v4c4 (1/2)

4 Chain of sin

Everything burned away

The garden boy always played in now didn’t even have a single blade of grass left Not even a single

pillar was left of the research lab that boy studied science in to grow his dreams

“This can’t be……”

Most of all…his most precious person disappeared into the flames

Boy pushed down on the ground with both of his hands while having his head facing doard He

let out a painful cry

“No, no, no, no…”

This can’t be happening Why? Why did this happen to me? He’s been so happy up till

yesterday…… Today where he lost everything didn’t feel real at all

“N, n……”

He couldn’t even screaless sounds for a while Then a stifling

sensation in the boy’s chest htly that his hands almost broke

Tears didn’t coh to the point where he was sick of tears

“This shouldn’t happen…”

He just had to grow the garden again if it got burned down He just had to build the house again if it

broke down But…repairing these won’t bring his most precious person back

“You could have survived if you wanted……”

That person disappeared into the flames alone in order to save the boy He should have died instead

That would have been better Guilt and self loathing boiled up from within him……but boy

stomped down on these useless reflections

“Don’t h…”

Time was fair to everyone Spilt water couldn’t be put back and so that was broken couldn’t

be ain

“Kukukuku……”

It felt so agonizing and painful But boy didn’t even drea any

harm onto himself This was a life that person saved for him

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Hoill he live from now on? Decision had already been made

“I’ll rule over time…”

That person saved o back to the time where

that person exists then turn everything back to how it should have been

Boy(Time Tracer) that resolved to rule over time and space stood up

He no longer had any time to cry or delay

Add opened his eyes abruptly then got up But pain instantly flowed in and forced him to stop

“You can’t move yet”

“……”

Voice came fro his eyes to look

towards her direction Eve was seated neatly on a chair as she conveyed the situation to him

“They said your shoulder blade and ribs broke We used a potion but medic recommended that you

shouldn’t move around too much”

Just like Eve said, Add’s body was covered in bandages Pain flowed in whenever he

him to sweat heavily He had to rest and recuperate

“Belt pouch”

Add spoke stiffly Eve realized what he ht the belt that Add alore Add took

out an ampoule from the belt’s pocket then injected it into his bloodstream without any hesitation

Eve got surprised fro this but Add didn’t care as he finished the procedure quickly Add

cruers Soon as he counted up to 20,

he instantly got up from the bed

“What happened? How long have I been out?”

“We didn’t progress any further and it’s been one night since then But…are you sure you can

ht now?”

Add had been sweating heavily fro up

and looking around the interior of his personal tent Although rather than a tent, the place was more

like a temporary house

“I gave myself an anesthetic I’ll be okay for a while”

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“……Lie down for now”

Add ignored Eve and tried to wear his jacket hanging on the cloth hanger Seeing this, Eve got up

frorabbed his arard face then spoke sharply

“There’s no tiht away”

“Alright, so lie down for now You’re a patient”

“……”

Add didn’t have any confidence that he could win in a physical tussle against Eve Add complied

with Eve trying to stop her and sat down on the bed But he didn’t lie down to prevent his mind

fro hazy

“Fro time for humans to recover when they are injured So…”

“We’ve lost too ?”

Eve looked extremely troubled when she realized that Add didn’t have any intention to lie down to

rest Eve seemed troubled about what she should say for a while then finally let out a low sigh…

Seeing this, Add forgot the current situation and ended up looking at Eve with an extremely

surprised expression

Eve was a Nasod, she didn’t need to breathe Her sighing in itself was an exceptional reaction

But Eve see at her so surprised and started to explain the

current situation for him

“Ara Haan left, Karis disappeared We’re staying put for now tending to the wounded Rena and

Penensio are discussing further ht now”

“What about Chung?”

“He’s safe He wasn’t injured much as you thanks to his armor Actually, you are the one who’s been

injured the most”

That was because Eve’s Atomic shi+eld had much superior defenses than Add’s dimension distortion

barrier This whole mess had occurred because they hadn’t known that Karis could ceaselessly rain

down such a powerful wide area attack

“Alright Then bring everyone here Let’s discuss what to do next”

“There’s no need to be so hasty Even though Ara Haan was captured, she’s still Ran’s sibling so

wouldn’t she be treated with care?”

