The cause of death was suicide.
She had hung herself and died right near where I had been sleeping.
"Gah—"
The bile rose in my throat, and I vomited right there on the floor.
...I didn't understand.
Did she really kill herself just because she was rejected by the person she liked?
What the hell is that supposed to mean?
It was as if she was trying to make it my fault.
"This makes no sense," I muttered.
I wanted to convince myself that I wasn't to blame. Yes, this was just like an accident.
After that, I took her down. Perhaps because she was now just a corpse, she felt incredibly heavy.
I probably should have buried her, but there was no such place in the Dungeon, so I laid her body on the bed instead.
Then, I left the Hideout.
It wasn't long before I was surrounded by several Monsters.
The only reason I had made it this far was because of Ageha's help. Without her there, I had no way to break through. I met a gruesome end shortly after.
◆
"Ugh."
My consciousness snapped back, and I realized I had undergone a Return by Death.
I was back inside the Treasure Chest Room.
My heart felt like lead. A young girl had taken her own life because of a choice I made.
What should I have done? Should I have just accepted her love?
But I have Namia. Wouldn't it be unfaithful to choose Ageha while I still have Namia? No, Namia is already dead. To hell with fidelity.
Objectively speaking, Ageha is cute, and having her adore me didn't exactly feel bad. In that case, I should have just accepted her.
Yeah. I was the one who was wrong.
Before I knew it, I was back at the barrier where she was sealed.
Once again, I reached out my hand.
The barrier shattered, just like last time. It felt almost too easy.
This time, I will accept her.
"...Who are you?"
She woke and spoke those words.
"It's Kiska."
"Kiska? I have no knowledge of that name. But why... why is it that you carry such a foul stench?"
Something was wrong.
The being in front of me felt like a total stranger, even if she had Ageha's face.
"Are you... Ageha?" I asked.
"Ah, I see. Then this is not our first encounter," she said, as if things had finally clicked.
Since she knew about the Save & Reset Skill, it was only natural for her to deduce that if I knew her name on a "first" meeting, I must have met her before time was rewound.
"And I presume that in the previous iteration, you acted as an enemy to us. That is why you reek so."
"W-Wait, it’s a misunderstanding. I’m not your enemy—"
I couldn't finish the sentence.
Her hand was clamped firmly around my throat.
"Listen well. Do not delude yourself into thinking everything resets just because you die. Even in death, your actions are carved into your soul."
"W-Who are you?"
"I would never reveal my true identity to a wicked thing like you."
"Let me talk to Ageha."
"No. Ageha rejects you."
What the hell... What was she talking about?
"A warning: Do not involve yourself with Ageha ever again."
As she whispered that, she snapped my neck.
◆
"I... I don't get it..."
My consciousness cleared, and I understood I had experienced another Return by Death.
I had been killed by someone wearing Ageha's skin.
'Do not involve yourself with Ageha ever again.'
The words echoed in my skull.
Fine. I get it. If that's how it's going to be, I won't go back to her. I won't break the seal. That should satisfy them.
However, breaking through the Dungeon without Ageha's help was going to be nearly impossible. Considering that, I needed to find another way.
"Maybe I should try the other Teleportation Circles."
Besides the one leading to Ageha, there were two others. There might be something beyond them that could break this deadlock.
With that resolve, I stepped onto the second Teleportation Circle.
◆
The destination was another single-path corridor.
I followed it until I spotted something ahead.
A table, a chair—and a girl sitting in it. She was dressed in a lavish, noble style.
"My, how rare. For an intruder to enter this place."
She spoke while daintily sipping tea.
"Uh..."
I was stunned by how out-of-place she was in the Dungeon. Who the hell was she?
"Well then, what business do you have in a place like this?"
She turned her gaze toward me.
"Um, I'm looking for an exit to get out of the Dungeon," I answered honestly.
I was hoping she might actually point me toward the way out.
"Ah, I see..."
She nodded as if satisfied. And then—
"How very impolite. To think you would maintain such an attitude when addressing me, the great True Ancestor Vampire, Eudite."
"—Huh?"
She was in front of me before I could blink. A Crimson Katana was already buried deep in my chest.
"Atone for your sin with your life."
The world went dark the moment I heard her voice.