The Fairy of Time
"Ugh." I opened my eyes. The scent of grass and earth drifted into my nose. There was no mistaking it; it was the smell of the Starting Altar. The temperature was a pleasant spring warmth, and a gentle breeze greeted me.
'...What is this?'
But something was different. A distinct sense of unease. I blinked a few times and realized it immediately. The texture was different. The Starting Altar only had dirt or stone floors. Since the only thing available for a pillow was stone, my head and neck were used to feeling a hard, cold sensation when I lay down. But right now, the back of my head was cradled by a softness that felt like heaven. Even the most expensive memory foam pillow couldn't replicate this feeling. It was even warm, as if it had a heating function.
Was my life as Sisyphus just a dream I was having in the modern world? Did I buy an incredible pillow by chance, fall into a deep sleep, and have a vivid dream of being reincarnated to live a second life? Or did I press some "5,000-year" button? If I wake up, will there be 50 million won waiting for me? Where is my 50 million won?
"At least there's something here."
Naturally, it wasn't a dream at all. Two large masses blocked my vision. They were made of fine silk chiton. The tie-strings fastened around the waist and below the chest made them look even more pronounced. Then, this position is...
Is this what they call a lap pillow?
"You're awake."
Someone leaned their head down toward me and greeted me. It was the same voice I had heard right before I lost consciousness. I thought it was an illusion. No, wait. The scene I'm seeing right now must also be an illusion. Because of the angle of looking up from where I was lying, I still couldn't see her face properly. Instead, only two large mounds were pressing down on me.
"Goo-goo."
"Hm? What was that?"
"No, it's nothing."
Perhaps because it had been so long since I'd spoken, my pronunciation was slurred. For some reason, my voice sounded deeper than before. My mind was hazy. It was my own illusion anyway, so it didn't really matter what nonsense I spouted. I wouldn't have been able to do this normally, but I spoke to her as familiarly as I did when I was young.
"Long time no see, Clea."
"Pfft. You're quite funny. Yeah, long time no see."
I couldn't see her smile because of the backlight. However, I was certain that this was the illusion of Clea, whom I had been watching for thousands of years while training.
"How is Corinth? Did any demonic beasts appear?"
"You already defeated the demonic beasts."
What was she talking about?
"I watched everything from the very beginning."
A palm rested gently on my right cheek.
"Why didn't you give up?"
"That is..."
"I'm curious. Tell me. You were struggling all alone in a lonely prison where there was no one else. You were in pain from being hit by the demonic beasts. How did you not give up?"
Her hand was as cold as ice. Was Clea's body temperature always this low? Well, it felt cool, so it was pleasant. My mind was still hazy. Perhaps because I had opened my eyes after such a long time, they felt dry and stinging.
'Why, indeed.'
Thinking about it coolly, fighting disaster-level demonic beasts by only building muscle for thousands of years—there was no act more ignorant than that. But the reason I had to do it was clear.
—Is this what you wanted?
—You liar.
"Because there were people who had no choice but to give up."
I hadn't fully woken up yet. My tongue was tied. Come to think of it, how long had it been since I'd slept this soundly? Even getting beaten by the golem had its perks. The fact that I could sleep whenever I occasionally lost consciousness.
"You're a fool."
"No, not at all."
The head in front of me swayed, allowing the intense sunlight to shine through.
"You were completely cool."
A voice half-mixed with the blowing spring breeze. It was a fragile sound, as if it would scatter and fly away along with dandelion seeds if they were blooming near my ears.
'I must have gone completely insane.'
Did lava get into my brain while I was fighting the golem? No matter how difficult this imprisonment was, I couldn't believe I was creating such a vivid illusion. I had seen phantoms appear a few times before, but never to this extent.
'And I don't think Clea's voice sounded like this.'
It had been too long, so I couldn't remember well.
"Anyway, I won."
A comfortable sigh escaped me. I had achieved Wilson's revenge. I decided to be satisfied with that fact for now.
"Oh, right, Wilson."
I jumped up from my seat and looked around. Thank goodness. I don't remember it, but it seems I managed to bring him back even in that state. Wilson's fragments were neatly placed at the starting point of the slope.
"Where are you going?"
"Wait a moment. I have something to do."
I ran over in a hurry and hugged Wilson. It didn't seem like I had collected every single piece, but it was enough for now. I dug a hole in the ground near the Starting Altar. I intended to give Wilson a grave.
"Are you going to bury him there?"
"He's a precious friend."
"A friend... Yes, he was."
Her tone sounded strangely satisfied.
"I don't like that spot because the sunlight doesn't reach it. That side over there is better."
"Now that you mention it, you're right. Wilson wouldn't like a dark place either. I'll dig again."
As expected, it was my inner voice. I knew she would give me wise advice.
Thud, thud. I buried Wilson carefully in the hole I had dug. I kept one small piece and put it in my pocket. I stuck the best wood I had used to build the boat into the ground to serve as a tombstone.
"Wilson, you were the best friend."
"Hehe, why go that far?"
For some reason, the phantom beside me was twisting her body. Whether she was or not, I bowed my head and had a moment of silent prayer. After that, I returned to the Starting Altar. A smooth rock without a single scratch was waiting for me.
Strength level has been enhanced, providing a higher-tier boulder.
"No wonder it's gotten heavier."
I gave it a slight push, and the weight felt stiff. I was actually glad. Normal stones were so light now that I could throw them with one hand, so they weren't helping with my training at all. I had been making exercise equipment by deliberately breaking them and tying dozens of them together.
