―32― Are You Okay?
"Ha—"
The sensation forcibly awakens me as I return from death. No matter how many times I experience it, I can't get used to this feeling.
"How far back did I go!?"
As I think this, I survey my surroundings. Behind me lies a mass of Armor Bear Bugbear corpses.
"Heavy... breathing... heavy... breathing..."
I'm out of breath. It's evident that I've just finished a battle.
"...Is this for real?"
I didn't want to believe it. Could it be that all the time I spent with the vampire Yudit over the past few months has been erased? Is that really what's happened?
To confirm, I open up my status screen.
▽▽▽▽▽▽▽▽▽▽▽▽▽▽▽
〈Kiska〉
Skill 1: Save & Reset
Skill 2: Taunt Lv. 1
Skill 3: None
Skill 4: None
Skill 5: None
△△△△△△△△△△△△△△△
Just a moment ago, all five slots were filled with skills. Now they're gone.
"No... No..."
I didn't want to accept that all the effort I had put into the past few months had been for nothing.
All that hard work, gone in an instant. Starting over from the beginning...
"Ah, ahh..."
For several minutes, I stand there in shock, tears streaming down my face. What was the point of the time I spent until now? It was all erased, lost to nothingness.
"...Right, I should go see her."
Muttering to myself, I start walking with unsteady steps. I need to see the vampire Yudit. Maybe, just maybe, she'll remember me.
◆
Vampire Yudit had set up a table and chairs in the middle of a dungeon corridor, holding a teacup.
I can lose my skills. I can lose the skill points I accumulated by defeating monsters. I can endure all that, as long as she remembers me.
"How unusual to find an intruder like you in this place."
Hearing her murmur upon seeing me, I suddenly realize.
She has forgotten all the months we spent together.
"Yudit-sama, it's me, Kiska. You don't remember me...?"
With a faint glimmer of hope, I call out to her.
Perhaps, if I remind her of my name, she might recall something, anything.
"I'm sorry, but I have no recollection of acquaintances like you."
Reality is harsh. She simply says this and tilts her head.
"No... No..."
As soon as I realize that all hope is lost, tears begin to flow from my eyes naturally.
Everything I built over the past few months has become nothing, starting from scratch.
"Ugh... Ugh..."
It's hopeless. It feels like my heart is about to break.
"...Are you okay?"
When I look up, Yudit-sama is standing there.
Her expression is somewhat puzzled, as if she couldn't leave me be and had to say something.
"Um, mighty vampire Yudit-sama, I have a favor to ask."
That's right, I've done it many times before. No matter how many times I've been broken, I've always stood up again.
Until my revenge is complete, I can't afford to stop. So, let's start from scratch once more.
"Please take me as your disciple."
I say this and bow my head.
What kind of reaction will I get? Maybe the vampire Yudit will kill me.
Even so, I'll keep coming back here, no matter how many times.
"............"
Silence stretches for a few seconds.
No response?
Suspicious, I lift my head.
"Huh?"
Blood is spurting out.
Someone had sliced off the head of the vampire Yudit from behind.
As her body falls to the side, a figure appears from behind.
It's Agaha.
"If you get involved with another woman, I won't forgive you."
She mutters this and swings her blade toward me.
By then, I had already drawn my last breath.
◆
"Damn it."
After returning from death, I curse.
What should I have done...?
'If you get involved with another woman, I won't forgive you.' What the hell is that supposed to mean? I don't understand.
"Fine, I get it. I'll get through this dungeon on my own."
Don't lose sight of your purpose, Kiska.
My purpose is to clear this dungeon and exact revenge on the villagers. Vampire Yudit is just one means to achieve that.
With my current abilities, I should be able to get through this dungeon without relying on Vampire Yudit's power. So, for now, I'll focus on moving forward.
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