<Save & Reset>.
It was the skill I’d received from Ageha.
I’d used it to rewind time more times than I could count. Yet, looking back on it now with a level head, I realized I didn’t understand the first thing about it. I’d convinced myself I was mastering its use, but did I truly understand its real meaning?
Had she really just said, "Reset"?
I recalled Black Ageha’s whisper, and in that same instant, the nature of my skill crossed my mind.
I’d always assumed <Save & Reset> was a single, unified ability—two parts of a whole that allowed me to Return by Death. But the moment Black Ageha uttered that word, I realized my fundamental understanding of the skill might have been entirely wrong.
What if <Save> and <Reset> were actually distinct skills, each possessing its own unique power?
And what if she had only activated the power of <Reset>...?
If so, what exactly was the power of <Reset>?
The answer began to manifest the moment those words left her lips. In an heartbeat, the world was swallowed by darkness.
"Ah...?"
My consciousness flickered back to life.
I was immediately struck by a sense of profound bewilderment. Ahead of me stretched an eternity of darkness. There was no ground beneath my feet, no sky above my head. I couldn’t even discern a horizon.
"What is this place?"
I remembered everything up until Black Ageha said "<Reset>." But what happened after that? Before I knew it, I’d been cast into a world of absolute nothingness.
"Hey! Is anyone there!?"
I shouted into the void, but my voice was simply devoured by the dark. It seemed I’d wandered into a world where nothing existed.
Still, I couldn’t just stand there. I decided to pick a direction and walk, hoping to find something—anything.
I had no idea how many hours I spent wandering. No matter how far I traveled, the scenery remained the same. Without a sun to track, I couldn’t even guess how much time had slipped away since my arrival.
"Ah, I’ve finally found you. So this is where you were."
"Huh?"
I spun around at the sudden voice to find 'something' standing there.
'Something' was the only way I could describe it. I lacked the vocabulary to explain what had just spoken to me. Its shape was so far removed from any existence I knew that it defied description.
The best I could say was that while it spoke like a Human, it was not human. It was far removed from any form of life, and just as far removed from any known matter.
"You look surprised," the thing said.
"Yeah... too much has happened. My head’s a mess."
"True, you’ve certainly had a difficult time lately. It’s been quite entertaining to watch, though."
"Right..."
I didn't really follow what it was saying, so I gave a noncommittal shrug. "So... where is this? And what are you?"
"Hmm, a fair question," the thing replied. "This is the End of the Destroyed World. As for what I am... well, I can’t quite think of a good word to define myself."
The End of the Destroyed World? What was that supposed to mean?
"Wait... has the world been destroyed?"
"Yes, exactly. Look around—there’s nothing here, is there? Because the world ended, this void is all that remains."
"I see."
A World of Void. It certainly seemed like the most accurate way to describe this place.
"You don’t seem particularly shocked," it noted. "The world has ended. Usually, I’d expect a bit more of a reaction to news like that."
"The scale is just too big, I guess. It hasn't really sunk in."
"I see. You have a point there."
Still, it was strange. If the world was gone, why was I still conscious?
"Are you... a god?" I asked.
If the being before me was a god, it would at least make some sense. The thing was certainly supernatural enough.
"No. Unlike a god, I am not omnipotent. It would be arrogant of me to claim such a title. Let’s see... you can call me the Observer."
"The Observer?"
"Yes. My role is to observe the world."
"I see..."
I didn’t really get it, but I sensed that pressing for details wouldn't get me anywhere, so I let it drop.
"Anyway, if the world is gone, why am I still awake?"
"Because you exist outside the laws of Causality. Surely you’ve realized that by now?"
Outside Causality. I wasn’t entirely sure what that meant, but I assumed I was able to keep my sense of self because of <Save & Reset>.
"Was Ageha the reason the world was destroyed?"
"Yes. She rewrote Causality."
"Right..."
Talking to this Observer was frustrating. Every answer only led to more questions.
"Now then, let me ask you something," the Observer said, its tone shifting to something more formal. "Do you wish to save the world?"
I blinked.
"As the Observer, it’s quite distressing for me to have the world remain in this ruined state. Therefore, I’m thinking of entrusting the fate of the world to you. What do you say?"
"Well..."
"What’s with that reaction? You don’t seem very enthusiastic."
"I mean, I’d like to save it if I can, but is that really something someone like me can do?"
Saving the world felt like such a massive, heavy responsibility. My honest feeling was that I simply wasn't the man for the job.
"Whether you can or not is up to you. But hmm, this is a problem... All right, perhaps we should look at it from a different angle."
As if struck by a sudden inspiration, the Observer spoke again.
"Do you wish to save Ageha Tsubaki?"
"To that? Yes."
The image of Black Ageha’s tears flickered in my mind. I wanted to know why she had been crying. I was worried about the other Ageha, too—the one I’d traveled with. I’d grown quite fond of her. Besides, I still didn't even know why there were two of them.
"A fine answer. Then I shall entrust the world's fate to you."
The Observer began to perform some kind of task. I couldn't even begin to comprehend what it was doing.
"Two things to remember. Your <Save & Reset> is still functioning, but be careful how you use it. Second, once I determine the world has been saved, I will forcibly return you to your original Timeline."
"...Understood."
I nodded, though it still felt like I was dreaming.
"Well then. Off you go to the time before the world's destruction—specifically, a hundred years into the past."
The Observer didn’t have hands, but I had the feeling that if it did, it would have been waving them at me.
"Ah—"
The next thing I knew, my boots were treading on solid earth and I was basking in the Light of the sun.
I’d need to start by figuring out exactly where I was.