Re: Freedom: Regaining Freedom In Another World

FYI

Scene/ POV

: Speech

- Thoughts

[Flashback]

"Quoting"

(Author Note)—————————————————————————————————————

Mansion
I woke up but I didn't want to get out of bed anymore. I screamed out in frustration as tears fell from my face. Emilia walked into the room. Throughout every loop, she had always stayed by my side. On several occasions, she gave up her life to protect mine and in others, I did it for her. After so many loops it was clear to me that they wanted her for a ritual to bring back the Witch Of Envy. That was their main goal.
Emilia: Kiyotaka-Kun. What's wrong? I heard a scream... are you... crying?
She walked over and sat on the bed guiding my head into her lap.
Emilia: Kiyotaka-Kun. Things have been difficult, haven't they?
Koji: Y...yes ... they have.
Emilia: You don't have to tell me but I'm here if you want to.
Koji: I lied to you.
Emilia: What?
Koji: I hadn't lost my memory. I... I'm from a different world. That's why I knew nothing about Lugunica or how to read or write.
Emilia looked at me shocked.
Emilia: Kiyotaka-Kun...
She didn't even question it.
Emilia: I see so are you frustrated because you had to leave everything from there behind?
Koji: No. My life there wasn't good.
Emilia: What?
Koji: My father put me in a place where he experimented on me and other children
She looked horrified.
Koji: The point was to create a perfect person. If you succeeded then you had made it through one day. If you failed you were severely punished. Physically. Many died from ages as early as 4 years old. Emotionally as well. i lost all my feelings by the time I was 9.
Emilia: How could your father do that?
Koji: He was obsessed and he never really saw me as a son. I only became valuable to him because I was the best student in that place. His Masterpiece. his tool to gain political power.
Emilia: So coming to this world helped you escape that place.
Koji: Well yes but I had escaped before. I was 16. I began attending a facility where visitations and leaving weren't allowed. It was an academy built to create our country's next leaders. While it was strict I wouldn't call it cruel. There would be 4 classes and they would compete to be the best class of the year.
Emilia: Okay.
Koji: I was able to get rid of a mindset that was drilled into me after about 3 years there. But at the end after watching and helping them grow I wanted to lose to someone so I betrayed them. But in the end, I won. I had thrown away everyone for a chance that they would defeat me. To prove I wasn't the masterpiece he had labelled me.
Emilia: Kiyotaka-Kun...
Koji: There was a girl as well. I actually started smiling around her and I realised I was in love. I had betrayed her as well. At the end I was ready to return to my father knowing I could never escape him and that's when I was brought to this world where I met you.
Emilia: So it was good timing?
Koji: I suppose. One last thing.
Emilia: Yes?
Koji: After coming to this world I found out that when I di...
I suddenly felt a presence of darkness around me as it reached for my heart holding it in her hands.
Koji- ... this... this is it. This is how I defeat Petelguese.
Emilia: What is it Kiyotaka-Kun?
Koji: It's nothing.
Emilia: Are you sure? 
Koji: Yes. I'm sure.
Koji- I'm sorry for lying to you again Emilia. I'm sorry? Hold on. This entire time why did I never once consider abandoning her?
I contemplated this for a while but I couldn't find an answer. I stood up.
Koji: Thank you for listening to me. For believing me.
Emilia: Of course.
She walked out of the room.
Emilia- Oh god. That was horrifying. Kiytoaka... what kind of hell you've been through.
I stood up. My legs shook but I controlled myself.
Koji- It will take a while to recover from the mental stress from dying so many times but I have to get up because now I have a place to stand on.
I walked to Rem and Ram.
Koji- Just one more time. I'll do it one more time and I'll succeed.
I was about to show them a forged letter but I stopped myself.
Koji: Rem. Ram. I can't tell you how I know this but there is a Witch Cult Informant in the Village.
They looked at me in surprise.
Rem: There's a what?
Koji: I don't expect you to believe me but let me show you.
