The guild was already buzzing with activity when Kaito stepped through the heavy wooden doors. The scent of stale ale, smoke, and unwashed armor hit him like a wall, mingling with the constant hum of adventurers shouting, laughing, and arguing. It was chaotic, loud, and somehow felt more alive than the last time he was here. Or maybe that was just because he wasn't on the brink of being squashed by a giant frog this time.
His eyes darted around the room, searching for her. He didn't know her name—just that she was a blue-haired goddess. If she was even remotely goddess-like, she'd stand out like a beacon in this sea of armor-clad mercenaries and drunken layabouts. Or so he assumed.
He moved through the crowd, sidestepping a half-drunken brawl near the bar and narrowly avoiding a flying tankard. "Blue hair," he muttered under his breath. "How hard can it be to spot someone like that? She's a goddess, for crying out loud."
And then he saw her.
In the far corner of the guild hall, standing atop a hastily assembled wooden platform, was a woman with long, flowing blue hair. She was smiling brightly, her arms stretched wide as she spoke to a sparse group of onlookers, most of whom looked more interested in their drinks than whatever she was saying.
"Come forth, weary travelers!" she called out, her voice melodramatic and entirely too loud. "Receive the divine blessing of Aqua, the goddess of water and life!"
Kaito froze mid-step, squinting at the scene. That's her?
The woman—Aqua, apparently—was waving her hands in what Kaito assumed was supposed to be a grand, goddess-like gesture. But it looked more like she was conducting an invisible orchestra. Her voice carried on with exaggerated reverence, but Kaito couldn't help but notice the way she stumbled slightly as she turned, catching her heel on the edge of the platform.
As she continued her "blessings," Kaito saw one of her onlookers yawn and wander off. Another sat slouched in their chair, absently scratching their chin as if debating whether it was worth paying attention at all.
He stood there for a moment, watching as Aqua clapped her hands together and poured what appeared to be water—holy water?—onto the head of an adventurer who looked more annoyed than blessed. The adventurer sighed, muttered something under his breath, and walked away, leaving Aqua standing there with her arms still raised, smiling as if she'd performed a miracle.
Kaito tilted his head, frowning. "That doesn't look… very divine," he muttered.
She hopped down from the platform, beaming and shouting, "Next!" to absolutely no one in particular.
"Okay," Kaito whispered to himself, folding his arms as he leaned against a nearby support beam. "This is the goddess? The same one I've been hearing about? She doesn't exactly scream 'cosmic savior.'"
For a moment, he debated walking away. Based on what he was seeing, she didn't look like she'd be much help, divine or not. But curiosity got the better of him.
He took a deep breath, steeling himself as he approached the self-proclaimed goddess. "Let's see if you're actually worth the title," he muttered under his breath.
Kaito walked up to the self-proclaimed goddess, Aqua, feeling a mix of skepticism and desperation. Up close, she looked less like an all-powerful deity and more like someone who would confidently screw up an important group project. Still, she was a goddess—or at least claimed to be—and he was out of better ideas.
"Excuse me," he said, stopping a few feet away from her platform.
Aqua turned to him with a dazzling smile, her hands on her hips as if she'd just finished a grand performance. "Yes? Are you here for a blessing? Perhaps divine guidance? You've come to the right place!"
"Something like that," Kaito muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. "Look, I've got a bit of a… situation, and I was hoping you could help. Maybe with a blessing or an exorcism or something?"
Aqua tilted her head, her smile faltering slightly. "An exorcism? What are you, possessed?"
"No, no," Kaito said quickly, waving his hands. "It's not like that. I'm stuck in a time loop."
Her eyes narrowed, and she crossed her arms. "A time loop?"
"Yes," Kaito said, leaning closer, his voice lowering. "Every time I die, the day resets. This is the second time it's happened. I thought maybe someone like you, you know, a goddess, might be able to help."
Aqua blinked at him, then frowned. "Huh. That sounds more like a clerical issue. Did you talk to the afterlife office? I'm not responsible for time loops, you know."
"I didn't ask for a time loop!" Kaito snapped, exasperated. "I just want to know how to break it! Or at least survive long enough to figure it out!"
Aqua rubbed her chin thoughtfully, clearly enjoying the attention despite her complete lack of understanding. Then, with a triumphant smirk, she pointed at him dramatically. "No problem! This is nothing for a goddess of my caliber. A simple purification should fix whatever's wrong with you."
Kaito raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure?"
"Of course!" Aqua said, puffing out her chest. "Time loops, curses, bad luck—it's all the same. Just watch and be amazed!"
Before Kaito could protest, Aqua began her so-called purification. She clasped her hands together, muttering an incantation that sounded suspiciously like she was making it up as she went along. Glowing blue light swirled around her hands, and she raised them high, striking what could only be described as a showy, overly dramatic pose.
"By the power of the goddess of water, I purify this man of all impurities!" she declared, slamming her glowing hands onto Kaito's head.
There was a brief moment of silence, followed by a bright flash of light. Kaito felt a sudden, overwhelming chill shoot through his body, like he'd been dunked in a frozen lake.
"AHH! What the—?!" he shouted, stumbling backward as water poured from seemingly nowhere, soaking him from head to toe.
Aqua stepped back, looking entirely too pleased with herself as Kaito stood there, drenched and shivering.
"There! All purified!" she said, grinning. "How do you feel? Better? Stronger? Less cursed?"
Kaito wiped water from his face, his expression a mixture of disbelief and annoyance. "I feel like I just got hit by a water balloon the size of a truck!"
"Well, that's how purification works," Aqua said matter-of-factly, crossing her arms. "It cleanses you completely."
"Cleanses me?" Kaito snapped, gesturing to his soggy clothes. "You just gave me hypothermia! How is this supposed to help with a time loop?"
Aqua blinked, her confidence wavering for just a moment. "Uh… maybe it takes a minute to kick in?"
Kaito groaned, running a hand through his soaked hair. "Great. Just great. I'm stuck in a time loop, and now I'm soaking wet. This is exactly the kind of divine intervention I needed."
Aqua huffed, clearly offended. "Hey! You're lucky I even bothered! Most people would kill for a blessing from a goddess like me!"
"Yeah, well, most people probably don't have to deal with this," Kaito muttered, shaking water from his sleeves as he trudged toward the nearest corner to wring himself out.
Behind him, Aqua placed her hands on her hips, muttering something about ungrateful mortals and how "he'd see results eventually."
If nothing else, Kaito thought as he dripped water onto the guild's floor, at least the frogs couldn't make him any slimier than he already was.
As Kaito shuffled off to a corner, still dripping and muttering curses under his breath, another figure approached Aqua from across the guild hall. Kazuma, carrying his usual air of half-bored, half-sarcastic confidence, leaned casually on the edge of her wooden platform.
"I swear," he said, loud enough for Aqua to hear and just enough for Kaito to catch over his shoulder, "this town attracts the weirdest people. First, it's you, Aqua. Then it's this guy, whining about time loops. What's next, someone claiming to be a reincarnated dragon king?"
Aqua huffed, glaring at him. "Excuse me, Kazuma, but I was graciously helping that poor mortal with his predicament. Unlike some people, I take my role as a goddess seriously."
