Ryan Romano has died countless times, at his own hands or at the hands of others.

But the death of one man trumped all of them. Death makes him stop caring about others and allows him to learn to enjoy life. Perfect death, no one can be resurrected.

This is the story of this death.

This is the story of Monaco.

April 1, 2017, La Tu, France

Bie Village.

The sun sets behind the horizon and Monaco City shines from below.

Stand on the Tête de Chie

At the edge of the cape, his trusty motorcycle and travel bag nearby, Ryan carefully watched his target. It's been five years since he left Italy, and now is a critical moment.

Well, strictly speaking, it's been three months, but he's been through this again and again. He patrolled the Mediterranean coast, looking for any signs of Lunn and her submarines. He knew they had planned to go to the United States before they separated, but there was no way she could cross the Atlantic. She must have parked her car nearby. Where he can reach.

However, Ryan began to lose hope. He traveled all over Greece, Spain, France, everywhere he could think of it. He wandered the post-war wasteland and did not find it. If she leaves Europe altogether and is placed underwater or on distant islands, he could also be looking for a needle in a haystack.

There's only one place around the Mediterranean that Ryan hasn't been to. Everyone warned him not to go to the country. Where no one comes back.

"Monaco," Ryan said, observing the coastal city. Looks...... Great, couldn't find a better word. This distressed him greatly.

First of all, the microscopic state remains. That alone is quite unusual. Monaco was once one of Europe's most luxurious seaside resorts, a den of gamblers and millionaires; Somehow, it still looks like it's after the end of the world. It seems that bombs, robots, and the nano-plague have stopped at the border.

There is no degradation of the buildings and houses, but the time traveler does not see anyone on the streets. Boats and yachts floated on the sea, empty cars lined up in the driveway, and Ryan couldn't hear any noise. You can't even hear the birds singing.

"I know I'm taking a risk by saying that," Ryan muttered to himself, as he usually does to alleviate loneliness, "but I have a bad feeling." ”

The time traveler saved the moment, just in case. Many went to Monaco in search of supplies, elixirs, or safe havens; But no one returned.

But none of these people can travel through time and space.

"Well, I guess this is the last chance, Shorty," Ryan said as he got on his motorcycle and headed into town. "If you're not in a place where no one comes back......"

Well, if the United States still exists, he can try to cross the ocean to reach the United States. But most likely, Ryan will have to face the obvious.

Le

It's gone.

The presence of the Time Traveler is evident, sending signals through radio towers and any communication channel he can find. If she hadn't contacted him, she would either not be able to reply or would be dead.

Ryan doesn't know what to do if he gives up on his friend. His quest for Lunn has led him through so many restarts that he has no other purpose in life. There is no dedication to the cause. Ever since Bloodstream's death, the Time Traveler has felt adrift, and even his strength can't offset his painful loneliness. Without Tren, his existence would be meaningless.

Ryan brushed the thought away, climbed into his motorcycle, and drove down the trail toward Monaco. When he reached the official boundaries of the city, the time traveler noticed a poorly painted sign on the side of the road.

"The army of Andorra will never be able to conquer our great country!" Ryan read it out loud. Isn't Andorra another micro-state?

Apocalypse literally made all the weirdos crawl out of their hiding places.

Ryan drove through the streets of Monaco and, to his surprise, nothing terrible happened. He didn't immediately fall to the ground and die, and no crazy madman ambushed him. It's almost disappointing.

However, time travelers feel a tense atmosphere in the air. The streets are clean, all the cars are parked in the right places, and the street lights are working well; However, Ryan knew that the city needed to import electricity from the long-collapsed French Republic. When he looked out of the window of the house, he saw that the window was empty.

Ryan heads to Monaco's most famous landmark, the Place du Casino. The famous Casino de Monte Carlo stands majestically, its 19th-century splendor preserved from the apocalypse. The clock above the entrance is still stuck at 12 o'clock, although the lights are still working. The fountain in front of the entrance also plays a role, surrounded by a lush path and flowers.

"Is there anyone here?" Ryan asked, tempting fate. Only heavy silence answered.

Well, maybe he should take a look

The square vanished in a flash of yellow and purple.

In the blink of an eye, Ryan found himself entering a luxurious marble hallway. Paintings hang on the walls, chandeliers provide some light, and the room opens to several large wooden doors.

