I opened my eyes. The sight of the dungeon walls closing in around me made it clear—I was back inside Kataroff Dungeon.
It seemed the loop had been successful.
"Kiska!"
Just as the voice reached my ears, Ageha lunged into my arms, burying her face in my chest.
I remembered what had happened just before the reset.
I had been killed by Ageha’s own hand while she was consumed by rage.
"Ageha..."
I whispered her name, my voice thick with trepidation.
For all I knew, she might still be furious.
"Kiska, I'm so sorry. I was wrong."
For some reason, her heart had changed.
I wondered what could have happened to cause such a shift.
"What do you mean, you were wrong...?"
"Killing you and repeating this time over and over was a mistake. I’m going to be sealed, so you can rest easy now."
As she spoke, Ageha trembled.
It made sense.
I had been sealed away myself for a short time, so I understood the horror of it. I never wanted to experience that kind of suffering again.
"Hey, I have a proposal."
"What is it?"
"Is there any reason I can't be sealed away with you?"
"...Is that really okay?"
Ageha looked at me, her expression a mix of hope and bewilderment.
"I don't want to leave you alone."
"But it’s incredibly painful."
"I know. I’m prepared for that."
"I see... It’s strange. Knowing that I’ll be with you makes the seal I dreaded so much seem almost bearable. Because you’ll be right there next to me."
"As long as I’m with you, I won’t have any anxieties either."
She let out a soft, "Ehehe," and smiled. Good. It looked like her spirit had finally returned.
"So, what do I need to do?"
"Hmm, you don't actually need to do anything, Kiska."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah. Strictly speaking, you weren't supposed to exist in this era in the first place."
"I suppose you're right."
"If you wait here, everything should come to its natural end. So, Kiska, come to where the Demon King is. I have a few things to take care of, so I’m going to disappear for a bit."
"Yeah, I understand."
I nodded, and Ageha vanished from before my eyes.
Come to think of it, at this stage in the timeline, Ageha was sealed within the Holy Sword held by Highness Eligion. The version of her I had just been talking to was merely a clone.
After that, I made my way through the dungeon with a light step.
First, I headed to the room where the Bugbears appeared in large numbers to obtain the Skill <Agility Enhancement>. Afterward, I used Synthesis to acquire the Skill <Thief>.
I didn't know if I would actually need to fight, but since there was only an upside to having these Skills, I decided to grab them just in case.
All that remained was to head to the location of Demon King Zoga, just as Ageha had instructed.
However, I felt a lingering sense of unease regarding Sage Nyau.
There should still be time. I decided to find Sage Nyau and guide her through the dungeon.
With that thought, I changed my course.
◆
"She's not here..."
I muttered to myself.
I had spent quite a long time searching for Sage Nyau, wandering aimlessly through the dungeon, but there was no sign of her.
I was worried, but I needed to get back to the Demon King’s chamber soon.
I decided to head toward the Demon King’s location regardless. It was possible that she had already arrived there herself.
"Ah, Kiska-san."
Midway there, I heard someone call my name.
It was Sage Nyau.
Behind her stood Assassin Noc and Warrior Golgano.
"Oh! You're alive, kid!"
Warrior Golgano called out to me with a boisterous, carefree smile.
It was a complicated situation, but since there was no reason to be hostile right now, I simply nodded and said, "Yes, thanks to you."
I see, so the three of them had been traveling together.
No wonder I couldn't find her.
Come to think of it, during the timeline where I had struggled to defeat Demon King Zoga, these three had arrived at Highness Eligion's side together as well.
"Where are you all headed?"
"Ah, this guy says he knows where the Lord Hero is, so he's acting as our guide."
As Warrior Golgano answered, Assassin Noc, hidden beneath his hood, gave a silent nod.
I see. So Assassin Noc knew the Demon King's location. Ageha had likely told him.
"Understood. I'll join you."
The four of us then proceeded toward the chamber where Demon King Zoga and Highness Eligion were.
"Good, everyone is finally here."
Highness Eligion spoke as we entered the chamber.
At his feet lay the cooling corpse of Demon King Zoga. I see. Highness Eligion had already finished the job.
Holy Knight Kanaria had already reached the room as well and was standing beside the prince.
