Chapter 38

“……That’s absurd. How could I possibly do such a thing……..”

It felt as if my head had been struck multiple times with a hammer, and it was spinning uncontrollably.

“No, that must be your true nature. Over the course of three lifetimes, you’ve been nothing more than an obstacle to me and Ji-an.”

-Creak

For some reason, Yoo Eun-ha now held a menacing chain in her hand.

“Since there’s a chance you could cut the rope with a wooden fragment and escape… it’s better to tie you up securely.”

“Wait, what do you mean by regression? Why are you tying me up with a chain… urgh?!”

It seemed that listening to me had now become tiresome for her, as Yoo Eun-ha began sealing my mouth again with clear tape.

-Pffft!

“Uuuuuuuuuh…!!!!!”

“You’re noisy. I’m glad I sealed your mouth with tape.”

Next, she drove giant iron nails into my thighs and arms, fixing me firmly to the chair so I couldn’t escape. Watching Yoo Eun-ha’s expression, it could only be described as that of someone who had gone completely mad.

And with her wearing gloves and a hat to leave no evidence behind, it was clear she had planned this all along.

“You’ve been a seed of evil since the day you were born, nothing more than useless trash that doesn’t benefit the world.”

“Mmmph! Ummph?!”

“Do you know what the most painful way for a human to die is?”

-Sshhhhhhhh!!!

Before I knew it, my body was completely secured to the chair, and water began pouring down from above my head.

“They call it ‘boiling pain.’ While your skin burns, you’ll scream in agony – or so the older sister from my third life said it was a beautiful sight.”

“Mmmph, ummph!!!!”

Again, strange crosses began piercing my arms.

“It’s a potent poison that can incapacitate large monsters instantly… but it seems you’ve developed immunity. You must have consumed a lot of potions from the Yuseong Group. It shouldn’t be possible to develop resistance this quickly… Ah, so the fall of your father was also your older sister’s doing.”

“With that, you burned Ji-an alive. The eldest sister risked her life to barely escape. However, using long-distance cursed artifacts, she was made to suffer a slow death. Then, just before I died, she appeared, nailed my body to a rock, and threw me into the sea.”

‘Is the crushing pain I felt in my heart back then… because of that?’

The water was already rising to my chest.

“I wish you’d die like I did. Although you haven’t committed any crimes yet… you’re just a deranged psychopath hiding behind the mask of the Student Council President, a mad killer who enjoys killing.”

With that, Yoo Eun-ha moved to leave through the door.

“Goodbye, I won’t miss you.”

“Ummph!! Uuuumph…!!!”

“And if anyone finds out your real nature, it would be quite a shock to everyone else… The world will know that a villainous organization, lusting after your wealth, attacked and killed you. I already have accomplices arranged for this.”

“Huuumph! Huhuuuuuuuumph!!!”

“Even if you manage to escape somehow… there’s no possibility of it. Just die already.”

-Bang!

The iron door slammed shut mercilessly. I was left with no choice but to remain silent.

‘……Why?’

With that single question looping endlessly in my mind…

…

…

…

The water had already risen to my chin.

My strength was flowing out through the water at an exponential rate, and I began to experience auditory hallucinations and hypothermia.

I had already given up any hope of survival, and now only the fear of death loomed over me.

It’s commonly known that there are six stages of accepting death:

Stage 1, Denial (Denial)

‘No, why should I die here? There’s still so much I need to do when I go back…!’

Stage 2, Anger (Anger)

‘Why do you decide things based on your own regression nonsense…!!’

Stage 3, Bargaining (Bargaining)

‘No, if you return now, I’ll forgive you. And then, I’ll use this as leverage, making you into a long-term pawn to catch Mephisto…’

Stage 4, Depression (Depression)

‘Why me? What’s the reason? I just wanted to go home…’

Stage 5, Panic (Panic)

‘I want to go home, I want to go home, I want to go home, I want to go home, I want to go home, I want to go home, I want to go home, I want to go home, I want to go home, I want to go home, I want to go home, I want to go home, I want to go home, I want to go home, I want to go home, I want to go home, I want to go home, I want to go home, I want to go home, I want to go home, I want to go home’

Stage 6, Acceptance (Acceptance)… But it seems the final stage of acceptance is the wrong term.

Rather than acceptance… Madness (Madness) would be more appropriate.

‘Why must I die here Why can’t I die like this Why Why Why Why Why Please, someone save me Why Why I beg you, save me Why Why Why Why Why I’ll curse you, Yoo Eun-ha Why Why Why Why I’ll rip you apart a hundred, a thousand times and kill you Why Why I want to go home Why Why’

The water was already spilling over my nose, making it difficult to breathe.

“…………!!”

Because my abilities were completely sealed by the magical power suppression cuffs, I had no choice but to allow water to enter through my mouth and nose…

And so, I felt my consciousness fading.

Ah, water is flooding in.

Everything goes numb.

If I close my eyes like this, what will happen to me?

I wanted to go home and tell everyone, including my parents, that I had returned…

No, what did I even have?

Who was I again? Nothing remains in my head.

