Chapter 12
A night filled with lingering awkwardness passed, and at last, morning arrived.
“Let’s go, Kaizen.”
“Yes.”
We walked and walked, following the direction marked by the map navigation.
Across open fields, past a massive lake, and deep into a dim forest.
Who knew how long we’d been walking? By the time the sun dipped below the horizon, darkness was creeping in.
“What the hell. How far does this thing want us to go?”
No sooner had I complained than the map fragment trembled violently, its pattern scattering—
then reforming into a broken arrow pointing straight ahead.
A silent temple stood before us.
Grass grew wildly in all directions, yet oddly, this area alone was spotless.
I turned my head toward Kaizen.
“Looks like this is it. Let’s go in.”
And so, we stepped into a temple that was suspicious from the very first glance.
The moment we entered, I couldn’t help but gasp.
It had looked unusual from the outside, but the inside was even more astonishing.
“How is it this clean?”
It didn’t look maintained, yet everything was pristine—as if time had simply stopped within these walls.
“I had no idea a temple existed in a place like this,” Kaizen muttered.
“Yeah. First time seeing it, too.”
Even in the game, I’d never discovered this place.
Considering it was an open-world game with tons of hidden content, this might be where you’d get a secret quest.
“Let’s check inside.”
We walked down the corridor, passing pillars carved with divine figures—
a god of war, a god of harvest, and a god of judgment.
With gods everywhere, at least no ghosts would dare show up.
“But Kaizen… why are there so many gods here?”
“I don’t know.”
“What do you mean you don’t know? You’re from the kingdom.”
“I mean, not that I don’t know why there are many gods…
but that I don’t know whether there are many gods.”
“…Huh?”
His steel-blue eyes drifted toward me.
“No one has ever met a god. For all we know, every carving might depict the same one.”
Before we knew it, we had reached the end of the corridor.
Between the lit torches stood a huge boulder.
Kaizen and I exchanged glances, then approached.
A gorgeous sword was embedded deep into the stone. We let out a small breath of awe.
“Whoa…”
Was this Excalibur?
Why was it jammed into a rock like this?
And why was there a massive boulder inside a temple in the first place?
“This thing definitely screams ‘tragic backstory,’ right?”
“I am not interested.”
“It looks ancient, but it’s so clean.”
Almost hypnotized, I wrapped my fingers around the hilt.
A low hum vibrated up through the blade.
“Hrrmph—!”
I tried—really tried—to pull it free, but all it did was buzz. It didn’t budge.
“Damn. This thing is really wedged in there.”
Well, if I can’t have it, there’s no point obsessing.
I let go cleanly and moved behind the boulder.
A stone slab stood there, engraved with text.
Only those with the courage to vanquish the evil of this world may draw the sword.
Short, powerful, and dramatic.
The moment I reread the slab, the sword felt different—almost sacred.
“Kaizen, come here.”
“What now…” he sighed, dragging his feet like a kid being forced to clean his room.
Despite the annoyed expression, he still obeyed. Somehow, that made me weirdly proud.
“See this line? Pretty sure it’s talking about you.”
“… You can read this?”
“Huh? Yeah.”
Kaizen’s expression shifted strangely.
His lips parted in surprise as he exhaled a quiet breath.
“This is written in ancient script. Even most nobles and royals struggle to learn it. How can someone who is not even a citizen of the kingdom…”
This is ancient…?
I blinked at the slab again.
It still read perfectly smoothly, yet now that he mentioned it…
The characters weren’t ones I’d ever seen before.
“Wow. So my transmigration came with a language patch too.”
“What was that?”
“Nothing. Anyway—go try drawing the sword. It literally says it’s yours.”
Kaizen stared at me with a look of pure disdain.
What was that blasphemous stare for?
“Where does it say it is mine? It simply states the sword may be drawn only by one who can vanquish evil.”
“Oh? You can read ancient script too?
