Chapter 162

Cha Dohwan’s family had built their fortune over generations in the defense industry. In simpler terms, they made money selling all sorts of weapons.

But when the apocalypse began, the defense industry quickly died out.

The emergence of a common enemy—the apocalypse itself—put a stop to conflicts between nations.

Moreover, the weapons made by humans couldn’t kill monsters. There was no reason to spend money on them anymore.

Nations slashed their defense budgets and poured the funds into apocalypse countermeasures. As a result, the influence of Cha Dohwan’s family inevitably waned.

*So… he was just pretending to love me. All to drag me into a dungeon.*

It wasn’t as shocking as I thought it would be. Nor was it disappointing. I was surprised at myself.

I love Cha Dohwan.

I love him for being welcomed by everyone, unlike me. I love how he saves people from danger without a thought for money. I love his large hands that shield a child and the look of pity in his eyes for the injured.

He was my hero.

But it wasn’t romantic. I would have loved him even if he were a woman. That’s why I rejected his confession.

It would have been normal to be shocked upon discovering that such a person had deceived me.

But strangely, I felt nothing at all.

Looking back, my heart never fluttered at his confessions. I never even seriously considered them. It meant that, subconsciously, I hadn’t believed him.

*Why…? Ah!*

Because I already knew what a man in love was like.

The way a man’s eyes look when he’s in front of the person he loves, how soft his voice becomes, how gentle his fingertips are.

And how his breath trembles when he steals a kiss…

It was easy to see through Cha Dohwan’s lies. Because I already knew the perfect answer.

*Shinwoo…*

The thought of Shinwoo instantly warmed my heart. The only person who could move my heart. A heavy feeling surged up from within me.

*I’ve been so foolish all this time.*

He was too beautiful for someone like me to have, so I ran away, afraid I’d start wanting him.

But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t escape Shinwoo. I’d run with all my might, only to turn back and find him standing there. It was impossible to remove him from my life.

*To only realize that now… Why am I so stupid?*

Yes, I’ll conquer the dungeon. I’ll end the apocalypse with my own hands and then confess to him with my head held high.

That I loved you too. That I’m sorry it took me so long to realize.

My heart pounded in my chest. I pressed a hand to it without thinking.

“Well, now that I’ve cast the bait, he’ll be in touch soon. Go ahead and select the party members. We need to be ready to leave at a moment’s—”

Cha Dohwan, who had been giving instructions to his secretary, stopped mid-sentence and his eyes widened.

“…Saan?”

I glanced at the window and saw my reflection. The scroll’s effect must have worn off. I pushed myself off the wall I was leaning against and stood up straight.

“Mr. Cha Dohwan, I will join the dungeon raid. I waited to tell you that. Please contact me when you’re ready.”

“M-Ms. Saan, since when… Wait a minute, Ms. Saan!”

As I turned to leave, Cha Dohwan hastily grabbed me.

“Ms. Saan, can we talk for a moment! Everything you just heard is a misunderstanding. Let me explain!”

“I haven’t misunderstood anything.”

“What? What do you mean…”

I slowly pushed his hand away.

“I mean I never believed you from the start.”

A look of despair flashed across Cha Dohwan’s face. I didn’t know why he looked that way. He’d achieved his goal, so there was no need to act anymore.

“Well then, I’ll see you in the dungeon.”

* * *

[System: Memory Fragment (6/7) playback has ended.]

So Cha Dohwan never liked me; he just pretended to so he could use me?

“Somehow…”

It had always been strange. Why would a man that exceptional be interested in me?

Perhaps that was why I’d felt so awkward whenever he confessed. I must have instinctively sensed it wasn’t genuine.

Just as my past self in the Memory Fragment had felt, I wasn’t shocked. Honestly, my true feelings for Shinwoo were far more shocking than being used.

*To think I was in love with Shinwoo…*

The moment I realized my feelings, everything changed.

The dungeon, which had been a choice made when cornered, was no longer a place of escape.

I wanted to enter the dungeon as soon as possible. I was itching to conquer all 120 underground floors.

So I could confess to Shinwoo after completing the dungeon.

I wanted to confess to Shinwoo not as the money-grubbing demon everyone hated, but as the hero who saved the world. I had even practiced my confession.

“How embarrassing…”

My face burned. I could feel my skin growing red-hot without even looking. I cupped my cheeks, and sure enough, they were scorching.

— Anonymous Constellation: Yeah, I remember this. I thought our Ryutto was finally going to escape her single life… *Sigh.*

— Anonymous Constellation: Nah, being single is a hundred times better than ending up with some weirdo.

— Anonymous Constellation: But she died single in the end. Is that really better?

— Anonymous Constellation: Think about Ryutto’s end. If she just had someone by her side, she might not have died.

— Anonymous Constellation: Um, excuse me? The reason Ryutto died wasn’t because she was single, it was because of Hunter Syndrome. Get your facts straight.