Kazuma raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Oh, really? Looked like you were just turning him into a wet mop. Are you sure your 'blessing' didn't put him in more danger than he was already in?"
Aqua stomped her foot. "How dare you! That was a perfectly executed purification ritual! If he's still cursed or loopy or whatever, it's not my fault!"
Kazuma chuckled, shaking his head. "Yeah, yeah, you're a real miracle worker, Aqua. I'm sure the gods are writing songs about how you've saved some poor, time-looped guy by soaking him like a wet dog."
Kaito, still wringing water out of his sleeves, turned to glare at Kazuma. "I'm right here, you know."
Kazuma glanced over, flashing a grin. "Yeah, I know. Don't take it personally, buddy. This town's just… full of characters like you. Welcome to Axel, the land of the eccentric."
Kaito groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "Great. That's exactly what I needed to hear."
Kazuma pushed off the platform, still grinning as he strolled away. "Good luck with your time loop thing. Maybe the frogs will go easier on you next time."
Kaito scowled, shaking his head as he muttered, "This place is a madhouse."
Aqua, still pouting, crossed her arms and muttered, "Ungrateful mortals. I'll show them all someday…"
Kaito just sighed, staring at the puddle forming at his feet. "Someday," he muttered to himself, "I'm going to find someone who actually knows what they're doing. Just… not today, apparently."
Kaito left the guild with a heavy sigh, his boots squelching with every step as water dripped from his tunic. He looked like he'd just lost a fight with a water elemental, which, honestly, wouldn't have been far from the truth.
"Great," he muttered under his breath. "I'm still stuck in a time loop, I'm soaked to the bone, and I got a 'blessing' that's about as useful as a broken compass. Fantastic start to the day."
He shoved his hands into his pockets, shoulders slumped as he trudged through the busy streets of Axel. Vendors called out their wares, adventurers bragged about their latest conquests, and somewhere in the distance, a bard was butchering a song about heroism. Kaito barely noticed any of it. His mind was too preoccupied with the fact that, despite his best efforts, he was no closer to breaking the loop—or even understanding it.
As he walked, his ears caught a snippet of conversation from a pair of travelers sitting on a bench near a fountain. Their voices carried easily over the bustle of the street.
"…Yeah, the magic shop. They say it's run by a lich," one of them said, a tall man with a wide-brimmed hat.
"A lich?" the other replied, a younger woman with a curious expression. "Isn't that, like, super dangerous?"
The man chuckled. "Normally, yeah. But apparently, this one's harmless. Kindhearted, even. I heard she's just a little scatterbrained. People say she knows all sorts of magic—curses, enchantments, you name it."
Kaito froze mid-step, his interest piqued. He turned toward the travelers, his mind racing. A lich? Kindhearted but scatterbrained? That sounds… weirdly promising. If anyone knows about curses or time loops, it'd be a lich, right?
He thought back to everything he knew about liches, which wasn't much beyond what he'd seen in movies and video games. They were supposed to be terrifying undead sorcerers with skeletal faces, glowing eyes, and a penchant for dark magic. But if this one was running a magic shop and being described as "kindhearted," maybe it wasn't a bad lead.
Kaito hesitated for a moment before approaching the travelers. "Excuse me," he said, his voice tentative.
The man and woman looked up at him, their expressions friendly but curious.
"Sorry to bother you," Kaito continued, "but I couldn't help overhearing. Did you say there's a magic shop run by a lich?"
The man nodded. "Yeah, that's right. It's a little ways outside of town, though. Not many people know about it unless they've been told."
"Do you know where it is?" Kaito asked, trying to keep the desperation out of his voice.
The woman smiled kindly. "We've never been there ourselves, but we've heard it's near the forest on the east side of town. Look for a crooked stone tower—it's supposed to be really hard to miss. People say the lich is friendly if you're polite, but… you might want to be careful anyway. You know, just in case."
"Right," Kaito said, nodding quickly. "Thank you. I appreciate it."
As he turned to leave, the man called after him. "Good luck, kid. And hey, if you make it back in one piece, let us know how it goes!"
Kaito gave them a half-hearted wave, his thoughts already focused on the next step. A magic shop run by a lich. It sounded absurd, but at this point, absurd was all he had left.
"Alright," he muttered to himself as he headed toward the east gate. "Time to see if this lich can actually help me… or if this is just going to make things even worse."
He quickened his pace, his wet clothes sticking uncomfortably to his skin. If nothing else, he figured a lich would at least have better answers than a certain blue-haired goddess. Probably.
Kaito stepped through the east gate of Axel, the bustling town fading behind him as he set off on the dirt path leading out into the countryside. He adjusted the strap on his pouch and muttered to himself, "Crooked tower. How hard can it be to find a tower that looks like it's about to fall over?"
The scenery around him was, admittedly, beautiful. Rolling green hills stretched out on either side of the path, dotted with wildflowers and the occasional cluster of trees. Birds chirped overhead, their cheerful melodies drifting on the breeze.
But as he walked, the peaceful atmosphere did little to calm his nerves. The landscape was uncomfortably familiar. The last time he'd walked this way, he'd been on his way to Frog Lake—and that hadn't exactly ended well.
Kaito's grip on his pouch tightened as he glanced around, half-expecting to see a giant frog leaping out of the bushes. "Great," he muttered under his breath. "The scenery's gorgeous, but all I can think about is getting squashed or slimed. Perfect way to ruin the vibe."
Still, he forced himself to focus. This was different. He wasn't heading toward the lake this time. He had a goal, a lead, and maybe—just maybe—someone who could actually help him.
The thought of meeting a lich was both thrilling and terrifying. Everything he knew about liches came from media he'd consumed back in his old life: games, movies, books. They were supposed to be terrifying undead sorcerers, their skeletal forms shrouded in dark robes, their glowing eyes capable of piercing your soul.
But if the travelers were to be believed, this lich was… kindhearted? Scatterbrained? The descriptions didn't exactly line up with the ominous image he had in his head.
"Kindhearted or not, a lich has to know something about curses," Kaito reasoned aloud, his voice breaking the quiet around him. "If anyone can help me figure out this time loop mess, it's probably her."
He kept walking, his eyes scanning the horizon for any sign of a tower. The path wound gently through the hills, the occasional tree casting long shadows in the morning light.
"Crooked tower, crooked tower," he murmured to himself, trying to stay focused. But the further he walked, the more his nerves began to creep in. What if the travelers had been wrong? What if this was just another dead end?
"No," he said firmly, shaking his head. "Stay positive, Kaito. You're not running from frogs this time. You've got this."
A soft breeze swept through the hills, carrying with it the faint scent of wildflowers and damp earth. Kaito paused for a moment, taking a deep breath and letting the tension ease from his shoulders. For all his grumbling, he had to admit: this world could be pretty incredible when it wasn't actively trying to kill him.
"Alright," he muttered, starting down the path again. "Let's find this tower and see if this lich has some answers. Or, at the very least, isn't interested in turning me into a frog snack."
He pressed on, the winding path ahead giving way to a gentle slope that promised a clearer view of the landscape—and, hopefully, the crooked tower he was searching for.
