My legs kept moving before my mind could catch up. Still dying.
Every time I died, the world reset— but I remembered everything.
My breath was uneven, but I didn't stop. The same thing kept happening again. No matter what I did, it ended the same way.
Damn it… keep running, Aron. You can do this. We have to escape from here.
"This isn't stopping… it's repeating."
The same outcome—every time. And not just that—
Mr. Zekai was still standing there… just like before. Completely unresponsive—like he wasn't even here.
I clenched my teeth.
"Come on… wake up, Mr. Zekai!"
Think, Aron. There has to be a way.
[ …CONDITION… ]
…Loop…Bound…
…Error…
[ WARNING ]
Outcome Fixation Detected
Suddenly, I heard a strange new sound in my ears, and a blue, transparent screen flickered in front of my eyes like a glitch.
After that, I couldn't see anything clearly. "What's wrong with my eyes?"
With each loop, I started noticing new things. No matter what strange things happened here—not this time.
It won't be me who runs. This time… the King Knight will.
I observed. A little ahead—there were many swords scattered on the ground.
"What is this…? So many swords. Did people like us come here before…?"
There was no other choice. My fingers closed around one of the fallen swords.
It felt heavy. Unfamiliar. I didn't know how to use a sword.
But I held it anyway. Somehow— I felt like I could fight with it.
Even if it was only until the end. So I held it tighter.
"If it's a fight… then I'll fight."
The sound came again. That same sharp distortion.
The King Knight appeared behind me.
The air sank with it. Not pressure—
something heavier. Like the ground itself acknowledged its presence before I could.
Blue—white armor. Silent. Waiting. But this time— it came a fraction later than before.
My body moved straight toward Mr. Zekai before fear could stop it.
Even now— the King Knight didn't move.
The same sound returned again, along with that glitching vision in my eyes.
[ RESPONSE SUGGESTED ]
— Escape (Failure Probability: High)
— Resistance (Outcome: Termination)
— FREEZE (Unknown)
"Fine…"
My foot pushed forward against the ground.
"This time… I won't run."
"Let's fight."
My hands trembled, but I forced them steady.
"Come."
The King Knight stood still. Each step it took carried weight—slow, deliberate.
Not speed. Certainty. Like every movement had already decided where it would land. Calm. Not moving.
I raised the sword in my hand. Trying to act fearless.
"At least I can fight too."
I charged forward.
The space around it felt wrong. Like stepping closer meant stepping into something already decided.
It won't change anything… but I stepped forward anyway.
But if I step back now—nothing changes. So I stepped forward anyway.
But I didn't even see the moment the King Knight moved.
I didn't see the strike—only the result already happening.
Before I could even understand what happened—
The blade flashed—like I was already too late to react to something that had already happened. Air splitting before I even saw it move and my arm wasn't there anymore.
Mr. Zekai collapsed with me. Everything went black.
—
I snapped back again. But this time— it was different.
The King Knight slowly raised its sword.
The moment it moved—my body reacted.
Not fully. Not fast enough—but different.
I shifted—just slightly. The blade passed closer than before—close enough that I felt the wind cut across my face.
I didn't dodge it… but I wasn't where I was supposed to be. For the first time—the outcome… slipped.
"…I changed something."
My breath caught. It wasn't enough to survive. But it wasn't the same anymore.
The motion felt delayed—like the result had already happened, and the movement was just catching up.
It stood in a cross stance. Then it began walking toward me.
Slower. Clearer. This was my chance.
But it didn't come toward me. Suddenly, Its attention shifted past me—toward Zekai.
"Oh—no."
The King Knight raised its sword and swung it toward Mr. Zekai's head.
"This is bad."
Nothing should happen to Mr. Zekai.
Without thinking, I held my breath and ran forward at full speed, placing myself in front of him to protect him.
I focused everything on my sword.
"Now—!"
I swung it with all my strength.
"AHHHH!"
It blocked effortlessly. But in a single swing— the King Knight sent me flying.
The impact threw me back. My body slammed against the wall. Pain exploded through my back.
"Ugh—!"
Before I could recover— The King knight stepped forward— then vanished.
A second later— Its blade pierced straight through my throat.
"…This is too much…"
Darkness.
"—!"
—
I returned again. But this time— every pain remained. None of it disappeared.
Every cut. Every impact. This time—the pain didn't fade when I came back.
It waited. I could feel everything.
My body remembered every death— even when it hadn't happened yet.
Tears started falling from my eyes without me realizing.
"I… can't…"
[ …CONDITION… ]
Mental State: Collapse
Pain Memory: Overloaded
Loop Stability: Failing
[ WARNING ]
Subject nearing psychological break
"I'm weak… useless."
My grip loosened.
"I always run."
"No wonder no one ever stays…"
My chest tightened.
"…and I'm tired of it."
Then why… am I still standing?
"I can't do this… Mr. Zekai…"
...
Memories surfaced.
---
Once, I used to be like everyone else. Talking freely. Kind.
Back then, I didn't know. That my kindness would become my biggest weakness.
The people around me used it. They took advantage of it. They bullied me because of it.
Slowly—I became quiet.
Closed off.
I wanted to be like others. But my kindness only made me an easy target.
I pushed people away. Day by day—my life became empty. Until I met Mr. Zekai.
One day, while I was working in the shop—
"Hey, kid… want something to eat?" Zekai said.
"Why do you look so down?"
"No… I'm fine. I'm just working."
"Whatever it is… don't keep it inside. In life, when you lose something… you gain something else. That's fate... One day, everything will change. Here—take this drink."
He placed a drink in front of me.
"I don't need it—" But he left it anyway.
"See you, Aron. That's your name, right?"
From that day—
The words he spoke stayed with me, because I could feel the deeper meaning behind them. It felt like he carried unresolved pain and things he could never fix within himself.
His words gave me strength.
"Why don't you try being kind one more time?"
I started believing in my kindness again. Little by little—my life changed.
Because of him… I made friends. I even found someone who loved me.
You changed the thoughts inside me. You gave my way of thinking a new beginning.
"All of this… is because of you, Mr. Zekai."
"Thank you…"
I wiped my face roughly. I don't know what exists within you, but…
My hands stopped shaking.
"So at least once…"
I'll save you. No matter what.
This time—
"I'll protect you."
Even if it kills me again.
Even if this doesn't end here—Even if I don't make it out—That doesn't matter anymore.
I won't run.
[ STATUS UPDATE ]
Mental State: Stabilized Directive: Protect Target
[ NEW CONDITION ]
— RESOLVE DETECTED —
Something inside me didn't break this time— it chose not to run.
This wasn't a fight.
It was me trying to survive something that had already decided how I would die.
End of Chapter 10 - The Kind One II