Time passed in the blink of an eye when you were having fun. Tizmilly and I enjoyed our time without a care in the world, and by the time we realized it, the sun had already started to set.

​I placed the spoon back into my now-empty gelato bowl. "It’s late already," I said, staring at the amber sky.

​Tizmilly, still savoring her fourth bowl, perked up and glanced at the sky through the cafe window. She blinked. "That was... quick."

​I chuckled. "I know, right?"

​We were forced into this at first, but in the end, we enjoyed the day just as my mother had hoped. I didn’t know if this could truly be called a ’date,’ but at least we were having fun together. And to me, that was all that mattered.

​Tizmilly finished her gelato while staring out the window. Pedestrians returning from work filled the road, with carriages, wagons, and the occasional car passing by.

​She set her spoon down with a soft clink. Her hand reached toward the glass. A smile formed on her lips, but to me, it looked lonely. "It would be great if time could stop, even just for a little while..." she muttered softly.

​Her words reminded me of how unfair her original fate was. She was the Villainess of the game. The first hurdle the protagonist had to face, and the last human to be killed before facing the true end—the Dungeons.

​I never planned to include Tizmilly in this second life of mine. But the cruelty and inevitability of destiny had pushed me to reach out to her. I couldn’t just stand by while she was played by fate, suffering for things she didn’t do. I had experienced something similar in my previous life, after all.

​I propped my chin on my hand and gave her my best smile. "Well, I can’t stop time... but how about a flying experience instead, Miss Villainess?"

​Tizmilly turned to me, blinking. She pursed her lips and giggled. "You’re using that title again, Mr. Roost. I don’t think I’ve committed any crimes, have I?"

​I responded with a shrug. "It’s because you are the Villainess, Tizmilly."

​"I don’t understand," she replied with a smile. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

​Seeing her mood lift, I extended my hand toward her. "So? Do you want to go to that place again, or not?"

​Tizmilly looked at my hand, her smile widening to reveal her pearl-white teeth. "Let’s go!"

We paid the bill and walked out of the cafe. I cast Levitation on both of us while holding her hand. With a light push, our bodies began to float. This time, Tizmilly didn’t panic. Instead, she seemed to enjoy herself. Her eyes sparkled as she took in the sight she had first seen weeks ago.

​"So beautiful..." Tizmilly muttered, her cheeks flushed from the height.

​I had to use all my willpower to look away from her and focus on guiding us upward. Slowly, we approached my favorite spot.

​As we stepped onto the massive chain, Tizmilly’s composure wavered. She freaked out every time she looked down, realizing we were thousands of meters above the ground. She gripped my hand so tightly that I was certain a normal man’s hand would have been crushed by now.

​I gently guided her to sit, placing my hand on her shoulder to steady her. She stopped trembling once she felt secure.

​Finally, we could enjoy the view.

​Our jackets, sleeves, and hair fluttered in the dancing wind. My short hair was fine, but Tizmilly had to hold her bangs back to keep them from stinging her eyes. Since it was winter, the air up here was biting—colder than anywhere else we had visited today.

​But the cold couldn’t stop us from smiling. The sight was too mesmerizing. It made me want to wax poetic.

​"The light is dimming, sending a final, golden goodbye to the world..." I began, though I stumbled a bit. "But it smiles still, for the parting is only temporary. Soon, it will return with... reinvigorated spirit and a stronger light!"

​Tizmilly giggled at my attempt.

​"I never expected you to have a poetic side, Mr. Roost!" she said, shielding her wide smile.

​I grinned and puffed out my chest. "Heh, you might not believe me, Tizmilly, but back in the day, I was known as the Number One Bookworm!"

’​Back on Earth, that is.’

​Tizmilly couldn’t contain herself and burst out laughing. "What kind of title is that?"

​I watched her laugh without restraint—just like any other young girl—for the first time. She looked truly happy. My decision to bring her with me was the right one.

