Chapter 17
Chapter 17
Finally Meeting the Protagonist
Astrum, the city of the Wasteland, was as lively as ever.
People continuously poured in from all over the continent, and items discovered in the Wasteland flooded the markets, circulating enormous wealth.
In the process, countless people seized fortune and enjoyed happiness.
Believing that this light of happiness would last forever.
But where there is light, there is also darkness.
And within the city, sorrow existed.
......
The religious district of Astrum.
Among the many temples on the street, the Temple of the Order of Rest stood in the quietest and least visited corner.
Inside, sorrow always lingered.
People who had lost family or comrades stood weeping before coffins.
Most of those coffins did not contain bodies.
Because in the Wasteland, there was no way to recover the dead.
So they could only bid farewell before coffins filled with personal belongings.
Yet even in such tragedy, despair did not fully consume them.
Perhaps because the ones they were saying goodbye to were still, in a way, “there.”
“I’m sorry, Mom… I tried to be careful, but an orc warrior respawned behind me and I died.”
“You idiot! I told you to be careful!”
“Haha… I guess I was just unlucky. But getting to say goodbye like this makes me feel better.”
“Then don’t just die like that!”
“I’m really sorry.”
A son who had become a ghost and his living mother cried together as they spoke their final words.
Watching the scene, the priest leading us spoke.
“It’s a fascinating sight, isn’t it?”
“Huh? No, not really…”
“It’s alright. We’re well aware that alchemists are naturally curious.”
“Haha… yes, well…”
I awkwardly smiled and lowered my head.
Beside me, Sobyany narrowed her eyes.
[Why are you so nervous? You didn’t do anything wrong.]
“Even innocent people get nervous in places like police stations.”
And technically, I had possessed someone’s body without permission.
Even if I wasn’t guilty in intent, socially it was awkward.
We followed the priest down the corridor until we stopped in front of a room at the deepest part of the temple.
He knocked.
“High Priest Serena, it’s Malone. I’ve brought the guests you requested.”
“Please come in.”
At the permission, Malone opened the door and guided us inside.
After seating us in soft chairs, he bowed to the woman sitting opposite us and quietly stepped out.
Once the door closed, the High Priest Serena smiled at us.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Serena, High Priest of the Order of Rest.”
“I’m Lee Hyunseong… possessing the body of Teo, a Nigredo-class alchemist.”
Through her flowing purple hair, her narrow eyes peeked out.
Her gentle smile gave her a warm and calm impression rather than anything suspicious.
She removed her white lace gloves and extended her hand.
I carefully shook it.
After a light handshake, she placed a document on the table and asked.
“You said the possession happened about two weeks ago?”
“Yes. I was asleep, and when I woke up, I was inside Teo’s body.”
“No signs beforehand?”
“That’s what’s strange. There was no resistance from the original owner either.”
Serena narrowed her brows slightly.
“That is unusual. With a case like this, our observers should have noticed long ago.”
“Observers?”
“There are those within the Order who detect spirits that cling to the world. They are specialists.”
So they didn’t detect me at all.
“That is… strange indeed.”
“Right?”
While we were talking, Sobyany, who had been quiet, spoke up impatiently.
[Can we talk about my situation first? I don’t have much time left.]
Ah.
Right.
If a spirit remains in the material world without proper authorization, it gradually turns into a vengeful spirit.
And Sobyany wasn’t an exception.
Although she looked calm, she must have been suffering deterioration of her soul.
Serena smiled reassuringly.
“Don’t worry. We’ve already begun stabilizing you from the moment you entered the temple.”
[No wonder the pain lessened.]
“We will purify the corruption in your soul shortly.”
Sobyany nodded in satisfaction.
Then Serena turned to her.
“What will you do after this?”
[No regrets. I’ve overstayed my time here anyway. I’ll go to the afterlife.]
“Staying with us is also an option.”
[I prefer the natural order.]
She chuckled softly, then glanced at me.
[By the way, what about my disciple?]
“Teo… no, Lee Hyunseong?”
[He’s inexperienced, but promising.]
Clovis leaned in and whispered.
“So you’re taking a disciple already?”
“I didn’t agree to that.”
“But she already decided for you.”
I sighed.
Then Serena stood.
“Shall we begin?”
We moved to the underground ritual chamber.
A massive magic circle lay beneath us.
Serena gestured to me.
“Please step onto the circle. We will awaken Teo’s sleeping consciousness.”
As I stepped forward, the ritual began.
A warm, heavy drowsiness spread through my mind.
Like sinking into a cradle.
Comfortable.
Warm.
Safe.
I almost let go completely—
“Huh?!”
Something forcibly yanked my consciousness awake.
I gasped and looked around.
The temple was gone.
Instead—
A library.
“What…?”
I picked up a book from the shelf.
D-Rank Dungeon: Ashur’s Temple.
A place I remembered well.
My second dungeon run after awakening.
A couple even broke up in front of me there.
I flipped through the pages.
It was written exactly as I remembered.
“D-Daeyeon! It’s dangerous!”
“…My name is Jihye?”
“Oh.”
I laughed softly.
Even the snack I ate back then came to mind.
“Wasn’t it bear-shaped cheese popcorn?”
“…Yes, that’s right. Wait—who are you?”
A voice came from behind me.
I turned around.
And froze.
White hair.
Galaxy-like eyes.
A face identical to mine.
He smiled brightly.
“Hello. I suppose this is our first meeting.”
“…Teoooooo!”
“Yes! That’s me!”
“It’s really you!!”
“…Are you okay?”
He looked genuinely confused by my reaction.
Of course I was reacting like this.
I had just met the protagonist of a game I had played for ten years.
How could I not lose my mind?
“Te-kyaaahhh!”
“Please calm down!”
I looked around excitedly.
Is there paper and pen in a mental world?
Because I really needed an autograph.