Chapter 117: Cantarella Wants to Keep Me Alive
Aeron let out a long sigh, lamenting the hardships of his second life.
No one could have ever imagined—no one could have ever imagined—that he would one day be targeted by a humanoid Ultraman, and even be set up by Carlotta in collaboration with them.
"What are you thinking about?"
Just as Aeron was lamenting how wicked capital could be, the voice beside him pulled him back to reality.
"Nothing... just lamenting how things never go as planned."
"But judging by your expression, it doesn't seem like you're all that opposed to it?"
"Well... let's just say I'm honored to be involved."
Although Aeron himself was quite unwilling to be coerced like this, for Rover's sake... it wasn't entirely unacceptable.
He wasn't a fool or a blockhead—how could he not understand Carlotta and the Rover's intentions?
What they wanted was simply to bind him to Ragunna, so that he could contribute to the goal of opposing the Threnodians.
But unfortunately, Aeron had underestimated their resolve. Even after he made it clear that he had no interest in saving the world, they still chose to drag him into this mess.
He had merely dealt with the troubles that could have posed a threat to him, happened to stand by their side, and just so happened to share the same stance.
Still, Aeron had no intention of refusing them. With the Rover backing him up, he could avoid trouble from Fractsidus.
Ah, forget it. Since he was already free, he might as well stop dwelling on these things.
"By the way... what did you need me for, Cantarella?"
Aeron first suppressed the dangerous thoughts that had surfaced in his mind, choosing to focus his attention on the beauty beside him.
Cantarella had been observing Aeron's expression intentionally or unintentionally since earlier.
Though he spoke of trouble and his face was filled with disdain, his heart seemed to harbor an entirely different sentiment.
"Actually, I was originally planning to take you directly back to Porto-Veno Castle. After all, you are nominally Fisalia's son-in-law, and it's improper for you to be wandering around outside."
Cantarella's voice remained as elegant and composed as ever. Now that the Threnodians had been dealt with, she could finally devote more attention to Ragunna, the family, and... the person beside her.
"However, after seeing how you 'clashed' with Her Highness, I've slightly changed my mind~"
"...Well, thank you for your leniency."
Somehow, Aeron wasn't all that opposed to Cantarella's decision, but having just promised Carlotta and the others, turning around and running away now... even he couldn't bring himself to do something so shameless.
And so, Cantarella skillfully took Aeron's hand and led him through the streets of Ragunna, which had once again become bustling.
"So, where are we going?"
"As I said before, if we want Fisalia to wash away the stains of the past, the first step is naturally to get closer to the people of Ragunna."
Cantarella replied, tightening her grip on his hand.
"So, after dealing with certain scheming, ill-intentioned individuals, they obediently made space for Fisalia."
This short sentence contained a wealth of information, but Aeron's intuition told him it was best not to delve too deeply into it.
Finally, the two stopped before a residence that was not too far from Montelli and the Order. It was elegantly decorated, yet not ostentatiously luxurious.
Looking at the building before him, Aeron was momentarily stunned.
"Eh?"
"Fisalia's new home in Ragunna... We made some simple arrangements over the past two days."
Cantarella pushed open the tightly shut wrought-iron gate and motioned for Aeron to enter.
"During Carnevale, you gave Fisalia the chance to truly stand in the sunlight. In return, the family should naturally provide you with a decent place to stay in Ragunna. We can't have you staying with Montelli indefinitely or squeezing into that tiny room, can we?"
"...Well, thank you for the generous favor."
Aeron really wanted to argue against that last remark about it being "tiny"—he quite liked his own room!
The courtyard was small and exquisite, with purple flowers dotting the path beside it. The main house was fully furnished in a simple and comfortable style, and the faint scent of fresh wood still lingered in the air.
"But, it's been less than two days. Your efficiency is really something."
"Fisalia never spares resources for honored guests~"
Looking around, Aeron felt a bit conflicted. In his previous life, he had squeezed into a cheap apartment with a family of oddballs, and in this life, he had only managed to live a simple, ordinary life. Now, suddenly, someone was offering him a luxurious mansion... It felt a little satisfying.
At any rate, at least little Abby wouldn't have to endure staying in that house that had accompanied him for so many years.
