‘He’ was unaware of it himself, but his attitude was quite different from that of the Rixus-es of his last six lives.
There was no doubt about the fact that the Queen of Spinel, who had always had a gruesome notoriety, would become a demon that would annihilate the world.
But the question that settled in his chest grew bigger and bigger like a snowball…
As a result of continuous tracking, ‘Rixus’ eventually found out that there was someone else behind Berylia.
And that she was a puppet.
She, too, was just one of the victims.
…If he tried, she could have been saved.
He was shocked to find out.
Since then, ‘Rixus’ had suffered from a deep sense of guilt.
Like a snare that always existed in his chest and suddenly bit his heart, her end kept repeating in his mind.
The guilt and sorrow accumulated each time, changed much of the story.
Even the mindset ‘he’ had in the final showdown.
“It’s a big deal. Once a question has arisen, it won’t go away. What if you do this again next time?”
The spirit sat on his shoulder and said,
“Would you like to meet Berylia?”
“…If we, if we c-can meet…”
“It’s not difficult to create an opportunity. But, your life will get harder… if you get involved with her.”
He was more comfortable dying from extreme pain in his present life.
But more pain than this awaited…
However, if he had a chance to pay off his debts to the woman who pitifully died…
‘Why did you have such lonely eyes?’
If he could ask her why she had been lonely all her life and give her a little warmth.
“I don’t care… uck…”
A bloody tear ran down Rixus’ temple.
“Okay, Rixus Aktoum.”
The spirit scattered light and soared high.
“Keep in mind. I’m just giving you a chance, the rest is entirely in your hands.”
Next.
A beam of light enveloped him.
From his past self, which was completely extinguished from the flame of life, Rixus felt his consciousness slowly disconnect.
Finally, ‘he’ died in the past and only his present self remained.
“Therefore…”
A low voice came out of Rixus.
“I met her in this life.”
The meeting at the hut was a different opportunity from his last seven lifetimes.
[Yes. You chose it.]
Madame Artingus said, raising her lips smoothly.
[Everything was your choice, Rixus. Whether you change your destiny, end up hurting her… or love her. All of them are you.]
“I haven’t done anything.”
Rixus spoke quietly, voice rising from his throat.
“She came to me, and she reached out her hand first.”
It was too much love. For a trash like me, idiot…
At least seven times.
Not knowing how to repay the deaths, Rixus bit his lips to the point of bleeding.
‘What should I do with that stupid woman?’
‘What was so pretty that you saved me?’
‘What do I say…’
How could she rescue and heal the man who killed her?
‘How can your heart be so pretty …You smiled at me like that.’
He wasn’t worth it.
“I love you, Rixus.”
The voice of her confessing her love rang in his ears. His feelings for Berylia filled his chest painfully like it would burst.
Rixus asked, weeping as if he had been mutilated by a sword.
“The one who killed her. Who was the one who played her as a puppet?”
He definitely remembered the time when he moved into the illusions of the past, but now he couldn’t remember anything.
(TL/N: wdym you can’t remember!?!?!! get your damn money back, what a rip off!!)
Madame Artingus explained.
[I can’t show you certain things for two reasons. First, it goes against the ‘causality’ of this world. Second… Some kind of ‘power’ blocks the view.]
A power that opposed a holy relic.
[The question you just asked belongs to the second one.]
“….…”
[But don’t worry. Even in their previous lives, in the end, things didn’t turn out the way they wanted them to.]
“It doesn’t matter.”
Rixus said with anger-filled eyes.
“I will definitely find them and destroy them.”
He finally removed his hand from the portrait, violently turning his body.
A small warning sounded from behind.
[Careful, Rixus…]
“….…”
[Because this time, they are desperately trying to achieve their goals…]
Rixus went looking for Berylia with a heart that was about to explode.
He searched the entire palace. Everywhere she could be.
He felt like he was going to die if he didn’t see her right away.
But, sadly, he couldn’t find her for a while.
Eventually, finally, he found her under the six-fruited tree of the Imperial Palace. He went there, just in case.
The backyard where the two of them had a modest wedding and vowed to love each other…
…There was a back view of Berylia.
When he found her in an unexpected place, his heart raced even more.
It felt like he was choking up, and his heart was about to wear out.