round is fine, but next time….

Wait, maybe it’s not so bad? If the Regressor just rescues me and leaves me behind each time, I’ll have more chances to try different approaches in each round.

Of course, it’s useless to me now, dragged around as dead weight.

“Well, seems I wasted an elixir. Shame. Anyway, let’s sleep. Tomorrow’s going to be grueling.”

“Wait. There’s one more thing I want to try.”

Let’s look into his fate with my Fate Vision. I hate to waste lifespan, but… well, I’m not living to the fullest anyway. Watching his fate should be worth it.

The Regressor pretended to brush back his hair, revealing all seven colors of his eyes at once. The Seven-Colored Eyes glimmered in succession, forming a small circle. A bright gleam appeared in the center.

Wheel of Heaven’s Eyes. Let’s see his fate…. Though I’m not sure….

Fate Vision emerged for the most trivial of reasons.

The Regressor’s eyes beheld me, spanning my past, present, and the future that lay ahead—an end, the limit of what I, Hue, could reach.

They say the Fate Vision shortens one’s lifespan. The reason is simpler than expected. The human mind can process only so much information in a lifetime. Forcing such vast knowledge, like an entire fate, into the brain in a short period naturally harms one’s health. They say it reduces lifespan.

Risky as it is, the Regressor took the plunge and observed my fate.

Perhaps, with those eyes, he’d understand. I also felt a slight thrill as I read his thoughts.

The result of glimpsing my fate….

…It doesn’t change? Not even in the future? This is… Hue’s ultimate limit…?

He decides. Of course. It’s what I expected.

The Regressor came closer and, wearing a rare look of sympathy, patted me on the shoulder.

“There, there… stay strong….”

You said you wouldn’t pat my shoulder!

This…feels worse than I imagined.