Chapter 5
Kartellis's year has a total of 52 weeks. If what she said is true... then after I vanished, they've endured 5200 identical weeks.
So agonizingly.
"Kartellis..."
Now I finally understood a bit why she'd reacted that way when we first met.
A loved one disappearing without a word. Repeating the exact same week 5200 times—no ordinary mind could withstand that.
"...I really missed you."
Kartellis's golden eyes fixed on me.
"Every single day, I held on thinking of you, Creator. The times without you were lonely and painful, but our memories together were warm enough to get me through."
"Kartellis, I..."
Before I could finish, one of her tentacles sealed my mouth. Her index finger rested gently over my lips.
"Shh, you don't have to say you're sorry. You're right here with me now♡"
With those words, Kartellis's aura shifted subtly.
If she'd felt like a wistful ex-girlfriend moments ago... now she was pure predator, eyeing her prey.
Something about this feels really off...
"Kartellis, just a second..."
"Aah...♡ Finally, I get to be with Creator forever."
The tentacles coiled around my body tightened. As if determined to ensure I couldn't flee.
"Wait, wait, wait...!! You're not about to do what I think you are, right?"
"Ufufu...♡ That's exactly what you're thinking♡"
Kartellis wiggled her remaining tentacles as she spoke.
"But don't worry. Since you're Creator, I'll treat you as gently as I can...♡"
This is insane.
Chills raced across my entire body.
I hadn't been this terrified even when first facing her. Not even confronting the world-destroying monster had raised my hackles like this.
Getting caught by Kartellis in full yandere mode...
As the one who'd planned the protagonist's bad end back then, I remembered it all too vividly. If she lost control now and pounced, I'd be squeezed to death by her tentacles—ruptured organs—long before the week's monster could kill me.
It was meant as fan service for tentacle enthusiasts...
Never dreamed it'd happen to me!
"Crea~tor...♡"
I'm screwed.
I couldn't move properly, bound tight by her tentacles. And now she was slowly closing in on me.
What do I do?
How could I escape this? I racked my brain desperately for a way out, but my mind was a total blank.
"Stay still for me. It'll be over quick♡"
Kartellis leaned in until her face was inches from mine, slowly lowering her head.
I'm gonna get squeezed to death right here, I thought, squeezing my eyes shut.
Then a soft sensation settled on my lips. I opened my eyes—hers were pressed to mine.
"Mm..."
She turned her head languidly, rubbing our lips together. When a gap formed, her tongue slipped inside, tenderly entwining with mine and softly brushing my teeth.
Unlike what I'd imagined, it was gentle. She explored every breath, kissing me nearly to the point of suffocation before finally pulling away.
"Too bad your first peck got stolen, but I claimed your first real kiss♡"
Kartellis licked her lips with a satisfied look. I gulped down the breath I'd been holding and managed to ask,
"You... dragged me into the game just to do this...?"
"...? Of course?"
She stroked my cheek, her expression saying why ask something so obvious?
"I'm not that invested in this world."
"Why...? It's the world you live in."
"You're my world, Creator."
Her small, pale hand conveyed a damp, warm sensation—her heat seeping through.
"Ever since you left, it's been nothing but an empty shell to me."
Her words left me speechless. Nothing came to mind to say.
Even if the company pulled funding, I was the one who chose to abandon development.
And as a result, the characters I'd created were doomed to relive 5200 identical weeks.
In the end, there was no denying I'd wronged them.
"...I really did something terrible."
Knowing the truth squeezed my heart; I hung my head. Kartellis crouched down to meet my gaze and said,
"But I'm fine with it. Just being here with you like this makes me happy."
"...Really?"
"Yeah. Not deleting our files means you still had some attachment to us, right?"
She beamed, innocent as a delighted child.
"I loved that. It meant you were still thinking about us."
Her words rang true. She'd held back from harming me despite her power when we first met. And even now, swimsuit vibe aside, there was no real threat in her eyes.
"...I wasn't that resented?"
"Not at all. If anything, I just missed you more than words can say."
Kartellis tugged her tentacles, drawing us closer. Then she whispered,
"I love you too much to even think of resenting you."
She must have suffered terribly through those 5200 loops, dying in agony each time without complaint.
Yet instead of hating me, she professed her love...
It meant the world.
"...I can't thank you and Selphira enough."
"Hmm...♡ That grateful, huh?"
"Obviously. You had every right to hate me..."
"Right~ you~ are...♡"
Suddenly—whoosh!—Kartellis flipped my still-bound body flat on my back.
"Eek!?"
"Will you grant me one wish?"
Straddling me, she flashed a sultry smile, licking her lips like she was seconds from devouring me if I said yes.
"D-does it have to be right now?"
"It's a wish I want granted now♡"
"...Fine, tell me and I'll decide."
Satisfied with my answer, she pouted cutely, then leaned in close, pressing our bodies together as she murmured,
"...I want your first time♡"
First... Only one possibility came to mind, and heat flooded my face.
"Ufufu...♡ Blushing Creator is adorable."
"Y-you're serious?"
"Of course. Why would I lie to you about something like this?"
Kartellis reached out, caressing my cheek as she asked,
"Or... you don't want to do it with me?"
As if.
Kartellis was one of my most carefully modeled characters. When I asked others to pick the prettiest bob-cut girl, she topped the list—a stunning beauty.
And her figure? The way her swimsuit clung perfectly, it was flawless enough to turn heads everywhere in the real world.
Sure, she had that side to her, but...
"It's not that..."
As her bad-end designer, the thought of bedding her made me hesitate.
"Am I lacking somehow? I don't think so compared to the others."
"You're not lacking. That's not it..."
"Then tell me what's wrong."
She stared piercingly into my eyes, desperate to know. I had no choice but to be honest.
"Well... if we do it, I'll probably die from internal injuries..."
"Hmm."
She pondered briefly before replying,
"You don't need to worry about that."
"...Why?"
"I don't think I could beat you, Creator...♡"
Blushing faintly, she draped tentacles over her privates.
I got the implication but kept it to myself.
Did I make her settings too bold...?
"Anyway, we've got six days until the next destruction. Spend them with me."
"With you?"
"Yeah. You did it with Selphira—now do it with me too."
Kartellis gently loosened the tentacles holding me, then clasped my hand tight and added,
"A date."