The fact that time had looped meant one thing: I had been killed.
I had assumed my next death would only come when the world was on the brink of total collapse, yet here I was, dead before I could even verify such a thing.
"For now, I just need to go meet Assassin Noc, right?"
"Yeah, exactly. How did you know?"
"I've already lived through this once."
"Oh? Really?" Ageha looked at me with a suspicious expression.
"Yeah. We’ve already defeated the Demon King once. After that, someone killed me, and that triggered the loop. Seriously, do you really not remember any of it?" I asked her again, just to be sure.
"No, I don't..." Ageha replied, falling into deep thought. "Well, whatever. If you've already experienced it once, there’s no need for me to explain everything. Let’s hurry up and slay the Demon King."
We had already killed Demon King Zoga in the previous timeline. If that was the case, there shouldn't be any problem as long as we followed the same steps.
From that point on, everything proceeded exactly as it had before.
After a brief meeting with Assassin Noc, we went our separate ways, and I acquired Skill: Thief. Ageha knocked out Hero Eligion and released Ageha's Seal. We defeated Warrior Golgano and Holy Knight Kanaria.
Then, while I was recovering Sage Nyau, Ageha took down Demon King Zoga.
"Hey, Ageha."
"What is it, Kiska?"
"Is it really necessary to kill Assassin Noc?"
I couldn't help but feel concerned about that one point.
"You'd prefer it if he wasn't around too, wouldn't you, Kiska?"
"Well, that might be true, but..."
If Assassin Noc existed, the Stigma of the Alcusians as traitors would only spread further. However, I felt like everything would be fine if I just explained the situation clearly to Highness Eligion. After all, in the previous timeline, he had shown us nothing but understanding. Was it really worth killing him over?
"No. I'm definitely killing that guy."
Even after I tried to explain, Ageha stubbornly refused to budge. Judging by her expression, she had a reason for wanting him dead that went beyond just protecting the reputation of the Alcusians. I decided not to press the issue.
In the end, after defeating Demon King Zoga, Ageha caught Assassin Noc by surprise and killed him.
Everything proceeded without incident after that. We returned to Kataroff Village via Sage Nyau's Teleportation Circle. The next day, I explained the circumstances to Highness Eligion, and he accepted the explanation. Then, alongside him and Sage Nyau, we headed for the Royal Capital by carriage.
Just like last time, Sage Nyau spent the journey crying inside the carriage for some reason. Upon reaching the Royal Capital, we had an audience with His Majesty the King and then attended the banquet.
Nothing had changed.
"Kiska, can I come in?"
"Yeah, come on in."
I wondered what she wanted so late at night as I answered the door. Ageha looked as though she had just finished bathing; her hair was still damp. In the previous timeline, we had gone to sleep in our separate rooms after our baths.
"What's wrong? Visiting at this hour."
"I just wanted to be with you, Kiska. So I came."
Saying that, Ageha climbed onto my bed.
"Kiska, let's do it."
She made the request with a beguiling smile.
That day, when I had rejected Ageha, she had committed suicide. That event had left me with deep psychological trauma. If I turned her down again, would she die? That fear haunted me.
It was, in a sense, a curse.
And so, I found myself unable to refuse her.
◆
"Hey, Ageha."
"What is it, Kiska?"
"I'm supposed to die six days from now..."
"What do you mean?" Ageha tilted her head in confusion.
I proceeded to explain everything that had happened.
"I see. So you're going to die in six days."
"What should I do?"
"Won't it be fine? I'll protect you, Kiska."
Hearing Ageha say that brought me a sense of relief. If it was Ageha, she could surely repel any enemy that came our way.
"Ageha, thank you..."
I hugged her as I spoke, and we moved straight into the second round.