Chapter 126: Retry

Chapter 126: Retry

The protagonist of the game called [Retry], Aria Rias, grew up in a small village and was loved by many.

The detailed lore about her provided by the game developers, and her small yet cute appearance was quite impressive.

And as you played the game, you would naturally fall for her lively charm and cute actions.

If someone were to ask if [Retry] was successful because of her, it wasn't.

In fact, even when it failed, it was hard to imagine that it would fail that badly.

The so-called game, where lively characters collided with the worst worldviews, was notorious for throwing unexpected twists at players, leaving them emotionally bruised.

The gameplay itself could be considered quite good.

However, the dreadful worldview and depressing plot didn't blend as harmoniously as expected.

Moreover, the attitude of the protagonist, Aria Rias, was what was most irritating.

No matter what happened, she would overcome it.

Even in the face of despair that brought her to her knees, she would eventually rise again with a bright smile.

Players found it too unfamiliar, resulting in resistance.

Nevertheless, I couldn't help but continue playing such a game. Even after seeing the ending multiple times, I kept going back to see it again.

Because that was all I could do.

"The Previous round?"

As if questioning what was said, Aria hesitated momentarily, but after a brief moment, she let out a sigh and said.

"Ah! Right! You asked about the first round, right?"

Taking a deep breath, Aria showed a hint of disappointment.

"In the end, everyone died. As you know as well, Professor, there are inevitable endings for the world."

"......."

"Where should I start?"

And so, Aria began her somewhat chaotic and disorganized recollection of the First Round.

* * *

Professor came to find me toward the end of my second year.

The winter vacation for the second-year students would soon begin.

Professor was hospitalized around that time. However, with the help of Professor Erica, he took the time to see me.

"Aria Rias."

Looking at me with an exhausted appearance, Professor exhaled roughly while seated in a wheelchair.

"Yes?"

"Winter vacation will start soon. Where do you plan to go?"

I was slightly taken aback by the unexpected question.

"I'm going back home. But, who are you, Sir?"

"Tsk!"

Hearing that, the Professor clicked his tongue and thumped the wheelchair with his fist weakly. Instead of doing it weakly intentionally, it appeared that he was simply unable to muster any more strength than that.

"Go to the Sahar Desert. Right away. It is winter now, so this should be the perfect time. Find Hin, the master of the Flaming Sword, and become his disciple. With your talent, you should be able to learn everything during the winter vacation."

"Excuse me?"

What in the world he was talking about, I wondered.

I was planning to return home and have a stew with my family!

"This is for your own good. Erica will accompany you, so go there with her."

"But, even if you say that all of a sudden..."

"Come spring of your third year, you will be grateful for listening to me. So, make haste!"

Looking back now, I think the main reason I followed his instructions was because Professor Erica also requested me to do so.

I heard that he had a kind of split personality, and attempted to commit suicide occasionally.

Since it seemed somewhat like his final request or something like that, I decided to follow it just this once.

After leaving the kingdom, I arrived at the Sahar Desert after passing through the Marias Forest. There, I really met Hin, the master of the Flaming Sword, and trained under him.

It happened just as Professor said. On bringing him a Yellow Scryer's Bloom, he accepted me.

I also learned about my talent. It turned out I was pretty skilled at swordsmanship!

And then, surprisingly, in the spring of my third year, during that fresh and vibrant season, it almost felt like the flaming sword I learned had been waiting for this very moment to shine.

When a Yeti brought by a circus went wild and caused a commotion during the Spring Flower Festival in Loberne, I managed to save my friend, Florensia!

If I hadn't learned the Flaming Sword, Florensia could have been seriously injured or perhaps even killed.

I went to Professor Deus and spoke about it.

At that moment, Professor Deus calmly uttered a single sentence.

Still, Professor Erica didn't regret it. Having tended to Professor Deus during his illness, she had genuinely grown to love him.

And thinking that Professor, who was constantly worried about me and always made the best decisions for me, was taken away by someone else, I felt a little jealous as well.

Perhaps that was why.

I always wanted recognition from Professor. However, whenever I did something remarkable or defeated a formidable enemy, all Professor did was calmly acknowledge it and move on to the next agenda.

"Subdue Dante, but do not kill their leader. Be prepared to make some sacrifices."

It was the name of the organization of Dark Mages, whom I had fought against numerous times. I didn’t understand their goals, but they claimed they were fighting for the salvation of the continent.

I thought the opportunity had come.

I believed I could resolve things beyond what Professor hoped for.

Thus, when Dante's leader held my friends hostage, I slit the throat of Dante's leader without hesitation because everyone would have been in danger otherwise.

And so, Dante was destroyed.

Their goal was indeed absurd, but they definitely had the power to achieve it.

However, upon hearing my story...

Bang!

Professor slammed the desk once and after that, he ordered me with a gesture.

"Get out."

"P-Professor?"

"I said get out. There is no need for you to approach me anymore now."

Why was he behaving like this?

It was natural to punish Dante if you considered the countless atrocities committed by them.

"Is it because I killed their leader? But my friends would have been in danger if I hadn't done that!"

"What does that have to do with anything?"

Bam!

Again.

Professor slammed the desk roughly as he yelled.

"In order to save this world in your first round, you had to at least accept some level of damage! To avoid the end of this damn world, some sacrifices are inevitable!"

"First round? Huh? What are you talking about?"

"You should have just followed my orders, and everything would have been fine!"

Professor Deus massaged his forehead as he spoke.

"It's over now."

Professor was truly mysterious.

Everything happened just as he said.

Indeed, within a few weeks, the scene on this continent could fittingly be described as hell.

Since the dead no longer had a place to rest on this continent, they began to wander around endlessly, never sleeping.

Driven by resentment, the evil spirits of the dead thoughtlessly slaughtered the living they came across.

As they possessed some knowledge about Black Magic, the surrounding nations were able to cope temporarily, but with so many people dying, they eventually collapsed as well.

Of course, the first to fall, and that too, in an instant, was the kingdom that lost its functionality— the Griffin Kingdom, which had staunchly rejected Black Magic.

People died helplessly.

Mages, knights, and even priests.

The Kingdom fell without even being able to counter the numerous evil spirits.

Those who died at the hands of the evil spirits also turned into evil spirits, pouring their grievances onto both the living and the dead.

And just like that, at the end...

Professor, who always regarded me as the last hope, fought against the evil spirits to protect me.

Being a Necromancer, he was the only one capable of standing up against them.

He even abandoned his wife.

I watched his figure, which was originally frail, try to save me.

However, because he learned Necromancy late in life, and was self-taught as well, he was unable to keep up with the battle.

In the end, with his heart pierced by the evil spirit, Professor looked at me.

"If you get another chance, at that time..."

That was the end.

As Professor fell victim to the evil spirits, I too closed my eyes without being able to overcome the transcendent beings.

I would have been able to save everyone if I had listened to Professor, wouldn't I?

With such regrets lingering in my mind, I restarted from the /genesisforsaken