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Chapter 49 Part 1 – A memory from the previous「108 times」. The conclusion. They are dying, but their feelings transcend time. And the loop begins again.

「…… Seraphy!! …… This is all my fault!! Why am I so stupid …… I’m sorry ……!!」

Alisa threw contempt at the grieving Arnold that was burying his face in Seraphy’s chest.

「…… Oh my, you’re not going to come attack me? You finally realized your standing after being so impertinent, letting your emotions get the best of you, then driving your friend to his death. It’s easy even for a child to get all worked up and then just cry. Nothing in life is easier than being selfish, putting your own feelings before those of your friend. All your useless apologies are done only for your own self-satisfaction.」

In the crumbling chapel, Alisa looked down at Arnold, who was kneeling on the floor and wailing, and spoke quietly, as if she were a priest. There was not a trace of guilt in her tone. These were not words that the culprit who killed Seraphy should have spoken. Alisa cut off her words and watched Arnold with great interest, wondering how he would react to the admonition. Arnold was so deeply grieved that Alisa’s voice did not reach his ears. Alisa lost her interest.

「…… That’s a let down ……. I hate irresponsible, unreasonable men. At least the you in the『True History』would have attacked me first before grieving. …… Ah, that reminds me …… I have one apology to make to you guys …….」

Alisa sighed in disappointment and looked away as if she had lost interest.
Pieces of stained glass shone and fell like snowflakes.
It was a remnant of the deadly battle that had just taken place. The stained-glass angel near the ceiling had been blown off from the knees up. Fragments that stuck to the window frame were falling down.
Alisa gazed upward for a moment, as if loving the unexpectedly beautiful sight that destruction had brought, and then her beautiful golden curls sparkled in the flames, and her melancholic eyelashes were downcast.

When she did that, she looked like an ephemeral maiden.
Even the title of〈Maiden of Salvation〉seemed too much for her slender shoulders to bear.
She looked totally disproportionate to the Romalian hell fire that continued to burn near Alisa.
A garden of roses or a beautiful garden would be more appropriate than the crimson flames.

But beneath Alisa’s languid lashes burns a malice that surpasses the heat of the flames. Beneath the skin of her cute appearance, the true nature of a ferocious man-eating tiger lies in wait. In addition, the tiger is an extremely atrocious one that hunts not for survival, but to kill for fun. On top of that, the tiger is also terribly moody.

She was enraged by Arnold and wanted to kill him without hesitation, but was deeply disappointed and contemptuous when Arnold did not behave as she expected. Like a capricious thundercloud, her next move is unpredictable. Her own feelings are all that matters in the world and she has no mercy for those who stand in her way. She cannot help but burn them to ashes. She lacks the kind of compromise that normal human beings possess in order to survive in society. It was a mentality that was too different.

Abnormal madness and a mentality as solid as a diamond, that is the essence of the monster known as Alisa.
It was not a personality created because she is a beautiful woman or because she is talented in martial arts.
Alisa is thoroughly Alisa anyway.

Her soft lips took the shape of a cold, frozen winter crescent moon.
Alisa sighed deliberately and ran her hand over the black ribbon on her head that held her hair together.

「…… I have been holding back and not giving my all. My sense of beauty just didn’t allow me to use the power I gained from the loops. …… A game is not fun unless you start with equal cards. The real thrill of the game cannot be experienced if it’s simply crushed with overwhelming strength. No, I think it’s because I consider it a shame to just kill people like trash. That’s right, that must be the reason.」

Alisa suddenly began to speak while playing with the black ribbon with her fingertips.
It seemed like the gesture of an innocent child, but to Bradd, who knows her true nature, it looked like a man-eating tiger playing with a toy.
Perhaps it looked even more so because her words and actions are just like those of a whimsical cat family.
It is so outlandish that it is hard to understand.
Perhaps she would have continued talking even if there was no one else in the room.
For Alisa, whose world is all about herself, it is of little importance whether she gets a response or not.
She has no interest in listening to other people’s opinions.

「…… Because I love the way people struggle, and I love the way they never give up in spite of difficulties. That’s why the last moments of a person’s life, when they burn out, are beautiful. At that moment, everyone becomes a shining great actor. It’s enough to make my heart burn. …… I want to enjoy it more and more. That’s why I meddle in their life so that they can play their roles well. Sometimes I make them angry, sometimes I make them sad …… so that my heart becomes even more excited when I watch them ……」

Her eyes that had been looking downward suddenly looked up.
The glare of crazy beliefs and flames glistened in her eyes.
She spread her hands wide and laughed loudly amidst the flames.

「…… Ahahaha, having more power than anyone else does not mean that your heart will always feel excited. If you wield that power as you wish, you can make almost anything happen, no matter how stupid you are. But there is nothing more boring than a life where you can wish for anything. Therefore, this black ribbon that I will not untie is a reminder to myself not to easily drown in power. It is a beacon to keep me from losing the throbbings of my heart. But I can no longer be weak. I can no longer take pleasure in the challenges I face. …… That’s why I get excited when I see people who live out their limited lives to the fullest. I want to let them go through more trials …… and let them show how heartbreakingly beautiful life can be when they only have a weak power ……」

It sounded contemplative, but it was fundamentally crazy.
From the point that she thinks that she can fill her heart with excitement by trampling on others.

「…… Alisaaa!! Screw you!!」

Losing himself in anger, Bradd leaped out like a bolt of lightning. Alisa burned Bradd’s village, executed Arnold’s family, and killed Seraphy. All of that was not inevitable. There are countless lives that were scattered just for Alisa’s enjoyment. He could not forgive her for laughing as she talked about all those rhetorical flourishes.

Bradd suddenly vanished and appeared at Alisa’s side. In an instant, he closed the distance of more than 10 meters. He used the 「Setsuna」 stepping technique. With that acceleration, he took a big step forward and delivered a fist strike that hit Alisa on the chest.

「…… How many people’s happiness have you destroyed with such nonsense ……!! Don’t talk about people desperately living their lives as if it’s entertainment!! Their lives are not your toy!!」

Bradd gritted his teeth. Alisa is a true genius. If she wanted to, she could do almost anything. She could have minimized the sufferings. Yet she continued to use her ability to create hell. Scarlet has always tried her hardest to minimize the number of victims. She gritted her teeth and endured. She broke down crying from the guilt. And yet this woman ……!!

「Transmission」 ran through his fist. But Alisa did not even try to avoid it.
The bizarre feeling of striking an electrified lump of iron rebounded back to him, making Bradd’s fist grind and his body jerk back.

「…… Nonsense? You fool who doesn’t know the value of things. Nothing can compare to the brilliance of human life. And because we can risk our lives in the pursuit of pleasure, we have been able to develop civilization. …… I wonder if you think you can get away with it for free after interrupting me in the middle of my words. Fufu …… Ahaha, that tickles. …… Bradd, do you possibly think that your 「Transmission」 without 「Blood Atonement」 could possibly affect me? …… Are you trying to caress me?」