Chapter 128: Repaying A Debt

Chapter 128: Repaying A Debt

"What?"

Perhaps because my response was unusually confident, Aria looked rather bewildered.

So I made a proposal before she could react properly.

"Since that’s the case, how about we figure out where the real Deus is? Let’s search for him together."

"...Search for Professor?"

"Yeah, perhaps if we go up to the rooftop and observe the academy from up there, we may find Deus."

Aria seemed confused by my words, but as if compelled by the circumstances, she followed me.

Yet, at the same time, there was a chilling readiness in her mana, as if prepared to pierce through my body at any moment.

Aria and I then arrived at the dormitory rooftop. Thanks to the supervision of my companions, we did not come across anyone else during our journey to the rooftop.

"If we observe the academy from up here, we might see something, right?"

Upon hearing my words, Aria slowly approached the railing, paused, and then glanced at me sharply.

"Why do you speak differently even though your face is similar to Professor’s?"

Was her reaction akin to that of seeing a character she had once cherished, was now broken?

Aria seemed displeased with the way I spoke, and because of that, a subtle smile crept onto my face.

"It’s because you don't see me as Deus."

I didn't want to speak like Kim Shinwoo while in Deus' body.

I wanted to differentiate Kim Shinwoo and Deus as two separate individuals.

Therefore, I deliberately changed my manner of speaking to something distinct, and I didn't plan on bringing up my own story if it wasn't necessary.

"I'm not Deus; I'm someone else, right?"

"...R-right."

Aria frowned slightly, perhaps thinking that she was being swayed by something, but eventually agreed with me.

"So, just take it easy. After all, I'm just somebody that you don't know."

"..."

Confused, Aria looked at me suspiciously, but I slowly extended my arm and pointed to the sports field below.

The freshmen were training there in preparation for an upcoming practical session.

Eleanor stood out among them and compared to other students, the main supporting characters from the original game like Happy, Florensia, Leorus, and Jin were also noticeable.

"Ugh."

Aria furrowed her brows slightly upon seeing them, as if she was experiencing a headache.

However, I asked her as gently as possible.

"Those kids, they were your friends, right?"

"...No. They're all imposters."

Due to Capgras syndrome, Aria still thought that even the students were imposters.

However, on the contrary, I nodded in agreement at her words because Aria was indeed speaking the truth.

"That’s right, they're not the friends you know. The friends you had adventures with, developed a friendship, traveled with, ate with, shared happiness and unhappiness with—the ones from the memories you hold are now gone."

"..."

Aria slowly turned her head. She fixed her gaze on me and stared dumbfoundedly.

"However, they're not imposters."

"N-not... imposters??"

"Yeah, because as you know, we've started over again."

I didn’t know why she developed Capgras syndrome. It may have been due to her inability to overcome the discrepancy from the previous round, or perhaps it was a side effect of her regression, or maybe she simply succumbed mentally due to the pressure.

Regardless, I was unable to ascertain the correct cause.

However, she was always drawn towards the correct answer, and perhaps, at least for now, I thought that the disorder gripping her might also be a step towards the right answer.

"You can no longer meet those people you once knew."

"Why are you all doing this to me?! Why did everyone leave me?! Even though we all had those memories, why did everyone forget meeeee!"

Covering her face with both hands, Aria fell to her knees as her strength departed.

Yet her tears still flowed mercilessly, slipping through her fingers.

“Why do you show up in front of me as someone else now?! No one even remembers me! We... we said goodbye! But why are you all still here?! You all left me alone! Laughing and talking! Having fun all by yourselves!”

"...."

"I'm still... still in so much pain! I still haven't forgotten you all! I... I... I'm still...!"

Aria's forehead touched the ground, the tears streaming down showing no signs of stopping.

"I just want to see you all!"

It was unclear how much time had passed. Waiting for the girl to pour out all the tears she had been holding back, I just stared at the sky as the sun set below the horizon.

No matter how much time she had, I knew that it still wouldn't be enough to release all the resentment she held.

"Will it... be better..."

Her body seemingly drained of strength, Aria crouched and spoke with a hoarse voice.

She sought an answer from me.

"...If I forget everything? That way, will I finally be free?"

"...."

"Will I finally be free if I forget my lingering feelings for Professor, my memories with my friends, and everything I've done?"

Only after hearing it all did I realize that it wasn't a question; it was a wish.

What would I do if I won the lottery?

Wouldn't it be great to come first in this midterm exam?

What if my parents were actually conglomerates?

These were just wishes and delusions befitting someone of her age.

She wanted to forget.

That was what Aria was hoping for.

However...

"That's not freedom."

There was no way it would work like that.

She couldn’t just leave it like that.

I couldn’t make her forget everything I had done to her.

"If you try to escape, it will just keep repeating itself. Eventually, you'll end up in the same situation you are now in once again."

Slowly.

Aria raised her head very slowly.

She grabbed hold of the rooftop railing with her trembling hands once more and stood up, glaring at me with fierce animosity.

"So what?! Why is that so bad? No one, no one remembers anything anyway! No one knows the difference anyway! And no one remembers me!"

With her fists clenched, her voice cracking, and her face streaked with tears, the pitiful girl was convinced that her past held no value.

"Then why not me as well? I, too, can just forget everything I've done, can’t I? It would be fine if I just pretend that this worthless life of mine never happened, right?"

"I remember you."

However, what I remembered was just a story that took place on this continent.

"...What did you say?!"

"I, too, found salvation by watching over you as you lived your life."

It was just from a slightly distant place, beyond this world, beyond dimensions.

"I think I now have a slight understanding as to why I came to this world."

The boy who found salvation while watching the girl who persevered in her life even in the midst of tragedy.

"That is to repay what I received from you."

The time had come for him to repay the debt, to repay the salvation he had received from the /genesisforsaken