Kaito crested the gentle slope, the path leveling out as he reached the top. From his vantage point, the rolling countryside stretched out before him like a painting, the sunlight casting a golden glow over the hills. He shaded his eyes with his hand, scanning the landscape for anything that resembled a tower.
And then he saw it.
Nestled near the edge of a sparse forest was a structure that defied all logic and architectural sensibility. The tower leaned precariously to one side, its upper floors twisting slightly as though it had grown bored of being straight. Bits of stone jutted out at odd angles, and the whole thing looked like it might collapse if someone so much as sneezed near it.
Kaito let out a sigh of relief. "There it is. Finally."
With a renewed sense of purpose, he made his way down the slope and toward the crooked tower. Each step brought him closer to what he hoped would be answers—or, at the very least, some clarity on his bizarre situation.
When he reached the base of the tower, he hesitated for a moment, staring up at its impossibly tilted form. The wooden door was slightly ajar, creaking softly as the wind nudged it. A crudely painted sign above the doorway read:
"MAGIC SHOP—PLEASE DON'T TOUCH THE STAFF."
Kaito blinked at the sign, then shrugged. "Alright. Here goes nothing."
He pushed the door open, and a small bell jingled somewhere inside, announcing his arrival.
The interior of the shop was dimly lit, with narrow beams of sunlight streaming in through dusty windows. The air was thick with the smell of old paper, herbs, and something faintly metallic. Shelves lined the walls, crammed with all manner of artifacts, mysterious tomes, and glass jars filled with ingredients that looked like they belonged in a horror movie.
But it was the potions that caught Kaito's attention. Rows of colorful vials sat neatly on a nearby table, each one labeled with a handwritten tag—and, more importantly, a disclaimer.
He picked up a small vial of bright pink liquid. The tag read:
"Love Potion #7: Results May Vary. Side Effects Include Uncontrollable Weeping."
Kaito grimaced and set it down, moving to the next one—a murky green potion with a label that read:
"Swampfoot Cure: 50% Success Rate! (May Cause Excessive Toe Hair)."
He snorted, shaking his head as he moved on. Another vial, a deep blue one this time, was labeled:
"Potion of Invisibility: Warning—Only Works When No One Is Looking."
"Great," Kaito muttered, setting it back down. "The place where potions go to fail basic quality control."
He continued to scan the shelves, his eyes lingering on a few items that looked vaguely cursed, including a glowing skull with a tag that read: "DO NOT TAUNT."
"Yeah, this is definitely the right place," Kaito muttered, shaking his head. "If a lich can't help me figure out this time loop, I don't know who can."
He moved deeper into the shop, the sound of his footsteps muffled by the thick layer of dust on the floor. Somewhere in the back, he could hear faint humming—high-pitched and oddly cheerful.
"Okay," he whispered to himself, gripping the strap of his pouch tightly. "Time to meet the lich."
Kaito ventured further into the shop, the faint humming growing louder with each step. It was an odd sound, bright and melodic, at complete odds with the gloomy, dust-filled interior. Eventually, he came to a small counter that looked like it might serve as the shop's front desk. The surface was cluttered with oddities: more potions, a stack of ancient-looking books, and a half-melted candle dripping wax onto the wood.
In the center of the counter sat a small silver bell. Kaito hesitated for a moment, then tapped it lightly.
Ding.
The sound echoed in the stillness, and for a moment, nothing happened. Kaito glanced around, half-expecting the lich to appear in a puff of smoke or step out from a shadowy corner with glowing eyes and skeletal hands. Instead, the faint humming stopped, replaced by the soft shuffle of footsteps.
A door at the back of the shop creaked open, and a woman stepped through.
Kaito blinked. Then he blinked again.
The woman looked to be about his age—early twenties, maybe—with fair skin and a curvaceous figure. Her brown eyes were warm, almost shy, and her wavy brown hair fell to her shoulders, curling slightly at the tips. A stray ahoge arced adorably from the top of her head, swaying slightly as she moved. She wore a long light-purple dress under a darker purple hooded robe with golden accents, along with a golden cross-shaped brooch adorned with bat wings.
Everything about her seemed so… normal.
Kaito stared, his brain struggling to process the situation. "Uh… hi," he said awkwardly. "Sorry to bother you. I'm looking for a lich, but clearly, they're not here, so I'll just—"
The woman tilted her head, her expression softening. "Oh, but I am the lich. My name is Wiz. How can I help you?"
Kaito froze. His brain hit a wall so hard it might as well have left skid marks. "You're… a lich?"
"Yes," Wiz said, nodding with a kind smile. "Is something wrong?"
Kaito took a moment to mentally reboot. He had consumed enough fantasy media to know what a lich was supposed to look like—skeletal, glowing eyes, spooky robes, maybe a staff covered in skulls. This? This was not that.
"You're sure you're a lich?" he asked, still staring.
Wiz nodded again. "I'm absolutely sure."
Kaito sighed, running a hand down his face. "Okay. Sure. Why not? Let's roll with it." He took a deep breath, trying to shift gears. "Anyway, my name's Kaito. I was told you might know something about curses or time magic."
"Oh?" Wiz said, her brow furrowing slightly. "What seems to be the problem?"
"Well," Kaito began, scratching the back of his neck, "I think I'm trapped in a time loop. Every time I die, the day resets. This is only the second time it's happened, but, uh, I'd really like it to stop. Any chance it's some kind of curse? Or a spell? Something you've seen before?"
Wiz's warm expression shifted to one of concern, and she clasped her hands in front of her. "A time loop? That's… very unusual. I've heard of curses that affect time, but I've never encountered one in Axel. Are you certain it's a loop? Could it be some kind of magical anomaly?"
Kaito shrugged. "All I know is I keep waking up in the same bed, in the same inn, on the same day, and every time I die, it starts all over again."
Wiz bit her lip, her face thoughtful. "That does sound like a curse, but it's not one I recognize. If it's not something from around here, then…" Her eyes widened slightly. "It might be demon magic."
"Demon magic?" Kaito repeated, his heart sinking.
"Yes," Wiz said, looking flustered. "There are some powerful demons capable of manipulating time and reality. If one of them cast this spell on you, it could explain why the loop resets whenever you die."
Kaito groaned, slumping against the counter. "Great. So not only am I stuck in a loop, but now I might have demons involved?"
Wiz reached out, patting his shoulder gently. "I'm so sorry. I wish I could give you a definitive answer, but I've never dealt with anything like this before. Still, I'll do everything I can to help you."
Kaito sighed, giving her a faint smile. "Thanks. I appreciate it. Even if you don't know much about time loops, you're already more helpful than a certain goddess I know."
Wiz blinked, tilting her head. "A goddess? You spoke to a goddess about this?"
"Yeah," Kaito muttered, rubbing his temples. "Let's just say that didn't go well."
Wiz gave him a sympathetic smile. "Well, I may not be able to break the loop just yet, but I can try to learn more about it. Perhaps there's a clue in one of my tomes."
Kaito nodded, feeling a flicker of hope. "That's more than I've gotten so far. Thanks, Wiz."
She smiled warmly, her kindness shining through. "It's no trouble at all. We'll figure this out together."
Kaito wasn't entirely sure what to make of her yet, but one thing was clear: he'd finally found someone who actually wanted to help. And for now, that was enough.