After a brief moment of surprise, Ryan looked around, only to find that he had his back against a wall and only a bag of supplies on him. Was he teleported somewhere else?

Ryan glanced at the paintings, most of them in surrealist style, reminding him of Renault Magritte (

e

Mag

ITTE). One of them, titled "The Ge."

esis) shows two gloved hands opening an alchemist wo

de

box)。 The other is titled "The T

iumph of Mo

ACO), which depicts a group of golden men defeating Mekron's robots.

Confused, Ryan grabbed his supply bag and walked down the hallway to the doorway at the end. He noticed a sign above their heads, elaborately painted in the brightest colors.

"Grand opening of Monte Carlo!"

However, next to that sign, Ryan noticed a few words crudely carved into the marble wall.

"Don't trust clowns, they'll eat your heart."

Ryan continued to read and found more "advice" carved into the stone.

"Follow the arrow to find the suite before dark," wrote the second sentence next to it. The person who engraved the inscription carved in a hurry: "Don't take the stairs, take the elevator."

Ryan looked down and noticed the arrows carved into the floor. Confused, he opened the wooden door and walked into the next room.

To Ryan's surprise, he walks into a replica of a Monte Carlo casino; Or at least what little bit he saw from pre-war photographs. The sound of his footsteps echoed in a huge hall supported by pillars, and the floor was filled with a huge roulette table with one-meter-wide tokens on it. Large candelabras hanging from the ceiling provide light, and Art Deco reaches the peak of 19th-century luxury. Ryan glanced at the windows, but all of them were fenced with marble.

"Hello, dear guest!" A voice said to Ryan's left as someone crept up on him.

"Ahh Ryan took a step back and immediately activated his time-stop device. At least that's what he did. In the face of an invisible force, he felt that his abilities had been briefly tested, but time refused to stop.

Ryan panicked and pulled out a gun hidden under his clothes, but he quickly realized his mistake.

The creature in front of him looked like a human, but only on the surface. Its skin is unusually white, and most importantly, its face is a clown mask made of pure gold. It is dressed in a casino owner's costume with a bow tie, an old jacket, and gloves.

"Welcome to Monaco!" The clown said in a cheerful voice, and with each word, the Golden Mask moved unnaturally. Darkness oozes from its eyes and mouth. "The greatest nation on earth!" Can I help you?"

Ryan tries to stop time again, but something prevents his ability from being activated. Damn, is this place interfering with his abilities? In that case, if Ryan dies here...

"Where am I, Pennywise?" The time traveler asked, his gun pointed at the clown.

"Monaco, of course!" This is the greatest and most prosperous country in the world, thanks to the providence of His Highness Jean-Strasimani!"

"Oh, a new guest!" Ryan heard a new voice, and another clown walked into the hall, even though his face was bronze, not golden. Like its clown companion, it wears a circus costume with a silver plate under its armpit. "Welcome! Can I give you a drink?"

What the hell? Did Ryan get into Stephen King's novel by accident?" Jea

-Stepha

He repeated, not knowing which of the two clowns to kill first.

"Prince of Monaco, conqueror of Liechtenstein and San Marino, His Royal Highness Jean-Stethefin I!" The golden clown waves a hand at the marble statue near the pillar, which represents a strange creature in a likable position. The figure vaguely reminded Ryan of a man in a suit and fedora with slender arms and distorted facial features. "In 2005, when everyone else was dead, His Royal Highness the Prince came from humble beginnings and ascended to the throne of Monaco!"

It also said with gusto......

"Since then, he has courageously defended Monaco against the Andorran tribes that are trying to destroy our great country," the bronze clown continued, then pointing in one direction to the east of the hall. "Now, I can take you to our five-star restaurant if you want a hot meal?" Or do you prefer to play roulette?"

"Why are the windows separated by walls?" Ryan asked, glancing at the ground. The arrow carved into the floor points to the west. "Where's the exit?"

"Why did you leave Monaco?" The bronze clown asked with a giggle. "Why would anyone want to leave Monaco, the greatest country on earth?"

"Yes," Ryan asked, increasingly uncomfortable.

"But you're a guest, you've been invited," the servant continued, the mask on his face turning into an unsettling smile. While he sounded innocent and pleasant, there was something in his tone that made Ryan shiver. "We are here for you during office hours. Dear guests, we are always by your side!"

