Chapter 92

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Translator: 8uhl

Chapter: 92

Chapter Title: The 100th Return of the Unfortunate Savior

-----------------------------------------------------------------

"Sis, you're coming tomorrow too, right?"

"Yeah. Tomorrow's fourth period, so I'll come right after it ends."

In a six-bed room of an old university hospital, the Shin sisters lay side by side on the same bed, chatting away. They were a bit glum from the adults' scoldings not to make too much noise, but they hadn't given up on talking.

"Oh, right, Sis. Can you borrow that book for me?"

"Which one?"

"The novel you said was fun!"

Shin Ji-ui narrowed her eyes, mulling over her own words. Then, as if remembering, she slowly nodded.

"Got it. If it's at the library, I'll borrow it."

"Ji-ui, time to go?"

At that moment, their mom pulled back the curtain and spoke softly. Ji-ui sat up slowly, looking reluctant, then crammed her sneakers on from under the bed and turned to her little sister.

"I'll come again tomorrow."

"Okay! You have to come!"

Ji-yu stuck out her pinky. It was a finger far smaller and thinner than those of kids her age. Ji-ui hooked hers around it and pressed her thumb down firmly.

"Promise. I will."

Shaaaa―

As the sisters' fingers parted, the hospital room around Ji-ui blurred away like ink washed off in water, transforming in an instant into a playground.

Kids lined up around the slide and swings, waiting their turn. Laughter from children playing tag in the open field echoed across the whole playground.

"Hey, you can't catch Shin Ji-ui! Huff, how's she so fast!"

"Hahaha!"

Ji-ui dodged the kid playing tag and burst into laughter. The kid collapsed onto the ground, panting.

"Ji-ui's class is gonna win relay again, right?"

"Be honest~ You have a skill, don't you?"

"If we win relay, let's ask teacher for pizza!"

Ji-ui grinned, feeling proud at the mix of praise. She wanted to retort brazenly, but hearing compliments was always unfamiliar to her, so she just turned her head away.

"Ah."

The kid who'd been playing tag suddenly grabbed their bag. As Ji-ui and the others looked over, the kid spoke up.

"I gotta go to piano lessons. See you tomorrow!"

"Bye~"

'Ah, I need to head to Ji-yu's hospital too.'

Only then did Ji-ui remember what she had to do, staring blankly at her bag tossed to the side. Inside were the novel borrowed for her sister and a chocolate bar from lunch.

"Then let's do one more round!"

"Yeah, I have taekwondo soon anyway."

"Ji-ui, you're playing too, right?"

The kid who'd been catching their breath asked Ji-ui. She glanced between her bag and the group.

'Just one more game, then go?'

The playground clock was racing toward three o'clock. It was a bit past the time she'd planned to meet Ji-yu, but visiting hours still had plenty left. Ji-ui tore her eyes from the bag and joined her friends.

Crash.

The playground split in half. Ji-ui flinched and looked around, and soon the space returned to normal. Only the clock at the center now pointed to four o'clock.

"Hey, Ji-ui. Isn't that your dad over there?"

Then a friend spoke up, pointing toward the playground entrance. Ji-ui whipped her head around to see her father striding across.

He grabbed her wrist and dragged her out of the playground.

"M-My bag."

But as if he couldn't hear, her dad quickened his pace. In the end, her friend brought the bag over. Ji-ui took it and hurried after her father.

Frightened by his forceful attitude, Ji-ui felt a chill. Hating the heavy silence and the scolding to come, she started making excuses.

"I was really just about to go! Homeroom ended late today too......"

"......"

"Ji-yu was waiting for me so mu――"

Slap.

Before Ji-ui could finish, a large palm struck her cheek. Her head snapped to the left.

Ji-ui couldn't comprehend the stinging pain in her right cheek. She couldn't accept that her father, who'd never laid a hand on her before, had hit her.

Ji-ui slowly raised her head. Her father knelt before her, covering his face with both hands, sobbing uncontrollably.

Beeeep―

A ringing filled Ji-ui's ears, loud enough to drown out her father's cries.

But as the sound dragged on, Ji-ui realized it wasn't tinnitus.

It was the death pronouncement for Ji-yu.

Thud, thwack.

"Something weird got in the way suddenly...... Hey, let's go."

"Damn, what bad luck."

A group in school uniforms filed out of the dark alley. Two figures were left sprawled on the ground.

"A-Are you okay......?"

The girl who'd just been beaten mercilessly asked Ji-ui cautiously. Ji-ui dusted off her uniform and stood first, then offered her hand. The girl took it, and Ji-ui pulled her up.

