Parallel World (1)

When I clicked the "Yes" option, a new window appeared before my eyes.

Multiple-choice questions even after death? And in another world, no less?

And first-come, first-served?

I didn't know who came up with this, but the phrasing was childish enough to make a Korean elementary schooler cringe. Just then—

"So, what do you think of the choices I prepared? I went through a lot of trouble to pick out abilities that would actually be useful. Well? Do you like them?"

...Ah, so it was you. Mercury spoke with such pride that I couldn't bring myself to say anything. For some reason, my trust in this goddess was plummeting by the second.

I looked back at the choices in the message window. For some reason, option number one was blank. Come to think of it, the star had five points, but there were only four of us.

What's the last spot for?

Curiosity flickered in my mind, but it wasn't something I needed to worry about right now. What mattered more was the ability I had to choose.

The four options were a bit vague. They certainly looked childish, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠but now that I had to pick just one, it felt like a waste to let the others go. As I hesitated—

...She didn't even hesitate?

And of all things, she chose "Authority." Her head really was filled with nothing but greed. Now that one option was gone, panic began to set in.

So the remaining ones are Divine Power, Knowledge, and Special Ability?

I stroked my chin, my mind racing. What would be the most useful ability once I arrived in the other world? They all sounded decent, but ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠there had to be one that suited me best.

And there was one fact the Rosemary members didn't know: Mercury had promised to give me an extra ability.

Learning Talent.

With that, I might be able to achieve some of these options through my own efforts. Considering that, the ability that would be of the most immediate help upon reincarnation was...

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

*Beep.*

The tone made me want to punch someone.

Looking at the description, all it did was let Mercury answer my questions? That was it?

This was completely different from the actual acquisition of knowledge I had envisioned. I scanned the message window thoroughly, but there didn't seem to be any way to undo it.

Just then.

"Wow, it's so pretty. What is this? A bow?"

"What? Am I a magician?"

"W-What is this? Why is it so ridiculously huge?"

Wondering what all the fuss was about, I looked back.

"...What the hell is that?"

Floating above the heads of the Rosemary members were the abilities they had chosen.

And in their hands, they held different objects. No, to be precise, they weren't ordinary items. They were weapons—things that didn't suit idol group members at all.

Choi Seoyeon held a bow engraved with golden patterns, Scarlet held ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a wooden staff curved in the shape of a question mark, and finally, the weapon Lee Cheri held was a ridiculously massive axe.

And there I was, staring blankly at their weapons.

"...Fuck?"

Don't tell me I'm the only one without a weapon. Right?

"Right, Goddess?"

At my shout toward Mercury, everyone's eyes snapped to me.

"What is the matter?"

"Goddess Mercury, just to be absolutely sure... do I not get a weapon?"

"Indeed, Hero of Knowledge."

"...Hero of Knowledge my ass. You said monsters are invading! Are you telling me to go out there without a weapon and just die?"

Anger seeped into my voice without my realizing it.

"D-Do not think of it that way. You will have my special blessing."

"Blessing, my foot. Can I choose again?"

"I am sorry... It was first-come, first-served."

Dammit. Is she really a god? If this Knowledge ability or whatever turns out to be useless, to hell with my wish—I'll gladly help destroy that other world.

"Hmph, pathetic."

Lee Cheri sneered at me.

...That damn bitch, seriously.

Before I could even open my mouth to retort, Lee Cheri spoke to Mercury first.

"By the way, Goddess, isn't it a bit much to ask women to fight directly? We're idols, and we've never even touched things like this back on Earth."

I was dumbfounded. Was she seriously expecting idol treatment when we were all reincarnating under the same conditions?

"Do not worry about that. Since you have been granted these abilities, your proficiency with weapons will far surpass that of ordinary people."

"Even so, giving a woman an axe like this is too much! I never asked for this!"

Lee Cheri complained, pointing at the weapon in her hand. Even at a glance, it looked incredibly heavy. It looked like something halfway between a scythe and an axe—the kind of weapon usually called a battle axe in games.

"Did you not say you wanted Authority?"

"Yes, but what does that have to do with—"

"Authority is power, and power is strength. From now on, your physical strength will be among the greatest in the entire world."

"Excuse me...?"

I couldn't understand what she was talking about either. Gods really were beyond the realm of common sense.

But come to think of it, no wonder she was holding that massive thing so easily. So "Authority" just meant a pure strength build?

Just as I was thinking it served her right and glanced at Lee Cheri—

Flash.

Suddenly, Lee Cheri's status window popped up in front of me. I was taken aback by the fact that I could see someone else's stats, but what shocked me even more was the content.

The number 50 next to Strength.

It was a glaring contrast compared to her other stats.

"What the hell is that...?"

Lee Cheri glared at me as the words slipped out of my mouth.

"What are you muttering about?"

Her gaze was as murderous as ever.

Fucking hell, what a nasty personality.

I briefly debated picking another fight with her, but after stealing a glance at Mercury, I changed my mind. Getting into a shouting match now would only lead to the goddess intervening again.

You're dead meat later, I swear.

I was going to get my revenge for everything she did, one way or another.

Still, how could her stats be so absurdly lopsided? Talk about game-breaking. She had literally put all her points into strength.

Wait, are the others like this too?

I was about to check the stats of the other members when Mercury's next words stopped me.

"It seems our business here is finished. I shall send you to be reincarnated now."

Oh, finally? It had taken quite a while. Hearing Mercury's words, the reality of reincarnation finally began to sink in.

