Chapter 2
Chapter 2
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 1
Chapter Title: 1. The Oncoming Aftermath
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Rattle, rattle.
Rattle, rattle.
Inside the carriage heading back home.
As I took in the passing scenery—nothing special—it made me reflect on my own tumultuous life.
My current name is Deius Verdi. The second son of a count's family ruling Northsweden in the north.
But if you asked my original name.
Kim Shin-woo.
A 25-year-old young man living in South Korea. After graduating college, finishing military service, and working at a company, I could see ghosts.
He seemed ordinary, but in truth, he wasn't.
My maternal grandmother was a shaman.
A highly revered and spiritually gifted one at that. She took one look at me and said something like this.
- Your spiritual energy is too strong. Tsk, if you don't walk the shaman's path, the child will be ruined.
My mom, who was always nagged by her own mother, naturally didn't believe it, but that was a mistake.
Could a boy who saw the dead his whole life develop proper emotions?
When my desk mate, who died in an accident yesterday, shows up to school again and strangles me for ignoring him—could anyone stay sane?
When someone who fell to their death from an apartment climbs up to my bedroom window every night, begging to live—could you avoid trauma?
Because of that, my emotions had worn thin, like they'd been eroded.
It wasn't that living like this made me this way.
I became this way to survive.
So how did I end up as Deius Verdi, a name that only appears in the game Retry?
I have no idea.
I thought it might be some ghost's prank at first, but after living here for half a year, that didn't seem right.
A lot had happened in that half year. I'd learned noble speech and etiquette, and understanding magic was essential.
Everything Deius Verdi had built didn't vanish. His knowledge of magic and how to apply it remained in me, so it didn't take long.
That said, if you asked if Deius was a genius, absolutely not.
Not mediocre, but not outstanding either.
Deius Verdi was an average joe fitting his middling position as the second son of a count's family.
A man with a notoriously poor reputation and plenty of gossip behind his back.
Anyway.
I thought becoming Deius would make my life a bit more normal.
I figured this cursed ability to see ghosts would disappear, but it didn't.
And hilariously, this game world was a fantasy medieval setting full of swords and magic.
So I saw several times more ghosts than in ceasefire-era South Korea.
[Heh heh, nice view, isn't it?]
Even now, look.
The private carriage sent by my family had only me inside.
But suddenly, a ghost in the form of a noblewoman sat across from me, smiling and talking to me.
“…….”
[Oh dear, can't you at least reply?]
I deliberately don't answer.
My grandmother told me countless times that the living conversing with the dead isn't a good idea.
In fact, getting involved with them rarely ended well for me.
[You can see me, right?]
The ghost suddenly stands and approaches me.
'Damn it.'
From my angle, I could only see her left side, but as she got closer, the other side came into full view.
Her other side was completely charred, like she'd been burned.
I nearly squeezed my eyes shut but kept my composure.
It was an ugly wound even among ghosts, but I was used to it by now.
[Look at me.]
I slowly meet the eyes of the ghost thrusting her face toward mine. Her mouth stretches into a grin of delight.
I keep my voice low so the coachman won't hear.
“Sit down.”
[Oh? You ignored me, but now you're being polite?]
“I didn't ignore you.”
[You didn't?]
“I was being considerate.”
[......Considerate?]
The noblewoman ghost sat across from me, tilting her head. Her left side was that of a beautiful middle-aged woman, but the other side was twisted by burns, skin shredded, pus dripping steadily.
“I figured you wouldn't want me to see it.”
[.......]
“I don't want others seeing my own ugliness either.”
[Oh my.]
“But you possess a beauty that transcends it. Not being ashamed of your own weakness. That's a beauty worth boasting about.”
[Such a gentleman.]
“I'm just saying what I feel.”
[......Thank you.]
The ghost blushed and vanished. She didn't achieve enlightenment or anything.
That's not that easy.
She probably just left satisfied with the conversation.
“Whew.”
And this is exactly how I deal with ghosts. Not getting pushed around pointlessly.
I give them what they want to hear.
I have the conversations they desire and offer the comfort they crave.
“What a ridiculous life.”
Staring blankly at the spot where the noblewoman had disappeared, my tongue felt bitter, like I'd chewed sour herbs.
My emotions had dulled because of them, yet here I was soothing their empty hearts and wounds.
