"I want to die."
Agetha was in despair over the fact that only one year had passed.
"I want to die, I want to die, I want to die…!!"
Agetha continued to scream, but there was no one to lend an ear. After all, conversations with Black Agetha were essentially monologues.
"No… I don't want to… I don't want to…"
After the screaming came a bout of sobbing. Agetha cried for days on end. However, even the emotion of sorrow would grow dull after a month.
Once that happened, the end was inevitable—a state of nothingness.
Agetha simply gazed at the infinite with unfocused eyes, as if all strength had drained from her body, like a fish cast ashore by the waves.
"Ah…"
Occasionally, she voiced that and contemplated how much time had passed. Probably not that much time.
The moment she thought that, she would ponder why she had to endure such torment, leading to a pessimistic mindset. Whenever that thought crossed her mind, emotions surged like a muddy stream, transforming into tears.
Then, how much time had passed?
It felt like an immense amount of time had flowed by. However, it was an illusion, and in reality, not much time had passed.
"Why do I have to go through this?"
What was the root cause in the first place?
Agetha originally lived as a middle school student in Japan. She had a relatively comfortable life, raised in an affluent family with caring parents. She was popular in her school class and had her share of admirers. Though several boys confessed their feelings to her, she declined them all, as she wasn't interested in romance at that time.
She led a commonplace life until one day, everything changed. She was suddenly involved in a summoning to another world. As soon as she opened her eyes, she found herself in an unfamiliar land.
Initially bewildered, she managed to fare quite well thanks to a skill called "Hero." Even if she failed, she could instantly revert things with "Save & Reset." This allowed her to defeat the Demon Lord and his minions easily. She never doubted her invincibility. With this power, she believed she could easily defeat even the Demon Lord.
However, things weren't as simple as they seemed. A group appeared trying to nullify her ability to return from death using the "Save & Reset" skill. Due to their actions, she was sealed. Sealed meant she couldn't die and time wouldn't reset.
Yet, a mere seal couldn't nullify the power of the "Hero" skill.
Agetha still hadn't fully grasped the extent of the "Hero" skill's power, but she hypothesized that its essence might be the belief that "a goddess of victory smiles in any adversity." The ability to return after death was just one aspect of that power.
So, even in seemingly desperate situations under the seal, she managed to overcome them.
With the awakening of the "Hero" skill, she could transfer her skill to others. Using this power, she arrogantly thought she conquered the seal by passing her skill to strangers and inviting them to break the seal.
Agetha was sealed within a specific material called the Holy Sword. Instantly, she could only transfer the "Hero" power to the owner of the Holy Sword. Consequently, the fabricated hero "Eligion" was born.
Eligion, like Agetha, achieved many exploits.
In the midst of this, Agetha struggled desperately to break the seal. Eventually, she managed to make contact with the assassin Noct, who was close to Eligion.
What happened afterward is something she'd rather not remember.
She was threatened by the Tyrant King.
"Be sealed for the sake of the world."
Refusing to accept another seal, Agetha initially resisted. As a result, the world perished. The gruesome scene still haunted her as trauma. She understood that this was what despair felt like.
Nevertheless, Agetha didn't give up.
She fought earnestly to defeat the Tyrant King.
Fighting and dying, fighting and dying, over and over again—countless repetitions broke Agetha's spirit.
The Tyrant King was an existence far beyond Agetha's comprehension.
However, the true hell began after accepting the seal.
"Why do I have to go through this, even though I worked so hard? Is there really any value in saving such an unjust world?"
"You're quite amusing."
In the space that was empty just a moment ago, Black Agetha stood. She wore a mocking smile.
Even though Agetha understood that Black Agetha had come to make fun of her, for the lonely Agetha, just her presence was appreciated.
"Why do you say such cruel things…?"
"I dislike you. That's why."
"Agreed. I don't like you either."
It was a meaningless exchange.
After all, Black Agetha was just a part of Agetha. To say she disliked Black Agetha was, in other words, saying she disliked herself.
"Hey, do you think Kiska will really come to pick us up?"
"What, don't you trust Kiska?"
"It's not that. But, after a hundred years, feelings might change."
"For you, it might be a hundred years, but for Kiska, it's just a moment. Well, considering what we've done, it wouldn't be strange if Kiska got fed up with us, even after all that time."
Why does she only say things that make me anxious, Agetha wondered, scrunching her face.
After all, she didn't like her at all.
"Yeah…"
However, Agetha no longer had the energy to resist, so she just nodded.
When she looked back to where Black Agetha was, there was a void. She seemed to have disappeared.
Instantly, a feeling of loneliness welled up in Agetha's chest.
Think of something fun, some happy memory, to distract from this loneliness.
For Agetha, the only enjoyable memory was Kiska.
When a hundred years had passed since she was sealed, Agetha sensed a new person in the depths of the Katarov Dungeon. So, as usual, she intended to transfer the "Save & Reset" power to that person.
At this point, Agetha had long been broken.
This person would probably give up soon anyway.
So, Agatha had no expectations for Kiska.
However, she would soon realize that Kiska was an extraordinary being.
Normally, if someone died five times, their spirit would break, and they would accept death. Even a hero like Agetha had died less than thirty times.
Watching Kiska challenge the dungeon over a hundred times, Agetha's emotionless heart gradually became elevated.
How many times did she cheer Kiska on, saying, "Do your best"?
She cried tears of joy when Kiska managed to overcome the challenging room filled with the formidable Armored Bugbears.
However, even if Kiska continued to progress through the dungeon, it was not guaranteed that she would reach Agetha's sealed location.
