A possibility I’ve never even thought of pops into my head.
It could be that the system has encountered an error.
The integrity of the system has already been shattered for a long time.
Ever since the start of this round, there’ve been glitches everywhere, causing quite the ruckus!
[Relationship Chart]
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It’s like this.
Given the past, I can’t be sure that it won’t trigger other errors.
There could be issues even more serious than the regression being blocked.
For example, the heroine regaining her memories from the last round.
“No way. That can’t be…”
The photo in the newspaper catches my eye again.
It looks like someone blew up a pillar with a mana bomb!
If it’s the priestess Jill I know, there’s no way she’d do something like that.
…Unless I’m remembering something I’ve seen before.
“Ha.”
Jill could’ve regained her memories.
Just thinking about it sends a splitting headache through my brain.
Memories from the last twelve rounds come rushing back vividly.
In the first round, I approached them with impure intentions but enjoyed the time with the heroines with a pretty pure heart.
In the second round, I faced the heartbreak of encountering the heroines who had forgotten me.
In the third round, I hardened my resolve, yet my heart wavered every time I saw the heroines.
…By the twelfth round, my heart was so worn down that I felt no emotional stirrings even when facing the heroines.
At the very end, I was acting to the hilt, but they weren’t.
I repeated the same lines many times, but they delivered them to me with sincerity.
I grew tired of the same scenery that I’d seen countless times, and they would genuinely express their admiration.
I’ve even thought to myself how pitiful that was.
I wished that the heroines could also regress with me.
How nice would it be if it wasn’t just my time flowing alone in loneliness?
But that fantasy could’ve become a reality.
The heroines might remember me from previous rounds.
Thinking that it could actually be possible sends a shiver down my spine.
“Ugh…”
Those girls who hurled nasty taunts at me to keep me bound.
The ones who dirtied my reputation and tied me down.
Them with their ugly obsession and selfishness.
Their actions revive my trauma, causing me to shudder.
The heroines forget their own deeds, but they will forever remain in my heart.
The dagger lodged in my chest digs in deeper each time I see their clear, innocent smiles.
Just imagining it makes my breath quicken and my heart tighten.
“…Hmph.”
Thud.
A cold touch lands on my nape.
Thanks to that, I can take a breath and gather my thoughts.
“What are you doing?”
“…”
I sigh and turn my head.
Mi Jeong, who’s freshly washed up, is hanging her damp hair down while biting my nape.
Since she doesn’t have fangs, it doesn’t hurt that much.
Or rather, she’s not applying any pressure, so it doesn’t hurt at all.
In the meantime, she’s thrown on my shirt, and it looks all loose on her.
I bought her one, so why is she doing this?
“Are you hungry or something?”
“…”
She shakes her head while still gripping my nape.
As a result, her teeth rub against my skin.
Eventually, Mi Jeong starts nibbling on my nape.
It’s not hard, just enough to feel a slight sting.
“So, what is it?”
“…I don’t know.”
Just as I raise my arms to forcibly remove her,
Mi Jeong instinctively releases her bite.
A string of saliva dangles and drops, but it doesn’t feel that disgusting.
Maybe it’s because I’m not exactly a neat freak.
“…This feels nice. Calms my mind.”
“Good.”
“…Nyaaa.”
Mi Jeong swallows her saliva and then starts nibbling the other side of my neck.
Since she’s doing it on my nape, it seems some of her instincts as a Blood Ghoul still linger.
Since I’m not getting hurt or infected, I decide to let it be.
If I stop her, she might chew on something else and ruin her teeth.
…This makes me feel like I’m a chew toy.
“It stinks, so back off. I haven’t showered yet.”
“…Yoo Jin. I don’t mind the smell.”
“Dry your hair.”
“…Ugh.”
I toss a towel on her head and get up from the sofa.
I need to wash up and check out.
Thanks to this, I feel like my mood has improved a bit.
*
Not all footsteps sound the same.
Some people’s steps drag and weary.
While others stomp heavily as they walk.
Having spent my childhood in a workshop with clear hierarchies, I’m quite familiar with recognizing footsteps.
As soon as I hear the footsteps of the elders, I must get up and greet them respectfully.
Of course, I can’t memorize the footsteps of everyone I see for the first time.
If they’re not from the workshop, I won’t remember them well.
Even if I do memorize them, I forget them quickly.
That’s why this feels weird.
The investor’s footsteps?
How could I remember the footsteps of someone I’ve met only twice?
