Resolve

The jet-black darkness was pierced by a crimson system window.

Chiiik. [Self-Regression Activated (Intermediate)] [Faith 70% Perk Activated: 'Milestone of Fate' has been generated.] [Regression Point: Fixed to 'Practical Training Day Briefing'.]

"Aaaaaagh! No!!!!"

I screamed and kicked the desk as I shot to my feet.

"Hah... hah... hah...!"

My heart pounded like it was about to tear apart. My entire body was drenched in cold sweat.

My stomach... my stomach was split open. That horrific sensation of everything spilling out. The sound of bones being chewed. The shadow that had lunged at Adelia.

"Ugh..."

I reflexively clutched my abdomen. There was no wound. Yet the phantom pain clawed into my brain, torturing me. The metallic scent of blood refused to leave my nostrils.

"Roy! What do you think you're doing during class?"

A sharp scolding. I looked up blankly.

Professor Kane stood at the podium. Warm afternoon sunlight. A peaceful classroom.

"......?"

The entrance ceremony...? No, Professor Kane hadn't been at the entrance ceremony. Then, could it be...?

I turned my trembling head to the side.

"Hey, extra. Are you crazy? Why are you flipping out in the middle of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠class?"

A platinum-haired girl. Adelia rested her chin on her hand, staring at me with an exasperated expression. Her face was clean, not a single drop of blood on it. Her crimson eyes brimmed with life.

She was alive. Adelia was alive.

"Ah......"

A sigh escaped my lips. During the previous entrance ceremony regression, she had become a stranger who didn't remember me, and I had despaired. But now?

'Does she... remember me?'

Anxiety crept over me. What if everything had reset here too? What if she looked at me like I was an insect?

I had to confirm. My hand moved on its own.

Poke.

My trembling finger jabbed Adelia's soft cheek.

"......?"

Adelia's eyes widened into circles. She looked at me in bewilderment.

"Wh-what? Why are you poking me?"

This time I grabbed her hand. It was warm. Not the cooling temperature of a corpse. A living warmth with a beating pulse.

"Hey! Are you insane?!"

Adelia's face flushed crimson in an instant.

"Let go! People are watching...!"

Though she grumbled, she didn't pull her hand away. Instead, she squeezed back, embarrassed.

'Thank goodness... thank goodness...'

Our relationship hadn't reset. Even without memories, the emotions we had built remained connected. Realizing that, the emotions I had been holding back burst forth like a dam.

"Huuuuh...!"

"H-hey?! Are you crying?"

Instead of answering, I pulled her into a tight embrace.

"Thank you for being alive... Adelia... huuuh..."

Tears like chicken droppings streamed down my cheeks. The terror of death and the sense of loss I had felt moments ago melted away in her warmth.

"H-hey, extra! Get off! I can't breathe!"

Adelia struggled, but I didn't let go. The sweet scent coming from her proved that I was alive.

The classroom instantly descended into chaos. But I didn't care about the embarrassment. Adelia being alive mattered far more.

That was when—

"Hey! Human! Let go of her hand!"

Someone slapped my back from behind. It was Iris.

"Are you crazy? What are you doing in public?! Get off her right now!"

Iris tried to pry us apart, huffing angrily. I turned around with my face covered in tears.

Iris. The girl whose throat had been slit was now alive, arms crossed, glaring at me.

"Iris......"

"Wh-what! Why are you staring at me like that? It's creepy."

"You're... alive too."

"Huh? Of course I'm alive. Why would I be dead?"

I grabbed Iris's wrist and pulled.

"Kyaa?!"

She lost her balance and fell into my arms. Still holding Adelia, I pulled Iris in as well.

"Thank you... thank you so much..."

"Y-y-you crazy human...!"

Iris's face turned beet red. Embracing an elf princess was something that would normally get you killed. Yet she only pounded ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠my chest with her fists, no magic cast.

"Aahng, let go... you reek of human...!"

