Chapter 43: Distorted Happy Ending

 

“Ah.”

 

With a short exhale, Aria spoke. Though brief, her voice carried intense emotions.

 

“Didn’t most of the souls go into rest?”

 

Knowing that she was already caught, Aria asked, her lips tightly pressed together, and I calmly nodded.

 

“Yes.”

 

A short answer sufficed.

 

Right now, I needed to gauge how much Aria, who had already entered the second round, knew about me.

 

“I wasn’t discovered by the living, but the deceased caught me.”

 

It was Aria’s oversight not to realize that they could still see her even if she couldn’t see them.

 

“Thinking back, it’s obvious. I must have been too excited about seeing you, Professor.”

 

Aria admitted her foolishness with a sheepish smile. I approached her and waved my hand, which sparkled with blue mana.

 

[Kyaaa!]

 

[Deius ugh!]

 

“Too noisy.”

 

The evil spirits fled back to the academy building at my gesture. Their clamor had made it difficult to continue the conversation.

 

“Huh, the professor is still the same.”

 

Aria’s eyes, slightly hazy with ecstasy, looked up at me. Her gaze was somewhat uncomfortable, but I endured it and asked.

 

“Why did you reawaken the spirits resting in the academy? Did you use the Spirit stone?”

 

“Wow! You already knew about the Spirit stone? Actually, the precise name is Lemegeton.”

 

Aria took out a small black gem from her bosom.

 

It was the unique item, Spirit Stone, which I had seen in the game multiple times. It was one of the forbidden artifacts that terrified the Griffin Kingdom and was dangerous enough that only high-ranking nobles and royalty knew of its existence.

 

“The high-ranking people would be trembling in fear, but it wasn’t such a terrifying thing from the beginning. It’s the stone a child received when they called forth a demon, saying they wanted to see their deceased mother.”

 

With a chuckle, Aria grabbed my wrist. She was so fast that I couldn’t even react.

 

“Here you go.”

 

And then, she carefully placed the item on my palm.

 

“I was waiting to see when I could give it to you without being too obvious, but since you’ve already figured it out, I can give it to you without hesitation.”

 

“You mean you’re giving this to me?”

 

“Yes, with this, you’ll become several times stronger than you are now.”

 

“…….”

 

The energy emanating from the palm was formidable, and it felt unusual. It was not a simple in-game stat increase or additional effects, but a strange energy that could only be sensed, not seen.

 

“I have so many other things I want to give you, but I’ll get them for you later! There are many surprising items you’ll be amazed by.”

 

Smiling happily, Aria said as she looked at me, and I furrowed my eyebrows and asked.

 

“Let’s get back to the topic. Why did you terrorize the academy?”

 

“Oh, right! It’s the same reason I gave you Spirit stone. I want you to become much stronger than you are now.”

 

Her black eyes gradually lost their liveliness, resembling a machine that relentlessly executes its programmed actions unless directed otherwise.

 

The glimmer of madness in her eyes and intensity in her words hinted at something deeper.

 

“The grimoire of basic necromancy I obtained for you was delivered successfully, right? Actually, it was quite challenging to get it.”

 

“...”

 

“I had to steal it from a tremendously talented necromancer’s house to give it to you, Professor.”

 

No wonder.

 

Even if he claimed to be a secretive back-alley merchant selling various items, it seemed too coincidental that he had a book related to necromancy.

 

‘So, this was Aria’s intention.’

 

I was a little surprised, but my expression didn’t change. Aria kept on speaking.

 

“Since there were spirits in the academy, I thought you would be looking for necromancy-related books, so I prepared in advance. So that you could use magic against those spirits in real combat!”

 

Clap!

 

Aria clapped her hands and shrugged, feeling pleased.

 

“It’s the perfect combination of theory and practice! You must know it too, Professor. Your necromancy has become incredibly powerful after the academy incident.”

 

“...”

 

“Of course, many people seem to know you as a necromancer now, but don’t worry. I have a solution for that too.”

 

“...”

 

“So, it’s all fine. As long as you keep getting strong enough to protect yourself...!”

 

“Guilt.”

 

I interrupted Aria’s seemingly endless words. I swallowed the question I had first asked and spoke again.

 

“Do you feel no guilt?”

 

While no one suffered physical injuries, there were masses of people who suffered psychological damage and trauma. On top of that, she forcibly awakened the resting souls and turned them into evil spirits.

 

No matter how you looked at it, it was closer to evil than good.

 

“Yes?”

 

Aria looked puzzled as she received an unexpected question. Then she spoke in a cold tone.