"Come, please have a seat."
Cantarella led Aeron to the soft sofa in the living room. Soon, a servant from Fisalia brought them a tray filled with exquisite pastries.
"You didn't eat anything at Margherita's restaurant earlier, so I had these prepared in advance. I hope you'll like them~"
That's true.
Reminded by Cantarella, Aeron now remembered that earlier at Margherita's, he had been too preoccupied with Rover's interrogation to even touch the delicious spread on the table.
Damn it, that guy Abby really lucked out.
Aeron quickly shook his head to clear his mind. Indeed, Rover's earlier antics had left too great an impact on him, and he still hadn't fully recovered.
Now he was in the presence of Cantarella—how could he act like this!
But when Aeron snapped back to attention and focused on the present, he was met with another unexpected sight.
Cantarella had already used a silver fork to lift a cake adorned with purple berries to his lips, her movements perfectly natural.
"..."
Aeron hesitated for a moment, but there was no other choice. He obediently opened his mouth and accepted the cake—
Wow, this is amazing!
The sweet, rich texture melted on his tongue, instantly dispersing the gloom and confusion that had clouded his mind earlier with its sweetness and the tartness of the purple berries. Aeron's verdict: absolutely top-tier.
"How does it taste?"
Cantarella herself used the same silver fork to place a piece of cake into her mouth. Watching Aeron's expression, the corners of her lips curled slightly.
"A bit too sweet... but for me right now, it's just right. Thank you, Cantarella."
Aeron spoke honestly. If Cantarella weren't right in front of him, he probably would have started devouring the pastries without a care for appearances.
"Since you like it, that's good. I also find this sweetness just right. It seems our tastes aren't too far apart—quite nice."
Aeron was about to brush off the comment with a casual remark when he suddenly realized something. He looked up and met Cantarella's gaze.
"Your sense of taste…?"
"Oh my, I didn't expect you to notice so quickly. I never even mentioned it to you, did I?"
Cantarella's fingertips lightly brushed her lips as she looked at Aeron with a meaningful expression.
Of course, there was no need to explain—Aeron was a transmigrator. One shouldn't underestimate the knowledge of someone who's crossed worlds!
"It's something I could tell from your usual habits. I'd like to think my observational skills aren't too shabby."
In the end, he chose to gloss over it with a vague explanation.
Cantarella simply smiled at this response, as she had more important matters to discuss with Aeron.
"After the Threnodian was defeated, its hold over Rinascita was broken. Many things that were distorted or suppressed are gradually returning to normal. My sense of taste… is just a small part of that."
As she spoke, Cantarella turned her gaze to Aeron, observing his expression closely.
And it was clear that he had developed something of a PTSD reaction to such statements.
"…I just did what I had to do. If anyone deserves thanks, go talk to the Rover."
"But credit shouldn't be calculated that way. I doubt that 'king' would monopolize it, and you needn't deflect it either."
Sure enough, after everything was resolved, what troubled Aeron the most was still these kinds of matters.
After all, he was no saint. Given a rare second chance at life, he didn't want to waste it on things that would inevitably be handled by others.
This was also why his attitude toward Carlotta and the Rover was entirely different.
Carlotta, Phoebe, Cartethyia, Zani, and his dear "son" Brant—they were all connections he had in Ragunna.
Ragunna's development was tied to his own circumstances, and dealing with the extraordinary individuals of Rinascita was quite interesting, which was why Aeron chose to help.
But with the Rover, it was completely different.
She fulfilled all his expectations of a game protagonist—she would save the world and always do it perfectly.
But what did that have to do with him?
Aeron's previous life had been miserable enough. In this life, he just wanted to live freely. Why should he involve himself in matters that didn't require his intervention in the first place?
The reason he turned against the Order, opposed the Fractsidus, and personally dealt with the Threnodian was simply because they had provoked him, so he took matters into his own hands to eliminate them.
As for the Rover, she was merely a convenient pawn he could use—nothing more.
…Damn, when you put it that way, he really was being a bit of a hypocrite.
And when he thought about how both of them had managed to manipulate him like this, Aeron couldn't help but feel a bit resentful.
