Cursed Villainess' Obsession-Chapter 28

It was a random event that would happen to Emily in the game.

One of the Academy Invasion events by the Demon Lord’s army.

The ten-day time loop event.

“...What... did you just say?”

When I asked her how many times she had died, Emily stopped crying and looked at me blankly.

How many deaths.

In a time loop event, this was the most crucial detail.

It indicated how many lives remained.

It might be a misunderstanding, but her words seemed to match up with what I remembered.

Even if it sounded strange, I had to ask.

This was reality.

In this world, there was no restarting after the tenth death like a save-load in a game.

“When you die, do you start again from the morning? How many times has that happened?”

“K-Ken... how do you...”

It seemed my guess was correct.

Emily looked at me, her face filled with disbelief.

Understanding the meaning of my words, tears welled up in Emily’s eyes again as she approached me.

She placed her trembling hand on my shoulder, then collapsed as if her strength had left her.

I supported her as we lowered ourselves to the ground together.

With a tear-stained face, Emily managed to speak through her sobs.

“K-Ken... I... I’m... Hic, I’m right now...”

“I know. It’s okay, Emily. I can help you.”

“Hic... Ken...”

And with that, as if she couldn’t hold back her emotions any longer, Emily buried her face in my chest and cried.

Having witnessed this time loop event in the game, I understood the torment she must have gone through.

This ten-day loop was the most psychologically devastating event Emily experienced in the game, filled with horror.

I held her until she calmed down, lending her my support.

“...The sixth time, huh.”

After calming down, Emily told me how many times she had died.

Six times—there was still some time left.

“Emily, listen to me carefully. You need to pay close attention.”

“O-okay.”

Her sobbing had stopped, but her eyes were still red as she nodded weakly.

“First, you have to die this time.”

“...Wh-what?”

She looked shocked, understandably so.

But the reality was harsh. She couldn’t be saved in this loop.

If she wanted to survive, she had to accept this.

Tears welled up in her eyes again as her shoulders trembled.

“And when you wake up in the morning after you die, go straight to the academy.”

“Hic... Okay.”

Despite the harshness of what I was saying, Emily did her best to calm down and listen to me.

I placed my hand on her trembling shoulder.

This next part was the most important.

“On your way to the academy, you’ll see a student who drops something fragile every morning.”

“O-okay.”

“You need to catch that object before it breaks.”

The only way to clear this time loop event was through one specific action.

You had to observe the repeating events and use them to recruit a specific NPC to your side.

That student who dropped something fragile every morning was the key NPC.

Without him, it was impossible to complete the event.

I explained to Emily why this student was important and what she needed to do after catching the item.

“But Ken... When the next morning comes, you won’t remember any of this...”

“Don’t worry. Just bring that student to me. I’ll know what to do, even if I don’t remember.”

In the game, this NPC only appeared in this event.

If Emily suddenly brought him to me, I’d understand what was happening.

Reassured by my confident response, Emily nodded.

And then, once again, tears streamed down her face as she spoke.

“Thank you... Hic, thank you, Ken... Thank you for helping me...”

“Of course. I’ll always help you. No matter what happens, I’ll take care of it. So don’t worry.”

I gently patted Emily’s head as she continued to cry.

Emily looked up at me blankly, as if my gesture had caught her off guard.

Ah, I guess I’d developed a habit of doing this from taking care of Laphne.

...Was it strange?

Well, since she said she liked me... I guess it wasn’t unpleasant for her.

“Ken...”

“Yeah?”

Emily placed her hand on top of mine as I patted her head, then spoke with a voice that seemed on the verge of tears again.

“I’m... I’m scared to die.”

“......”

“I’m scared of the pain.”

Her hand, holding mine, was trembling.

“...It’s okay, Emily.”

I knew what she had gone through.

No matter how necessary it was to resolve the situation, going through that pain again was cruel.

I couldn’t even imagine how terrifying it must be for her.

So, while I couldn’t stop her from dying this time...

The best thing I could do for her was—

“I’ll die with you.”

I couldn’t save her from dying.

That crazy woman with the scissors would come for her, no matter what, and deliver a painful death.

But at least I could make sure she wasn’t alone.

I couldn’t share her pain.

But I could stay by her side.

I didn’t know how much comfort that would bring, but it was the best I could do.

Meeting my determined gaze, Emily lowered her head and seemed lost in thought for a moment.

Then, she gently removed her hands from mine and placed them on my shoulders.

She lifted her head and met my eyes again.

But now, instead of fear, there was something else in her gaze—something like embarrassment and desire.

“Ken... I have a request.”

“Sure, anything. Just tell me.”

“......”

She hesitated, glancing at me before finally speaking, as if she had made up her mind.

“When I die... You won’t remember anything, right?”

“That’s right.”

“Then...”

Emily looked at me with a gaze I’d never seen from her before.

