Ch.113108 – Death Delay

[“I’ll meet you here again.”]

The memories of the 16th cycle rose to the surface.

[“I’m sorry for always leaving you alone.”]

“That was definitely what NoName said in the previous cycle… but now!”

As she recalled all the forgotten memories up to the final 17th cycle, tears filled her eyes.

[“This time, I’ll definitely come back alive.”]

“Hnnng, I succeeded… whatever it was, I succeeded! I remember everything! So please, God…!”

As soon as Adella saw the message telling her to return, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she needed to go to NoName.

When she absentmindedly touched the stone wall, there was suddenly a spark, and the mechanical sound that had been clouding her mind became clear.

[Remember, recall, don’t forget.]

At the command to remember, she could recall.

NoName had gently brushed her hair today, and today, and today. In every “today.”

And at the urging to recall, she finally remembered.

In a mission that could never succeed, NoName willingly sacrificed herself to protect her. And the world was reset.

Having kept all her promises, including the one not to forget, Adella rushed to where her benefactor should be.

“These memories…! I won’t let anyone take them from me. I’ll definitely save NoName!”

But it was too early to feel relieved.

The condition for Adella’s memories to return had always been limited to when NoName died and the world collapsed.

Yet Adella was certain that this cycle felt different somehow.

The scenery changed in an instant, and the academy dueling grounds came into view.

Having already lost her friend twice in the same place, Adella’s heart ached unbearably.

What if she was too late? What if strange text appeared again, indicating her death?

Clutching her anxious heart, she leaped between building rooftops, avoiding people’s eyes.

And then she saw her.

The bright golden hair rarely seen in the empire, pointed ears, and as she focused her mana into her eyes, she could see every detail down to her prim expression.

She’s alive.

“NoNaaaame!”

She shouted at the top of her lungs, hoping her voice would reach. Even if her throat became hoarse, even if she could never speak again, she didn’t care.

“Adella…?”

Adella didn’t hesitate and jumped toward Name.

Though they had been together just moments ago, she was overwhelmed with emotion as if they hadn’t seen each other for ten years.

“Why did you come here? What about Ciciella?”

“I gave her emergency treatment! You taught me, remember? Tissue regeneration magic.”

“No, you…!”

Leaving Name frozen with disbelief, Adella calmly assessed the situation.

They were still in a standoff, but combat hadn’t begun yet.

There was hope.

“Forest Guardian, let’s run away…”

“What are you saying? During a mission-“

“What good is a mission if you die!”

She hated the elf’s unwavering righteousness.

How could she throw herself away without a moment’s hesitation?

“Adella, calm down. They won’t let us go anyway. And Alperion…”

Name pointed to a knight collapsed on the opposite side.

He looked critical, as if his life could end at any moment.

Adella squeezed her eyes shut.

The situation was desperate. They should never have accepted this mission in the first place.

But they couldn’t just leave the demon cornerstone inside the Laurel of Life.

If the Laurel fell into the hands of demon worshippers, the world’s destruction was certain.

“I didn’t expect you’d still be at the academy. This is quite unexpected.”

-????????

-What’s with this story?

-Did Jin Chronicle come in person?

-Is this a bug?

A harsh, phlegmy voice was heard. The ticking pocket watch was an added touch.

Jin Chronicle, the academy’s vice principal and also a demon worshipper, had arrived.

The story had taken an unexpected turn.

Normally, as long as players were inside the academy, they could never encounter Jin Chronicle.

It didn’t matter how long they stalled while facing students and security knights.

It made no logical sense, but that was the restriction the game developers had placed on the boss. Jin Chronicle would endlessly wait for the protagonists to leave the academy.

The man who descended from the air walked straight through the crowd.

Literally passed through people, as if they never existed.

-KYAAAAAAAH

-It’s a ghost!

-It really was a bugㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-I almost had a heart attack

-Wow what is this

“What… how did he pass through people…?”

Adella’s senses went on high alert.