The longer Ryan stayed with them, the more uneasy he felt. Their kindness comes across as hypocritical and reluctant. "I'll be back in a moment." He assured in the direction of the arrow.

"But we're closing the door soon," said the Golden Clown, who followed Ryan with another servant. Their posture changes slightly and they become aggressive. "We'll be closing soon."

"You go away!" Ryan raised his gun at them, then noticed that the other clowns were entering the hall. Although they are all dressed like casino owners, their masks are made of copper, silver, or gold. Although they keep a considerable distance, they still stalk the time traveler like a pack of smiling wolves. "I'm not afraid of clowns!"

"We just want to help you, dear guest!" Said the bronze clown. He tried to reassure, but it sounded creepy. "We exist to serve humanity."

Ryan remembered the message at the entrance and suddenly wondered if the sentence had a double meaning. He followed the trajectory of the arrow, eventually reaching an open elevator between the two stairs. The homeless man glanced at them, only to notice bear traps and wires on the stairs. With no other way out, he threatens the clown with a weapon as he walks into the elevator.

Genome noticed a sign that read "HERE" next to the button on the fourth floor, and he smashed it with all his might. The door closed in front of Ryan, and a dozen masked creatures glared at him in a terrible silence.

"Dear guests." Ryan froze as he heard a male voice coming from the elevator speaker. "We must inform you that the Casino de Monte Carlo will be closed early due to the national emergency!" But I assure you that as long as His Highness Jean-Stesafin protects us, the army of Andorra will never destroy our principality! Long live Monaco!"

What the hell is this place?

By the time the elevator "ding" reached the fourth floor, the lights had already gone out; As soon as Ryan stepped out of the elevator, the elevator doors closed. He also heard a sound coming from below, someone triggering the trap.

Ryan realizes that things are going to go bad soon, and he grabs his phone and activates the flashlight option. This area looks like a corridor leading to the various hotel suites, although the walls and doors are reinforced with steel plates. There was only one room, numbered 44, that seemed to have light coming in from the other side, so Ryan quickly knocked on the door.

"Hey! He shouted as loudly as he could, but no one answered. "Is anyone there?" Hey!"

Fourth!

Ryan watched as the elevator doors opened, and six clowns came out of it. This time, they did not invite him politely, not even say a word.

Instead, each of them had a silver knife and fork in his hand and a napkin around his neck.

"That's why kids don't like clowns anymore!" Ryan opened fire with his gun, trying to stop time again.

Not only was his power not activated, but a silver clown was hit in the face by a bullet and did not slow down.

The door to the suite opened, and someone walked out. To Ryan's relief, though, is that his savior is an ordinary man, nothing more than a man like Conan the Barbarian. His savior was dressed in a shabby garment consisting of an American football player's helmet and pads, reinforced with medieval armor.

On top of that, he carried a shotgun.

"I knew what I heard!" The man spoke in French and punched his shotgun. The face under the helmet is wrinkled, and the eyes are a cold blue. "Move out!"

Ryan fired, immediately out of the way of the Savior. The shot blew a bronze clown apart, and the monster was leaking white liquid instead of blood. However, the others quickly pushed the corpse away and rushed towards the humans with hungry expressions.

"Go, go, go!" The man shouted to the time traveler, and the two bravely fled into the suite. The armored figure quickly closed the door behind them and locked it, and Ryan heard a loud thud on the other side of the door. The vicious casino owner began screaming outside the metal door, slamming with all his might, but the door still resisted.

"One day, before I get arthritis, I'm going to kill myself in your ass!" The man in armor shouted through the door. "I'm going to shoot you all like Tony Montana and kill you all one by one!"

Then he turned to Ryan. "Are you alright, kid?"

"I think so......" Ryan held his breath and looked around. As you can see from the outside, this area is a luxurious hotel suite, large enough to host the whole family. The place is decorated in a 19th-century French style, with walls as white as snow and windows enclosed with marble. This suite includes a variety of amenities, from a sofa with a TV to a library and even a wet bar.

Most bizarrely, Ryan also noticed a hole dug in one of the walls, and a pickaxe nearby.

"Do you sound like an Italian, are you a hillbilly?" The armored soldier asked in Italian. Completely ignoring the sounds outside, he walked over to the counter and put his shotgun within reach. He took off his helmet, revealing his baldness; Ryan thinks he's about 60 years old, maybe a little more. "You're far from your country, macaroni. What's your name?"