It feels less like I consciously remembered and more like my body reacted unconsciously.
Could it be? Just a mistake.
“Ah…”
Familiar boots appear from the reception desk.
My face lights up involuntarily.
Without realizing it, I grab the wooden box that was in front of me and dash out.
“Tay! Your customer…”
“You’re here?!”
I can’t believe it’s really the investor!
Before the staff member even calls for me, I rush out to the reception desk.
This is the first time I’ve memorized someone’s footsteps in such a short time.
Maybe it’s because the investor’s boots sound unique.
It must be that.
There can’t be any special reason.
“Yes! The completed mana stone is here…”
I inadvertently stretch my words.
My expression gradually hardens.
There’s a girl next to the investor I’ve never seen before!
She’s standing so close that she could almost touch the investor, so their relationship seems quite intimate.
What could their relationship be?
I freeze for a moment, lost in thought.
Maybe she’s a younger sister? That would make sense, right?
That thought reassures me a little.
“Tay?”
“Ah, yes! The completed mana stone is right here. They’re a matching pair.”
Realizing my duties, I quickly open the box to show its contents.
The mana stones the investor brought this time are completely symmetrical in appearance.
Thus, I split them in half to make two.
Having two identical mana stones isn’t going to double the effect.
“It seems you’ve found some ease. You looked a bit rushed in your previous work, but it’s completely absent this time.”
“Did you notice? Hehe. When I relax, my work actually speeds up.”
As I’ve felt before, it seems the investor sees right through me.
Certainly, I made many mistakes because I was nervous and overthinking in the beginning.
However, once I realized this expectation was just pure support and encouragement, it wasn’t burdensome at all.
At first, just picturing that human face made me feel sick.
Now, just thinking about the smile the investor will have while holding the mana stone fills me with strength.
I might finally have become an artisan in the truest sense thanks to the investor.
“Still, there’s a long way to go.”
“Yes?”
“It’ll improve beyond this, right? You’re not planning to settle for just this quality, are you?”
“Of course not!”
“Since I’m leaving Basel now, I’ll come back with a bunch of high-grade mana stones. I’ll be looking forward to that.”
“I’ll keep honing my skills in the meantime!”
I’m excited and my heart races at the thought of working.
This is a first-time experience for me.
I never dreamed I would gain this level of confidence.
I couldn’t even imagine finding my true talent.
All thanks to the investor.
The investor pushed me, believed in me, and encouraged me.
How do I express this feeling?
Simply saying thank you doesn’t feel enough.
I’m still far from sufficient.
Searching for words that can better express the turmoil in my heart.
Just then…
“Hey, you can take care of this.”
“…Huh?”
“There are two, so make them into rings and wear them. You don’t mind?”
“…No, I like it.”
The investor hands one of the mana stones to the girl next to him.
She’s someone I barely remembered, having completely forgotten her moments ago.
She’s so small.
Just a fleeting moment.
The instant the investor turns his head, a smile appears on the girl’s previously expressionless face before vanishing.
I can’t help but feel my brows furrowing in surprise.
They must be particularly close siblings. That could happen.
It’s easy to tell there’s about a ten-year age difference between them.
So, this level of intimacy makes sense.
Although wearing matching mana stone rings as siblings is… a bit hard to understand.
But I can overlook it.
It’s no problem.
“Well then, see you next time, Tay. Stay healthy.”
“Yes…”
“Let’s go. You shouldn’t stare at that mana stone so much. You’ll poke a hole in your eyeballs.”
“…Okay.”
The investor turns and walks away.
The words I didn’t get to say hang in my throat, tickling me.
Although we promised to meet again, nobody knows when that will be.
I really should say it.
Gathering my courage, I lift my head and open my mouth.
“Ah…”
But the moment I see the investor’s nape.
I’m hit with an overwhelming sense of pressure.
Bite marks…?
Clear marks left from teeth.
They’re all over the investor’s nape.
It seems the investor didn’t hear the scream that’s like a dying gasp from me.
However, the girl walking next to him holding his sleeve turns around, her red eye light glowing.
“Ah…”
That gaze, like a beast’s, makes my legs go weak.
I can’t make a sound as I just sit there, watching the investor’s back disappear.
Eventually, the investor and the little girl walk side by side and vanish from sight.
“When you come back next time… I’ll tell you… Huh…”
It’s not over yet.
I can’t stop until I’ve honed my skills, become more famous, and gain wider recognition.
Until the day the investor returns.
I wipe away my tears and stand up, clenching my fists tight.
