Side Story – To You, Waiting at the Ending (6)

While Luna and I were exchanging blank stares, the Demon King said, as if impressed.

,Well, this is surprising! I didn’t even know you were restarting, but you chose to receive endless pain. Is that why you’re the final Loss?

No, I just didn’t know. It wasn’t out of self-abandonment, but I just thought it was best to leave the world where Luna lives with the God of Chaos. I didn’t voice those thoughts. As expected, the Demon King interpreted my silence as he pleased.

,You didn’t even try to reach the realm of transcendence to revive Luna, yet you challenged the labyrinth. It’s perfectly plausible that you’d choose death so your beloved Luna could continue living.

“…”

I became even more silent at the sight of Luna, next to me, grabbing my arm tightly with an impressed look on her face at the Demon King’s words. Yeah, you need a character like this as a friend. Someone who subtly elevates the protagonist.

Silence is the best option when you’re at a disadvantage, but I couldn’t help but let my chronic curiosity rear its head. I had so many questions. So, I started with these words.

,If you were in the same situation as me, you would have done the same thing.

It’s the double aerial levitation technique, where you elevate the other person and rise together.

,Hehe, is that so? Maybe, since we’re both Losses.

The effect was remarkable. I could see the Demon King’s shoulders rise slightly. Now I can get straight to the point.

,So, when did you first know that reaching the ending meant starting over?

,Of course, the day I received your memories.

“…What?”

I couldn’t hide my embarrassment at the unexpected answer. The Demon King narrowed his eyes at my reaction and raised one corner of his mouth uneasily.

,You just didn’t know anything, did you?

“…”

,I knew it as soon as I saw your memories!

At the sight of the Demon King, whose cheekbones were about to ascend to the heavens, I scratched my ear silently. I deliberately lowered my gaze slightly, showing that I had nothing to say. The Demon King, slithering towards me, put his arm around my shoulder and said in a low voice.

,I didn’t say anything back then because I thought you’d realize it yourself later… Hehe, well, I guess it can’t be helped.

,No, I had a lot to think about back then―

,It’s always the person watching from the sidelines who can see the moves when playing chess. The player doesn’t even notice the obvious traps. Kekeke.

He’s really excited. I sighed and glanced at Luna next to me, giving her a look that asked for help. The Demon King, who was looking at me with a playful face, laughed and said.

,Just telling the truth isn’t entertaining or good for the broadcast, so think about it. Who else knew that reaching a victorious ending meant starting over?

,…Is there someone else besides you who knew that fact?

Without realizing it, I turned my gaze to Luna next to me. Luna shook her head quickly, as if she didn’t know anything either. I scratched my brow and turned my gaze back to the Demon King.

Let’s think about it for a moment. If someone knows that the world restarts from my point of possession, then they also know the condition that I must win against the God of Chaos. There aren’t many people who meet that condition. After quickly erasing names through the process of elimination, I was able to say the one name that remained.

,…Is it Lairlan?

,Correct!

I felt dumbfounded when the Demon King confirmed the answer. If Lairlan really knew that we were starting over, why didn’t he tell me? When I asked that, the Demon King scratched his chin and said.

,Maybe that’s why he didn’t tell you? People always look back to see if the path is still safe if there’s a way to escape. Lairlan probably hid the information on purpose to force you into a do-or-die situation. He’s got a bit of a shitty personality, you know?

While I was nodding in agreement with the Demon King’s words, I turned my head at Luna’s touch, shaking my arm. It seems like she had a question while listening to our conversation.

,How did Lairlan know that we were starting over?

,…That’s a good question.

When I thought about it, there was a big contradiction in my reasoning. Lairlan’s name remained according to the conditions of the process of elimination, but those conditions alone couldn’t reveal that we could start from the beginning again. But the Demon King answered that the contradictory answer was correct, which means that Lairlan figured out that we were starting over on his own.

I narrowed my brows and racked my brain, but I couldn’t come up with a good idea. Maybe it’s because I’ve been tortured for so long. Maybe it’s the effect of counting only the number of sheep because it’s painful to think…?

The Demon King, who was watching Luna and me biting our lips and pondering, sighed deeply as if frustrated and shouted.

,Are you stupid? Why would the Loss of Hope put his hope in you! Because of his self-sacrificing spirit? Then would he be called the Loss of Hope! Of course, he put his hope in you because he could restart his destroyed world from the beginning if you broke all the shackles!

,…Ah!

