The cause of death was suicide.
She had hanged herself near where I was sleeping.
"Ugh."
Unable to bear it, I vomited on the spot.
…I don't understand.
Did she die because I rejected her, someone she loved?
What's that all about…?
It's like I'm being blamed for something.
"I don't get it."
I muttered.
I wanted to imply that I wasn't to blame.
Yes, this was more like an accident.
After that, I took her down. Because it was a corpse, it was very heavy.
In reality, she should have been buried, but there was no such place within the dungeon, so I laid her on the bed.
Then, I left the hideout.
Soon after, I was surrounded by multiple monsters.
I had made it this far with Agetha's help.
Now that Agetha was gone, there was no way I could break through, and afterward, I died a gruesome death.
◆
"Ugh."
I became conscious and realized that I had returned to the point of death.
I was inside the room with the treasure chest.
I couldn't help but feel a heavy mood. Because of my choice, a young girl had taken her own life.
What should I have done?
Should I have accepted her love?
But I have Namia. Choosing Agetha while Namia is still in my heart would be dishonest, right? No, Namia is already dead. Dishonesty doesn't even matter.
Objectively, I find Agetha cute, and I don't mind her affection for me.
So, I should have accepted Agetha.
Yes, that's why I was wrong.
Before I knew it, I had come back to the barrier where she was sealed once again.
I reached out my hand once more.
Just like before, the barrier shattered.
It could be said it was too easy.
This time, I would accept her.
"…Who are you?"
She suddenly woke up and asked.
"I'm Kiska."
"Kiska, huh. I've never heard of you. But why, I wonder? You have an unpleasant scent about you."
What's this feeling?
The being in front of me seemed like a completely different person from Agetha. Even though she should look like Agetha.
"Are you Agetha?"
So, I asked her that.
"I see. So, we're not meeting for the first time," she said as if suddenly understanding.
Certainly, if I, who was supposed to be meeting her for the first time, knew her name, it would be reasonable to assume, given her knowledge of the "Save & Reset" skill, that I had met her before my time rewound.
"And from what I gather, in our previous encounter, you took hostile actions against me. That's why you have an unpleasant scent about you."
"Wait, it's a misunderstanding. I'm not your enemy—"
I couldn't finish my sentence because she had my throat in her grip.
"Listen carefully. Don't misunderstand that everything will be back to normal if you die. Even in death, your actions are etched into your soul."
"Who are you?"
"I won't tell someone as wicked as you about my true identity."
"Let me talk to Agetha."
"No, I won't. Agetha has rejected you."
What's that…?
What's going on?
"Let me give you a warning. Stay away from Agetha."
As she muttered this, she snapped my neck.
◆
"I… I don't understand."
I regained consciousness and realized I had returned from death.
I had been killed by someone who appeared as Agetha.
The words, "Do not get involved with Agetha in any way from now on," echoed in my head.
I see, got it. If that's the case, I won't return to Agetha, and I won't release the seal. Is that okay?
However, passing through the dungeon without Agetha's assistance would be difficult.
Thinking about that, it seemed like I needed to find another way.
"Maybe I should try stepping on another teleportation array."
Apart from the teleportation array that led to Agetha's location, there were two other teleportation arrays.
Stepping on one of those might lead to something that could break this situation.
With that determination, I stepped on the second teleportation array.
◆
The place I teleported to also had a straight path ahead, so I followed it.
Then, I spotted something in my line of sight.
There was a table, chairs, and a girl sitting in one of them.
The girl was dressed in a flashy outfit, reminiscent of a young lady.
"Oh, how unusual. Intruders entering this place," she said as she sipped her tea.
"Um…"
I was perplexed by her behavior, which didn't seem at all fitting for a dungeon.
Who on earth was she?
"So, what brings you to a place like this?" she asked, looking in my direction.
"I'm, uh, looking for the exit to get out of the dungeon," I decided to answer honestly, hoping she might tell me the exit's location.
"I see…"
She made a gesture of understanding.
And then—
"How disrespectful. Your attitude doesn't seem appropriate towards me, the great True Ancestor vampire, Judite."
"――Huh?"
Before I knew it, she was right in front of me.
And then, she was thrusting a crimson blade toward me.
"Pay for that sin with death."
As I heard those words, my consciousness went black.