Reborn as an Yandere : Yandere X Yandere

A flood of memories surged through Elara’s mind.  

It was a story from an era long lost in time—nine hundred thousand years ago, in what was known as The Age of Constellations.

At that time, there was a merchant unlike any other. A man who traded across the entire world, whose name was known in every kingdom, empire, and tribe.  

Though he was a king, people did not call him by his royal title. Instead, they called him "The Merchant King" or "The God of Wealth." 

Why?  

Because under his rule, his kingdom had become the greatest trading hub in the world. No one was richer than him. No one could match his influence.  

Even though he was human, there were those who worshipped him as if he were a true god. Merchants across the world saw him as their greatest idol.  

His name was Kuber.

His life was one of unimaginable luxury. He owned countless palaces spread across different lands. Millions of people worked under him. Wherever he traveled, nobles and rulers welcomed him with the highest honors.  

Even his food was prepared by the best chefs in the world, which was why he was a little chubby.  

Yet, despite all his wealth and power, he had only one woman in his life—his wife.  

He never took a concubine. Never sought more.  

For him, his wife was enough.  

And together, they had a son, a boy who would one day inherit everything he had built.  

Kuber loved them both. He truly did.  

But...  

He barely spent time with them.  

There was always too much work. Too many things to take care of. Months would pass, sometimes even an entire year, without him seeing his wife or son.  

One day, while he was buried in paperwork, a trusted subordinate entered his chamber with a troubled expression.  

"My liege, your son is ill. He has been coughing non-stop," the man reported. "The mistress has been asking you to finish your work and visit him as soon as possible!"  

Kuber barely looked up from his documents. With a wave of his hand, he dismissed the concern.  

"I have too much to do," he said firmly. "Send for the best healers from all over the world. Tell them to treat my son. He will be fine in no time."  

And with that, he continued working, unaware that his world was about to shatter.  

Soon, terrifying news spread across the world.  

A plague had appeared.  

But this was not an ordinary disease.  

It was a deadly illness that only affected awakened people.  

The mana circuits inside their veins would start to break down, corrupting their blood. At first, the symptoms seemed minor—just a simple cough. But as time passed, their organs would slowly decay from the inside.  

In simpler words, it was like cancer, but it only happened to awakened people.  

And there was no cure.  

When Kuber learned of this, his heart nearly stopped.  

His son had been infected.  

His hands trembled as he clutched the message. His entire body felt cold.  

He needed to go back.  

He had to see his son.  

But when he tried to return home, he realized it wasn’t so easy.  

All transportation was blocked.  

The plague was spreading too fast. Kingdoms had declared curfews.  

Chaos had broken out. People were fighting in the streets over medicine and supplies. No one even understood how the disease was spreading, so fear gripped the world like a nightmare.  

What should have been a short journey turned into a desperate, agonizing struggle.  

Days passed.  

Every moment felt like a blade cutting into his heart.  

By the time he finally reached his kingdom, he had no time to think.  

He ran.  

Despite his heavy body, he ran as fast as he could.  

He burst through the doors, gasping for breath, desperate to see his son—  

But it was too late.  

His son was already gone.  

His wife sat beside the bed, crying uncontrollably. The room was filled with relatives, their faces full of sorrow.  

Kuber felt like the air had been sucked out of his lungs.  

Slowly, step by step, he approached the lifeless body of his child.  

His hands shook as he reached out—but before he could touch his son’s cold face, his wife’s voice shattered the silence.  

"Money, money, money!" she sobbed, her voice full of rage and despair.  

"Can your money bring our son back to life?!"  

Her words struck him like lightning.  

He wanted to scream.  

He wanted to tear himself apart.  

But he couldn’t even cry.  

Because he knew this was his fault.  

And yet—  

He still refused to accept it.  

There had to be something he could do.  

Anything.  

But what?  

There was nothing.  

He was the richest man in the world, yet he was completely powerless.  

And then, the next day—  

Another piece of news spread across the world.  

The cure had been found.  

After three months of suffering, the top healers had finally discovered the medicine to save those infected by the plague.  

The world rejoiced.  

But Kuber…  

Kuber was not happy.  

He was furious.  

He slammed his fist against the stone wall so hard that blood dripped from his knuckles.  

"One day…" he whispered, his voice shaking.  

"If my son had lived for just one more day, he would still be alive…!"  

His chest burned with pain.  

It felt like fate had played a cruel joke on him.  