Wiz moved gracefully toward one of the cluttered shelves, humming softly as she began rummaging through the potions. The glass bottles clinked together as she carefully moved them aside, squinting at the faded labels.
"Let me see… Anti-poison… No, that's not it… Ooh, definitely not the invisibility one," she murmured, before finally picking up a bright green potion that swirled ominously in its bottle. She held it up triumphantly, turning back to Kaito with a cheerful smile.
"Here we are! Anti-Curse Brew!" she declared, handing him the potion. "This should, in theory, disrupt any lingering curse magic affecting you."
Kaito eyed the bottle, noting the way the liquid inside shimmered unnaturally. "In theory?" he repeated, raising an eyebrow.
"Well," Wiz said, looking slightly sheepish, "I've never actually had a time loop curse to test it on before, so… this will be a first!"
Kaito stared at her for a long moment, then sighed. "You know what? Sure. Why not? At this point, I'll try anything."
He uncorked the potion, wincing as a sharp, almost metallic smell hit his nose. "Yikes. Smells like… burned pickles."
Wiz giggled nervously. "It's perfectly safe! I think."
Kaito didn't bother arguing. With a deep breath and a silent prayer to any gods who might be listening, he tipped the potion back and chugged it in one go.
The taste was, somehow, worse than the smell. It burned his throat on the way down, leaving a strange, fizzy aftertaste that made his tongue tingle.
For a moment, nothing happened. Kaito wiped his mouth and looked at Wiz. "Okay, so—"
He froze mid-sentence as an odd sensation washed over him. His entire body tingled, then suddenly itched. Not a mild itch, but an all-consuming, can't-ignore-it itch that seemed to spread everywhere at once.
"Uh, Wiz?" he said, his voice rising in pitch as he scratched at his arms. "Is this… normal?"
Wiz's eyes widened. "Oh dear. That's… new."
Kaito scratched furiously, trying to relieve the itch that now covered his arms, legs, back, and—somehow—his ears. "What did you give me?!" he shouted, hopping in place as if that would help.
Wiz grabbed the empty bottle, examining the label closely. "It's definitely the Anti-Curse Brew," she said, frowning. "But it seems you might be… allergic to one of the ingredients."
"Allergic?!" Kaito yelled, still scratching. "You're telling me you gave me a potion I'm allergic to?!"
"Well, how was I supposed to know?" Wiz said, wringing her hands. "Most people don't drink this unless they're cursed!"
Kaito groaned, doubling over as the itching intensified. Then, as if things couldn't get worse, he felt his entire body start to vibrate. "Uh… Wiz?" he said, his voice trembling. "Why do I feel like I'm buzzing?"
"Oh dear," Wiz said again, her tone growing more panicked. "That… that could be the secondary reaction. It's harmless, I promise!"
"Secondary reaction?!" Kaito snapped, his voice shaking as he vibrated so violently that his feet actually started lifting off the ground. "What do you mean harmless?!"
Before she could answer, Kaito let out a yelp as he shot upward, ricocheting off the ceiling and bouncing around the shop like a human pinball.
"Whoa! Ow! Hey—OW!" he shouted as he crashed into shelves, sending potions and artifacts flying. A jar full of glowing beetles shattered against the wall, and a strange skull rolled across the floor, cackling ominously.
Wiz ducked as Kaito careened past her, a whirlwind of flailing limbs and panicked shouts. "Oh no!" she cried. "Please stop bouncing! You're going to break something!"
"I'M NOT DOING THIS ON PURPOSE!" Kaito yelled, slamming into another shelf and sending a cloud of dust into the air.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the buzzing subsided, and Kaito collapsed onto the floor in a heap, groaning. He lay there, panting and covered in dust, broken potion bottles, and a disturbingly large spider that he swatted away with a weak hand.
"Well," he muttered, staring up at the ceiling. "That was… an experience."
Wiz rushed over, kneeling beside him with a look of genuine concern. "Are you alright?!"
Kaito turned his head to glare at her, still catching his breath. "Define 'alright.'"
"I'm so sorry," Wiz said, bowing her head apologetically. "I really thought it would work!"
"Yeah, well," Kaito groaned, dragging himself to a sitting position, "next time, maybe warn me about the side effects before handing me something labeled 'Anti-Curse.'"
Wiz nodded earnestly. "You're absolutely right. I'll make sure to update the label!"
Kaito sighed, rubbing his temples. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but that goddess was less dangerous than you."
Wiz blinked, looking genuinely hurt. "Oh no! Please don't say that!"
"Fine," Kaito said, waving her off. "Just… maybe stick to reading tomes for now."
Wiz nodded again, her expression filled with determination. "I'll find another way to help you, I promise!"
As she moved back to her shelves, Kaito leaned against the counter, still trying to catch his breath. "This day just keeps getting better and better," he muttered, closing his eyes as he braced himself for whatever madness would come next.
Wiz fidgeted nervously, her hands clasped in front of her as she stood amidst the chaos of her shop. Broken bottles, scattered artifacts, and trails of glowing beetles littered the floor. She gave Kaito an apologetic bow, her voice soft and earnest.
"I'm so sorry, Kaito," she said, her tone brimming with regret. "I really thought the Anti-Curse Brew would help. But after… well, that—" She gestured vaguely at the mess. "—it's probably best if I don't try anything else right now. For your sake and… for the sake of my shop."
Kaito rubbed the back of his head, still feeling a faint tingle from the potion's aftereffects. "Yeah, no argument here," he muttered. "I think I've hit my quota for bouncing around like a human pinball today."
Wiz nodded solemnly. "But I promise I'll keep researching. I'll look through every tome, every record I have. If there's even the slightest clue about your time loop, I'll find it."
Kaito sighed, leaning against the counter. "Well, it's better than nothing," he said, his voice weary. "At least it's progress. Sort of."
Wiz smiled warmly, her kind demeanor shining through. "Thank you for being so patient. I'll do everything I can to help you."
Kaito nodded, offering her a faint smile. "Thanks, Wiz. I appreciate it. Really."
Before the moment could settle, a deep, smooth voice echoed from the shadows at the back of the shop.
"Well, well. What do we have here?"
Kaito stiffened, his eyes darting toward the corner of the room. From behind a shelf stacked with dusty tomes and strange trinkets, a figure stepped into view, his presence somehow both regal and ominous.
The man wore a sleek black suit, his white gloves pristine despite the dusty shop. His mask—a striking black-and-white design—covered his entire face, with small star-shaped marks under each eyehole. The mask itself was unnervingly expressive, almost as if it could smirk.
"Vanir," Wiz said softly, her tone somewhere between annoyance and resignation.
"Ah, Wiz," the man said, spreading his arms theatrically. "You always do keep the most fascinating company."
Kaito eyed him warily. "Uh… who's this guy?"
Vanir turned toward him, his mask tilting slightly as though appraising him. "Ah, the cursed soul," he said, his tone dripping with amusement. "How delightful. You're even more entertaining up close than I imagined."
"Cursed soul?" Kaito repeated, taking a cautious step back.
Vanir strode forward, his movements smooth and deliberate. "Yes, yes. A poor, unfortunate mortal caught in the relentless grip of a time loop. Every death resets the day, trapping you in an endless cycle of suffering and hilarity. What a wonderful predicament!"
