Limited-Time Happiness
'Why didn't I see it?'
No, I'd been complacent. Even after witnessing the absolute despair of the Demon King right before my eyes. Even while grandly declaring I'd save the world.
I was still thinking only within the confines of the empire's laws and morals.
Hand Sera over to the intelligence agency? Ha, what a joke. If I had, she'd have rotted away in an underground prison or been used as an experimental subject and discarded. And she wasn't just anyone—she was the Saintess, the empire's top healer. If Piarot Evangeline hadn't stepped in, we'd have lost the skilled healer we desperately needed for the final battle against the Demon King.
The death of that righteous and capable archer, Lina, was a tragedy. But what if she'd lived? Would she have overlooked the fact that the Saintess was a demonkin—and that we'd hidden her? No. With her sense of justice, she would have reported it immediately. The party would have fallen apart, and the world would have ended.
In the end, it was something only I could do. I had to eliminate the variable, even if it meant staining my hands with dirty blood. In this final life where regression was blocked, I still didn't grasp the weight of having to save the world. While even I, who knew the truth, turned a blind eye to reality, Piarot had handled it on pure instinct.
"......."
I was at a loss for words.
Piarot looked up at me with teary eyes and asked, "Evan. Will you live happily with me for just two and a half years and then die? Or... even if it means meeting other women, do you want to stay with me for a long time?"
A cruel dilemma.
"......It's come to this now, Evan. I want to be with you for as long as possible, giving it my all."
"Piarot..."
I gave a bitter smile and stroked her hair.
"Hahaha... You don't have to take after even my cowardly side."
"Tch... Making excuses for yourself and shoving the choice onto me—that's your specialty, Evan. Since we're lovers, it's inevitable we'll rub off on each other."
She knew all along.
She tried to play it bright with a joke, but her hand in mine was trembling.
"Yeah. Let's do that."
At my affirmation, she held her breath for a moment. Then, as if resolved, she spoke.
"But promise me one thing."
Her red eyes welled up with tears.
"If you meet another girl... don't hide it. Tell me first. Get my permission first. A woman knows best how to judge another woman."
"......"
It felt like my heart was being torn apart. Like someone had ripped it out and was hacking away at it.
Why did I have to hear such words from the woman I loved? Why did I have to make my beloved say something so pathetic?
If only I'd been stronger.
If I weren't this talentless extra 'Evan,' but the blessed original protagonist 'Leon Caliban.' If I'd been overwhelmingly strong enough, like those veterans, to snap the Demon King's neck with a pure love party of just one heroine.
This shitty situation wouldn't exist.
But reality is cruel. I'm Evan. An F-rank dropout. A background character no one cares about. A parasite who can only save the world by devouring the heart of the woman I love.
"......I'm sorry."
I pulled her into a fierce embrace. I held her so tightly it felt like she'd shatter. All I could say was that cowardly, irresponsible apology.
"I'm sorry. Really, I'm so sorry, Piarot."
She wrapped her arms around my back, patting me like she was soothing a child. She was the one who wanted to cry. She was the one who needed comfort. And yet, it was always the pathetic me getting consoled.
With her face buried in my chest, she whispered so faintly it was barely audible.
"And... don't give your heart to her. Got it?"
Instead of answering, I hugged her even tighter, as if I'd never let go.
.
.
.
"Mm... let's recap."
I reviewed the scenario we'd agreed on in my head.
"Sera was chased by an A-rank monster, the Abyss Wolf, as she fled through the gate. And our party, wandering lost in the forest, happened to run into it."
"Yeah, that's right."
"In the middle of the fight, a herd of Black Rabbits barged in, turning it into total chaos. In the end, only the three of us survived, while the rest fell to the combined assault of the monsters."
"Yeah. That's what we reported."
Piarot nodded dryly.
This was the official report she'd submitted to the imperial intelligence agency and the academy. The truth was buried forever under the forest soil, alongside Lina's corpse.
"How's Sera doing?"
"She can't use recovery magic anymore. Tests show she can't regenerate mana on her own. Cause unknown. The intelligence agency and priests are investigating now."
"And after the investigation?"
"She'll head back to the Argent family estate for recovery."
"I see."
I gazed out the window and let out a sigh of relief.
A brief silence fell.
"Evan."
Piarot tugged lightly at my sleeve.
"What are your plans from now on?"
Her eyes shook with anxiety. This was right after I'd declared I'd build a 'harem' to save the world. She was scared I'd go off looking for another woman any minute.
"Piarot, listen to me."
I turned to meet her gaze.
"......"
"Until the end of summer break, I have no intention of getting involved with anyone."
I clasped her cold hands firmly between both of mine.
"Forget the Demon King and the world's end for a bit. This summer, I'm spending it only with you. I'm serious."
"......Really?"