That was the life of Kim Shin-woo fused with Deius Verdi now.
*
“Wow.”
Circling her newly acquired lab, the new professor Per couldn't stop a smile from forming.
The spacious room was pristine like new, and the furniture was arranged harmoniously.
“Is it really okay for me to use this room?”
Per, who had landed the job due to a sudden vacancy, had expected a cramped storage room at best.
Erika Bright, who was showing her around from behind, nodded with a kind smile.
“Of course. We have to give you at least this much since you've come to us, Professor Per.”
“I'm the one who's grateful for taking me in.”
In truth, Per had been a professor at another academy. A highly capable one, unrivaled in human-body-related magic in the current era—a genius by any measure.
The reason such a woman suddenly came to Robern Academy was due to factional infighting at her previous academy.
Having ignored academy politics entirely and focused solely on research, she came to her senses to find herself unemployed right before the critical new student intake period.
Desperate for a place to continue her research and support, Per was swiftly hooked by Erika Bright and Robern Academy.
“There might be some things left from the previous professor.”
“Oh, I'll handle that myself! I don't like anyone touching my lab.”
“Yes, in that case, just submit your lecture plans. Since time is tight, you can adapt what you used at your old academy.”
“Yes! Thank you!”
Erika left with a benevolent smile. Staring at the spot she'd vacated, Per let out a deep breath.
“She's incredibly beautiful.”
Well-maintained golden blonde hair, a selfishly model-like figure.
Add a sun-like smile, refined etiquette, and a considerate personality.
She was exactly the image Per wished she resembled. Per glanced at the full-body mirror in one corner of the lab.
Her dry, unkempt pink hair stuck out in all directions from lack of care. Holed up in labs, her skin was sallow, her frame small.
Her excessively ample chest only distorted her proportions.
“Worst.”
She stuck out her tongue at her reflection, which looked like she'd dragged in a street bum.
Per had always hated her own appearance. She didn't bother hiding it.
[Worst.]
“Hm?”
Something felt off.
It was like she'd heard her own voice echo once more—from inside the mirror.
“Worst.”
She tried saying it again just in case. But as expected, it was just her imagination; no sound came.
“Did I not sleep enough?”
Noting her dark circles, Per stretched. She should probably just tidy up lightly and sleep today.
Lecture plans?
She could just use the ones prepped from her old academy.
'It'll just take adjusting them to this format.'
Thinking it'd be quick, Per turned to unpack her luggage.
“Hm?”
She whipped back to the mirror.
“Something was weird just now, right?”
She was facing away, so her back should reflect, but oddly, it felt like the Per in the mirror was still facing her.
Swish! Swish!
She moved this way and that, but the mirror remained just a mirror.
“Maybe the previous owner left some magic on it?”
Word was the former professor had been fired. Someone bad enough to get dismissed might've played a prank like this.
Per reached out to check.
“But no?”
No magic lingered.
It was just an ordinary mirror, not even a trace of mana.
“Hmm.”
Puzzled, Per crossed her arms.
[Where'd you go?]
“Eek!”
A little girl's whisper in her ear.
She whipped her head around, but it was still just Per alone.
“W-What?”
But this time, she'd definitely heard it.
What was that?
[Where'd you go?!]
This time, a thunderous man's roar exploded.
“Kyaaah!”
Startled, Per collapsed to her knees. Instinctively, she cast protective magic around herself.
[Where are you!][Where? Where?][Don't throw us away! Don't abandon us!][Come here!][Come back!][I was wrong! I'm sorry!][I'll kill you!][Come here, to me!][Enough already!][This is our land! My room!][Mooom!][Get out! Scram!][Female-scented bitch.][Shall I eat you?][You can't replace her.][Get lost!][Why are you here? Why? Why? Why? Why?]
No matter what magic she used, the voices didn't stop resounding.
Even clamping her ears with both hands, the voices rang clearer, as if directly in her brain.
[Hey, sis.]
“Ah, aaah!”
Tear-streaked, trembling Per slowly lifted her head toward the voice calling her.
A little girl with long black hair covering the entire floor.
The girl's hair began creeping up the walls and ceiling, enveloping the whole room.
[Where'd that person go?]
With those words, Per's eyes rolled back, and she fainted.