【Re:7】GAME OVER? / Reload: YES

“Noel, you can turn back time just once. Because Mireld got stabbed… Noel, you turned back time on your own!”

My brother and I looked down at Noel, who was sobbing.

“Noel isn’t really human… That’s why she’s so fast, good at drawing, and can do a lot of other cheats. But the time cheat is only once, the goddess said.”

“Cheats? What are you talking about—”

Before my brother could interject with a puzzled expression, I silenced him with a glance.

I crouched down and gently hugged Noel’s shoulders.

“Mireille, do you think Noel is a liar?”

“I don’t think so. I absolutely believe everything Noel says… Come to think of it, before the attack, we talked a little in the carriage. You’re a spirit of flowers, right? And you can read minds?”

“Yeah…”

Noel told us.

She was a child born from the goddess of flowers, Floren, and possessed various special abilities called cheats.

(The Noel in the game was just a fun player that allowed mini-games, and there was no such backstory as being the ‘child of a goddess.’ …Or maybe it wasn’t there; it just wasn’t told.)

I started to feel like the perception of the game, which only captured a very limited part of this world and wrapped it up small, was correct.

“Noel saved us by turning back time. If it had stayed like that, both my brother and I would have died… Isn’t that right, brother?”

My brother’s face was still tense, but he nodded firmly.

“Noel, you saved me. Thank you.”

“Yeah. But tomorrow the bomb might explode again, and Mireld might get stabbed again… I should have turned back time much further.”

“No, it’s okay, Noel. We still have time until dawn. I’ll figure something out.”

I stood up and looked my brother straight in the eyes.

“Brother, let’s stop them.”

“Of course. But how? We can’t seek an audience with His Majesty at this hour, and even if we did get the chance for an audience, how would we explain it? Besides, with less than a hundred Gasstark family knights mobilizable within the capital, it’s nearly impossible to locate and neutralize all the explosives planted throughout the city.”

“That’s true…”

While nodding to my brother’s words, I pondered—.

***

—The next morning.

Isla welcomed the morning with high spirits.

“Ah, I was too excited to sleep much! Finally, today marks the end of this secretive life hiding in this filthy shack!”

She got up from the hard bed, tidying herself up while her heart danced with excitement, thinking about the future of her ‘second chance life.’

Today is the day of execution, X Day.

They, who came from the Jorn Empire, would cause bomb incidents throughout the capital and, taking advantage of the chaos, snatch Noel away.

As a condition for cooperating with them, she had made ‘abducting Noel’ an absolute condition.

For several days, some of them had been keeping watch over the Gasstark family, continuously aiming for the opportunity to kidnap Noel.

Noel, who usually doesn’t venture out of the Gasstark mansion much, happened to be going to the Royal Opera House today for a performance.

The men on watch confirmed that the Gasstark household servants had purchased tickets, so there was no mistake.

Therefore, she had ordered them to ambush Noel during the transfer to the opera house.

With the commotion of the explosion, it should be easy to bring her in.

“Ah, I’m looking forward to it! After the restart, which man should I pursue?”

Definitely not Crown Prince Judrich. Even if we met at the entrance ceremony, he wouldn’t spare me a glance.

There are three other candidates.

The son of the Knight Commander, Guile Leveille.

The son of the Prime Minister, Claude Cromwell.

The son of the Viscount, Isaac Orton.

“I want a man who will be most devoted to me! I don’t need troublesome guys like tsundere or delinquents… Isaac Orton might be plain and of low status, but let’s go with him. He always tops the class in chemistry, and he’s obedient like a puppy.”

Recalling the events of Isaac Orton’s she played in her past life, Isla briefly reviewed the capture route.—This time, it’s the beginning of a life without the chance for a do-over. It must be done carefully.

(Isaac’s capture route had a lot of chemistry-themed events, right? Especially the big event was the resolution of the bombing incident. Spies from neighboring countries were planting bombs in the capital, but Isaac discovered a way to neutralize them. I think it was something about the ore at the core of the bomb melting when exposed to a specific chemical…)

The heroine helped Isaac, which led to resolving the incident.

It was a time-limited event, which added quite a thrill.

(Through that incident, Isaac and the heroine deepened their love and were rewarded by the royal family for saving the country…! Isaac was granted an earldom, and the heroine married him after the ending and became the Countess…!!)

Yeah, not a bad life at all! Isla grinned to herself.

While Isla continued to daydream, in the neighboring room, Judrich was yelling angrily at the men. The men seemed uneasy.

“Hey! Why haven’t we heard a single explosion yet when the time’s long past!? Is your plan really going smoothly!?”

