It Seems Like The Infamous Trash Can is Right Here! - Chapter 109
“It’s quite a famous story. I laughed it off at first, but to think the person actually existed—it’s hard not to be surprised.”
First love? That’s ridiculous. Halid and I had been nothing but a pair of little kids back then.
I blinked in confusion, staring up at Lionel. He let out a faint chuckle and extended his hand toward me. Without quite knowing why, I took it, only for him to pull me straight into his arms.
If I really thought about it, it was never enough for Lionel just to be in the same space as me. He always had to be touching me.
I vaguely recalled learning about a condition like this in my past life.
Separation anxiety disorder? It didn’t quite fit, but the symptoms seemed oddly similar.
“I heard Duke Calitas caused quite a stir throwing a tantrum over it. But by now, he should be old enough to distinguish between reality and fantasy. As the head of his house, he won’t do anything reckless.”
“That’s a relief to hear.”
At least he didn’t know who I really was. That much was fortunate.
I shuddered at the thought, what if I had actually told Halid my real name back then?
“So, you plan to break off the engagement at Calitas today?”
He was silent for a moment, then answered.
“To be honest, I don’t really have a plan.”
“…Pardon?”
“That 10% probability. I intend to create it myself.”
He meant to replace the possibility of being detained at the Imperial Palace with a visit to Calitas instead.
The way his mind worked was fascinating.
“Besides, Duke Calitas is known to be rather impulsive. Regardless of whether that’s true or not.”
“……?”
I wasn’t sure what being impulsive had to do with anything, but… it was worth a try. Whether it would actually work was another question.
“And there’s one more thing. I need to tell you something.”
“Is it what you wanted to say last night?”
Last night, just before I drifted off in the bath, Lionel had said he had something to tell me.
Lionel nodded, his expression uncharacteristically tense.
“I know this may be hard to believe, but… I have been reliving the same time over and over again.”
Ah.
So Lionel finally told me the secret of his regression.
Somehow, I had a feeling that would be the case.
“I’ve repeated my life so many times that I no longer remember why it started, how it works, or even how to stop it. The reason I wanted to verify my lost memories through your divine power was to find those answers.”
I stared at him, wide-eyed.
Based on the way he once said, “If I fail again this time,” I had already guessed he had looped at least twice. But an infinite regression? That was the worst possible kind.
“I know how this sounds. You must think I’m insane. Frankly, I wouldn’t believe it either.”
Whatever he saw in my expression made him hesitate before adding,
“If I didn’t still bear the scars from my past lives, even I might have dismissed it all as a dream or delusion.”
“Wait, you mean your scars carry over after your regression?”
That’s… unusual. Normally, everything resets.
“…Just to be clear, you don’t actually believe me, do you?”
“I do.”
“……?”
He looked at me as if I had lost my mind.
I blinked back at him.
Most returners don’t bother explaining themselves, knowing they’ll get another chance makes them reckless, even self-destructive. So rather than wasting effort persuading others, they just do whatever they want.
If I were Lionel, I wouldn’t have told me.
Why would I?
It would only increase the number of variables.
That’s what I would have thought.
Nevertheless, he told me, and it was probably for the same reason I told him about my Precognition.
By revealing everything, we could plan together and prepare for what’s to come.
“In your past lives… have we ever met before?”