Dammit, he'd have to find a way to get back at them later!
Cantarella set down her silver fork, picked up the cup of black tea beside her, and took an elegant sip.
Watching Aeron, who was still brooding over being "outmaneuvered," a flicker of understanding flashed in her eyes.
This person was even more contradictory than she had imagined, yet that was precisely why she found Aeron so interesting.
Or perhaps it was this very contrast that made him so compelling?
"Alright, now let's get to the main topic. The next question might be a bit presumptuous, but I hope you'll answer it honestly."
"Uh... I think I'm usually pretty honest, though?"
"Hehe, if only that were truly the case. But for now, just listen carefully~"
Cantarella set down her teacup, leaning forward slightly. Her deep purple eyes fixed on him, carrying a hint of inquiry but more of a composed, knowing ease.
"What kind of person do you think the Rover—the newly appointed 'King' you recommended—is?"
"GOAT."
"?"
For this almost instantaneous reply, Cantarella was momentarily taken aback.
And only then did Aeron realize he had spoken faster than he could think.
First, he needed to clarify that he had no intention of encroaching on a certain pink-haired individual's niche, and he hoped that someone wouldn't come through the internet to beat him up.
Second, that person was a top-tier player who didn't hog resources, never pressured teammates but instead offered encouragement, always maintained a positive record, could both tank and deal damage, and single-handedly carried the entire team.
Others would call them the GOAT.
And within the team, that person would undoubtedly be the undisputed carry.
Aeron had just blurted out his most genuine thought in the heat of the moment—nothing more to it.
Besides, he was talking about Rover here; for someone else, it should be "Old Feng." His praise was purely out of admiration for her skill!
"Ahem, what I mean is, she's someone you can place absolute trust in."
Aeron cleared his throat twice, correcting his statement.
"She's someone born to stand at the center of the stage, destined to tackle the greatest troubles. Confronting the Threnodians, saving Solaris—no one else could do these things but her."
Aeron couldn't hide things from two people: one was Zani, but she wouldn't pry; the other was Cantarella.
So, without revealing that he was actually a transmigrator, Aeron honestly shared his views on the Rover.
"In short, she's someone I'm willing to stake everything on."
After all, she's the only carry on the team. If you don't give her the best gear, who's going to make up for the points I'm missing?
"Someone you're willing to stake everything on..."
Cantarella repeated softly, neither refuting nor agreeing.
That was truly an answer in his style.
After a brief silence, she spoke again.
"Then, what I want to tell you is—no matter what plans or expectations the Rover or the Second Young Lady of Montelli have for your future..."
Cantarella set down her teacup, leaning forward until she was right in front of Aeron.
"I myself, and Fisalia, will always be a place you can return to."
"...I'm not exactly homeless yet, am I? At least I still have the Order to go back to."
"I don't think you're the type to be content staying trapped within the Order."
See? When faced with a difficult question, Aeron falls silent.
"From the very beginning, both you and we overlooked one issue, and now, we are trying to correct it."
"From that young lady of the Mortali Family to Her Highness the Rover, whom you placed on the throne—everyone is trying to pull you back in their own way..."
"This isn't just to fight a common enemy; more importantly, it's to pull you back, to keep you from sliding into an abyss no one can foresee."
Listening to Cantarella's words, Aeron couldn't help but reveal a slightly amused expression on his face.
"This is really... an answer I hadn't expected."
His tone grew somewhat flatter, but the meaning behind his words also indicated that he wanted Cantarella to continue.
But Cantarella stopped right there, using her fork to bring a purple berry from the cake to Aeron's lips.
"Take a bite~"
"Ha..."
Not quite grasping Cantarella's intention, Aeron could only follow her words and take a bite.
Damn, that's sour as hell!
Seeing Aeron's entire face scrunch up, Cantarella playfully smiled, then popped the purple berry into her own mouth before sitting down beside Aeron.
"Even if you can turn the situation around every time through your own death, the act of willingly stepping toward death itself is fundamentally wrong."
"For the sake of your goals, you're willing to repeatedly endure the pain that brings death—something ordinary people can only accept once. But once you grow accustomed to pain and lose the sensitivity you should have, even the beauty that life itself should hold will become something you grow numb to."
