Chapter 198 : Chapter 198

Chapter 198 : Weaving the Threads of the Past (4)

You ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍see, I like weak birds that believe they can fly high.

Someday, ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍that bird will truly force itself to fly high.

Because ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍it will firmly believe that is the form it was originally meant to become.

But……if ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍it carries a wish beyond its means in its heart, it must pay the price. It will fall from a higher sky and be wounded more miserably.

Yes, ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍I love seeing that.

Once ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍I see something like that, I cannot endure without loving it, can I?

Even if my movement was clumsy, there was no way I would have trouble cutting down a noble young lady who had likely never held a weapon in her life.

I had aimed at the target precisely, and it was certainly within range.

And then.

-SLICE—!

The clear sound of flesh being cut rang out.

The sensation transmitted through my fingertips, one I had honed through countless repetitions, told me so.

I had definitely cut her.

What should have followed was the obvious scene I had seen enough to grow sick of.

Fresh blood scattering, and the severed body losing its balance and collapsing to the ground.

Yes. It was only natural and inevitable that the situation would progress that way.

It had to.

But the scene unfolding before me went far beyond that expectation.

“Ah…….”

Robelia’s red eyes retained their earlier surprise, while her gaze alone moved toward the wound.

It was not the ordinary pain or fear a person would show. It was not a negative emotion……

It was merely the expression of simple curiosity.

A mechanical action that did nothing but confirm what had happened.

No fresh blood scattered.

At the place I had cut, there was only pitch-black mud or shadow, writhing in the shape of a sword strike’s scar.

“……!”

Witnessing that sight, I had no choice but to doubt my eyes.

No choice but to be shocked.

Because I already knew this scene.

I knew whom this kind of scene appeared to describe in the original .

‘……The Black Bride.’

Yes. That was it.

This scene was—

The First Astro of Ad Astra, and one of ’s worst formidable enemies.

It was far too similar to the description of the ‘Black Bride’s’ wounds.

In , the Black Bride was a kind of Hidden Boss.

She did not actively cooperate with Ad Astra, nor did she possess deep faith in The One.

She was merely a collaborator who walked alongside them because they were heading in the same direction.

Thus, in a normal style of play, it was practically impossible to encounter her.

Of course, she was an unavoidable villain with neither normal goals nor a normal way of thinking, so I had expected to confront her somehow.

But I had thought that day would come much later.

The reason I had pushed confronting the Black Bride further down the list was partly because she was not someone who moved proactively, but the greatest reason lay in her characteristics.

‘A strange type of enemy specialized in Mental Attacks.’

Rather than directly threatening an opponent with physical or magical attacks, her combat style was to inflict mental shock and make them lose their fighting spirit.

That might not have been an especially poor matchup for the other protagonists , but for me, it was terrible.

‘If my fighting spirit itself is broken, even the Regressions of 『Overcoming Ten Thousand Deaths』 are useless.’

Fundamentally, my combat style was based on repetition through the Regressions of 『Overcoming Ten Thousand Deaths』.

Since she was an opponent who completely destroyed the very premise of that combat style, I had intended to approach her with extreme caution.

‘Only after sufficiently training my mind, body, and Mana.’

But.

“…….”

The information thrust before me now clearly proved that Robelia il Enlight wielded the Black Bride’s power, or at least had some kind of relationship with her.

‘Enormous Mana, bizarre mental pressure……was that why?!’

In that instant, everything fell into place.

The fact that Robelia had suddenly acquired Mana she could never obtain through ordinary means.

The fact that, despite having deep personal trauma, I had suffered a bizarrely severe mental blow even though she had not revealed her true intentions.

If Robelia had acquired the Black Bride’s power, all of it could be explained.

But.

‘Why, and how?’

The first thing that came to mind was a question.

I could say with certainty that there had been no connection between Robelia and the Black Bride in the original work.

If it was true that the Black Bride had given Robelia power, why had she done so?

And even if there was a reason, how had she bestowed that power?

Everything was obscured.

But what took priority over those questions was—

‘……This is dangerous.’

A danger signal rang out like a scream from a place even deeper than instinct.

If my guess was correct, the situation would become extremely troublesome if Robelia truly tried to attack me.

And through my earlier action, I had provoked Robelia.

Was there any act that displayed hostility more deeply than not merely wounding her, but trying to cut her down?

A cold, ominous feeling climbed up my back and spread through my entire body.

If she became angry because of this and truly turned hostile toward me—

‘Should I Regress even now?’

With that thought, I reflexively placed my hand on the pistol inside my clothes.

But I did not aim that pistol’s trigger at my temple again.

Because before I could do anything else, something even more startling happened before me.

“……Ahaha.”

It was not laughter born from mockery or any other negative meaning.

It was laughter born from delight and joy so pure that it felt strange.

But that was only a sign of what was to come.

“Ahaha, ahahahaha……!!”

Before long, Robelia literally began to laugh madly.

She pressed one hand against her deeply flushed cheek, while the other lovingly stroked the distorted scar left by my sword strike.

“…….”

-STEP.

At an instinctive and unconscious level, I took a step back.

It was something I had never done since falling into the Enlight family estate.

But it was certainly something I must have done someday.

And so, I understood very well what that action meant.

I was afraid.

Of the opponent before me.

Of Robelia il Enlight.

Still.

And then.

“Rain……your sister is so happy……!”