He had everything—wealth, power, influence—  

But not the time to save his son.  

And then, a terrifying thought entered his mind.  

"Money, money, money… Can money buy me time?"  

His eyes gleamed with mad determination.  

"I won’t back down unless I try."  

If time had taken his son away—  

Then he would buy time itself.

After that day, he devoted everything—his time, his wealth, his very soul—to his new goal.  

He traveled across the world, searching for answers.  

He hired the greatest historians to dig through ancient records, recruited artifact collectors to find lost relics, and commanded top awakened warriors to work under him.  

Years passed, and finally, his efforts bore fruit.  

One day, deep within a hidden archive, he discovered something extraordinary—  

A book written by none other than Odin himself.  

Its pages contained a recipe for an essence stone called *Ago.*  

This stone, according to legend, had the power to manipulate time.  

His heart pounded as he read through the ingredients.  

But his excitement quickly turned into despair.  

Most of the materials required to refine *Ago* had long gone extinct.  

It was impossible to create.  

But Kuber refused to accept that.  

If he couldn’t follow the exact recipe—  

Then he would create a substitute.  

And so, his journey continued.  

He traveled to lands no one had ever set foot in before, searching for materials that could replace the ones lost to time.  

After countless months, he finally learned about a place that might hold what he needed.  

A realm unlike any other.  

A world beyond their world.  

It was called *Terra Divina.*  

Determined, he gathered a team of elite warriors and ventured into this unknown land.  

But the moment they arrived, they realized—  

This was no ordinary place.  

It was a world full of creatures beyond imagination.  

The first nightmare they encountered was a massive flock of *Ancient Cranes.*  

At first glance, they looked like normal cranes found on Earth—  

But they were dozens of times larger, their feathers as hard as steel, their wings strong enough to create hurricanes with a single flap.  

The battle was brutal, but in the end, Kuber and his men prevailed.  

He carefully collected the wings of the fallen creatures, knowing they would be useful.  

Next, they encountered a monstrous tiger-like beast with impossibly long, curved fangs—sharp enough to tear through solid rock.  

It pounced on them with terrifying speed, but after a fierce struggle, they managed to slay it.  

Kuber took its fangs.  

He didn’t know if they would work as a substitute, but he wasn’t taking any chances.  

As they journeyed deeper, they came across a towering tree—  

Only, it wasn’t just a tree.  

It was alive. 

The massive branches moved like arms, attacking anything that came near.  

Each strike could crush a man into dust.  

But Kuber and his team refused to back down.  

After an exhausting fight, the living tree finally fell.  

Kuber collected its powerful branches.  

But the greatest challenge lay ahead.  

They reached a vast river—  

No, it wasn’t just a river.  

It was as wide as an ocean, and its waters glowed with a deep purple hue.  

The moment they stepped near it, something emerged from its depths.  

A giant leviathan.

It was unlike anything they had ever seen—  

A monstrous being covered in unbreakable scales, its roar shaking the entire realm.  

The battle that followed was their hardest yet.  

One by one, his subordinates fell.  

Swords shattered.  

Spells failed.  

Blood stained the river.  

But Kuber refused to die here.  

With his last remaining strength, he struck the final blow—  

And the leviathan collapsed.  

Breathing heavily, barely able to stand, Kuber took its unyielding shells.  

But the cost of victory was devastating.  

By the time he reached his final destination—  

He was the only one left.  

His entire team had perished.  

His body was covered in wounds, his once-lavish robes torn and stained with blood.  

Yet, despite the pain, he kept walking.  

This strange realm didn’t follow the laws of nature.  

Though it was daytime, the sky was filled with shining stars.  

He staggered forward across a vast desert.  

Hours passed.  

The stars above grew brighter, glowing like diamonds scattered across a dark canvas.  

And then—  

Something incredible appeared before him.  

A rainbow.  

But it wasn’t like any rainbow he had ever seen.  

It shimmered with a deep, glowing purple, stretching across the endless horizon.  

His breath hitched.  

He had finally made it.  

After what felt like an eternity—  

He had reached his goal.  

He stood before the legendary place known as—  

The River Sand of Flawless Time.

Kuber’s face lit up with happiness.  

He laughed out loud, running toward the river of sand in front of him, completely forgetting his exhaustion.  

He had finally made it!  

But just as he was about to step forward—  

A tall knight in silver-grey armor appeared before him.  

