[Kyle Jane Meinhardt. Four days left from the estimated time of death.]
As soon as I checked Kyle's safety, as was my habit, an unusual phrase appeared in the system window. No, I'm sure there's only about a month left, right? Didn't it drop a number in front of it? Where did it all go?
As I sat on the test table, clenching my fists and remaining still, Knox, who had a monocle perched on the bridge of his nose, tilted his head. "My complexion is really bad. Can we really continue the experiment like this?"
I replied to him dryly, "Of course. What are you going to do today?"
"Kid, I'm going to try to interfere with your power."
"That's more than me... I think I need the consent of other beings."
His eyes curved narrowly beyond his glasses. "You have to persuade me. Isn't that right?"
I ignored him and asked the system, 'That's not important right now. Does Kyle have four days left to live...?' It was definitely bad news, but that wasn't all. The estimated time of death could be changed as before, and I'd actually done it many times.
'Are you saying you're safe today?'
In short, something might happen in four days, but until then, it was okay. I paused for a moment as I asked that question. Was it because of my mood? Suddenly, I felt my voice spreading somewhere. In fact, I hadn't said that aloud, but could it be?
[It's okay if you don't act suddenly.]
The system's answer wavered slightly. The letters shook in place and then settled.
... It's not because of my mood!
[ヽ（≧□≦）ノ]
I looked up. Before I knew it, Knox was looking down at me and smiling. It seemed gentlemanly, yet at the same time, there was a somewhat eerie impression.
When did he get so close? I shook my head and said earnestly, "You peeked at me again, didn't you? I'm sure I'm angry, and it's hard to persuade them."
"I'm sorry. I tried to reduce my presence as much as possible."
It didn't seem to be a lie. Definitely not like last time, where the letters were broken or strange symbols appeared. In any case, I didn't think Kyle was in danger right now. I gave the system Kyle's example: I asked it to let me know if his time of death fell below one day.
'I might forget about it while I'm doing something else. Please check periodically and let me know. It's important.'
I was emphasizing it over and over again, but Knox smiled as if he was having fun and slapped my shoulder. He held it.
"Wake up, Your Highness, you're thinking."
How did he know? I couldn't believe it. While eavesdropping on my conversation with the system... does he also listen to my own thoughts? I would have to be more careful in front of Knox in the future. I replied with a calm face as much as possible.
"Of course, he's my lover. Isn't there anyone important to you?"
"Well, there was. But no matter how precious they are, they are just fleeting." He replied in a voice full of boredom. "I have a realm that I want to reach. However, the human body is too fragile. That's why I'm going to overcome even that death."
I moved my body and hesitated to distance myself a little from Knox, who was sitting at my bedside. I hesitated and withdrew. He stared at me with blue eyes and continued. That must be his secret that he decided to tell today.
"Yes. I'm already dead. But this is how it moves. This tiresome existence—I'll do anything to keep it going. Whether I devour my family or drive a land to death. If only I could get what I wanted, that's what I wanted. It doesn't matter."
He must have been a wizard from centuries ago who was researching forbidden magic like 'Frost Poisoning.' However, like all human beings, he couldn't have prevented the death that was coming to him. But for some reason, Knox came back to life. The life prepared for his share was already over.
The answer was obvious. He must have lived by devouring other people's lives. As he said, even the lives of his tribe were used for his eternal life.
'Heart of Winter'.
It would be like his life being made for Knox. He does such cruel things just because he wants to live and study magic, to gain eternal life.
'Is it possible to be so obsessed with life?'
What is life all about? The more you know, the more disgusting you are.
I frowned. I didn't want to exchange another word with him, but a promise was a promise. I had to tell him my secret, which was similar to what he had revealed.
"I..."
What should I say? After thinking about it for a while, he spoke again.
"I was destined to die. That's why I came to this world. To change that fate."
Knox's eyes were intrigued. It was as if he got some kind of kinship from me; I felt something like a sense of satisfaction. I felt bad and quickly shouted.
