...
"Please take care of him. We couldn't be good parents..."
Someone read a letter and moved their gaze to a 7-year-old skinny kid.
"Ren, since your parents are not here, you will live here."
Ren nodded.
It was not the first time he was staying with them.
"Yes, uncle," the kid nodded with a smile.
...
"S-Stop it!" I shouted at the boys who were hitting me. One of them spilled water on me from his bottle.
I am used to it now. Every day at school, whenever they get a chance, they bully me.
Suddenly, a girl wearing a mask, about my age, rushed in front of me. She put her finger on her lips.
"Shh." She motioned for me not to shout.
"DON'T YOU ALL DARE BULLY HIM OR ELSE!" she shouted while stretching one hand toward the sky—quite dramatic.
"Or else? What can you even do, chick?" A tall boy stepped in front of the group. He gave off a don't mess with me vibe.
"What else? Are you scared to speak?" he glared at the girl.
"You will regret it." The girl smiled and quickly took out a pepper spray and used it on the boy.
The boy didn't get time to react. Suddenly, the girl kicked him in the stomach.
"Ugh!" The boy gasped in pain. The kick was enough to shut him down.
"Else I will bully you instead," the girl continued.
All the boys who were bullying me ran away. I looked at the girl. "Thank you, Riyu."
"Ugh!" I cried in pain as Riyu hit my head.
"I told you earlier not to call me by my name when I wear a mask."
...
In a white void
"Do you still think they can entertain us?" a black-colored entity said, sitting on a colorless throne while looking at a beautiful woman.
Her beauty was unimaginable. Black hair whose length touched the ground, sharp red eyes so attractive that if you saw them, you couldn't move at all. Pure white skin, whiter than milk. She wore a dark black dress that covered half her chest and her entire body except her face.
"If they are chosen by Dvisa, they will be entertaining," the woman replied confidently.
"But they can't even complete a trial," the black entity protested.
"Don't worry," the woman said seductively. She came closer to the entity, sat on the edge of the throne, and put her finger on his cheek.
"If you say so," he replied after a while. "But remember, I didn't want an uninteresting story."
"Sure, my lord," the woman answered while caressing his cheek.
...
My eyes opened suddenly.
What the hell just happened?!
Why am I still alive?
I looked around in haste. I could feel my heartbeat.
Why didn't I die?
This is irritating. I spotted Riyu lying at the same distance as before.
Are we looping?
I don't care. All I want is to be free for now.
I slapped my cheek. "Ahh." This is not something I'm imagining.
...
Blood started flowing from my broken face as I smashed it with a big rock. I wanted to test something.
It hurts.
["Failed"]
["Trial Restarting"]
Again, I opened my eyes. I was lying in the same location as before.
I dragged Riyu to a tree, then smashed my head on the rock again.
["Failed"]
["Trial Restarting"]
...
["Failed"]
["Trial Restarting"]
...
["Failed"]
["Trial Restarting"]
...
As I woke up again after several trials, I could confirm many things:
1st: We are looping. If Riyu or I die, time reverses.
2nd: If we both die, time reverses.
3rd: Our bodies do not get used to the pain we suffer.
4th: After a certain number of loops, my and Riyu's positions change.
For now, I want to run away. I don't want to be a burden for Riyu at all.
And even if I die, I will get respawned.
This place we are in is not included in the knowledge the goddess gives us.
I took a deep breath and looked in one direction. "Sorry, Riyu." I started running as far as possible from her. Maybe this will save her. I am already a big burden to her.
I must figure out what is happening.
"Stop, kid." I heard a voice from behind.
I turned and saw a tall, skinny man, looking like he hadn't eaten for days—or probably weeks. He had big eyes that stood out from his face. He looked helpless.
"Kid, what is your name?" he finally spoke.
My legs froze. I couldn't move at all.
"You didn't answer me, kid. What is your name?" he asked again in a calm voice while coming closer.
I can't trust him at all. He may look weak, but this intense pressure…
I can't just tell him my real name.
"R-Ren."
What the hell? Why can't I tell a fake name?!
The man came closer. "Lying is a bad thing, kid. You shouldn't try to lie," he said calmly.
Soon, he was right in front of me. I could feel his breath.
"Only bad kids lie. And do you know what bad kids receive when they lie?"
He smiled and slowly whispered, "Punishment."
"Don't worry, kid. I will purify you."
Suddenly, I heard a cracking sound from behind him.
"Enough!!"
A big rock fell on the man's head.
I looked ahead and saw Riyu. Using a branch, she had thrown the rock at him. He didn't react at all and ended up getting smashed. He was now nowhere to be seen.
She ran toward me. "Are you okay?!" she asked, shaking my shoulders.
"Yes, I'm okay," I replied.
"Idiot, don't you dare leave me alone." She punched my stomach.
"Fine, fine," I replied in defeat.
"What is your name, kid?" Suddenly, the man appeared in front of us.
"What the hell—he is alive?!" Riyu was shocked.
Suddenly, Riyu's eyes widened. "Why can't I move?!"
"What is your name, kid?" the man asked her.
"Don't try to lie," I whispered to Riyu.
"Riyu."
"What is your age?"
"15."
"What is your gender?"
"Female."
"Do you want that boy to die?"
"No!" Riyu answered off-guard.
"Do you care about him?" With each question, the man moved closer.
"Yes."
"You seem quite honest, girl." His smile widened—far worse than anything I had ever seen. His face filled me with disgust. I wanted to punch it, but I couldn't move.
"Let's see how honest."
"Now both of you answer my questions correctly."
We were terrified as his eyes nearly bulged out of his face.
"What is my name?" he asked.
After a while, I gathered courage. "H-H—"
My voice wouldn't come out.
I took a deep breath. "How are we supposed to know?"
"Guess it," the man replied. Then he sighed. "I'll give you a hint."
"I am a servant of your best friend. It doesn't matter if you ignore him. He sees no difference between poor or rich, girl or boy, ugly or handsome, young or old. Everyone is the same to him. You can't deny him. I am a piece of that thing. Red is my favorite color, though it is not pleasant for others."
.
.
.
.
.
After a while, Ren said,
"Servant of death."
"What a good boy you are." The man's smile widened, breaking his cheeks.
"You deserve a reward."
"I will let both of you ask three questions."
The smile disappeared.
"Where are we?" Riyu asked quickly.
"Trial of ýparxi̱."
"How do we complete it?" Ren asked.
"Defeat the demon inside this forest."
"Where is he?" Riyu asked eagerly.
"Always near you."