But Karl still didn't kiss her lips without permission.
"Am I really that bad? Compared to the heartache I went through because of my master abandoning me without permission, this seems like a pretty easy way to apologize."
For a moment, it seemed as if she could sense a hint of self-mockery in his voice.
"...I'm sure you said Master, Karl."
But that expression quickly disappeared, and the evil eyes returned.
"You're being so cold. You came to me because you needed me, right?"
'It's like this again.'
Ever since they first met in the Fenril Detention Center, this kid has always had this side to him. A confusing variable that makes you get swept away if you let your guard down even for a moment.
'I still think I need to get my hands on this boy before Charlotte. But... If I get dragged away by this boy like this, it's over.'
The Karl he is now is more dangerous than when they first met. He is greedy, gets bored easily, and doesn't care about the means and methods to get what he wants.
Once you start getting dragged in, you'll be dragged in forever.
'I don't know if this will be considered a threat, but...'
That kid has tried to catch her by regressing four times, so maybe it will work.
Odette swallowed dryly.
"No matter how much you need me, if you keep acting like this, I'll never come back."
Fortunately, the threat worked, and Karl stopped. Odette cupped Karl's cheeks near the nape of his neck.
"Look me in the eye and talk."
And she pulled his face toward her and met her eyes. Even though Karl had no status screen light, he too looked Odette in the eye in the dark.
"An apology that you force me to submit like this isn't an apology. I would have apologized to you even if you hadn't done this."
The voice of reprimand was firm, but there was a gentle side to it.
"I'm sorry, Karl. I mean it. I shouldn't have left you like that."
"..."
"I'm sorry I hurt you. But that regret won't allow me to apologize in the way you want. Even if you don't forgive me."
As she spoke, Odette caressed his cheek. A faint smile appeared in KarI's eyes as he stared at Odette.
[ Karl deleted 'Coordinates of Return' ]
Thank god.
'The fact that that status window popped up means that Karl was satisfied with the apology just now.'
Since there is no need to go back, she guesses she can take a breather for now.
But that was then.
"...You're saying you'll never come to me again?"
Just then, as if to tell her that her thoughts were a mistake, a mocking voice was heard.
"You said I was precious. You said you were my master."
Odette had a bad feeling.
"I've waited so long for you. Do you know what it feels like to spend the whole day thinking about how it would be if I died right now so you could come back and at least look at my dead body?"
The voice was emotionless and low-pitched, but the content was anything but...
"But how is it so easy? How can you say you'll never see me again.."
His voice, which had been humming softly, suddenly stopped.
Odette looked at Karl again and realized in an instant.
That the smile in Karl's eyes just now was sarcasm or mockery. The words that she would never come back had really touched his sore spot.
What's the use of being sorry? In the end, you can just throw it away again. A low, muttering voice was faintly audible.
"Shall we try? Will it be okay for you, Master, to abandon me?"
At the same time, a new status window appeared, as if giving a warning.
[Karl redesignates the 'coordinates of return' to the 'present point in time'.]
[If Karl attempts to regress later, he will return to the present time.]
'...What, what is it?'
The crimson sphere that had disappeared into the air instantly enveloped the two. Karl roughly pulled Odette towards him and kissed the nape of her neck.
Tiring... tiring... the status window that kept ringing continuously informed her that this situation was dangerous.
[ The 'Master of the Status Window' is under the effects of Karl's 'Time Reversion'. ]
[ Number of times it has regressed to the current point in time: 8 times (currently 9th time) ]
[ Stop the regression! The round has already been repeated too much. There is a high chance of falling into the 'infinite loop'! ]
Karl's red eyes were glaring at Odette with anger. He seemed determined to somehow carve himself into Odette.
'Fuck.'
It was creepy. Especially because she had no idea what was going on while the episodes she couldn't remember were repeating. Even more so because she couldn't remember what was going to happen next.
The endless loop. That word evoked fear. The fear of being trapped here forever, watching the numbers go up and down.