“Your Highness, please remain calm. We’ve planted bombs in 20 locations in the capital last night, and arrangements have been made to detonate them sequentially. …We’re just far from this location, so the sound of the explosions might not reach here. As a precaution, we are currently confirming.”

“I won’t tolerate failure! My throne is at stake, so do it properly!!”

With a cold gaze towards the adjacent room, Isla sighed.

(…How noisy. Judrich has no composure; he’s the worst. Just when I was starting to feel good.)

At that moment, a unique knocking sound, “Kon, ko, kotsukotsun,” echoed on the front door— it was the signal to identify allies. A black-clad man indoors asked for the password at the door, and the correct answer came from outside.

“Ahh, Noel has finally arrived. The beginning of my new life!”

Isla was filled with happiness at that moment.

“What… What are you all— gah!!”

A scream echoed from the entrance.

Everyone indoors paled at the ominous commotion.

“Intrude!!”

A shout came from outside, and dozens of knights rushed in through the front door.

“…What!?”

Surprised, Isla looked out the window. They were completely surrounded.

The uniforms of the surrounding knights varied; not only members of the Royal Knights but also knights from various noble houses mingled among them— including the Gasstark Marquisate, the leading of the moderate Nelke; the Meldel Duchy, the leading of the conservative Gladiolus; the Leveille Marquisate, the leading of the progressive Orchid; and the esteemed Cromwell Marquisate, which held the position of prime minister…

Prominent knights from illustrious families formed a mixed force alongside the Royal Knights, gathered at this location.

And unexpectedly, commanding this mixed force was not a knight but Mireld Gasstark.

Mireld wore the Gasstark Marquisate’s jet-black knight uniform, armed with a sword.

“What!? Why Mireld!? W-What’s going on?”

As Isla was taken aback, one of the kingdom’s knights, who had stormed indoors, raised his voice.

“Former Crown Prince Judrich and the poisonous woman Isla. Your despicable deeds in collusion with a neighboring country are unforgivable!!”

The knight, wearing the uniform of the Royal Knights, raised his sword and shouted—seeing his face, Isla gasped.

He was Knight Commander Heir, Guile Leveille.

Guile is one of the characters you can pursue in the game, and he was a delinquent during his school days.

After joining the Petanque Club, he became a character with a decent personality.

Guile Leveille, now a member of the Royal Knights and once a delinquent, spoke with a demeanor akin to that of a war god.

“I will arrest you for treason against the kingdom! Prepare yourselves!!”

At Guile’s signal, the knights apprehended the criminals with flawless coordination.

Isla and Judrich were no exception, quickly being bound up.

“Nooo! Why am I being caught!? I was so close to starting my life over!!”

“Stop it! Who do you think you are!? I’m the true king of this country!!”

Isla and Judrich were dragged outside and forced to kneel before Mireld.

“Your Excellency Gasstark, we have successfully apprehended both of them.”

“Good work.”

With eyes as cold as ice, Mireld looked down on the two.

Isla and Judrich lashed out at Mireld.

“Why is Mireld taking charge of the knights!? You’re just a civil servant; stay out of this!”

“Damn it, what’s your game, Marquis Gasstark!? Both you and Mireille always interfere with me!!”

“Silence, you scum.”

With a sharp tone, Mireld spoke.

“It’s unfortunate. All your misdeeds were thwarted by Mireille’s wit and popularity.”

“M… Mireille…!?”

“Mireille sought cooperation from friends and led them to solve all difficulties in just one night. She uncovered the method to neutralize the explosives, acted as bait herself to capture the thieves, and made them confess the hiding place of the explosives. Furthermore, she united the ‘Three Great Factions’ that were divided within the country, formed a coalition force, and, with the cooperation of the Royal Knights, captured all the lurking thieves. It’s something that could never have been achieved without Mireille.”

Mireld had contributed greatly to the capture of the thieves as the leader of the coalition force. However, Mireld himself thought that his own contributions were insignificant compared to Mireille’s achievements.

Mireille and Noel are currently being kept in a safe place. Mireld had decided that they should not be subjected to any danger.

“Just like at the school graduation party, you’ve lost to Mireille again. This time, you won’t get away with just being banished from the capital. Treason against the kingdom warrants nothing but the harshest punishment—reflect on your foolishness at the bottom of hell.”

“Ugh…”

When Mireld signaled, the knights escorted both of them away.

Their pathetic cries of “Let go…!” gradually faded away.

Mireld stared at them until they disappeared with their horses, then he breathed out deeply.

“Hmph. You troublesome scum who trouble Mireille. This time, fall into hell for good.”

Those scum would never appear before Mireille again. Mireld’s heart finally felt relieved.