I had forgotten. My grateful friend who sent Danger to protect Luna and gave up his world and even made a deal with the Saintess. It seems like he didn’t just help me. He must have put his hope in me because he could only live if he helped me. Whatever the reason, my gratitude doesn’t change at all. It would have been impossible to break the shackles without the Loss of Hope.

Then the contradiction is resolved. The memories I received include those about the Loss of Hope. He noticed the truth in the Loss of Hope’s actions and realized what would happen if he broke all the shackles.

,In the first place, even if Lairlan thought you were the last Loss who would save all the worlds, he’s not the type to give up his life for you, right? He knew that he would be reset and revived if he retired the dangerous God of Chaos who would destroy the world, so he cooperated with you to retire an opponent he could never beat.

That would certainly be right if I thought about Lairlan’s personality. Once everything was over, Lairlan dreamed of a plan to win against the hero, Roel.

,Bella would have noticed when she received your memories too.

,…That’s right.

If Lairlan noticed, then Bella would have noticed too. The two have in common that they are the best strategists in the world. Maybe… Bella planned a grand scheme where I and Roel would have no choice but to win by killing Luna. Unfortunately, the truth is unknowable.

,Okay, so you’re going back to the world you lived in?

I didn’t exchange glances with Luna this time, but we nodded at the same time. If it’s a world where everyone is alive… it wouldn’t be bad to start over from the beginning.

,Wait, so our memories will stay the same?

It would be a problem if we started over with the memories that Luna and I had built up together disappearing.

,Don’t worry. Both of your memories and knowledge will remain the same. It’s a kind of perk for those who saved the world. Oh, except for the knowledge about the magic book of Patulga.

I think I know why.

,Is it because it’s the Administrator’s magic?

,That’s right. The knowledge about the magic of the Parell family, which should exist in the original world, will naturally change. It’s only natural since the probability of the Administrator intervening in the world has disappeared. But the knowledge you gained from the quantum jump will remain the same. That’s a probability that suits someone who saved the world and regressed.

I was nodding when I suddenly had a thought and asked.

,You can still transfer memories, right?

I learned how to transfer memories through the snow globe from the Loss of Yearning. It wouldn’t be through the Administrator, so there shouldn’t be a problem, but I asked just in case.

The Demon King pondered seriously at my question and answered.

,It’s possible, but you won’t be able to use it right away because you’ll lack mana in the early stages of possession. But the method I improved will be possible.

,Could you tell me how?

The Demon King swept his face once as if he was dumbfounded at my question, then shouted loudly.

,Of course! You’re the benefactor who saved us all! All the Losses of all the worlds owe you!

Without the slightest hesitation, the Demon King immediately used magic to transfer the formula he had improved to me. When I thanked him, the Demon King only tapped my shoulder.

,So, is it time to say goodbye?

I smiled bitterly at the sight of the Demon King looking back and forth between Luna and me as if he was sad to say goodbye.

,You have to go back too. You haven’t been able to go back all this time because of us, have you?

,That’s right, but don’t feel too burdened. This is nothing compared to what you’ve done.

Luna sincerely thanked the Demon King, who shrugged his shoulders. When I thanked him again with all my heart, my shy friend made an embarrassed expression and avoided my gaze, using space magic to create a portal that would allow him to return to his original world.

,Anyway, there’s no God of Chaos this time, so try to create the best story. Oh, and….

The Demon King, who was smiling slyly and pausing, suddenly created a small snow globe and handed it to me.

,This is?

,It’s the location of the kimchi master in the north.

“…!”

,It’s my last gift.

I laughed loudly at my friend’s gift and reached out my hand. The Demon King, who grabbed my hand, smiled brightly and said.

,I’m grateful too. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to start anew. I’m saying this on behalf of all the Losses in other worlds.

There were still many things I wanted to say and many things I wanted to talk about, but I couldn’t deny that now was the perfect moment to say goodbye. I looked straight at my friend’s face one last time and nodded, turning my body towards the portal with Luna.

,Shall we go?

I reached out my right hand and grabbed Luna’s left hand. Luna, who had a beautiful smile on her face, shone her blue eyes and answered shyly.

,If we start over… I’ll be waiting for you at the academy.

Luna, who tiptoed slightly and kissed me lightly on the cheek, continued.

,This time, the Loss has to confess first.

Could I refuse Luna’s quiet request? I’m sure I absolutely can’t.

I nodded vigorously and replied.

,Of course, I’ll do it as many times as it takes.

With those words, we walked together towards the portal to return to our original world.

,Fucking live well!!! Have lots of kids! Don’t get sick! Live your fucking life happily!!! I will too, we all will!

While listening to my friend’s tearful support from behind.