Chapter 36
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: Even if Clumsy, One Step at a Time
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The sound of a warm hand touching my head woke me up.
Blinking to bring things into focus, I saw Veronica giving me a lap pillow with a gentle, loving expression.
Only then did I realize the warmth against the back of my head was her lap, and I sat up.
"Uh... Veronica, how long was I asleep?"
"Apostle, you slept for about two hours!"
Good heavens... I slept a ton.
I wondered what she must have thought seeing me fall asleep mid-prayer, and embarrassment welled up, making me apologize.
"Sorry... I must've dozed off without realizing."
"Not at all! By the way, how's your body feeling?"
"My body?"
Her question puzzled me.
"Come to think of it..."
Some indescribable stuffiness had cleared away refreshingly, and stretching made blood flow a bit better through my body.
The fatigue was gone, my mind clear—I felt like I could do anything.
"Come to think of it, my condition feels amazing."
"Really!? See!"
"Yeah, I feel so refreshed. Sleep really is the best."
It must've been sleep deprivation.
If a nap puts me in this state, it's a steal.
The long-lost refreshment brought a smile to my face.
"Guess it was sleep deprivation. Veronica, did your legs go numb?"
"Not at all. It was meaningful time for me too."
She must've prayed diligently while I slept.
"Thinking about it, I remember praying for some fatigue relief before nodding off..."
Gratitude filled me, and I told her so.
"Haha, looks like the Lord granted my wish for some fatigue relief before I fell asleep."
Veronica's face lit up with emotion, nodding vigorously.
"Exactly! The Lord is the best! How about coming by the church more often from now on!?"
Whenever the Lord comes up, she gets like this.
Church visits aren't bad, so I readily agreed.
"Sure, let's come pray together whenever I visit the church."
"Yes!"
Overjoyed, Veronica immediately offered a prayer of thanks to the goddess statue.
"Is it that great...?"
I smiled wryly, thinking I'd have to come with her more often.
I spoke to Veronica once she finished praying.
"Shall we head out?"
"Yes!"
"Huh? Veronica, you've got..."
I reached out and picked a thread from the corner of her mouth.
As I went to toss it, Veronica snatched it from my hand with lightning speed and pocketed it.
"Hehe, sorry for being so sloppy..."
"Uh...? Oh, no, it's nothing."
She even keeps tiny bits of trash, I thought, as we tidied up and left the prayer room.
Once outside, my throat felt dry, so I conjured water with magic.
"Hold on, Veronica. Woke up thirsty, and my mouth tastes funky."
-Flinch!
Watching me drink, Veronica stared at my mouth, apparently thirsty too.
"Want some?"
"Y-yes? Oh, yes please."
"Here."
I sent water her way, and she opened her mouth wide, sticking out her tongue.
"Veronica?"
"Ah...! Yes? What's wrong?"
"Uh... nothing."
After a briefly lewd expression, she daintily sipped with her mouth slightly open.
-Gulp! Gulp!
"Haa... Apostle, it was so delicious..."
"Th-that good?"
"The best..."
"Well... high-purity mana would taste that way."
Something felt off, but I brushed it aside.
"Shall we head back then?"
"Yes!"
"Ready, Lumi?"
[Yeah, of course...]
"Then let's begin."
I sat in my room and started meditating.
With my condition at its peak today, I planned to challenge the 6th circle I'd failed at before.
Grandpa's mana at my crown felt much thinner now—it was time to get serious.
Closing my eyes and focusing, the gray world unfolded.
A world I could never forget.
No matter how much I painted it with mana, the shell would peel to reveal a drab, colorless one.
Fooling myself changed nothing—strip away the prince shell, and there was the frail me on the sickbed.
The weak me who couldn't move alone, peeking at others' faces while forcing cheer, rose from the bed.
"Ah..."
Even living a new life hadn't changed my core—I was still weak and useless.
But this was the mental world.
A place where my imagination became power.
I put strength into my legs.
But they stayed still, as if forgetting how to move.
I recalled how I'd walked as a prince.
'Confidently, assuredly.'
Urging myself inwardly, sensation returned to my frail legs.
Thrilled, I pulled them from under the covers.
Skinny, pathetic legs emerged—not toned ones.
So what if they were worthless? If they could be used now, that was enough.
I straightened my waist and set my feet on the floor.
The cold chill told me sensation was back.
An unpleasant feeling, yet somehow welcome—a smile escaped me.
Standing on those legs, the familiar room looked different.
My low eye level rose a bit, making even the air feel new.
A cheerful tune hummed out.
One step, one step—my bedridden muscles screamed, legs like lead dragging me, but I pressed on.
Grabbing the door handle, I opened it to see a tall wall ahead.
Instinct screamed: that's the wall I must climb.
But with these legs? Even opening the door was tough.
Despair lowered my head, skinny legs in view.
As I nearly collapsed there...
"Still... let's go as far as I can."
Wasn't it the constant quitting and self-pity I hated that made me decide to try?
I'd come this far, desperately striving to change, refusing helplessness—clumsily, step by step.
Dragging my worthless, heaviest legs, I stepped out.
Glancing back, the room looked too comfy.
