NOVEL NEXT Chapter 28
Today, from the morning, Raphne wasn’t feeling well.
She had a high fever and a cough—maybe she caught a cold?
So, I decided to take a day off from the academy and kept an eye on her while nursing her.
Later, after Raphne’s fever went down, she fell asleep, and I went out to the dormitory to grab some clothes and things.
That’s when I spotted Emily sitting under a tree.
“So, just this once, please! After today ends and today comes back again, I won’t trouble Ken anymore…”
“……”
“Ugh, K-Ken… I-I won’t make it hard for you again….”
And then came Emily’s sudden confession, which had me rather intrigued.
‘…After today ends, …today comes back?’
It was definitely something I couldn’t understand, but something clicked in my memory.
It was a random event that happens to the protagonist, Emily, in the game.
One of the academy invasion events by the Demon Lord’s army.
A ten-day time loop event.
“……What, …did you say?”
When I asked her how many deaths it had been, Emily stopped crying and stared blankly at me.
The number of times I’ve died.
In time loop events, this number is the most important part.
It basically represents the remaining lives.
I might be misunderstanding, but her words had a strong possibility.
I had to ask, no matter how strange it seemed.
This was reality.
After the tenth death, there’s no such thing as starting over through a save point.
“Is it that if you die now, you start over from morning? How many times have you done that?”
“K-Ken… How do you know that?”
Looks like my guess was right.
Emily had a look that said she found it hard to believe.
And understanding the meaning behind my words, Emily soon started to shed tears and came closer to me.
With a tearful face, she placed her hand on my shoulder and slumped down as if all her strength left her.
I supported Emily and lowered my body to match hers.
With a quivering voice, Emily managed to speak.
“K-Ken… I-I… Ugh, right now, …uh, I’m….”
“I know. Calm down, Emily. I can help you.”
“…Huh, Uwaah… Ken…”
Then, Emily buried her face in my arms and began to cry as if releasing emotions she had been holding back.
Having watched her loop in the game, I knew the kind of pain she must have been facing.
This ten-day loop was an event filled with horror elements, the most psychologically damaging event she would experience.
I held her until she calmed down.
“…It’s the sixth time.”
After calming down, Emily told me the number of her deaths.
Six times means there’s still time.
“Emily, you need to calm down and listen to me carefully.”
“Uh, okay.”
The crying had stopped, but with red eyes, Emily nodded with difficulty.
“First, you have to die in this round.”
“…Huh?”
Emily seemed shocked by the cruel reality.
It was brutal, but it couldn’t be helped. She couldn’t be saved in this round.
But that was the reality she had to endure to survive.
Shaking her shoulders, tears welled up in her eyes again.
“And after you die and wake up in the morning, head straight to the academy.”
“Uuhh, H-uh.”
She looked pained by the harsh reality, but Emily was doing her best to calm down and listen to me.
I placed my hand on her trembling shoulders.
The last part was the most important.
“On your way to the academy, there will be a student who drops something every morning and breaks it.”
“Uh, okay.”
“You need to catch their stuff before it breaks.”
There was only one way to clear this time loop event.
Observe the repeated situations each loop and recruit the critical NPC to your side.
The student who drops things every morning is that NPC.
Without that guy, this event cannot be cleared.
I then explained why that student was necessary and what to do after catching their things before they break.
“But Ken… when the next morning comes, you won’t remember…”
“Don’t worry. Just bring that student to me. Even if I don’t remember, I’ll help.”
In the game, that student only appears during this event.
If Emily suddenly brings him, it can only mean one thing.
With that reassuring answer, Emily nodded.
And wiping her tears, she opened her mouth again.
“Thank you… Ugh, thank you, Ken… for helping me…”
“Of course, I’ll help as much as you need. No matter what happens, I’ll solve it for you. So just be at ease.”
With that, I gently patted Emily’s head.
Oh no… watching crying Emily made me unconsciously raise my hand.
…Was that strange?
But, since she said she liked me… it shouldn’t feel bad.
“Uh, Ken.”
“Yeah?”
Emily placed her hand over mine, which was still on her head, then opened her mouth with a face that looked like she might cry again.
“I… I’m scared of dying.”
“……”
“I’m scared of being in pain.”
Emily’s hand that held mine was trembling.
“It’s okay, Emily.”
I knew what she must have gone through.
As much as it was necessary to solve the incident, going through that pain again was truly harsh.
There was no way for me to know just how great that fear was.
So, as I wasn’t able to prevent her death in this loop,
the best thing I could do for her would be…
“I’ll die together with you.”
I can’t stop her from dying.
That madwoman with the scissors will chase after Emily and deliver a painful death one way or another.
So at the very least, I can ensure she’s not alone.
I can’t share her pain, but I can be by her side.
I don’t know how much that will help, but that’s the best I can do.
Meeting her eyes as she contemplated my resolve, Emily eventually looked down and thought for a moment,
then slowly took her hands from mine.
She placed both hands on my shoulders.
And lifting her head, she locked eyes with me again.
In Emily’s gaze, there was not fear, but rather a hint of shyness and desire.