"Are you going to leave right away?"
"Yeah. Since I've broken through the 7th floor, I'm going to try climbing to the 8th floor immediately."
But how long does Clea's illusion intend to stick by my side and keep talking? It's annoying if she chatters on without a break. If I keep responding to her, I might really become a mental patient. I decided it was time to get rid of her, so I turned my head to speak.
"By the way, Clea."
Clea's phantom was smiling a light, forget-me-not-like smile at me.
"...?"
Wait. Was Clea's hair red...? She didn't braid it so neatly. She was also a bit taller. I don't remember her eyes being a brilliantly sparkling gold. Furthermore, I don't recall her having a clock engraved inside them. In the first place, how could there be a clock with hour and minute hands in an era that only had sundials...
Most of all, Clea had never given me such a fresh smile since she became an adult. It wasn't a face in my memory, nor had I ever imagined it.
'It's not an illusion.'
I got goosebumps. An illusion would have to be based on my memories. I had been here alone for thousands of years. It was a prison that absolutely couldn't connect to the outside, so there was no way she could have just appeared out of nowhere. I reached only one conclusion.
"Demonic beast!"
It must be a demonic beast that takes the form of a human to bewitch people. Like a Siren or a Harpy. Strike first, win first. I immediately lunged at the woman with a headbutt.
—Boom!
I fell over by myself and rolled on the floor.
"You surprised me."
When I lifted my head, the woman was squatting a short distance away, giggling. Was it teleportation?
"You beast."
I do look like a beast right now. My hair and beard are so long they're dragging on the ground. There are parts burned by lava, so it's a patchy mess.
"What are you?"
The woman maintained her light smile and answered leisurely.
"What do you mean? I'm your friend."
"I don't remember making a friend like you."
"That's mean."
The woman reached out a hand to me. I didn't feel any malice, so I took it and stood up slowly.
"Come here."
And she began to walk, pulling on my wrist. Her fingers were so slender they couldn't even cover half of my wrist, but somehow, I was dragged along as if under a spell. Left, right. The woman spun around in the grass, looking happy. Her neatly braided red hair swayed. It reminded me of the old days.
"It's like when we climbed the hill to herd the cows."
"How did you know?"
"You told me. About the time you lost one and got scolded by your brother, the time you were happy to learn multiplication, the time you recovered the cow stolen by a thief, and the fact that you actually asked Glauke out on a date and got rejected."
What. I never told anyone that. Except for one person.
"...Wilson?"
My gaze met her golden eyes. I felt like I was being sucked into her wide-open eyes.
Whoosh!
The woman pulled me. It was into the magic forest where if you enter, you end up on the other side. And.
"...What is this?"
—Whoosh...
A sparkling lake was spread out before my eyes. The water, glittering under the sunlight, was so bright it felt like I would go blind.
"You said you missed the sea. There's no sea here, but you can reach the lake if you go through the secret path."
"Is that for real?"
"It's my first time seeing it, too. It's fascinating."
The woman took a deep breath and enjoyed the scent of the lake to the fullest. Then, she dipped her feet into the lakeside and began to splash water. She didn't seem like a reckless child. There was an inexplicable elegance in the way she lifted her skirt slightly and enjoyed her freedom.
"I'll ask again. Who are you?"
I still hadn't let my guard down. I had to find out what the woman in front of me was and how she knew the conversations I had with Wilson.
"I'm your friend."
"I don't remember you."
"You have a bad memory."
"Are you saying it's just that I can't remember?"
"Well, it's been a long time, so that could be it."
"It... has been a long time."
Since thousands of years had passed since I was trapped here. The woman smiled at me with her eyes.
"Even though you called me Wilson every day."
"...That's impossible. You're really Wilson? Wilson's reincarnation? Don't talk nonsense. There's no way Wilson had a soul."
"There are even statues that are made so precisely they come to life, aren't there?"
"...Were there? I feel like there might have been."
It definitely felt like an episode from mythology, but I couldn't remember well. My head started to ache.
"Hehe, just kidding."
I should just pick her up and deadlift her.
"It's not a lie that I'm Wilson. I watched everything from the very beginning inside that."
"What's your name?"
Splash! Before I knew it, she grabbed my arm and pulled me into the water. How long had it been since I'd taken a bath? Thousands of years, I suppose. The cool sensation soaking into my whole body. The woman was suddenly stuck right in front of me, asking with a mysterious smile.
"What's your name?"
"My name..."
...What was it? I can't remember. Si... ... ... It's been too long. A name is a designation needed for someone to call you. Since there was no one to call me, there was naturally no reason to speak it, and I didn't need to think of it either. I can't remember. Not at all.
As I stood there blankly like a puppet with its strings cut at that question, she slowly wrapped both arms around my neck.
"Your name is Sisyphus."
In an instant. Lightning struck in my head. Memories came flooding back. My hometown, Corinth. The family, friends, and teachers I left behind. And the gods. I realized how much I had forgotten all this time.
"And I am."
Drip, water droplets fell from her red hair. The voice that leaked out as her thin lips opened was clearly etched into my ears.
"Chrono. Chrono's daughter, the Fairy of Time, Chrono."
The arms wrapped around my neck tightened around me. It was a comfortable sensation I had never felt before.
"Sisyphus, you are truly amazing."
"I'll make you one promise. The day you escape from this prison."
She whispered.
"I will give you everything you want."