Another Dose of Mental Healing
Another Mental Healing? "Hello, Emil." That bastard's smile from back then still haunted me.
"Damn it, ugh...! Cut the crap━!! Edriiic━!!"
"It's the end anyway, so don't get so mad. You're dying regardless. Wouldn't it be nicer to go peacefully?"
It happened after the main event with Chris concluded. A few weeks after Chris and I officially became lovers.
I'd gone to a conquered dungeon near the academy at Chris's summons. But waiting there wasn't Chris—it was Edric. Her fiancé, whom she'd promised to break off the engagement with soon.
"Fuck...! Ugh, fuuuck━!! What the...!"
"Yeah, why'd you touch someone else's fiancée without permission?"
The dungeon wasn't a trap—it was bait instead of Chris. A place that should have been cleared of monsters. But the pit was filled with swarms of slimes and venomous insect monsters.
Edric sneered down at me as I fell into it.
Squish━!
"Gahk...!"
As my body thrashed tangled in slime, a venomous stinger pierced my back.
"Ouch, that must hurt."
"Grrrrraaaahhh...!!"
"Don't worry, though—not everything down there is lethally poisonous. It'll just hurt like hell, paralyze you, and make you numb."
"Edriiiic...! What about Chris, haah, what happened to Chriiiis...!!"
"Chris...?"
Even in that moment, my thoughts went to Chris first. I couldn't fathom that she, who valued honor and loyalty above all, would betray me.
I was certain some vengeful scheme by Edric was to blame.
But.
"Haha, don't worry about Chris. She's fast asleep in my bed right now."
"......What?"
Was it a lie? A final cruel fabrication to crush my spirit?
That's what I wanted to believe then.
Of course, I know better now. His words were the gospel truth.
"Here's a nice parting gift on your way out, Emil."
"......"
"Chris is surprisingly girly in bed, considering how brave she is."
"Bullshit, ...bullshiiit━!!"
"Her body's softer than I imagined too—got me hooked."
Edric flashed me that mocking grin and stood up.
"See ya. Cheer us on from the afterlife... me and Chris's love."
Then he vanished from sight. Probably figured the slimes would finish me off.
But unfortunately for him, I survived.
The knife I always carried after the first loop. I used it to dispatch the insects, then barely fended off the monsters drawn by the blood.
I lost an arm in the process.
But I lived.
......
"I'm Edric. You?"
Edric Valpour, the first time we crossed paths in the 6th loop. Seeing his face reignited the grudge I'd buried for a while.
Part of me wanted to smash his skull with my wooden sword right then.
Mental Healing activated!
Thankfully, the Easy Mode perk kicked in, cleanly quelling the surging rage.
"Emil."
I flashed a bright smile, took his outstretched hand, and shook it.
Edric released it and slung an arm around my shoulder, chatting amiably.
"Haha, Emil. I watched you just now—your tenacity is impressive."
"...What about?"
"That spar, man. Whatever it was, that fiery passion really stirred a guy's heart. Honestly, it moved me."
He gave my chest a light pat, then turned to Chris.
"So? What got you fighting so hard?"
"...Nothing much."
"Just a little bet."
Chris answered curtly, and I added some details.
Edric, who'd been eyeing me intently, murmured curiously.
"A bet...?"
"Asked her to teach me some swordplay."
"Ahaha, and she turned you down."
"Pretty much."
"Chris has always been stubborn like that."
"It's not stubbornness—wastes my time."
"Sure, sure."
Once Edric grasped what we'd been up to, he slipped his arm off my shoulder.
As the talk wrapped up, I kept smiling at them.
"Anyway, I'm done here. See ya tomorrow, Chris."
"Yeah."
It felt a bit rushed, slipping away like that.
But no choice. Even with Mental Healing restoring my mind, the memories lingered.
No matter that this loop's Edric hadn't wronged me yet.
I just didn't want to stick around anyone carrying that baggage any longer than necessary.
。 。 。
"Weird—you actually took that bet."
After I left, Edric eyed Chris as she tended her wooden swords.
He'd seen her often in his territory growing up, so her accepting such a wager caught him off guard.
"Eh, ...it involved Mom's honor."
Chris replied indifferently to his question.
Mother's honor. Edric chuckled in understanding.
"Ahaha, got it. Makes sense then. Thought it was something else."
"...Something else?"
"Y'know... like you fancied the guy?"
"Hah, as if."
Chris scoffed at his guess. She set the sword back on its rack and told Edric straight.
