Eternally Regressing in Another World

"S-so it’s really true, you’re level 1..."

Elizabeth said, her voice trembling. The wine glass in her hand shook slightly too. Her face was a mix of shock, unease, and disbelief.

"So does that clear me of being one of Nest’s men, or some assassin sent after your life?"

"Yes, completely cleared. If someone wanted to send you as an enemy against me, they’d have had better luck sending the neighborhood kids on a suicide charge instead."

"Leave me alone..."

The beautiful crystal in front of me glowed, measuring my level. At its center, a number displayed as faint and fleeting as fresh snow. Weaker than the average kid, the reaction to that was either a sigh of disbelief or outright mocking laughter. Sure enough, the butler behind us was holding back laughter with a truly strained expression.

"Hey, Tender, this isn’t some illusion prank, is it?"

"Well, if multiple people are seeing the same illusion, a decent illusionist could see through it easily. This is genuinely real, and... pfft, hehe..."

After all that, the carriage had arrived back at Elizabeth’s mansion as usual. Suspicions cleared, we were now in the middle of dinner.

"Ah, right, what happened to the two guys tagging along behind Nest?"

"They should already be in custody. Tender reported them the moment he arranged the carriage."

Despite always goofing around, he actually handles his responsibilities properly, I found myself a little impressed.

"...Hey, didn’t those two have bounties on them?"

"Oh? Do you want them?"

"A bit low on funds right now."

Up until now, I’d wanted to earn my living funds honestly through work, so I’d avoided bringing up bounties. But this time, my plan needed a fair amount of cash.

"Fine. Consider it a reward for driving off Nest despite being that weak. Normally the paperwork would take time, but I’ll hand it to you directly."

Elizabeth snapped her fingers, and the door opened immediately, Selva handing over a cloth sack.

"The elder Fulm brother, Zipesta Fulmdarrick. 2,000,000 yen. The younger Fulm brother, Dapp Fulmdarrick. 1,000,000 yen. 3,000,000 yen total. Please accept this."

Inside the sack I received was a thick stack of Japanese yen notes. Seeing Fukuzawa Yukichi looking so out of place in this situation, I couldn’t help a bitter laugh.

"What’s wrong?"

"Ah, nothing, I’ll gladly accept it."

Saying that, I stuffed the oddly out-of-place money bag into my own bag.

The sound of running water was soothing. I soaked in the bath, staring up at the ceiling.

"Guess nowhere really works out, huh."

What I’d been mulling over was where to hide Shiran and Flaut.

"Flaut’s hideout, no good. Shiran’s inn, no good. The underground library that no one should’ve found, no good either."

This mansion would be empty while Elizabeth and Tender prepared for the summit. If attacked with no one around to respond, this place was out too.

"Guess running around by carriage... they’d catch up eventually. Right, Old Man Beard’s house, ...no, that’s out too. Maybe just leave the country entirely... probably just end up as monster food, though."

Muttering half-consciously to myself, I never let my guard down behind me.

"Ow!!"

A loud crash from the changing room. The voice that followed sounded like a strange blend of Tender and Elizabeth. Well, definitely Tender, though.

"Heh, worked like a charm."

I’d smeared soap across part of the changing room floor ahead of time. Anyone careless enough to step there would end up flat on their backside. I leisurely made my way to the changing room, mocking Tender for falling for it so completely.

"So, um, ...how’d you figure it out?"

"Secret."

After that, Tender and I hurried to wipe the soap off the floor and managed to stop Elizabeth, who’d nearly wandered in drunk again in the meantime.

Dinner finished, I sat in a room of the mansion, pen in hand. Writing and erasing, writing and erasing, over and over on the small notebook. Trying to account for as many scenarios as possible, even a single percent improvement to our odds of survival mattered. But the drowsiness creeping in was more than enough to overwhelm my exhausted body.

"...Right, that’s...it. Probably need to find the Genryu Society...before. The promise..., hide...both of them... Liqu..., escape...if, ...stall them at..., this...problem..., ...Ne... ...."

Light filtered white through my closed eyelids. A bird’s chirp sounded impossibly cute. ...Wait, huh!?

"Morning!? What time is it!?"

6:30. I’d apparently gotten a solid six hours of sleep slumped face-down over the desk. I immediately pressed a finger to my earlobe. Despite dozing off in a place like this, no fever, at least.

"That was close, would’ve been the worst if I caught a cold from this."

Face pale first thing in the morning, I worked out the stiffness from sleeping in that awkward position. Honestly could’ve used some kind of energy drink, but that felt like too much to ask for. Sitting back at the desk for a while, a knock came at the door.

"Breakfast is ready."

"Ah, coming right away."

I tightened my loosened tie and left the room.

"You could stay a bit longer, you know."

Elizabeth, seeing me off at the entrance, sounded a touch wistful.

"Sorry, got some things to take care of."

Usually I left around noon, but this time I decided to head out earlier.

"Understood. Then, take this with you. Should draw less attention than what you’re wearing now."

Elizabeth gave Tender instructions. What he brought was that familiar beige robe I’d seen before.

"Come to think of it, forgot to get this last time..."

"Hm? What do you mean? Did Lady Elizabeth already give you another one before?"

"Ah... no, never mind, nothing."

Going through so many resets, slips like this were piling up. Need to be more careful.

"Thanks, really helps."

"No need for thanks. Here, I’ll lend you that carriage over there."

"Oh, nice looking one."

A slightly older model, not too flashy, with a rounded frame giving it plenty of interior space.

"This is the anti-theft chain."

A heavy chain fitted with a padlock. This should save me from wasting the phone’s battery this time.

"...Please, do handle the matter with my father well."

"R-right."

That last line, though quiet, carried real weight. Someone Elizabeth spoke to this seriously. The tension hit me all over again, belatedly.

"Well, I’m heading out then."

I climbed into the carriage and gripped the reins. With the mansion that had treated me so well behind me, I snapped the reins forward with force.

Hoofbeats echoed along the public road. With that steady rhythm, my resolve settled in. To win, this time. To make sure no one dies again. I gripped the reins even tighter.