Chapter 2 – Change

Chapter 2 – Change

[Translator – Peptobismol]

Chapter 2 – Change

Somewhere, a familiar ceiling.

In a room with a refined atmosphere that’d make one gape in awe.

I blinked my half-closed eyes and instinctively rose from my seat.

“Damn it.”

It’s been a week.

It’s time to admit it.

The place I was lying in until a moment ago wasn’t some dream; it was the reality right in front of me.

“... ”

Why am I trapped in this damned world again?

I’ve pondered countless times over the past week. And I’ve agonized over it.

The conclusion was always the same.

I failed to clear it.

Thus, I’ve been given another chance for the second round.

In reality, it’s a problem that doesn’t require much thought.

“...Shit.”

I shifted my gaze to the mirror in front of me.

In the mirror, a somewhat lethargic-looking young man’s face was reflected.

Jet-black hair that was disheveled.

Sharp eyes and a finely carved sharp nose.

A face so familiar that it has become tiresome.

Kyle Winfred.

The son of Duke Winfred, one of the three major guardian families protecting the Northern Continent.

And a bastard child.

There’s no heart-wrenching backstory, no memorable twist, no inevitable justification.

Kyle Winfred is simply the typical villain, meticulously crafted solely for the protagonist’s trials and tribulations.

“Hmm.”

I lightly clenched my fist, and the man in the mirror also made the same gesture.

Seeing Kyle Winfred from his youth again brings back some memories.

But now is not the time to get lost in sentimentality.

As with any villain, Kyle Winfred is also destined to inevitably meet a trashy end.

Of course, being from a Duke family extends his lifeline to some extent, but the important thing is that Kyle Winfred is a legitimate son, not an heir.

Even within the family, he has no significant standing, which means that the moment he crosses the line, he’ll meet his demise, and above all...

— 「Main Quest」 —

◆ Absolute Evil

: Because there is darkness, there is also light. Your death is inevitable for the salvation of the world. Embrace a villain’s death.

◆ Reward

: Return to the original world

◆ Scenario Progress

: 0%

Yes, that’s the problem.

Because of this insane quest.

Kyle Winfred must not die clumsily again due to this.

After filling the progress rate to 100%, I must face the most plausible ending.

This means that Kyle Winfred must intervene as one of the key characters in the narrative...

“Damn it.”

I eyed the system with suspicion.

“Am I going to be fooled once again?”

I remember it clearly.

The moment when I was on the brink of death after being poisoned by Isabel, a notification saying ‘Progress Rate 100%’ appeared in my blurry vision.

I surely fulfilled all the specified conditions.

However, I failed.

Suddenly, for some random reason like ‘synchronization rate below threshold’.

◆ Synchronization Rate

: ??

Synchronization rate.

A new indicator that emerged in the system window during the regression.

What principle this ‘synchronization rate’ operates on, I have no idea.

The only thing I can deduce is that this is also one of the essential conditions for clearing.

And the system deliberately deceived me.

That’s the only conclusion.

“I’ll destroy it.”

With my life at stake, I can no longer blindly trust such a system.

This time, I won’t fall into the trap of hastily concocted conditions that could reverse the clear.

However, there is one problem...

◆ Penalty

But what can I do?

Among the numerous deaths of Kyle Winfred that have been revealed, more than 90% are related to Isabel.

I stood silently, staring at her without any expression on my face, already anticipating the words she would utter with a stern face.

It was the same in the first round.

Isabel greeted me first, and I completely ignored her greeting.

There was silence for a moment, and then she sighed heavily. She didn’t even expect me to respond, but soon she demanded a breakup in an angry voice...

“Kyle?”

...Huh?

Why is she like this?

“Kyle, is there something on my face?”

Crazy.

Is she really calling me Kyle right now?

Where did the usual titles like ‘Sir Kyle’ or ‘Kyle Winfred’ she uses to call me go?

Isabel’s state is strange.

Could it be that she hurt her head on the way here?

I tried to maintain my expression as I opened my lips.

“...Long time no see.”

A simple reply caused a sincere smile to form on Isabel’s lips.

As if that one word was enough.

‘I hope she hasn’t gone crazy because of the penalty.’

Even when playing the game before regression, adapting to and living in the game world after possession, Isabel never smiled at Kyle, not even once.

She cursed me to hell many times, but...

“Please have a seat. The tea tastes good.”

I hesitated and sat down.

Immediately afterwards, there was silence.

I wanted to see how far she had gone mad.

“I apologize for coming without prior notice. It’s because the maid got the date wrong.”

“...”

“I’ve come to discuss something in advance regarding the engagement ceremony. Could you spare some time?”

It seems she hasn’t completely lost her mind after all.

Even amidst her madness, she seems to be trying to bring up the engagement breakup story somehow.

“This is perfect timing. I also have something to say.”

“Something to say? To me?”

“Yes.”

I’m sorry, but I have to make the first move.

I have to pretend to break off the engagement so that I can at least give Isabel a hint of relief later on.

Of course, simply declaring, “We’re breaking off the engagement!” will not automatically end the promised marriage alliance between the two families.

There are various interrelationships intertwined like threads in that single marriage.

But I don’t care about that.

If the parties involved don’t want it to happen, how can they force it?

“Let’s forget about our engagement.”

Isabel’s eyes widened in shock.

The shock must be quite significant since she wanted the breakup so badly.

I waited patiently for her response.

“...”

She bowed her head.

Immediately she clenched her trembling hands tightly.

Tick-tock.

The rhythmic sound of the clock echoed in the serene silence.

“Hah.”

A forced laughter burst from her lips.

It’s surprising how she’s still strictly following etiquette even in such a situation.

A moment later.

Pressing the corners of her eyes, Isabel asked me.

“Are you serious?”

Of course.

I’m more serious now than ever.

“You whispered love to me until just recently, and now you want to break off the engagement? Is this really your sincerity?”

“I did love you. But not anymore.”

“Not... anymore...?”

Isabel stumbled over her words, as if she had been hit by a shock.

After a while, a glint of emptiness flashed in Isabel’s eyes.

Her expression was so stern that it could be called downright sinister.

She let out a bitter laugh.

Then, she uttered a response I had never expected.

“I refuse.”

[Translator – Peptobismol]