Chapter 262: Betrayal, Betrayal, Betrayal (5)

Chapter 262: Betrayal, Betrayal, Betrayal (5)

Kee-ruk kee-ruk kee-ruk

Seagulls cried out from the sky. The coastline shimmered with light. The sunlight danced like patterns on shells.

In this picturesque scene, Johanna looked at him.

He had a face she didn't recognize, yet he recited words she knew all too well.

"You made a promise, didn't you? Are you pretending to have forgotten?

"You

Suddenly, the veil that had been fogging Johannas mind lifted, and he jokingly grasped her wrist.

"We dont have much time.

Is it really you?

"Yes. I've been wandering around, by Lady Johannas side. Dont you remember?

.Ah.

Then it all came back to her.

The sentence etched on the windowpane, declaring that Shion Ascal of this world was a fake.

The doctor who suddenly died while examining her.

The gardener who was about to say something to her but was killed by a garden shear to the throat

The coachman who suffered a heart attack from a horse's kick while spouting nonsense like Doesnt this world seem fake to you?

And countless other traces and messages, as if someone was trying to communicate with her...

"Yes.

He smiled.

"It was all me.

Johanna's heart stirred.

"It was all to protect Lady Johanna.

.You!

She reached out first, slapping his cheek with enough force to make a sound.

"Ouch.

It must have hurt, as a dumbfounded noise escaped him.

She asked urgently.

"If its really you, how are you still alive? You were supposed to be dead.

Ill explain later. We don't have time right now.

With that, he handed her another plane ticket. Johanna looked at it.

The destination was Beckman[BECKMAN].

"Take this flight. Its the way out."

Beckman?

"Yes. You must go to Beckman."

Johanna took the ticket, but she was doubtful.

Could she trust him now?

Once again, another suspicion began to rise from the bottom of her heart...

"Its your choice in what you choose to belief.

With that single sentence, Johanna brushed it off.

"Yes.

She nodded as if to agree.

"Believing is a matter of freedom. Being swayed by doubt is not."

Johanna smirked and tucked the ticket into her pocket.

"Then. Ill see you later."

The driver got into the car, and not far away, Shion returned.

The man with Shion's face.

"Lets go, my lord. Everything has been taken care of.

He confidently escorted her.

Lets.

Johanna walked alongside him.

They arrived at a modest airport. There werent many people, and there were only two gates. The coast visible through the airports glass windows was beautiful.

"Here we are.

Beckman pointed to one of the gates.

The destination wasAmoc[AMOC], a resort area.

Johanna paused for a moment She spoke to the back of Shion, who was about to enter first

It brings back old memories.

He turned around to look at her.

"Was it 15 years ago?

Johanna briefly counted the years.

It felt like she had been running wild like a mustang, and now her old memories were fading.

I think that was the first time I saw you."

"Yes?

He blinked in surprise, as if to ask what she was talking about.

My lord. I havent been by your side for that long-

"You were just a Chaser. You didnt know what you had to do, nor did you know what your purpose was. You were a raw gem overflowing with talent."

Johanna smiled as she remembered those times.

I was the same. I didnt know what to do, nor did I know what my purpose was. We were both young. Clumsy.

Suddenly, his expression hardened.

Being quick-witted, he must have caught the meaning of her words.

"You were the first to let me feel what its like to have subordinates.

Johanna took a step closer to him.

"Since Ive watched you the longest, I already knew that you were changing.

Shion Ascal looked at her.

"At some point... I knew you were changing."

But to Johanna, he still had Beckmans face.

"Yet, I wanted to trust you.

She was sincere.

She wanted to trust him.

In the end, she didn't want to discard the time she had spent with Beckman.

"You have been my subordinate for the longest time. Theres no doubt about that loyalty.

He said nothing.

Johanna quietly narrowed her eyes.

I think I may have been too harsh on you.

Those fluffy days of youth came flooding back.

I shook my head.

"Mr. Beckman, may I speak frankly?

Beckman glared at me silently.

It meant to go ahead.

"Even if I hadnt been there, Mr. Beckman, you would have done the same thing."

The future is what it is.

The cause of Beckman's rampage was ultimately not me, but Johanna', who failed to give him human emotions.

"And..."

Additionally, I didnt know how this kidnapping was going to play out.

Before my regression, I had only seen the phrase [Johanna was kidnapped by Beckman], with no specific information anywhere.

Because.

In a world without me, Johanna would have killed you.

In a world without me, Johanna would have escaped on her own.

In a world without me, Johanna was not as weak as she is now.

As a more vicious, meticulous, and cruel sociopath, Johanna would not have been swayed by the mere illusion of a barrier and would have certainly killed Beckman.

...You speak as if you're from the future."

Beckman seemed incredulous at my certainty.

I extended my hand to him.

"Let's go. Let's go and pay for our sins.

The Johanna of now might forgive him a little.

So-

"No. Ill stay here.

...what?

It was slightly surprising to me, but Beckman's eyes were resolute. It seemed his heart had already taken root

"This is the world where I was with my lord.

He explained his reasons in his own way.

I held her hand."

The attention he had never received in the many years of his service.

"We looked into each others eyes."

A gaze that was not cold.

I also saw a beautiful smile."

Or, perhaps, tender emotions.

Beckman had felt it all.

Even if the feelings were not directed at him, even if they were only superficial...

...I want to stay here.

He turned it all into memories.

Memories that he didnt want to send away, memories that he didnt want to leave, memories of happiness.

I looked at him.

Sometimes, people who are too sincere become too deviated.

Therefore, there is no need to pity him.

No one in this world has the right to sympathize with him.

He is someone who committed sins on his own and is trying to pay for them by himself.

"Yes.

I stood up from my seat

"Hey.

Beckman called out to me with a relieved tone.

"Can you make her happy?

Happiness.

That word feels a bit foreign to me.

I turned to look at him.

He faced me with a faint smile.

"Mr. Beckman.

The abstract notion of happiness, I cannot give that to Johanna.

However...

"I am a regressor.

Suddenly, Beckmans expression softened. It was as if he was looking at a madman for the first time in a long while.

I continued resolutely.

"Before I regressed, Lady Johanna had lost in the succession battle and was imprisoned for the crime of killing tens of thousands of people. She had to live out her life in the most brutal Recordark.

Before the regression, Johanna's future was bleak. At the very least, it was far from happiness. After all, she had been betrayed by everyone she had ever commanded.

"Now, that wont happen."

That future would disappear.

Having become aware of her emotions, she would start to question all her actions.

She would feel the pain in everything she had done as naturally as breathing.

Eventually, she would give up the succession.

...Thats preposterous.

I left my own version of the truth as a final gift, but he looked utterly unconvinced.

I suppose that's to be expected.

If I were him and someone said Im a regressor too,' Id think they were insane.

"Go. Im sorry for everything.

Beckman waved his hand.

"Dont send her off alone.

I bowed silently. I stepped towards the gate that Johanna had passed through.

...Im shameless to ask.

Beckmans voice followed from behind.

"Could you pass on a message... that Im sorry for being so inadequate?

I didnt turn back.

The sky reflected in the airport windows was a clear blue. It was too serene a scene for a barrier that would soon close.

And so, I boarded the plane.

Inside the empty cabin, there was just one person sitting.

She was looking out the window, seemingly lost in thought, but I sat down next to her.

She flinched and turned to look at me.

Johanna, somehow, had a richer expression on her face.

I said to her.

"Let's go together.