* * *
“From the beginning, I liked you without any reason, and it was strange.”
“Me too. I just thought you were someone who falls in love quickly.”
“It was only after I regained all my memories thanks to Lilith that I remembered the reason…. Does it make sense?”
It wasn’t a matter of whether it made sense or not; it was truly shocking information. To think I wasn’t the only one who possessed someone in the game in the first place…
“At that time, I clearly only remembered from the point of restarting, so I told you that without even knowing how many times I had been killed by Basileon Ravenwood.”
“Ah, right. You wouldn’t have known that at the time.”
“What I learned after remembering everything this time is that there were countless memories of being killed by him.”
I couldn’t even dare to imagine how hard it would be to realize that all of this was repeating.
“Right, that guy. Basileon Ravenwood… He’s probably just a game character created by someone else. However.”
Evan raised his head with a look full of hatred.
“I can’t remember almost anything except my name. Do you know why? It’s because of the repeated resurrections. Every time I die and come back to life, I gradually forget the memories of the real me.”
It was understandable why Evan was so angry.
“Basileon Ravenwood. I am completely forgetting my own existence as many times as that human killed me…”
Even if he was just a character in a game, repeating the process of dying and coming back to life is a pitiful thing. He wasn’t simply a character in a game, he was a real human being.
‘To think Evan was a possessor like me.’
“But thanks to your existence, I have hope.”
“What kind of hope?”
“Although you don’t remember our meeting back then, you know my name now.”
Evan smiled warmly.
“So if by any chance I forget, you remind me.”
“Evan. But you won’t die again.”
‘Because he said he loses memories when he repeatedly dies and comes back to life…’
However, Evan didn’t seem to believe my words at all.
“This time is different. You felt it too, right? It’s completely different from what has been repeated so far. Besides, Basileon isn’t hunting humans right now.”
“I’ve died so many times so far, and you want me to believe that?”
“Ah. You didn’t see that in the passage. I guess the other survivors didn’t tell you?”
I explained to Evan what happened in the passage. That Lilith tried to kill Basileon with the Flamberge, and Basileon accepted it. But Adolf and I stopped Lilith, and Lilith realized she didn’t have the courage to kill someone.
“The Duke of Ravenwood calmly accepted Lilith trying to kill him?”
“He definitely did.”
“…Why did you stop Lilith?”
“Because this is an opportunity. An opportunity to stop the repeating game and see the ending. For that to happen, no one should die, including Basileon. If even one person dies, the game will start over again.”
“….”
Evan wanted to deny all these facts, but perhaps couldn’t find words to refute them, so he only stared at the ground.
“Evan, I won’t say I understand how you feel. I will absolutely never know. Because unlike you, I possessed an evil spirit that has no chance of dying.”
Perhaps if I had possessed a survivor’s body, I might have spent days far more painful than what I have experienced so far. According to Evan’s words, he had died countless times.
It must have been unimaginably hard for me, who has never experienced it.
“I can’t even dare to imagine how painful it must have been for you. So… I’m sorry I couldn’t understand. I’m sorry for taking death here lightly, thinking it was just something happening in a game.”
“It’s not something you should apologize for.”
Evan shook his head.
“Actually, from a certain point on, I have positive thoughts when I look at you. When I see you, my name comes to mind clearly.”
“…Really?”
“Yeah. So Evien. I won’t ask for much. Just think of me from time to time.”
“….”
“I thought… maybe you are an angel who brought a small handful of light in the endless darkness.”
Hearing praise that made me not know what to do with myself, my body moved stiffly and awkwardly.
“No. I’m not someone worthy of being evaluated that highly.”
“Something worse than garbage.“
“I am…”
“Stop.”
As my expression darkened again, Evan raised his index finger over his lips.
“You know. You make that expression every time you recall a bad memory.”
“….”
“Evien. I also can’t dare to imagine how painful it must have been for you. I’m the same.”
The bridge of Evan’s nose slightly reddened, and he looked a bit flushed overall.
“It’s not your fault. Everything you experienced in the past and what you are experiencing now…”
“….”
Was it because those words were a little comforting? Tears welled up in my eyes. I tightly closed my eyes once, and teardrops flowed down my chin and dripped onto the ground.
“To me, you were a ray of light. I want to be that kind of person for you too.”
After that, I cried my eyes out out loud. Evan was the first person to tell me it wasn’t my fault.
“A person should cry when they want to cry.”
It was after quite a long time had passed since hearing those words that I stopped crying.
* * *
“Mmh…”
I lifted my heavy eyelids. I looked around, but Evan was nowhere to be found.
‘Did I fall asleep again in the meantime?’
A note was placed by my pillow. It seemed Evan had written it.
Lilith was looking for me, so I’ll go first. I’m sorry I couldn’t stay with you.
‘Ah. I feel like I’m forgetting something…’
Is it the aftermath of hearing slightly shocking stories? I felt like I had forgotten something important.
‘Ugh…’
Eventually, looking closely at the note Evan left, I remembered.
“Right, the music box!”
“Eve.”
“Ack!”
Basileon suddenly appeared in front of my eyes.
“B-Basileon?”
The atmosphere was unusual. It seemed like he was slightly sulking…
‘No, there’s no reason for him to sulk.’
Basileon turned his gaze toward the note Evan had left.
“This is… who left this.”
Basileon was very serious. It looked like he was going to find the person who wrote the note and tear them limb from limb right away.
“Could it be the platinum blond hair?”
“Ah… Yeah.”
As I agreed, I felt Basileon become sullen.
‘At least he left out the “obnoxious” part this time.’
“Have you gotten close enough to leave a note like this.”
Basileon stared intently at the handwriting.
“The neatly written handwriting… looks very full of affection.”
Is that what the emotion called jealousy is? I didn’t feel any romantic attraction toward Evan anyway. Although I knew he was a good person and was far from the suspicion of being close to the evil god, I had no feelings similar to what I felt from Basileon.
‘But Basileon wouldn’t know.’
“Because Evan likes me too.”
Basileon tried his best not to show it, but I could see his eyebrows twitching slightly.
“Don’t tell me that survivor confessed to you or something?”
“Yeah. Last time.”
“So, how did you feel when you heard that confession?”
“I didn’t have any good feelings. Why? You don’t know who among the survivors is related to It. Besides, there was no motive to like him, so I couldn’t understand it at all.”
‘Although my thoughts have changed a bit after hearing the reason now.’
I didn’t bother to say the latter part out loud.
“….”
Basileon didn’t say anything, but seeing the corners of his mouth twitch a little, it was clear he was in a good mood.
‘He’s simple.’
Being simpler than I thought felt cute. So I wanted to give him the answer he wanted.
“Just so you know. The only person I’ve ever felt fluttering feelings for is Basileon… you.”
I couldn’t believe I spat out such embarrassing words directly from my own mouth.
“…”
I couldn’t stand that ticklish feeling. So I ran away. To find the survivors, I flew whoosh, taking refuge in another place. As I ruminated on my memories while flying, the expression on Basileon’s face that I caught a glimpse of at the very end came to mind.
‘Hmph. Turning red all over like that….’
* * *
After running away from Basileon, I diligently looked for the survivors. Looking at the map, the survivors were scattered, focusing on finding clues.
‘Are we progressing the game in earnest again.’
First, I flew to Lilith, who would be guarding the music box.
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