"Even if it's just nominal, honor the engagement where it counts. Nothing like that till graduation."
A promise only they knew. Not their adoptive mom or his family—just between them.
"So quit worrying."
But an engagement was an engagement. Whatever their deal, she was strict about appearances.
That's why she said it so boldly.
"Uh...."
Edric looked flustered at her words.
"What? That reaction."
Chris tilted her head, puzzled by his unexpected response.
"...Just checking. ...No dating till academy graduation?"
"What? Obviously! Get caught sneaking around, our side takes the hit—don't you get that?!"
Unlike usual, Chris got heated, yelling.
Edric flinched, flashing an awkward, apologetic grin.
"No way you...."
"Ah, no...! Nothing like that! Just, y'know, got a crush! That's fine, right?!"
"......"
Chris fixed him with a cold stare at his excuse.
"Haa...."
She sighed softly, looking away.
Seizing the opening as she backed off, Edric pressed.
"C'mon, we're young! As long as we don't get caught. Who's gonna rat us out?"
"......"
"Seriously found someone I like! Might even marry her after graduation!"
"......Not even dating yet?"
"A man's gotta dream big!"
His shameless, brazen shout. Familiar from childhood, Chris didn't snap—just shook her head silently.
Then quietly replied.
"Don't get caught. If you do, own it. Promise those two, and do whatever."
"For real?"
At her permission-laced words, Edric beamed, clenching a fist in triumph.
"Phew, saved. Actually came here thinking you might've found someone first."
"Huh?"
"Y'know, if you had a boyfriend already... I'd have nothing to say."
"You little...!"
"Ahaha, sorry, sorry."
Unable to hold back, Chris raised a fist, but Edric laughingly blocked her as always.
Their bickering ended there.
'...A lover, huh.'
Chris mulled Edric's words, gazing down the path I'd taken.
"......"
And today, thinking of him—the toughest guy she'd seen in tenacity.
'Eh, decent guy... but no way.'
She smiled faintly and turned away.
。 。 。
"Haa...."
On the way back to the dorms from the academy, I sighed softly at the orange sky.
Something heavy clogged my chest. Why this feeling?
Mulling it over while strolling, I pinned it on Chris and Edric.
'Seeing them together?'
Affection for Chris had long faded. The tender feelings from the 4th loop died when I stabbed her throat with my knife and regressed.
So not lingering attachment.
Just simple displeasure, maybe.
'Yeah... sticking to the plan is best.'
Courting Marie left a sour taste. Pity too.
But pursuing my goals with them felt right.
Only then could the knots in my heart unravel.
Just moments ago proved it. A mere greeting and chit-chat.
That brief exchange dredged up the 4th loop's despair.
'Worked my body hard, but no refresh.'
This sticky unease? It'll lift once I claim Chris.
I thought so, staring at the high sky.
Then.
"Ah! Watch it—you'll trip!"
A familiar voice ahead, as I gazed blankly upward.
"......Sierra."
"See? Knew it."
I'd reached the dorm gate. Sierra crouched there, pointing at me with a sunny smile.
"Knew what?"
"Why you're hurt. If not bullying, something else."
"What...?"
She popped up out of nowhere, blurting that.
Standing, she giggled "Ufufu," pushing up nonexistent glasses.
"All secrets revealed...."
"No secrets."
"According to this great detective Sierra... Emil! You rolled staring at the sky!"
"......"
"Nailed it?"
She declared confidently, hands on hips, triumphant.
Speechless for a beat, I.
"Haha...."
"Ah, you laughed."
Burst out laughing at the absurdity.
"So? Right? You were about to trip sky-gazing just now."
"Eh, sure, let's say that."
"Not 'let's say'—answer if it's spot-on! My detective pride's at stake!"
"Fine, you win, Sierra. ...Rolled looking at the sky."
"Ahaha, knew it!"
She probably knew better, but beamed innocently, falling in step beside me.
'Weird.'
Unusually chummy with Sierra this loop. Kinda unsettling.
My goal's just conquering those five, getting confessions.
But.
Not bad anyway.
'Ah.... the stuffiness is gone.'
Suddenly, I realized the displeasure plaguing my walk had vanished.
Why? Another Mental Healing?
Or....
"Hey, Emil. Wound's worse now. ...Really rolled on the way?"
This quirky heroine prodding my arm.
Her fault, maybe.
Either way.
'Not half bad.'
It wasn't.