Chapter 140 [Event] [Enigma Red Dungeon] [1] Beginning



"N-No…" A weak and desperate sob rang inside a burning cavern. "Noo!" Jayden shouted in a desperate tone as he held in his arms a girl who was bleeding from her whole body.

"C-Cough!" The golden-haired girl, Aurora Avia Celesta spat out blood with a painful expression on her face. In her stomach was a serious hole with blood flowing out endlessly from it. 

"A-Aurora! S-Stay! Stay with m-me!" Jayden covered the hole with his hand desperately but it seemed useless. 

"Aurora…n-no…please…" Jayden grabbed Aurora's hands which were turning cold.

"It's all your fault." The muffled voice of a man cut off Jayden's voice. 

He walked slowly but relentlessly toward Jayden. A mask was covering his entire face and the emblem of a red skull with a snake was engraved on his neck. 

"If you had died peacefully without making things more complicated than they already were, this girl wouldn't have to die now."

Jayden didn't pay any heed to his words and concentrated on finding a way to heal Aurora. "T-The Golden Grasses! I-I will bring t-them and- and!"

"J-Jayden…" Aurora grasped back Jayden's hand. "I-I wished to…live longer…I-I wanted to have a family…w-with you….cough!" Tears brimmed in the corners of Aurora's sapphire eyes and soon they ran through her cheeks. 

"I-It's not too late! C-Come with me Aurora! We will live together…l-like a true family!" Jayden smiled as even he started to cry, unable to see Aurora in that state.

Aurora smiled and raised her head. Putting one hand on Jayden's shoulder, she raised her head, closing the distance between her face and Jayden's face—then her lips met his.

"!"

A minute later, she parted her lips, "I-I love you, Reinhart."

"..." Jayden saw blankly Aurora's hands falling lifelessly on the ground.

"It's only the beginning." The man muttered without a shred of sympathy. "More will die because of you, right?" He asked a person who was watching the whole scene unfold until now in a corner.

He was clothed with a rob but his grey hair sticked out of his hood betraying his identity. The young man looked expressionlessly at Aurora's lifeless body and slowly his lips twisted into a sinister smile.

"Edward Falkrona."

****

"W-What the hell…?!" I woke up in stupor on my bed.

I was sweating profusely from my whole body.

"Ah…ah…" My breathing was ragged and my face was pale. "W-What was that…?" Getting out of the bed, I filled a glass with water and gulped down. Then I poured water again to drink it again.

"I-It was a scene of the g-game…I just dreamed that scene from the Dungeon Event of the game from 'my' perspective?"

I shuddered when I remembered all those corrupted and dark feelings while I was that 'Edward' observing Aurora dying in front of my eyes.

I was enjoying that?

For Eden's sake…

"!"

I covered my mouth and went immediately to the bath.

It wasn't me.

It's not me.

It's not freaking me.

After the bath, I opened the closet and put on the tracksuit we were told to wear today. We were going into an expedition in an Enigma Dungeon for the final Midterm practical test. 

It was also the beginning of the Dungeon Event.

I grabbed the door's knob and opened the door. Stepping out, I tried to close the door but…

"..." My eyes were focused on my neatly arranged room.

[Mary is the one cleaning your room.]

Shaddap.

'Cleenah.'

I called Cleenah like everyday for three days but-

"..."

She still refuses to talk to me.

It had been six days, Cleenah!

How to say it?

I felt a little lonely without her usual banter.

I couldn't even feel her presence.

Clicking my tongue, I closed the door and turned around.

"Eric." I spoke with a yawn.

Eric was there, closing his door.

"Are you ready?" He asked me in a serious tone. 

"Yeah," I nodded.

What do I have to prepare anyway?

I already told the old headmaster to reinforce security because I had a bad feeling. But when he asked me about that feeling, I spat out what was going to happen in the Dungeon. 

'Tch.'

Remembering his expression and his words: 'You are not a child anymore.' I felt upset.

I knew I couldn't prevent that Event but I at least wanted to try something.

[Ante-Eden], [Caishen], [Iris Project].

They were all dangerous.

In the Dungeon Event, there were several different scenarios.

In the one I played back on Earth, the one dying was Elona, my sister by the hands of [Ante-Eden].

