“Why is that an important matter to you, Your Highness?”
“...”
Nike didn't seem to have any intention of answering this question.
Ryan looked back at Vania.
“Hey, you’re out...”
"Yes."
No!
“I am a person with special abilities.”
Ugh!
Ryan's mind went blank.
Even if they were lovers, Nike has lost his memories. Therefore, she shouldn't trust him like she did before her regression.
Vania obviously knows that, yet she does such crazy things.
Love...
Love is so destructive...
After a sigh, Ryan looked back at Nike.
He was staring at Vania with shaking eyes.
Trembling lips.
A shocked expression.
“... Yes. Thanks for being honest.”
After a long time, Nike finally opened his mouth to say that and left the room.
Ryan frowned, staring at the closed door.
'What? Any more questions?'
From then on, he expected a barrage of persistent questions. If you had any special abilities, what kind of abilities did you have? Why didn't you return to Wassenberg?
But what Nike was wondering was just...
'You were just curious about whether or not someone had special abilities? Why on earth would that matter to you?'
Suspicious attitude. Let's think about it later.
First, let's start with Vania.
“Are you crazy?!”
“I love you.”
It must have originated from a feeling called affection.
That was the skill gained by piecing together the fragments of torn memories.
The fact that he had foolishly fallen in love with the Wassenberg power user he so detested.
Perhaps, before regression, the self may have 'intentionally' turned back a lot of time.
Rather, to the extent that he can erase his memories.
So, he thinks it would be right not to dig into it...
At the same time, he couldn't stand to find out.
Who was it that made such a fool of himself?
Who was the woman he loved enough to give up everything for?
“Please remember me. Please don’t forget me.”
The girl who said that with such an earnest expression on her face when they first met.
Fragments of memories that have been surfacing since he met Vania.
She seems to know something about him that he doesn't.
However, Vania could not have been a being who remembered the 'lost time'.
Because she was incompetent.
But...
“I am not incompetent.”
When Ryan told him his secret, the flame in his abandoned home was rekindled.
Ryan pretends to be incompetent so as not to return to his family.
Perhaps...
Maybe Vania is in the same situation.
“I am a person with special abilities.”
And finally, the answer was given, and now Nike was almost certain.
Vania.
She is the only one who remembers the time that has passed...
“Your Highness, please speak with me.”
It was late in the evening when Ryan came.
His visit was somewhat expected, so Nike nodded and followed him.
“If you don’t mind, would you like to play a game with me?”
A bright moonlit night.
After walking silently for about ten minutes, Ryan suddenly made a suggestion.
"We take turns asking each other a question. Answers can only be yes or no, and whoever hears 'no' first loses. Sounds fun, right?"
“Couldn’t you answer falsely?”
Nike thought Ryan was trying to confuse him.
Nike's breathing became ragged.
Ryan immediately asked the next question.
“Do you think that the Prince himself has regressed?”
"Yes."
“Well, I see. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be able to be so quick-witted...”
“Did Vania come out of the family on purpose?”
"Yes."
Hiding the fact that she is incompetent, on purpose.
The more questions Nike asked, the closer he got to the truth. His heart began to pound.
"Is it my turn now? I guess the reason you're guessing it's regression is because memories are coming back, but since they're incomplete, why do you keep checking?"
"...Yes."
“Wow, I expected it, but it’s still amazing.”
Ryan nodded, stroking his chin.
Everything was being revealed to Ryan, one by one. But Nike wasn't worried.
Because...
"Yep."
Nike also has a vague idea of what kind of person Ryan is.
“The reason you don’t return to your family and hide the fact that you are a person with supernatural powers.”
Ryan would have been the same even before his regression.
The holder of the terrifying ability <Instant Death>, which can subdue all users with superpowers.
Still, he wouldn't have returned to his family pretending to be incompetent.
If there was a reason Ryan 'had to' do it, then perhaps...
“Is it because you are aiming for the extermination of Wassenberg?”
“...”
Ryan stood still.
And he stared intently at Nike. They didn't avoid eye contact.
Ryan soon chuckled.
"Yes!"
“...”
Nike didn't seem to have any intention of answering this question.
Ryan looked back at Vania.
“Hey, you’re out...”
"Yes."
No!
“I am a person with special abilities.”
Ugh!
Ryan's mind went blank.
Even if they were lovers, Nike has lost his memories. Therefore, she shouldn't trust him like she did before her regression.
Vania obviously knows that, yet she does such crazy things.
Love...
Love is so destructive...
After a sigh, Ryan looked back at Nike.
He was staring at Vania with shaking eyes.
Trembling lips.
A shocked expression.
“... Yes. Thanks for being honest.”
After a long time, Nike finally opened his mouth to say that and left the room.
Ryan frowned, staring at the closed door.
'What? Any more questions?'
From then on, he expected a barrage of persistent questions. If you had any special abilities, what kind of abilities did you have? Why didn't you return to Wassenberg?
But what Nike was wondering was just...
'You were just curious about whether or not someone had special abilities? Why on earth would that matter to you?'
Suspicious attitude. Let's think about it later.
First, let's start with Vania.
