Chapter 6

I died, died again.

This time, it was easier to die. That’s all.

Compared to the previous way of dying, it was much easier. But that’s all.

If I don’t resist, I’ll be eaten again.

And then I’ll come back to life.

Be eaten again.

Come back to life.

Be eaten.

This will continue forever.

It won’t end, nothing will end.

Then what should I do? Do I have to survive even if it means experiencing that pain?

I think the fear of death has considerably diminished. Maybe repeated exposure has built up my resistance to fear.

If so, will the pain also become familiar? Will I keep being eaten until I get used to it?

What will happen to me if I just sit and get eaten every time without resisting?

Just sit and be eaten, and time will rewind.

"What is this..."

A being that rewinds time just to be eaten.

How many times will I have to repeat this before I feel nothing?

No, no, I don’t want to. I’m getting used to dying. But I don’t want to.

I never want to accept such an unjust situation. If I can’t die, then I must live.

That’s right, I have to struggle. If I can’t die, then I must live. It’s simple.

I’ve already died five times. In other words, I’ve been reborn five times. Each time, my life ends with me quickly becoming tiger bait.

"That’s not human!"

I look ahead.

The black tiger that has killed me over and over again is there.

I stick my right hand into my chest pocket, grab a ballpoint pen, and grip it tightly. I don’t think this will do much, but it’s better than nothing.

In my left hand, I hold my smartphone.

"Grrowl!"

The black tiger seems wary that I, who looks so weak, am not cowering in fear and is watching me. It doesn’t approach from a certain distance.

Then, I’ll go to it.

One step, another step, I move forward.

My existence must be unsettling. The black tiger just stares at me, not pouncing as it usually does.

A few more steps, and I’ll be within range to attack.

I charge forward, raising the ballpoint pen and thrusting it forward.

Just like this, I’ll stab it with my right hand wherever I can—

With a sickening squelch, the intense pain I felt before returns to my right elbow, aaaaah!

"It, it hurts, damn it, aaaaah!"

I’ve been eaten, my arm has been eaten!

Damn it, damn it, my spirit is breaking. It’s tempting me to give up.

No, no, I don’t want to. But, but, if I give up here, it will just repeat!

Just a little, just a little more than before!

"I’ll struggle! I’ll show you my spirit!"

I’ll show you my spirit. Take this, you damn cat!

I aim my left hand at the tiger’s face and snap a photo with my smartphone—flash on!

"Yowl!"

How’s that, you undisciplined damn cat!

"Take that!"

Alright, while I have the chance...

"Hey, I need to walk, I need to run."

My mind is wandering, and my feet won’t move forward. I’m walking, but I can’t go straight.

My body is cold, so cold that I’m shivering.

It feels like something important is being pulled out of my right arm...

My head feels fuzzy, my right arm? Oh, right, my right arm was eaten.

That’s why there’s so much blood... I see. Again.

But this time, it’s not in vain. I showed my spirit...

I have obtained 'Spirit' 1.