"I'm fine. Report it to the school right away. I recorded everything."

"R-Really?!"

The girl jumped in surprise, then averted her gaze, hesitating.

"But... why'd you help me?"

"...Huh?"

"N-No, I'm not ungrateful! I'm really, truly thankful! I just mean......"

The girl rolled her eyes toward Ji-ui.

"We don't even know each other. We've never met before, so I'm curious why you helped me......"

Ji-ui stared at the girl with empty eyes. She had no answer for the girl's innocent question.

Ever since that day she failed to protect Ji-yu's final moments, a great change had come over Ji-ui.

She kept any promise she made, no matter what happened. Even if the situation made it impossible.

She never passed by anyone in need. Even if it meant getting hurt herself.

It was guilt for failing Ji-yu's last request and not being the helpful big sister she needed. She vowed to at least become someone who could help others and keep promises now.

'I'm the kind of person who deserves to get hurt for this.'

A year after becoming an adult, unaware she was sacrificing herself.

Ji-ui awakened with an S-rank skill after falling into a mysterious dungeon.

And the first thought upon seeing her status window was simple.

'Now I can finally be of help to someone.'

"Anything but reviving the dead, any other wish comes true?"

"Yeees~"

Ji-ui pondered the Creator's offer. She'd never considered wishes beyond saving Ji-yu. Then, a good idea struck, and she leaned toward the Creator.

"If I protect this talisman well and the world doesn't end, let me live a life where my sister is alive."

"...You mean make a virtual world?"

"Virtual, dream, whatever. Just let me live a peaceful life with my sister once."

The Creator blinked. Internally, it thought,

'This one's a total fool.'

All previous apostles had wished for what they needed now—power to win guild wars, acting skills to deceive all.

But Ji-ui's wish was different. It was something the Creator could grant only after achieving its own goal.

The Creator nodded readily to Ji-ui's wish. Anyway, once its fragment safely became material for the Hell Path, such wishes would cease to exist.

"Deal~ Apostle contract complete~"

Dark blue light ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠poured from their clasped hands. As it engulfed Ji-ui, her body shattered into pieces.

Thud.

Her mangled body floated briefly before dropping right in front of the Hell Path.

'Shouldn't have shaken hands with that bastard.'

Ji-ui regretted it, faceplanted on the ground. But all sensation was fading; she couldn't even twitch a finger.

If someone watched her foolish life like a movie, they'd call it the cheapest comedy ever. Her heart slowly stilled. Accepting death, Ji-ui closed her eyes.

And the world, watching her foolish life like a movie, reached out to her.

Then it made her the Savior to save the world.

The reason was simple.

'Because she was one who would willingly sacrifice for the greater good.'

Ji-ui stared at the golden text before her eyes. It felt no different from the Creator's apostle contract.

"Time......"

But her mouth voiced her wish once more.

"Back to before awakening...... rewind time......"

The Unfortunate Savior's first return.

First return. Ji-ui revealed her regression upon awakening but was treated like a lunatic, becoming a laughingstock. She was murdered by thugs before her first dispatch.

'I shouldn't tell many people about the regression.'

Ji-ui learned that and returned.

Second return. Ji-ui vanished right after awakening. She searched alone for the Creator's fragments and apostles but learned nothing and faced the Hell Path anyway.

'I can't do anything alone.'

Ji-ui yearned for comrades and returned.

Third return. Ji-ui became an official hunter after awakening and started mingling. She joined clans left and right, made comrades, but when the Hell Path appeared, none could stand against it properly.

'What can I even do?'

Ji-ui despaired and returned.

Fourth return. Ji-ui just gave up. Vanished after awakening. Faced the Hell Path at home and vowed never to return again.

'I want to live.'

Ji-ui returned, disgusted by her own lack of courage to die.

.

.

.

Twenty-third return. Ji-ui met the wolf that swallowed the sun. She felt true happiness only when with it.

Thirty-first return. Ji-ui confessed her regressions to Min. The perfect partner, they fought together until she died before his eyes after the Hell Path appeared.

Fifty-eighth return. Ji-ui uncovered the apostle 'Mask'.

Sixty-fifth return. Ji-ui uncovered the traitor.

.

.

.

Ninety-seventh return. Ji-ui gathered all info. Identities of the four apostles and the traitor. Lacked a bit of power this timeline, failed, but was certain of success next time.

'This really is the last one.'

Ji-ui abandoned all humanity to achieve her goal and returned.