The knight stood firmly, his presence overwhelming. In his hands, he held a sharp saber that gleamed under the starry sky.  

"Stop right there!" the knight commanded.  

His voice alone created a powerful shockwave, knocking Kuber off his feet.  

Kuber hit the ground hard. His heart pounded.  

"No! Please, don’t stop me now! I’ve finally reached my goal!" he pleaded, pushing himself up. "I came here for—"  

But before he could finish, the knight interrupted.  

"I already know," he said in a calm, deep voice. "Anyone who sets foot in this realm—his past and present become known to me."  

Kuber froze, stunned.  

The knight continued, "I’m stopping you, but not as a guardian. I am a *trader* of this place."  

Kuber blinked in confusion. "Trader?"  

The knight didn’t answer right away. Instead, he reached into the air and pulled out something.  

An *hourglass.*  

Its glass shimmered with an eerie glow, and inside, golden sand slowly flowed.  

He placed it gently on the ground, then sat down.  

"Pay me the price," the knight said. "The more valuable the payment, the more sand will fall. That will be the time you earn. Your will can return to the past for that much time."  

Kuber’s eyes widened in disbelief.  

"Really?!" he shouted in excitement. His face broke into a wide grin.  

"I have so much money! Take everything! Take it all!"  

He couldn’t stop laughing as he pulled out treasures from his storage-type Essence Stone.  

Endless mountains of gold coins, rare gems, and priceless artifacts spilled out, enough to make entire kingdoms feel like beggars.  

The knight, unfazed, waved his hand.  

Out of nowhere, a large pond appeared before them. Its waters were still, reflecting the night sky.  

"Pour any valuable thing into this," the knight instructed.  

Kuber nodded eagerly and started tossing his wealth into the pond.  

Gems sparkled as they sank. Gold coins clinked as they disappeared below the surface.  

But then—  

Something strange happened.  

The hourglass remained still.  

Not a single grain of sand moved.  

Not even a second was earned.  

Kuber’s smile vanished. His face turned pale.  

"What…?" he muttered.  

He poured more.  

Nothing.  

He threw in even rarer treasures.  

Still nothing.  

"What’s happening?!" Kuber’s voice shook with panic. "Is it broken? Is there some kind of mistake?!"  

The knight simply shook his head.  

"Money can indeed buy time," he said. "But not your time."  

Kuber’s breath hitched.  

"You can buy the time of others. The present. The future.  

But the past…"  

The knight met Kuber’s desperate eyes.  

"Not even all the wealth in the world can buy back the past."  

Kuber’s hands trembled. His mind refused to accept it.  

"Tell me Kuber, What is more valuable than past?", 

But kuber ignored him.

"No… No! You’re lying!"  

He lost control, frantically pulling out every last treasure he had.  

Gold, jewels, rare artifacts—  

Everything he had ever gathered.  

One by one, he threw them all into the pond.  

Still—  

Nothing changed.  

Finally, Kuber had only a few things left.  

His breathing was heavy. His hands shook as he reached into his storage.  

Then, his eyes fell on a small object.  

A single egg. 

The Egg of Divine Flame Pheonix.

A hesitant moment passed.  

Then, with trembling hands, Kuber dropped it into the pond.  

The moment it touched the water—  

The hourglass glowed.  

Kuber’s heart nearly stopped.  

Then—  

A single grain of sand dropped down.  

A golden message appeared in the air.  @@novelbin@@

"One year." 

His eyes widened.  

It worked.

Without hesitation, Kuber took out more treasures and poured them into the pond.  

The giant leviathan’s scales, the wings of the ancient cranes, the long-toothed tiger’s fangs, and the branches of the living tree—  

One by one, he dropped them all in.  

The hourglass glowed again and again.  

More and more sand fell.  

He had earned even more time.  

Only then did the knight, still sitting calmly in his armor, finally speak.  

"Now do you understand?" he asked. "What is more valuable than the past?"  

Kuber’s eyes widened with realization.  

"It’s the future, isn’t it?" he said.  

The knight nodded. "Yes."  

He gestured toward the pond. "The phoenix’s chick was inside that egg. It had a future. But now, its future has been swallowed by this place."  

He continued, "In this realm, very few living beings can breed. But from the ancient cranes’ wings, new ancient cranes are born. From the long-toothed tiger’s fangs, newborn tigers are born. From the living tree’s branches, countless new living trees grow. And from the scales of the giant leviathan, new baby leviathans are born."  

