"Haah…"
The sensation that forcefully awakens upon experiencing a return from death.
No matter how many times I experienced it, I never got used to this feeling.
"To what point in time did I return?"
As I thought, I checked my surroundings.
Behind me, there were numerous corpses of the Armored Bear Bugbears.
"Haah… haah… haah… haah…"
My breath was labored.
This revealed that the battle had just concluded.
"…This can't be true."
I didn't want to believe it.
Could it be that everything from the past few months spent with the vampire Judite had just vanished?
Was that really the case? I tried to verify by opening the status screen.
▽▽▽▽▽▽▽▽▽▽▽▽▽▽▽
Kiska
Skill 1: Save & Reset
Skill 2: Provocation Lv.1
Skill 3: None
Skill 4: None
Skill 5: None
△△△△△△△△△△△△△△△
Until just now, all five skills were filled, but now they are gone.
"I don't want this… I don't want this…"
For the past few months, all the effort I had put in seemed to be for nothing. I didn't want to believe that.
"A-ah…"
For a few minutes, I stood there in shock, tears streaming down my face.
I wanted to question what all the time I had spent until now had been for. The time I had spent with Judite passed before my eyes like a flickering image, and it had all returned to nothing.
"…That's right, I should go see her."
Muttering to myself, I started walking unsteadily.
I was going to see the vampire Judite.
Perhaps she might remember me.
◆
Vampire Judtie had set up a table and chairs in the middle of the dungeon corridor, holding a teacup.
It's okay to lose skills. Even if I lose the skill points I had accumulated by defeating monsters, I can still endure.
At least, if she remembered me.
"Oh, how unusual. Intruders entering this place," she said when she saw me, and at that moment, I realized.
She had forgotten all the months we had spent together.
"Judite-sama, it's Kiska. Do you remember me…?"
But with a faint glimmer of hope, I spoke those words.
Maybe, if I told her my name, she would remember something, even a little.
"Well, I'm sorry, but I don't have the slightest recollection of acquaintances like you," she said, and that was all she said.
"A… Ah…"
The moment I realized all hope was lost, tears welled up in my eyes naturally.
I had to start all over again, from the beginning.
"Ugh… Aah…"
It's no use. My spirit is on the verge of breaking.
I feel so drained that I want to throw everything away.
"Are you… alright?"
I looked up, and Judite-sama was standing there.
Her eyes were somewhat puzzled, and yet, she couldn't just leave me be, so reluctantly, she spoke.
"Um, the great vampire Judite-sama, I have a request."
That's right, I've done this countless times before. No matter how many times my spirit has been broken, I've still stood up.
I'm not allowed to stop until I've completed my revenge.
So, I'll start over from scratch once again.
"Please take me as your disciple."
Saying that, I lowered my head.
I wonder how she'll react? Maybe the vampire Judite will even kill me.
Nevertheless, no matter how many times, I will come here.
"..."
Silence continued for a few seconds.
No response?
Thinking it was strange, I lifted my head.
"Huh?"
Blood was gushing.
Someone had severed the head of Vampire Judite from behind with a blade.
As Judite's body fell to the side, a figure appeared from behind.
It was Agetha.
"If you get close to other women, I won't forgive you," she muttered, then swung the blade at me.
I died.
◆
"Damn it."
I cursed as I experienced death again.
What could I have done differently…?
"What's this about not forgiving me if I get close to other women?" I don't understand the meaning.
"Fine, I get it. I'll make it through this dungeon on my own."
Don't lose your purpose, Kiska.
My goal is to conquer this dungeon and exact revenge on the villagers. Vampire Judite is just one means to that end. With my current capabilities, I should be able to make it through this dungeon on my own, without relying on the power of Vampire Judite.
So, for now, I'll focus on moving forward.