Then there were other possibilities like Aurora dying by the hands of an assassin of [Caishen] or Miranda dying by a bastard of the [Iris Project]...

I shook my head feeling a little sick.

Anyway.

Eric and I both talked and decided that, regardless of the group we were going to be in, we have to protect Milleia in priority and the other Heroines just in case something goes wrong. 

"I couldn't even get sleep because of theic cursed event…" As we walked toward the elevator, Eric muttered. Indeed he had dark rings under his eyes. 

"I hope it won't weaken you." I replied.

Thankfully I slept really well and didn't really bother myself with that Event. The reasons for that were the fact that Jayden and Milleia had awakened their bloodline and were way stronger than before.

More importantly, Elona had a real chance of dying and I had to find a way to ensure her safety.

I should tell Eric as well. "If you are in Elona's group-"

"I will protect her for you if you want." Eric quickly replied without any signs of teasing. He really meant his words.

Wow.

I didn't expect that.

Seeing my surprised expression, Eric shrugged his shoulders. "You did save my sister. It's only normal that I do the same with your family."

"Well, thanks." 

Surprisingly he wasn't a bastard.

I can't remember well how he was in the Game but he was definitely better now with his memories of Earth.

[Like you.]

'Maybe.'

I can't say that I was a good guy on Earth since I didn't even hesitate to shoot that guy who killed my family. He didn't die but still I shot him. Then there was that time after Ephera's death…

[Don't you have anything to ask your friend?]

Oh, yes, I had to ask him.

"By the way, why did you put that threatening letter in front of my door?" Since I forgot to ask him before, I asked him now.

It really scared the hell out of me and I took on Aurora because of that.

"What?" But Eric furrowed his brows. "What letter? I didn't even make any contact with you before."

"Huh?" I stopped my steps. "Is that a joke? You know me right? Nyrel Loyster?" I asked him again, trying to calm my racing heart. 

"Nyrel Loyster? Is that your name?" Eric asked with a raised brow.

I stared at him and he didn't seem to lie or hide something from me.

What the hell?

Then he wasn't the one who put that message…?

There is someone else who was reincarnated…

…and he knows me.

"Edward?" Eric called out to me seeing frozen on the spot.

I looked at him with a complicated expression. "You really didn't put that letter…?" I asked, really hoping it was a joke. 

Until now, I was thinking it was Eric and was thus relieved as he was clearly not a bad guy. He only wanted to keep his family safe from what I understood but if there was someone else…

"What are you even talking about?" Eric asked clearly lost.

Dammit…

I pressed the button for the elevator and groaned. "Nothing…"

"Hey! Oh!" Just when the elevator was about to close, someone's hand stopped them.

"Layla?" Eric muttered seeing Layla with her usual smile. 

"Oh! Eric and Edward together? Must be an illusion." Layla covered her mouth exaggeratedly.

"You sure are lively right in the morning Layla. Did Alfred finally confess to you?" I asked with a joking tone. 

"Nope," Layla sighed in disappointment. "I wanted to jump in his room tonight but held back in the end."

"I hope you did!" I snapped at her, dumbfounded. 

Why does such a smart girl's gears turn wrongly when it comes to Alfred?!

"I really wanted but since we had an exam today, I refrained. I mean I-I would be too exhausted to take part-" Layla's cheeks flushed red.

"What is she blabbering about…?" Eric averted his face.

"You definitely know what she is talking about, Eric." I scoffed.

"You are the one with a weird brain here, Edward," Eric, visibly offended, snapped back.

"Weird brain? Is that how you thank the one who saved-" I quickly stopped when Layla was staring at me.

Shit.

I nearly blurted out.

"Saved?" Layla tilted her head, then looked at Eric. "Could it be Eric's sister? Hm?" She

What?!

I started to sweat when Layla guessed the truth in a few seconds.

"Oh, it's true that Ruby, who was sick on the bed, recently woke up in a very good shape…" Layla nodded her head and turned toward me. "Did you-"

"I s-saved his girlfriend not his sister," I stammered a lie out of nowhere.

Layla's mouth opened slightly at my words.

She was sure shocked but the one who was truly shocked was Eric who also had his mouth hung open with his eyes glaring daggers at me.

My bad, Eric.

This was the first thing coming to my mind and I needed to save myself.