She felt Karl's large hands grab her slender waist. The moment Odette gasped for breath at his persistent touch, a bang! A door was heard opening as if it was going to burst open outside the sphere.
"This crazy guy."
His body and Odette's body were roughly separated. In an instant, Victor and John entered the brightened field of vision.
***
Victor debated several times whether he should enter Odette's mansion without permission.
Because he swore to Odette that he wouldn't act like he did anything to her.
However, it was very uncomfortable to feel the continuous use of supernatural powers in the Count's residence, where Odette was. The only one who could sense this was Victor, who had a particularly developed intuition, even among all the S-class Transcendents.
So in the end, they even called in John and invaded.
'What is this little stone doing now?'
If he had known this would happen, he would have come in earlier. He was going crazy because he wasted all his time worrying.
It took quite some time to break the crimson sphere in the dungeon. The time inside the sphere was still before sunrise, although the sun had already risen high in the sky outside.
Victor frowned at the traces of the power used on Odette's body.
A damp place called the dungeon.
The way the kid had been flirting with her while he was locked up there until just before he and John arrived.
He doesn't know what that future that's already gone looks like, but he can't help but think that the reason that kid used his powers against Odette would be absolutely disgusting.
"You disgusting little bastard."
He felt like his head was spinning with anger.
Odette is a woman he cannot dare touch with even a single finger.
John must have thought the same thing, because he heard a strange, unresponsive voice and the sound of gnashing teeth.
"You used your powers on civilians, and then forcibly took the purification from the purifier? You deserve immediate execution."
Imperial law is somewhat lenient on S-class Transcendents, so there are never such extreme laws. However, Victor, like a lawbreaker, boldly changed the law.
John also seemed to agree with what he said, as he did not refute it.
The moment Victor was about to take out his sword from his back, John drew his sword first and spoke.
"Colonel, secure Odette first. I'll deal with that bastard separately."
Victor nodded. It seemed like he wanted to deal with Odette separately from a distance, as she might get hurt if he used his power here.
"Summary execution."
John said this while asking for forgiveness.
He was the Crown Prince, and he had the power to execute anyone at any time and under any circumstances within the empire.
'For the first time, that gentleman looks like a King.'
The moment Victor was satisfied, John grabbed Karl by the collar, stomped on the air, and flew far away in an instant.
Then a huge roar was heard from afar. Victor turned his gaze to Odette.
"Odette, are you okay?"
Odette's expression was a little blank. She squinted her eyes as if they were dazzled, suggesting that the light outside the torn sphere was unfamiliar to her.
"Take my hand and stand up. Can you stand up?"
Odette took Victor's hand. Fortunately, she didn't seem as mentally damaged as he had feared.
'Should we consider it a good thing that the future has disappeared?'
At the same time that he was glad that Odette didn't seem to be seriously injured, he wanted to kill Karl for making him feel so lucky..
"Shall I take you to the doctor?"
Victor was worried. Odette, who had gotten up, remained silent the whole time. She seemed lost in thought.
"Colonel Koenig. Excuse me, I need to check something for a moment. Would it be okay if I purify you?"
"What?"
"I'm sorry. I need to check something quickly."
At the same time, Odette cupped Victor's cheek. A wave of purification surged through her palm.
The shower of light quickly cooled the pain and fever in his body. It was a great purification that was incomparable to the kiss he had once received in the palace.
It feels beyond ecstasy to the point of being sacred.
Victor's head slowly turned to the feeling of salvation that seemed like experiencing heaven.
What is this? What's going on? Right after he got out of the sea, he stopped by a tailor shop and picked out some pretty clothes.
'I had planned a strategy to seduce her somehow, but I secretly thought it wouldn't work...'
So, was decorating it nicely the right answer?
Victor's head was spinning with the sudden ecstasy that was given to him like a gift.
"There has to be a monster."
Odette said something incomprehensible. Victor looked at Odette reflexively at her words and couldn't help but wake up from his trance.
"..."
At that moment, it was because he had captured something. The emotions are contained in her blue eyes.
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