Chapter 14: Ron: Danger, I think I need to reload

The sword of Damocles that had been hanging overhead finally fell.

When Ron looked at Isis now, the last bit of luck in his heart completely vanished.

“Isis…”

In Ron’s original estimation, the white-haired beauty before him should have been one of the slaves least afraid of an encounter or having her identity exposed.

After all, she was the Hero who represented justice and tolerance. Aside from having a more reserved personality, she was almost a carbon copy of the current Lifa.

Ron had even thought that as long as he could clearly explain the two matters of ‘rewind rebirth’ and ‘abandoning her’, he might even be able to make Isis his assistant once again.

But looking at her now…

“What is it, Master?”

“It has been so long since we last met — won’t you give your cute little slave a kiss back?”

Isis released her embrace, but she tilted her fair neck back and revealed an aggressive smile.

*Hiss—*

Ron drew in a cold breath mentally.

Her appearance had transformed from golden hair and black eyes to white hair and red eyes.

Her gaze made no attempt to hide her possessiveness and aggression, and that sickly, crazed aura told him everything about the changes in Isis.

It was a change toward corruption and evil.

Ron’s thoughts fell into a semi-stalled state. When he subconsciously retreated, he was naturally backed into a corner since his seat was already the one closest to the wall.

‘Why did Isis turn into this? Where is the beautiful Hero I raised?’

“Are you afraid of me?”

Receiving only Ron’s silence and fear upon their reunion made Isis’s face darken with disappointment, yet she still chose to press her attack step by step.

*Phew—*

Standing on her tiptoes, she pinned Ron into the corner with both arms until their noses were almost touching. At this distance, Ron could clearly hear the sound of her greedily savoring his scent.

This scene caused a memory to surface in Ron’s mind.

It was the scene of himself preparing to enjoy a delicious meal of roast meat last night.

“Ahem!”

At the same time, Madam Lida appeared at the counter carrying two sandwiches. She frowned as she looked at Ron and Isis, giving two light coughs.

“You two, please be mindful that this is a public place.”

“If you intend to do that sort of thing, this establishment currently has no spare rooms.”

He was saved.

“Heh.”

Isis turned her head to glance at the proprietress. She seemed to lose interest in Ron all at once, leaving him behind as she headed toward the bar.

“Young lady, I already said just now that we have no spare guest rooms at the moment.”

Afterward, the sound of a conversation between Madam Lida and Isis drifted over from the bar. Ron heard that Isis seemed to want to stay in the room next to his and Lifa’s.

He would have to prepare for the worst…

Ron watched Isis’s back from a distance, and a series of subtitles appeared in his field of vision.

**[Prologue: journey of adventure: In Progress]**

**[rewind rebirth Location: Gaderade City Gates]**

**[Remaining rewind rebirths: 1]**

“I understand what you mean.”

Over by the bar, Isis seemed to give up on her plan to stay at the inn under Madam Lida’s persistence.

“Then I will just settle it today.”

She muttered to herself as she turned back toward Ron. At that moment, Madam Lida picked up the sandwiches, winked at Ron, and quickly headed toward the second floor.

“Isis, can we talk?”

Since the other party was so certain of his identity, trying to hide or deceive her any further was a joke.

“I have a lot to say to you.”

Seeing Isis respond only with a silent smile, Ron added another sentence.

“You cannot, though —”

Isis’s answer left Ron at a loss.

“Master, for your sake… Isis made a very difficult choice.”

The white-haired beauty’s steps were light. Every step she took toward him was as silent as snow falling on the ground.

“We will have plenty of time to talk slowly in the future, but today…”

Through those eyes that were as thick and murky as blood, Ron saw Isis’s pain and a plea for help.

In this instant.

He vaguely realized the reason for the changes in Isis. He grabbed her arms with both hands, wanting to pull her into his embrace.

“Isis, I want to tell you right now —”

“Master Ron!”

Accompanied by the sound of footsteps crashing against the wooden stairs, a fully armed Lifa came rushing down from the second floor.

She leaped down from the corner of the stairs when she was still ten or more steps away from the first floor.

*Whoosh!*

Lifa’s sudden appearance broke the progress of their conversation. Isis also broke free from Ron, choosing to turn and face Lifa without any lingering attachment.

“L-Lady Ash?”

The situation was clearly urgent, and Madam Lida had not explained the details to Lifa.

Thus, when Lifa saw that the ‘enemy’ before her was Lady Ash, the longsword she had just raised shrank back toward her body.

“Good morning, Destiny.”

Isis greeted Lifa, using a title that left both Ron and Lifa confused.

“Master, what happened?”

Lifa took a few steps forward, drawing closer to Ron.

“It is nothing.”

Isis raised an arm from beneath her gray robe and blocked Ron behind her, looking back to signal that Ron could reply to Lifa.

“It is a long story…”

The inn was very quiet, but the air between Isis and Lifa was already thick with tension.

“Lady Ash, can we change locations first?”

Ron glanced at Lifa and the longsword in her hand, signaling that she did not need to worry about him.

“Lady Ash? Well, Master can call me whatever he likes.”

Isis asked back before nodding with gentle obedience and continuing.

“That proprietress is a good person, so shall we go outside the city?”

“Fine.”

The nearly stagnant air seemed to flow once again at that moment. Isis lowered the arm blocking Ron, and Lifa stepped forward to check on him after Ron walked toward her.

“Master, are you all right? I am sorry… Lifa will never oversleep again.”

As Lifa apologized, her hand tightly gripped the weapon she had returned to its sheath. Her sideways glance fixed on Isis, who was standing slightly behind Ron.

“This has nothing to do with you, Lifa.”

Ron comforted Lifa, his voice having calmed down completely.

“Oh, then… then what happened between Lady Ash and Master just now?”

Lifa, who only half-understood the situation, asked her question.

Not long ago, Madam Lida had rushed into her room, telling her that Master Ron was in danger and that she needed to come downstairs immediately.

“What happened? Do you want to know, little Lifa?”

Isis leaned over and snatched Lifa’s question before Ron could answer, even teasing her curiosity.

“Yes. Lady Ash, do you and Master know each other?”

Lifa had already thought of the word ‘Master’ that Isis had blurted out earlier, but her understanding was that she might have misheard.

“Yes. However, I should answer Lifa’s question from a moment ago first.”

“As for what your Master Ron and I were doing just now…”

Isis hugged one of Ron’s arms and, standing on her tiptoes, kissed Ron’s cheek as Lifa’s eyes widened.