"I'll eat whatever you make, I think it will all be delicious!"
On the topic of what dish to have, Adrian just nodded without offering an opinion. This made me feel a bit awkward, as I was very clear about what that bundle of flowers left by the door represented.
"That...the two of us...it's actually impossible, you may not fully understand!"
Looking at his back, I squatted down and finally squeezed out these words after hesitating for a long while.
"Of course I understand! It's indeed very difficult for an angel and human to be together, but there are precedents..."
I didn't know what he was thinking, but Adrian didn't react for a long time while holding the fishing rod. After a bit, he turned back with a smile to reassure me.
"So I'll work really hard!"
"Er..."
Seems he misunderstood? Angel-human pairings are indeed extremely rare special cases. Generally speaking, only highly prestigious nobles and royals have that qualification, and it also depends on if the angel is willing.
But that clearly wasn't what I meant! However, I couldn't bring myself to explain the real situation. Several times I swallowed back the words I wanted to say.
After all, I came from another world through transformation. If he knew this fact, he definitely wouldn't say such things! Even if I tried my best to hide this truth and never got exposed, how would Nicola and Cyra think if they found out? Especially Nicola...
Thinking of this, my mind became a muddle and I felt flustered.
Actually, this wasn't the first time flowers were left at the door. It had happened several times before. But I absolutely couldn't accept it! In the end, I could only quietly put the flowers away, burying my head in the sand and pretending I didn't see anything. Today, being able to directly say these evasive words of rejection already took quite a lot of courage. But the result was a bit disappointing.
After eating, it was time for idling around playing cards again. Although I don't carry playing cards like Cyra, it's totally feasible to make a set from materials like paper in the village - just not as exquisite in pattern and suit.
"Playing with just two people really lacks fun. Why don't we rescue Judith or Vivianne? With them, maybe we could even play some fun?"
With just two people, there naturally weren't many other games to play. I looked at my hand and made the suggestion. But then I thought about having to explain the whole situation again, teach all the rules and tricks, and immediately lost enthusiasm, quickly changing my mind.
"Nevermind, maybe we'll wait until the next reset..."
"So you mean we'll continue resting this next round?"
However, when it was Adrian's turn to play, he glanced at me somewhat intentionally.
"...Of course!"
I nodded heavily. Without finding a way to deal with the God of Light, everything was in vain. But the way he asked made it seem like he had some other intention. After pondering for a bit, I finally asked him.
"Did you happen to find another way out of here?"
"No, not at all..."
Adrian hurriedly shook his head in response.
"I just had some reflection. When we initially chased away that male phoenix and entered this cave, how could I have imagined spending so much time together with you in this 'small world'? All in all, it's probably been over a year right?"
"It's really been a year?"
I was stunned for a moment. Come to think of it, maybe it really had been that long. Although I died very frequently challenging Cyra initially, each reset cycle didn't last too long back then. It was mainly these endless rest periods after that just seemed to fly by unknowingly.
"So you want to leave now?"
I asked a bit guiltily, not wanting to admit I was completely content with the situation. Mainly, this lifestyle without any pressures or responsibilities was just too relaxing. But don't forget, Adrian had already gone through over a hundred resets before I even entered, so he must be sick of it all by now.
"Maybe a little..."
Adrian didn't hide it, nodding in response.
"I'm a bit worried about the situation of those left outside, like Brennan."
Speaking of which, I initially thought that after Cyra brought "reinforcements" from the holy capital Jethrobaines, some True Church rescuers might follow us into the cave. But that didn't happen - after so long, there was still no movement from the outside at all. Could it be that Yulanda, Brennan and the others all died at the entrance?
"The key now is, even if we ultimately defeat the God of Light, will we definitely be able to escape from this infinitely looping world?"
I massaged my temples, feeling a bit of a headache. Adrian first proposed this idea, but based on the various information we gathered later, this possibility became increasingly slim. Beluto and Cyra seemed just as clueless as us - who could we ask for a way to escape?