 

“Professor, everyone values their own life the most, don’t they? You should know that better than anyone.”

 

I stared at Aria without answering. Her eyes had lost focus, and I fixed my gaze on her murky eyes.

 

“So, don’t think about anything else.”

 

Aria reached out her hand decisively. With her strength, she grabbed both of my wrists firmly, and I couldn’t easily shake her off.

 

If we were to fight now, I would undoubtedly lose. The protagonist of the second round, who had already witnessed the destruction of the world, was more powerful than I had thought.

 

“Professor, you only need to think about yourself. No matter what happens, you have to survive, endure, and stay by my side.”

 

Her grip was strong, conveying the message that I shouldn’t go anywhere.

 

But I remained composed and asked her calmly.

 

“I know very well how you felt about me in the previous round.”

 

“Huh? You already know that it’s the second round? As expected of you, Professor! I thought convincing you about that part would be the most challenging.”

 

“If you speak this much, it must mean that the previous me died.”

 

“...I don’t want to think about it. Please don’t mention it, Professor.”

 

Though Aria’s expression grew noticeably dark, I paid no attention and asked further.

 

“In that case, there is one thing I’m curious about.”

 

“Yes, please ask anything. If I can answer, I’ll tell you everything.”

 

Then without hesitation, I asked.

 

“What did I say right before dying?”

 

“…”

 

This was a personal curiosity, and I needed to know what conclusions I came to in the first round from countless experiences.

 

If it were me, there was a possibility that I knew that Aria would go to the second round, so I would have prepared a will that would be helpful for me in the second round.

 

“...I couldn’t hear everything clearly. The situation was too urgent.”

 

“A brief answer will do.”

 

“Professor...”

 

As if not wanting to recall the situation at that time, Aria’s eyes trembled, and she took a deep breath before speaking heavily.

 

“...You said, ’If you have a next life, then at that time...’”

 

If you have a next life, then at that time?

 

“I couldn’t hear the rest clearly due to the urgency... but you might have anticipated the second round!”

 

“Yes.”

 

Naturally.

 

I was relieved to learn that it was indeed the second round. I also felt I knew roughly what I wanted to say to Aria in the first round.

 

Uttering the elegant words of friendship and love, Aria, the protagonist, should lead the world with her exceptional leadership. However, considering her current state and the fact that this could be the only legacy I left behind, it’s not for me, but words meant for Aria.

 

That’s why.

 

“Aria, if you have a next life. At that time...”

 

I easily guessed what I would say and stated it.

 

“Don’t look for me.”

 

Perhaps it was something like this.

 

“Yes?”

 

Aria’s eyes trembled again. She let go of my hand, which she had been holding tightly, and took a step back.

 

“W-what are you saying, Professor? This joke has gone too far.”

 

The utterance came from me—In the same voice, from the same person. It seemed to be a significant shock to Aria.

 

“It’s just a guess. If it were me, I would have made sure the second-round you didn’t come near me.”

 

“W-what are you talking about? There’s no way! Professor! My Professor would never try to distance himself from me!”

 

“...”

 

“Don’t say strange things. I really wanted to meet you. It was only after you sacrificed yourself for me that I understood.”

 

Aria reached out towards me, tears welling up as if she wanted to embrace me.

 

“You were my world, Professor. So, such words...”

 

I pushed her away.

 

“Aria Rias.”

 

A pure, virtuous, beautiful girl filled with love.

 

“You are not yourself anymore.”

 

The protagonist who should save this world, was broken to an unbearable extent.

 

And it was all because of the disturbing and complicated emotions woven under the name of affection.

 

“I-I am! It’s me! This is... this is love!”

 

“...”

 

“You will understand soon, Professor! If you spend time with me...!”

 

“Stop.”

 

I pressed my fingers against my temple, my head aching from sudden exhaustion.

 

“Stop showing such a pitiful appearance.”

 

“Ah...”

 

Aria seemed shocked, clenching her lips and crumpling the edge of her uniform with both hands.

 

‘Perhaps she’s broken because of the sense of loss after my death.’

 

Even though I knew Aria’s current state, I couldn’t just stand by and watch.

 

‘Let’s forget about the perfect-ending plan for now.’

 

The most important thing now is to bring Aria back to her original nature. To witness the perfectly flawless happy ending of this game, it’s impossible with the current Aria.

 

If she continues like this, there is no reason for the second round to exist.

 

‘Because with things like this...’

 

Even if it’s the second round, there won’t be a happy ending waiting for everyone.

 

--- End of The Chapter --

 

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