"Ryan, you French cheese." The traveler replied in a gruff voice. "Ryan Romano."

"It's Simon. I'm the sheriff in Houston. The man said as he pulled out two glasses and a bottle of brandy. What's the number outside?" To check. ”

"April 1, 2017," Ryan replied, frowning.

The man sighed heavily. ", it's been 12 years, man. Trapped here for twelve years. Is the Earth still a garbage dump that has been irradiated?"

"yes, but where are we?" Ryan asked, asking for an answer. "Is this Monte Carlo?"

"I'd say hell, but you're not that lucky. You're in Monaco. The real Monaco, no one can come back. The alarm sounded in the room, and Simon picked up a landline phone from under the counter. Yes, Martini?"

Although he couldn't understand the conversation. Ryan heard a woman's voice on the other end of the line.

"yes, yes, a newcomer is coming, and the casino owner is coming. Yes, he's safe. Don't worry. Simon stared into Ryan's eyes. Do you have a weapon in your bag?"

"Well, three guns, bullets, medical supplies, food and water......"

"Good. I would like to ask you to share that. There are no selfish white eaters here. Simon focused on the phone. Yes, Martina, we'll see you tomorrow. Take care. ”

"You say you're the sheriff of Houston?" Simon hung up the phone and cautiously took the glass, Ryan pointing at him. He noticed a copy of The Myth of Sisyphus by Albert Camus on the counter.

"There were about forty of us on the fourth floor," the man explained. "I want to keep the elevator boundaries safe and maintain the traps of the stairs. If we force the casino manager to use the elevator, it creates a bottleneck. Make them easy to manage. ”

"Have you ever seen a man named Lun?" Ryan asked, finding a silver lining in this crazy nightmare. "Orchid feather feathers. Black-haired, blue-eyed, Marxist-Leninist. She must have been here a year ago. ”

"I've been here for a while and haven't seen any Communist Party. Probably dead. People like you who come during business hours, they're lucky. Those who didn't come at the right time, well......" Simon gestured at the door. "They're going to get eaten."

So Lun is either dead or not here. Ryan prayed for the latter. "There's—"

"There is no other refuge and no exit," Simon said bluntly. "The suite was the only safe place. Something can keep them out, but only if the door is locked. We'll find you a room of your own. ”

The man smiled wickedly at Ryan.

"You're going to be here for a while, and that's important."

Damn it.

Ten hours.

The clowns' attack lasted ten hours. They screamed and banged on the door. However, when the lights in the hallway came back on, the attack abruptly stopped. The clowns calmed down and went downstairs; It turned out that they became hostile only during "closing time".

The next day, Simon introduced Ryan to the community's mayor, Martina, a 28-year-old blonde who lives in four rooms in front of the elevator boundary. She was quick to brief him on the situation.

Everyone in town has the same story. They came to Monaco, either did not realize the danger or underestimated it, and ended up being teleported to the entrance corridor. Simon has been here the longest, a few months after the Genome Wars began.

None of the others had superpowers, and Ryan's own time-stopping device didn't work in that strange place. He still felt his ability activated, but at the last moment, an opposing force canceled it. When he learns more about this place, the time traveler finally understands why.

The Casino de Monte Carlo is a pocket dimension.

At least, that's Ryan's guess. With the exception of the one floor of the suite, each room is a variant of the other eight rooms; A kitchen dining room, a huge roulette table, a lobby, a slot machine room, a retail store, a card game arena, a sock area, and a theater. Each room leads to another and is never in the same configuration, forming a vast labyrinth with only elevators and "entrance corridors" as landmarks. According to explorers' estimates, this area is at least 8 square kilometres, four times the size of Monaco. They are constantly discovering new rooms.

This makes Rya

Reminds me of a dungeon crawling video game with computer-generated rooms. But it was nowhere near as interesting as he remembered.

At least coffee and restaurants are regularly restocked, although no one knows how it works. Someone once put a camera in the kitchen to record the phenomenon, and the food and water magically appeared at "off time".

Ryan isn't sure if his save point still works. There was only one way to find out, and he was in no hurry to try the lasso checkout. He has died a dozen times, and so far each experience has been painful. Many told him that death was a peaceful ending, but apparently they had never died before.

The community was divided into several groups, each with a specific task; From explorers who draw labyrinths, to gatherers who hunt for food. Since Ryan was one of the few people with experience with firearms, he soon became Simon's deputy, and his suite was right next to the elevator.

