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Chapter 49 Part 3 – A memory from the previous「108 times」. The conclusion. They are dying, but their feelings transcend time. And the loop begins again.

She asked happily, her red eyes twisting into a smile of delight.
Her voice and her breath became stimulated. She squirmed with pleasure.
She took Bradd’s silence as an affirmation.

「Ahaha!! Ahahaha!! No wonder you were so desperate to ask Seraphy and Arnold to take Scarlet away.」

The arrogant and haughty atmosphere changed completely. She kicked her legs with a naivete reminiscent of a young girl. She didn’t care that the contents of her skirt were visible. Alisa doing so brings a childlike innocence strongly to the fore, rather than her usual ruthlessness and sensuality. She was like a happy and excited kitten.
When she saw Bradd was at a loss for words because she had hit the mark, she leaned forward.
Then she started talking about her reasoning as if it was her specialty.

「Bradd …… you used your own life to revive Scarlet …… although I had given some thought to that possibility. You fooled me beautifully with your false tears. The heart itself wasn’t broken because you killed her instantly by stopping her heart. What a great actor you are to use that sorrow as bait to deceive me …… You’ve become quite bad. I think we’re a good match after all.」

A teasing smile appeared on Alisa’s cheeks as she peeked around.

「…… Don’t badmouth me. I couldn’t afford to act. After I killed Scarlet …… when the memory of the『True History』came back …… I was blinded by despair. I rushed to apply heartbeat synchronization …… but to be honest, it was a gamble whether she would be revived or not. …… I didn’t feel like living. Don’t lump me together with someone like you who can lie as easily as breathing.」

Bradd spat out with a scowl.
His cheeks were covered in goosebumps as he recalled his fear that Scarlet would not be revived.
At the sight of his frightened expression, Alisa shook her blond hair and laughed.
Then, as if remembering her play, she once again put on a bewitching air.
However, her legs were still kicking around.

「…… Ahaha, that’s a cute pure love. It’s because you’re such a boy that you wasted so many chances of embracing Scarlet. Fufufu, that reminds me. …… Heartbeat Synchronization …… That was your hidden card of manipulating other people’s blood and even reenact the『Blood Atonement』. In exchange, however, you’d have to give up a lot of your own blood.」

As she sent a flirtatious glance, Alisa was terribly alluring.
She was like a courtesan who played with the hearts of men.
The atmosphere around her changes so rapidly that one cannot take their eyes off her. It was like an ever-changing kaleidoscope.
Bradd reluctantly had to admit that when she is in a good mood, she has a glamor that captivates people’s hearts. It was a far cry from her days acting as a flower-like girl that flirts with men.
Alisa continued to talk as if she were an actress performing a solo stage.
Just the sight of her talking was picturesque.

「…… In fact, in the『True History』, the blood loss from using Heartbeat Synchronization on Scarlet was fatal to you. …… And yet, this time you used it again to get Scarlet’s heart to start beating again. ……Ahh, the dead Scarlet is cute, but the cuteness of the living Scarlet still beats it by several notches.」

Alisa stopped moving her legs and turned her gaze back. Her cheeks flushed with enchantment.
She closed her knees in a well behaved manner.
She seemed ashamed of having carelessly exposed the insides of her skirt in front of Scarlet.

「A very deep sleep is a side effect of resuscitating the heart. Fufu, she’s like the Sleeping Beauty.」

Alisa looked at Queen Scarlet’s lips and licked her lips.
She looked just like a Cheshire cat.
It was clear now that the Queen was alive. When she listened carefully, she could hear the regular, faint sound of breathing. She could clearly see Scarlet’s chest moving up and down.

「…… But resurrection is a technique that defies the laws of nature, and the cost is …… Well, maybe around half of Bradd’s total blood volume. You barely kept yourself alive by manipulating your blood flow. I can’t believe you fought against me with that much of a handicap, fufu, you really underestimated me …… No wonder I thought your technique lacked sharpness for the Bradd that has the memory of the『True History』. I wish I could yell at myself for being disappointed at you after jumping to a wrong conclusion. As expected, you are worthy of being my love rival. …… And it seems that the clever Seraphy Orange have been listening to our conversation. As expected of him. I’m surprised he applied it so quickly. …… I’ll compliment him for that.」

Alisa was impressed and called out to Seraphy whose head was hanging down limply like a doll. Arnold, who had been hugging Seraphy and lamenting, exclaimed in surprise. Seraphy’s body seemed to glow faintly, then he shook and coughed up blood.

「Seraphy!?」

「…… I really …… thought it was all over for me …… but the moment I felt strongly that I had to protect the queen …… the『True History』…… I still can’t believe it …… I never expected that our mission was to protect the Queen ……」

Seraphy was struggling to breathe, but his words came out clearly. Arnold cried and clung to him.

「…… T-That’s dirty ……」

「You idiot!! After making me worry that much, now you’re saying something so harsh!!」

Seraphy was looking up in bewilderment while being rubbed by a crying, but also smiling, snot-covered Arnold.
Looking at Seraphy, Alisa giggled and said.

「…… You must be surprised right? But it’d be better for you if you don’t get your hopes up. The power of blessing is only titular. Its power is only to protect Scarlet. It is not for you. That power makes the abilities of the five heroes go beyond their limits in order to use them as a shield for Scarlet. …… It doesn’t care if you end up having a backlash and die later on. …… So much so that Scarlet in the『True History』cursed her own power and wished to seal it. So, your life won’t last much longer anyway. Of course, your eyes will not be healed. Ahaha, you poor thing.」

「…… No way ……!! Seraphy ……!!」

Arnold was stunned by the cruel sentence.
He turned his back on Alisa and held Seraphy tightly, trying not to let him hear her words.

「…… It’s painful, Arnold. We’re both old enough, so don’t do this.」

Seraphy smiled bitterly, squirmed uncomfortably, and slipped out of his arms.
He calmly accepted Alisa’s words.

「…… Alisa, I will no longer be played by someone like you that likes to destroy others’ hearts. I am not afraid of death. In the sea, death was always only a board away from me. I’ve prepared myself for death countless times. …… So I can only be thankful even when knowing that this life is only temporary. I’m definitely going to make the best of this second chance.」

Seraphy raised his face and grabbed Arnold’s arm firmly.
He could no longer see, so he failed to gauge the distance and ended up head-butting Arnold’s chin.

「…… Ouch!?」

There was a thump and Arnold’s head bent backwards, but Seraphy was too desperate and didn’t even notice that their heads had collided. Alisa laughed while clutching her stomach.

「Arnold!! Please!! Take the bow and fight Alisa with me!! Alisa found out that the Queen was still alive. There is no escape now. We have no choice but to fight our way out. …… The reason I kept the Queen’s survival a secret is because I thought you are too honest to keep a secret. …… Alisa is too strong and I hoped to get away without being noticed. But I never underestimated you. I really believe that your arrows can pierce even Alisa. …… I’m going to die soon. I hope you will listen to my last wish as a friend ……!!」

Seraphy must have been very concerned about the fact that he had kept it a secret from Arnold. He spoke strongly about his trust in Arnold. He was desperate. He spoke all at once, clinging to Arnold, blood bubbling from the edges of his mouth.

「Seraphy ……」

Arnold’s tear-stained expression changed to that of a warrior in response to the sorrowful plea.

「…… I don’t think I’m good enough to get through to that monster. But if you say so, it must be true. Have I ever doubted your words? For me, Seraphy Orange is the best and most reliable friend in the world ……」

Arnold wiped the blood from the corner of Seraphy’s mouth, stood up, and took a step forward.
There was no longer any hesitation in Arnold’s eyes as he readied his bow.