Cursed Villainess' Obsession-Chapter 29

Next to Ken, Alicia Mason—who was hiding with him—spoke with an air of excitement.

Ken had been surprised earlier when Emily showed up with this girl during his morning training with Siegfried.

“…Ken.”

Emily had approached the training grounds, looking anxious, with Alicia standing beside her.

It was a confusing situation, but it only led to one conclusion.

Emily was caught in a time loop.

It must’ve been my previous self in the last loop who told Emily to bring Alicia here.

Ken quickly pieced the situation together.

He had instructed Emily to wait at the academy until the woman appeared, while he took care of Laphne’s nursing and made his preparations.

He modified the bone sword he had crafted earlier, embedding a golden spirit stone into it and adding rune inscriptions.

These runes were part of a tracking spell Ken had learned while repairing Aspetra.

Now, as the sun began to set, Ken had rejoined Emily at the designated location, leading to the present moment.

…That’s where Emily has been dying.

Ken couldn’t see the woman from the time loop event, so he had marked the ground with an X at the exact spot.

Emily stood a short distance away, trembling with fear.

She’s probably recalling all the deaths she’s suffered in that exact place.

Just standing there must have brought back painful memories.

“So, Ken, what’s the relationship between you and Emily?” Alicia suddenly asked, perhaps bored from waiting.

“What do you mean, ‘relationship’? We’re just classmates, of course.”

Ken briefly recalled the harsh words he had said to Emily two days ago.

I should apologize to her later.

But Alicia mischievously covered her mouth and smiled slyly at Ken’s response.

“Hehe… Sorry, but I have a good eye for these things. I can spot a bittersweet relationship from a mile away.”

She clearly had no clue what she was talking about.

Ken chose to ignore her.

He briefly wondered what kind of expression she’d make if she knew about the time Emily had stepped on his head.

But this wasn’t the time for idle thoughts.

The sun would be setting soon.

“Get ready to move quickly when things start.”

“Got it!”

A few moments later, the sun began to sink, painting the sky in a warm orange hue.

The atmosphere shifted rapidly.

The once-bright and warm surroundings grew colder, bathed in the fading light of the setting sun.

Emily shuddered at the change, her shoulders trembling.

The long-haired woman appeared without warning.

“Kyaahahaha! Did you bring her...? You must have brought the child of prophecy…”

The woman moved slowly toward Emily under the orange-tinted sky.

Fighting back her fear, Emily managed to speak.

“Sh-she’ll be here soon! I brought her, so, please, just wait a little longer!”

Of course, it was a lie to buy time.

But it was also a signal to Ken, who was watching over her.

Ken recognized the meaning in Emily’s words.

The woman had arrived.

Knowing the situation had begun, Ken closed his eyes and concentrated his magical energy.

Calorie Burn.

Ken’s will spread through his body, and soon, a burning sensation ignited within him.

“...Kh!”

He let out a small groan, still unaccustomed to the searing pain.

[Skill Activated: Calorie Burn]

[Time Limit: 15 Minutes]

Ken’s clothes loosened, and his body suddenly felt much lighter. However, the strength surging through him was on a completely different level.

“…Wow, whoa. What’s happening?”

Alicia, who was watching Ken’s transformation, stared at him with wide eyes, completely astonished.

I guess anyone would be surprised.

Suddenly shedding weight like that would shock anyone.

“I was wondering how you managed to win over Emily... Now I understand,” Alicia said, clearly impressed.

“What nonsense are you spouting now?”

“Don’t look this way! I have no intention of falling for someone who’s already taken...!”

Ken shot her a disbelieving look.

Alicia had only appeared briefly in the game, so he hadn’t realized just how strange she was.

Ignoring her, Ken retrieved the bone sword he had prepared from his spatial pocket.

Embedded within it was the gleaming golden spirit stone.

Gripping the sword tightly, Ken fixed his gaze on Emily.

Emily stood trembling, her legs shaking as if she might bolt at any moment, but she stood firm.

Just a little longer... Just a little longer, and Ken will...!

She seemed on the verge of tears, but she bit her lip and held her ground, waiting for the woman to come closer.

“…Kihihihi! Bring her… Bring her... Bring the child of prophecy already...!”

The woman advanced slowly, relishing the sight of Emily quivering in fear.

When she had closed the distance enough, laughing with wicked glee, she stepped onto the marked spot.

“Ke-e-e-en! NOW!”

Emily squeezed her eyes shut and screamed.

At her signal, Ken leaped out from the bushes.

He threw the bone sword in his hand with all his strength.

Thwooosh—BOOM!!

With a deafening roar, the sword shot through the air like an arrow.

Guided by the rune magic, it struck the target dead-on.

BOOM!!

“Kyaaaahhh!!!”

The woman was flung back several meters, crashing into a tree, and screamed in agony as the overwhelming power of the lightning released from the sword coursed through her.

Her previously hidden form was now visible to both Ken and Alicia.