Among the three teleportation gates, only one could lead to Agetha's location. Agetha prayed from the bottom of her heart that Kiska would come.
Then, Kiska did come.
By that time, Agetha's heart had already been captivated by Kiska.
This person was undoubtedly her destined one.
She had come to this world to meet this person.
After that, Agetha tried to appeal to Kiska.
However, Kiska seemed impatient and uninterested in her.
Agetha became anxious.
She had to somehow capture his heart.
As a result, it ended up like that.
Now, Agetha regretted doing something foolish. Even if she committed suicide, as long as "Save & Reset" existed, she could have undone it.
However, Agetha was in such a panic that she didn't realize this.
"Ugh, ugh…"
Tears suddenly overflowed.
"I want to see him…"
She whispered.
She couldn't help but love Kiska so much.
She wanted to see him soon.
"Kiska."
She uttered the name of her beloved.
By the time a hundred years had passed, she was probably already broken.
"Help me…"
It was a terribly feeble voice.
Fate is cruel.
Because the fact that she won't be saved is a certainty.
She is just retracing the path she had once walked.
If that's the case, the fact that no one will come to save her in the next hundred years is an irreversible truth.
Here is a lonely girl.
Words like "whether you are happy or not depends on your mindset" are common, but no matter how positively interpreted, she was pitiful.
However, the gods remain silent.
They don't care about her at all.
Moreover, even though there are many people in the world, not a single one of them cares about her.
After all, she is a resident of another world, with no family even.
So, the world continues to ignore her, tirelessly marking the passage of time.
Yes, it seemed as if no one would reach out to her.
A drop of light fell.
Agetha noticed it a few seconds later.
What is this? she wondered.
The light continued to fall from her fingertips one after another. The fallen light spread ripples on the ground.
She exclaimed, "Ah."
The source of the light was the ring Kiska had given her.
Ah, Kiska is protecting me.
The moment she thought that, the tragic feeling from before faded, and a pleasant warmth filled Agetha.
Not bad.
If she could feel Kiska nearby, there was nothing to be afraid of anymore.
Her heart remained peaceful.
◆
Kiska's POV
"Hey, it seems like you successfully saved the world."
In front of me was something with a form far removed from a human.
I quickly realized that this was the Observer. I didn't have any acquaintances with such an appearance.
Through this Observer, I traveled back to the past world.
"What's going to happen to me now?"
"Soon, you'll be able to return to your original time. I wanted to properly thank you, so I arranged this meeting for you."
"I see…"
I nodded, feeling a deep sense of emotion. Everything from the long past had come to an end.
"Hey, why did you send me back to the original time?"
However, I couldn't help but complain about this one thing.
I wanted to be sealed together with Agetha, but because of this being, that wish couldn't be fulfilled.
"What on earth are you talking about?"
"Hey, I told you, at the end, I wanted to stay in that era. Why didn't you grant that wish?"
"I see, I messed up there."
The Observer spoke apologetically.
"However, unfortunately, I am not as omnipotent as you might think. I just learned about your situation, and even if I had known, I wouldn't have been able to grant your wish. Crossing through time and space is a challenging task."
I honestly don't understand what the Observer is saying. However, it doesn't seem like there's any malicious intent or meanness behind its words.
"I see. Well then, quickly send me back to my original time. There's someone I need to hurry and meet."
"Is that so? Got it. Allow me to express my gratitude on behalf of you once again. Thank you."
Even though I'm thanked, I honestly feel troubled. I didn't really do anything significant. Before I could convey this, the Observer disappeared, and the scenery in front of me rapidly changed. After a few moments, I found myself standing on solid ground.
I need to hurry—Agetha is waiting.
"Where am I? What is this place?"
First, I need to determine my current location before I can go to meet Agetha. Looking up, I see the starry sky. Looking down, I realize I'm standing on the pedestal where those who conquered the Katarov Dungeon stand. Come to think of it, I stood on the same pedestal when I came here a hundred years ago.
I need to hurry.
I ran desperately. I quickly got on the teleportation array I used when I was expelled from the village. Then, I arrived at the depths of the Katarov Dungeon.
When using the teleportation array, the destination is random. So, after arriving, I need to quickly assess where I am.
"Kugoooohh!!"
Running through the dungeon corridor, the Armored Bear Bugbear roared and charged at me.
"Out of the way, you nuisance!"
There's no time to deal with the Armored Bear Bugbear. Dodging its attacks, I continued deeper into the dungeon.
Hurry, hurry, hurry!!
Running continuously made my breath ragged. Each breath felt like my throat was tightening, my legs were cramping, and my vision blurred.
Still, I couldn't allow myself to stop.
After all, someone has been waiting for me for 100 years…
"Finally found you."
Agetha was sealed within the cage of light, seemingly asleep.
No matter how many times I see it, I find her appearance beautiful.
I reach out.
The moment my hand touches it, the cage of light crumbles with a sound like shattering glass.
"Agetha!"
I try to embrace Agetha as the seal is lifted, calling her name.
"…Kiska?"
She seems unable to fully comprehend the situation, expressing it as a question. So, I gently affirm,
"Yeah, it's me."
"Ugh, uwaahhhh!!"
Whether overwhelmed with emotion or relief, she starts crying, and I find myself tearing up as well.
"I did my best."
"Yeah, you did."
"Kiska, thank you for coming to get me."
"I should be the one apologizing. I couldn't be with you."
"It's okay, don't apologize."
We stayed like that for a while, maintaining our embrace.
Suddenly, when she lifted her face, Agetha said,
"Kiska is still my prince after all."
At that moment, her expression was a smile.
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