Stepping into the hallway for the first time after nearly two months, a breeze blew through my hair.

It’s cold.

Different.

Calmer.

Maybe, it’s me who's changed though.

Closing my eyes, I simply felt the breeze blow by.

Theoretically, Rin should be in her room.

Based on what Rin’s told me, Kara’s death seems to happen randomly. I don’t think that’s the case though.

As I stated before, I think it was forced to happen when she obtained ten points.

Although I planned to stop her from obtaining ten points before… it might be best to let everything happen as before.

Well, that’s probably impossible.

Maybe I should cut down on the number of things I change.

If I’m right (and being a genius, I often am), I’ll be able to cheat fate.

Keeping my eyes closed, countless thoughts ran through my mind.

There are unanswered questions.

Who killed Kara? Did I discover Kara’s fate beforehand?

…but, for the time being, they’re not important.

Not as important as preventing Kara’s death.

No time to waste.

I should head toward the hotel room, Rin should be there. Opening my eyes, I set off leaving the cold empty training corridors behind.

Arriving at the hotel’s lobby, I reached behind the counter and grabbed the appropriate card. It’s the only one left.

Twirling the keycard in my hand, I searched for the elevator contraption. It shouldn’t be far.

Ah… here it is. Hidden in a corner behind a door.

Inserting the keycard, it began to move upward.

Looking down at my clothing in the meantime.

It doesn’t seems particularly durable… Did it survive that explosion that Rin talked about?

Remembering God-hunter, I took her out of Bag 2.0.

I haven’t had chance to use you in awhile… How've you been little one?

Practice swinging God-hunter in the elevator.

I stared at God-hunter for a few brief moments before preparing to put her away.

Once I stow her, I received a psychic soft affirmation stating she’s been fine.

Good, being fine's good.

Wait… What?

Narrowing my eyes suspiciously, I took God-hunter back out.

…was that you? Since when have you been able to communicate?

Actually...  I’m not dealing with this right now.

Don’t answer that.

The elevator door opened and I immediately noticed, the hotel suite was completely destroyed.

The fancy painting, wallpaper, and furniture were in tatters. Judging from the marks, it was clear someone had gone wild slashing everything with a sword.

What… What happened here?

Stepping of the elevator, I spotted Rin pacing back and forth through the suite.

…Did Rin do this?

Rin wolf-ear’s perked up toward my direction and she turned in my direction with an slight blush of embarrassment on her face.

She definitely did this.

Her blush is enough of an acknowledgement of guilt to get her tried in a court of law.

I didn’t want to acknowledge the mess… But, unfortunately, my eyes were still glued to the destroyed objects.

Dragging my eyes away from the mess around us and toward Rin, I asked... “So~ How’ve you been?”

Her blush only got deeper and her eyes rapidly glanced about the destroyed room.

In an attempt to misdirection the conversion, Rin asked one of her own question, “Shouldn’t you be in the Warding Room?”

Pft…

Letting out a small smile, I said in a teasing manner. “What? Embarrassed of the mess you’ve made?”

I haven’t had the opportunity to tease Rin in a long time. No way I’m letting this one go by. With how serious she is, I sometimes forget how immature she is.

As her blush grew, she turned away to prevent me from seeing it.

Still, her wolf-ears occasionally twitching in my direction is entertaining enough.

I’ve been too worried about the future.

Worried about surviving the next monster, temple, and zone that I’d stopped enjoying the present.

Sometimes, you need to just enjoy the moment.

Still, that’s probably enough teasing.

Saving Rin from her embarrassment, I continued the earlier topic.

“There wasn’t anymore benefit in staying in that training room.” I explained, walking toward her.

I had to be careful with my words.

Rin still needs to cry over Kara’s body after she’s ‘stabbed’.

The change in conversation topic seemed to take the edge of Rin’s embarrassment and she turned back toward me.

“You have a plan now?” She inquired more serious than before.

Nodding slightly.

Then, I spoke what should’ve been the third hint, “There’s more than one path to power.”

As many paths as there are people.

Each unique, and none more powerful than the rest.

…It’s an old phrase of mine.

Rin visibly relaxed and nodded.

Considering it’s probably around one in the morning, there’s probably not much to do besides sleep.

Looking about the destroyed room, I turned toward Rin and asked, “Where’s the bedroom?”

Her blush returned.

She didn’t…

Rin pointed in the direction of a room.

Slowly entering the room, I discovered it was also a victim of Rin’s apparent rampage.

Absolutely ruined and utterly unusable.

Damn it, Rin.

Did you have some kind of mental breakdown?

This is no longer funny.

I haven’t slept in a proper bed in over a year.

I’ve been looking forward to sleeping in a proper bed since you mentioned it existed.

Glaring back toward Rin, who merely continued blushing and turned her head away.

…If you weren’t so cute when embarrassed, I’d be furious.

*Sigh…* Guess I’m sleeping on the floor again.

In the morning, I’ll need to speak with Kara.

[Decima Game; T-9 Days, 16 hours.]

It’s time.