Kaito's brow furrowed, his unease growing. "How do you know about that?"
Vanir chuckled, the sound deep and rich. "I know many things, dear boy. And I must say, your situation is positively dripping with comedic potential." He clasped his hands behind his back, leaning slightly closer. "Tell me, how does it feel to know that every attempt to escape your fate only brings you back to the same starting line?"
Kaito's stomach churned as Vanir's words sank in. "Yeah, I don't think I like you," he muttered.
Vanir straightened, letting out a theatrical sigh. "Oh, don't be so quick to judge. I'm merely an observer, here to enjoy the spectacle." His mask tilted slightly, the star marks catching the light. "And what a spectacle it is. Your curse is far more entertaining than you realize, mortal."
Before Kaito could respond, Vanir took a step back, his form beginning to fade into shadow. "I do hope you survive long enough to make this even more amusing. Until then, I'll be watching."
With that, he vanished, leaving only a faint shimmer in the air where he'd stood.
Kaito stared at the empty space, his heart pounding. "What the hell was that?"
Wiz sighed, shaking her head. "That was Vanir. He's… a Duke of Hell. He shows up sometimes to bother me."
Kaito gawked at her. "And you're just… okay with that?"
"Well, he's not usually this interested in my customers," Wiz admitted, her brow furrowing.
Kaito let out a shaky breath, rubbing his temples. "Great. A time loop, a useless goddess, and now a literal demon thinks I'm some kind of entertainment. My life just keeps getting better."
Wiz placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry, Kaito. I'll keep looking for answers. We'll figure this out."
"Yeah," Kaito muttered, his voice hollow. "Sure. No pressure."
But as he left the shop, Vanir's words lingered in his mind, gnawing at him. Far more entertaining than you realize.
Whatever that meant, Kaito was certain of one thing: his curse was far from simple. And the more he learned, the less he liked what he was finding.
As Kaito trudged back into Axel, the familiar noise of the bustling town greeted him—merchants shouting their deals, adventurers boasting about their latest conquests, and the occasional clatter of carts on cobblestone streets. He didn't feel any better after his visit to Wiz's shop. If anything, Vanir's ominous parting words had made him even more uneasy.
He barely had time to dwell on it before a sharp, authoritative voice cut through the din.
"Hear ye, hear ye! A new monster threat has been spotted on the outskirts of Axel, to the west!"
Kaito turned his head toward the source, spotting a town crier standing atop a small wooden podium. The man's booming voice carried over the crowd, and a few curious onlookers gathered to listen.
"A swarm of slimes has been seen wandering near the fields! Adventurers are advised to proceed with caution and eliminate the threat! Reward available from the Guild!" the crier continued, ringing a small bell for emphasis.
Kaito stopped in his tracks, considering the news. Slime monsters? That sounded… manageable. Maybe. At the very least, they sounded less horrifying than giant frogs, and if they were on the west side of town, he wouldn't have to venture anywhere near Frog Lake.
He sighed, tapping his chin thoughtfully. "Alright, Kaito," he muttered to himself, "think about this. Frogs are a death trap, and I still don't have any leads on the time loop. But maybe… maybe if I take on something smaller, I'll figure something out. At the very least, slimes don't have giant mouths to swallow me whole."
The logic made sense in his head. Slimes were supposed to be the quintessential low-level monster, right? The kind of enemy even the greenest adventurer could handle. If he could deal with the slime threat, maybe he'd get some new insight into the loop—or at the very least, gain some confidence.
"And worst case," he muttered with a shrug, "I get covered in goo. Which is still better than dying."
Decision made, Kaito headed for the Guild. If slimes were going to be his next challenge, he wanted to get as much information as he could before heading out.
As he walked, a faint sense of unease crept into his mind. He shook it off, steeling himself. "Come on, Kaito. You've got this. It's just slimes. What's the worst that could happen?"
The distant sound of a bell ringing echoed in his ears as he quickened his pace. Somewhere deep down, he had the unsettling feeling that his optimism might be misplaced.
When Kaito arrived at the guild, the chaos inside was as familiar as ever—boisterous adventurers exchanging exaggerated tales, clinking mugs, and the occasional sound of something breaking in the background. But it was noticeably less crowded than usual, likely due to the slime threat on the west side of town drawing most of the available adventurers.
Kaito weaved through the guildhall, sidestepping a pair of half-drunken fighters arguing about whose sword was sharper, and approached the receptionist desk. There she was, the same perpetually bored receptionist he'd seen on every loop, her expression as lifeless as a houseplant in the dark. She barely glanced up as he walked over.
"What do you want?" she asked flatly, flipping through a stack of papers.
Kaito leaned on the counter, lowering his voice slightly. "I heard about the slime threat on the west side. What can you tell me?"
The receptionist sighed heavily, as though he'd just asked her to run a marathon. "Slimes," she said, flipping another paper over. "Yep. They're out near the fields. Not a huge deal, but they've started wandering a little closer to the outskirts than usual. Basic stuff. You kill them, they stop sliming things, you get paid. Next question?"
Kaito raised an eyebrow. "That's it? That's all you've got?"
"That's all there is to know," she said with a shrug. "It's slimes. Not exactly the most complicated monsters. Though, if you're going out there, I'd recommend not stepping in any. Getting slime out of your boots is a nightmare."
"Great," Kaito muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. "Guess that's better than nothing."
As he turned to leave, something stopped him. On all his previous loops, he'd never thought to ask anything personal about anyone here. They were all just part of the noise, people who barely noticed him or repeated the same interactions over and over. But this time, for some reason, he felt the need to break the cycle, even just a little.
He turned back to the receptionist. "Hey, uh… can I ask you something?"
She glanced up, clearly uninterested but obliging nonetheless. "What?"
"What's your name?" Kaito asked, his tone casual.
That caught her off guard. Her eyebrows raised ever so slightly, and she set down the paper she was holding. "My name?" she repeated, as if no one had ever bothered to ask before.
"Yeah," Kaito said, shrugging. "I mean, I see you every day, but I've never actually gotten your name. Figured it's about time."
She blinked, then gave him a faint smirk. "It's Luna."
Kaito nodded, a small smile forming. "Luna, huh? Nice to meet you."
"Don't make it weird," she said, though her tone was softer than usual.
"Wouldn't dream of it," Kaito replied, stepping away from the desk. "Thanks for the info, Luna."
As he walked toward the guild doors, he felt an odd sense of satisfaction. It wasn't much, but it was something new, something different. And in a time loop, anything that broke the pattern was a small victory.
With renewed determination, he stepped out into the sunlight, ready to face the slimes—and whatever else the day had in store.
Kaito made his way down the cobblestone street, the chatter of the guild fading behind him as he approached the west gate. He stepped out into the open countryside, the fresh air carrying with it the faint scent of grass and wildflowers. For a moment, he let himself relax, trying to psych himself up for what was hopefully going to be a less catastrophic encounter than his last monster fight.
After walking for a few minutes, he spotted a group of adventurers in the distance. They were gathered near a field, their weapons drawn as they tried to herd a few slimes into a corner. The gelatinous creatures bounced lazily, their translucent bodies wobbling with each movement. It almost looked… harmless. Almost.
