16 - My 2 Years. And Your 100 Years (1) [Memories Persist]

'What?'

In that instant, the scenery around me melted away like black ink, blurring my vision. The blood-scented warehouse, the man named Evan dead by my hand, Leon's eyes filled with contempt for me. Everything was sucked into the darkness.

"Kyaaah—!!"

I screamed and bolted upright.

"Hah, hah...!"

My heart pounded like mad. Cold sweat poured down like rain, soaking my pajamas. Trembling, I scanned my surroundings with wide eyes.

The familiar ceiling, worn furniture, dust-covered floor. This was... my room.

I'd clearly been stabbed by Leon's sword and died, hadn't I?

"D-did I... survive...? A d-dream?"

Relief hadn't even washed over me yet.

Zap—!

A horrific headache like an axe splitting my skull crashed into my brain.

"Aaaah!! My head... my head's gonna split open!!"

I clutched my head and rolled on the bed. It wasn't just a headache. It felt like a massive torrent of information was being force-fed into my brain.

Memories that weren't mine—fragments of someone else's life—began exploding in my mind like fireworks.

『You okay?』

『This is the Garden of the Academy?』

『No way!! Why this asshole Evan of all people!!』

『Impossible. Me... I'm impotent!!』

An unfamiliar man's voice. But the emotions felt as vivid as my own.

『What? No!! I just wanted to save you...』

『Please don't die.』

『That's the Demon King.』

『Am I dying like this again?』

『Why!! Why do you all hate me!! What did I do wrong!!』

『Please... someone just look at me...』

Despair, rage, and suffocating loneliness.

『I can't give up. I won't give up.』

『If I can't escape even in death, I'll endure in life.』

『There has to be a way. This life failed, but next time...』

Repeated deaths and failures. Yet an unyielding will rising again each time.

%^*%^@# 『Evangeline?』 #^#^#&$

Kuuuung—!

Hundreds, thousands of memory fragments. They were the repeated life of one man.

As the storm of memories subsided, I gasped for breath.

"Hah... hah..."

Tears streamed down my face unbidden.

"Evan...?"

I knew instinctively. The owner of these memories was that man I'd killed—Evan.

That I hadn't died and had opened my eyes again was because of his mysterious power.

'He's... alive.'

Pak—!!

The final memory fragment flashed by.

The Summoning Practice Room. The place where ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠he opened his eyes.

'I have to go!! I have to meet him!!'

I kicked off the blanket and dashed out.

....

"Huh? What was that just now?"

On the academy grounds, a woman with disheveled hair down to her knees sprinted across campus in her pajamas.

"No way, that rumored witch?"

"Gah!! Watch your mouth, idiot!! Meet her eyes and you're dead!"

"Crazy, she's barefoot?"

Students recoiled, clearing a path. Whispers and contemptuous stares flew like arrows.

But I felt nothing now. Compared to the countless condemnations he'd endured in his memories, this was a mere tickle.

I ran, thinking only of that one name.

'Evan.'

I had to find him.

Bang—!

I flung open the door to the Summoning Practice Room.

And there he was.

"Hah, hah..."

I lifted my head, panting heavily.

And saw him.

"Evan!?"

Exactly as he'd looked in that warehouse memory moments ago. Standing there perfectly fine, as if nothing had happened.

'He's alive! Thank goodness.'

Relief nearly buckled my legs. I wanted to run over and ask. What was his true identity? Why had he died for me? What were all those memories?

'So many questions!!'

But.

"Follow me."

Against my will, the cold, commanding tone of a noblewoman I'd learned over years spilled from my lips.

Evan turned at my rude summons. His eyes passed over me dryly, annoyed.

"Sorry."

"!!!!!!!!!"

'Again!! He refused!!'

He didn't even glance back, bowed curtly, and turned away without hesitation.

I threw away all pretense and shouted desperately. I couldn't let him go this time.

"W-wait a second!!"

Thankfully, he stopped and looked back.

On the bed, Evangeline quietly opened her eyes. The memories resurfaced vividly. It was a burden far too harsh and heavy for any one person to bear.

'He never gave up, not for a single moment.'

A lonely battle no one acknowledged. Even when the world mocked him as an incompetent and scorned him as a commoner.

He struggled desperately in his place, giving his all without losing himself to any hateful gaze. He'd endured that eternal time alone.

He'd saved countless people besides me, died innumerable times, returned, and worked for others again.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"Idiot..."

How could he do that? How could he be so strong?

I'd only lasted two years. Just two years crumbling under finger-pointing and loneliness.

'My pain is nothing compared to his!'

Admiration, affection, and bursting love filled my chest.

'Now I'll protect you.'

Just as you pulled me from the darkness.

