I had died so many times.
With each death, the world looped, yet the time within me continued its relentless flow. Because of that, the day my fiancée Namia was murdered and I was exiled to the dungeon depths felt like a memory from a lifetime ago.
In the beginning, I was driven solely by a frantic desire for revenge against the villagers who had ruined me. I eventually conquered the dungeon and exacted a satisfying vengeance upon them, but even then, things went wrong. The Puppeteer—the girl within my parasitic sword—took her own life because she couldn't become human.
That didn't sit right with me. It wasn't the future I was looking for.
And so, I chose to start over. I sought out Ageha, hoping to find a way to turn the Puppeteer back into a human, only to find that Ageha had lost her memories. I traveled with her to help her regain them, but after a grueling struggle to defeat the dungeon boss, we were ambushed by Black Ageha—another version of her. In a fit of weeping rage, she used <Reset> and annihilated the world.
Then, a mysterious entity known as the Observer sent me back a hundred years, to a time before the world's destruction. Yet, no matter where I look in this era, Ageha is nowhere to be found. Instead, I discovered that even if Hero Eligion slays the Demon King, the world is still doomed to fall when the King is resurrected through the machinations of a cult called Chaosism.
It fell to me to stop this cycle of ruin, but I couldn't help but feel a certain weariness.
"I’ve certainly come a long way..."
The thought drifted through my mind. I was so far removed from my original goals now. To be honest, when the Observer tasked me with saving the world, I hadn't expected it to be such an ordeal. I had assumed that if I could just find Ageha, her strength would be enough to save everything.
Instead, I was stranded a century in the past with no sign of her, forced to pit myself against Warrior Golgano and Holy Knight Kanaria to prevent the Demon King's return. The situation was shifting with dizzying speed. It felt as though a thousand different threads of intent had tangled together into a knot I no longer knew how to unravel.
I hadn't forgotten about the Puppeteer, and I was still worried about Ageha. Even Vampire Eudite crossed my mind; she would likely be fine without me, but I couldn't simply put her out of my head.
And what of my revenge? I had achieved it once, but that timeline was erased by Return by Death. Did I still harbor that same spite? If asked whether it was gone entirely, the answer would be no—but the white-hot rage that once fueled my every step had perhaps begun to fade.
I had found things I wanted to do more than settle old scores. I had things I needed to accomplish. But first, I had to stop Demon King Zoga.
"Should I try placing more trust in Hero Eligion?"
The realization that I couldn't defeat Warrior Golgano in a direct fight forced me to seek a different path. Hero Eligion possessed the power to slay Demon King Zoga. Therefore, if I could guide him while ensuring he wasn't assassinated by Holy Knight Kanaria, he could potentially defeat the Demon King again even if the creature were resurrected.
It was a gamble worth taking.
With my mind made up, I sprinted through the dungeon to set the stage. I ground for the <Agility Enhancement> skill and synthesized it into <Thief>. Once prepared, I intercepted Hero Eligion and guided his party directly to the Demon King’s lair.
I watched as Eligion struck down Demon King Zoga. As the dust settled, I approached him to put the next phase of my plan into motion.
"Hero, there is something I need to tell you."
"Kiska-kun?" Eligion turned, his expression softening. "What’s wrong? You look terribly serious."
I had to finish this conversation before Holy Knight Kanaria caught up with us. Now was the only time.
"The truth is... there are traitors among your companions."
"Hmm?" Eligion tilted his head, looking more confused than concerned. "And who exactly are these traitors?"
"Holy Knight Kanaria and Warrior Golgano. They are working together and plotting to assassinate you."
I had said it. Now, Eligion would be on his guard. At the very least, he wouldn't be caught unaware.
Suddenly, a sharp hiss of air cut through the silence. Before I could even blink, Eligion had drawn his sword and pressed the cold edge of the blade against my throat.
"Tell me... just what do you think you’re doing, insulting my friends like that?"
His voice was no longer bright and warm. it was a low, dangerous growl that vibrated with suppressed violence.
"Listen well, Kiska. The one thing I cannot forgive is the defamation of my comrades. You claim Kanaria would betray me? Don't make me laugh. He is a knight who has served me in the Royal Palace since I was a child. He is the person I trust most in this world. And while I’ve only known Warrior Golgano since I was chosen as the Hero, he has bled by my side. He proved his loyalty with his deeds in the Great War against the Demon King Army. And you call them traitors? Even as a joke, this is over the line."
Eligion’s eyes burned with a genuine, terrifying rage.
Stay calm, I told myself. I had anticipated this reaction. To Eligion, I was a stranger he had only just met. There was no reason for him to take my word over his lifelong allies. But I wasn't going to back down.
"Hero, I possess the power to know the future."
"What?"
"That is how I know. I have seen them betray you with my own eyes. I am willing to stake my life on this claim. If their innocence is ever proven, you may execute me on the spot."
"..."
Eligion narrowed his eyes, his grip on the sword unwavering. I just needed him to pause—to see that I wasn't flinching.
"I am asking this of you, Hero. Please, remain vigilant. You never know when they might turn their blades against you."
A long, heavy silence stretched between us. Eligion seemed to be weighing the impossible choice I had forced upon him.
"You say you can see the future. Can you prove that right now?"
I had lied about the nature of my foresight to gain leverage, but in a way, it was the truth. I had lived through the coming tragedy more times than I cared to count.
"You have already seen my power, Hero. You have seen it with your own eyes."
"How so?"
"I guided you here, didn't I? I knew exactly where Demon King Zoga was waiting. That is why I was able to lead you straight to him."
Eligion’s eyes widened. I didn't miss the flicker of doubt that finally crossed his face.
"...Why would they betray me?"
"They belong to a cult called Chaosism. Their goal is your assassination, and it is the will of their organization."
"Chaosism..." Eligion whispered, his voice trembling slightly. "Now that you mention it... it was Kanaria who introduced me to Golgano."
"Is there anything else?" he asked.
"Their ultimate goal is to resurrect the Demon King and bring the world to ruin. Holy Knight Kanaria carries a ring specifically designed for that resurrection."
Another silence followed, even longer than the last. He was judging me, looking for any hint of a lie.
"You said you would stake your life. Is that the truth?"
"It is."
"I see."
Eligion nodded slowly and sheathed his sword. "Forgive me for the threat," he said, his voice regaining some of its composure. "I won't say I trust you completely. But... I will respect the weight of a man who stakes his life on his words."
It was a start.
Internally, I breathed a sigh of relief. For once, I might actually be able to turn the tide of this tragedy.