“Don’t enerosity…!”

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Add responded emotionally but closed his mouth quickly Even he became self aware that he was

acting too hot headed right now

“Sorry, I lost my cool for a bit there”

“I kno you feel but I’ht hurt yourself”

“……”

Why was Eve treating him so kindly today?

Add was very surprised by this and didn’t have any clue on how he should respond But Eve’s

expression was changeless… He couldn’t read what she was thinking

So Add ended up saying so out of the blue

“I’ like this because Ara has been captured It’s because

I’ beaten”

“It’s the same for me as well”

Add didn’t knohat else he should say when Eve revealed that she wasn’tHe

hadn’t realized it when he just woke up because he was trying to figure out what happened… But

wasn’t he having trouble looking straightly at Eve recently?

He had alanted a chance to be alone with her But now, his heart souilty from

both of the wrong

Add was es from a medical box then

approached him

“I’ll change your bandages before everyone gathers to discuss”

“What?”

“I’ve already done this before”

Eve clihtly stripped off the bandages tied

around Add’s top then sprayed the potion on his wounds

“…”

He would have felt a significant pain from this procedure but he was anesthetized already Add went

in a state of confusion from this situation and wasn’t able to react He almost jumped when Eve’s

hand made contact with his shoulder

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119

“Ugh…”

“Does it feel painful?”

Add quickly shook his head Then Eve started to spread the potion on Add’s skin with her palm

Add’s head started feeling lofty fro his wounds It felt surreal

“Tell me if it hurts”

“…Continue”

Only thing Add could do in response at the moment was to answer bluntly Add face became red up

to his ears as he stayed co the potion then she even tied fresh

bandages for him

Eve got up froe with her mouth

“It’s finished”

“……Looks like you’re experienced in this”

His head was too dizzy right now to e the

subject Eve nodded lightly

“I’ve been doing this ever since you were knocked out Medic told me that it’s more effective to rub

the potion on the wound every 3 hours”

“…”

So while Add was unconscious, Eve had been continuously beside hi

the potion on his wounds and was changing his bandages? This was so Eve he had known

up till noould have never done

Maybe if it was Rena…but for Eve to treat hio

through?

“Why, to me…”

“Is there any problems?”

What should he ask? Why are you treating me so nicely? He should have just blatantly asked …but

his mouth didn’t move

“…Bring the others We’ll have ato discuss hoe should respond”

“Understood Rest up meanwhile”

Add ruffled his hair when Eve left the tent

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Actions Eve showed just now He would be able to understand them if it was any normal person

trying to nurse him…… But this was Eve! Eve always had a sense of distance with all of the El

Search Party est distance with Add

Of course Add said things to Eve that warranted that kind of distance…… But he didn’t kno

to face her now that she was suddenly showing such a tender attitude towards him He already had

his head filled with dealing with her strangely mature atmosphere But to make matters more

confusing, she was now treating him this nicely

Just what happened……as she awakened to Memory of Time and space?

“Phew……”

Add unconsciously stroked the bandages that Eve tied for hiet

any proper conclusions by getting worked up over soh data for He

had to observe this er period of time

The shape of his ht noasn’t because he was in pain

“Huh? Big Brother Add? Why are you snickering by yourself?”

“……I wasn’t you idiot”

Add glared fiercely as he possibly could when Elsword threw a question at him as he entered

Starting with Elsword, Rena, Eve, Penensio and Chung also gathered in Add’s personal tent Add sat

on the bed and looked around at the others that were standing then asked for confirmation about

the ent issue

“How hts?”

“23 were injured to the point where they cannot participate in battle”

Even though Rena and Eve had assisted thehts to handle 4

Shadow Masters at once Add nodded heavily at Penensio’s answer

“We’re pulling back”

“Are you serious Big Brother Add?”

Add sighed when Elsword asked for confirmation

“These guys were toying with us There’s no point in us playing along There’s also no guarantee that

they won’t change their mind and attack Hamel It’s better to return to Hamel for now and make

further preparations”

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“What about Ara Haan?”

At Eve’s question, Add looked around at the others

“I’ll go get her by ain so be careful”

“Umm, Add?”

