Truth and Misconception

"Cough, cough!!"

Frey, who had been gazing at Kania before him with a joyful expression, suddenly clutched his mouth and began coughing violently.

"A-Are you alright, Young Master?"

A considerable amount of blood soon poured from his mouth, and seeing this, Kania approached him cautiously with a panicked look on her face.

"Why are you making such a fuss all of a sudden? It's something I always carry around with me."

Frey chuckled at her unusually excessive reaction, waving her off to keep her at bay as he pulled something from his pocket.

"That's..."

"Oops, looks like the duration of the auto-clean spell has run out."

Frey wiped the blood from his mouth, frowning when the stain on the handkerchief wouldn't fade. He promptly held it out to Kania.

"Kania, could you recast the auto-clean spell on this for me?"

"Ah, um... I'm sorry, Young Master."

Kania flinched for a moment before bowing deeply and explaining.

"I used up all my strength protecting you back there and sneaking you out without anyone noticing. I'm truly sorry."

"I see... That explains why I couldn't sense any black magic from you. So, where are we?"

Frey pocketed the handkerchief with an awkward expression, glancing around before asking with a puzzled look.

"Ah... Well, this is a hideout I prepared in advance for you, Young Master."

"You're the best subordinate there ever was."

Hearing that, Frey beamed innocently and praised her. Kania bowed her head carefully in response before continuing.

"Young Master, you must stay hidden here for the time being."

"...What do you mean by that?"

"Please take a look at this."

Frey took the newspaper from Kania and scanned it, letting out a hollow laugh as he muttered.

"As expected of that Pope bastard... He's trying to protect me no matter what."

"The Pope?"

"Yeah, the Pope's actually the Demon King's lackey. Funny, right?"

Kania's expression hardened at his words.

"Oh, I guess I haven't told you yet? Well... this is a fact only I know, even among those who've lived through previous loops..."

"Previous... loops?"

"Yeah, in the previous loop, only the top executives and the Demon King knew the Pope was on the Demon King's side. Of course, I knew because I read the Prophecy Book."

As talk of "previous loops" and the "Prophecy Book" came up, Kania stared at Frey with confused eyes for a moment before hastily schooling her expression.

"You okay, Kania? You're not feeling ill or anything?"

Frey asked with a worried look.

"Right now... you're worrying about me, Young Master?"

Kania replied to Frey with a dumbfounded expression, sighing as she pulled something from her bag.

"What's that?"

"...Herbs."

As she absentmindedly brought the herb to her own mouth, Kania froze and flushed red.

"Chew it thoroughly. It's good for your body."

"Uh, uh-huh... Thanks?"

She averted her gaze and handed it to Frey, who blinked in surprise at the sudden offering but accepted it without protest.

"Buying herbs instead of potions means these must be pretty potent, huh?"

"Y-Yes... Probably."

"Hmm... A bit bitter, but edible."

Frey chewed on the herb for a while before staggering to his feet.

"No, Young Master. You need to rest now."

Kania rushed over and eased him back onto the bed. Panting roughly as he lay down, Frey glanced around and muttered.

"That's weird... I've definitely seen this place somewhere before..."

"Pardon?"

"Wasn't there any furniture here? Something furniture-like..."

"There was no furniture here from the start. It was completely empty."

As Frey frowned slightly and pressed, Kania glanced nervously at the exit before cutting him off abruptly, firing back a question before he could speak.

"Aren't you hungry, Young Master?"

"Huh?"

"You need to eat to recover your strength. I'll go fetch some food."

With a serious expression, Kania added, and Frey chuckled.

"Seeing you nag me to eat... You really are Kania."

"Y-Yes."

"Well, you'd bring it anyway even if I refused and force me to eat... I'll gratefully accept. Thanks."

"Then, please wait here. And your condition is the worst right now, so absolutely do not move from this spot."

Frey nodded weakly with a smile, and Kania gazed at him lingeringly before heading to the hideout's exit.

"...That was close. How does he remember that from when?"

Once outside, she wiped the cold sweat from her forehead while muttering. Around her were neatly stacked furniture pieces holding memories of the secret base.

"Uh... Kania? What's all this?"

"Food, Young Master."

Frey muttered blankly at the provisions Kania had gathered.

"Hmm... How to put it, it's pretty wild?"

Because the food consisted of mountain rabbits, fish, tree fruits, and sparrows.

"I had no choice. There's a high chance I'm under surveillance too, so without stealth magic, this is all I can manage..."

With no money on hand, she made excuses while gauging Frey's reaction, worried the notoriously picky eater—who only favored gourmet dishes—might get upset.

"Haha... It's fine! It brings back old memories. Nice."

