“.... Cade?”

“Oh dear. Do you see me like that?”

At the sound of the cheerful voice, Abella took a step back without realizing it. Rather than a god, he had a smile like an evil spirit. However, Skellus jumped up and landed right in front of Abella.

“Hmm. I was expecting how different it would be this time.”

Skellus smiled with a youthful face. The boy with dark black hair and red eyes certainly resembled Cade, but the energy she felt was unfamiliar.

“You’ve come back completely broken again, Abella.”

What was he talking about?

As Abella was about to open her mouth to ask a question, Skellus snapped his finger.

Her mouth did not open as if sewn up. Skellus lifted his finger once more, and light returned to the temple where darkness had descended.

Skellus beckoned the speechless Abella to the table.

“Sit down.”

When Abella sat down timidly, the conversation began.

“I think you said you wanted to be happy, but you don’t look very happy.”

“.... Have I been here before?”

“Of course.”

Skellus grinned as he held his chin.

“You came to me to get everything back. You were born on the day of Skellus and lived a cursed life, so you want everything back. It’s all my fault.”

“.... I can’t remember.”

“It was also your intention. You were born with the power to turn back time, Abella. What I’m talking about is the story of a past life. No, to be precise, it was before you went back in time.”

Confusion appeared on Abella’s face. Does going back in time mean regression?

“You thought that if you could turn back time you could have a better life, you came to me and did it. With all your memories erased.”

“.... Wouldn’t that be of no use?”

“You seem to have a slightly different opinion. You erased your memories and left the memories of others in their place.”

“Are you saying that everyone but me remembers the past?”

“No. Some have lost their memories, of course. Your power wasn’t perfect. So I’ll ask again. Are you happy the way you want?”

Abella shook her head slowly. Was she happy?

“No.”

She wasn’t happy at all.

Still, Abella was unhappy and resented Skellus, and she was hoping for a new life. If that wasn’t the case, she was just hoping to get rid of this past one life. Skellus asked strangely.

“Why?”

Abella bowed her head in silence.

Perhaps Abella knew why she had erased her memories and left the others’ memories behind. The Abella of the past was not as courageous as the Abella of today. The courage to remember the present and be happy. However, Abella also failed this time. Is it because those who remember the past made the wrong choice?

“Now, stop blaming others.”

Skellus’s voice coldly struck Abella.

“Why don’t you stop doing stupid things and start caring for your own life?”

Abella looked at Skellus blankly. Stupid things.... ? Someone else’s fault.... ?

“Have you ever thought of that? If you hadn’t run away. If you had made a different choice. If you weren’t afraid of my shadow from the start. Well, those kind of nonsensical thoughts.”

“This..... It wasn’t my choice. I was hated because..... I was born on the day of Skellus.....”

Skellus looked at Abella, who stuttered, pathetically. He then shrugged his shoulders.

“How dare you say something like that even after making a mess the second time. Abella, you said happiness is what you make it yourself.”

Skellus’ voice was strange. It was like whipping Abella, but also comforting her. Tears welled up in Abella’s eyes.

“There are a lot of people worse off than you. Still, you’ve got a good chance. Didn’t you have the strength to get another chance? Yet you erased your memories. Are you going to say that it is also because of me?”

Skellus asked mysteriously.

“I, I..... I.....”

“What. Are you going to use another excuse this time? Abella, I have no intention of giving you a long time. Will you blame me again this time? So do whatever you want.”

Skellus snapped his fingers in front of her, bewildered.

“You can turn back time any time. The choice is yours again this time.”

“.... I wish for this.....”

Abella said in a hoarse voice.

“You don’t even have the courage to die, Abella.”

Skellus tilted his head.

“I am afraid that your dead father will resent you. You’re like a coward.”

Abella opened her mouth blankly with a pale face. Unknowingly, tears fell down her cheeks.