Chapter 168: - I Love You

༺ I Love You ༻

The imperial hospital, once bustling, was now devoid not only of patients but also of doctors and nurses.

– Knock knock knock

The resounding knocks reverberated through the long-empty hospital room.

“W-Who’s there...?”

The maid, who had been dozing off in the ward, immediately awoke and asked in frightened confusion.

“.......”

However, there was no response.

“W-What was that?”

The maid felt a hint of unease as she cautiously approached the door.

– Creeeak...

“Hmm?”

When she slowly turned the old, rusty doorknob, and opened the door, her head tilted in puzzlement.

She had clearly heard knocking. However, there wasn’t a flicker of movement even in the shadows, much less someone at the door or in the corridor.

“.....?”

Perplexed, the maid scratched her head.

“Sigh... have I lost my mind staying in a place like this?”

She eventually left the ward, grumbling to herself.Thê source of this content n/o/v/(el)bi((n))

“........”

Silence once again filled the ward.

– Crackle!! Crackle...!

Suddenly, a spark ignited in the center of the room.

“Ha...”

From that spark emerged Frey, wearing a gloomy expression as he observed his surroundings.

“...Clana.”

Frey spoke with a sad smile while fiddling with the pendant around his neck.

“I had hoped that I would never have to see you in such a state again.”

“Chirp! Chirp!”

At that moment, a canary that had been quietly perched by the window with its eyes closed until now, darted into Frey’s arms.

It seemed to have been inactive for a while because it staggered and swayed during its flight. Regardless of its awkward movements, its gaze remained fixed on Frey.

– Hug...

Finally, the canary successfully landed in Frey’s arms after its unstable flight.

However, it quickly tilted its head in confusion.

– Shahrhrhr...

Instead of the expected warmth, the canary felt a piercing surge of solar mana within itself when it came into contact with Frey’s chest that emanated stellar mana.

“Chirp♪ Chirp♪”

The canary quickly abandoned the intention to nest in Frey’s chest and instead, settled on his shoulder, cautiously pressing its cheek against his face as it began to chirp.

“...Clana.”

Frey watched this scene with profound sadness in his eyes.

“How long will you remain like this...?”

He gently petted the canary with his hand covered in stellar mana as he asked with a pained expression.

– Buzzz...!

It was only at that moment that the canary that had been chirping at him came to its senses and swiftly flew off somewhere.

– Buzzz...

The canary, upon its arrival, instantly merged with Clana’s body, who had been lying motionless on the bed as if she were dead.

“F-Frey!”

Shortly after, Clana, who had turned frail and gaunt with weakness, suddenly sat up and began to exclaim at Frey.

“Is it really you, Frey? Are you really Frey that I know?”

Frey slowly nodded in response to Clana’s question, but then he asked her gloomily.

“What do you think you’re doing, transforming into a canary like that?”

Upon that, Clana stammered out an answer.

“W-When I transform into a canary... I can suppress my emotions...”

“......”

“However, I still occasionally return to my body to take care of the tasks. I ensured the safe evacuation of all citizens... I also delegated authority to the emergency powers and sanctioned a nationwide mobilization effort... And, also...”

Frey only silently observed her.

“...Sigh.”

With a sigh, he walked out of the ward.

“F-Frey? Where are you going? Frey!”

Due to the extended time in bed weakening her muscles, Clana staggered unsteadily as she followed behind him.

“But how did you come back? D-Didn’t you... get annihilated...”

She anxiously asked as she chased after him.

“...System.”

He softly summoned the system.

Clana’s Affection: 100

Serena’s Affection: Immeasurable

“...Hmm.”

Frey intently examined the system window.

“All right...”

On the left side of the ‘Main Heroine Affection Levels’ screen, there was no longer any indication of the ‘Heroines’ Affection Level’.

Affection towards Kania: 100

Affection towards Irina: 100

Affection towards Clana: 100

Affection towards Serena: 100

Affection towards Ferloche: ???

The right side of the screen displayed the ‘Affection Level towards Heroines.’

Initially, he had only focused on the right side of the screen since acquiring this feature in the system.

He hadn’t cared much about the left side because the heroines’ feelings toward him hadn’t mattered.

The only thing that mattered to him was how he felt about the heroines.

“...It seems like I’ve properly returned back to my old self.”

It was because ever since he had borrowed his body from a different timeline, he had been searching for the heroines and working to restore his love for them.

“Thank goodness.”

No matter how potent the memory-wiping magic was or even how effective the mind control, the love engraved in his soul remained, unerasable.

“It’s truly such a relief.”

That was why, upon discovering the intruding Demon God, he halted the countdown just before his complete deletion. Later, he witnessed how the heroines suffered upon learning the truth and how the world he wanted to protect began to lose its light and happiness.

Eventually, he resolved to rekindle his love for the five heroines.

[ You have become a Co-Judge. ] [Subjects of Judgment: 《The Five Main Heroines》]

That way, he could retain his rationality when he needed to judge the ‘Main Heroines’ according to the question that floated in front of him.

“If I continue like this... I think it’ll be safe to go to the next cycle...”

Moreover, he could prepare for the inevitable next cycle.

Despite being reconfigured by the ordeal, he had easily noticed the future version of himself from another timeline because of his overwhelming abilities.

As such, he knew that this cycle was not the end.

Somehow, the next cycle was destined to unfold.

That was why he hastened to rekindle his love for the heroines.

Then, when the next cycle came, he could prevent himself from repeating the same mistakes by hating those girls again.

Next time, he would undoubtedly bring about a truly happy ending for them.

“However...”

However, even though he had figured out almost everything in this world.

“How can I trigger the Retry? The abilities of my system should have been wiped out already.”

Several questions still remained unanswered.

“Also, as expected, has the future version of ‘me’ forgotten everything? His unsure behavior... And not purchasing the system’s function, which shows hidden affection levels, as well...”

It was a question that exceeded his comprehension.

“It’s like myself in the early days of my regression.”

Therefore, Frey was lost in thought for a while.

“Either way, I’ll know how to initiate the ‘Retry’ when the world nears its end.”

He muttered softly as he left the ward.

“...Well then, finally, it’s time to meet Ferloche.”

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Meanwhile, at that very moment.

“Please...”

In the long-abandoned church of the Sun God, now shrouded in snow and ice, no one had visited in a long time.

“I beg you, please...”

Within the church, Ferloche knelt on the frigid floor, tears streaming down her face.

“Retry? Regression? Whatever you call that ability you mentioned before, please give it to me...”

“I will bear all the consequences. After all, I’m the only one who can receive it since I’m connected to you, and if you don’t give it to anyone, the world will be doomed, right? Moreover...”

She was praying earnestly.

“... I can’t let his soul remain in pain any longer.”

Ferloche lamented while gazing at the half-destroyed statue of the Sun God before her.

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