To find another path, after one reset we even snuck all the way to Sulide Volcano, the mountain where the "Cloud Palace" was located, and found the cave entrance we originally came through - of course, the entrance from 10,000 years ago.
But we still found nothing - in fact there were no discoveries at all, because there was no maze whatsoever!
After passing through a long tunnel, we reached an extremely spacious cavern, completely empty inside. But we could feel the surrounding environment was very hot, indicating we weren't far from the volcanic magma.
Adrian and I called it the "Blazing Cavern". This was already the end of the cave, with no path onwards. We didn't dare linger inside and immediately retreated back the way we came.
We even suspected at one point if the ancient civilization had intentionally leaked information to lure Cyra and the God of Light here, hoping a volcanic eruption would eliminate them.
Okay, that was indeed a bit naive...
"Actually about that cave, there's one question I still haven't resolved - where did the Pope who entered with you end up?"
After pondering for a while, Adrian suddenly asked.
"Or maybe we're overthinking it - he could have just been wandering inside that maze the whole time, possibly even resetting together with us..."
I also felt it was very strange, but could only spread my hands in resignation since I couldn't think of an explanation.
Even if Cysper was transported somewhere else, it likely wasn't this looping world we're in now. Because in the first few resets, Adrian and I had basically circled the entire world, covering all four directions - if Cysper followed us here, there's no way there wouldn't be any trace of him.
"Moreover, there's an even more crucial question!"
But Adrian's thoughts were more meticulous than mine. He felt things weren't so simple, shaking his head and immediately adding:
"Why are only you and I the ones retaining full memories, while everyone else doesn't? When I first discovered you had also entered this cave, I never expected you would share the same retained memories from before the reset like me."
"Well about that..."
I was suddenly at a loss for words - he had hit the nail on the head. Why was that indeed?
"Could it be because the two of us are special in some way?"
I definitely didn't believe it was due to some random factor. But if there really was something different, it would be that initial stretch entering the cave where Cysper and I had completely different experiences from the others.
"...We encountered an extremely massive and complex maze. Cysper could only find the final exit by following the airflow, while you all took a single direct path to the end, just like that tunnel to the 'Blazing Cavern'. You also didn't hear those strange sounds..."
"Strange sounds?"
Hearing this, Adrian suddenly stopped playing his hand, his expression turning odd.
"Wait, don't tell me you heard them too!"
I was stunned. I remembered back then he clearly stated together with Vivianne, the Star Glory knights and others that they didn't hear any "rustling" sounds.
"If you're referring to that 'rustling' sound, I indeed didn't hear it."
He quickly clarified upon realizing.
"But when leaving the tunnel, I did hear someone's voice speaking..."
"A speaking voice?"
Come to think of it, I had heard it too back then. I was just distracted by the scenery outside the tunnel entrance, so I didn't pay much attention and quickly forgot about it.
"What did it say?"
"Something about logging in, I think? It's been too long, I can't really remember clearly..."
Staring at the sky overhead, Adrian pondered for a long time before blurting out those words.
But after I heard them, the cards in my hand instantly scattered all over the floor...
Why didn't I think of this before?
In this "world of ten thousand years ago" where time and space loop infinitely, there were indeed too many illogical things. I had suspected it many times before, but could never find evidence to support my ideas - the information I got could never fully corroborate my guesses.
Later in this world, inspired by Judith, we found many clues about the God of Light from ten thousand years ago, and also witnessed the advanced magic technology of ancient lost civilizations. Although it was all fragmented information, it was enough to piece together a massive conjecture.
The constant resets, the Sulide Volcano, the "Dona" War Research Institute, the Xuthus Project, the virtual reality headsets, the God of Light, and - artificial stupidity!
Thinking of this, I gritted my teeth, lifted my head and shouted loudly into the air.
"I need help!"
==============================================================If you enjoyed the novel and would like to support my work, you can contribute through PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/snowriver33Your generosity is appreciated, but entirely optional. Thank you for being a reader!