EP.106 Déjà Vu
If only I had the ability to skyrocket my combat power after dying and coming back to life, I’d at least be eyeing the title of the strongest on Earth, if not the universe, just like that blonde extraterrestrial in some legend that popped into Do-yeon’s mind.
For our party, facing death is just a light daily routine that happens often enough to be almost a mundane occurrence—a sort of happening, if you will.
Among that, the number of near-death experiences I’ve had would be notably unrivaled.
If there’s anyone out there wanting to know just how fragile and weak the human mind and body can be, flipping through a few pages of my tear-stained diary would surely give them knowledge on par with a university professor, I can guarantee that.
“Stop the nonsense and just eat an apple, will you?”
“·····”
Lying in the infirmary of the monastery, I was rambling nonsensically when Apis, frowning and holding a perfectly polished apple to my lips, stood beside me.
It had only been two days since we thwarted an assassination attempt on the Hero without a single casualty—definitely a major win.
But the additional damages incurred. The unsettling questions. The psychological shock the Hero experienced left us with repercussions just as serious as that win.
“How are Bigtim and the Hero doing?”
“Bigtim bounced back pretty quickly. The Hero’s the problem·····.”
That was disheartening news, making my hand instinctively rise to my forehead in distress.
After I took the hit for the Hero from the attacker, a curse spread through my body—it was unavoidable. Everyone, including myself, acknowledged that it was an unfortunate accident.
However, the responsible Hero seemed unable to accept this fact, endlessly blaming themself for being careless and letting their guard down.
Ultimately, they shut themselves in the room, declaring that they didn’t even deserve to see my face.
“And what about you? Are you feeling any better?”
“Ah, yes. I slept for a whole day, so I’m much better than yesterday.”
Though Apis’s question sounded somewhat curt, I could hear a faint concern underneath.
If I had delayed a single step, my life would have been at risk.
As soon as I opened my eyes, the twelve or so high-ranking priests gathered to treat me spoke in unison.
Among them were a few high priests I hadn’t seen since the inauguration ceremony.
Why were such prestigious figures gathered to treat someone like me? A hint of doubt crossed my mind, but as soon as I caught a glimpse of the Hero, glaring daggers at me from behind, the reasoning became clear.
“How dare they touch us without knowing their place·····. Once I catch those fire-breathing bastards, I’ll stick arrows in every joint of their fingers·····.”
Crunch!
Apis, biting into an unpeeled apple, spoke menacing threats while chewing fiercely.
The identity of the assassin who suddenly attacked the Hero, their intentions, and whereabouts were as elusive as vapor.
Even if I happen to be in this mess, there was certainly no way some individual capable of cornering the Hero could be a nobody within this system.
But even those who had teamed up with the Hero for an extended period and successfully eluded pursuit found no clues at all regarding the identity of this individual.
It felt as if a thick, dark fog had just passed through this area.
The fact that they used the Saintess’s authority—a possibly unique clue—became completely useless due to the Vatican’s decree, threatening to behead anyone who dared to speak of such blasphemous nonsense.
It’s true, though.
“It’s about time to switch shifts. I have to head out now. Eat all the apples I peeled. I’ll come check later to see if you ate them or not. Don’t even think about pulling something funny, got it?”
“Yes, Mom.”
Crunch.
In a usual scenario, a hit on the back of the head wouldn’t be out of place after that comment, but seeing her just stick the knife next to me made it clear that Apis was also worried about me.
For the time being, we’ll be working in pairs. That was also Apis’s suggestion.
This wasn’t the first time facing an assassin.
In this vast system, there’s only one sacred title allowed—Hero.
Thus, there were just as many folks who praised and revered the Hero as there were those who envied and harbored malice.
That’s why sometimes, a few reckless individuals believed they could take the Hero’s place and resorted to suicidal attempts on their life.
It was the first time that such threats genuinely posed a risk to the Hero’s life.
So I could say that Apis’s proposal to stay together for a while was indeed a brilliant choice.
“The next shift is definitely Dawna, right·····.”
I wondered if there was really a need to be paired up with someone like me, who was practically dead weight.
But pushed by Apis’s terrifying threat to make me unable to refuse, I had no choice but to accept.
“·····”
Perhaps it was because the surroundings suddenly fell silent.
What would usually pass through my mind without much care suddenly wrapped around my thoughts.
Strange concepts that began popping up chaotically in my mind since I gained some wisdom. Unfamiliar knowledge. Unseen memories.
It had been years since I named those things ‘memories of my past life.’
At first, the agony was so intense it felt like someone was forcibly rummaging through my brain—I couldn’t even speak properly for a while.
But now, I had become used to it enough to make light-hearted jokes about those memories.
Believing those strange visions were surely divine revelations guiding me was one of the most horrid moments in my many black histories.
That was also when my hair turned completely white overnight.
Honestly, I would want to add a small defense for that past self; any guy in that situation wouldn’t have been able to hold back their passion.
“Rai…za·····. That was the name, right? Definitely·····.”
As I brushed my hair, I momentarily fell into thought.
Amidst my body and mind being consumed by curses, I had muttered that unfamiliar name while staring at the strange attacker as if possessed.
That name resonated strangely in the corner of my heart, and I couldn’t easily shake off the unsettling feeling that it wasn’t entirely unfamiliar.
Especially not when I remembered the woman in a blindfold who vanished like the wind right before losing consciousness.
I felt like I had seen her before.
If someone confidently claimed it was just my imagination, I might just accept that, but that nagging suspicion lingered.
Just as I was lost in contemplation, between déjà vu and lost memory.
Knock knock knock.
“Ro, Lowville·····. Cough, cough! Umm, are you in there·····?”
The sudden knocking and the sluggish voice that seeped through the crack in the door instantly cleared the haze from my consciousness.
Lowville.
Among my comrades, the only one who referred to me in that manner was her, someone I’ve known since our days in the Academy.
Well, calling her a peer might not be entirely appropriate.
While I was struggling to barely pass the entrance exam through sheer effort, she was immensely talented enough that the Academy’s staff even tried to pull her in early.
A once-in-a-thousand-year genius, they must have been talking about her.
The quirkiness of her personality could be seen as a flaw, but she believed such traits were quintessential for a genuine genius.
“Ah, yes. I’m here. Come in.”
“Ah, uh, got it! Y-yeah, I’m coming in now!”
Creek.
As soon as the door opened, my mind full of scattered thoughts instantaneously turned blank—an expected outcome.
Surely anyone who knew her well would have reacted similarly to me in this situation.
I could boldly assert that even the Hero would be rendered speechless, standing there with their mouth agape in disbelief.
Only functionality and convenience were required from clothing.
She frequently wore shabby robes, scolding anyone who sought beauty and style in mere clothing, considering those desires a mark of foolishness.
Thus, the shock I felt at this moment was undeniable.
“W-What do you think? Does it suit me?”
“·····”
It was a nurse’s outfit.
In stark contrast to her eerie appearance, the pink nursing uniform made its brightness stand out even more.
Maybe it was ordered in a size smaller, as it fit snugly to her body, subtly drawing attention to the delicate areas above the thigh like a stocking—it felt just a bit sneaky.
After witnessing that jaw-dropping scene, my honest exclamation echoed in my thoughts.
“Dawna, did you take more pills or something?”
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