Chapter 107. < 1 DAYS. (2) >
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Translator: thursdays Editor: Yahiko PR: LightBrin
The Lady of the Silver Lily briefly hesitated.
“What?”
“Milady. Think about it. Since it’s Your Ladys.h.i.+p, you’ll think the same thing I’ve thought of. You’re also a regressor.”
“……”
The Lady of the Silver Lily’s brows pinched, and she touched her chin. She appeared to be in thought. Shortly after, the Lady of the Silver Lily raised her brows in realization.
“Indeed.”
As expected, she noticed it.
“Yes.”
“But, Gongja. This is dangerous. It’s no different from gambling.”
“From that perspective, we’ve already won. This is the Tower’s mistake, and we have an advantage by pointing out the oversight.”
“…There is one more problem.”
The Lady of the Silver Lily looked at me.
“I won’t remember you.”
“It’ll be all right. I’ll definitely resolve the issue somehow. However, when I can’t get out of this world with my own power, please help me say [Transfer]. That’s all I’m asking for, Raviel.”
I opened my mouth.
“Please trust me.”
There was silence.
The Lady of the Silver Lily didn’t speak for a while.
“All right.”
She approached me.
“I’ve become your first b.i.t.c.h of a lover, and you’ll be my last. Anything that can be taken away will be.”
The Lady of the Silver Lily grabbed my chin.
“Really, I ended up with a bad man as my lover.”
With that, she kissed me.
“……”
I softly accepted her exhalation.
[The immersion toward the character is deepened.]
[Currently, your immersion rate is 83%.]
The last run.
As soon as I saw the Heretic Questioner be engulfed by the Lady of the Golden Silk, I had a strange feeling.
[The immersion toward the character is deepened.]
[Currently, your immersion rate is 85%.]
Why was his ‘transformation’ maintained?
[The immersion toward the character is deepened.]
[Currently, your immersion rate is 85%.]
Wasn’t it strange?
The Heretic Questioner could freely change his appearance with his sacred techniques. He could grow out his hair. However, the skill belonged to the ‘Heretic Questioner,’ not the ‘Lady of the Golden Silk.’
[The immersion toward the character is deepened.]
[Currently, your immersion rate is 85%.]
Nevertheless, the transformation had somewhat remained.
There was only one conclusion.
[The immersion toward the character is deepened.]
[Currently, your immersion rate is 87%.]
Even if we became immersed, our skills would not disappear.
The Lady of the Golden Silk still had the skills of the Heretic Questioner.
He merely forgot how to use them and thus did not.
[The immersion toward the character is deepened.]
[Currently, your immersion rate is 88%.]
And that would also be the case for me.
“……!”
As my immersion approached 90%, I became dizzy.
A surge of memories entered.
The memories of the original owner of this body cascaded like a flood. Before, I could only peek into the memories of or share the emotions of the original owner. But it was different now.
[The immersion toward the character is deepened.]
[Currently, your immersion rate is 89%.]
My memories were disappearing.
Even the voice of the director gathering us to recite the national anthem in the orphanage. Even how I didn’t want to go to the bathroom in the winter because it was too cold. Even the laughter of the older kids who occasionally played with us.
-Hey! Kim ■ja! Really, what the heck are ■u doing n■?
[■■iny asks the ■rior to st■!]
Even the voices of Bae Hu-ryeong and the Holy Sword.
“How are you?”
Only the voice of the Lady of the Silver Lily was clear.
“I’m… for now, it’s okay… More.”
“You’re asking me for more kisses. My lover is truly spoiled.”
I couldn’t breathe.
[The immersion toward the character is deepened.]
[Currently, your immersion rate is 90%.]
I was dizzy.
In the midst of this dizziness, I forced my eyes open to see the reflections of the two of us in the mirror.
+
Name: Kim Gongja
Favorability: 91
Preferred ■re: [Martial Arts], [Romance], De■ctive], [Adventure]
Dis■ Genres: N/■
Favorite Characters: [Master/Teacher], [Lover], [Vir■■ Hero], [Victim], [■ ■ker], [Child], [Good Person], [One Who ■■ On Oneself], [One Who ■ Gen■ous To Others], [■ Who Acknowledges Me]
+
My self.
My existence was being overwritten.
“Are you still all right?”
“Raviel.”
I was scared.
“I love you. I love you, Raviel…”
“I know.”
“Even if I’m born again, I’ll still love you. So, so that I can never forget you, don’t let me forget you even if I die…”
“I know.”
Our lips met.
[The immersion toward the character is deepened.]
[Currently, your immersion rate is 91%.]
My memories were vanis.h.i.+ng.