This was impossible. Had he really returned as some kind of ghost?

“What people are you talking about? There’s only you, me, and the one impersonating the Forest Guardian.”

In Jin Chronicle’s view, only Name and Adella were present.

Two different worlds had overlapped.

It was already overwhelming to deal with one faction, but now they had to face two.

“Forest Guardian… how is this…?”

“Adella, you said all your memories returned, right?”

“Ah… yes! That bastard… he was a demon worshipper! He wasn’t even from the Empire to begin with!”

“Then you handle Jin Chronicle. I’ll take care of the rest.”

A way to escape this dreaded first act quickly flashed through Name’s mind.

* * *

The boss battle with Jin Chronicle erupted suddenly. However, Name couldn’t participate.

She dashed toward the academy main building, taking all the aggro from the army. She briefly explained she was looking for a child named Giselle Phoenix before departing.

“It’s been exactly two years, hasn’t it?”

Adella’s fist trembled at the man’s casual question.

“It hasn’t even been a day, you bastard…!”

“How unfortunate. I feel like I’m seeing you for the first time. Perhaps you’ve been stalking me from afar?”

Despite accumulating experience from 18 cycles, Jin Chronicle’s caliber was overwhelmingly high.

Because she had grown stronger, she could recognize it more accurately.

The title of academy vice principal was definitely not obtained through nepotism.

It made her realize how incredible the Forest Guardian was to have overwhelmed him head-on.

With these thoughts, Adella raised her sharp claws and steeled herself.

All she could do now was buy time until NoName’s plan succeeded.

Though intense fear weighed on her, what frightened her more was the possibility of losing her companion forever.

“I’m not as strong as NoName… but!”

Adella crossed her arms. Beyond the ominous daggers, her eyes glowed blue even in the darkness.

“If you had memories of the previous cycle, you’d feel like you were facing NoName right now.”

There were no more treats or carrots.

She had to make all decisions herself.

Nevertheless, Adella was confident she would make the same decisions as NoName in any situation.

Feeling an exhilaration as if she was born for this moment, Adella signaled the start of the battle by throwing both her daggers.

The two daggers shot toward the man like flying blades.

One straight ahead, the other rotating widely to the side.

Clang-!

The daggers were deflected by Chronicle’s sword energy, but Adella, who had suddenly appeared right in front of him, retrieved them and thrust them toward his neck.

Surprise registered in the man’s eyes. She had clearly been a child with no potential for growth.

Yet her movements were distinctly different from two years ago.

But there was no time to think deeper.

His pocket watch intervened to block the attack aimed at his vital point.

He was also aware of the dagger flying from the side. Though not terribly powerful, she might have done something to the blade.

Since he wasn’t primarily a swordsman, he chose to evade rather than defend.

In that split second, his gaze fixed on Adella’s head.

Her hair seemed slightly compressed.

“I wondered how your skills improved so suddenly. So you have the Laurel.”

“Hmph, it’s useless to try and take it! This isn’t the Laurel of Life you contracted with!”

“It doesn’t matter much if you can’t use magic. I’ll kill you here and take both.”

* * *

-Anyone watching from Adella’s perspective?

-ㄴRaised hand

-ㄴRaised hand

-Can Adella handle a one-on-one?

-The streamer must have a plan, she just needs to buy time

-I believe in our Adella!

The perspective of the living NPC could be viewed on camera 9.

And the few viewers watching camera 9 on Name’s stream fervently cheered for Adella, even if their cheers couldn’t reach her.

Show us that NoName’s faith in you wasn’t misplaced.

And responding to that expectation, Adella landed her first hit on the boss.

-Wow, critical from the start? She’s lucky!

-What’s with those movements!

-We won’t know until it’s over

Jin Chronicle dodged the flying blades shot in different directions. However, Adella suddenly appeared behind him and slashed his thigh with her blade.

The enraged man fired his signature laser-like water cannon, but her agile body didn’t allow a single hit.

