[Host, I’m back!]
Just as Ke Leya thought she would be sitting here until dawn, the system popped out cheerfully.
[Guess what shocking thing I found…?]
[Host, what’s wrong?]
Ke Leya swallowed back her sobs and lifted her head blankly.
?
[Host? Host, don’t scare me! Why are you crying?]
The system’s voice instantly panicked, its electronic tone distorted.
[I was only gone for a bit to dig into some data, what happened!]
“Where… where did you go?”
Ke Leya’s voice was thick with nasal congestion. She wiped her face haphazardly with the back of her hand.
“I called you but you didn’t answer, and Winissa was gone too. I thought…”
[My bad, my bad!]
The system quickly apologized.
[When I invaded this world’s underlying database, I triggered the encryption protocol and was briefly isolated. I just managed to crack it!]
[Winissa didn’t leave. She went to find your father and that kid from the Corrison family!]
Ke Leya’s chaotic thoughts paused for a beat.
“Now?”
She looked out at the thick darkness of the night. Her heart was still pounding violently from the earlier panic.
[It should have been not long after you fell asleep.]
The system spoke quickly, pouring everything out.
[I saw you were sleeping deeply, so I didn’t disturb you. I thought I’d go look into Winissa’s anomaly.]
The system looked at Ke Leya’s reddened eyes and disheveled face.
[Host, don’t cry. I really messed up. Next time I go offline to run a dungeon, I’ll definitely report in advance. Winissa really did go to do some work for you. She didn’t abandon you!]
[ ˃̣̣̥᷄⌓˂̣̣̥᷅ ]
She hugged her knees, buried her face in them, and took a few deep breaths. The fabric of her cotton nightgown absorbed the lingering dampness from her face.
“System.”
Her voice came out muffled from the crook of her arm.
[I’m here, Host, go ahead!]
“What did you say you found earlier?”
she asked.
[Right, right, I almost forgot the important stuff!]
The system’s voice rose again, excited at discovering a shocking secret, but this time it tried to restrain itself.
[Host, guess what I dug up? Winissa von Heinrich, this world’s destined protagonist—she’s not the original!]
Ke Leya slowly lifted her head, revealing half of her damp face. Her crimson eyes were still misty, but her gaze gradually focused.
“What?”
[She’s also a transmigrator!]
The system announced each word deliberately.
[Moreover, she’s a transmigrator trapped in this world’s time loop!]
[Her time anchor resets repeatedly. The number of loops is incalculable!]
“She’s been through many loops?”
Ke Leya asked softly.
‘If so, then Winissa’s previous behavior had an explanation.’
[I’m afraid so.]
The system’s voice turned serious.
[Each time the loop ends, she wakes up at a fixed point in time, starts over, and retains all memories.]
‘So she knew the plot.’
‘She knew what would happen to Elizabeth.’
‘She knew her father would return.’
‘She knew about the Corrison family’s schemes.’
‘That’s why she used that information to make a deal with Elizabeth and take her away.’
‘It wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision.’
‘It was because in countless loops, only now had a different Ke Leya appeared.’
‘She was the variable.’
‘Then was the affection Winissa spoke of really genuine?’
“And what about me…”
She didn’t finish the sentence, but the system understood.
[Not sure.]
The system answered honestly.
[The data isn’t clear. Could be she wants to use you, this variable, to break the loop, or maybe…]
It paused.
[She really likes you.]
Ke Leya was silent, digesting the information.
The tear tracks on her cheeks were still fresh, cold against her skin.
The warmth that had just begun to rise in her heart was doused by this information.
She couldn’t describe the feeling, but it was a bit uncomfortable.
“When will she be back?”
she asked, her voice now calm.
[Soon. She’s on her way back. Should…]
The system’s words suddenly stopped.
[Host, she’s at the door.]
Just as the system’s words fell, extremely light footsteps sounded from the corridor, approaching steadily, stopping right outside the door.
A key inserted into the lock. Turned.
The door was pushed open gently.
Winissa stood at the entrance. Her hunting attire looked no different from when she left, except for a trace of night dew on her shoulders. Her short hair was slightly messy, a few strands of gray-black hair clinging to her temples.
The system looked at the mission panel.
Son of Duke Corrison (1/1)
Duke Adrian (1/1)
[Oh my god!]
[!? Strong?!]
[ ]
As soon as Winissa entered the room, she immediately spotted Ke Leya curled up in the corner.
Her brows instantly furrowed. She closed the door behind her and crossed the room in a few strides, crouching down in front of Ke Leya.
“What’s wrong?”
Her voice was a little tense, her eyes quickly scanning Ke Leya’s face.
Her eyes and nose were red, her lashes stuck together wetly, and there were still traces of tears on her face.
“Why are you crying?”
“Where did you go?”
Ke Leya didn’t answer her question, just looked at her.
Winissa paused for a moment, then seemed to understand.
She gently stroked the tip of her finger under Ke Leya’s chin, wiping away a bit of moisture.
“Went out of town to handle some business.”
She was concise, not going into detail, but her tone softened.
“Before I left, I meant to tell you, but you were sleeping soundly.”
She paused, her gaze falling on Ke Leya’s red eyes.
“Did I scare you?”
Ke Leya didn’t speak. She rubbed her eyes.
“Ke Leya.”
Winissa called her name.
“Hmm?”
“I won’t abandon you,”
Winissa said, each word deliberate.
“Unless I die.”
Winissa helped Ke Leya to the bedside, then walked to the table and poured a glass of water.
“Drink some water.”
She handed the cup to Ke Leya, then sat down on the edge of the bed, turning sideways, her eyes still on her face.
“Crying too much dehydrates you. Your throat will hurt.”
Ke Leya took the cup. The warmth of the water seeped into her palm through the glass.
She lowered her head and took a small sip. The warm liquid soothed her dry throat.
She wanted to confirm one more thing.
“Winissa.”
Ke Leya held the cup and suddenly spoke.
“Hmm?”
“If…”
Ke Leya lifted her eyes, glancing over her calm profile.
“If one day you find out that I’m not exactly what you imagined. That I’m not the Ke Leya you think I am, what would you do?”
Winissa turned her head back. Her gray eyes looked at her quietly in the dim light for several seconds.
Then Winissa suddenly smiled.
“I know,”
she said.
“As for who you really are…”
Winissa withdrew her hand and looked ahead again, her gaze seemingly unfocused.
“But I don’t care.”
“The person I know is the one whose eyes light up over a roast chicken leg, who’s clumsy and can’t get dressed properly, who hides and cries secretly when she can’t find someone…”
She tilted her head, thinking for a moment, as if searching for the right word, before finally saying, “…my little cutie.”
“That’s enough.”