"So, what do you think?"
Ageha gave a light twirl as she spoke.
"Yeah, you look great."
"I see. Thank you."
Apparently, proper etiquette dictated dressing up more than usual when visiting the theater. To that end, we had visited a tailor beforehand to have expensive outfits made.
Ageha wore a long black dress. The design featured translucent fabric around her shoulders and chest, and she wore a large flower-shaped accessory in her hair.
"You look handsome too, Kiska."
"I—I see."
I found myself flinching slightly at the praise.
I was wearing a suit. I remembered the hefty price tag I'd paid for it—or rather, the price Ageha had paid, since I didn't have a cent to my name.
Once I received my reward from His Majesty, I’d have to use that money to pay her back.
"Well then, shall we go?"
Ageha stepped up beside me and linked her arm with mine. Together, we walked toward the theater.
◆
The tickets Highness Eligion had given us were indeed for the "special seats"—a private box on the third floor with the best view in the house.
It was a secluded space where no other spectators could see us. Just the two of us. Furthermore, it seemed that if we rang a small bell, a staff member would come by to pour us drinks at our leisure.
"By the way, Ageha, how old are you?"
"Why are you asking that now?"
"I was wondering if you were old enough to drink."
Ageha had the appearance of a lovely young maiden. In this country, anyone who wasn't a small child was generally allowed to drink, so I assumed it wouldn't be an issue.
"My age changes quite a bit depending on whether you count the time I was sealed or not."
"Maybe it's better not to count that..."
"Then I'm fifteen."
"Then alcohol should be fine."
"And how old are you, Kiska?"
"I'm eighteen."
"You're unexpectedly older than me."
Did that mean I looked younger than my actual age?
We ordered wine, filled our glasses, and shared a toast. Shortly after, the performance began.
When I heard the word "play," I had imagined actors simply performing a drama, but the show actually opened with a powerful orchestral performance. The actors then began to deliver their lines through song.
Ageha told me that this style was called an opera.
Before I knew it, I was completely enthralled. The story followed a protagonist who fought with sword in hand to save a beautiful angel who had been put into a deep sleep by God for an act of defiance. At the climax, the protagonist kissed the angel; she woke up, and the two swore their eternal love to one another.
The production was a long one, spanning several hours, but it felt as though it was over in the blink of an eye.
I had come to the theater on a whim just because it was popular, but I never expected to be so moved. Even now, my heart was pounding in my chest, the excitement refusing to fade.
"That was wonderful, wasn't it?"
When I spoke to Ageha, she gave a small nod. Her cheeks were flushed red, perhaps from the wine.
Since we had already eaten a light dinner before the show, there was nothing left to do but go back. We walked together toward the Royal Palace where we were staying.
During the walk, neither of us said a word. The afterglow of the opera was still echoing in our minds.
"It's late. We should probably get some sleep."
I spoke up once we reached our rooms. Ageha and I had been given separate quarters, and it had become our routine lately to return to our respective rooms before bed.
I made a move to head into my own room, but I found I couldn't.
Ageha was clutching my sleeve, refusing to let go.
"Ageha...?"
I called her name, but she said nothing. She wouldn't even meet my eyes, keeping her head bowed. Her face was a burning, brilliant red.
I didn't need to think to understand what she was trying to say.
Suddenly, I remembered that day—the day I had rejected her. Back then, my heart hadn't yet healed, and I hadn't truly understood her, so I had pushed her away.
But that rejection had hurt her deeply, and I had lived with that regret ever since. I had already decided that if the moment ever came again, I would accept her.
Looking at her now, she managed to squeeze out a few words in a trembling voice.
"I don't want to be apart tonight..."
The moment she said it, something inside me finally snapped.
◆
I’ve done it now...
I lay in bed, filled with a sudden sense of secondary reflection. Ageha was sleeping soundly beside me. Now that the heat of the moment had passed, my head was starting to clear.
First I’d laid a hand on Nyau, and now I’d done the same with Ageha. Thinking about it like that, I felt like a total scumbag.
Then again, if I had ignored Ageha’s feelings, she likely would have ended up either killing me or herself, so it wasn't as if I had much of a choice. Though, I had to admit, having a beautiful girl throw herself at me was more than my willpower could handle.
Besides, Nyau shouldn't have any memory of what happened between us, so that should technically count as a "no count." Probably. Ageha seemed like the jealous type, so I absolutely couldn't let her find out about that, though.
Still, now that I’d established a fait accompli, I had to take responsibility. Did that mean I had to go meet her parents? Wait, Ageha said she came from another world. Does that mean her parents are in another world too? Meeting them might be difficult, considering I had no idea how to travel between worlds.
I decided I’d ask her about it in more detail once morning came.
◆
I opened my eyes.
Right, it's morning.
"Ageha..."
Muttering her name, I shifted my arms and legs, intending to pull her into a hug.
"What's wrong with you?"
Wait. Ageha was standing right in front of me. My own body, which should have been lying in bed, was standing upright on the ground.
I scanned my surroundings. I was definitely not in the guest room at the Royal Palace.
"Where... where are we?"
"Are you daydreaming? Get a grip. We're about to go kill the Demon King. If you're going to be this much of a liability, stay out of my way."
"The Demon King..."
I whispered the words as I realized we were back inside the dungeon.
"But we already defeated him..."
"Hah? Are you actually still asleep?"
The Ageha before me made a suspicious face. This atmosphere... it was her "Black Ageha" persona.
"......!"
As the reality of the situation finally sank in, the blood drained from my face.
Time had wound back again. And since we were back to a point before the Demon King’s defeat, that meant I had been sent back at least a week.
That meant I had been killed. But by whom?
There had been no one in that room except me and Ageha. Had someone slipped in and attacked us while we slept? Or had Ageha herself killed me? I couldn't think of a single motive for her to do so. On the other hand, I didn't have any other suspects in mind, either.
"Hey, Ageha. Are you aware that we looped?"
"We've done enough loops to last a lifetime. What about it?"
That was the wrong way to ask.
"Ageha... do you have any memory of us... doing anything intimate together?"
"Wh-What are you talking about all of a sudden!?"
Ageha’s face went red as she recoiled in shock.
"It's an important question. Please, just answer me."
"I have no such memory... What is wrong with you?"
Until now, Ageha had always retained her memories through every loop.
But for some reason, she didn't seem to remember a single thing.