VIOLATION DETECTED!

Why…?

ATTEMPT TO REVEAL REALITY HAS BEEN DETECTED. THIS IS YOUR FIRST OFFENSE AND WILL RESULT IN PUNISHMENT. 

How was that-

WARNING! A SECOND INFARCTION WILL RESULT IN THE TERMINATION OF THIS ROUND.

What the fuck?!

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Would things have been any different for us if I'd known the truth?

I staggered, gasping as the glaring text burned across my vision, searing itself into my mind like brands on flesh.

This…

My knees buckled, touching the pavement with a thud. 

Or would my younger self, driven by misguided vengeance, have gone through with it anyway? 

I collapsed, hunched over as I supported myself with a palm on the floor. The rough surface grazed the skin, leaving streaks like grains of sand on my palm. 

Would he have ignored your suffering, just to ease his own?

However, the sting was dull against the excruciating pain ripping through my ribs.

What’s the point of this…

My mouth opened soundlessly, throat feeling clogged, unable to scream even as the pain twisted deeper.

If…I can’t even change anything…

The system’s words etched themselves into the darkness spreading across my vision:

PUNISHMENT INITIATED.

If…I can’t even apologize…

The taste of iron filled my mouth, a liquid bubbling up my already blocked throat. It leaked out as a wet streak slipped through my lips. My body jolted as warmth spilled down my chin. I glanced down, dazed, watching crimson blotches across the pavement in drops.

Blood.

The world around me seemed distant, the pain dull as if I was an outside observer in my own body. I couldn’t even feel it anymore.

But I know it's useless to wonder…

My ears rang as the only sound left was my weak heartbeat.

Through my blurred vision, the figure appeared to be frantic.

Haha, if you knew I've been thinking about this, you'd probably curse me out. Or would you have laughed? Or maybe, just maybe, you'd also stop to wonder, what if...?

I blinked the tears away to find Daekhui staring at me, eyes wide, trembling in his spot.

Hah…this man was capable of panicking…

Even through the numbness, I felt my heart ache.

He was just human too…

I managed to raise the corners of my lips, managing to mouth a word.

I'll never know. Even if I wanted to ask you, I can't. And it's all my fault. 

‘Sorry’

He was just a boy…

VIOLATION DETECTED!

The words glared in front of my vision, but instead of panic or fear, I felt something I hadn't for a long time...I felt peace. 

THIS IS YOUR SECOND OFFENSE AND WILL RESULT IN TERMINATION OF THIS ROUND.

Good... I'll just start over...

Because I started writing, and I enjoyed it. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry.

I'll fix it...This pain...I deserve it... It can never measure up to his suffering.

I felt the world tilt as a dull bang filled my head.

I got to apologize ...that makes this worth...

THIS ROUND HAS BEEN TERMINATED, ALONG WITH THE CHOSEN SOUL'S WORLD ID. 

Huh? Soul...me? ID? 

SOUL'S WORLD IDENTITY WILL BE TERMINATED. SOUL SHALL BE DECLARED DEAD.  SEARCHING FOR REPLACEMENT...

Does that mean...did failure here mean...death?

Daekhui’s voice pierced through the ringing, muffled but desperate, as if I were underwater. 

His hands shook against me, grasping at my shoulders, my arms, trying to hold me in a world I was already slipping from.

I got what I deserved...

I know you'll never forgive me, that you can't forgive me. Good, you shouldn't, because I won't either.

I have no regrets...

I blinked slowly again, the blur clearing just enough to see his wide eyes, filled not with hatred, but something worse.

Pity. 

A trembling breath escaped me, each one weaker than the last. My chest rose once, then faltered, burning fire replaced by numbing cold.

This was it…Wasn’t it?

Tears stung my eyes again, sliding past my temples to mingle with the blood on the ground.

Yes...I have no regrets anymore...

‘I…’ The whisper scraped past my cracked lips, taking up the last of my strength yet barely audible ‘…never wanted…this.’

I have no regrets...right?

The world tilted, colors fading into red and black as the mist crept closer, devouring everything.

One last shudder coursed through me before the weight lifted entirely.

Now, this is all I can do to make it up to you.

The system’s voice cut through the silence one final time, emotionless, absolute:

ROUND TERMINATED.

PLAYER DELETED.

And then—

Nothing.

 

THE END

...Or is it?

 

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Thank you for reading ^⁠_⁠^

 

 

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