“Alicia! Now!”

“On it!”

At Ken’s command, Alicia darted from her hiding spot and ran toward the paralyzed woman.

Don’t die... Don’t die...

Ken silently prayed as he watched the woman writhing under the lightning.

In this ten-day time loop event, two conditions reset the day.

One was Emily’s death.

The other was the death of the scissor-wielding woman.

If either happened, the loop would reset, bringing them back to the morning.

That’s why brute force alone was useless in this event. Even the strongest ally couldn’t help if the woman was killed.

“…Now, strange lady. Look into my eyes.”

Alicia approached the woman cautiously, focusing her magic into her eyes, creating an unusual symbol within her pupils.

This was her unique ability—hypnosis.

It was the key to breaking the loop.

“You will fall into a never-ending cycle of repeated days.”

Alicia and the long-haired woman locked eyes.

The woman, who had been screaming in pain, stopped as she was drawn into Alicia’s hypnotic gaze.

Her eyes rolled back, and she was trapped in an eternal loop, unable to escape.

Now, all they had to do was wait for the day to end, and Emily’s curse would be lifted.

“Emily!”

“...K-Ken.”

With everything resolved, Ken rushed over to Emily, who had collapsed to the ground.

She was still trembling.

Even though the nightmare had ended, the trauma of the endless suffering wasn’t something that would disappear immediately.

“…It’s okay now, Emily. It’s all over.”

“...R-really?”

“Yeah, it’s all taken care of.”

Ken gently patted her head.

Feeling the warmth of his hand, Emily finally noticed the woman lying defeated on the ground.

“Hic, hic... Ken, hic…”

“It’s okay... You’re safe now.”

After enduring a week of hellish loops, suffering death after death, Emily finally realized she was free.

“Hic... Waaahhh...!”

She clung to Ken, sobbing like a child, letting out all the tears she had been holding back.

“It’s all okay now.”

Ken continued to stroke her hair, comforting her as she cried, letting her release all her pent-up emotions.

“…See? I knew it. My eyes don’t lie.”

Alicia grinned mischievously as she watched them.

Eventually, Emily calmed down.

“Well then, seniors, I’ll be heading back to the dorm now! It was nice meeting you. Let’s see each other again!”

With her task completed, Alicia returned to the dormitory.

Now, only the two of them remained, sitting quietly on the tiled path.

“Alright, let’s get up and head back too.”

“...”

Ken stood up and helped Emily to her feet.

She had stopped crying but was still staring down at the ground, lost in thought.

Thinking she was still paralyzed by the lingering fear, Ken gently took her hand to lead her back to the dormitory.

“Let’s go.”

Ken began to walk, guiding her.

But then, Emily tightened her grip on his hand, stopping him in his tracks.

“Wait, Ken...”

“Hm? What’s wrong?”

“…I have something I need to say.”

Ken turned to face her.

Emily stood there, still looking at the ground, her expression dark and solemn.

She seemed to have more to say.

Ken waited patiently for her to speak.

Finally, after a moment of hesitation, Emily raised her head and met his gaze.

“…Ken.”

Her eyes no longer held fear but instead reflected sadness and guilt.

She forced the words out, even though they seemed to weigh heavily on her.

“I’m sorry. For hurting you... I’m really, really sorry.”

It was the apology she had been holding inside for so long.

Saying the words out loud made her heart pound, and tears began to well up again.

But she knew she couldn’t cry.

She didn’t deserve to cry, not here.

So Emily did her best to hold back her tears.

“I’m not asking for forgiveness... What I did to you can’t be forgiven with just an apology.”

Her grip tightened on Ken’s hand, and the trembling of her hand communicated her emotions to him.

The sincerity in her heart was clear through the touch.

“Still, I felt like I had to say it... I’m sorry, Ken. I’m really, really sorry.”

Unable to hold back her tears any longer, Emily bowed her head.

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Her tears dripped down onto the ground, soaking into the earth.

Ken, who had been quietly listening, stepped closer to her.

“…I understand, Emily. Lift your head.”

Ken gently placed his hand on her shoulder.

Emily looked up, her face wet with tears.

Ken pulled out a handkerchief and began wiping her tears away.

“Don’t cry too much. You’ll get a headache.”

“Hic, I-I’m sorry, Ken... I know I don’t deserve to cry, hic...”

Ken continued to wipe away her tears with a gentle smile.

His kindness only made Emily more overwhelmed with emotion, and she couldn’t stop crying.

“In that case, how about this?”

Ken thought for a moment, trying to find a way to ease her guilt.

And then, an idea came to him—something simple but sincere.

It wasn’t much, but it was the best he could do to help her feel better.

“Next time, why don’t you treat me to a nice meal? I really like eating.”

He smiled warmly, hoping to lighten the mood.

His bright smile made Emily’s heart feel warm, easing the burden she carried.

Without saying a word, she nodded as tears continued to fall from her eyes.