“Are you crazy?!”
“Did you ram into it?”
“What did I ram? You're the one who rammed into it!”
"No, not me. Before I caught Marina, I was wondering if my father had ever met His Highness the Prince."
“...”
“I’m not incompetent. I know you have the blessing of regression. If something happens, you’ll have to turn back time, so just cooperate obediently. Is that what you said?”
Ugh.
How can she ask questions like this without making a single mistake in her imagination?
Ryan was speechless for a moment.
“...I didn’t say it so rudely, I just asked nicely.”
"I knew it. Dad, you chased me yesterday without thinking. You had some kind of trust in me."
Ryan was going to scold Vania, but he got caught doing it, so he had nothing to say.
He thinks she'll be angry...
"Thank you."
“...?”
"I couldn't tell you yesterday because I was so flustered trying to manage the situation. Thank you for coming out of concern for me. I also know you were worried I'd be traumatized if I killed someone."
“...? It’s no different from you threatening the Third Prince. Aren’t you angry?”
"How could Dad have the time to worry about that person? It was probably the best you could do, out of concern. The one at fault was me, who created a dangerous situation by being greedy for Marina's blessings."
Vania came over and hugged Ryan's waist tightly as she spoke.
“Thank you, really.”
“Huh? Huh...”
What is this? This strange feeling of having defeated the Third Prince...?!
“And thanks to my father's prior consultation with His Highness the Third Prince, everything turned out well, right? The royal family will also take care of the aftermath.”
"It almost worked out. If only your secret hadn't been revealed at the end."
“...”
Vania pulled away and looked up at Ryan, who was smiling menacingly.
"He asked me to be honest. He said it was important to him."
“You... come to your senses. Are you going to become this weak-hearted every time you see the Third Prince’s face?”
"I wasn't weak-hearted. I told the truth because it was right to do so. He knew Dad wasn't incompetent. What difference would it make if he knew another secret of mine?"
“Uh. You and I are different.”
Ryan grabbed Vania's shoulder and said.
"You really have to be careful. We always have to consider the one-in-a-million-case scenario. You're like our last line of defense."
“...”
“...You don’t want to lose track of time, do you?”
“Before telling the truth?”
"Yes."
“Let’s just leave him alone. He’s someone we need to get on our side anyway.”
“Oh, I knew it. I think the Third Prince noticed and asked anyway...”
Where did the tail get stepped on?
Ryan frowned, unable to understand Nike's thoughts.
“...First, I’m going to find out where the Third Prince got wind of it, and why the fact that you have superpowers is so important to him. I’ll definitely silence him and even recruit him.”
Lost memories.
And the presence of someone buried within it.
“Take my hand.”
“You can check it.”
Nike believed in that 'existence' enough to reveal a secret that was life-or-death.
And maybe that belief...
“...”
“I’m not incompetent. I know you have the blessing of regression. If something happens, you’ll have to turn back time, so just cooperate obediently. Is that what you said?”
Ugh.
How can she ask questions like this without making a single mistake in her imagination?
Ryan was speechless for a moment.
“...I didn’t say it so rudely, I just asked nicely.”
"I knew it. Dad, you chased me yesterday without thinking. You had some kind of trust in me."
Ryan was going to scold Vania, but he got caught doing it, so he had nothing to say.
He thinks she'll be angry...
"Thank you."
“...?”
"I couldn't tell you yesterday because I was so flustered trying to manage the situation. Thank you for coming out of concern for me. I also know you were worried I'd be traumatized if I killed someone."
“...? It’s no different from you threatening the Third Prince. Aren’t you angry?”
"How could Dad have the time to worry about that person? It was probably the best you could do, out of concern. The one at fault was me, who created a dangerous situation by being greedy for Marina's blessings."
Vania came over and hugged Ryan's waist tightly as she spoke.
“Thank you, really.”
“Huh? Huh...”
What is this? This strange feeling of having defeated the Third Prince...?!
“And thanks to my father's prior consultation with His Highness the Third Prince, everything turned out well, right? The royal family will also take care of the aftermath.”
"It almost worked out. If only your secret hadn't been revealed at the end."
“...”
Vania pulled away and looked up at Ryan, who was smiling menacingly.
"He asked me to be honest. He said it was important to him."
“You... come to your senses. Are you going to become this weak-hearted every time you see the Third Prince’s face?”
"I wasn't weak-hearted. I told the truth because it was right to do so. He knew Dad wasn't incompetent. What difference would it make if he knew another secret of mine?"
“Uh. You and I are different.”
Ryan grabbed Vania's shoulder and said.
"You really have to be careful. We always have to consider the one-in-a-million-case scenario. You're like our last line of defense."
“...”
“...You don’t want to lose track of time, do you?”
“Before telling the truth?”
"Yes."
“Let’s just leave him alone. He’s someone we need to get on our side anyway.”
“Oh, I knew it. I think the Third Prince noticed and asked anyway...”
Where did the tail get stepped on?
Ryan frowned, unable to understand Nike's thoughts.
“...First, I’m going to find out where the Third Prince got wind of it, and why the fact that you have superpowers is so important to him. I’ll definitely silence him and even recruit him.”