At this very moment, the Time Traveler is escorting Martina's team in search of food. He regretted it.

"Dear guests, I wish you a pleasant time in Monaco, the greatest country on earth! A clown dressed in silver tells Ryan and hands him a plate of delicate grilled shrimp and grilled salmon. "Can I give you these gifts from the chef?"

"you," Ryan replied, threatening the casino manager with a gun. Martina wasn't so clear-cut, she took all the toast and put it in a bag.

During the opening hours, the clowns are completely friendly, which makes them even creepier in Ryan's opinion. They quickly turn from hypocritical friendliness to murderous hunger, and they are very good at sneaking up on people.

Worst of all, the Monte Carlo casino is often "closed" early due to the whims of controlling the power of the speakers. The first time this happened, Ryan only had five minutes to get back to his suite, and he thought his last moment had come. If he hadn't rushed to the elevator, he would have died.

A voice echoed through the loudspeaker. For a moment, Ryan feared that it would announce an emergency shutdown, but it was just the usual nonsense. "Today is a great day for Monaco! Our soldiers have won a great victory over the Duke of Luxembourg! The blood of our enemies will be smeared on our yachts!"

"Monaco" had been at war with Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Andorra and San Marino, but it was never the same war every day.

"Get up, Monaco, get up!" The voice continued. “jea

- stasspha

Long live IE!"

"I'm not even sure if he exists," Martina told Ryan, "no one has seen him, not even the Joker." ”

"Because we can't understand His Royal Highness!" One of the creatures interjected, but was ignored. “jea

- stasspha

Long live IE!"

"Probably a psychopath," Ryan said, by which time everyone had cleaned up and returned to the elevator. If it interferes with his abilities, it's most likely Violet. "I don't understand why no one came after me, though."

"Maybe it's his strength that sustains him." Martina said that at this point they were back on the floor of the suite. "Is there any progress on your radio?"

"Nope." Some of the books that this group managed to find included manuals or pre-war technical magazines. Ryan thought he might be able to build a radio powerful enough to call for help.

It's a fool's hope, but until someone finds an exit, it's their only hope.

"Want to watch a movie tonight?" Martina proposes to him. "The other day I found a cassette of 'The Great Wadrouye'. It's not some high-class comedy, but it helps to pass the time. ”

"Maybe another day," Ryan stopped in front of Simon's room. "I've got to go see the old man."

"I just don't understand why he's been digging," the mayor sighed. "I guess he's doing what he can to entertain himself."

Ryan shrugged and opened Simon's door. As a deputy sergeant, he has the keys to everyone.

Ryan closed the door behind him, walked towards the hole in the wall, turned on the flashlight, and walked inside. After more than an hour, he finally heard the sound of a pickaxe hitting a stone. Simon was busy digging with a flashlight strapped to his helmet.

"Hi Simon," Ryan announces that he is coming, but the sheriff doesn't stop. "We prepared shrimp tonight."

"Ah, I really want a hamburger." The man grumbled as he tapped the wall with his pickaxe. "How long have you been with us, man?"

"Six months".

"Six months...... That is, two more months until they change the menu. "They do it every Christmas." The old man sighed. "You know, there's a guy who's got a puppy. He thought it was cute, so he kept sending me pictures. Every time I look at that furry thing, it keeps barking at me. It screams, screams, screams. It's unbelievable. Every time it upsets me, I think...... What does it taste like?"

"That guy?" Ryan asked, a little uncomfortable with the discussion.

"Puppy," Simon said. "One day...... I couldn't help it. Not much meat, but it tastes good. It's like a Christmas gift I gave myself. ”

"I don't quite understand what's going on......"

"God put us on earth for a reason, and that's important," Simon said after a pause. "My goal is to eat puppies. When I look at these crazy clowns outside, they all look like puppies to me. ”

Ryan suddenly realizes that being trapped in a hotel suite for years has a magical effect on one's sanity. The wanderer couldn't imagine what he would be like ten years from now. "How long is your tunnel now?"

"Two kilometers, that's important."

"Two kilometers," Ryan repeated. Why hasn't the whole thing weighed on him yet?" Your tunnel is now two kilometers long. ”

"I have enough energy to do ten more people."