"W-What did you say?"

Lee Cheri's panicked voice rang out. She wasn't the only one. The other members gasped in shock one after another.

"Wait, does that mean we're going to be separated from the older girls?"

"What! We are one! One family!"

...

"Do not worry, you will not lose your memories. You will all be reunited soon enough anyway."

Barely listening to Mercury, the Rosemary members suddenly huddled together. Then, they began putting their arms around each other's shoulders. What were they doing now?

"Girls, it's okay. We're one, remember?"

Lee Cheri spoke first, comforting the crying youngest member, Choi Seoyeon.

"We died because of that damn pig, but let's meet again in the other world."

"Okay, unnie. Seoyeon, don't cry either. We'll be back together."

"Sniff, okay. Unnies, you have to come find me quickly, okay?"

Watching this play out, I was starting to lose track of who had actually killed whom. I was getting more pissed off by the second, but I crossed my arms and watched to see how far they would take this.

"Alright, everyone, one last time. You know the drill, right?"

"Sure!"

"Yes!"

Lee Cheri prompted, and the other Rosemary members wiped their tears and answered brightly. They looked as if they had made a grand resolution.

I had a feeling I knew what was coming.

Those crazy bitches.

Surely they weren't going to do that here?

"One, two, three, we are—"

"Rosemary~ Chu!"

Ah...

"Blegh!"

Fuck.

The sheer cringe was unbearable. Between those Rosemary bitches shouting that slogan in this situation, and my past self who used to fanboy over them... the disgust was so overwhelming I couldn't stop gagging.

"Urgh, blegh! *Gag!*"

"...What's up with that pig? Read the room."

Lee Cheri was openly calling me a pig now.

"Urgh... You guys are seriously... *sigh*..."

"Holy shit! What is your problem, ruining the mood like that?!"

"When we meet again... you're all fucking dead. *Gag*..."

If it weren't for that damn goddess, I would have punched each of them in the face. If I couldn't do it now, then in the next life, I would definitely...

"I'm going to kill you. Seriously."

*Snap.*

"Now, now. That is enough affection. I hope none of you disappoint me after I went through the trouble of summoning you. We shall meet again on the day of the Total Lunar Eclipse, when the monsters run rampant. Prepare yourselves well until then."

With the snap of the goddess's fingers, a brilliant light enveloped the Rosemary members and me. It was finally time to reincarnate.

Grit.

See you on the other side, you motherfuckers.

My eyes remained fixed on those Rosemary bitches until the very end. I would get my revenge there, no matter what.

The despair I felt, the wrongs they committed against me—I would make them regret it to their very bones.

At that moment—

—I am sorry...

Mercury's voice suddenly echoed in my mind. Startled, I turned my head. Through the fading white vision, I saw Mercury smiling softly.

Unlike before, her smile carried a trace of bitterness. She parted her lips slightly as she looked at me.

"I am sorry. When everything is over, I will explain..."

"...?"

Before I could hear the end of her sentence, my consciousness was swept away into the pure white light.

"Ugh..."

I tossed and turned against a blinding light. I couldn't tell exactly how much time had passed, but it felt like a while. Fortunately, my mind seemed intact.

Slowly, the sensations in my body returned. It didn't seem like I was in any pain. Just as I was about to open my eyes—

*Clang!*

"...Y-Young Master Yeong-sik?"

What was it this time? Along with the sound of something shattering, a middle-aged man's voice echoed. I opened my eyes and looked toward the sound.

"Are—Are you awake, Young Master Yeong-sik?"

"...Who are you?"

"Heavens, it is I, Albert! D-Do you not remember me?"

Dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit and black tie, a white-haired man who called himself Albert stared at me with a shocked expression.

I slowly turned my head to look around the room. A neatly organized study and a chandelier hanging from the ceiling. The room exuded an air of luxury.

This was definitely...

I hit the jackpot!

A rich family's young master!

I knew it, Goddess Mercury hadn't abandoned me.

Damn it, I believed in you!

I clenched my fist in my mind. Suppressing my joy for a moment, I answered the man named Albert.

"Ahem. Sorry. My head is just a bit fuzzy."

"No, please! It is quite alright, Young Master! Just the fact that you have opened your eyes is a miracle!"

I watched Albert as he beat his chest and choked back tears. Judging by his reactions and words like "waking up," it was clear something major had happened to this body. Because of that, he didn't seem to suspect anything unusual about my behavior.

Hmm, should I play along for now?

Frowning slightly, I spoke in a strained voice.

"My head feels a bit empty. What do you mean by 'waking up'?"

"Y-You truly do not remember. It is fine. I shall explain everything to you."

After a brief hesitation, Albert looked me in the eye.

"Young Master... you are the second son of the Russell family, 'Yeong-sik de Russell.' You have been in a coma for a full year... This humble servant has truly waited only for this moment, *sniff*."

Albert stopped mid-sentence to pull out a handkerchief and wipe his tears.

By the way, Yeong-sik de Russell? What a terrible name.

"A year? That long...?"

"Ah! Now is not the time for this! I must report this to the Master immediately!"

"Ah, wait a moment... *wheeze*..."

Wanting to hear more, I pushed myself up in bed. But the moment I did, my breath caught.

"Huh? *Wheeze*... Wait a second."

What was this?

Why was I so out of breath?

"Um... Albert? Do you happen to have a mirror? *Wheeze*..."

A dark, ominous premonition washed over me.