The Broken Possessors of the Infinite Regression Academy - Chapter 290



Chapter 290 – Side Story: Time Gate – 3

The gate from which the nuke had escaped could not hold out for long. The golden halo that had been spreading out in all directions rushed back into the gate as if a rewind button had been pressed, and then disappeared as if it had been crushed.

“That’s it. It’s completely over.”

“There will be no more messing with time.”

After the Goddess and the Demon God showed off their goddess-like qualities for the first time in a long while and finished the finishing touches, we returned to the empty academy with Aria.

Aria hadn’t said a word for a while. Leona hadn’t said a word either, and neither had the others. They seemed to think it was a bit much to talk about something that involved everyone here.

“… … Ugh!”

Occasionally, Leona would feel embarrassed and make strange noises on her own. It seemed like she kept thinking about how she had acted out loud, saying that she would somehow save me without knowing anything.

Even though I heard that if I just took out the nuke, I would be fine, I begged him half-crying not to die. It’s common for shame to creep in over time, so everyone pretended not to see it.

“It’s finally over.”

Even after arriving at the club room, Leona tried to run away, saying she wanted to be alone, but Elisier and Latina stopped her and sat her down. I muttered quietly as I watched her.

No one thought what I said was strange. It was really all over. There was no more interference with time, no more beginning. That was the end.

“… … .”

Aria was kneeling in the middle of the room like a sinner, hugging herself and bowing her head.

‘Will the sinner be punished?’

Even if the four of them decided to forgive her, it was ultimately Aria’s fault that it happened. It seems she still feels guilty about it, but it’s fortunate that she didn’t act shamelessly.

If the relationship had been ruined by being shameless or acting like a traitor, the atmosphere would have been much colder than it is now.

“I have something to ask you.”

Priscilla crouched down in front of Aria, bringing her eyes to her level. Aria slowly raised her head.

“… … Yes. What is it?”

“How was it in time?”

“… … It hurt. It hurt a lot.”

“I told you that before we went in. I was just asking you how it felt exactly.”

Priscilla was also very serious this time, without her usual slouching or mocking appearance.

Aria’s complexion darkened slightly. She tightened her arms around herself. It seemed as if she was forcibly pulling out memories she didn’t want to think about.

“It felt like needles were piercing my entire body. It felt like my skin was slowly peeling off, layer by layer. I couldn’t breathe. No matter how much I tried to inhale something, I couldn’t breathe, and I felt like I was suffocating to death. When things in time clung to me, I felt the same way they died.”

“… … .”

“It happened again this time. It clung to my body, showed me the same pain it felt when it died, and took away my time. It hurt.”

“You must have been in pain.”

Priscilla, who had been quietly listening to the confession, stood up after saying only, “It must have hurt.” There was no further exchange. No anger, no hatred, no sadness, no other emotions.

That must be Priscilla’s kind of forgiveness. I couldn’t know for sure as a third party, but I had a feeling that was the case.

“… … Honestly, I thought you wouldn’t come to save me.”

Aria raised her head with difficulty and met my eyes.

“It would have been quicker and easier to just bury it outside.”

That’s right. Among the solutions proposed by the two goddesses, there was one that would collapse the gate itself from the outside, crushing it along with the core. The core cannot be taken out from the outside, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be destroyed.

It was faster and safer than going in and taking out the nuke. And there was no need to fight against things that wouldn’t die, like Leona and I had done.

But that wasn’t the case.

“You thought I wouldn’t save you? Why?”

“… … The person inside was me.”

The strength to embrace myself grew stronger. Every joint of my fingers turned white and my body trembled.

“When I went in, you said you would get me out someday… … but you may have changed your mind during the thousands of years I was isolated. So I thought you might not come to rescue me.”

“How many thousand years?”

They looked at each other. Even though it was a world where time did not flow, the gap with the outside world was too big. It seemed that it was because they were physically and mentally exhausted due to the pain.

“You’re mistaken, Aria.”

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Laura stepped forward. She grabbed Aria’s chin and lifted it, forcing her to look up at her. Aria flinched in fear as her gaze met hers.

“I don’t know how much time has passed for you, but only seven years have passed in this world. When this year passes, it will be the eighth year.”

“… … 7 years, huh?”

“Yes. I should also tell you that we have already reached an agreement. I won’t forget what you did, but I won’t point it out either. Or maybe you’re not reflecting on what you did? If so, that makes a little bit of a difference.”