Her face flushed red as she gazed at me, seemingly entranced.

“...Kiss me.”

“......Huh?”

I was taken aback by her sudden request.

But her eyes were sincere.

“I’m terrified of the pain and death... But if you kiss me... I think I’ll be able to endure it.”

Hearing the word “kiss,” my eyes naturally drifted to her lips.

Emily’s red, glistening lips.

The sight of them made my heart pound fiercely, and I could feel my face heating up.

“Is that... too much to ask?”

When I didn’t answer right away, Emily looked at me with sad eyes and asked again.

After a brief hesitation, I made up my mind and looked at her.

“All right. If it’ll help you feel more at ease.”

If a kiss from someone like me could lessen the pain of death for her, I’d gladly do it.

At my response, we both stood up from where we had been sitting.

Standing face to face, I slowly approached Emily, who backed up slightly until she leaned against the tree.

I gently placed my hand on her cheek.

I could feel the warmth of her skin.

Emily’s eyes were moist, her face flushed, and she gazed at me as if in a daze.

“...Is this okay?”

“......”

Emily nodded in response to my question.

And so, I leaned in closer and kissed her.

“......”

“......”

Our lips softly pressed together.

Through the hand I placed on her shoulder, I could feel Emily trembling.

Slowly, I pulled back.

Feeling embarrassed, I couldn’t meet her eyes.

Emily remained silent.

Cautiously, I looked up at her.

She was gazing at me with a dazed expression, but then she smiled slightly and spoke.

“Idiot, that was just a peck.”

“...Huh?”

Her words left me flustered.

And as I fumbled for a response, Emily blushed, lowered her gaze, and spoke again.

“C-can I ask one more thing?”

“Wh-what is it?”

Emily lifted her eyes again, looking nervous as she asked.

“C-could you... tell me you like me?”

She seemed even more embarrassed than when she had asked for a kiss.

“I’m sorry... I know it’s selfish, but since it’ll all be forgotten anyway... Could you...?”

“I like you, Emily.”

“......”

At my sincere words, Emily blushed even more and lowered her head.

Then, she looked up again, gazing at me with tearful eyes.

“One more time.”

“I like you.”

“...Say it a little more.”

“I like you, Emily.”

“...I like you too, Ken.”

With tears in her eyes, Emily spoke softly.

She smiled, a mix of sadness and joy, as she closed her eyes.

Waiting for my kiss.

I, too, closed my eyes and kissed her again.

“...Mmm.”

Emily placed her hands on my face, and our lips parted slightly as our tongues began to intertwine.

I could feel her warmth, and my heart started to race as my body grew hot.

Our lips became wet with each other’s saliva as we explored each other’s mouths.

The sweet scent of Emily filled my senses.

Soon, Emily’s hands moved from my face to my neck, and she pressed her body against mine.

Her soft body was pressed against me, her warmth spreading through me.

I wrapped my arms around her waist and pulled her closer.

Time seemed to pass as we shared that moment.

But soon, Emily’s shoulder twitched.

Her body began to tremble.

The trembling wasn’t from excitement—it was something else.

Through the full-body contact, I could feel Emily’s fear.

I had a feeling.

Death was approaching.

I pulled away from her lips and looked into her fearful eyes.

I wanted to reassure her.

I didn’t want her to suffer.

I met her gaze, putting all my sincerity into my words.

“I love you, Emily. I’ll stay with you, no matter what.”

Did my words reach her?

The fear in her eyes softened, replaced by warmth and something close to excitement.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she nodded with a small smile.

“...I love you too.”

We kissed again.

It was a sweet, tender moment shared between lovers.

But that sweet kiss ended with the bitter taste of blood.

...

Emily opened her eyes, staring at the familiar ceiling as she sat up.

Morning.

For her, it had recently been nothing but the beginning of torment.

But today was different.

With a dazed expression, Emily touched her lips.

Her first kiss with the person she loved.

Remembering that sweet, intimate moment, the pain of death no longer seemed so frightening.

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‘Right, there’s something I need to do...’

Snapping out of her thoughts, Emily quickly got ready.

Running down the path she usually took to the academy, she scanned her surroundings.

Everything looked all too familiar now.

In the same scenery she had seen every day for the past few loops, she found the person she was looking for.

A short student struggling to carry a glass decoration.

“Whoa...!”

As usual, the student tripped on a rock, losing their balance.

But this time, Emily was already ahead of them and caught the fragile glass before it shattered.

“W-whoa!! Th-thank you! I almost broke a really important project!”

The student, who had fallen to the ground after tripping, looked up at Emily and thanked her profusely.

Emily sighed in relief, smiling down at the student.

“Really? Well then, I guess you owe me a favor.”

“...Huh?”

“I’m going to need your help.”

And with that, Emily began her plan to escape the loop.