Ageha was nowhere to be seen. She was likely still sealed within the prince's Holy Sword.
I wondered what would happen now.
Ageha hadn't given me any specific orders, so I had no choice but to watch in silence.
The event happened in an instant.
Highness Eligion collapsed, blood spraying from his body.
Beside him stood Assassin Noc, a knife gripped in his hand. He had slashed the prince with speed so blinding the eye couldn't follow.
"You bastard! What do you think you're doing?!"
Holy Knight Kanaria roared, raising her sword.
In the next moment, however, she was coughing up blood, stumbling back in shock.
Assassin Noc’s movements were simply too fast; she was utterly outclassed.
"Noc-san, what is the meaning of this?!"
I heard Sage Nyau’s cry of disbelief.
At that moment, I remembered. In the previous loop, Ageha had intended to kill Sage Nyau without a second thought. I had managed to persuade her otherwise that time, but Ageha’s disregard for Nyau’s life remained the same. If Nyau became an obstacle, Ageha would surely order Assassin Noc to kill her.
I had to prevent that—
"Nyau, stop!"
Acting on instinct, I lunged forward and pinned Sage Nyau from behind.
"Wh—What do you think you're—!"
I clamped my hand over her mouth. Without her voice, she couldn't chant magic.
"Ageha! Order him to stop killing! Don't shed more blood than necessary!"
I didn't know if she could hear me, but I screamed anyway.
Whether my plea reached her or not, Assassin Noc turned his gaze away from us and shifted his focus to Warrior Golgano.
"Well, this has turned into a bit of a mess," Golgano muttered.
As he spoke, he deployed his Parasitic Scythe: Kyogenmawashi.
"Hey, Kanaria, get up! Let’s take this guy down together!"
"Yeah... I know."
Holy Knight Kanaria forced herself to stand.
It seemed she had remained conscious despite Noc's lethal strike.
She then deployed her Parasitic Sword: Puppeteer. It seemed she was prepared to fight to the death.
A two-on-one battle erupted between Assassin Noc, Warrior Golgano, and Holy Knight Kanaria.
Both the warrior and the knight were undoubtedly powerful, yet Assassin Noc wasn't just holding his own—he seemed to be overwhelming them.
Suddenly anxious, I looked back toward Highness Eligion.
A strand of his hair moved.
He wasn't dead yet.
As I was watching him, a sharp pain shot through my hand.
Sage Nyau had bitten down on my finger with all her strength.
"Gah—!"
Reflexively, I let go.
"In the name of Nyau, I command. Order born from chaos. The absence of good and evil—"
Nyau immediately began her chant.
I hesitated, wondering if I should stop her. No, I recognized this incantation. If she was about to trigger the magic I suspected, there was no need to interfere.
"Teleportation Magic, First Tier: Regreso!"
In an instant, a magic circle flared to life around Nyau.
As I thought, it was teleportation magic.
Assassin Noc suddenly twisted his body and rolled across the ground. In that single movement, he had snatched the Holy Sword Hagentia from Highness Eligion.
"You bastard! Give that back!"
Holy Knight Kanaria prepared to lunge at Noc once more.
Swish! The sound of air being sliced rang through the room.
"Gah..."
A massive spray of blood erupted from Kanaria’s mouth.
Her chest had been slashed open in a wide, diagonal gash. Her grip failed, and the Parasitic Sword: Puppeteer clattered to the floor.
With his free hand, Assassin Noc made a swift, grabbing motion.
In his palm was the Ring Required for the Demon King's Resurrection.
If that ring wasn't secured, the Demon King would eventually be resurrected, and the world would be doomed regardless of what we did here.
By the time I looked back, the light of the magic circle cast by Sage Nyau had faded.
The teleportation had been a success. Sage Nyau, Highness Eligion, Holy Knight Kanaria, Warrior Golgano, and the Demon King Zoga's Corpse had all vanished from the chamber.
The only ones left were me and Assassin Noc.
I see. I hadn't been included in Sage Nyau's teleportation. She must have perceived me as an enemy.
Well, I had been quite rough when I tried to neutralize her.
I knew it was unavoidable, but I still felt a twinge of loneliness.
Even so, there was no time for sentimentality.
I had to revive Ageha now.