But Frey, still staring blankly at the food, soon grinned like a child.

"...Old memories?"

"You see, when I was little, Irina and I used to wander the mountains near home, making secret bases and such. She'd catch stuff like this back then."

Gazing wistfully at the food Kania had procured, Frey chuckled.

"The first time Irina brought this kind of food, I asked how I was supposed to eat it and got an earful."

"I see..."

"Yeah, I sulked and wouldn't talk to her for a while, but then I snuck a bite of what she was grilling... and damn, it was delicious."

"Snuck?"

"Yep. Of course, I got caught soon after and took a knock on the head. After that, I ate whatever she caught without complaint."

Relishing the memory with a joyful expression, Frey soon wore a bittersweet smile.

"Anyway, might as well enjoy some nostalgic food this time."

"I'll prepare it to the best of my ability."

Kania reached for the provisions with a serious look.

"By the way, how'd you catch all this?"

"...Pardon?"

Frey eyed her curiously.

"I remember you being pretty frail at this point... Catching rabbits and sparrows is impressive."

"I've lived on the streets quite a bit, so... I know these skills."

"Ah... Right, that makes sense."

Kania sweated coldly, brushing off his words before gathering wood to start a fire.

"Oh... Just like Irina used to do."

Frey watched with eager eyes, and hearing Irina's name again, Kania forced a calm expression as she rubbed the sticks together.

- Whoosh!

"How do you even do that?"

"Using friction heat."

"I know that, but... I could never get it right as a kid, no matter how hard I tried. Irina did it like it was nothing."

Of course, the fire had ignited not from friction but a tiny spark from her fingertip—as always—and Frey had no chance succeeding by mimicking her showy fake technique meant to impress him. Ignoring that, she fanned the flames.

"Just wait a bit now."

"Nice... Feels like when I was a kid, out playing in the mountains by the house with Irina."

Frey's words ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hit eerily close to home. He watched the fish, rabbit, and sparrow roasting over the fire before coughing again.

"Cough! Cough!! Urgh..."

"Are you really okay, Young Master?"

"Hmm... I guess I can tell you."

Frey forced a smile and began.

"Truth is, I'm not okay at all."

"Pardon?"

"At this rate... maybe two years?"

Kania's jaw dropped.

"No need to be so surprised... You knew that already."

"Th-That..."

"Come to think of it, the lifespan gauge I had in my bag is gone... You have it, right? Let me see it."

At Frey's words, Kania stared blankly before pulling something out with trembling ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hands, her face paling.

"Ah, there it is. The lifespan gauge."

"The date written here..."

"What date does it show?"

Frey asked with forced cheer, and Kania whispered softly.

"...A date 2 years and 6 months from now."

"As expected. That means my lifespan halves each time."

Even hearing his death date, Frey muttered calmly.

"Halves?!"

"Yeah... I've been giving you life force since we were kids, so by academy enrollment, I had 10 years left."

"Kania... No, to me your life force..."

Her eyes widened at the revelation of shared life force since childhood, but after glancing at Frey, she clamped her mouth shut.

"First time my villainy got exposed to you, the gauge showed 5 years remaining. That's when I suspected it—lifespan halves per penalty."

"...Pardon?"

"This time, the special stack doesn't affect lifespan, so one regular stack applied, halving it again."

Kania's face drained of color.

"Anyway, who figured it out this time? Ignoring the special stack... Who do you think is most likely?"

"Th-That..."

"Yeah, you said you didn't know either. Sigh... This is a problem. A few suspects, but asking outright risks trouble if it's not them."

Frey coughed harshly again, and Kania stared blankly before asking.

"Wh-What if... you find out who noticed?"

"Dunno... I'd love to explain everything and win them over, but that'd burden too many with guilt."

Sighing, Frey continued frustratedly.

"Even if my villainy in previous loops was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to get the 'system' to kill the Demon King... ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it's not justifiable."

"Ah..."

"To the clueless, I'm just a criminal. The five main heroines who regained memories have every right to hate me. But they're all too kind-hearted. Telling them everything would load them with unnecessary guilt..."

Noticing Kania's expression, Frey stopped with a wry smile.

"See? Even you, knowing for so long, look like that now... Imagine the others."

"U-Ugh..."

"Let's drop this. The meat's done anyway."

As Frey changed the subject, Kania quickly handed him a fish skewer and murmured.

"...No, please continue."

"Yeah, truth is, you're the only one I can vent to like this... Sorry, bear with me a bit more."

Kania nodded, and Frey closed his eyes, continuing.

"As I was saying, no matter my greater good... the mental and physical pain you heroines suffered won't vanish."

"Yes..."