***
Lost memories.
And the presence of someone buried within it.
“Take my hand.”
“You can check it.”
Nike believed in that 'existence' enough to reveal a secret that was life-or-death.
And maybe that belief...
“I love you.”
It must have originated from a feeling called affection.
That was the skill gained by piecing together the fragments of torn memories.
The fact that he had foolishly fallen in love with the Wassenberg power user he so detested.
Perhaps, before regression, the self may have 'intentionally' turned back a lot of time.
Rather, to the extent that he can erase his memories.
So, he thinks it would be right not to dig into it...
At the same time, he couldn't stand to find out.
Who was it that made such a fool of himself?
Who was the woman he loved enough to give up everything for?
“Please remember me. Please don’t forget me.”
The girl who said that with such an earnest expression on her face when they first met.
Fragments of memories that have been surfacing since he met Vania.
She seems to know something about him that he doesn't.
However, Vania could not have been a being who remembered the 'lost time'.
Because she was incompetent.
But...
“I am not incompetent.”
When Ryan told him his secret, the flame in his abandoned home was rekindled.
Ryan pretends to be incompetent so as not to return to his family.
Perhaps...
Maybe Vania is in the same situation.
“I am a person with special abilities.”
And finally, the answer was given, and now Nike was almost certain.
Vania.
She is the only one who remembers the time that has passed...
“Your Highness, please speak with me.”
It was late in the evening when Ryan came.
His visit was somewhat expected, so Nike nodded and followed him.
“If you don’t mind, would you like to play a game with me?”
A bright moonlit night.
After walking silently for about ten minutes, Ryan suddenly made a suggestion.
"We take turns asking each other a question. Answers can only be yes or no, and whoever hears 'no' first loses. Sounds fun, right?"
“Couldn’t you answer falsely?”
Nike thought Ryan was trying to confuse him.
He guesses Ryan has a lot of secrets, and he knows too much.
"Well, don't we both have our own weaknesses? First, I'll answer honestly. Wouldn't it be great if this game helped us trust each other more?"
“...”
Nike thought for a moment and then nodded.
“Should I start first?”
"...Yes."
“<Poem of Retrograde>, what limitations prevent normal regression?”
“...!”
Nike was surprised.
This is absolutely not information Ryan would know.
Even if they regress together and realize that Nike is the holder of the <Poem of Retrograde>, Ryan will never know that his ability is incomplete.
Unless Ryan heard it from 'someone'.
“How did you know?”
“Did I guess correctly? Then it’s your turn, Prince. Please ask your question.”
“Yeah. How did you know?”
“Please ask me a question that can be answered with a yes or no.”
“...”
Nike clenched his trembling fists, thought for a moment, and then asked.
“The question I just asked... Did you hear that from Vania?”
“...”
Ryan looked back. After a moment of silence, he smiled.
"... Yes."
"Well, don't we both have our own weaknesses? First, I'll answer honestly. Wouldn't it be great if this game helped us trust each other more?"
“...”
Nike thought for a moment and then nodded.
“Should I start first?”
"...Yes."
“<Poem of Retrograde>, what limitations prevent normal regression?”
“...!”
Nike was surprised.
This is absolutely not information Ryan would know.
Even if they regress together and realize that Nike is the holder of the <Poem of Retrograde>, Ryan will never know that his ability is incomplete.
Unless Ryan heard it from 'someone'.
“How did you know?”
“Did I guess correctly? Then it’s your turn, Prince. Please ask your question.”
“Yeah. How did you know?”
“Please ask me a question that can be answered with a yes or no.”
“...”
Nike clenched his trembling fists, thought for a moment, and then asked.
“The question I just asked... Did you hear that from Vania?”
“...”
Ryan looked back. After a moment of silence, he smiled.
"... Yes."
Nike's breathing became ragged.
Ryan immediately asked the next question.
“Do you think that the Prince himself has regressed?”
"Yes."
“Well, I see. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be able to be so quick-witted...”
“Did Vania come out of the family on purpose?”
"Yes."
Hiding the fact that she is incompetent, on purpose.
The more questions Nike asked, the closer he got to the truth. His heart began to pound.
"Is it my turn now? I guess the reason you're guessing it's regression is because memories are coming back, but since they're incomplete, why do you keep checking?"
"...Yes."
“Wow, I expected it, but it’s still amazing.”
Ryan nodded, stroking his chin.
Everything was being revealed to Ryan, one by one. But Nike wasn't worried.
Because...
“Is that my turn?"
Nike also has a vague idea of what kind of person Ryan is.
“The reason you don’t return to your family and hide the fact that you are a person with supernatural powers.”
Ryan would have been the same even before his regression.
The holder of the terrifying ability <Instant Death>, which can subdue all users with superpowers.
Still, he wouldn't have returned to his family pretending to be incompetent.
If there was a reason Ryan 'had to' do it, then perhaps...
“Is it because you are aiming for the extermination of Wassenberg?”
“...”
Ryan stood still.
And he stared intently at Nike. They didn't avoid eye contact.
Ryan soon chuckled.
"Yes!"
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