Mad Hatter's Guide to Clearing The Game
Chapter 70: Ch68. Cry for help

Chapter 70: Ch68. Cry for help

Miles never knew what Sarissa’s domain looked like on the inside, nut now, more than ever, he needed to talk to her.

She was the only one he knew – even if only by hate at first sight – who could help him.

As he stormed into the Union Guild’s building, guards already posted themselves in a protective manner, assuming their defensive stances, ready for whatever the newcomer would do. But as soon as he stopped, looking lost, and found the makeshift lobby, walking straight in its direction, they lowered their guards.

"I need to talk to Sarissa, it’s urgent." Miles said to the brown-haired girl at the desk.

"I’m sorry," she looked up from her chair, her glasses glinting under the white light in the ceiling above her. "The guild master only receives visits upon proper appointment, Mr-"

"Please!" Miles felt his eyes burning, but forced the tears back with everything he could. "She’s the only one... Who can... Help me."

Even though he needed it, the words felt like sandpaper in his throat.

"I’m sorry, but I can’t hel-"

"Don’t worry Miss Axel." A smooth, smiling voice resounded from behind Miles. "He’s with me. It’s only that he’s a little bit early for our meeting."

Miles turned around to look at the owner of the voice, and there he was. Hinata Shinji, leader of the Sakura Guild, and the one he had talked with Diego about being wary of.

The man looked even more impressive up close, even though his presence felt strange.

It was like he had no presence at all, actually. Almost as if Miles was standing next to a stone pillar or anything similar. But at the same time, it was different. It was only that Miles could not pinpoint exactly what was so different about him. But...

Why was he helping him?

"Sorry, Mr. Hinata." Miles spoke, breaking the awkward silence. "I, uh... I didn’t realize it. In fact, I thought I was a little bit late for the meeting." He smiled sheepishly, trying to contain his nervousness.

’Why is he helping?’

"No problem, kid." Shinji’s lips curled upwards in a smile that appeared to be full of warmth, but after his experiences with the White Rabbit, he knew that kind of smile very well. "You’re lucky that I decided to train early, and have just finished my session."

It was a smile as cold as ice, beneath the warm surface.

They took the elevator, after Miles bowed to the receptionist, and headed toward the War Room in silence, each of them focused on their own thoughts.

When they arrived, though, Shinji stopped at the door.

"whatever you need to do, be careful in there, kid." The leader of the Sakura Guild winked at Miles, who watched him walk away with confusion and perplexity brewing in his mind.

’Why...?’ He opened the door and crossed the threshold.

The war room carried an air of suffocating arrogance, polished table with the meticulously placed map on top of it reminding him of how untouchable Sarissa seemed to be in this world.

The room reeked of control, precision, of a certainty Miles could never claim for himself. The certainty of absolute, raw power. And standing at the heart of it all, like a queen on her throne, was Sarissa.

She barely acknowledged him as he stormed in, her piercing green eyes flicking up from the reports she was scanning. Her crimson hair was tied back today, and the smirk curling the corner of her lips upward indicated that she was happy with something.

However, as soon as she looked up, less than a second after Miles crossed the threshold, the look in her eyes changed completely, and her lips pressed in a straight line.

"I need your help." Miles said through gritted teeth.

"That’s not my problem." Sarissa let out a sigh, barely sparing him a glance.

"You don’t even know what it is yet." Miles’ breath hitched.

"And I don’t care," she said flatly. She leaned back in her chair, propping an elbow against the armrest and resting her chin on her hand. "You’re interrupting actual work. Why would I waste my time on whatever idiotic mess a weak player has put himself into?"

"Diego is missing." His stomach twisted, but he pushed forward. "You know him, right? He’s already ran some errands for you. Short, fourteen years-old-"

"I know him." Sarissa cut him short. "And I don’t care." After a brief pause, she added. "If a player isn’t strong enough to get out of their own mess, it’s not my business to interfere."

"You don’t even care?" Miles stomped his foot on the marble floor. "Not even for a kid?"

"I don’t waste time on weaklings." She tilted her head.

All Miles could see was red, then.

His breath came sharp and fast, and before he could stop himself, the words came spilling out, each one dripping with venom.

"That’s it? That’s all you have to say? You don’t waste time on weaklings? You think you’re so far above the rest of us that losing people doesn’t matter?" He paused, panting. "That losing a fucking child doesn’t matter?"

Sarissa’s expression remained composed, but there was something in her gaze that sharpened. As if she was waiting for something.

"You look down on everyone! You sit here in this glorified fortress, treating the rest of us like disposable pieces on your damn board. But guess what, Sarissa? You’re not untouchable. And one day, when you finally realize that, no one’s going to be there to save you."

"Are you threatening me?" A slow, dangerous smile spread across Sarissa’s lips.

"No. I’m reminding you that even you can bleed." Miles shook his head.

"You want to fight me?" She mused, her fingers twitching slightly. "Do I even know you, to begin with?"

Miles’ breathing was uneven, his heart hammering wildly in his chest. But before he could even think, everything exploded within him, and he lashed out with all his anger.

"YOU DON’T EVEN REMEMBER SAVING ME! FUCK YOU! FUCK YOU AND YOUR SELF-CENTERED ARROGANCE! You’re so full of yourself that you save the same person god knows how many times, and you never even spared a glance! Never even asked if I was okay or not..."

Sarissa’s body tensed, her smirk faltering for the first time.

Miles didn’t even realize he had spoken at first. It had just slipped out, like a whisper from the deepest recesses of his mind. But now that it was out there, he knew he had struck something.

"Many... Times?" She asked, voice quieter now.

"Look at you..." Miles met her gaze. "You seriously don’t even know..."

Sarissa stared at him, something unreadable flickering behind her eyes. For the first time, she didn’t have a response.

A fragmented memory slipped through, unguarded. A moment of desperation. Of pain. Of another turn.

Countless deaths and rebirths.

Cheshire’s eyes widened slightly as realization dawned on him in her mind. He had knew there was something different about her, something layered beneath the surface, as soon as he touched her soul through what they – the "players" – called [Inventory]. But now it all clicked into place.

Sarissa wasn’t just strong because of skill or strategy.

She had lived through this before.

[Regression.]

And she had never told a soul.

The pieces fit together now. Why she was always three steps ahead, why her decisions seemed so absolute, why she never let anyone in, aside from Cheshire, that was.

Because she had seen this all before. And yet, despite everything, despite however many times she had rewound and replayed these moments, Miles was still here. Still standing in front of her.

Still making her hesitate.

"Get out of my sight." She clenched her fists beneath the table, forcing her voice to return to its usual cold indifference.

"What?" Miles blinked.

"You heard me." Her voice was steady again, her mask slipping back into place. "I won’t help you. Diego’s life is his own responsibility. Now leave before I-"

"HE’S THE ONLY FAMILY I HAVE!" Miles stared at her for a long moment after shouting, his jaw tightening.

Something clicked inside her, and Cheshire felt it too. A memory of fire and screams, of blood and death. Of countless times trying to save people who were so precious to her, and yet...

She could not save them, but...

She met Miles a few times after the turn where she had to kill him. And so, she killed him again, and again, never getting to know that kid, Diego.

But if Miles was there, asking for her help, after what he had just told her... What if that kid was not a fixed event in her regressions?

’What if...’ She shuddered at the thought, but could not help but have it unfolded in her mind.

What if she could save at least one person, this time?