“Ken, I have a favor to ask.”
“Yeah, anything!”
“……”
After hesitating, she looked at me and seemingly made up her mind, pursed her lips, and slowly opened them.
“If, if I die this time… you won’t remember, right?”
“That’s right.”
“Then…”
Emily looked at me with a gaze I had never seen before.
Embarrassed, her face red, she carefully began to fall into my eyes.
“…Kiss me.”
“……Huh?”
Emily’s request caught me off guard.
Her eyes were serious.
“I’m really scared of pain and death, but… if you kiss me, I think I can… endure it.”
“Wha…”
At the mention of a kiss, my gaze fell on Emily’s lips.
Her red, shining lips.
At that sultry sight, my heart started beating wildly.
I could feel the warmth spreading in my face.
“W-Would that be okay?”
Not receiving an answer, Emily looked at me with sad eyes and asked again.
I briefly contemplated and then, steeling my heart, I faced Emily again.
“Okay. If that gives you some comfort.”
If a kiss from a guy like me can help Emily suffer less from the pain of death,
then I would gladly grant that wish.
We stood up from where we sat.
Facing each other, I slowly moved closer to Emily, who stepped back and leaned against the tree behind her.
I gently placed my hand on her cheek.
I could feel her warm body temperature.
With her big, moist eyes, Emily turned red,
her gaze entranced as it locked onto me.
“…Are you sure?”
“……”
At my question, Emily nodded.
Then I leaned in closer to her.
And kissed her.
“……”
“……”
Softly, Emily’s lips met mine.
Through the hand resting on her shoulder, I could feel her trembling.
Slowly…
I pulled away from her lips.
I couldn’t meet her gaze due to the embarrassment creeping onto my face.
Emily was silent,
but I carefully lifted my head to look at her.
“Fool, that was just a peck.”
“…Huh?”
I was bewildered by her words.
And seeing my reaction, Emily lowered her head, turning even redder as she spoke.
“…C-Can I ask for one more?”
“What, what is it?”
Emily raised her gaze and with a cautious expression, she said,
“Tell me… you like me.”
She looked even more shy than when asking for the kiss.
“I’m sorry, but… since it will be all erased anyway… then…”
“I like you, Emily.”
“……”
At my sincere words, Emily blushed and looked down.
Then she lifted her head again, staring into my eyes with those big, moist ones.
“…O-Once more.”
“I like you.”
“…Say it again.”
“I like you, Emily.”
“……I like Ken too.”
With eyes glistening with tears, Emily said to me,
small smile appearing as if she were sorrowful yet happy, she closed her eyes.
She waited with her lips parted.
I closed my eyes and moved closer, pressing my lips against hers.
“…Mmm.”
Emily placed her hand on my face, slowly parting her lips as our tongues began to intertwine.
I could feel her saliva, as our tongues slowly tangled,
my heart racing and my body heating up.
Our lips became slick with each other’s saliva, and Emily and I gradually explored each other’s mouths.
The fragrant scent of Emily enveloped my senses.
Soon, Emily’s hand, which had been on my face, wrapped around my neck as she pressed her body closer to mine.
Her soft body touched all over me, and I could feel her warm body temperature across my entire being.
I wrapped my arms around her waist, pulling her in closer.
How much time had passed?
A little while later,
Emily’s shoulders shuddered,
and her body began to tremble.
That tremor was something different than excitement.
I could feel her fear through our close contact.
I sensed it.
Death was nearing.
I pulled away from the kiss and looked into Emily’s anxious eyes.
I hope she finds comfort.
I hope she isn’t in pain.
With sincere feelings, I looked into her eyes and said,
“I like you, Emily. I’ll be with you always.”
Could my sincerity get through to her?
Emily’s terrified eyes soon transformed into excitement and warmth,
and tears welled in her eyes as she nodded happily.
“……Yeah. I like you too.”
And we kissed once more.
We shared a sweet moment like lovers.
And that sweet kiss soon met with the taste of blood.
Eyes opening, Emily looked at the familiar ceiling and sat up.
Morning.
A start that had only brought torment recently.
But this time, it was different.
Emily touched her lips as if in a trance.
Her first kiss with someone she likes.
Recalling that sweet, rich time made her feel indifferent to the pain of death.
‘Right, the thing I need to do…’
Snapping back to reality, Emily hurriedly started getting ready.
Dashing down the usual path to school, she looked around.
The scenery that had grown too familiar.
In the few days that had passed, among the identical sights, she spotted the person she was searching for.
Then she found a short student struggling to carry a glass decoration.
“Whoa…!”
As always, the student tripped over a stone and lost balance, and
Emily prepared herself to catch the glass decoration that was about to fall.
“Whoa! Th-thank you! I-I was about to destroy something really important for my assignment!”
Having fallen to the ground, the student looked up at Emily and kept expressing gratitude.
Hearing that, Emily let out a sigh of relief,
smiling as she looked down at the student.
“Really? So, I guess you owe me now?”
“…Huh?”
“You’ve got to help me out!”
And thus, the plan to escape the loop began.