Rena took a step forward then lightly pressed down on Add’s head …She was certainly pressing

down lightly but there was an enormous force in her hand The pressure was as if his head was

going to get buried into his body

Rena looked down at Add with a face void of any smile

“As I thought, you’re still in a lot of pain right? Let’s talk after you get a long rest”

“……Rena, don’t be angry”

Eve hesitantly pulled on Rena’s clothing It was a brave act trying to stop Rena as letting out

such a scary pressure when everyone else was nervously silent

“Phew, I’…”

Rena apologized then stopped pressing down on Add’s head Add as finally freed from

Rena’s terrifying pressure hs as he protested

“I’ rationally I have the best mobility out of everyone here I can even

perform space warp for short distances So is there any proble into the enemy

territory and getting Ara out?”

“Big Brother Add, that’s reckless It’s not just Ran That woeneral’s

level You can’t handle them by yourself”

Going alone to where two de was basically suicide But Add refused to

comply

“It’s Karis, not Keris And yes, she is indeed a deht

theuys will just get in my way”

“……”

Everyone closed their mouths at Add’s cold calculated plan Add’s plan of hi alone and

rescuing Ara so all had various abilities but

weren’t skilled in infiltration

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Not only that, while Add didn’t explain it to the rest of the time travel into

account as well Long as he couldEun out then time travel

No,amok

‘At least she won’t get done in…’

Eun should be guaranteeing Ara’s safety Even if Add was found out in middle of his mission, he

just had to ht Karis

“I refuse, Add”

“What?”

Add’s eyes widened when not just any other person but Eve was the one who protested This was

totally unexpected

“You won’t return with the Velder Knights? Why?”

“I’ll go with you and rescue Ara Haan”

“You et in the way if you followed”

Even while responding, Add trieda hypothesis

Should he change it into a feint operation? Someone causes a disturbance in the Temple of Water

while Add uses that chance to contact Ara…… No, it ay too dangerous and he couldn’t leave

it to Eve

But Eve’s suggestion ay beyond Add’s expectations

“We’ll discard that plan”

“……Then what do you want to do?”

At Add’s question, Rena smiled then raised her hand

“Yea, I agree with Eve”

“We can’t let Big Brother Add go alone I also agree with Eve”

“I also think MrAdd’s plan is reckless”

When even Chung joined in, Add was so duh

“Kukukuk, what? Everyone seems to be in sync Then tell me the alternative plan Just what do you

want to do?”

“We’ll come with you and rescue Ara Haan”

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“Don’t et found out, Ara and I can get

out easily But you guys…”

“If we lost this time then we just have to win next time”

Add shut his mouth It wasn’t because he was surprised that Eve didn’t speak in a civil tone that she

always did

It was because what she just said sounded familiar

“This is what you told us ere all dejected after our fight in Velder That if we lost this

time then we just have to win next time We’ll follow those words now”

“You’re notany sense Maybe it would work out if Ran was by himself But Karis is also

there There’s two generals”

“I’ to lose this time”

Elsword calmly displayed his determination

“I resolved not to lose against anyone until I

Sister Ara and win”

“Everyone’s already decided Add Are you still going to be stubborn? I’ll scold you if you do”

Add shook his head when Rena concluded

“…You’re all driving me crazy You all saw Karis’ skills already Why are you trying to do

so so reckless?”

“Because I want everyone to be together”

Eve spoke resolutely Add replied while feeling despondent

“We’re facing two generals Even if we soe if some of us died in the

process”

“I won’t let anyone die”

Eve promised to herself then held her hand out towards Add

“I proether with us, Add”

“……”

Eve held out her hand and Elsword and Rena looked at hi beside her

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Eve stood still with her hand held out as if she will continue to wait Eve holding her hand out

towards him……looked way too beautiful that…

Add ended up grabbing her hand

“Then it’s decided Let’s all go rescue Ara Haan together”

Their plan was decided

Velder Knights started preparing to go back They’ll finish all preparations during the night then

leave in the

Add atching the knights pack up fro

could be seen because they were underground

“You can’t see the stars right?”

“……”

It was a sociable voice Add would have normally replied but he instead abruptly turned his head

around to glare at the voice’s owner Moving this abruptly caused a dull pain in his shoulder and ribs

The effect of anesthetic

“Just ere you thinking? Isn’t it your role to stop the kids if they say so stupid?”