+
N■: Kim Gongja
Fav■: 9■
Favorite ■■: [Martial Arts], [Romance], [■■], [■ture]
■■ ■■: N/■
Favorite ■■■: [Master/Teacher], [Lover], [■■■ Hero], [Victim], [■ ■ker], [■■d], [Good Person], [■ Who ■■■ On ■■] , [■ Who Is Generous ■ ■■], [■ ■ ■■■ Me]
+
My existence was weakening.
[The immersion toward the character is deepened.]
[Currently, your immersion rate is 92%.]
A cheap dagger.
‘There isn’t even a sheath, but whatever.’
My origins.
‘Because this is all I can buy with the money I have.’
My limits.
[The immersion toward the character is deepened.]
[Currently, your immersion rate is 93%.]
A tiny room.
Worn-out walls.
Newspapers and photographs.
[The immersion toward the character is deepened.]
[Currently, your immersion rate is 94%.]
A handsome man in a ponytail…
Holding a spear wrapped in fire,
[The immersion toward the character is deepened.]
[Currently, your immersion rate is 95%.]
Internet.
An alley.
‘But Hyung-ssi, you’ve seen my face,’
[The immersion toward the character is deepened.]
[Currently, your immersion rate is 96%.]
Me, burning.
A mansion, burning.
‘Kind sir.’
[The immersion toward the character is deepened.]
[Currently, your immersion rate is 97%.]
A day when a lot of red rain fell.
An acacia garden, ‘I!’
‘I didn’t know!’ someone shouted while trembling.
In the acacia garden.
+
■■: ■ Gongja
■■■: 9■
■■ ■■: [Martial Arts], [Romance], [■■], [■■]
■■ ■■: N/■
■■■■■: [Master/Teacher], [Lover], [■■■■■], [Vic■], [■■■], [■■d], [Good ■], [■■■■■] ■■■■■], [■■■■ ■■■■■], [■ ■■■■ Me]
+
Snow.
A snowfield.
[The immersion toward the character is deepened.]
[Currently, your immersion rate is 98%.]
A red peony.
One petal.
+
■■: ■■
■■■: ■■
■■ ■■: [Martial ■], [■■ce], [■■], [■■]
■■: ■■
■■ ■■■: [Master/Teacher], [Lover], [■■■ ■■], [■■■], [■■■], [■■d], [■■], [■■■■] ■■■■■■], [■■■■ ■■■■■],
[■■ ■■■■■]
+
That was why.
‘I’m going to teach this kid how to be happy!’ Someone told me—
So, I.
[The immersion toward the character is deepened.]
[Currently, your immersion rate is 99%.]
I.
Who am I?
+
■■: ■■■
■■■: ■■
■■ ■■: [■■], [■■■], [■■], [■■]
■■ ■■■: [■cher], [Lo■], [■■■ ■■], [■■■], [■■■], [■■■■], [■■], [■] ■■ ■■■ ■ ■■ ■], [■■■■ ■■■■ ■],
[■■ ■■■■■]
+
“……”
Something…
-■■■ ■■■■! ■, ■, ■■■!
[■■■■ ■■■■ ■■ ■■■■.]
Something was being noisy.
My head buzzed like it was full of bees.
My eyesight was hazy… A mirror? Why was there a mirror?
Where was I?
“How are you?”
“……”
I looked blankly toward the voice.
Even with my blurry vision, I knew the person in front of me had a commanding presence.
I knew who this person was.
“Gongja.”
Raviel Ivansia.
The daughter of the Duke of Ivansia.
“I asked if you’re all right.”
The love rival of my master, the Lady of the Golden Silk.
“What is this…?”
When I tried to move, I realized that I was tied up. My arms, legs, and, of course, my whole body were bound tightly with a rope. As soon as I realized that I had been captured, my hazy mind sharpened.
“Good heavens. Heiress Ivansia, did you abduct me?”
“……”
“This is too much. No matter how much power the Ivansia Duchy holds under this sky, this is excessive. Do you hate the Lady of the Golden Silk so much as to threaten a servant like me?”
The silver-haired lady quietly looked down at me.
Strangely, my heart ached when I saw her face.
“I see.”
A sorrowful expression.
“It’s happened.”
All of the poison in the empire touched her fingertips, and all evil schemes came from her heart. Though these rumors were somewhat malicious, they held some truth.
That lady, the Lady of the Silver Lily, was clearly making a sad face in front of me.
“I thought I no longer had a heart to be hurt by. But this definitely hurts. You said that your path was one that testified to the pain of life. If so, rejoice. Your sword unmistakably has broken my heart.”
“What are you saying…”
I couldn’t understand.
I couldn’t understand what the Lady of the Silver Lily was saying, and I couldn’t understand my own feelings. Why did my heart feel sick? Did she drug me? I was familiar with various poisons due to attending to the Lady of the Golden Silk.
But this symptom… I’d never heard of it.
“Gongja.”
My heart was throbbing.
For some reason.
“…Who are you calling for?”