Robelia continued speaking as though shouting, still wearing that smile stained with madness.

“You have not changed, have you? You still foolishly believe that pointless actions have meaning, and you keep moving forward with all your strength?”

Each word pierced my heart like a dagger.

“Is it not despairing? You became strong so desperately, yet you are still nothing……nothing has changed!”

You had become strong so desperately, yet nothing had changed.

……She was right.

I had repeated thousands of deaths, suffering pain beyond count, and somehow acquired strength.

I had cut down many formidable enemies with these hands as well.

I believed I was fighting admirably against those powerful enemies.

‘But if this is how it is.’

What was the situation now?

Nothing had changed since I first fell into this world, into the Enlight family estate.

Each time I grew stronger and moved forward, barriers that looked equally impossible to overcome stood in my way.

As though mocking all my previous accomplishments, they appeared in even more difficult and despairing forms.

Forms that seemed impossible to overcome.

If she merely chose to, Robelia could literally rummage through my mind and brain.

But why did she not?

‘Because I am not a threat.’

Through hundreds of Regressions, I had not uncovered clear information, but I could infer the feelings she held toward Rain Enlight.

To her, my existence—Rain Enlight’s existence—was the greatest amusement in her life.

Not a threat, but an object of amusement.

The reason I could think while barely holding on to the thread of reason was simply because of her whims and preferences.

‘This is miserable.’

What expression was I wearing now?

The only things I knew for certain were that I was frozen in place.

And that I was in despair.

-STEP.

Robelia gathered her mad laughter, then approached me with an endlessly affectionate smile.

“Rain.”

“Keep struggling.”

The lingering flush on her cheeks made that smile look so utterly pure.

“Believe that pointless things have meaning, and run forward with all your strength.”

Mercy?

“Show me that pitiful, and therefore adorable, form of yours—and the miserable end that awaits you.”

No. This was for amusement.

It was to completely deny and humiliate my life, Rain Enlight’s life.

“As your reward, you will enjoy eternal happiness in my arms. Yes, together.”

Robelia stepped close enough for her breath to reach me. With an innocent smile, she stood on tiptoe and caressed my face.

“I promise, my beloved younger brother.”

Words that sounded endlessly affectionate, and thus made their distortion all the clearer.

“……Ahaha.”

Then, a smile bloomed across her face.

-SWISH.

With that, Robelia’s form turned into shadow and scattered.

She disappeared from sight, and I could no longer sense her Mana.

She had left completely.

-THUD.

The moment I recognized that fact, my legs gave out and I collapsed where I stood.

“……Hah.”

As the breath that had been halted finally escaped, I raised a hand to my mouth and tried to guess its shape.

Ah.

Was that it?

“Ha ha…….”

Was I relieved right now?

“Hahaha…….”

A hollow laugh burst out.

Even after suffering that much humiliation, even after my life itself had been denied from root to tip.

Was I relieved that I had survived the crisis?

“Hahahaha……!”

Laughter burst out as I mocked my own pathetic state.

No, was even that an excuse?

Was I actually rejoicing, relieved that I had survived?

It did not matter.

What mattered was that, from immediately after I had fallen into this world until now—

Nothing had changed.

It took a relatively long time to collect myself from the shock.

I emptied my mind and merely stared blankly at the night sky, filled with stars.

No.

It would be a lie to say I had emptied my mind.

‘……Could even these pessimistic thoughts be the influence of her power?’

An ability close to the Black Bride’s Authority, one that inflicted shock directly upon the mind itself.

I could blame all of that despair on the ability.

‘……No.’

But before long, I had no choice but to stop that escape.

‘I was utterly defeated.’

I could not even become a threat, and because of that, I had survived only by depending on the enemy’s whims.

‘When else have I ever suffered such humiliation?’

I had no choice but to feel defeated not only in the realm of power, but also in the realm of logic.

Her words that nothing had changed from the past.

They had been words meant for the Original Rain Enlight, but they carried the same meaning for me as well.

Because reality was proving Robelia’s words true.

Nothing had changed.

At least for now, I could find no way to refute that statement.

Were all my struggles truly pointless?

Was I merely committing the foolishness of believing pointless actions had meaning and moving forward?

Would nothing but a miserable end await me?

“……I do not know.”

Muttering that, I looked down at my clenched fist.

And then.

-CREAK.

Only then did I realize that I was gripping it with enough force to crush it.

“Still, it angers me.”

Bleeding and crushing my hand were obviously painful, but even so, it was a kind of consolation.

It proved that my heart had not been broken, that I was still trying to fight somehow.

A consolation for my own state of mind.

“Is everything pointless?”

I threw that question into the empty air, and naturally, no answer returned.

Yes. No one could answer that question.

Not unless they were an existence that knew everything occurring in this world, everything that had occurred, and everything that would occur.

And at least, I was not such an existence.

Thus.

“……For now, shall I keep moving forward?”

That was all I could do.

I did not know what lay ahead, but even so.

I could only move forward while believing there would be some meaning in it.

-STEP.

I began to slowly walk out of the forest, where the air had settled heavily.

This front would likely enter a lull before long.

Then I would have time to return to Endinium for a while.

I would be able to make time to stop by the Imperial Capital as well.

“……I need to prepare.”

Next time, I would not simply be defeated so helplessly like this.

Somehow, I would find a way, overcome it……

And survive.

That was all I vowed.