Despite her words, the tips of her pointed ears had turned bright red. She, too, felt the tremor in my embrace and stopped resisting.

"Hey! You thieving cat! Get off him!"

Adelia's eyes flared as she shoved Iris away.

"Get away from the extra! Before I kill you!"

"Hmph! Who said I wanted to hug him? This human is just s-super strong, that's all!"

"Don't make me laugh! Your ears are red!"

The two growled at each other over my embrace. They were alive. The girls who had been rolling around as corpses were now bickering with such vitality.

'I'm happy.'

Squished between them, I wiped my tears with a foolish grin. This time, I would never lose this smile.

"Alright, quiet down! Take your romance outside!"

Professor Kane rapped his pointer and shouted. Only then did I come to my senses.

"S-sorry."

I hurriedly sat back down. Adelia turned her head with a huff, but her ears were red, and Iris poked my back while grumbling.

"Huu..."

I let out a sigh of relief and turned my head. It was starting over. This time, I wouldn't make mistakes.

That was when—

"Now then, let's finish the introductions."

Professor Kane pointed toward the door.

"Exchange student, please come in."

Creaaak.

With the sound of the door opening, the once-warm air in the classroom turned cold for me alone. A girl with short hair walked in. Blue hair, pale skin. A familiar dagger at her waist.

"Hello, I'm Priscilla. Nice to meet you all!"

The girl standing on the podium smiled brightly. Short blue hair, pale skin, and the dagger at her waist. Everything was exactly the same. The very same figure who had just gutted my stomach and sneered, "This time you'll die, won't you?" while watching my entrails spill out.

Grind.

My teeth clenched without me realizing. My nails dug into my palms, drawing blood. I wanted to rush out right now and snap that detestable neck.

'That bitch... I'm going to kill her... right now...'

The killing intent boiling inside me was uncontrollable. A faint but sharp murderous aura shot toward her.

In that moment—

"......?"

Priscilla's head snapped around. An assassin's keen senses. She stared straight at me.

Twitch.

I tried to compose my expression in a hurry, but it was too late. My tear-streaked face and eyes gleaming with killing intent had entered her sight. An ordinary student might have been flustered, but she was different.

Grin.

Her lips split into an unnaturally wide smile. It wasn't the bright smile she had shown the students. It was the chilling smile of a predator enjoying its prey's resistance.

'She noticed.'

A chill ran down my spine. I turned my head slightly and ground my teeth inwardly.

'Go ahead, laugh. Laugh all you want.'

There was no justification to attack her here. The professor and students would think I was insane, and it would only give Helios an excuse to eliminate me.

'The stage is the dungeon.'

The perfect place to disguise it as an accident. I would repay her in the exact same way she had tried to kill me.

"Alright, that's it for today's class. Gather at the main gate at 2 PM."

With Professor Kane's dismissal, the classroom atmosphere loosened. Priscilla gave me one more peculiar glance before leisurely exiting.

"Huu......"

Once the tension eased, my legs gave out and I collapsed into my seat. Cold sweat poured like rain. The memory of death and my killing intent mixed together, making me nauseous.

"Hey, extra. You okay?"

Adelia looked at my face with concern.

"Your complexion ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠is terrible. And that scream earlier... are you sick?"

"No, I'm fine. Just a bit..."

"How is that fine? You're soaked in sweat."

Iris, who had been watching, clicked her tongue.

"Disgusting. Move aside."

Iris waved her hand. A cool breeze rippled through the air and wrapped around my body.

"Sylph's Breath, cool him down."

The sylph's wind blew. The sticky cold sweat dried instantly, and my overheated body temperature cooled pleasantly. It felt like standing in front of an air conditioner with no wind.

"Wow... that's refreshing. Thanks, Iris."

"Hmph, don't get the wrong idea."

Iris turned her head sharply and crossed her arms.

"I only did it because you stink. Having you next to me smelling like sweat is unpleasant."

The tips of her ears were slightly red.

