Here is a famous sentence.
‘The affairs of the world do not go as easily as one thinks.’
And indeed, the world flows in ways that are often more unexpected than one anticipates.
This phenomenon cannot be avoided even if the subject is a regressor, a possessor, or a reincarnator.
Thus, it may be that they struggle, consuming all fate, in an attempt to respond to situations they did not foresee.
A person naturally fears that which they do not understand.
Previously, I did not understand that sentence at all, but I soon realized what it meant.
Why they work so hard in the lives they have regained, striving to survive.
Why they would hoard items from existing characters, consume fate, and try to snatch the luck that others should have gained… simply because they know of a terrible future.
Why they so desperately want to survive and return to the places they lived.
I soon figured it out.
***
In a cathedral filled with countless coffins marked with crosses.
Before it, many masked humans lay prostrate.
A man begins to speak quietly before them.
“This world is so terrible.”
His mask takes the form of a black goat, different from those around him.
“The world is filled with famine, war, fear, and chaos.”
The beginning of his sentence sounds like the typical dialogue of an ordinary pacifist.
A mix of words that do not repel even a general audience.
“How many people are suffering, and how many more must die?”
“Due to useless emotional consumption and conflicts, this world is walking the path of self-destruction.”
As if he was finally going to finish a problem he had pondered for a long time, he shouts.
“We can no longer remain still. How can we continue to watch others suffer like this?”
His words are a blend of sincerity and a hint of madness, adding further credibility.
“Soon, when He descends, all these sins will come to an end. So everyone… please.”
“Please, offer your body to Him.”
No, that is complete madness.
“Offer your flesh, extract your organs, and present your blood in a chalice.”
“Gather those who will ultimately die and lead them down the same path as you.”
“Move your feet to the great end.”
“And then… let us all become one.”
Every eye present was genuinely listening to the man’s words and accepting them earnestly.
“Now! Let us all raise our chalices.”
The man also thrust a long sword into a coffin before him.
Crack.
“Ugh…”
At the same time, screams from within erupt, and streams of red liquid begin to flow, soaking the auditorium.
“Drink!!!”
“It is His blessing!”
They began to lick and consume the liquid, no one knew what it was, apparently joyfully.
“Hahaha! Drink! This is the sacrifice for Him. You too, drink the lamb’s blood and prepare the way in advance.”
It was indeed a gathering filled with madness.
However, with a gaze reminiscent of viewing livestock, the man turns his back on them.
“Thank you for your efforts, Archbishop.”
“No, it is all for Him, isn’t it?”
“As expected…”
A few individuals walk alongside the man as he exits the auditorium.
They begin to speak while pulling back his clothes.
“By the way, what happened with that central matter?”
“We rescued a child from the center. It will start soon.”
“Um…”
His red eyes behind the mask shine quietly and come to a halt.
“Archbishop?”
“Just a moment, let me think.”
“Oh, yes.”
The time was not long, but it felt as if time around him had stopped, and not even the sound of insects or wind could be heard.
“…Yes, I’ve decided.”
“What will you do?”
“He said it would be better to start much earlier than scheduled.”
“Eh? Wouldn’t that be too early…?”
“He mentioned that there are a few pesky beings.”
“Is it Him?”
“Yes.”
“Then… understood.”
He fell silent again until his bent-back interlocutor spoke.
“And you should also participate in this plan.”
“I… directly?”
The man gives orders nonchalantly to the clearly elderly man, who was only masked.
“Are you reluctant?”
“Ah… no!”
The old man, startled, accepted the command.
“Ah, then what should I instruct that student?”
“…You don’t have to tell that student.”
“…Yes.”
There were no questions of ‘why’.
It was simply a command, and he followed.
He knew that asking any further would be akin to testing his will and that his head could be on the chopping block.
However, the man looked at the old man for a moment, smiling kindly.
“If that student has decided to follow Him, they will instinctively throw themselves into the fray.”
“Ah, that… that’s true.”
And in the vehicle that approached, he said nothing more and simply left.
“What on earth… is he thinking… No, I only have to do what I must.”
The old man wrapped his trembling hands around each other, muttering to himself.
“Right, there’s no way I would die in such a place. He won’t let me be consumed by death… yes, certainly…”
It wasn’t until long after the man left that the sounds of insects began to resonate, while the old man simply trembled for a long time.
***
Three weeks passed.
Not much had changed in my life.
On days with physical training classes, other classes would disappear, and I would hone my fighting sense while dodging air balloons.
I absorbed countless memorized knowledge from magic classes.
In addition, I remembered various subjects like monsters, beasts, history, geography, cities, etc., and compared the information with what I knew from the game.
“Ugh! It’s over!”
The restaurant I arrived at after physical training.
My body had reached the point where it no longer hurt from air exposure, but still, I was hungry by lunchtime since I hadn’t grasped it at all.
