Chapter 52: Those Who Can Never Be Forgiven (3)

“Is it because I’m from the same world as you?”

After leaving the library, Sera’s words lingered in my mind.

Her memories of our original world were fading.

Maybe she was afraid of losing the connection between us.

If all her memories of Earth vanished, would she still be Sera?

No, my feelings for her weren’t just because we came from the same world.

She was kind, selfless, and willing to sacrifice for others.

Yet, she also had a surprisingly rough personality.

She was the first real bond I had made in this world.

Even if she lost all her memories, even if the only version of Kim Su-hyun she remembered was the hero in this world and not the one from Earth—I had to stay by her side.

But there was a hint of fear in that resolution.

And Sera wasn’t someone who would miss the emotions hidden in my response.

“…Friends.”

In our so-called “happy ending,” she wanted us to remain just friends.

That phrase—it made me wonder if she was already preparing for a farewell.

Would defeating the Demon King really bring back her memories? What guarantee did we have that they wouldn’t just keep fading away?

Sera was pretending not to notice, but she knew.

She had already lost a significant portion of her memories.

She casually said she “didn’t go outside much,” but in that journal she wrote, the concept of “outside” didn’t even exist.

“What are you thinking so hard about?”

“Nothing.”

On the way back in the carriage, Sera sat across from me and asked.

I couldn’t tell her the truth—that I was worried about her, that I was uncertain about our future.

She was pretending to be fine, so I had to do the same.

She wore a cape with intricate embroidery around the neck and shoulders, fastened tightly with buttons.

Beneath it, a glimpse of white fabric peeked out.

A corset belt cinched her waist, and the combination of black and white fabric blended well with her long brown hair, giving her a sophisticated look.

Nun robes were nice, but this outfit suited her in a different way.

Sera had always preferred simple adventurer outfits or her nun attire, but lately, her fashion choices had been changing more frequently.

She claimed it was because the cape had a warming enchantment, making it the best option for winter.

“You expect me to believe ‘nothing’ with that serious face?”

She was right. I couldn’t fool her. She probably understood this issue better than I did.

That’s why she and I felt so far apart right now.

How could I close the distance between us again? In just a second, countless thoughts swirled through my mind before Sera spoke again.

“Like I said in the library—don’t do anything reckless. And no committing crimes, either. The second hero isn’t supposed to be doing things like that.”

Reckless thoughts… Did she already know about my eyes?

If she did, then I’d have to tell her about Laura and Natalia as well.

I wasn’t sure if I could handle that conversation yet.

Time moved forward along with the carriage. Eventually, this moment would pass, and new ones would come.

Secrets couldn’t stay buried forever.

Still, was my reluctance to tell her just selfishness, or was it an attempt to preserve our bond?

Either way, neither answer felt right.

Sera was right. I couldn’t keep avoiding things.

I had to handle everything that needed to be done.

“I was just thinking about how we should tail Ronin.”

“Well, even if you get caught, you’re strong enough to escape. I doubt anyone would dare punish the great Hero.”

“Haha, you think so?”

No lying.

That was the rule.

I changed the subject, but… it was time to tell her the truth.

“Sera, I might not be the kind of person you think I am.”

“…What do you mean?”

The image blurred, like pouring black ink over a freshly drawn outline.

Was it really okay to tell her about the Charm Eye?

“I think my eyes have the power to charm others. The Charm Eye—it hypnotizes women and forces them to love me unconditionally. And… I’ve never been able to control it properly.”

“Hah?”

I said it.

I told her everything—how I had ended up with Laura, how I got involved with Natalia.

I admitted that my Charm Eye had spiraled out of control, and I was afraid that if I let it go on any longer, I might lose myself completely.

I braced for disgust, for rejection.

But Sera’s reaction was completely unexpected.

“…And? So what?”

…What?

What kind of stupid question was that?

The whole world knew I’d been messing around with women.

Why was she acting like this was some big secret?

“I just… I want to focus on one person now. But…”

“This world allows polygamy, you know?”

The hell?

So much for a dramatic confession.

Did she seriously just dismiss my inner turmoil with a simple “that’s fine”?

“If you can’t control your power, that’s a problem. But you still have to take responsibility. You made your bed—now lie in it.”

“…Are you really okay with this?”

“Why are you even asking me that?”

She paused.

Wait—hold on. If I can’t control the Charm Eye…

“Actually… maybe this isn’t okay after all.”

A dog that goes too long without eating turns feral, attacking even its owner.

The same principle applied to the Charm Eye.

If I didn’t absorb enough mana crystals, the power would spiral out of control, forcing all the heroines into a brutal love triangle where they’d fight over me.

That’s how you triggered the infamous “Let’s share!” ending.

…I did not want to think about what they were sharing.

When I first played the game, I struggled a lot because I didn’t know how to collect mana crystals properly.

And now, I could clearly see how we ended up here.

I’d deliberately kept myself from getting mana crystals.

So, I panicked, made a deal with Fran in Edirne even though I knew she was shady, and then got betrayed.

Honestly? I was kind of a genius.

“If you think this is my fault, don’t. You did this to yourself. Whether you break up with them or make them concubines, handle it properly. Got it?!”

Technically, I was about… 90% responsible.

But no way in hell was I admitting that.

In an argument, the louder person wins.

I just needed to make sure Laura, Natalia, and any future heroines didn’t turn into yanderes.

I didn’t want their mess splattering onto me.

“Do you think they’ll even be able to face me again?”

“Are you scared?”

“Yeah… a lot. Laura, Natalia… showing them my true feelings and ending things properly… it terrifies me. And I feel guilty toward you, too.”

“W-Well…! It’s your responsibility, so there’s nothing to be done!”

I could see her conflicted expression.

I mumbled softly, so she couldn’t hear, “Wait… then that means I—?”

If I couldn’t control the Charm Eye… wasn’t Sera in danger too?

Now that I thought about it, every time I looked at her lately, something felt off…

“You useless bastard! You really need a beating!”

She tackled me inside the carriage.

I had been honest, so she let me off easy.

But if I had kept this from her any longer?

She would have burned me alive.