“Oh, no… … That’s not… … .”

Aria lowered her gaze without saying a word. Seeing that, Laura let go of her hand.

“You seem to be mentally and physically unstable, so I think it would be best to get some sleep and then talk again.”

“… … .”

Aria opened her eyes. Then she stared blankly at the high ceiling. Starting with the chandelier, it was obvious that money had been sprinkled all over the ceiling.

My body felt light. I could tell even while lying down. How long had it been since I felt this refreshed? It must have been a very long time. I was always in pain and groaning.

Just breathing, blinking, thinking, moving my body, and even just being alive was all excruciating pain.

Although only about seven years had passed in reality, Aria felt different. She was happy just to be able to lie down comfortably, wrapped in such a soft blanket.

“… … Ugh.”

Aria, who had been squirming and enjoying the warmth and feel of the bed for a while, only then noticed a sound coming from somewhere else and sat up.

It was right next door. There was Mira sitting on a chair, seemingly free, tapping something black and square with one hand. The sound was coming from there.

It seemed to be an object from the world where Mira had been. At least, it was something that had never been seen in this world where Aria once reigned as a god.

“Oh, you’re awake? You slept soundly.”

Then he checked Aria who had raised her upper body and put the black object down.

“… … How long were you sleeping?”

“For about three days. Leona was really scared, thinking you were dead. She only calmed down after hearing something from Masin.”

Aria instinctively knew that Mira was calling Leona in a very comforting way. It was one of the things that had never crossed her mind before she woke up, consumed by pain.

“… … Okay, let’s go.”

“okay.”

Mira picked up the black object again, tapped something quickly with her thumb, and put it in her pocket.

“I contacted you, so you should arrive shortly.”

“Contact? Who are you talking to?”

“The person who has been waiting for you the most.”

At the same time, a dimensional gate opened, and two girls who looked to be around 12 years old came through, along with Leona who looked anxious.

Aria doubted her eyes for a moment. One of the girls looked very much like Leona. Another girl even looked like a woman named Latina who had appeared in another world.

‘Miss Mira called those two goddesses.’

The word goddess came to mind, but since her appearance was quite different, Aria concluded that it would probably be more of a nickname, just like how she often referred to her own daughter as a princess.

If that was Leona’s child, then there was only one opponent. If it was Mira and Leona’s child, then it wouldn’t be strange at all if the nickname was God.

“Leona… … You got married to Mira. The baby is so big. And she’s cute too.”

“……marriage?”

At those words, Leona paused and looked around as if she knew what he meant. The two girls also had mysterious expressions on their faces. It seemed as if they knew what was going on.

“Aren’t they both your daughters? I thought Mira-ssi was a goddess, but if you and Mira-ssi are your children, it wouldn’t be strange to do that. What are their names— ahh.”

Clap, the angel slapped her lips. The pain threshold must have been quite high, but for some reason, it hurt so much that tears welled up in her eyes. While Aria was rubbing her lips with a tearful face, a woman who looked exactly like Leona grumbled.

“I think you’re sane because you’re talking nonsense.”

“I see. It seems fine.”

The one who resembled Latina agreed. Aria, who was looking at the two girls with aggrieved eyes, opened her eyes wide as if she had felt the divine power and magic somewhere before.

“God… … No, really… … ?”

“Look at that, human. She doesn’t even use honorifics anymore. She’s such a shameless woman.”

“It could be because I’ve already killed him once. I’m going to scold him.”

As soon as they did, they both ran to Mira and told her. As if this wasn’t the first or second time something like this had happened, Mira skillfully lifted each goddess into her arms.

Moreover, the goddess seemed very used to it, as she naturally balanced on his arm. They really looked like father and daughter. The daughter was too grown up to be a child, and the father was too young to be a parent.

“You almost made a scene by calling me dad. Why are you two scolding me like that?”

“It was a joke.”

“It was a joke, human.”

“You must have been joking. You said that because you were so excited about a few cookies, but if you were serious and not joking, then it’s no different from throwing away your dignity with your own hands.”

The more Aria listened to the conversation, the more confused she became. Did he really call her dad? For a few cookies? A goddess?

“… …Is that real, Leona?”

“Yeah. Surprisingly.”

Aria was curious about what had happened, but she was in no position to open her mouth, so she held back her words.