Ch.298298. Overlaid Truth (5)

With a voice cracked from crying, she said to me over and over again.

“Don’t die… please, please don’t die, oppa…”

Begging me not to die.

“I won’t die. Never. Ever.”

Even after I said that, her anxiety didn’t completely fade. Renias cried for a long time while I endlessly patted her trembling back as she remained gripped by fear.

How much time passed like that?

Only after comforting and soothing her for quite a while was Renias able to stop crying and calm down.

Seeing her still sniffling makes a part of my heart ache.

“Cough, cough!”

I should give her water first. She must be parched after crying so much. When I suggested going down to the riverside to wash her swollen face and get a drink, Renias shook her head firmly.

As if refusing to let me go, she just kept both arms tightly wrapped around my waist.

‘…This time, it’s my turn to persuade you.’

In this state, I can’t take any action.

Even though her throat is burning dry and her eyes are swollen red from all the tears, she’s only worried about me.

“…!”

I’ll have to carry her there.

Perhaps fearing I might leave her there and run away, she maintains a strong grip with her arms even as I lift her like a princess.

“I’m going with you. So don’t worry.”

“…”

Only then does she loosen her grip and lean against me.

Of course, all the way down the hill to the riverside, and even after washing her face and moistening her throat, Renias didn’t say a word.

To reassure her that I wouldn’t commit suicide, I turned my back to Renias and showed her my wound.

“I didn’t notice earlier, but it stings a bit now. There are some ground herbs over there. Could you apply some for me?”

“…”

Still no response.

I openly showed her my wound while saying that, but truthfully, it doesn’t sting.

After all, would someone who was ready to throw away their life care about treating such a small wound? I just want to show my willingness to treat this injury.

If this doesn’t work…

‘Huh?’

-Brush, brush.

I feel slender fingers. Renias’s fingers.

“It’s so obvious. That’s not what you really want to say.”

“…”

It seems she’s caught on that even this is a lie.

And the fact that she’s pretending to believe me while knowing it’s a lie, applying the medicine and pointing it out so directly means…

“Thank you. For forgiving me.”

It meant that I could ask her directly, that Renias had already forgiven me.

While her slender fingers gently applied the medicine, I carefully asked Renias.

“…Can you tell me how you were able to find this place?”

Her fingers hesitated and stopped for a moment, but soon resumed applying the medicine as she answered.

“I told you earlier. Now I… know everything about your past.”

“Everything meaning, how much exactly?”

“Up to the reason you came back after your death.”

Renias explained that Michelle performed the ritual of the Clock Hand’s Formation, and that she too had headed to that ruin site looking for someone who could help her.

‘…So it was because of their help that I was able to come back after I died.’

I hadn’t known that.

“When only the blanket remained and the person who should have been there was gone, I searched everywhere until scenes began to unfold before my eyes. I was wary at first, thinking it might be Pimpert’s distortion waves… but they were all stories about you.”

So that’s why she said “you were here this time too” as soon as she saw me. Because she had seen everything with her own eyes.

“…It was heartbreaking to watch. When no one believed you, when you kept hiding the fact that you took the blame to protect a secret…”

Unconsciously, her fingers applying medicine to my wound tightened slightly.

She’s getting angry on my behalf, and then trying to suppress it.

Squeeze.

Then her fingers suddenly press down hard.

Realizing it must have hurt, Renias noticed her mistake and apologized.

“Ah… I’m sorry. I put too much pressure without realizing…”

“It’s okay. It doesn’t really hurt that much.”

“An injury is still an injury. When you came back wounded from Sirah, I was so…!”

She didn’t finish her sentence.

I could roughly understand what she meant.

As always, she was worried about me.

“Alright.”

“W-wait. Where are you going?”

When I suddenly turned my body, Renias sensed something was wrong and immediately stood up, spreading her arms to block my way.

“I haven’t stopped doubting you yet, you know? So I can’t let you go. If I have to, I’ll use magic…”

Tears welled up in her face that was usually so cheerful and lively.

I didn’t want to see her crying.

“May I ask why you summoned me?”

“…”

Since I wasn’t showing any signs of forcing my way through or making suspicious movements, Renias finally sat back down and answered.

“Because it was… too painful.”

“Painful, you mean that recurring dream about your parents?”

“Yes. When I was young, it was so hard to endure that nightmare you know about… I called out wishing someone could be by my side. I tried listening to the music box hoping to hear my mom and dad’s voices, but it was no use. Then… when I couldn’t bear it anymore, I went to the attic…”

That must have been when everything she had been holding back burst out.

Having to protect her parents’ reputation.

