Chapter 150: A certain young man’s choice

Chapter 150: A certain young man’s choice

What had I gotten wrong?

I didn't even really have to ask. I already knew. However, I was reluctant to say it aloud, so I walked down the dark street in silence, all by myself.

"A street at night?"

Where was I? Where was I trying to go?

I had to get back. I had to go to Siesta. What was I doing here—? "You already know that, too, don't you?" someone whispered.

I looked down the street and saw a black shadow stretching from beneath a streetlight.

The person casting that shadow was the one who'd spoken. His name was... "—Scarlet." The most uptodate novels are published on n0velbjn((.))com

His yellow eyes glowed ominously in the dark. A pale devil who drank human blood—a vampire. I hadn't thought I'd ever see him again.

"What's this—another dream?"

It wasn't just any dream, either. It was a nightmare that would leave me feeling like shit when I woke up.

"You're that unhappy to see me, human?" Scarlet said, addressing me by the same careless label he'd always used.

"If I told you I was glad to see you, what would you do?"

"I would determine that some scoundrel had assumed your identity and would immediately rip out his throat."

"I'm glad you didn't get any weird ideas, then. Let's keep this peaceful."

For several seconds, Scarlet and I stayed silent, letting our eyes do the talking.

We didn't need words to discuss this reunion of ours. "And? Do you know where we are, Scarlet?"

We were in a dark world, with one street reaching into the distance. Scarlet was leaning against a streetlamp, the only source of light. "I couldn't say. However, even if I don't know, you should."

And so—"

"I do not believe that you are lying. However," Scarlet whispered in my ear, "remove your armor. No doubt there's another emotion hidden inside it."

I was taken aback.

Scarlet laughed a little. "Do you think it's odd for me to express my opinions on human emotions?"

No, I didn't.

After all, I knew who had made him able to say those things.

"Come, it's time you woke from your nightmare." Scarlet thumped me lightly on the shoulder. "You know what you must do, correct?"

"...Yeah. I do now."

I was holding a certain book in my hand. Just as I had that other time, I'd use the power hidden in this volume. This time and place had been here to make me remember that.

"Scarlet." He'd already turned his back on me, but I called to him one last time. "I'll believe in the world I managed to protect from you just a little longer."

Scarlet laughed. "You have quite a mouth these days... Still, if you ever get truly disgusted with this world, come to hell anytime. And bring my bride with you."

With that, the vampire melted into the darkness.

"Sorry, but that day's never gonna come," I murmured. My hands tightened on the origin text, and I set off again.

...Toward the future? No, not that way.

The road I was walking led to the past. "I'm going to do it over, one more time."

I'd start on the night I'd made that choice.

And I'd make sure we ended up on the correct route this time.