The Man’s 101st Bad Ending

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Translated By Arcane Translations

Translator: FusionX

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Robert never considered himself important.

He always prioritized others over himself, even if it meant his own suffering. He had always been that way.

One of the things Adriana had realized, knowing Robert’s life, was that he rarely prioritized himself.

“Are you alright?”

It was a somewhat out-of-context question, but Robert chuckled softly and nodded, as if he understood.

His expression as he said he was fine was no different from usual.

Perhaps he was truly fine, or perhaps he was hiding his discomfort.

The only times Robert lied were when he was trying to conceal his pain.

She remembered a past life where he had insisted he was fine even after being poisoned.

She checked Robert’s body, confirming there were no injuries, but she couldn’t shake the subtle unease in her heart.

…Sometimes, it was okay to rely on someone.

Robert wasn’t alone. Adele was here, and so was she.

He could lean on her a little more.

While she was sometimes dissatisfied with his tendency to handle everything himself, she understood his past and chose not to say anything.

“It will be resolved soon, won’t it? There’s no need to be so impatient.”

“Sigh, how do you think I feel hearing you say that?”

“But you don’t need to worry. It’s ultimately my responsibility, so for now… it’s best to focus on the Four Dragons.”

Was he being nonchalant? Or did he simply not want her to worry?

She understood his loneliness, so she couldn’t help but realize he was putting on another mask.

It would be better to talk to him later, in private.

He would simply shut down if she tried to discuss it here.

Adriana sighed softly and turned away.

She couldn’t blame anyone. If she had to blame someone, it would be the artifact that caused the regressions.

But then why had the Four Dragons, who created the artifact, initiated the regressions?

For what purpose?

If someone regressed repeatedly, reliving the same fate eternally, they would surely break.

What were they trying to achieve by manipulating a broken and shattered mind?

She suspected it had something to do with resurrection, but she was trying to deny that possibility.

If the Four Dragons were trying to use Robert’s body for their resurrection…

And if Robert’s body accepted the Four Dragons’ consciousness… how would she face him?

Adriana didn’t know yet.

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“Let’s talk.”

When they returned from the ruin, Adriana grabbed my wrist and led me to a different room.

I thought of Adele for a moment, but her serious expression stopped me from asking.

I followed her, unsure what she wanted to discuss, and she closed the door behind us, looking at me.

Her blindness no longer seemed to be an inconvenience.

She walked without needing to memorize the layout, sensing her surroundings with divine power. Perhaps her experience in the South had been helpful.

As I was thinking about such trivial things, Adriana, who had been staring at me intently, spoke hesitantly.

“What have you been up to?”

“…Well…”

I had assumed she would say something serious, given her expression, but her question was unexpectedly ordinary, so I answered vaguely.

What had I been up to? I wasn’t sure myself.

I had spent a few days in the North, trying to relax and avoiding contact with anyone.

I hadn’t even had a full day of rest here.

“I came here to rest, but things got a bit complicated.”

Adriana remained silent despite my awkward chuckle.

I didn’t know what she was thinking. I couldn’t tell from her closed eyes.

I simply waited for her to speak.

After a moment of silence, Adriana chuckled softly and spoke.

“…You have a talent for finding trouble. You came to the North to see the Grand Duchess, didn’t you?”

“There were other matters, but yes.”

I wouldn’t have come if Adele hadn’t called for me.

If I hadn’t felt the resentment in her letter, I wouldn’t have even considered visiting the North.

Perhaps I would have been at the Imperial Palace, handling other matters with Kaitel.

I had come to the North because I wanted a brief respite before things got busy.

I couldn’t rest even if I wanted to now, so I had come to see Adele, the person I hadn’t seen in the longest time, for a final moment of peace.

I had forgotten my original purpose. The realization felt like a thorn in my throat.

I didn’t know why I had become so impatient.

I had come here to rest, but I was making things complicated for myself. I had hastily postponed my schedule and rushed into investigating the masked figures.