"And... consider it an honor. You're the first human I've ever cooled down with the wind of a noble spirit."

"Yes, thank you. Your Highness! What an honor."

I chuckled. She was alive. That tsundere tone, that caring heart. Everything was back in place.

That was when—

"Unni~!"

Scarlet bounced into the classroom entrance. With her purple twin-tails fluttering, she charged at Adelia.

"We're in the same group today! I'm so happy! Shouldn't we have a strategy meeting? Right?"

Adelia grimaced and hid behind me.

"Ugh, that stalker dog is here again..."

Normally Adelia would have just brushed Scarlet off, but this time was different. I shot to my feet.

"Yeah, let's do it. Strategy meeting."

"Huh?"

Adelia and Scarlet both stared at me.

"Right now. We don't have time. Let's go to the academy café."

My voice carried weight. It wasn't a casual suggestion. It was a strong will that demanded they follow.

Adelia looked straight into my eyes. The playful light had vanished, replaced by a serious, resolute gaze. She knew I had seen her 999 regressions in a dream.

"You... don't tell me?"

Adelia whispered softly. Instead of answering, I nodded firmly.

"......"

Adelia's eyes changed. She nodded.

"Everyone, follow me. I'll explain."

Corner seat in the academy café. A VIP room cut off from the outside.

We sat around a round table. Adelia, Iris, Scarlet. And me. The core members of Group 5, excluding Priscilla, had gathered.

"Alright, spill it, extra. What are you plotting?"

Adelia asked with her arms crossed. The atmosphere grew heavy.

Before speaking, I habitually activated Observer's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Eye.

'As expected.'

It was Priscilla, or perhaps another of Helios's watchers. They had followed us here. But they wouldn't be able to eavesdrop on our voices. This room was protected by Adelia's barrier.

I lowered my voice.

"Today's practical training won't end normally."

"What? What do you mean?"

Scarlet's eyes widened.

"It was supposed to be a D-rank dungeon, but there's a variable. My 'dream' told me so."

"Dream? Hey, just because of a dream..."

Iris grumbled, but I cut her off firmly.

"I'm not joking!!"

"......"

At my serious expression, Iris closed her mouth. Thanks to their faith, they didn't dismiss my words.

"From now on, don't argue. Just follow everything I say. Our lives depend on it."

I spread a map across the table. It was the dungeon layout in my head.

"First, Professor Kane. There's a risk of an ambush at the beginning. When I give the signal, protect the professor no matter what."

"The professor? He's A-rank."

"Even an A-rank can be taken out in one hit if they're careless."

I bit my lip. The image of his upper body vanishing flashed through my mind.

"Second, the monsters are Dark Tentacles."

"Tentacles? You mean the abyssal monsters? Are you insane? Why would those appear in a D-rank?!"

Scarlet was horrified. Adelia's expression also hardened gravely.

"It's a mutated gate. Adelia, you need to conserve your strength. If you exhaust yourself early, you won't be able to handle what's coming later."

"......Got it."

Adelia answered obediently. She trusted me, the one who had seen her 999 regressions in a dream. She believed that something would happen today, just as my dream foretold.

"And you two."

I looked at Iris and Scarlet in turn. They were the key to this strategy.

"Iris."

"What."

"Go to the magic shop right now and buy the highest-grade mana potions. Buy as many as they have."

"Huh? Do you know how much one of those costs? For a D-rank dungeon..."

"I'll pay."

Adelia pulled out her mana card and tossed it onto the table.

"......Tch, fine. I'll buy them."

"And one more thing. Have the Earth Spirit King prepare 'Ground Flip'."

"Ground Flip? You mean 'Seismic Upheaval'? That consumes a lot of mana..."

"That's why I'm telling you to buy potions. The monster's weakness is the ground. If you can't flip the earth, we'll all die."

My eyes were sincere. They held the desperation only someone who had experienced death could possess. Iris swallowed dryly, overwhelmed by my intensity, and nodded.

"...Alright. I'll trust you."