"Alright," Kaito muttered, gripping the hilt of his pitiful dagger. "This is your chance. You've got this."
He broke into a jog, drawing his weapon as he neared the group. The adventurers seemed to be doing well enough—one of them was waving a net, another had a short sword, and the third was tossing stones to keep the slimes contained. It was surprisingly organized.
"I'll help!" Kaito called out as he approached, trying to sound confident. "Let's get these things under control!"
The adventurers glanced at him, one of them nodding in acknowledgment. "Great! Just keep them from slipping past!" shouted the man with the net.
Kaito nodded, positioning himself on the far side of the group. The nearest slime, a wobbly blue blob about the size of a beach ball, quivered slightly as it turned toward him. He took a deep breath, tightening his grip on his dagger.
"Here goes nothing," he muttered, lunging forward with what he hoped was a heroic battle cry.
Unfortunately, his foot landed on a patch of loose dirt, and the momentum of his lunge turned into an unintentional slide. Kaito yelped as he lost his balance, flailing wildly before crashing onto his back with a loud thud. His dagger flew out of his hand, spinning through the air before embedding itself harmlessly into the dirt several feet away.
"Seriously?!" Kaito groaned, staring up at the sky in disbelief.
The commotion seemed to catch the slime's attention. It quivered again, bouncing toward him with what Kaito could only describe as gleeful enthusiasm.
"Uh, guys?" he called out, scrambling to sit up. "A little help here?"
One of the adventurers turned, stifling a laugh. "You alright there, rookie?"
"Define 'alright!'" Kaito snapped, fumbling for his dagger, which was just out of reach.
The slime, apparently emboldened by Kaito's lack of coordination, hopped closer. Its gelatinous body jiggled as it bounced, and Kaito swore he could hear a faint squelch with each movement.
"No, no, no—stay back!" he shouted, crawling backward as the slime loomed over him.
Just as the creature was about to pounce, one of the adventurers swooped in, swatting it with the flat of his blade and sending it bouncing harmlessly away. He extended a hand to Kaito, who took it begrudgingly, pulling himself to his feet.
"First time fighting slimes?" the man asked, smirking.
Kaito brushed dirt off his tunic, his cheeks burning. "Yeah, and it's going great, thanks for asking."
"Maybe start with standing still," the man said with a chuckle before turning back to the fight.
Kaito retrieved his dagger, glaring at the slime that had almost flattened him. "Alright," he muttered. "You got lucky this time, but it's not over yet."
With slightly less confidence and a lot more caution, he repositioned himself, ready to rejoin the effort—hopefully without face-planting again.
Kaito steadied himself, gripping his dagger tightly as he rejoined the chaotic effort to corner the slimes. His cheeks still burned with embarrassment from his earlier mishap, but he was determined to make up for it. No more flailing. No more slipping. No more being humiliated by oversized blobs of Jell-O.
One of the slimes quivered, bouncing toward him with a wet squelch, its translucent blue body wobbling with every hop. This one was smaller than the first, about the size of a backpack, but it was just as eager to get up close and personal.
"Not this time," Kaito muttered, planting his feet firmly on the ground.
The slime bounced again, closing the gap. Kaito clenched his jaw, raising his dagger and focusing on the creature's center. He waited, his heart pounding as it prepared to lunge.
"Alright… now!" he shouted, stepping forward and slashing downward with all his might.
The dagger sliced cleanly through the slime's gelatinous body, splitting it in half with a wet schlorp. For a split second, the two halves wobbled in place before dissolving into harmless puddles of goo that soaked into the dirt.
Kaito stood there, frozen, his dagger still raised. He stared at the puddles, then at the empty space where the slime had been, his brain catching up to what had just happened.
"I… I did it," he whispered, his voice barely audible. Then, louder: "I did it!"
One of the adventurers glanced over, a grin spreading across his face. "Good one, rookie!" he called, giving Kaito a thumbs-up.
Kaito lowered his dagger, his chest swelling with pride. His first monster kill. His first real victory. Sure, it wasn't glamorous. It wasn't a dragon or a demon or even one of those accursed frogs. But it was his.
For a fleeting moment, he felt like a real adventurer.
"Yeah!" he said, a triumphant grin breaking across his face. "Take that, you gelatinous—uh—thing!"
He raised his dagger in a mock salute to the fallen slime, still grinning like an idiot. The other adventurers chuckled, but it wasn't mocking this time. It was genuine.
The adrenaline buzzed in his veins as he looked around for his next target, his earlier embarrassment fading into the background. For the first time since this loop began, he felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, he could handle this after all.
"Alright," Kaito muttered, resetting his stance as another slime bounced toward him. "Who's next?"
It only took about ten minutes, but eventually, the last of the slimes had been dealt with. The field was littered with gooey puddles, and the adventurers were already cleaning their weapons or shaking slime off their boots. Kaito stood among them, breathing heavily, his dagger still in hand.
He'd taken out three slimes on his own, and the buzz of triumph still hummed in his chest. For the first time since this whole mess began, he actually felt… competent. Useful, even. He stared down at the glistening remains of his last victim, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
"Three slimes," he muttered to himself, wiping his dagger on the grass. "Not bad for a guy who couldn't stay on his feet ten minutes ago."
One of the adventurers clapped him on the shoulder as they walked past. "Nice work out there, rookie. You're not half bad."
"Thanks," Kaito said, his grin widening. "Guess I've got a knack for this slime-slaying thing."
The adventurer chuckled. "Well, don't get too cocky. Slimes are the easy part. Wait until you face something with teeth."
Kaito's grin faltered slightly as the adventurer walked away, joining the rest of the group heading back toward Axel. His earlier excitement dimmed as a heavy thought settled back into his mind: the day wasn't over.
The slimes were dealt with, but he wasn't safe. Not really. This wasn't a game where finishing a quest meant everything was fine. He still had no idea how to escape the loop, and dying—at any point—would send him right back to square one.
He let out a quiet sigh, sheathing his dagger as he waved goodbye to the other adventurers. They were heading back to the guild, probably to collect their payment, and that's exactly where he should be heading too.
"Alright," he muttered, turning toward the city. "One thing at a time. Get back to the guild, get paid, and figure out what's next. Just… don't die, Kaito. That's the main thing."
He started walking back to Axel, the city's walls rising in the distance. The weight of the loop still loomed over him, but for now, at least, he had a small victory to carry with him. It wasn't much, but it was enough to keep him moving forward.
Kaito approached the guild, the familiar noise of Axel's busy streets growing louder with each step. He felt a rare flicker of optimism—today had gone surprisingly well, all things considered. He'd avoided Frog Lake, taken out a few slimes, and hadn't humiliated himself too much in front of the other adventurers. For once, things felt… manageable.
"See? I can do this," he muttered to himself, allowing a small smile. "Just keep avoiding the frogs, stick to the easy quests, and—"
His thought was interrupted by the sound of a commotion behind him. He glanced over his shoulder just in time to see a man barreling toward him, pushing an overloaded vegetable cart that looked like it was held together by sheer willpower.
"Out of the way!" the man shouted, his voice panicked.