“You know you won’t find anything even if you rush.”

“You never know-”

“Robert, are you stupid?”

I smiled wryly at Adriana’s frown. I couldn’t refute her words.

It was spring.

Summer hadn’t arrived yet, and autumn, the season where things began to stir, was still far away.

Winter, the season for plotting, and then next spring… I still had an entire year.

So why was I so impatient?

Perhaps it was because so much had changed, and I was trying to carry the burden alone.

I didn’t want anyone to die. It was fine if I got hurt.

But if something happened to the people I cared about, I would blame myself for failing to protect them.

Some might think it was easy for me to prevent things I already knew from happening thanks to my regressions, but it wasn’t true at all.

Even if I prevented it, the fundamental problem remained.

There were still things I didn’t know, and this damn regression cycle, initiated by the Four Dragons, inevitably led to my death.

Things were complicated because the people I cared about had increased.

I thought I had to finish everything quickly, that everything would fall apart if I didn’t act fast.

“I was relieved to see you had changed a little when we last met. Perhaps it’s because I know about your past, but the darkness that always surrounded you had brightened somewhat.”

“And how do I seem now?”

“You look tired. Like you’re about to collapse.”

I touched my cheek at her words and looked at the mirror beside me.

The man in the mirror had haggard eyes.

He was smiling, but it wasn’t a natural smile.

I had smiled at Adele just the other day, so when had I become like this?

Adriana gently stroked my hand as I touched the dark circles under my eyes, and her soft voice, like a lullaby, eased the tension in my body.

“You’re pushing yourself too hard.”

“…But-”

“I know, Robert. I know what you’re worried about, what you’re working so hard for.”

I knew what she meant.

She was the only one who knew everything about my past regressions and empathized with me.

Unlike Adele, Adriana understood that my values were centered around others, not myself.

“You’re doing this because you’re afraid we’ll die, aren’t you?”

“…”

“You’ve done a good job protecting us so far. It’s okay to be a bit more optimistic. You protected Miragen when she was in danger, and you’ll protect the Grand Duchess too.”

I wished it would be that easy. The Four Dragons had become a source of anxiety for me.

The truth I had tried to ignore, the truth I knew but had tried to push aside…

It had become a direct threat.

The first day I slept with Adele was the last time I had slept peacefully in the North.

I couldn’t shake the thought of the Four Dragons, and I spent the following nights tossing and turning, covering my ears with a pillow and barely falling asleep before waking up at dawn.

It wasn’t a healthy state of mind. But…

I felt like I had to keep moving.

I could only act after receiving news from Arwen, but I was trying to take care of other things during that time.

I hadn’t found any information about the masked figures, but I believed I could find some clues if I went near the uncharted territory.

But what if I couldn’t find anything? Who would be responsible for the wasted time?

I suddenly clutched my throbbing head.

Adriana, who had been sitting beside me, heard my groan and embraced me.

The warmth of her body eased the pain slightly, and her voice reached my ears.

“It’s okay to rest sometimes. There’s no need to rush. Nothing much will change even if you do.”

“I know. I know, but…”

“You’re anxious, aren’t you? I understand. Have you forgotten who understands you best?”

I hadn’t forgotten. But I felt like I didn’t deserve to rely on anyone.

I had only achieved a small part of my goal. I wasn’t strong enough to protect everyone I cared about. I hadn’t fully recovered my strength, and I still didn’t know the masked figures’ true identities.

So I had been trying to run, but I knew I was simply struggling in vain.

Adriana held me and patted my back, whispering that it was okay, that it was alright to rest sometimes.

I was still hesitant. Was it really okay to stop and look around?

If I stopped, wouldn’t time leave me behind?

But… if it was truly alright…

My lips trembled, and a small voice escaped.

“Is it okay…?”

“What is?”

“…Is it okay to… lean on you?”

Adriana chuckled softly and answered.

“Of course. It’s always okay if it’s you.”

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