This time, I'll be your shield and break that vicious cycle of fate.

Tomorrow, we'd go out into the world together. I wasn't afraid anymore. The strongest man in the world was by my side.

5 a.m. My eyes snapped open before the alarm. The 'slave wake-up time' etched into my DNA from 100 years of work-study life. My body rose reflexively, ignoring my will.

"......Should I sleep more?"

The blanket's temptation was sweet, but I shook my head and got up.

I changed into training clothes.

'Gotta exercise.'

The eventual journey to slay the Demon King. I wasn't some munchkin hero, but I couldn't be dead weight.

Mana-zero incompetent. No magic, no swordsmanship. My only spec-up was basic stamina.

100 push-ups, 100 squats, 10km run. I wouldn't get bald-hero strong, but I wouldn't lag behind.

After sweating it out, I felt refreshed. I showered and grabbed the special sandwich the cafeteria ladies snuck me.

Destination: the Old Annex in the woods.

Knock, knock.

"Piarot, it's me."

Early morning with dew still on the grass. Soon, bustling sounds came from inside, and the door opened.

Click.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"......"

Black hair peeked through the crack, followed by red eyes.

Messy hair, loose pajamas. That defenseless look was hazardous to my heart.

'Ah... gonna lose it.'

Damn near cardiac arrest first thing in the morning.

She confirmed it was me and beamed.

"Hehe, Evan's here?"

"Yeah, sleep well last night?"

"Yep, slept great."

She flung the door wide. I stepped in, scrutinizing her face closely. Then frowned.

"Hmm."

"......W-what?"

She panicked, cupping her cheeks. I pointed at her under-eyes.

"Dark circles... worse than yesterday. Panda level now."

"Eek?!"

"Said you slept well. Liar."

Under my interrogation, she averted her eyes, mumbling.

"Um... s-sorry. I was too nervous..."

"Nervous?"

"S-sorry. Thinking about our date today... couldn't sleep..."

Like an elementary kid the night before a picnic? Well, her first outing in two years, fair enough.

That pure heart was too adorable; instead of scolding, I chuckled.

"Heh, alright. Special pass today."

Who could get mad at that? I grinned and ruffled her hair.

"Fine. Special mercy today. 'Cause you're cute."

"Sheesh..."

"But early bedtime tonight, got it?"

"Yeah! Got it, hehe."

We sat at the table. My sandwich and her warm milk. Simple but perfect breakfast.

"Eat up. Lots of walking today."

"Okay! You too, Evan."

Her cheeks puffed like a hamster munching the sandwich.

'Adorable.'

Watching her made me full without eating—that old saying made sense now.

Mid-chew, she looked curious.

"Hey, Evan..."

"Yeah."

"How old are you really?"

"Huh?"

"Since you're a regressor, wondering how long you've lived..."

I sipped milk and replied casually.

"Not sure exactly, but over 100 years give or take."

"Pfft—!!"

She nearly spat her milk.

"Hic!! Grandpa Evan!!"

"......"

"S-sorry for speaking casually all this time!! Sir!!"

She bowed playfully.

"Jeez."

"Was it okay getting banmal from someone like your great-grandkid? Aigoo, my bad for not realizing..."

"......Tch."

"J-joking!! Sorry!!"

I pretended to get serious, and she giggled, waving it off.

Just teasing to lighten the mood.

".....Then, speak casually to me too, Evan. Please."

"Got it. Piarot."

"Ah..."

She ducked her head shyly.

"Only when we're alone, though. In public, treat me like a senior."

"Yeah. That's fine."

"Cool, so how old are you now, Piarot?"

"Huh? I'm 21?"

"No, real age."

"Mm... turning 20 this year."

Right. Garden of the Academy was originally an adult visual novel. All characters are adults.

They look youthful... well, nobles don't suffer, so youthful looks.

When localized in our country, ages were adjusted for ratings. 19+ H-scenes unlock after first-year chapter, in second year. So third-year Piarot is 20, second-year me is 19.

I cleared my throat and laid out my logic.

"Junior, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠know Rule #1 of regressors?"

"There's a rule?"

"Yeah. My body's 19, so I'm 19. Otherwise, I couldn't cope."

Total BS, but push shamelessly—that's the key.

"Ugh... fine."

She pouted, then grinned brightly.

"Then we're the world's only regressor couple? Hehe..."

Her eyes sparkled like stars. She loved our unique bond.

Man...

Why do girls love 'fate' stuff? But... she was so heart-flutteringly pretty, I couldn't argue.

"......Yeah."

I hid my embarrassment by chomping a big bite of sandwich.

....

"Alright, Piarot. Ready to head out?"

"U-um... yeah!! I trust only you, Evan."

Good, outing prep complete.

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