Chapter 17
Riding in a taxi with Lillian to introduce her to my sister at the hospital.
She looked at the outside world with sparkling eyes, marveling at its wonders. When I promised to take her sightseeing later, she clasped both of my hands tightly and asked if I was serious. Her bold physical contact caught me off guard.
“Really? Thank you so much!”
Her radiant smile, paired with her captivating face and lips, had me staring in a daze until I hurriedly turned my head and started rambling. Before I knew it, we had arrived at the hospital.
And with it, a new worry arose.
All eyes were drawn to Lillian.
Even wearing a hoodie, her beauty couldn’t be concealed. Several men began approaching her, and I quickly linked arms with her. Clicking their tongues, they backed off, but it became clear—I couldn’t leave her alone.
Being too beautiful really was a problem.
Entering the hospital room with her, we found my sister chatting happily with the other women sharing her room.
Ever since she started her rehabilitation, her personality had brightened, just like before.
“Hey, I’m here.”
“Oh, you’re back?”
She greeted me cheerfully but froze mid-sentence.
“What’s wrong?”
As I waved my hand in front of her face, she stared blankly at me, her expression darkening by the second.
“Oh my, he brought his girlfriend!”
“They look perfect together!”
“She’s too good for him~”
The elderly women in the room started teasing, while my sister fixed me with a chilling gaze.
“Who’s that?”
The scenario I feared had come true.
How was I supposed to introduce Lillian?
“We met as the boss of the 10th floor, and now we live together by chance?”
…Would anyone believe that? Saying she fell from the sky would sound more plausible.
As I hesitated, Lillian, still holding my arm, gave a radiant smile.
“Hello, you must be Ji-an’s sister. I’m a close friend from church.”
“My brother doesn’t go to church.”
“He just joined recently.”
“…”
Lillian maintained her bright smile while my sister’s expression turned sour.
Wait, where did she even hear about church?
“Is that true?”
“Y-yeah, it’s true. I’ve been going there every day to pray for your successful recovery.”
“Sounds like a lie.”
“Trust me.”
I held her hand and said, “Shall we pray together?” She immediately gave me a sharp look.
“Never mind that. Why did you two come here together?”
“She wasn’t feeling well and came to the hospital. We ran into each other by chance.”
Without a flicker of hesitation, Lillian lied, as expected of a witch.
As I marveled at how convincingly she pulled it off, my sister stared at her with a suspicious gaze.
When Lillian’s appointment time approached, I said I’d escort her. My sister hesitated but told me to go ahead.
Walking out of the room with Lillian, I asked her what was going on, and she said she studied using the TV last night.
When I patted her head, praising her for her quick thinking, her face turned bright red.
Still, I felt like I was forgetting something.
…Wait, I was supposed to meet Seo-yoon!
“Let’s take a break on the rooftop.”
“Sure!”
Heading up to the rooftop with Lillian, I saw Seo-yoon waiting, as usual.
Her bright smile turned to a frozen expression when she saw Lillian beside me.
“Sorry I’m late. Let me introduce you. This is Lillian, a close friend.”
“Oh, I see. Hello, I’m Seo Yoon.”
“Nice to meet you, I’m Lillian.”
Lillian responded cheerfully, while Seo-yoon returned a stiff smile.
What was going on?
At that moment, my phone rang.
Why was Capital calling me? I had already paid off my debt.
“Sorry, I need to take this call.”
I’m confused.
Why is a witch here?
The last survivor of the witch clan, once rulers of the 90th floor—why is she in this place?
As I calmed myself and approached her to eliminate her, the world froze.
No, it hadn’t stopped completely—time was moving at an incredibly slow pace.
There was only one being capable of casting magic of this level.
With a radiant smile, the witch drew a staff from her subspace and pointed it at me.
“Nice to see you. Haven’t we met somewhere before?”
“How do you remember…?”
“Did you know? The witch clan records the world’s history.”
I had thought I was the only one to remember the countless iterations of this world as a regressor.
But I was wrong.
Gods, demigods, and record keepers have a vague sense of it.
They know when the world… or time itself, resets.
And yet, of all beings, I had to encounter the most troublesome witch.
I tried to open a gate to escape, but it was no use.
A massive magic circle engraved around me had sealed all my skills. The witch, with her eerie gaze, stepped closer.
“What is your purpose in approaching my master? No, you don’t need to answer.”
Without waiting for a response, she pointed her staff at me.
“I had no choice but to act, to save our world!”
“That’s what they all say.”
Simultaneously, a half-burned, tattered book emerged from her subspace.
I knew exactly what it was.
A treasure of the witch clan that records the world.
Both a prophecy and a chronicle.
“As much as I’d like to rip you apart for your foolishness with the dream demon, I’ll offer you a choice, since it led me to meet my master.”
The book opened, and its text floated into the air.
“Would you prefer a lifetime of suffering under a witch’s curse? Or will you serve my master?”
The letters hovered in the air, encircling me as the witch awaited my answer.
My response would determine the future.
Biting my lip, I nodded.
With a bright smile, the floating letters began to seep into my body.
“You know that contracts made with the Word cannot be broken, right? I hope you’ll serve my master well. Surely, even your paltry experiences will be of some use.”
“What do you know to speak so arrogantly?!”
“That’s obvious. You’ve relied solely on regression, and that’s why you haven’t cleared the tower.”
Her words pierced me like daggers.
“You thought regression was convenient, didn’t you? It gave you an informational advantage over others. But that’s all it is. Shortcuts can’t clear the tower. If it were that easy, the tower would’ve been…”
I wanted to deny her words, but I couldn’t.
She was right about everything.
If I had been stronger, could I have saved the world?
If I had been stronger, could I have protected my family?
If I had been stronger…
Bound by the Word, the contract was sealed.
My plan to use Han Ji-an to clear the tower was in shambles.
More than that, why did this witch, with her immense power, call Han Ji-an her master?
“Oh? Where did Seo Yoon go?”
“She left already, Master.”
“No, please call me Ji-an outside.”
“Yes, Master!”
Han Ji-an’s bewildered expression made me chuckle.
Even that expression was charming. Was I truly under some kind of spell?
At that moment, Nika burst from his embrace.
【Master is mine!】
“O-of course! Master belongs to Nika!”
【Good!】
Thank goodness. I was nearly on Nika’s bad side.
If I upset the demon of the 99th floor—Nika—I’d be devoured.
Those devoured would suffer eternal torment. I don’t want that…
“Are you okay?”
Master placed his hand on my forehead, muttering something about checking for a fever.
As his hand touched me, my face grew redder and redder. Then he suggested that we return home for the day.
Why was he so kind?
Just being by his side made me happy.
Love you, love you, love you, love you, love you, love you…
…Is this also the effect of the contract? I don’t know. Was there even a contract? I feel like I signed something, but…
“Let’s go home now.”
“Yes!”
I couldn’t remember, but what did it matter? Master was the most important thing!
Surely, he’d be pleased if I took care of anyone who might bother him.
Nika would be pleased too!
I love you, Master!
Her eyes looked unhinged. Was she really okay?
It was like witnessing a spinning whirlpool from a comic in real life.
After leaving my sister, I told her I’d come back tomorrow.
But when my sister asked in an icy tone if I’d bring her again, I couldn’t say yes.
“N-no, of course, I’ll come alone tomorrow.”
“Really? Then see you tomorrow.”
She sharply turned her head away.
She didn’t go through puberty as a kid, and now it’s hitting all at once—terrifying.
“Do you want anything? I can bring it tomorrow.”
“…Pizza.”
“You’re not just here for the food, are you?”
“You asked!”
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