Wait a second, what the heck!
I said “from the beginning,” not “from the beginning’s next part!”
Memories from quite a while ago have been unfolding right before my eyes, even by my standard since I came to this world.
Every time I yell “Again!” my ability activates and rewinds time—not time traveling as someone else, mind you.
Since I caught a glimpse of the Goddess’s thoughts, it’s impossible to time travel ‘that way.’
So, what’s happening right in front of me could be called “the real situation I’m facing right now.”
A gentleman with round glasses and a bushy mustache, all broad-shouldered.
He was dressed in a silk hat and a fancy coat, but honestly, I don’t think he fits the title of ‘gentleman.’ In appearance or actions.
His tightly clenched fist rises.
This is the first real pain I’ve experienced since coming to this place, once again—
Thump!
“Hm?”
However, before that fist could connect with my face, a sound came from the direction of the carriage window.
The man turned his face toward the window. He was still pinning me down with his other hand, so I wasn’t able to move easily; at the very least, I wouldn’t get smashed in the face this time.
Bam!
A louder sound hit, and the carriage window shook. From outside, someone was shouting something. It was a voice I barely remembered and didn’t really want to remember.
“You little brat!”
I definitely thought I heard something along those lines.
Then came the clang.
That sound rang a bell. Of course, I’ve broken countless glasses in my life, but there’s a significant difference between breaking a regular window and smashing a lamp. A lamp involves both glass and metal.
The dull sound of the iron part of the lamp hitting the floor, combined with the shattering glass and a noise that sounded like something spilling all over the ground followed by the whoosh of flames flaring up.
And then screams.
Right, Claire was outside during that time.
The blue flames reflected on the man’s round glasses.
He immediately straightened up and started banging on the wall of the driver’s seat with his fist.
It seemed the driver understood without needing to be told. The sound of a whip cracked, and the horse whinnied.
The carriage began to move forward.
“Sis!”
From outside, I heard that voice. Was it Claire shouting?
Yet, that voice turned pale as the carriage sped up even faster.
No matter how skilled Claire was, she was still a child now.
Could she keep up with the carriage?
Well, it doesn’t really matter if she could or couldn’t.
“Again!”
*
The ability was triggered.
There wasn’t even a moment to think about what was happening in this world.
Because I had rewound time to just before I was about to get hit.
I could see the man raising his fist—
I gritted my teeth and moved my legs.
He must not have expected me to react so fiercely; he looked momentarily flustered.
But soon, he raised his hand up. After all, he’s just a child. An adult male squishing a kid doesn’t really count as resistance.
He grabbed my neck with one hand, making it hard to breathe.
But it was okay. I knew there was a chance.
If there was one opportunity, it meant I had countless opportunities.
Again.
*
Crack!
My foot, which I could only move once, struck the man right in the groin.
His face instantly turned pale.
Yeah, I know how that feels from my past life. Getting hit there hurts like hell.
That was precisely why I aimed for it.
I felt the strength leave the hand pinning me down, and I moved my foot once again. The man’s hand completely released me, allowing me to barely rise my upper body.
Then I charged at him, swinging my fist with all my might.
Crack! The man’s glasses shattered with a satisfying sound. Some shards embedded in my fist, but more importantly, the state of his face was far worse.
Since his glasses were only glass lenses placed on his face, it was no surprise.
“You little brat!”
At the same instant, I heard that shout from outside, followed by a crash, and the sound of a lamp breaking.
After a ripping scream, the carriage door jolted.
While the man was clutching his eyes, I hurriedly grasped the handle and opened the carriage door.
“Sis!”
And finally, I caught a glimpse of Claire’s face—
“Ah.”
Just as I did, my neck was grabbed. The man must have had a terrifying expression.
However, someone reacted before I could respond.
“Again!”
Claire shouted.
Yikes!
*
Thud!
A rock flew and hit the man’s face as the door swung open. Claire had thrown it right at the man’s hand that was covering his eyes.
“Quickly, sis!”
Claire extended her hand toward me.
She didn’t look so great either. There didn’t seem to be any major wounds, but her clothes were totally dusty as if she had rolled on the ground.
At least, she hadn’t suffered burns from breaking the lamp, thank goodness.
I quickly grabbed Claire’s hand and stepped outside.
Then, Claire pulled my hand and started to run.
“You guys are such trash…!”
What a talkative piece of trash!
I could hear the angry man shouting from behind us.
Despite getting beaten up, he still managed to maintain a polite demeanor, but clearly being beaten by a child was getting under his skin.
“What about the kids?”
“Of course, we’re taking them all. Just like you did, sis.”
Claire said that while pulling my arm.
…I couldn’t precisely figure out what was going on, but it seemed things were flowing similarly to what I had hoped for.
The Goddess’s power was still intact, but at the same time, it had also been transferred to Claire. Perhaps it was due to her inherent power. Claire had the potential for that.
But even so—
I heard the sound of hooves from behind.
It seemed he had given up on chasing us after spotting the flaming corpse of the orphanage director ahead. Maybe he thought involving himself further would complicate things?
At the very least, the orphanage itself wasn’t currently on fire.
“This time, I’ll take the lead.”
Claire, smiling brightly, looked like the Claire from my childhood memories, yet strangely also reminiscent of the brave Claire I had just recently recalled.
*
“……”
“Your Highness?”
There was tension in the voice of the knight addressing Alice.
A young princess who could hardly be called a ‘girl’ had once again stepped into a dangerous zone.
Why she knew about this ‘dangerous place’ and how she knew about the ‘orphanage’ within it, the knight didn’t know.
Besides the carriage the princess rode in, there were several more for protection, surrounded by knights on horseback.
It was the first time a child, barely ten years old, had come out and ordered the adults beneath her. Naturally, reports had been made to the Emperor. He had approved of this situation, seeming highly intrigued.
What on earth did this young princess know, and what was she looking for here?
“It seems there was a fire last night. The orphanage director handled the lamp carelessly…”
“Is the orphanage safe?”
“Yes, the building is intact, but it appears the children inside have disappeared for some reason overnight.”
The knight reported nonchalantly, without including any speculation.
“I see.”
Princess Alice Fanggriffon paused, lost in thought.
“Understood. We’ve confirmed everything, so let’s return to the Imperial Palace. Thank you for your help.”
“Not at all. It’s my duty.”
The knight, under the young princess’s command, still looked a bit dazed, bowing his head.
*
Light began to emanate between Sylvia and Claire.
And for the first time, I realized the position of my sight.
It was way lower than where Alice remembered it to be.
I looked at my hands. Delicate and small hands. My arms and legs were much shorter than what Alice herself remembered.
And I only realized it after looking in a mirror.
Time had rewinded.
“……”
If that’s the case, what reason does Alice have to remember that situation?
The eyes of Alice in the mirror widened. Staring intently at her reflection, she suddenly realized.
Inside that mechanical device.
Inside it, Alice herself was present.
Whether it was real or fake, how she ended up in that situation remained unclear, but at least she was sure that the entity inside the device was ‘a woman wearing a mask.’
And when that masked woman was present, even after time rewinded, Alice hadn’t lost her memory.
Her heart raced.
How many people live without regrets? But Alice had committed many regrettable actions in her childhood.
Especially how she had been too harsh for too long on Sylvia, who had simply treated her kindly without any special conditions.
After years of showing such a demeanor, it was only natural that Sylvia would develop feelings.
Thanks to Sylvia, Alice was able to regain her consciousness.
So now, if she were to meet Sylvia again here…
Could she possibly make amends for the mistakes of her childhood?
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