"If I explain it was unavoidable to gain transcendent power to save the world, and ask for cooperation since I must continue villainy to defeat the Demon King... what about them, remembering every trauma?"

"That..."

"At first regression, I thought revealing myself as the villain at the end would suffice. But it'd torment them too much..."

Pointing at Kania's failed composure, he added.

"You're already suffering knowing the truth."

"......."

"Hurting you all to save the world can't be justified. So, stop tormenting yourself."

"But... your lifespan, Young Master..."

"Ah, mine's still fine. The academy invasion is within 2 years and 6 months anyway..."

"N-No, that's not—" Stammering soullessly, Kania finally asked.

"Wh-What's the exact condition for 'getting caught'?"

"When someone 'confirms' I've committed 'villainy,' the penalty triggers."

"Then, two months ago..."

"Yeah, like you said, someone confirmed it around then. That's why I vomited blood."

Coughing again, Frey sighed and resumed.

"Anyway, for all those reasons... I wouldn't know what to say if I found out who."

"...I see."

"Sigh... Big trouble. The trials are coming soon too."

"Trials?"

"Yeah, some horrific curse from who-knows-where. At least it's not all at once—slow, in stages... Cough! Cough!! Let's continue this later."

As Kania failed to compose herself again, Frey swiftly ended it and praised the fish skewer.

"Man, this is really good... Sorry to Irina, but way better than her childhood skewers."

"...Experience accumulated."

"True, you're a good cook to begin with..."

'Years alone here... grilling solo, skill had to improve.'

Suppressing words she wanted to say to his innocent smile, she silently offered a tree fruit.

"Do you know what this is?"

"Yeah, 'Ice Dragon,' right?"

"Ice Dragon..."

"Irina said... legend has it a fish ate this fruit, found it so refreshing and tasty it ascended as an Ice Dragon. That's why it's called Ice Dragon. Funny, huh?"

Gazing at Frey, who innocently recounted his childhood fabrication as truth, she squeezed her eyes shut.

"...I'll step out to the bathroom for a bit."

"Ah, sure. Go ahead."

Frey nodded, and Kania headed rigidly to the exit.

"Ugh..."

Outside the hideout, Irina—who had been playing Kania—leaned against a tree, groaning.

"Ow, it hurts..."

Her stomach and chest had begun squeezing painfully.

"...Transformation potion side effect. Has to be."

Blaming the potion for the sudden ailment, she sorted through everything Frey had said.

"...Fuck."

Having pieced together his words, past loop actions, and current ones, Irina spat a curse.

"So, what the hell do you want from me..."

She muttered frantically with confused eyes.

"Yeah... You're right... No need for guilt... I suffered too... Can't just accept it was all for the world now..."

Though a flame mage who burned all, endless Demon King army battles and comrades' deaths had cooled her heart to judge coldly.

The dying Frey chose that path himself. His 'special ability' forced villainy, but it was still wrong—no justification.

Even if inaction meant world destruction by Demon King, his actions...

'Really can't justify it?'

Shaking off the intrusive thought, she panted.

"Haa... Haaa..."

Even so, her heart remained troubled.

"My noticing... cut your lifespan? In half?"

Simple as no guilt per his words, yet her heart ached inexplicably.

"The Death Oath too... to give me mana?"

His panicked face at her collapse during evaluation flashed vividly.

"No way, even the freshman welcome..."

Realizing further, Irina's eyes widened gravely.

"Wait... Then how'd he dodge the 'Midnight Curse'?"

Initially thought Demon King protected him. But today's truths placed him against the Demon King.

So, how did he evade the terrifying 'Midnight Curse'?

'No way... No freaking way!'

One horrifying possibility dawned: the sole, most brutal method to lift the vicious 'Midnight Curse'—worst of all curse resolutions.

"No... Impossible... No way..."

Few knew it continent-wide, including her, so she denied. But recalling he knew the 'Sacrifice Magic Circle' resolution only she knew, she replayed his words.

"He said... 'trials' earlier..."

Recalling his ominous remark, her face paled.

"Not all at once... slowly, in stages..."

Repeating his words weakly, Irina dashed back into the hideout.

"Y-Young Master! That trial you mentioned...!"

But spotting Frey, too pained to rise, trembling as he forced himself up with an innocent smile, babbling nonsense, she froze.

"Even if it's a trial illusion... Seeing you like this again is nice... Haha..."

"N-No..."

As he grinned, took her hand in a handshake, Irina—face ashen—whispered soullessly.

"You really... used that resolution?"

"I'm doing well. Getting along great with my little bro too. Father's a bit ill, but I'll definitely..."

But Frey just kept smiling innocently, shaking her hand.