Kaito stepped aside instinctively, but the cart hit a loose cobblestone, jerking violently and spilling its contents—most of which seemed to be cabbages—onto the road.
"Seriously?" Kaito muttered, turning back to the cart as cabbages rolled in every direction. One particularly determined cabbage started picking up speed, rolling down the slope toward…
"No," Kaito whispered, dread creeping into his voice. "No, no, no, don't—"
The cabbage careened down the street like it had a mind of its own, bouncing off a few crates and gaining momentum as it veered toward the western exit. Toward Frog Lake.
Kaito stared after it, frozen for a moment. Then came the words that sealed his fate:
"You there!" the cart owner called out, pointing directly at Kaito. "Please! My cabbages! Can you stop it?!"
"What?" Kaito said, his voice cracking. "No! I mean, yes! I mean—why me?!"
But the man wasn't listening. He was already chasing after another runaway cabbage, leaving Kaito standing there, torn between ignoring the situation entirely and the nagging sense of guilt that maybe, just maybe, he should help.
"Ugh, fine!" Kaito groaned, breaking into a sprint after the rogue vegetable.
The cabbage was faster than it had any right to be, bouncing down the road like it was on a mission. Kaito dodged a group of startled townsfolk, nearly tripping over a stray chicken, and cursed under his breath as he realized where the cabbage was heading.
"Why is this happening?!" he shouted to no one in particular.
The cabbage hit another bump, careening off the main road and down a smaller path. Kaito skidded to a stop at the fork in the road, his heart sinking as he saw where it was leading.
The path curved gently to the left, cutting through a grassy hill. In the distance, just barely visible, was the shimmering surface of Frog Lake.
"Nope," Kaito said, shaking his head. "Not doing it. Not chasing a cabbage into frog territory."
But as he turned to walk away, the cart owner's voice echoed in his mind: "My cabbages!"
Kaito groaned, his hands clenching into fists. "This is the stupidest decision I've ever made," he muttered, before reluctantly jogging down the path.
The cabbage was waiting for him at the bottom of the hill, teetering on the edge of the lake like it knew exactly what it was doing.
"I hate this world," Kaito muttered, inching closer as he tried to grab the vegetable without stepping too close to the water.
The moment his fingers brushed the cabbage, a low, ominous croak echoed from the lake.
Kaito froze, his hand hovering over the vegetable. Slowly, he turned his head toward the sound.
A pair of bulging eyes broke the surface of the water, followed by a massive, slimy body that began lumbering toward the shore.
"Of course," Kaito said flatly. "Because why wouldn't this happen?"
The frog let out another thunderous RIBBIT, and Kaito snatched the cabbage, clutching it like it was a lifeline.
"Okay," he muttered, backing away slowly. "This is fine. I'll just leave. No sudden moves, no loud noises, and—"
The cabbage slipped from his hands, landing with a dull thud on the ground.
The frog's eyes snapped toward the sound.
"Oh, come on!" Kaito shouted, turning and sprinting back toward the city.
Behind him, the frog let out a guttural croak and began to hop after him, the ground shaking with each leap.
"Why does this keep happening?!" Kaito yelled, clutching the cabbage tightly as he ran for his life.
Kaito's lungs burned as he sprinted down the path, the cabbage clutched tightly to his chest like it was the Holy Grail. Behind him, the massive frog's guttural croaks echoed through the air, each one louder and more menacing than the last.
Thud. Thud. THUD.
The ground shook violently with each of the creature's enormous leaps, sending tremors up Kaito's legs and making it nearly impossible to keep his footing.
"Why is this frog so persistent?!" Kaito shouted, nearly tripping as a particularly large tremor sent him stumbling forward.
Before he could recover, the frog's tongue lashed out, snapping through the air with a loud whip. Kaito yelped, ducking just in time as the slimy appendage missed him by inches, splattering against the ground with a wet splat.
"Missed me, you slimy bastard!" he yelled over his shoulder, immediately regretting his words as the frog let out an angry RIBBIT and redoubled its efforts.
The path back to Axel stretched out before him, every step feeling like an eternity. Kaito's legs screamed in protest, but he pushed on, zigzagging wildly to avoid the frog's relentless tongue attacks.
Another leap from the frog sent a shockwave through the ground, causing Kaito to stumble again. He flailed his arms, barely managing to stay upright.
"Not dying today!" he muttered through gritted teeth, clutching the cabbage tighter. "Not to you! Not over this!"
The frog croaked again, its frustration palpable as it hopped closer, its leaps becoming faster and more erratic.
But then, as if by some miracle—or sheer dumb luck—a stray cart came rolling down a nearby hill, its path intersecting perfectly with the frog's next jump. The frog landed directly on top of the cart, its slimy body squishing into the wood with a loud splorch.
Kaito glanced over his shoulder, his eyes widening as he watched the cart careen off the path, carrying the confused frog with it.
"Did that just happen?" he muttered, skidding to a stop for a split second to confirm the frog was out of commission.
Another RIBBIT echoed faintly from the cart as it disappeared into the distance, heading straight for a muddy ditch.
Kaito didn't stick around to find out what happened next. He bolted back toward Axel, his heart pounding and his legs moving on autopilot.
By the time he reached the city gates, he was drenched in sweat, his breathing ragged. The cabbage was still intact—somehow—and he clutched it like it was a trophy.
He stumbled back into the cobblestone street, making a beeline for the vegetable merchant, who was frantically trying to gather the rest of his spilled goods.
"Here!" Kaito said, thrusting the cabbage toward him.
The merchant looked up, his eyes wide with disbelief. "You… you got it?!"
"Yeah," Kaito panted, doubling over to catch his breath. "Almost got flattened by a frog doing it, but yeah. Here's your stupid cabbage."
The merchant took the vegetable with reverence, cradling it like a precious artifact. "Thank you! You've saved me a fortune! If I'd lost this one, I'd be ruined!"
"Glad to help," Kaito muttered, straightening up and wiping sweat from his brow.
The merchant looked at him with genuine gratitude. "Please, take this as a token of my appreciation." He reached into his cart and handed Kaito a handful of coins, which the adventurer accepted without hesitation.
Kaito glanced at the meager reward and sighed, pocketing it. "Well, at least I didn't die," he muttered, turning to head back toward the guild.
As he walked away, a faint croak echoed in the distance, sending a shiver down his spine.
"Never chasing a cabbage again," he muttered under his breath. "Never."
Kaito trudged back through the streets of Axel, his steps heavy with exhaustion. His clothes were soaked in sweat, his legs felt like jelly, and his nerves were still frayed from his near-death experience with the frog. Despite it all, he couldn't help but feel… done. Completely, utterly done.
"That's it," he muttered to himself, dodging a stray dog that scurried across his path. "No more. I'm calling it a day."
He knew he could head back to the guild to collect his payment for the slimes, but the very thought of dealing with the chaos there made him groan. He already had a little coin from the merchant—enough for food and a night's rest—and that was good enough for him.
"I survived," Kaito mumbled, trying to convince himself that was all that mattered. "Barely. But I survived."
As he walked, he replayed the day's events in his mind, a bitter smile tugging at his lips. He'd gone from slaying slimes—actually slaying them!—to nearly getting eaten by a frog because of a runaway cabbage. The absurdity of it all was almost too much to process.