Finally, Scarlet.

"Scarlet."

"Yes, Oppa! What should I do? Should I blow something up spectacularly?"

"No."

I shook my head.

"I'm going to give you a chance to be a hero."

"A hero?! +_+"

"6th Circle [Reverse Gravity]. You can do it, right?"

"Of course! It's my specialty!"

"Save it. Don't use it no matter what. When Iris flips the ground, I'll shout 'Now!' That's when you pour all your mana into slamming the monster into the ceiling."

"Uhee... just imagining it is thrilling!"

Scarlet licked her lips.

"And... Priscilla."

The air grew cold at the mention of that name.

"That transfer student? Why her?"

Adelia asked sharply. Was it a woman's intuition? She had been wary of Priscilla from the very beginning.

"We're going to... use her."

My eyes gleamed.

"We'll use her as a 'tool' to clear the tentacles, and at the very end..."

I made a slicing motion across my neck.

"We'll deal with her."

'Damn it... but it can't be helped.'

"......!"

The three women's eyes widened. It was the first time they had seen such chilling killing intent from the usually gentle Roy. But no one objected. My eyes told them everything. That she was our 'enemy'.

The final variable. That 'monster' that had descended from the ceiling and swallowed Priscilla.

'We still don't have enough information on it.'

Whether it reacted to the scent of the tentacles' blood or to Priscilla's death was unknown. What was certain was that we had to finish before it appeared.

"We need to end this as quickly as possible and escape. Don't look back."

The strategy meeting ended for now.

"Then let's meet at the main gate at 2."

I opened the café door and stepped out. After the others left, just as I was about to close the door—

"Ugh...!"

The stomach acid I had been holding back surged up. I rushed into the café's corner restroom. Only after entering a stall did the nausea I had suppressed burst out.

"Uweeeeh!"

I retched even though nothing came up. My face in the mirror was corpse-pale.

'I'm scared.'

I had no choice but to admit it. The sensation of my entrails spilling out, the sound of bones being chewed, Priscilla's chilling smile. To have to walk back into that hell of my own accord...

My legs trembled so badly I couldn't stand. Should I just give up and run away? Take Adelia and disappear to some countryside where no one would find us—

"Damn it..."

There was nowhere to run. And if I ran, what about Adelia? Iris? Scarlet? They would all be torn apart by those monsters.

"Roy? Are you in there?"

Adelia's worried voice came from outside the door.

"Your face looked really bad. Should I come in?..."

The moment I heard that voice, my wildly beating heart calmed as if it had been a lie.

'Right.'

If I broke down, she would die. The girl who had died 999 times—I had to save her this time.

"I'm fine, I'll be out soon!"

Whoosh!

I roughly washed my face with cold water. In the mirror, my fear-filled eyes now burned with venom once more.

'Save the fear for later. Right now, just think about surviving.'

"Huu......"

Leaning against the wall, I took ragged breaths. I had pretended to be fine, but my fingertips were still trembling slightly.

'Calm down. You can do this. This time, I'm the one who's going to change things...'

Swish.

That was when it happened. The locked restroom door. In that narrow space, I felt a presence behind me.

An approach so natural it was all the more chilling.

"Oh my, this is our first time meeting, isn't it?"

A gentle voice. My heart dropped.

I slowly turned my creaking head.

The girl with short blue hair. Priscilla stood right beside me, so close our noses nearly touched, tilting her head curiously.

"Pri... scilla?"

When I barely managed to say her name, she smiled brightly as if surprised. Deep within those innocent eyes, an abyssal darkness rippled.

"Y-you... do you know where this is?! This is the men's restroom!"

I recoiled in shock, but my back met the cold tiled wall. There was nowhere to run.

"Aww, it doesn't matter."

She took one more step closer and whispered softly into my ear.

"But it's strange, Roy-nim."

Her cold finger poked my stomach area.

"Your killing intent... it's stirring inside me, poking and prodding? Almost as if... you know me very well."