Didn’t you say only royals and nobles could learn it? Don’t tell me you’re—”
Kaizen flinched.
That reaction was all the confirmation I needed.
“…You were a noble?”
“…I wasn’t trying to deceive you.”
“Oohhh. So you’re rich? Does this mean we won’t have to sleep outside anymore?”
I sparkled with hope. After a month of tailing him, I just wanted a soft bed.
Kaizen let out a defeated sigh.
“It was a meaningless title. I had very little wealth.”
“Ugh. Too bad.”
Well, I didn’t hate sleeping outdoors… I just didn’t like it.
I jerked my chin toward the sword.
“Anyway, go try pulling it out.”
“You are remarkably bothersome,” he muttered.
But he still walked over to the boulder.
I was about to follow him to watch the spectacle when—
Huh?
The engraved slab began to glow.
Thinking I imagined it, I blinked—
But the light circling the slab remained.
Cautiously, I approached.
The moment my fingers brushed the glowing edge—
“Savior of the Hero… we have been awaiting you…”
“Holy—! What the hell?!”
A divine voice pierced my skull the instant I touched the slab.
I jerked my hand away and clutched my chest.
Then it hit me.
This is a quest.
But… why me?
“What do you mean ‘Savior of the Hero’…? Kaizen!”
…No answer.
Puzzled, I turned—and froze.
Kaizen stood gripping the sword, completely motionless.
Like a statue.
Swallowing hard, I touched the slab again.
“Savior of the Hero… We have awaited you.
This temple was prepared for the Hero and the Savior.
When its purpose is fulfilled, it shall be consumed by the Storm of Time.”
“Storm of Time? What the hell is that?”
“The sword embedded here may be drawn only by one with the courage to vanquish evil.
Only the worthy shall be permitted.”
“Worthy…?”
“Savior. Restore all the hero’s memories, end the curse, and save this world.
Then all will be restored to their rightful place.”
“… So you’re saying I can go home?”
Hope exploded in my chest.
All this time, I’d assumed I needed to reach the ending to return, but it had never been certain.
Hearing this was almost comforting.
“Remember. Without all memories restored, the sword cannot be drawn.”
The divine message ended there.
Short, but enough.
Excitement surged through me—
Finally, a real clue.
“Kaizen!”
I rushed over—only to stop dead.
He still hadn’t moved.
His hand gripped the sword, frozen in place.
“What… What’s wrong with you?”
I waved my hand in front of his face. Nothing.
He looked like he’d turned to stone.
“Hey—snap out of it! What happened to you?”
I grabbed his shoulders.
His steel-blue lashes quivered.
Slowly, his head tilted toward me.
“…!”
I recoiled in shock.
His already lifeless eyes were now completely empty.
And above his head—
The skull icon’s gauge was filled to the brim.
The “Obedient” status icon was gone.
Chills raced down my spine.
“What the… What happened to you?”
He brushed past me without a word.
Then—he reached for a ceremonial sword hanging on the wall.
A terrible premonition spread through me.
I instinctively grabbed his arm.
“Stop! What the hell are you planning to do with that sword?!”
“Let go. Or I will cut you.”
What—
What went wrong?
Just minutes ago, he’d been fine. Now he was completely broken.
“Put it down first, okay? It’s sharp; you’ll hurt yourself!”
His gaze was hollow.
Like he was looking at something worthless.
That was the real Kaizen I’d encountered countless times before.
With effortless precision, he swept my hand away.
And then—
right before my eyes—
He plunged the blade into his own chest.
Thud—!
Kaizen collapsed in slow motion.
I could only stare, breath caught in my throat.
Moments later—
A brilliant white light wrapped around my body.
I knew this sensation all too well.
“…Ha.”
I was resetting again.
My vision blurred as the memories of the past several days flashed by—
All that effort, all for nothing.
“Kaizen, you bastard!!
I’ll see you in the next run!!!!”
I screamed the only thing I could say before the world dissolved, flipping him off with everything I had.