"So, live on, if only for yourself, okay?"
After saying this, Cantarella once again used her fork to bring the cake to Aeron's lips.
This time, it was sweet.
Cantarella knew that Aeron was, at his core, someone who would do whatever came to mind. To put it bluntly, he was as childish as a little kid.
He didn't dislike taking on responsibility; he was just afraid that, under the pressure of external circumstances, responsibility would become a shackle binding him.
Cantarella didn't know what had caused him to become this way, but she knew what she had to do was simple.
Just tell him that the world held no malice toward him—that was enough.
Aeron chewed the cake in his mouth. He had to admit, this cake was really something.
Of course, it wasn't just the taste—it also made his thoughts more active and his senses clearer...?
As expected of Cantarella. Even Aeron had to admire her ability to read people.
Still, he really was being underestimated.
But he couldn't blame her for that. After all, aside from himself, no one else knew that he was a transmigrator.
Aeron swallowed the cake and didn't answer immediately. Instead, he suddenly raised his hand and gently poked Cantarella's forehead.
"Cantarella, you're still underestimating me."
Cantarella was slightly taken aback, not expecting this reaction from Aeron.
"As you said, I'm just a short-sighted person, but I can still see the price that must be paid."
"I won't act while ignoring the cost. The pain each death brings to the body is very real."
At this point, Aeron still couldn't help but complain—this damn System was sending him to his death, but couldn't even reduce the pain a little? Damn it.
If it weren't for his strong endurance, he probably would have ended up just as Cantarella had said.
Aeron pulled his thoughts back and looked into Cantarella's eyes again. He then stood up, took the fork from her hand, and, imitating her, fed the cake into her mouth.
"The pain brought by death is merely a price, but what I've gained in exchange is precisely what keeps me from growing numb."
"Carlotta, Zani, Little Carte, Ciaccona, Phoebe, Roccia, Rover. And you, Cantarella."
Though he had deceived them many times, of course... but let's set that aside for now.
At the very least, what Aeron was saying to Cantarella at this moment was absolutely sincere.
No matter how stubborn he was, he would never deny the time he had spent with them.
As a transmigrator, being able to meet the ones he loved here was his own stroke of immense fortune.
This was etched into his soul, a truth that would never change no matter how many times he died.
"I exchanged my life for the chance to meet all of you, and for the happiest time in my life so far."
Cantarella was stunned.
The sweetness in her mouth hadn't yet faded, but the young man's words were more direct and scorching than any frosting.
Aeron watched as the curiosity, understanding, and worry in Cantarella's violet-like eyes rippled like a deep pond disturbed by a thrown stone, spreading into complex waves.
Finally, these ripples slowly settled, transforming into an extremely bright, almost awed, gentle glow.
"...Ha!"
A soft laugh escaped her lips, different from her usual elegant, distant smile—this one came from the heart, touched by something pure.
"You really... are an interesting person."
"Otherwise, I wouldn't deserve the title of 'son-in-law,' would I?"
As he spoke, Aeron withdrew his hand, preparing to stand up and make a cool exit...
"..."
Only then did he realize that Cantarella's hand was pressing against him, their body temperatures both alarmingly high, and her figure in his vision was now haloed in a blurry glow.
At the same time, Cantarella, sitting beside him, let out a soft "hm" and then turned, straddling him.
"It seems the 'seasoning' took effect faster than expected~"
Holy shit, even the cake was a trap!
"Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait—wasn't the mood just now about discussing life philosophies and values?! Weren't we just talking about philosophy of life and values?"
Aeron wanted to do something, but his weak limbs and the surging heat inside him made his resistance futile.
System, System, help me out! Aren't I supposed to be immune to poison?!
"It's just a little stimulant, not poison~"
How is there a second round of this?!!!!
Cantarella reached out, gently pushing Aeron's body back—
Aeron's back collided with the soft sofa cushion, and immediately after, a delicate, fragrant, and feverishly warm body pressed down on him.
"Your answer... I'm quite satisfied with it, so..."
As she spoke, Cantarella licked her lips, revealing a somewhat dangerous smile.
"You deserve a reward~"
"...Too much!!!"