We’re standing in the storage room like I asked.

Now, it’s time to cheat fate.

I stood in the corner of the room, watching Rin chat with Kara.

I think I’ve realized who killed Kara.

I did.

…I must’ve figured out or discovered Kara's fate when talking with her.

I probably attempted to cheat fate, reenacting what was foreseen with Kara… but, instead fate cheated us.

It’s the only thing that makes sense.

Or, maybe, I’m simply projecting and justifying what I’m about to do.

But, I can’t wait.

If someone else attacks Kara and I’m not around, she’ll really die.

I need to be assured Kara survives and fate accepts the outcome.

You can’t gain something without giving up something.

Waiting until one of them finished talking, I interrupted their conversation. “Rin… When you get chance, I’d like to speak to Kara alone.”

Rin simply glanced toward me, nodded. Turned toward Kara and told her she’d be right outside and headed out the door.

Kara waited until Rin left then spoke, her usual carefree demeanor gone, “So, Toby… right? You're going to kill me?”

I shook my head and said, “No, just speak to you.”

Kara refuted, “We could’ve spoken anywhere. This…” Gesturing around the room, “This is where you’d kill me.”

“Yet, you're still here…” Smiling slightly, I shook my head in disbelief. “No, I’m not going to kill you… Just, let me speak.”

Kara sat down on a nearby box, with her arms crossed. “Speak then.”

Pacing around the room, I stated, “I have a plan. To cheat fate and save you.”

Snorting slightly, Kara skeptically replied, “Of course you do, let’s hear it.”

“It’s like this…” I began informing her of my plan.

[Several minutes later...]

After hearing my entire plan, Kara raised her eyebrows and replied, “…That might work. Even if it works, Rin might hate you afterward.”

A valid point…

but…

“It can’t be helped… If I tell her in advance, she might not be able to cry. The fate would continue to recur until you’ve properly died and Rin’s cried.” I stated plainly.

She stared into my eyes judging the honesty of what I’d said, before finally deciding. “Well, fine. If you're lying, Rin will probably kill you…”

Taking out the kitchen knife I’d stolen from the cooking facility.

Knife in hand, I stared toward Kara who’s still sitting down. I quietly mutter to her, “Last chance to back out.”

Kara rolled her eyes at me and sarcastically said, “Kill me already.”

Forgive me Rin. It’s the only way.

“Sorry, this is going to hurt.” I said, gripping down on knife. Before stabbed it toward her heart.

As the knife stabbed into her heart, Kara screamed on queue to attract Rin’s attention.

Starring down at my hand covered in blood.

I closed my eyes and pulled the knife out of her chest.

Mere seconds after the scream, I heard Rin rushed into the room.

Opening my eyes.

I stared back toward Rin.

She’d paused in the door, staring at my bloody hands.

She looked heartbroken. As if her whole world was crashing down around her.

Sorry…I’m sorry.

After she’d realized what I’d done, she ignored me and ran toward her sister.

Tears dripping down her cheeks…

Crying for multiple reasons this time.

I’m sorry, Rin.

Rin's no longer looking toward me.

Now, I await the signal from Kara to confirm everything foreseen has past.

Once I received it, I’ll cheat fate and everything will finally be over.

And I’ll be able to tell Rin... No, I'll tell everyone the story of how I cheated fate.

After speaking with Rin for several seconds, Kara gave the signal… “The fate should be over.”

Initiating the system prompt.

<Give up ‘Fire Basilisk’s Inheritance’?>

<Inheritance Manuals cannot be reclaimed.>

<Current abilities gained from Inheritance will be retained, but the Inheritance Manual will be permanently stuck on the current level.>

<Confirm?>

Confirm, give it to Kara.

<Confirmed, offering manual…>

<Inheritance Manual accepted.>

<Transferring…>

With this, Kara should be able to survive the wound… and any future wounds to her heart.

With this, I’ve cheated fate.

So… why?

Why am I crying?

Why does it feel like the cost was too high?

Why do I regret choosing to do this?

Backed up, I spoke the words on repeat aloud to Rin. “I'm sorry, it was necessary.”

I stayed long enough to watch Kara’s eyes turn gold and the regeneration begin to slowly heal her wound…

Then I left.

I couldn’t stay in there any longer.

With the Basilisk’s Manual gone, I felt like a part of me has been ripped out.

Compounded further from the heartbroken look on Rin face earlier…

I’d succeeded.

I’ve saved Kara.

Why does it feel like I’ve lost?

I was wrong before.

I hadn’t told Rin my last name to get me to go along with the plan.

I would’ve gone along with Rin’s plan anyway.

I told her my name to completely devote myself to this plan.

To do anything to cheat fate.

If I wasn’t completely obsessed, I would’ve failed.

I wouldn’t have given up my Inheritance Manual.

I wouldn’t have stabbed Kara to cheat fate and save her.

…Why?

Why does that feel like a better option?

Why did I have to save Kara?

I need time to think.

Time before Rin catches up with me.

I'm heading back to the training rooms.