Chapter 13: Reunion
- At the fortune teller's.
- You are destined to die today, my dear," said the fortune-teller.
"I expected something like that, because the arrival of a creature that could copy my voice and lure me out was definitely not a good sign.
- ... Um, is there any way to prevent this?
" Supposedly, fortune tellers get information from the dead, maybe I'll get lucky, because if this creature has already killed someone, a dead person might give some information. It's too crazy.
- Nah, you'll die tonight," the grandmother said with a smile on her wrinkled face.
" I wonder if there are young fortune tellers? Wait, I'm going the wrong way.
- ... Hmm, well, I'll be off then," I handed over the money and walked out of the small booth.
- Outside--
- What was your fortune told? - Atis asked curiously.
- That I would die today.
- ... О... Oh. Well, I'm sorry.
- Yeah, thanks.
- At the restaurant--
- You don't seem to care much," Atys said.
- I know roughly what I'm going to die from, and I'll try to prevent it. And now I can get high," I leaned back in my chair.
- That's peace.
- I may not look like a coward, but I have a few dozen emergency plans.
- Isn't that a little much?
- No, it's fine. Thanks to that, I saved my life more than once while I was in the mountains," I replied, continuing to eat.
"While you were in the mountains...
- At the inn, at night--
Now I'm standing by the door, waiting for that creature to finish it off... At least I'll try.
" You need to let go of fear, it's just a deterrent that often limits people. I just need to get over it, that's all. It's not that hard, is it? And if I can't, I'll run away.
* Squeak *
Something moved toward my room door again, taking its time, knowing it had plenty of time to accomplish its task.
* Squeak *
It stopped at the opposite side, no breathing, not even a heartbeat.
" Could it be an undead? How does it get in here unnoticed? Okay, that's not something that should concern me right now. Just one skill and this will be over.
- Out.
The monster began his tedious speech that he would never finish.
"Extermination! - I mentally shouted.
[ Gaining 1,500,000 experience ]
" Whoa, not bad, not a wasted effort.
Hundreds of blows went through the door, cutting through the defenseless monster. Lowering my gaze, I saw the remains of the door and that creature as suddenly:
" Hmm, my heart started to stop.... What the hell? I'll have to use the Force.
It started beating again, without any problems.
- Cardiac arrest, not bad, but it won't work on me. It's kind of like the Gorgon.
The monster was a black slime, but with eyes and a mouth full of sharp teeth, like a dentist's.
- Now we can see why no one came out last night.
* Knock * * Knock *
It's been ten seconds, and I haven't even heard a rustle.
* Squeak *
The door opened quietly, either it was unlocked or I'd broken the lock...
" Sleeping.
- Atys!
I shouted directly into his ears but nothing happened, he was still asleep as well.
" Apparently some kind of magic, well, or he likes to sleep. I'll have to check on someone else.
# It's been a few minutes #
- Everyone. Asleep! Apparently it's another monster ability, where did it come from? But I won't find out now... I'm going to sleep.
# It's been hours #
I couldn't get to sleep, thinking about this super-genius idea of hitting my brain with the Force. For some reason I couldn't remember what had happened before I got to the Mountains, even the days in the Mountains, it was all very vague.
I created two electric bolts in both palms of my hands and prepared myself.
"Kind of scary, I hope I don't fall back.
* Boom *
# It's been a few seconds #
" It's kind of scary, I hope I don't fall off.
* Boom *
# It's been a few seconds #
- What's my name, my name? Whoa, what the hell?! The only thing I remember is being hit in the head with an electric ball.... Hmm, I'll try again.
* Boom *
- Uh-huh-huh-huh-huh-huh-huh-huh-huh-huh?! Uh-huh-huh-huh-huh-huh!
* Boom *
- クソ,一体何なの?!
* ♪ Boom ♪
- Parents, friends, manhwa, I remember everything. Because of the time I spent in that hell, my mind closed many memories for some reason.
I started concentrating to look at everything that was forgotten.
- So I'm in the Sword King, yes. Not the worst place I could have been sent to. But why? I mean, I was alive, I could be in cardiac arrest, but I've been doing cardio, so it's unlikely, although... Given the way I've been eating.
I had a lot of thoughts raging in my head, a lot of things to think about, but right now, that's all that matters:
- All this time I was having fun instead of finding answers to my questions. I had even abandoned my ideology of self-improvement in favor of fun.
I quietly got out of bed and started packing the few belongings I had.
- From here on out, I would continue on my journey.
Walking out of the tavern, I started to scatter.
"This feeling is truly exhilarating, a tremendous power and speed that the average person will never achieve, and can only dream of. With this, you can get what many people desire, power, but it's not a priority, there are a couple things to finish before that.
* ♪ Boom ♪
I stood on the edge of the cliff, enjoying the scenery.
- In that world, I'd probably be a father by now, babysitting, or a forty-year-old virgin. But here, I'm practically immortal, with the ability to improve and enjoy life to the fullest, and then maybe become a god. It's perfect.
The sun was slowly rising over the horizon, warming the cool ground with its rays.
- How long until the next level?
[ 54,118,986,031 experience ]
* [ Sighs ]
- Now we can start improving," I said with a smile and jumped off the cliff, straight into the raging sea.
# In the tavern, morning #
# Knock # # Knock # # Knock #
- # Yawn # Hmm, still asleep or something.
I've been getting a lot of sleep the last few days.
* Squeak *
There was none of the usual clutter on the table, nothing at all. Even the room itself looked like it hadn't been lived in.
- That's odd.
# Somewhere very far away #
# Boom #
A huge octopus flew out of the water and crashed into a rock, followed by a glowing ball of light.
_______
END OF VOLUME 1