The hero arrived eight minutes after Lira left.
Right on schedule.
The chapel doors burst open and a boy stumbled in, armor too clean, sword too new, eyes shining with the kind of hope only someone who had never died here before could carry.
"Whoa… this place looks amazing."
I didn't move.
Stand when the player approaches.
My body felt heavy, like gravity had increased just for me.
"Uh… hello?" he tried.
[Tutorial NPC Interaction Triggered]
The words pressed against my vision.
I stood.
"Welcome," I said, voice steady out of habit, not calm. "You must be the new adventurer."
He grinned. "Yeah! First run. Any tips?"
First run.
Forty-eighth life.
I studied his face.
I had seen this version before—the excited one. Not the cautious veteran from later resets. This Kai would rush the boss. This Kai would swing too late.
This Kai would watch me die.
"You'll want to check your equipment," I said automatically. "Training yard outside. After that, head north. The forest path leads to your first trial."
He nodded, barely listening.
"Name's Kai," he added. "What about you?"
"Ren."
You always ask. You never remember.
"Cool. See you around!" He ran out.
I listened to his footsteps fade.
Then the world held its breath.
A distant roar split the air.
The tutorial boss had spawned.
My chest tightened.
This was the part where I stayed inside.
This was the part where I died.
And the world reset.
And Lira forgot me again.
I pushed off the wall.
[Warning: NPC leaving designated zone]
I ignored it.
Smoke rose from the training yard. Metal clashed. Someone screamed.
Kai was already losing.
The boss towered above him, blade-arm lifting in the same arc I'd memorized across dozens of deaths.
Two seconds until impact.
I slowed.
If I interfere, the script changes.
If the script changes, the reset might not happen.
If the reset doesn't happen
Lira could die for real.
My feet stopped.
The boss moved.
Kai froze.
And then I saw her.
Lira was at the edge of the yard, staff raised, trying to cast a healing spell she'd never finish in time.
She was always too brave.
The blade came down.
I moved.
I grabbed Kai and threw him aside. The attack missed him
And locked onto the nearest target.
Lira.
Her eyes widened.
I ran.
The world felt thick, resisting me, like I was pushing through water.
"Ren?" she gasped.
I reached her just as the blade fell.
Pain exploded through my shoulder as I shoved her down and twisted, taking the hit off-center.
Not a killing blow.
But not survivable for an NPC either.
The boss's movements glitched.
Just for a second.
[Error… Event Deviation Detected]
The players attacked. Numbers flew. The pattern broke.
The boss fell.
Silence.
I waited for white light.
For death.
For reset.
Nothing happened.
I hit the ground, vision blurring.
No system text. No dissolution.
Just pain. Real pain.
Boots rushed toward me.
"Ren!" Lira knelt beside me, hands shaking as green light spilled from her fingers. "Why would you do that?! NPCs aren't supposed to.
Her magic burned warm against the wound.
Warm. Real. Staying.
"I…" My voice cracked.
I couldn't remember the last time it had.
"I didn't want you to die."
The words slipped out before I could stop them.
She froze.
Her hands tightened.
We locked eyes.
Her expression changed not confusion. Not reset-blankness.
Recognition. Not of memory.
Of emotion.
"Ren," she whispered.
"You look like you're about to cry."
And the system… said nothing.