The knight looked into Kuber’s eyes.  

"All of them had a future… but now, that future belongs to me."  

Kuber swallowed hard.  

Then, the knight glanced at the hourglass. His expression remained calm, but his voice carried a hint of finality.  

"But you already wasted so many years," he said. "These gained years will not be enough for you, will they?"  

Kuber clenched his fists.  

No. It wasn’t enough.  

But he had one last option.  

"I still have one thing left," he said with determination.  

Reaching into his storage, he pulled out something—or rather, someone.  

A figure dropped onto the ground.  

It looked human… but wasn’t.  

The person had two blue animal ears on top of his forehead, along with a long blue-furred tail.  

A wolf-man.  

And he was still alive.  

Kuber took a deep breath.  

"He is a slave," he admitted. "I bought him after a lot of effort. This was my final trump card… something I kept for when I had no other choice."  

The knight remained silent, watching him closely.  

Kuber continued, "He has a very special affinity. He’s incredibly strong… but he also goes berserk. That’s why I made him fall into a deep sleep."  

Then, without hesitation—  

He pushed the wolf-man into the pond.  

The moment the body touched the water, the hourglass shined brightly.  

A powerful glow filled the entire space.  

Then, golden words appeared in the air.  

"Ten Years."

Kuber’s heart pounded.  

He had done it.  

His lips trembled as he stared at the glowing hourglass.  

"I succeeded…" he whispered.  

Then, louder—  

"I actually succeeded!"  

Tears streamed down his face.  

Yes!  

He had bought time.  

And as per the trade—  

His will, along with all his memories, was sent back in time.  

This time, he already knew the cure.  

This time, he saved his son.  

After that, he spent more time with his family.  

He no longer cared about wealth.  

Instead, he cherished every moment with his loved ones.  

And he lived a happy life.  

The End.

-----------------

The story was long, but it entered his mind in just seconds.  

Elara slowly opened his eyes.  

"Ohh… so this is it!" he muttered.  

He turned to his subordinate, his expression deep in thought.  

"Even though I don’t know if this story is true or false—since it talks about an unknown realm, Terra Divina, and it never explains how his will actually went back in time—it still feels like a fantasy adventure," he said. "The hero faces struggles, overcomes them, and wins in the end."  

His voice lowered as his eyes gleamed with realization.  

"But… what I do know for sure is that the substitute recipe still exists!"  

His green-robed subordinate’s eyes widened in surprise.  

"Really?" he asked eagerly.  

Elara nodded firmly.  

"Yes. The ancient crane is a Rank B time-type beast, and the giant leviathan is a Rank A space-type monster. Their wings and scales are extremely valuable materials." He paused, his lips curling into a knowing smile. "That means this story isn’t just a tale—it’s a hidden message about the substitute recipe!"  

The green-robed man nodded in understanding.  

"Now that I think about it… it does seem possible," he agreed. "But…"  

Elara hesitated.  

"But?" the subordinate prompted.  

Elara frowned, his brows furrowing in deep thought.  

"But what does it mean by the last ingredient? The wolf-man… or someone with a special affinity?" he mused.  

Silence fell between them.  

Both of them were lost in thought.  

No matter what, though, one thing was certain.  

They finally had the substitute recipe!  

Elara clenched his fists, excitement bubbling inside him.  

"I know that refining this essence stone will lead to a lot of bloodshed…" he admitted, his voice heavy.  

"But once I go back in time, I won’t harm those people. I’ll save my daughter. I’ll save my wife. Nothing will be lost!"  

A smile formed on his lips.  

Then, a new thought crossed his mind.  

"Wait… why stop at saving my family? I can also help the hero and Miss Lilith!"  

His heart pounded faster.  

"If I warn them in advance… if I tell them about all the traps and information on the demon king… they can actually kill him!"  

Excitement filled his chest.  

"Yes! This is it! I can save the entire world from the demon king!"  

A chuckle escaped his lips.  

His green-robed subordinate watched him silently, sensing the determination in his voice.  

Then, Elara’s expression turned serious again.  

"As for the last material…" he muttered, tapping his fingers against the table. "I don’t think it’s actually a wolf-man."  

His eyes sharpened.  

"Although wolf-men are one of the rarest species, what connection do they have with a time-path essence stone?"  

His voice grew confident.  

"No… it must be someone with a special affinity!"