"I'm just saying, I don't think there's a way out." While Ryan didn't give up searching, he had a gut feeling that this crazy dimension would expand endlessly. "I don't understand why you've been digging."

The old man looked into Ryan's eyes. "Have you read The Myth of Sisyphus?"

"No, but I might, because you've been selling me."

In the book, Camus depicts the fate of Sisyphus, who is forced to roll a boulder forever. A pointless task. But when he finally realizes that it was futile and that he no longer struggles with fate, he is truly free. He accepted his situation and, through acceptance, found happiness. ”

"So you...... Why, do you think we'll never escape?" Ryan asked, frowning in disgust. "All our efforts have been in vain?"

"Yes, our efforts were in vain. But I think they make no sense, so I'm at peace with myself. Do you think this is important? You still think you can get out, and the more you fail, the more frustrated you become. ”

"Someone was waiting for me outside," Ryan noted, remembering Ryan.

"I don't think so," Simon replied with a shrug. "But whatever you want. I'm just telling you the secret of happiness, but I can't force you. What I'm trying to say is that when you're confronted with meaningless absurdity, you can just go with the flow. It's like a boulder. ”

"It's ridiculous."

"Someday, you'll realize that the boulder isn't your enemy," Simon shrugged. "It's your friend."

"What happens if a miracle happens and you come to the end?" Ryan said. "But your tunnel is not an exit, but a way to another suite?" How would you react?"

"I'll find a new wall," Simon replied with a smile as he lifted his pickaxe again, "digging another hole." ”

Ryan opened his mouth, closed it, and then opened it again. "Boulder is your friend?" He asked, frowning.

"The boulder is your only friend."

It was December 2035, at Suitestow

, apart from the menu, there are few changes.

No one has been in the labyrinth for years, probably because people have finally realized the dangers of Monaco. Or their mysterious kidnapper is dead, and his dimension continues to work without him. In any case, the number of people in this community has begun to decrease due to the lack of fresh blood. At their peak, they were close to 50 people, and now they are only half that number. Some were eaten by the clowns, while others gave up.

Simon finally had his seppuku done yesterday as he promised. One night, he went out and died like a man, cigar in his mouth, a bottle of vodka in his left hand and a shotgun in his right. In the end, the casino owner did not kill him, although many of them died from trying.

On the contrary, the old sheriff's heart was already failing and could not withstand the pressure of the battle.

The creatures didn't eat the corpses, though Ryan wasn't sure if it was because Simon's death had scared them out of twisted respect. The villagers burned his body and buried his bones under the bar he loved so much, and Ryan took over Suitestow

of the sheriff. He even inherited Simon's suite.

And now......

Ryan faced the tunnel, not knowing what to do. Simon boasted that he had run five kilometers before he died, and that if he hadn't been weak, he would probably have continued to run. He even put his pickaxe right next to the entrance; By now, due to overuse, it has become rugged and can barely be dug anymore.

However......

"Boulder is your friend, um," Ryan muttered to himself as he grabbed his pickaxe.

It was December 2001, at Suitestow

, Rya

was the last one in Monaco.

He lay in bed with a pile of food at his fingertips, scribbling his life memoirs in a journal. Although there have been no newcomers for decades, he wants to help as much as he can in case someone gets stuck in Monaco.

Over the past century, the wanderer has explored more than anyone else at the Casino de Monte Carlo, but he has learned little. As far as he knew, the labyrinth was indeed infinite. All of these systems do not require electricity to work, and the landlines that connect the rooms work even when they are isolated from each other. There is no central communication system to transmit commands through loudspeakers, and there is no place of birth for employees.

This place is pointless. It is a conceptual space where there is no logic, only the will of the creator. It must have been done by someone with the yellow genome, but Ryan couldn't confirm it.

He tried everything, from the radio to the bomb. He blew up the entrance hallway, dissected the clown, and even tried strange occult rituals, all of which failed. It didn't work. There's only one way to escape this place, and Ryan feels it's going to happen soon.

Twenty years ago, there were only 5 of them left, most of whom were too old to survive without help, and the survivors called a meeting. With the exception of Ryan, all decided to opt for express checkout.

He'd died too many times and didn't want to hurry anymore.

A clown knocks on the door of his suite, interrupting his work. "Dear guest, maybe you'd like to play baccarat downstairs?" We're organizing a contest for you!"