"I'm not saying I'm going to live forever! Just! If you die like this, you'll be empty! If you say that you are dead, who is it? Would you like it? If you have the opportunity, of course, it's people's minds to try."
"Nothing? Isn't it shocking?"
"Yes, what..."
What is shocking? Since a person is born, everyone dies. This is not an exception to any nation. It is the common destiny of all.
In fact, it was a life that was rolling without much difference between life and death. No matter when I died, it would not be strange. If I died, there was no one who would cry sincerely. Even if you think about it, it's the kind of life that can be counted on ten fingers. So why did I want to go back?
I felt a little goosebumps because I couldn't understand it. I was about to say something more. However, when I suddenly noticed that I didn't feel any pain in my throat, I kept my mouth shut. Yes, this is enough. There is no need to voluntarily inform them more.
Knox seemed interested and went straight to the question. "So, did your body come from another world where you lived? Your looks are good. It's really exotic."
"Yes."
"It is easy for someone who has refused to die once to refuse two or three times. Rather, after knowing that it can be reversed, death feels unfair. How's that? Kid, do you really have no intention of living forever?"
I thought for a moment and then replied, "Yes, I don't want to live forever."
Living forever may seem fascinating when you hear it, but in reality, it is not. It is no different from the meaning of endlessly losing everything that is finite. Moreover, if you have to swallow other things in order to live forever, such a troublesome life is freely given. It is also a specification.
Of course, it was sincere, so I didn't feel any pain in my throat. I didn't care. When I tried to do it, Knox tilted his head in surprise.
"You're brave. Yes, it is a creature that is not afraid of death." He reached out and placed his hand on my chest. My heartbeat flowed into his cold hands, which was pounding a little faster. His heart was beating much slower than mine, like a person resting very leisurely.
'... Is your heart beating? Why?'
You're a dead person, aren't you? The heart of a person who does not need to eat or breathe—why are you running?
After thinking for a while, I decided to use the allowed questions for today. "I 'brought' a body that was about to die in that world, but why is he upset?"
"Do you hear the sound of your heart?" Knox lightly snatched my hand and placed it on his chest. A slow thumping... When I listened closely, it seemed like the clockwork was interlocking rather than the sound of a heart. It was closer to that sound.
"Heart of Winter..."
"Yes. It's imperfect, but it's in it. I don't hate smart guys, you know, this is a bonus."
I squinted at him. Don't you think I'll be grateful?
"Then that group is aiming for the North, to be precise, not just the land in the North... I guess they need the lives of the people of the North."
"Yes."
It was a heart that could only be maintained by eating the lives of others. Then something suddenly came to mind. I went through the papers with Kyle in the North. When, obviously... I heard that there was an incident where people disappeared. Disappearances throughout Meinhardt. Lorenz officially ascended the throne, and it happened three months ago.
'It is safe to say that it is a group disappearance. If the report comes in here, the scale is considerable. In some slums, only the traces of the village remained, and all the people disappeared, he said. All he had to do was get news about the urgent situation.'
People who disappeared leaving only traces.
'Blake Territory in the original must have been like that!'
Archduke Blake died, and I was trying to fill his void somehow. Even James Russell died. After that, there was no one to stop the wizards, and the city was empty, and the northern part had returned to the wasteland of decades ago. No matter how desolate and cold the land is, it is a land where people lived. The place I actually experienced was much more advanced than I thought. Such people left the place in an instant because the lord and the lord's deputy were dead. No way.
It's not that he has escaped, but that he has disappeared. It was used as a research material for 'Heart of Winter.' Why does his eternal life go so far? You don't have to save the world, but you don't have to ruin it like this.
I said as I glared at Knox with a hostile gaze. The last question came out of my mouth. It flowed coldly.
"Disappearances occurring throughout the Meinhardt Empire."
"..."
"Is that the one behind it?"