“My lover. The man who offered me his heart and the one I will offer mine to.”
She was probably referring to the crown prince.
However, the red eyes of the Lady of the Silver Lily were looking straight at me.
It only added to my confusion.
“H-heiress.”
Strange.
I was just calling her by her position, but I felt a cold sweat.
『Gongja.』
What was it? Something seemed extremely wrong. I felt guilty.
I felt inordinately sorry.
『If you break my heart, I’ll kill you.』
I couldn’t breathe.
Mysterious voices were echoing in my head. I felt like I would go crazy. Was I hallucinating? Did this drug cause hallucinations? Was that why sweat flowed from my neck and my heart pounded angrily in my chest?
“Gongja.”
I couldn’t answer.
Ominously, the Lady of the Silver Lily pulled out a rapier. I had to say something to somehow stop her.
“Have a safe trip.”
I couldn’t say a single word.
“I’ll be—”
[The silver-plated heart is looking at you.]
“—waiting for you.”
She pierced my heart.
“——!!”
I screamed. Blood poured out. My lungs clogged up. I quickly drew my last breath. And when I was about to vomit blood, the Lady of the Silver Lily blocked my lips.
With her lips.
“……, ……”
Everything looked far away.
Killing me meant that the lady before me would finally unfold her plot against the Lady of the Golden Silk. I, as her s.h.i.+eld, could not die. Therefore, this was a critical and urgent situation.
But my final thought was not about the Lady of the Golden Silk. Nor was it about anything else.
Just the red eyes right in front of my face staring back.
[The silver-plated heart loves you.]
I wanted to wipe away the tears that flowed there.
[You have died.]
[You are regressing to 24 hours ago.]
[…… ……]
Quietly.
[An error has occurred.]
There was a voice.
[The owner of the skill is different from the user of the skill.]
[It is being decided whether the skill should return to ’24 hours from the owner’s point of view’ or ’24 hours from the user’s point of view.’]
[Judgment failed.]
The sight before me was darkening.
[The Tower confirms that the requisites to activate the skill have not been met.]
[The Tower understands that the owner of the skill intended for the current situation to occur.]
[This matter is beyond the Tower’s jurisdiction.]
It was becoming more distant.
[The Tower is checking the Death King’s permissions.]
[Accepted. Death King currently holds the qualifications to be a temporary Apostle.]
[a.s.signing status as a temporary Apostle to Hamustra.]
[The Tower raises the Death King’s problem as a formal agenda item.]
Then.
[The Tower requests a majority vote among the Six Pillars of Manseng (10,000 Lives).]
A wave of white light washed over me.
.
.
.
.
.
.
This was the first time I had ever been in such a place.
It was pitch black, and I felt like I was floating without limbs or a body.
[Confirming attendees.]
A voice murmured in the endless darkness.
[The Sixth Pillar. ‘The Wand Of Ages’ is present.]
[The Fifth Pillar. ‘The Lady Who Walks In The Mirage’ is present.]
[The Fourth Pillar. ‘The Moon Contemplating Blindness’ is present.]
[The Third Pillar. ‘The One Who Wrote The Beginning’ is present.]
[The Second Pillar. ‘The G.o.d Who Dances In The Void’ is present.]
[Attendance of the Six Pillars of Manseng Confirmed.]
[The Tower will share the problem of the temporary Apostle, ‘Death King.’]
[Sharing complete.]
-Tchuba-ta, Mura waloyo Bus.h.i.+-to!
I heard a very indignant voice.
-Sato, mai-mau.
-Nail!
The voices were coming from all around, like a myriad of whispering snakes. I figured this was h.e.l.l and shrugged my shoulders.
[The request has been accepted.]
[Translating from the language of Zrakua.]
The next moment.
“—That f.u.c.ker is really playing with us!”
Voices roared.
“Call Hamustra right now! That Corner Librarian b.a.s.t.a.r.d, why did he send that kind of thing as an Apostle?”
“I checked, and there was no problem with the procedure. More than that, that child won’t be able to understand anything we’re saying. The immersion rate, was it? Reverting it should help us communicate.”
“Miya! Undo it!”
[The request has been accepted.]
[Resetting Death King’s immersion.]
[Currently, your immersion rate is 0%.]
“Haa!”
I could finally breathe.
My spinning head returned to normal, too.
The words that I’d spoken when I became the butler, the gaze of the Lady of the Silver Lily when she looked at me—all of my memories returned in an instant.
Also, I was certain.
“You. You purposefully used your regression skill after synchronizing with the character, right?”
I had succeeded.
“You’re trying to return to 24 hours ago in the character’s timeline rather than your own!”
In my mind, I smiled.
“Yes. That’s correct.”
The day when the Lady of the Silver Lily stabbed the mirror with the sword.
One day before her eternal ten-day cycle began.
“Please send me back.”
I would return to that very day.