“So stupid……?”

Rena stared at Add with a co at her

crooked teenage younger brother

“I’ like that one more time”

“Don’t joke with uys talk about while I was unconscious? Why is Eve saying

so with her?”

“……”

Rena crossed her arms and stared at Add silently for a while then shook her head

“I’m thankful that you’re worried about us but don’t try to dote on us too much”

“Dote? Nonsense! You’re all trying to get in the way of my perfect plan!”

“Add, calm down”

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Rena told hi heavily He barely ed to contain his

ely grabbed the hand Eve held out

to hi

“Geez, you should have stopped the nonsense There’s a limit to how

soft you can be”

“I’ll seriously get angry if you call Eve’s opinion nonsense one more time”

Rena got serious and told him severely but Add didn’t back out either

“It’s not like Nasods always ical decisions all the time They can

malfunction from time to time There must have been some kind of error after she awakened to

Me that possibility? Are you saying machine’s

opinion is always right? That would be so only if they aren’t broken!”

“Eve didn’t refuse your plan as a Nasod”

“Then what? What did she refuse it as?”

Rena calrily

“You’ll have to listen to the answer directly fro for me to tell you”

“……”

“And, I also realize fully well that this will be dangerous But I’ll give it my best as well so don’t

worry too much”

Add bit his lips in frustration when Rena tried to soothe and coax hi

that Rena hadn’t revealed the full extent of her skills

Getting done in by Elesis was because she got struck while trying to cover for Add Her role had

always been rear support after all Also, it would have been difficult for her to support them with all

of her ability in their fight with Elesis because Ara and Elsere fighting so close up with Elesis

at the time

“I adenerals We have to risk our lives

Actually, we don’t even have any guarantee of victory against Ran alone”

“Yes, I know”

“……There shouldn’t be thisreunion? Also,

considering her position, it would be better for her to seek protection from the demons than stay

with the humans”

“You’re saying all of that Add But then why are you trying to get Ara back?”

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Rena spoke to hi Add became at a loss for an answer For Add, he needed Eun

near hi

Of course, he’ll admit that wasn’t the only reason…… But the major reason he had to jump deep

into the enemy territory alone was indeed because he required Eun’s assistance

When he couldn’t answer, Rena stretched out her hand and petted Add’s head

“Add, I know you’re more earnest than you seem and really care for us So…can you believe in us a

bit more?”

“Don’t say soainst this”

Add rave expression then pushed Rena’s arm away Rena made a face of an older sister

looking at her trouble

“Alright, then let’s just say that we’re following you stubbornly Will that be fine?”

“……”

She’s not getting it Add got tired of this and shook his head

“Add, you prioritized Chung’s life even when your own life was in danger right?”

“That was because I could run and he was knocked out”

“Yes, and we can go and Ara is captured That’s e’re all going together”

Rena returned Add’s words right back at him It was an answer that made no sense… But Rena

already looked determined

“I’ht you’d be smarter than this”

Eve and Elsould change their ive

up on this method

“Yea, I’o alone”

“……”

Those words strangely rang in his heart that his steps almost stopped But Add forced himself to

move

Add returned to his tent in order to organize his cohts He should pack up and think

about what to do next……

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When he entered the tent, he saw that Eve was sitting inside Add paused to look around at the

furniture to confirm that this was indeed his personal tent

“Get out of here if you don’t have any further business”

Alone with Eve He would have nor as possible but the

situation was different this tiht if necessary

“I’et in your way”

“…”

Ignoring the nonsensical words, Add passed by Eve and ru to confirm that

he had spare anesthetics He then stole look back behind hi even

a finger ever since he had entered

It was as if a beautiful doll had taken up position in his roo he desired very

ht now that his concentration was being divided

“You sitting there is distracting Go back to your tent”

“I refuse”

“…What?”

Add doubted if he heard Eve right frohtly turned her

head to look towards him

Her head gesture was so graceful…that Add’s head became numb

“I refuse, Add”

“……Wait, why? It wouldn’t be that you want to stay here because you like this tent”

“Yes, I’o anywhere else”

Surveillance Add realized what she roaned… But he was impressed at the same time

No way, for a ht process?