— Anonymous Constellation: preach preach the cause was the administrator.

— Anonymous Constellation: …Aren’t we, the ones watching the broadcast, also part of the cause?

— Anonymous Constellation: Ah…

The chat window went silent.

Are they feeling remorseful now, after toying with a human’s life like a game character? It was laughable.

“Once the apocalypse is over in this life, I’ll get Hunter Syndrome and slowly die again, I suppose. Thanks a lot, everyone.”

My stomach twisted at the Constellations’ hypocritical attitude, and the words came out harsh.

I looked at the quiet chat window and ran a hand through my hair. A bitter taste filled my mouth, as if I had lashed out for no reason.

What good does it do for a herbivore to resent a carnivore? It’s just the way they were born. The relationship between humans and Constellations was the same.

“Haa, you all know I have a terrible personality. I was just annoyed, so please don’t take it to heart. And to be precise, my cause of death was asphyxiation. Because I couldn’t lift my head…”

A sudden question arose.

Why did I die like that?

I had clearly planned to confess to Shinwoo after completing the dungeon.

*’I was such a fool, I didn’t even realize I loved you. No, I knew, but I thought I loved you like a little brother. Like family. I’m sorry it took me so long to realize. If you still have feelings for me… can you accept me?’*

I had memorized that artless confession until the words were worn thin.

In the end, I completed the dungeon and stopped the apocalypse. As the hero who saved the world, I should have confessed to Shinwoo.

*Then why was I alone?*

I summoned the first Memory Fragment from my inventory and played it again.

*He’s not there…*

In the first Memory Fragment, the only person by my side was a caregiver.

Looking closely at the house, it was the same. There was no trace of anything related to Shinwoo.

None of the things that had been left untouched even after Shinwoo moved out were visible.

*It’s as if… they were deliberately removed.*

Did I never confess at all? Did I confess, and Shinwoo rejected me? Did we date and then break up on bad terms?

…Or did I push Shinwoo away because I got Hunter Syndrome?

“Ugh!”

A constricting pain seized my brain, wrapping around my entire body. I crawled off the bed and pressed my forehead against the cold marble floor.

But the pain didn’t lessen in the slightest. A groan escaped my lips.

I wish my head would just break. Unable to bear it any longer, I slammed my forehead against the floor.

*Thud! Thud!*

— Anonymous Constellation: Astell, Astell! Don’t do that! Your nose is bleeding! Okay?

— Anonymous Constellation: Oh my god, this is a disaster. A total disaster.

— Anonymous Constellation: What do we do? ㅜㅜㅜㅜ Someone stop her!

— Anonymous Constellation: Are you trying to crack your skull open? Stop it!!!

— Anonymous Constellation: Should we call that idiot Admin?

“No… ugh, ah, don’t… call… anyone.”

Red blood dripped from my chin. My mouth tasted metallic.

The nosebleed actually seemed to help. As my mind, clouded by pain, gradually cleared, my thoughts began to function again.

All the memories the Administrator had erased were related to Shinwoo.

And Shinwoo… had been reincarnated, though I didn’t know if he was Johan or Dante.

Unless I was a complete idiot, I could see the Administrator’s intention.

*It wants me to find Shinwoo.*

Until now, I had thought the role the Administrator wanted me to play was that of a hero saving a world on the brink of ruin. Just as I had in my previous life.

But it seemed I had misjudged. The Administrator couldn’t care less about heroes. At least, in the Administrator’s scenario, I was not the hero.

*But find Shinwoo and then what?*

I didn’t know what I was supposed to do after finding the past life of someone who had been reincarnated and had no memories.

Would I understand the Administrator’s scheme if I collected all the Memory Fragments? The moment I had a feeling that might be the case…

[Quest: Find the last Memory Fragment.]

[Success: Acquire Hidden Ability <Eye That Pierces Through Essence>]

[Failure: None.]

A quest popped up, as if to prove my hunch correct. A bitter smile touched my lips.

*Fine, I’ll play along for now.*

First, I needed to figure out the Administrator’s intentions. Only then could I decide.

Whether to remain a puppet or to find another path.

“Hoo…”

The pain vanished. As I straightened my hunched back, my blood-spattered, disheveled bedroom came into view.

*Zenia’s going to cry and make a fuss if she sees this.*

I hurried to the bathroom to wash my face. I had just finished a quick shower and was tidying up the bedroom when the door burst open without a knock and Zenia rushed in.

“Princess! Something terrible has happened!”

“What is it that you wouldn’t even knock?”

“Gasp, gasp! I’m so sorry! Haa, haa! I was just, just so surprised…!”

She was panting so hard as she spoke that I was afraid she might pass out.

Zenia had a calm and gentle disposition, so it was extremely rare for her to be this agitated. Something unusual must have happened.

“Did something catch on fire again?”

“It’s not that… His Majesty has announced your marriage to the Crown Prince!”

“…!”