They agreed as I led them to the traitor and we observed him sending messages and we took the letter and revealed its contents.
Rem: It's true.
Ram: How do you...
Ram sighed.
Ram: It doesn't matter. 
We gathered the villagers into Beatrice's library as able-bodied men joined as we slowly killed off each and every witch Cult member. There were zero casualties. I came face to face with Petelguese.
Sloth: Oh what is this? You are loved! Are you Pride?
Koji: I have no such thing as Pride.
I said this as I rushed towards him. I had memorised his attack pattern perfectly deflecting attacks as I swiftly chopped off his head. Everything is finally falling into place. Petelgeuese possessed my body.
Sloth: I perfect vessel. Oh, how I am loved!!!
Koji: Petelgeuese. When I die...
The Witch of Envy appeared.
Koji- So you're the one who gave me this power.
Petelgeuese: The Witch. Oh, My love.
Koji: Sorry Petelgeuse but she doesn't love you.
Petelgeuese: What? Foolish!
He looked at her.
Petelgeuese: I've waited so long for your love. Your...
The witch's hand outstretched towards Sloth but then it passed through him.
Witch: No. You're not the one.
She attacked him forcing him out of my body. Since his soul had nowhere to go it died. Emilia found us.
Emilia: Geuse... It really was you. I'm sorry. For everything.
Emilia knelt on the ground sobbing. I patted her on the back leaving her to grieve. A few minutes later she came to me.
Emilia: Kiyotaka-Kun... thank you. he must have been suffering for all those years.
Koji: I tried to kill him as quickly as possible. Mainly because he was a dangerous person but it shouldn't have hurt for very long because of that.
Emilia: That's good.
She smiled at me but it was clear her pain had not faded yet. Not in the slightest. Puck came out. 
Puck: Hey you look different than before. Your face is softer.
Koji: It is?
Puck: It is.
Emilia: I have to agree with Puck.
I said my next words with a completely straight face.
Koji: Perhaps that lap pillow you gave me lightened my mood to this extent. Emilia blushed profusely as Puck laughed hysterically.
Puck: He got you there Lia.
Emilia: Puck!!!
Koji: Well I'm glad that this is all over.
Emilia: Agreed.
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A Fortnight Later
Reinhard had come to see the situation.
Koji: It's good to see you again.
Reinhard: Yes it... you seem different.
Koji: I keep hearing that. So about Felt. What happened?
Reinhard: I've pledged my sword to her. She's now a Royal Candidate.
Koji: Oh so Emilia has gained another rival. That makes four then.
Reinhard: Four? There are only three other Royal candidates.
Koji: ??? Can you name them, please?
Reinhard: Sure. Felt-Sama. Anastasia-Sama, Pricilla Sama and of course Emilia-Sama.
Koji: And Lady Crusch?
Reinhard: Who?
Koji: That's strange. Nevermind. I must have been mistaken.
Reinhard- He's lying? But there are only three other candidates? It should register as truth... the White Whale. But then how does he remember her?
Koji: I'll see you another day Reinhard-San.
Reinhard: Oh yes. Of course. I must say I'm impressed. Apparently you are responsible for the death of Sloth.
Koji: Yes but without everyone else things could have ended badly.
Reinhard: I see. I'll be taking my leave now.
Koji: Off course. It's a given since you work under Lady Felt.
Reinhard left as I approached Emilia.
Koji: Do you know someone by the name of Crusch Karsten?
Emilia: I know that family name but I don't know of a member with the name Crusch.
Koji: I see. What will become of Wilhelm-San and Felix?
Emilia: Um who is Wilhelm?
Koji: Emilia. Do you know of something that can erase a person's existence from the world?
Emilia: The White Whale.
Koji- That thing...
Emilia: Why?
Koji: No reason.
Emilia then went into the building.
Kouji- Wilhelm-San... I don't want to die. Really but...
I sighed. I took a knife from the kitchen stabbing myself in the neck.
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Morning- 1 Day After The Attack Of Sloth
 I woke up from my bed and walked over to Emilia.
Koji: I would like to pay a visit to Wilhelm-Sama. Is that okay?
Emilia: Oh? Of course.
Koji- Let's see as to what's going on.
We made our trip to the Capital
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To Be Continued

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