​Minutes later, her laughter subsided. She wiped a stray tear from her eye, a lingering smile on her face. She looked down at the sprawling cityscape. For a while, only the whistling wind filled the silence, but it wasn’t awkward.

​As the sun began to slip behind the mountains, Tizmilly turned to me. I met her gaze.

​"Mr. Roost," she called, tidying her messy bangs.

​I tilted my head. "Yes?"

​She took a deep breath, her demeanor suddenly shifting to something more serious, yet framed by a charming smile. "I’ve always wanted to thank you. For saving me, for giving me a chance to rebuild my life with my own hands... for everything."

​I froze. For a moment, my mind went blank. I didn’t know how to handle such heartfelt gratitude. Perhaps that’s why I ended up giving her my realest reason.

​"Actually, I just didn’t want to stand by and do nothing while someone experienced the same things I once did," I replied, scratching my cheek.

Tizmilly’s eyes widened. "The same things?" she inquired.

​I quickly composed myself, forcing a smile to cover the slip of my tongue. "Never mind, haha! We’ve worked so hard together on the restaurant. That alone was enough to convince me I’ll never regret my decision!"

​But perhaps because she was the ’Villainess,’ she wasn’t so easily fooled. "Mr. Roost?" she called out, her brow furrowing.

​I kept my smile while searching for an excuse, but my mind was a blank slate. I had truly messed up. The weight of her demanding gaze started to overwhelm me, forcing me to look away.

​Tizmilly reached toward me, then hesitated. Her palm froze just inches from my shoulder. "Mr. Roost, you said you experienced something similar to me... What did you mean? I can listen, if you want to tell me," she said, her voice dropping to a whisper.

​Right then, the sun disappeared completely.

​I knew that staying silent wasn’t the answer. Maybe she can understand me, I thought. She is the Villainess, after all. But when I opened my mouth, no words came out.

​Then, I felt a gentle touch on my shoulder. I turned and met her worried eyes.

​"Mr. Roost, are you okay? You look pale..."

​I tried to mask it with another smile, but I failed. My lips felt tight, heavy. I commanded my brain to calm down, but it refused. Just as desperation began to take hold, two soft, gentle palms cupped my cheeks.

​Tizmilly smiled. "Calm down, Mr. Roost."

​Her voice and touch acted like an anchor. My breathing finally hitched, then slowed, returning to a normal rhythm. It took ten minutes, but I finally regained my composure.

​I placed my hands over hers and gently lowered them from my face. I stared into her eyes—those scarlet pupils now clouded with a concern that a ’Villainess’ wasn’t supposed to feel.

​Alright, I’ll tell her, I decided. I’ve already talked about the end of the world with her, anyway.

​I held her hands in mine and looked straight at her. "Tizmilly, do you believe in reincarnation?"

​She tilted her head. "Reincarnation? I read about it once... the concept of a new life after death. I’m not sure," she replied uncertainly.

​I gave a weak grin. "Would you believe me if I said I was living proof of it?"

​Tizmilly blinked, her expression shifting back to worry. "Mr. Roost, are you sure you’re okay?"

​I tightened my grip on her hands. "Just answer me," I said, my gaze locked onto hers.

​She began to ponder my words seriously. The wind surged, whipping our clothes and her hair violently for a moment before settling into a sudden, eerie stillness.

​"I don’t think it’s realistic," Tizmilly finally answered. "But it’s not impossible. Perhaps it’s not something just anyone can experience. It might require special magic, an item, or a soul with a very specific destiny..."

​She looked at me intently. "In short, I think reincarnation exists. But only for certain people."

​I was stunned. I hadn’t expected such a thoughtful answer. It was time.

​"Then maybe I’m one of those people. Because, Tizmilly... I lived in a world completely different from this one before. Also, although it might be hard for you to believe, but I had played a game called Gem of Ahlia in that world. A game that became the foundation of this world."