"A cabbage," he said under his breath, his voice tinged with disbelief. "I almost died because of a freaking cabbage."
The sheer stupidity of the situation hit him all at once, and before he knew it, a small, strangled laugh escaped his lips. It was dry and humorless at first, but it quickly grew louder, bordering on hysterical as he continued down the street.
"Seriously," he said between fits of laughter. "A cabbage! I fought slimes, avoided frogs all day, and then this happens. What is my life?!"
A few passing townsfolk gave him odd looks, clearly concerned about the seemingly unhinged adventurer muttering and laughing to himself. Kaito ignored them, shaking his head as he wiped a tear from his eye.
"Stupid loop," he muttered once he'd calmed down, his tone bitter but resigned. "Always throwing me into these ridiculous situations. But this one? This one's on me. I didn't have to chase that stupid vegetable, but I did. And now I get to add 'almost got killed over a cabbage' to my list of achievements."
He sighed, his amusement fading into exhaustion as he turned the corner and saw the inn's familiar, rickety sign swaying in the breeze. It wasn't much, but it was where he'd started the day, and it was where he was going to end it.
Pushing the door open, Kaito let out a tired breath and made his way to the stairs, ignoring the few adventurers lingering in the common area. The promise of a creaky bed and a roof over his head was the only thing keeping him moving at this point.
As he climbed the stairs, he muttered one last thought to himself: "If I wake up tomorrow and have to chase a cabbage again, I'm quitting this loop."
And with that, he disappeared into his room, ready to collapse and end what had been, for better or worse, a strangely productive day.
Kaito barely managed to kick off his shoes before flopping onto the creaky bed, his body sinking into the lumpy mattress like a sack of potatoes. As his weight hit, a massive puff of dust erupted into the air, surrounding him in a choking, grayish cloud.
"Cough! Cough! What the—?!" Kaito flailed his arms, trying to wave the dust away. His eyes watered as he rolled over, coughing loudly. "Does this room ever get cleaned?!"
When the dust finally settled, he groaned and stared up at the cracked ceiling, his chest rising and falling with tired breaths. His gaze drifted toward the window, where the golden light of the setting sun painted the rooftops of Axel in soft hues of orange and pink. It was almost serene—if he could ignore the constant buzzing anxiety of being trapped in an endless death loop.
As he lay there, his thoughts drifted back to everything that had happened today. Aqua's flashy but utterly useless purification attempt came to mind first, her self-proclaimed divine intervention leaving him wetter and angrier than he'd started.
"Yeah, thanks for that, Aqua," he muttered, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Really cleared things up for me."
Then there was Wiz, kindhearted but scatterbrained, whose Anti-Curse Brew had turned him into a human pinball. Despite her sincerity, the thought of chugging another one of her potions made his stomach churn.
"Helpful, sure," he muttered, glancing at the faint bruise on his elbow from bouncing off her shelves. "But I'd prefer not to defy physics again anytime soon."
Finally, his mind lingered on Vanir. The Duke of Hell's words replayed in his head like a bad song stuck on repeat: "Your curse is far more entertaining than you realize."
Kaito frowned, sitting up slightly to rest his elbows on his knees. "Could he be the key to all of this?" he wondered aloud. "If this loop really is demon magic, then maybe…"
He trailed off, his thoughts spiraling. Maybe Vanir knew more than he was letting on. Maybe he was the one responsible. Or maybe this was some elaborate scheme, and Kaito was just a pawn in a cosmic joke.
The thought made him shudder. If Vanir—or anyone in his demon cohort—was tied to this loop, then Kaito needed to start getting proactive. Sitting around and reacting wasn't going to solve anything.
"Alright," he muttered, clenching his fists. "Next time, I corner Vanir. Or… or Aqua. Or that whole crazy party of hers. Someone has to know something useful."
But even as the resolve set in, another thought crept into his mind—one that made his stomach twist uncomfortably. What if he didn't make it to tomorrow?
He glanced nervously at the window, where the soft glow of the setting sun was giving way to the creeping darkness of night.
"What if something happens tonight?" he whispered, his voice barely audible. "What if I trip down the stairs or a stray frog hops into the city or—"
His mind spiraled further, the paranoia growing like a weed. The image of him dying in some random, ridiculous way—falling on a spoon, choking on stale bread, getting hit by another runaway cabbage—sent a cold shiver down his spine.
He jumped off the bed, checking the lock on his door. Then he pushed the nightstand in front of it for good measure.
"No one's getting me tonight," he muttered, pacing the room. His eyes darted toward the window again, and he hurried over to double-check that it was locked as well.
Satisfied, he returned to the bed, though he didn't lie down this time. Instead, he sat with his back against the wall, his dagger clutched in one hand like a security blanket.
"I just have to stay alive until tomorrow," he whispered to himself. "No stupid accidents. No frogs. No cabbages. Just… stay safe."
The absurdity of the situation almost made him laugh, but the tension in his chest refused to budge. He gripped the dagger tighter, staring out the window as the last traces of sunlight disappeared.
"Just make it to morning," he muttered, his voice shaky but determined. "Then we'll figure this out. One day at a time."
The creak of the floorboards beneath his bed made him jump slightly, his heart hammering in his chest. He took a deep breath, steadying himself.
The room was quiet. Too quiet.
"Okay," he said aloud, his voice barely more than a whisper. "Everything's fine. You're fine. No one dies in their sleep from paranoia. Right?"
The silence didn't answer.
Kaito sat there for what felt like hours, gripping his dagger tightly, his eyes darting between the door and the window. The paranoia that had blossomed in his mind refused to let him relax. Every creak of the floorboards, every distant sound from the street below—it all felt like a potential threat.
But exhaustion had a way of winning, even against fear. Slowly, his grip on the dagger loosened, and his head began to nod forward.
"I'll figure this out tomorrow," he muttered groggily, his resolve softening with each passing moment. "Vanir… or someone… someone will have answers. No more running blind. No more frogs. No more…"
His voice trailed off as sleep started to pull him under. His head leaned back against the wall, his breathing evening out. The tension in his body slowly ebbed away, leaving him in an uneasy, restless slumber.
Then, just as he was drifting off, a faint sound reached his ears.
Ribbit.
Kaito's eyes snapped open, his heart racing. He stared at the window, the faint glow of moonlight casting long shadows across the room.
"Did I just—?" he whispered, sitting up straighter, his fingers curling back around the dagger's hilt.
Ribbit.
It was louder this time, unmistakable.
Kaito groaned, running a hand down his face. "You've got to be kidding me."
The faint, haunting sound of frogs croaking outside served as an unsettling reminder that no matter where he went, no matter how careful he tried to be, they were always there. Waiting. Watching.
"Fine," he muttered, laying the dagger on the nightstand but keeping it within arm's reach. "Enjoy your night, you slimy jerks. I'll deal with you tomorrow. Or not. Preferably not."
He closed his eyes again, forcing himself to block out the faint croaks in the distance.
Tomorrow would be another day in the loop. Another chance to get answers—or at least avoid another humiliating death. As sleep finally claimed him, Kaito's last thought was equal parts determination and dread:
No frogs tomorrow. Please. No frogs.
To be continued…
