The Protagonist's Party is Too Diligent

**Satisfied.**

Since that conversation that day, Sophia no longer says strange things to me.

Leo had never misunderstood anything in the first place, and Alice, who had only been teasing me for her own amusement, stopped bringing it up altogether once the fun was over.

Charlotte would occasionally look at me with sad eyes, but that was all. She no longer tried to tie me to Leo in any way.

Solving a major incident without resorting to rewinding time felt immensely gratifying and satisfying.

Back in the day, I thought of my cheat-like ability as something I could use recklessly whenever I wanted... but now, things were different. My relationships had changed.

The friends around me were, quite literally, my “friends.” And every conversation I had with them was a memory to cherish.

Rewinding time didn’t just mean erasing my mistakes; it also meant erasing all those memories.

At the start of the semester, I had used my ability multiple times to maintain my perfect image. Of course, even now, I wouldn’t hesitate to use it if my image was in serious jeopardy. However, I no longer wanted to use it for every minor mistake—especially after conversations that could shape relationships.

That’s why the fact that I didn’t rely on my ability while forming bonds with others brought me such satisfaction.

Not that it meant there would never be a reason to use my ability again.

---

"Seriously, you're as elusive as a ghost."

The voice, weak and strained, belonged to Chiara Verati.

Her body was wrapped in countless bandages as she lay on the bed, looking at me with a feeble smile.

"Especially while wearing such uncomfortable clothes."

"This might not look it, but these uniforms are made with advanced materials. They’re perfectly functional."

I replied, taking a seat on the chair next to her bed.

**Thud.**

A sound came from the direction of the door. There was the noise of repeated, loud impacts, followed by muffled shouts from someone outside.

It was natural. Even injured, a knight of the church was no ordinary person. Even without weapons, they could take down an average soldier with ease. So, it was only logical for her to be confined deep within the imperial palace in the heart of the capital, despite her injuries.

...Though, honestly, did they really need to imprison someone this badly hurt?

"So, how exactly do you plan to escape... Not that you'd tell me even if I asked, right?"

"Who knows."

I shrugged at Chiara Verati's question and said,

"Depending on how this conversation goes, I might just let you in on it."

"Hah. Still, I doubt you'll tell me anything beyond what you want me to know."

"I promise you this: I’ll make sure to reveal a real secret."

As long as that masked woman doesn’t suddenly appear, there’d be no need to rewind time.

And at this point, I didn’t expect her to show up. The masked woman only appeared when matters related to the artifacts were involved.

Artifacts like the one that had first appeared before me. I’d already checked the bag the emperor mentioned finding—it was hidden so well that uncovering it had required doing things I’d rather forget. Still, those who had been hurt back then were now fully recovered, so perhaps it was all worth it.

It seemed the masked woman couldn’t use her abilities because of that artifact. Just as my abilities were sealed whenever she appeared.

Objects tied to the goddess's power could suppress both my and the masked woman's abilities.

"And what, you're planning to kill me?"

"..."

If the moment ever came when my abilities were blocked, I might have to.

At my silence, Chiara Verati frowned.

After thinking for a long while, she let out a deep sigh.

"...Fine. Speak. Is there something specific you want to know?"

"Will you tell me?"

"Do I even have a choice?"

**Thud!** Another loud sound came from the door. It was possible they were preparing magic or even cannons on the other side.

No, cannons seemed unlikely. The emperor might not allow that.

"What did Lucas ask you about last time?"

"The artifact."

Chiara Verati answered straightforwardly.

"He asked about what it was and why we were searching for it."

"Didn’t you say you weren’t high-ranking enough to know the details?"

"And you believed that?"

"Not entirely."

I hadn’t thought pressing her further back then would get any more answers. Besides, I couldn’t exactly interrogate her with Alice watching.

"..."

After a brief silence, Chiara Verati spoke again.

"I was sent to the Empire to search for the artifact. While Northwood wasn’t the only potential location, there aren’t many places worth searching—like here, the imperial palace."

"Are you saying you intentionally got captured?"

"No. It wasn’t intentional. But since I was caught, I decided to turn the crisis into an opportunity."

"Did you succeed?"

"No."

Chiara Verati let out a scoff.

"For such an important location, one they’d even bring their most vital prisoners to, the artifact wasn’t here. It was hidden elsewhere."

"And how do you search for the artifact?"

"The Holy Nation hasn’t been idle for centuries. To return the goddess's power to her... to bring her back into the world, we’ve been perfecting a system. Of course, we don’t rely solely on ancient records. There's a sacred spell known only to the highest ranks of the Holy Nation. It’s cast on individuals and works without leaving any evidence. Those affected can sense an anomaly when near an artifact."

"Have you ever felt it?"

"In the Holy Nation, we train using an artifact in our possession to familiarize ourselves with the sensation."

"And one of those artifacts ended up in the Empire."

"...Exactly."

Chiara Verati exhaled deeply.

"Can you tell me more about that spell?"

"No. The Holy Nation's leaders wouldn’t allow such knowledge to spread. The spell is performed while the subject is unconscious, and when they wake, there’s no trace of it. Even if you suspect there might be a mark, you'd need the Holy Nation’s unique magic to confirm it."

"I see."

**Crash!**

The door bent inward, almost breaking under the repeated impacts.

"Why are you telling me all this?"

Feeling pressed for time, I asked.

Not long ago—just after Lucas’s attack left her badly injured and unconscious—this same person had been completely uncooperative.

"Ha... who knows."

Chiara Verati stared blankly at the ceiling as she spoke.

"I used to think dying for the goddess was enough. Suicide’s forbidden by doctrine, but... I figured as long as I served her, I could die doing so."

But now...

"After coming here, being left to rot by the Holy Nation, hearing that some monstrous creature killed my old comrades, and losing the artifact... I’m just so disillusioned. Everything I believed in feels shattered. Honestly, I wish I hadn’t woken up after Lucas's attack."

"That’s your reason?"

"Yes. And you promised to tell me about your ability—how you found me and plan to escape. I’m incredibly curious."

The hinges on the door seemed ready to give way.

"Fine," I said, nodding. "I’ll tell you. I already knew what would happen. I saw it from beyond the bounds of this world."

"...You knew the future?"

Chiara let out a breathless sound.

"And second, I have the power to rewind time."

"..."

"So there’s no need to plan an escape route. Once I’ve achieved my goal, I’ll simply go back."

"Ha."

Chiara Verati let out a disbelieving laugh.

"You don’t believe me?"

"No, it’s not that. It’s absurd, but if you really have ‘that kind of power,’ everything suddenly makes sense. It’s just..."

Chiara Verati fell silent, staring at the ceiling for a long time.

**Crash!** The door finally broke, armor clanging as soldiers rushed in.

Through the commotion, Chiara Verati’s voice rang clearly.

"It’s all so meaningless. I worked so hard for the goddess’s power, but in the end..."

Her words trailed off, but I’d already heard enough.

Once again.