“What does it mean to dominate the senses?”
I thought about how to use evasion support while clenching my hands, but I couldn’t fathom how to do it.
“…I don’t know.”
For now, I set the thought aside and opened the lunchbox I brought.
And the smell of curry wafted up.
However, this time, I decided to eat the freshly made rice and curry instead of the porridge I had discarded last time.
I realized how easily porridge can spoil.
Since I knew it would be a bother to keep taking food to Noah’s house, I chose this method.
While it meant spending money faster, I couldn’t commit any more rudeness.
In terms of nutrition, fiber was essential for my body, but since the doctor said not to get it in front of my house, I made a big decision and bought vegetables.
Strangely, I didn’t mind spending money on delicious items, but I found it painful to buy healthy foods like vegetables or fruits.
Still, it was better in texture than the grass I used to eat.
As I was eating in the restaurant, Noah came up to me and started to eat with me.
“Oh, senior. Are you done with your work?”
“Yeah… almost done. It’s not bad.”
In her eyes, which said it was okay, dark circles were prominently visible.
Considering her personality and current situation, I realized she must not have slept for even five hours and had been immersed in work.
“Did you bring food?”
“Ah… right. I forgot again.”
Additionally, not acting like her usual self, her exhausted mind didn’t even recognize that she had not brought lunch.
“Would you like to eat this?”
Fortunately, this had been happening often lately, so I found myself in a situation where I was sharing extra food with Noah.
It felt expensive, but… it couldn’t be helped.
I did not want to be stingy with Noah, the first person I had gotten close to in this world.
“Thank you…”
She closed her eyes as if savoring the taste of the curry I provided.
Gulp…
“Ah. Senior, wake up.”
She had fallen asleep like that.
“Ugh… Huh! Ah… I’m sorry.”
“Maybe you should go to the sleeproom?”
Seeing that she looked like she was about to collapse if she stayed still, I cautiously suggested it, but…
“That won’t do…”
“Or should I help you?”
“No… I’m fine.”
She had a look that didn’t seem fine at all, but she firmly rejected my suggestion.
Perhaps it was something I could not help with, and a situation where she couldn’t receive aid.
After all, she was likely not able to rest due to overlapping personal issues, not just student council matters.
“Hey, don’t overdo it…”
I expressed my concern for her physical state more than mine, as I scraped the remaining curry from my lunchbox.
‘After all, it’s hard to see my favorite character struggling.’
“What are you going to do after eating?”
“Archive…”
“Central? Or outskirts?”
“Outskirts…?”
I gently coaxed the conversation, as if leading a mentally distressed child, softly touching Noah’s mind.
If I didn’t, she would surely end up with her nose buried in the lunchbox and asleep.
As much as I wanted to insist she sleep, knowing why she couldn’t rested heavily on my mind.
‘Family issues… should not be touched.’
This was a problem that stemmed from Noah’s family and clan, not just student council work.
Later might be different, but right now, with our hazy friendship, I couldn’t interfere or take on more than I could handle.
In terms of likability, it might be around 60.
“I’ll go ahead…”
“Yeah, don’t collapse on the way.”
When I was completely drunk, would I look that way? Noah staggered as she left the restaurant.
Still, I believed nothing serious would happen to her in the end.
To prevent that, I was doing everything I could.
I was contemplating how to save Noah before the day the doomsayers spoke of comes.
Everything was going well.
Except for Noah being a bit tired, this incident could be prevented, and the results of Charlotte’s barrier formation showed more than 80% progress.
I figured if they ever invaded the academy, nothing major would happen.
‘…Could this be a flag?’
No way, it’s not like the world is a comic, and just having positive thoughts won’t change anything.
That’s what I thought.
…
Ding!
At that moment, I received a notification on my mobile phone.
[Emergency Disaster Message]
[Currently, a gate has been detected within 4KM of your surroundings. It is recommended to return home quickly or visit a protection center… ]
“What the?”
It was just a standard gate alert.
If it was just one gate, it wasn’t a problem at all.
After all, this is the academy.
Ding!
[Emergency Disaster Message]
“……”
Ding!
Ding!
Ding!
Ding!
Ding!
The mobile phones of everyone in the restaurant started ringing frantically.
[Emergency Disaster Message]
[Emergency Disaster Message]
[Emergency Disaster Message]
[Emergency Disaster Message]
[Emergency Disaster Message]
“……Why?”
This was clearly unusual; once could be coincidence, twice, thrice, it becomes inevitable.
I didn’t understand.
There was surely still time until the period they mentioned, wasn’t there?
But the world did not wish for my understanding.
It only showed me the cold reality before my eyes.
And for some reason, one phrase flashed through my mind.
What will happen, will happen.
“Shit.”
I had no choice but to curse.