Being the daughter of famous people, being the daughter of the Rantana ducal family—the girl’s nightmare had been a lonely and solitary battle as she consumed herself from within.

“Of course, that’s not enough reason to commit the taboo of Kalix summoning…”

“No, Renias.”

“What…?”

“Because you called me. That’s why I didn’t die.”

Since I learned her secret, I revealed mine as well.

***

‘How could that be…’

Renias’s face grew increasingly shocked as she listened to Junon’s story.

Before activating the Clock Hand’s Formation—that is, before the regression—Junon’s days weren’t just harsh and bleak; they were miserable and desperate.

A life of being pointed at every day. A life where no one acknowledged him. A life where even his companions looked at him with distrust.

There were few people who recognized and appreciated his abilities.

Fortunately, he met companions after joining hands with a righteous blue-flame girl who couldn’t tolerate injustice. And after that, he joined a large party called Tembris and willingly did his part.

But the death he faced at the hands of a comrade who couldn’t trust him until the end was truly eye-closing painful.

The pre-regression life of Junon that she had witnessed with her own eyes was enough to bring tears to her eyes, feeling profound sorrow even though it wasn’t her own story.

But he had already lived an even worse life before that.

His life, which should have been a happy adolescence as a boy from an ordinary family, was one of being bound and imprisoned.

This was his second attempt. This wasn’t his first suicide attempt.

“How… could…”

She couldn’t continue speaking. She wanted to scream for someone to please help him.

“It’s not a very pleasant story. But do you know why I’m telling you this?”

Junon’s hands gently took hold of Renias’s hands that were covering her mouth.

“Because you called me at that time, at that moment, I was able to live. If you hadn’t drawn the Kalix summoning circle in that attic, I might have died long ago. So, Renias, you’ve saved me every time. Whenever, wherever.”

“…”

“Why do you keep crying? You’re prettiest when you smile.”

“I don’t know… My tears… won’t stop…”

Like a flood from her eyes, Renias’s tears kept flowing without stopping.

“I don’t know why you used the Kalix summoning circle. But I don’t dislike it. The fact that it was you who called me. No, I should say I like it. Because such a beautiful summoner called me and saved my life.”

“What’s that supposed to mean…”

Now Renias must surely know.

That Junon would no longer choose death.

‘Actually, I should have vaguely noticed it before. I don’t understand why I didn’t realize it until now.’

Whenever he was with Renias, his mind would strangely become clear.

She would suddenly play strange pranks or act on her own whims, sometimes putting him in difficult situations, repeatedly disrupting his head that was full of plans and countermeasures, turning it blank.

Nevertheless, Junon had never been angry with Renias. Not even the slightest complaint, it seemed.

He had hoped to see her play mischievous pranks, get embarrassed, puff her cheeks, and lightly hit him with her cotton-soft fists.

And… during the parade when he had to take her back to the Rantana mansion, he had felt regret.

Because he wanted to be with her. Because he wanted to spend even a little more time together.

Before he knew it, she had already filled a large part of the time that had begun flowing again, beyond just being a part of it.

It was the same now.

Without thinking about anything else, focusing on her voice, spending time in conversation with her—his mind was always filled with nothing but the lovely woman named Renias.

And perhaps it was she, Renias, who had called him here at the perfect moment to make time flow again when it should have stopped. That fact made him incredibly happy.

Smooch.

“Eh…?”

Renias’s surprised face after the light kiss on her cheek is quite adorable, but he doesn’t want to tease her right now.

“Senia was summoned as a Kalix for the Sirens, she said. That’s why she went to Shoot to save the Sirens. Then, if I’m also a Kalix…”

“Oppa…”

“Shouldn’t I become a knight and protect you? I should also make sure you don’t overexert yourself and get hurt like before.”

He wants to speak honestly.

“I want to try once more. For the person I love.”

Remembering the fact that he was summoned here to meet Renias.

That he would face his destiny head-on once more.

“…That’s unfair.”

“Hm?”

“M-mom told me! That giving a one-sided kiss is unfair!”

“One-sided kiss? What does that… oof.”

And then the lips that had been on her cheek were now, like on the rock earlier, pressed against her lips before pulling away.

With a soft smooch.

This time she didn’t push him away. However,

“Found you! Junon, Renias! Are you okay… oh?”

“My, just continue what you were doing~. We’re fine.”

“Huh? What is it? What were they doing…?”

“Sh-Charlotte! You’re still too young for this!”

“Whaaaat? I want to see too, Aris unni!”

“I said no! Um… sorry, you two!”

“A-ahem. I apologize.”

“H-huaaaah…?!”

They automatically separated. Thanks to the audience who had witnessed the good spectacle of their kiss scene.