Nigel opened the Character Info Window without much thought.
Level 40,000. That number alone was staggering—hundreds, maybe even thousands of times higher than the average person. A number now hurtling toward nine digits. It was utterly mind-boggling.
“Inas… your level’s really forty thousand?”
“You can see that, too?”
“Yeah…”
Even with Inas confirming it, even after checking with his own eyes multiple times, it still didn’t feel real. Sure, Inas had killed Nigel effortlessly—but then again, Nigel was only level 3. Even a random guard from the estate could probably kill him with ease.
“You’re seriously that strong?”
“Yes. Judging by the numbers alone, I could bring this entire estate down with a single finger.”
“…You’re joking, right?”
He hoped it was a joke. But it clearly wasn’t. Inas just looked at him, amused, as if Nigel’s silly question made him endearing. It seemed like he was trying to offer an example to help Nigel grasp it, but it only made the whole thing feel even less believable. Of course, Inas was strong. His thick arms looked like they had the mass of several Nigels, solid like stone. But even so, bringing down a whole estate with one finger? That sounded like a ridiculous bluff.
“Have you… actually tried it?”
“No. Want me to?”
“No—! Not the estate…”
As unreal as it sounded, that stat made it harder to doubt. Nigel glanced around, trying to find something in the room they could use to test it. There was a vase in the Lemad style he’d been tricked into buying, but…
“Then, how about this?”
Seeing Nigel hesitate, Inas pulled out a dagger from inside his coat. The moment the glint of that bright blue blade caught his eye, Nigel instinctively flinched—but thankfully, Inas only placed it gently on his palm.
Before Nigel could ask why he even brought it out, Inas calmly closed his fingers over the upright blade in his hand. As if he were crumpling paper—just a light squeeze.
“W–With your bare hand…?”
Before Nigel could even scold him in alarm, the dagger crumpled softly, almost delicately. There wasn’t a single drop of blood on Inas’s hand.
Eyes wide, Nigel leaned forward to inspect the weapon Inas placed on the table. The blade was crumpled like a piece of paper—no, beyond that, it had been crushed into a compact lump. He touched it just to be sure it wasn’t some fake, but the solid, metallic feel under his fingertips confirmed it.
“This doesn’t even require effort.”
To someone like Inas, did Nigel feel like nothing more than a paper doll? No wonder he’d killed him so easily…
“Isn’t it hard to control that kind of strength?”
“It is. That’s why I cast a spell on myself to regulate it. Unless I have the will to attack, I move with the strength of a normal person.”
That was terrifying to hear. Nigel gave up trying to understand any of this—it was easier on his brain that way. He pressed his throbbing forehead and sank deep into the couch.
The information was fascinating, sure, but none of it brought them any closer to solving the actual issue—this whole time-loop mess. No matter how much he learned, it didn’t change anything. What could a mere human like Nigel do about something that belonged in the domain of the gods? Not even Inas, someone who had far surpassed human limits, could fix it.
Nigel looked straight at Inas, meeting his gaze. Truthfully, the question he’d wanted to ask from the start was something else entirely. A fundamental doubt about all of this.
“Inas. Why are you the one repeating time in the first place? You talk about games, Protagonists… How do you even know all that? Kay doesn’t seem to have a clue…”
Why you, of all people?
If the word Protagonist meant anything at all, shouldn’t Kay—the most special person in this world—be the one with the power to reset time? Not Inas.
“Nigel… that’s…”
Inas trailed off, unable to continue easily. Nigel had expected a smooth explanation like before—or at least a straightforward “I don’t know.” But instead, Inas fell silent, his lips pressed shut. That silence meant one thing: he knew something.
When Nigel pressed him with a firm stare, Inas let out a sigh.
“I’ll tell you… if the opportunity comes.”
“When’s that supposed to be?”
“When you’re in better condition.”
Nigel had no trouble interpreting what that meant: whatever the answer was, it was heavy enough to knock him out cold. Groaning softly, he collapsed onto the couch.
There’s still more shocking shit to come?
“Fine, let’s just stop here.”
He muttered like a sigh, curling up on the couch. His carefully styled hair was a mess, his clothes crumpled, but he couldn’t care less. Maybe it was from trying to cram too much impossible information into his brain in one sitting, but his headache was only getting worse.
“My head hurts…”
“Are you alright?”
“No. I feel like I’m dying.”
Nigel grumbled instinctively. Unfortunately, this wasn’t the usual Inas who’d respond with mild concern.
“Would you like me to kill you, then?”
He asked it as casually as offering an aspirin. Nigel immediately flinched and scrambled backward. The scariest part was how gently he’d whispered it—like he was ready to pierce Nigel’s chest without hesitation again.
“No thanks…”
Inas, who had already started reaching for his sword, paused quietly. At least he did listen, but he was still too damn wild…
It wasn’t like dying hurt much anymore—and since time always reset right away, the sense of danger had faded. But no matter what, being murdered was still an experience Nigel didn’t want. Even if everything returned to normal, the moment of being killed by Inas felt absolutely vile. He sighed heavily.
“Anyway, let’s just wait and see for now. See if everything you said really happens. Don’t kill me until then, alright?”
You had to experience things to believe them. It wasn’t until he’d gone through the loop twice that Nigel started to accept it. And even now, the idea that time would reset on March 27 still didn’t feel real. It’d be better to see it happen once.
“Yes. As you wish, Nigel.”
Inas lowered his head with uncharacteristic obedience. Nigel glared at him, half-distrusting.
As I wish, my ass. He never listens anyway.
Nigel bit his tongue, too afraid for his life to voice his complaints. But the moment Inas lifted his head, Nigel quickly smoothed his expression.
“Oh, and one more thing I really wanted to tell you… If you interfere too much, the future will change.”
“What? I thought it wouldn’t change. So doesn’t that mean it’s already screwed?”
Nigel had summoned Kay’s group to his estate instead of letting them attend the banquet hosted by Count Ludio. After thinking it over, Inas shook his head.
“That should be fine. The location changed, but the event itself is similar. As long as the core doesn’t shift, we’re okay. But usually, once someone who knows the future starts meddling, things do start to diverge.”
“Makes sense.”
Even tiny changes can alter the course of history.
“Yes. So this time, just go with the flow.”
“The flow…”
It sounded like something out of a cult. Nigel’s expression soured instantly.
They’d known each other for eleven years. Inas had probably spent far more time watching Nigel. He seemed to read his expression perfectly, because he smiled softly.
“Trust me, Nigel. Everything will happen exactly as I said.”
Okay, that really does sound like a cult leader.
But since it was Inas asking him to trust him, Nigel found it easier to nod.
“So… for the next year, I just act like I always have?”
“Yes. Just to be safe, I’ll behave the same as before, too. If I act differently, it might mess with what I’ve already told you.”
“You don’t have to go that far…”
Was that really necessary?
Nigel had been about to say that, but closed his mouth. Right now, he couldn’t fully accept everything Inas was saying. He needed time to adapt. And if Inas was right—if everything really did repeat—then the year ahead might become critically important.
Inas had said that unless someone interfered, every event would unfold exactly the same. Knowing the baseline timeline would make it easier to predict and plan for the future.
“Okay, got it. Then I’ll stick to the usual for a year.”
“Yes.”
“Then I’m counting on you, Inas.”
Nigel said it formally, and Inas responded by gently taking Nigel’s hand and pressing a soft kiss to the back of it.
“Likewise, Nigel. Just like always—forever and ever.”
***
And so, nearly a full year passed.
