Regressed With A Copy System: Breaking the Loop

"I keep telling you to speak sense. What do you mean level up? You just said you were not happy with the promotion they gave you," Selena complained.

Nolan chuckled, "Forget I ever said that."

"Which of them? The level up or the fact that you don't like the promotion?" Selena raised a brow. "You know what? I would prefer forgetting both."

Nolan scoffed, shaking his head. Then he looked back at her with an expression that suggested he just remembered something. "Aha, I was going to kick you out, but it seems you would be moving out by yourself."

Selena looked at him, feigning confusion as she stood up. "Whaaat? What are you talking about? I do not have a place to stay."

"They offer free accommodation to every member of the guild who does not have a place to stay. Don't play stupid," Nolan said blankly.

Selena rolled her eyes, taking off her uniform top and dropping it on the chair, now in her black crop-top. "Come on, I like this place. It's not the same joint crap like the others."

"Okay then, I would go stay there," Nolan said.

"Why? This is your room," Selena tilted her head.

Nolan stared blankly at her, without saying a word.

A knock suddenly came on the door.

"I'll get it," Selena said.

Nolan palmed his face and lay on the bed, tapping his feet on the ground. "You do not know what your problem is. But seriously, you have to leave."

Selena mockingly imitated him in a hushed tone, as she walked to the door.

"You know I heard you, right?" Nolan raised his head, squinting at her.

"No, you didn't," Selena turned to him with a forced smile, before turning back to the door and opening it. "Oh, hi there," she said, with a smile.

Nolan raised his head to see who was at the door, and at the same time, the person peeped in.

"What brings you here, Captain," Selena said to Liana.

Liana did not say a word at first. She just looked from Selena to Nolan who was now getting up.

Alexander stood beside her, wide-eyed. "It cannot be," he whispered, pointing at Selena. "You and Master are really… married?!"

"No, they're not," Liana replied him.

"Yes, we are," Selena said, winking at the boy.

"No, we are not," Nolan concluded, in a bored tone.

Selena frowned, "You are no fun, Nolan."

Liana ignored the bicker and faced Nolan. "We need to talk," she said.

Nolan found her expression and the seriousness in her voice somewhat concerning.

"Well—" Alexander started, but was cut off by Liana.

"Why don't you go get some rest. I will speak to him," she said to Alexander.

He was about to argue, but the look Liana gave him made no room for objection. "Oh, uh… okay. I was getting pretty tired anyways. I will, uh, hear from you tomorrow," he said, taking off his hat and leaving. "Goodnight, Master. Oh, and everyone else."

"Why chase the boy after you brought him all the way here?" Nolan asked.

"I figured it was best I talk to you," she said, looking at Selena who was fiddling with her hair. "Alone."

Selena looked at Liana and faked a smile.

Nolan followed her gaze, looking at Selena. "Alright then. Let's go outside then," he said.

He walked past Liana, going out. "And you, madam, better be out before I return," he voiced, without turning back, clearly referring to Selena.

"I did not hear that," Selena muttered, her eyes locking with Liana's for a few seconds, before Liana turned to leave.

"Oh dear, wait. I want to ask you something," Selena called out to Liana.

Liana stopped without looking back. "What?"

Selena leaned in, and whispered something to her.

Liana's expression faltered for a moment there, her eyes widening, heart beating faster. But she regained composure and quickly found her voice. "No," she said, leaving.

. . .

Outside, Nolan waited, leaning on the building.

Liana stepped out and Nolan suggested they took a walk.

"What is it you want to talk to me about, that got you this serious?" Nolan asked, hands in his pockets as they walked.

Liana let the question hang in the air for a beat, as if tasting it. "How are you so good with the sword, if you don't mind me asking?" she asked.

Nolan raised a brow, though he wasn't confused at all. He had been through situations like this, too many times to know this was just a build up to the main reason why she wanted to talk.

"I have used it a couple of times before. And I also watched people who were good and learned a thing or two," he replied.

"In the village? Where and when exactly?" she asked.

That caught Nolan slightly of guard. 'Why is she suddenly being so specific?' he thought.

Liana picked up again from the slight hesitation, "When I asked how you knew the guild so well, you said you had been there a few times, right? What were you there for?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Nothing. I'm just curious, you know. It's strange how you are sometimes misunderstood, when you might be saying what actually is. We just don't understand them, do we?"

"Uh, yes…" Nolan replied, starting to feel a bit insecure. "What I came to do is quite personal."

"I wouldn't want to invade that," Liana laughed. "So, why did you tell Lena she was your wife?"

"I joked about it, but then she started following me and I thought she was sent to kill me, but it seems she was not," Nolan lied almost instantly.

"Oh wow. That clears something."

As they walked, Liana kept asking questions, and Nolan brought up the right cover up lies for those he could not answer with the truth. They hadn't realized how much they had been walking, until they reached the Royal Clover fields.

There were a lot of fireflies there, and the place looked even more beautiful.

By then Liana's questions had started to ring a bell in Nolan's head, and he could easily tell that she might have somehow found out the truth. He started answering her questions honestly, though indirectly.

"Remember what your reply was when Ace Cyndy asked what you did in the village?" she asked, looking at the fireflies.

"I live again and again or something?"

"Mm," she nodded. "Remember telling me Alexander doesn't exist?"

"Yes," Nolan replied casually.

"How about saying you faced the ones after you, a thousand times?"

"Mhmm."

"You telling me to keep the team close and watching Maximus that day wasn't mere suspicion, was it?"

"Somehow," Nolan replied, turning to his side to find Liana missing.

She had stopped walking for a while now. He turned around and she was standing there, looking at him with the eyes of someone who was very worried.

The fireflies seemed to revolve more around them, casting faint glows across their faces.

"You don't have to stay in the tunnel alone anymore. Let me know," she said. "Who are you really, Nolan?"