"No thanks." Ryan said hoarsely, refusing to leave his bed. Those bastards stood guard at the door day and night. They waited for him to die, like a hungry hyena stalking an old lion. But the time traveler's refusal to die is purely motivated by resentment.

As a genome inherently better than humans, Ryan ages gracefully. Although he has wrinkles on his body, he still retains the vitality of a middle-aged man even after the age of a hundred.

Then, Ryan's health suddenly began to deteriorate a year ago. Maybe his elixir-enhanced body has an expiration date, or maybe it's just the cumulative cost of a long life without natural light, fresh air, or companionship. Thirty days ago, Genome woke up and realized that if he didn't get out of bed, he would collapse. Thankfully, he stocked up on food and water for the situation.

Ryan kind of regretted not committing suicide when he had the chance, as Simon did. At least he will, in his own way, leave his guards without any satisfaction.

His old eyes looked at the edge of the room, at the tunnel outside. When he reached the 15km mark, his body finally failed, which would be one of his last regrets.

But most of all, Ryan regrets not finding Ryan. I don't know what happened to her. He'd learned a lot over the years, devouring any source of knowledge he could find, honing his fighting skills, but he never discovered how the world beyond the walls continued.

He will die with unfinished business. This is the most dishonorable part.

But, at least it's a life. He conquered the circulation and made sure he would never kill again. Ryan didn't do what he could, but he did his best. Maybe this is the last attempt of an old man to comfort himself with guilt, but ...... When he closed his eyes for the last time, the wanderer felt like he had found the acceptance that Simon had told him a long time ago.

Accepting fate did not bring him happiness.

But it brought him relief.

So, Ryan fell asleep.

He woke up again, facing a bright light.

"What is this......" The wanderer raised his hand, the dazzling light overwhelming him. Its light burned his eyes, and a strange force brushed his cheeks.

Be...... Wind?

As Ryan adjusts to the light, he realizes that he is facing the sun. His hands were no longer wrinkled, his legs could still be lifted, and he felt young again. Very young and very strong. He breathed fresh air again, for the first time in nearly a century.

As he looked down and looked at Monaco from above, Ryan quickly realized where he was.

Almost a century ago, the last place he saved people was that stone headland.

"But I'm ...... But I'm dead. I died in Monaco, and my power ...... "Did the pocket dimension prevent time from stopping, but not from saving points?" However, the way he died...... It can't be mistaken for something else. Ryan knows this from the bottom of his bones.

Old age.

Ryan Romano died of old age.

And so the whole thing began.

All of them.

It's over!

Again!

"I can't die of old age," Ryan realized, falling to his knees. "I ...... I am immortal. I'm immortal. ”

It......

It never ends.

It never ends.

He always starts all over again, all over again. Forever. While it can prevent time from stopping, even Monaco can't undo a save point. Even when he is old, he will not cancel his save point.

"Ah......h Ah......h

Ryan laughed nervously and rolled on the rocks next to the motorcycle. He didn't know how long he had laughed, but by the end, the sun had long since disappeared and his throat ached. Then, the time traveler lies on his back on the ground and looks at the stars in the sky for half an hour.

Finally, when he stood up and looked up at the stars, Ryan realized that he couldn't feel anything.

He was afraid of death before. Fearsome. He was afraid of pain, of loss, of the brief oblivion after the lights went out. Death is not interesting.

But that was before.

Right now?

Now, he is no longer afraid. Death is no longer painful. After realizing that even old age would not let him down for a long time, the wanderer became numb to it all.

Ryan Romano was convicted of capital crimes. Move the boulder to the top of the mountain and start over. He remembered Simon's words and realized that the old man might be right. The Time Traveler is the rebirth of Sisyphus, and his life is ridiculous.

Instead of fear, Ryan felt a deep sense of liberation.

"You know what? The time traveler looked at Monaco below and muttered to himself. "I don't care anymore."

If Ryan had been convicted of capital crimes, he would have died a terrible death. He is no longer afraid of anything, he has all the time in the world. Always watching how everything goes, trying everything to do. His life is an endless game, and the sky is the limit. He can do whatever he wants.

And now, Ryan wants to free Simon, Martina, and all the people trapped in this hellish place.

If Life of a Time Traveler were a video game, it would be his first mission. This is the first, but by no means the last. After seeing a bad ending, he won't accept any imperfect ending.

Ryan accepts the ridiculous and learns to love the boulder.