Rest a bit and try again? No rush, it seemed to chide.
My trembling legs held me in turmoil, but I decided to press forward.
I just... didn't want to sit down.
Walking on, my body adapted—the steps eased slightly.
I was overjoyed, unbelievably so for my own achievement.
But joy faded as my past-life sister appeared.
[What're you gonna do with that body? Just lie down like always—don't cause trouble.]
It hurt, but I walked on.
Why was I even walking now? Hiding wounded feelings behind a smile, as always.
[Where you going! Because of you, I can't go to school! Working part-time while others study to pay your tuition! Stuck in that cramped house!]
Sister vented pent-up emotions.
Sharp words lacerated my heart.
But I smiled and passed her.
A bitter smile, as always...
[Don't go!]
She grabbed my pant leg.
Bearing the life you ruined, it seemed, weighing my steps heavier.
Her grip dug through the fabric.
Yet I walked on, with sorry in my heart.
Steps heavier, but somehow I held my head high.
Further on, a weary-looking man appeared.
[Don't go. You don't deserve it. Can't you see the family you shattered?]
Stern reprimand crushed my scarred heart like lead.
But heavy chest didn't bow me—I strode prouder, chest out.
Passing Father, legs grew heavier.
Take responsibility if you go; coward for a man to flee, it scolded.
I walked bolder, chest puffed, head high.
There sat... my crying mother...
[If you could walk, why didn't you do anything before! Why!]
Mother's wailing form was haggard from hardship, her gripping hand blistered everywhere.
Her self-beating hands now pounded my chest.
But it didn't hurt... Weak, she just wept against me.
Though shaken, I moved forward.
Frail body wobbling with each strike, but onward.
Further, the heretic assassin who'd first tried to kill me appeared.
The assassin glared silently.
But no longer scary.
I smirked past him.
He drew a dagger, chasing to kill.
But no fear.
Cold blade stabbed my back—yet no pain.
Thus I reached the wall.
"Why'd I come all this way..."
Smiling wryly, I looked up.
Endless height frustrated me.
Pounding it yielded nothing—solid as rock, no cracks, no grips.
But blockage sparked defiance.
"Let's give it a shot!"
What was I thinking?
With family and assassin clinging, spouting words, I plastered myself to the wall.
Like a dead frog scraping—probably hilarious.
Didn't care.
Scraping awhile...
[...Master, why're you scraping the ground stuck to the wall like that...?]
"Huh?"
Lumi stood there, defying gravity on the wall, watching me.
"Who... no, Lumi?"
[What're you doing, Master...]
Her tiny hand tugged; I followed effortlessly.
"Huh?"
Suddenly, feet on what I'd thought was wall—now ground—and a vibrant world unfolded in colors.
The endless wall was the world I now lived in.
Enchanted by vivid hues after so long, I reached out—not skinny hand, but pale, slender one.
Checking my body: the prince's.
Turning, sister wept; parents smiled warmly.
[Waaah! Sorry! I didn't mean it, bro... Waaah!]
[I'd be lying if it wasn't tough... but it was okay. Just knowing you lived was thanks enough.]
[Jae-hwan...]
Jae-hwan—my name...
[Sorry for birthing you weak! But seeing you healthy now makes me so happy!]
All smiled at me.
Real? Or what I wanted to hear?
Didn't matter—I waved brightly, smiling.
"Hey, crybaby! Crying makes you uglier! I know, man! Sorry too! And Dad! I've got so much to do and protect now! That's why I can push on!"
[Waaah, not a crybaby...]
Father nodded proudly.
"Mom! Love you! Know it's not your fault, right? I'll introduce you to a daughter-in-law next time!"
Mother beamed, waving.
I turned forward.
Even if illusion, saying what I wanted cleared my chest.
"Alright! Shall we go further?"
[Waaah! Lucky to reincarnate in a good place!]
"? W-wait, Na Jae-yoon! How do you know I reincarnated..."
Illusion, right?
Consciousness returned—Grandpa's mana gone from my crown, only the sense of connection to the world remained.
Beyond seeing mana, I now felt its paths.
Hand outstretched, magic activated—the firmly set 6th circle spun, grasping and shaping ambient mana.
Magic unfurled: room darkened, expanded; mana streaked like stars across the sky.
Savoring cosmic mystery, like sitting in space...
"Wow!"
'? Why're you here?'
Startled, I turned—Jenia and Veronica gazed skyward in awe.
Now vividly visible, they shone breathtakingly beautiful.
Like seeing them properly after only screens before.
Zoned out briefly, I asked.
"When did you get here?"
"We saw light bursting from the prince's room and rushed over in shock!"
"Right! Came in startled, and Apostle was all sparkly, light gathering, pouring into your head...!"
I stopped excited Veronica.
"What do you think? Feels like space, right?"
"Yes! Like we're in space!"
"Space?"
"Means night sky. Pretty, huh?"
"Yes!"
I floated the giggling pair in the air.
"Zero-gravity experience!"
"Feels like flying through the night sky!"
Swimming hand-in-hand, they beamed at me, reaching out.
"Prince, come too!"
"Apostle, play with us!"
Drawn to them amid the starry night, I floated over.