“So what you ree with your plan on the surface then run off by myself

during the night So you’re going to stay beside me and keep me on surveillance? Do I understand

this right?”

“It’s not surveillance I’ht worsen”

“……”

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Add had forgotten it, but he was a patient Even with the potion’s effect, he should have normally

needed to rest around half ahis pain with anesthetics

“It’s not a wound that would worsen all of a sudden Most of all, you should also prepare to

leave…”

“I asked Elsword and Rena for that”

“But you should have personal things to do……”

“There’s no problem for me even if I don’t eat or sleep I also do not know much about return

preparations Rena and Elsword are helping the Velder Knights and souard the

patient So I’m the most adequate one for this job”

That’s true, sea as to be expected from perfect queen of Nasods

Add was impressed but dumbstruck at the same time Nasods could carry out missions without

eating or sleeping so they would seeht processes

were one dimensional so they could be easily fooled

But Eve was an exceptional existence, Nasod ever so alike hueable about

worldly affairs so maybe she could be fooled in that department…… But it seemed it would be

impossible for Add to fool Eve and escape by himself in this situation

Eve must have interpreted Add’s silence differently because she added

“I’ beside you ever since you were unconscious I insure

you of objective reliability

“……”

Although he didn’t knohat kind of reliability that was

Add suppressed his aching head then delved into his thoughts The relationshi+p between Add and

Eve until how had been Add

Structure where if Add pushed, Eve defended

But after she awakened to Me assertively

Add was at a loss for how he should react at this sudden role reversal

“So…… you’re going to guard beside ht?”

“I also did last night as well”

“……”

Hoas he going to refuse? Wait, was there any reason to refuse? Add thought deeply

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He was still angry about theether… But he couldn’t turn back the decision

anyht about it carefully

If Elsword, Eve and Rena cause a disturbance and buy hie problem

unless Ran and Karis came at them in same time All Add had to do was to locate Ara fast as

possible, contact her then turn back time

“Alright, but in turn…”

“What is it?”

What should he get out of this in return? Add didn’t know yet but continued the conversation as he

laughed

“I’ll put up with my discomfort and accept your request So you comply hatever I request of

you next time”

“Long as it’s not about this plan”

When Eve accepted conditionally, Add felt a bit relieved and also curious at the same time

“But why are you so obsessed about this plan? You should know very well that it’s dangerous And

perhaps it would be different if Elsas captured, but you and Ara don’t have much to do with

each other right?”

Of course, they were both girls of sie to Eve as a

Nasod… But if you looked at how they conversed with one another, there was a strong impression

that Eve treated Rena as a respectable senior So there shouldn’t be any proble Ara

and Eve as peers?

Well, considering this, it wouldn’t be strange if they were friendly with each other… But Ara had

been having a hard ti Eve, and Eve hadn’t been too interested in Ara But now, Eve was

being strangely insistent

“Then would you ignore it if I was captured?”

“Ah, of course not”

Add answered without a thought then winced Wasn’t this basically confessing that he was after

Eve’s core?

“Even if it’s not me and others members were captured instead, you would have tried to rescue

them It’s the same for me”

“……”

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You’re giving e evaluation Add was about to say this but his words didn’t come out He

couldn’t deny Eve’s words

It was blatantly obvious to rewind tioals if

she was destroyed

But rewinding time in order to save Rena and Elsword…was actually unnecessary Add knew this

but preformed it anyways

The goal Add desired was to steal Eve’s core in a way he could accept Since he went through all the

dangerous struggles of rewinding time…he wanted the fruit of his efforts to be sweet He wanted it

to be a satisfactory achievement

Even if Elsword or Rena had gotten captured by Ran, Add would have resolved himself to rescue

them Eve? He didn’t even need to say

“It would be better for you to sleep early since you’re a patient”

“……I’ll do that”

Add as deep in thought nodded He hadn’t co yet

But he confirh their reasons were

different, he could somewhat sympathize with her wishes

Add lay down on his bed He tried to turn the light off then stopped Like this, Eve with her chair

near his bedside will sit there all night

“……I knoill sound like I’ this late, but it’s really bothersome for me if you just sit

there while I’”

“Even if I’?”

“Yes”

“Understood Then I’ll go to sleep as well”