"Of course. When have I ever lied to you? ......Well, this time it's really the truth."
Only then did color return to Piarot's face.
"Hehe..."
She smiled shyly. A radiant, beautiful smile like sunlight. But I didn't miss the fleeting sadness clinging to the corner of her curved eyes.
She knew it too. That this was limited-time happiness. A peace that would shatter someday.
"Piarot."
"Yeah?"
"Let's head back to the academy now. We've finished our summer break quota. Time to handle the backlog. Sign the remodeling contract, pay the balance."
Our hideout. The house we'd decided to live in together.
"And... let's go together. To the beach."
"......"
Piarot's eyes widened round.
"I know. The situation's the worst right now. I know it's not the mood for fun trips."
She bit her lip at my words, her face a mix of guilt and relief.
"Still, let's go. I think we should."
I gripped her hand tighter.
"Let's go heal our hearts. Shake off what we can, forget what we can... and move forward again. No matter what hell awaits, as long as I'm with you, Piarot, I feel like we can overcome it."
At my heartfelt confession, tears welled up in her eyes again. She pressed my hand to her cheek and murmured softly.
"Yeah... Evan. Let's do that."
She smiled through her tears.
"Let's go... to our sea, just the two of us."
The moment we returned to the academy, as expected, the entire capital was in an uproar. Unlike the desolate northern outpost, the academy was in the heart of the empire's capital, the prime bustling district.
It was pandemonium. Knight orders, magic academy professors, and newspaper reporters sniffing around like hyenas. The news that Piarot had essentially soloed an A-rank monster—the Abyss Wolf, which required an elite imperial party raid— was a megaton-level bombshell.
Piarot's stock skyrocketed. The Evangeline estate and her annex mailbox were overflowing with invitations, scouting offers, and sponsorship contracts from powerful families across the empire. They'd shunned her as a witch just yesterday. Now they were treating her like a hero. Disgusting flip-flopping.
Piarot shared my disgust and coldly ignored every single contact. Except one.
At the return press conference, amid flashing cameras, she clung tightly to my arm and dropped a bombshell in front of a forest of microphones.
"The driving force behind my achievements is solely my lover, Evan. Hands off. He's my man."
With that one line, I became the empire's officially certified 'guy who needs killing.' An F-rank parasite bewitching a noble heroine. A clueless punk. All sorts of murderous glares and jealousy poured my way.
Three hellish days passed like that. Dodging the flood of attention and interview requests drained more stamina than fighting monsters.
And now.
Chug-chug-chug— Rumble-rumble.
We were in the luxury cabin of a magic train heading to Ostia, the beautiful beach city at the empire's southern tip.
"Haa......"
Sinking into the seat, a deep sigh escaped me. I closed my eyes, watching the capital's scenery fade past the window.
Ah, whatever. Demon King this, whatever that— I just want to escape this noisy world and rest for once.
"Waaah..."
Piarot was glued to the window, peering out in wonder. She couldn't tear her eyes from the swiftly passing scenery.
"Evan, this... is my first train trip."
"Huh? What about when you entered the academy?"
"My family home's on the capital outskirts, so I just took a carriage. This is my first time going this far."
"I see."
She turned to look at me.
"Hehe... That's why I like it even more. My first time is with you, Evan. It makes my heart race."
Her shy smile made my heart skip.
An angel like her is my girlfriend? Unreal.
"What about you, Evan? Have you ridden trains before?"
"Yeah, tons."
There's this thing called KTX, Your Majesty.
But in this world, train trips held special meaning for me— no, a horrific trauma.
I came to Ostia exactly once.
In one of my nearly hundred loops, I'd mustered the courage for the summer vacation event.
The goal was simple: Seduce a heroine to save the world and survive.
But the result was disastrous.
The hatred filter applied to me back then. That cursed 'impotent passive' made me a criminal just for standing on the beach in swim trunks.
- Kyaaah!! Pervert!!
- Oh my, those... pervert eyes!!
- Hey!! You there!! Stay put!!
- Huh? I... I didn't do anything!!
Screams from women, laced with disgust and abuse. And the so-called 'golden sun' punks— blond tanned delinquents— charged in like apostles of justice to score points.
That day, I got beaten half to death on the sand. No romance, just a mouthful of sand and chased off. Shitty memory.
Fuck... still pisses me off thinking about it.
"Hehe, as expected of Evan. So reliable."
Piarot hugged my arm tight and rested her head on my shoulder. Soft touch, sweet scent. Her warmth overwrote those horrific memories.
Heh heh heh, yeah. All that's in the past now.
I'm different now. The damn hatred filter's gone. And beside me is the empire's top beauty, Piarot, who only has eyes for me.
Golden suns? Bring it. My girlfriend rips A-rank monsters apart.
I stroked Piarot's hair and glared out the window.
Wait for me, beach. This time, I'm taking over.