-She’s so fast lolㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-Not getting hit at all?

-I’m telling you it’s working!

-We need to wait and see

Though it looked like she dodged easily to the viewers, Adella was running at full power, her teeth clenched so hard they might break.

As they said, Adella would be in danger if she took even one hit from the pocket watch’s attack.

Adella knew this fact.

But she was no longer afraid of death.

Having realized something even more frightening than death, she threw herself between the laser barrage.

After dozens of fierce exchanges, she determined she needed to destroy the movement-restricting pocket watch to gain an advantage.

“This damn watch is driving me crazy!”

Adella drew out all the power of the Laurel and channeled it into her legs and sword.

The sword became so heavy that she would drop it if she relaxed her grip even slightly.

Adella’s gaze was fixed solely on the pocket watch. The eyes of a predator eyeing its prey.

-Go!!!

-Please…

-Breath attack coming!!! Dodge!!! No, destroy it!!!

-Aaaaaaaah

-It’s too late!

“Farewell.”

“…!”

Before Adella’s sword could reach the pocket watch, Jin Chronicle’s activated beam was faster.

She was engulfed in the light of the straight-line beam.

Anyone watching would find it difficult to guarantee her survival.

“No…!”

[Reincarnation Laurel Lv1: Death Delay]

[When receiving fatal damage, you take only 50% of the damage over 3 seconds. The ‘Death Delay’ effect disappears if the enemy is defeated.]

[3… 2…]

Adella, who took the beam directly to her face, swung her eerie dagger.

“You’re the one who’s dying! Because I decided so! Because I promised NoName!”

The tip of her blade struck Chronicle’s neck.

Belatedly, brain-searing pain washed over Adella’s face.

It was a desperately risky gamble that defied death.

Adella’s bloodied body collapsed on top of Chronicle’s falling corpse.

[Death Delay effect has disappeared.]

[Reincarnation Laurel: (0/30min.)]

“Haa… I hope she comes back soon and gives me… treats…”

Even she thought it was a reckless attack that NoName would never attempt, but that made her all the more proud of her success.

* * *

Adella defeated the boss. However, she had only faced Jin Chronicle without the Laurel.

The Laurel of Life that Name had possessed floated over and was absorbed by the man who had become a corpse.

“You took care of him at a good time.”

Name, returning from the academy, rushed over to restore Adella’s health with a healing skill.

However, at the same moment, the man suddenly stood up, frowned once, and cast a spell without warning, separating the two.

[Ice Prison]

108 pillars attempted to bind Name’s body once again.

No matter how hard she tried to resist, being subject to physical laws made it impossible to avoid.

“This is too dangerous after all. If a little more time had passed, even this one’s power wouldn’t have been enough.”

“No… NoName…”

Her trembling hands on the ground looked pitiful.

“Your talent is truly remarkable. You even overcame the curse placed on your body by yourself, foolish creature.”

Just like in the 1st and 2nd cycles, the demon residing in the Laurel tried to make Adella its host.

It was known that when he fell, the demon would descend.

But having no more power in reserve, she had no choice but to be dragged along helplessly.

“Just try… touching my body…”

“I’m not killing you. I’m giving you a new life. Don’t you want to take the body bestowed by Yggdrasil?”

“Get lost… I don’t need such big breasts!”

“Resistance is futile. We understand your true nature better than anyone. We’re simply providing a stepping stone to easily fulfill your dreams.”

“Get lost! All of you get lost!”

“What? What about breasts?”

[Superior Cast: Turbulence]

Suddenly, a strong gust blew the bloodied man away from Adella, sending him crashing into a building.

NoName, whose hands and feet were somehow free, approached Adella while cracking her neck.

Seeing the murderous eyes glaring at her, Adella muttered in a dazed voice.

“How…?”

“Was your opponent that easy? You’re still talking nonsense, I see.”

The ‘Ice Prison’ was melting away. Thanks to Giselle Phoenix’s ‘Avatar Descent.’