I was still running.
Still dying.
Every time I died, the world reset—
but I remembered everything.
My breath was uneven, but I didn't stop. The same thing kept happening again. No matter what I did, it ended the same way.
Damn it… keep running, Aron. You can do this. We have to escape from here.
"This isn't stopping… it's repeating."
The same outcome—
every time.
And not just that—
Mr. Zekai was still standing there… just like before. Completely unresponsive—like he wasn't even here.
I clenched my teeth.
"Come on… wake up, Mr. Zekai!"
Think, Aron. There has to be a way.
Not this time.
It won't be me who runs.
This time… the King Knight will.
I observed.
A little ahead—
there were many swords scattered on the ground.
"What is this…? So many swords. Did people like us come here before…?"
There was no other choice.
I grabbed one.
It felt heavy.
Unfamiliar.
I didn't know how to use a sword.
But I held it anyway.
Somehow—
I felt like I could fight with it.
Even if it was only until the end.
So I held it tighter.
"If it's a fight… then I'll fight."
The sound came again.
That same sharp distortion.
The King Knight appeared behind me.
Blue—white armor.
Silent.
Waiting.
But this time—
it came a fraction later than before.
I ran straight toward Mr. Zekai and stood in front of him.
Even now—
the King Knight didn't move.
"Fine…"
I stepped forward.
"This time… I won't run."
"Let's fight."
My hands trembled, but I forced them steady.
"Come."
The King Knight stood still.
Calm.
Not moving.
I raised the sword in my hand.
Trying to act fearless.
"At least I can fight too."
I charged forward.
But—
I didn't even see the moment the King Knight moved.
Before I could even understand what happened—
The blade flashed—
air splitting before I even saw it move and my arm wasn't there anymore.
Mr. Zekai collapsed with me.
Everything went black.
—
I snapped back again.
But this time—
it was different.
The King Knight slowly raised its sword.
It stood in a cross stance.
Then it began walking toward me.
Slower.
Clearer.
This was my chance.
I focused everything on my sword.
"Now—!"
I swung it with all my strength.
"AHHHH!"
It blocked effortlessly.
But in a single swing—
the King Knight sent me flying.
The impact threw me back.
My body slammed against the wall. Pain exploded through my back.
"Ugh—!"
Before I could recover—
The King knight stepped forward—
then vanished.
A second later—
Its blade pierced straight through my throat.
"…This is too much…"
Darkness.
"—!"
—
I returned again.
But this time—
every pain remained.
None of it disappeared.
Every cut.
Every impact.
This time—the pain didn't fade when I came back.
It waited.
I could feel everything.
My body remembered every death—
even when it hadn't happened yet.
Tears started falling from my eyes without me realizing.
"I… can't…"
"I'm weak… useless."
My grip loosened.
"I always run."
"No wonder no one ever stays…"
My chest tightened.
"…and I'm tired of it."
"I can't do this… Mr. Zekai…"
...
Memories surfaced.
Once, I used to be like everyone else.
Talking freely.
Kind.
Back then, I didn't know.
That my kindness would become my biggest weakness.
The people around me used it.
They took advantage of it.
They bullied me because of it.
Slowly—
I became quiet.
Closed off.
I wanted to be like others.
But my kindness only made me an easy target.
I pushed people away.
Day by day—
my life became empty.
Until I met Mr. Zekai.
One day, while I was working in the shop—
"Hey, kid… want something to eat?"
"Why do you look so down?"
"No… I'm fine. I'm just working."
"Whatever it is… don't keep it inside. In life, when you lose something… you gain something else. That's fate... One day, everything will change. Here—take this drink."
"I don't need it—"
But he left it anyway.
"See you, Aron. That's your name, right?"
From that day—
he gave me strength.
Little by little—
my life changed.
I started believing in my kindness again.
Because of him… I made friends.
I even found someone who loved me.
"All of this… is because of you, Mr. Zekai."
"Thank you…"
I wiped my face roughly.
"So at least once…"
I'll save you.
No matter what.
This time—
"I'll protect you."
Even if it kills me again.
I won't run.
Something inside me didn't break this time—
it chose.
End of Chapter 10 - The Kind One II