It’s just that the beautiful woman with purple hair reflected in the water droplets… that’s me, and the fact that I’m about to drown is telling me…

Don’t talk nonsense, I have no intention of dying like this.

Who’s going to take my life in this manner?

I’ll destroy everything that gets in my way.

I’ll burn everything that’s wrong.

‘Damn it, I’ll kill them all.’

In my blurred vision, the face of a woman who was grinning maliciously and staring at me appeared. She must be the one responsible for this.

The moment came.

My vision went black, and I felt an overwhelming sense as if I could do anything.

And in this eternal, agonizing span of time, a hand draped in black was extended toward me, as if offering relief if I were to take it…

Grabbing that hand was far too easy.

“………..”

What I could see upon opening my eyes was…

“Yoon Se-ah, you cursed woman……!”

“Please… forgive me… I’ve done wrong… please spare my life…”

“I-I was sure that young orphan had dealt with her perfectly… Gwaahhhhhh!!”

It was the people from my mother’s side, screaming in agony with their limbs horribly severed.

…

…

…

The stench of blood filled the air.

The relatives on my mother’s side were reduced to unrecognizable chunks of meat, their arms and legs minced like cube steaks. The house was completely demolished as if it had been bombed by a tank.

“……Why?”

What exactly happened just now?

‘I was holding onto that black hand… and then…’

“Ugh…!”

I lost balance and stumbled, the water-soaked clothes hindering my already weak legs.

‘Where… is this place?!’

Even in my struggle, I quickly scanned the area.

Fragments of unnecessarily extravagant decorative items, and a large pile of meat chunks.

Seeing the completely lifeless bodies of my mother’s side relatives, without even using a potion…

“Is this… everything I’ve done?”

Then, in the shattered mirror, I finally saw my own reflection.

The deep purple of my hair, which was once the color of my tie, had faded dramatically. My lavender hair was soaked in crimson blood.

“…No. No matter how mad I was, I couldn’t have possibly killed innocent people…”

Isn’t that right? Yoon Seong-ho, as much of a villain as he was…he was still someone who hadn’t committed any crimes yet.

Although he did conduct human experiments, a serious crime, but it was something that could be atoned for by rotting in jail. And I… I killed Yoon Seong-ho.

‘… Then, what’s the difference between me and what Yoo Eun-ha called a ‘killer’?”

Eliminating cancer-like villains destined to commit heinous crimes in the future… that was my so-called work.

‘I’m doing this for the betterment of the original work’ Using that as an excuse, I thought ‘That’s one thing, this is another.’

“…………Ah.”

Why was I suffering for this kind of world?

If I hadn’t downloaded that bug file, if I hadn’t started with Asoma… this wouldn’t have happened.

“…Huh, isn’t it peaceful? Feels like I’ve lost my purpose.”

That’s right, I deluded myself.

Even until right before being kidnapped, I was still thinking happily about living my school life with Kang Ayul and Lee Seo-yoon.

“…Who cares about those ‘data fragments’!”

This is a game-like world, isn’t it?

I’m an outsider. I just need to go home, that’s all. I’ve somehow forgotten this simple truth until now.

Now, nothing else matters.

Yoo Eun-ha was right. I’ll wear the façade of the kind Yoon Se-ah, utilizing everything that can be utilized, and run forward with my goal in mind, as if playing a ‘game.’

And then, I’ll go home. What happens to this world after I’m gone… why should I care?

“Good fortune, a gate breach is also happening right now.”

Looking at the broken ceiling, a massive gate was opening.

“No earring…?”

No wonder my left ear felt empty.

‘So… there’s no limit to regeneration?’

The chains connecting the cuffs have long been torn apart, and I know very well the method to dismantle these bindings that are now nothing more than bracelets.

-Crack… Snap…!

“Phew… Finally, I can sense my magical power flowing again.”

After cutting off the magical power seal cuffs on my wrists using a saw that was nearby, and watching them regenerate cleanly, I spotted Yoo Eun-ha being assaulted by a very high-level monster.

Turning my head to the other side, I could see the heroes hurriedly flying toward me… and since it was close to the academy, Principal Eve Meitner was also flying over.

“It’s not your turn yet.”

If I were to leave now, Yoo Eun-ha would be arrested for attempted murder of the Student Council President. Having interfered with the Yuseong Group, which supplied potions worldwide, she would undoubtedly receive severe punishment.

‘Absolutely, Yoo Eun-ha cannot leave here.’

“……Domain Expansion (領域展開).”

Around me as the center point, a pitch-black barrier spreads out.

-Bang! Roar!!

“Hmm, if not for the earring, I could have defended against Yoo Eun-ha’s attack quite well.”

Though Eve’s lightning and the heroes’ fierce attacks were battering the barrier I had erected to destroy it… but with the mana boosted by liberating all the remnants of Mephisto,

It would take at least 40 minutes to break it.

Enough time to finish everything within the span, so let’s casually take some shots.

Right when I thought that and reached for my staff in my pocket… unfortunately, there was no staff in my pocket.

“Ah, you cursed woman.”

Where did my staff go?

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