A Terribly Familiar Sensation
"…Unbelievable."
All the wounds covering my body had vanished.
My severed arm was back in place as if it had never been cut off, and my mangled legs stretched out straight and strong.
My eyes, which had barely been able to see before, now perceived everything with crystal clarity…
Damn, I was basically a walking corpse, wasn't I?
A digital clock, a smartphone.
A wall-mounted TV and sleek white modern interior.
This was an utterly contemporary space.
Just moments ago, before I came to, I'd been a dying wreck in some medieval fantasy world?
Now I open my eyes and my body's perfectly fine… in the modern era…?
What the hell is this?
…Not the light path ending, I hope?
"Quest."
With that short invocation, a translucent holographic screen materialized in the air.
Not the light path, then.
I'd seriously freaked out for a second there.
The Most Upright Paradox
📍 Condition 1: Reincarnated Hero's Party's ■■■ (0/5)
📍 Condition 2: Acquire □□ (1/7)
🎁 Success Reward:□□□
Failure: Reset.
"…What the hell is this quest?"
One thing was clear: this wasn't my original quest.
My memories of my past life were mostly scattered, but two lingered faintly.
One was Yusiel Merhen. …How the hell does a woman like that ever fade from my mind?
The other was the quest. I didn't remember the details.
Just that I had to die to Yusiel for the quest to clear—and so I did.
But this new quest made no mention of Yusiel.
Of course, she was probably lumped in under "Reincarnated Hero's Party," but still.
Yusiel felt more like the main character. She had real weight to her.
Anyway, let's roughly sort out the situation.
1. I wake up and suddenly the world's insanely advanced, and my body's good as new.
2. My old quest vanished, replaced by a new one.
Hmm.
…Neither makes any sense?
My body first: it wasn't just injuries.
The real issue was the black chain marks etched into me… yeah, the taboos.
Those weren't something simple healing could fix.
You'd need something legendary like an elixir to erase them.
They weren't supposed to just vanish like this.
And no matter how advanced this world is, how does closing and opening my eyes leap science forward like this?
Doesn't make sense.
The quest doesn't either.
Quests are still mostly mysteries. Total plot bait, unknowable crap.
But humans had pinned down two rules.
One: Quests are assigned before age 20. Two: Only one per lifetime.
But now I've got a second one.
There's one possibility that comes to mind…
"Reincarnation…"
Probably reincarnation as a reward for clearing my original quest.
That seems to explain my current state.
Highest probability.
Honestly… even if it was reincarnation, one thing bugs me.
I must've cleared the quest, right…?
Assuming I did.
This lingering quest is probably the original owner's.
But… I'm the one in this body now, aren't I?
Shouldn't the quest have disappeared?
…Reincarnation's a first for me too, so I don't get it.
"Tch… whatever."
I'll just live.
Overthinking quests just gives you a headache.
The system's probably glitching out in all sorts of ways right now.
Even the quest screen shows broken text.
The soul of an Arhat who cleared their quest fused with the body of a Performer who didn't.
That glitch… is probably me.
"Hoo… headache."
Feels forced, but I don't wanna dwell on it.
Won't get answers no matter how much I think.
"Back to being a Performer, huh."
Performer.
Simple term: someone carrying out a quest.
When you get a quest, the System appears too.
Through it, humans gain incomprehensible power.
That's why everyone craves and prays for a quest.
Of course… wanting it doesn't make it happen.
Quests ignore good or evil, effort, status.
They just drop on random humans.
Content varies wildly too.
Difficulty and rewards are all over the place per person.
Ah, no weird ones like "steal bread from a bakery" yet…
All known quests have high average difficulty.
Like mine: do this and that, then die to the hero?
Or Yusiel's, since she's the hero… probably "kill me"?
Anyway, get a quest: you're a Performer.
Clear it: you're an Arhat.
Obviously, every step toward clearing boosts your power.
So most Arhats have insane strength.
"If I'd just survived, I'd be at the top too."
…Regrettable.
But water under the bridge.
Focus on now.
"System."
I'm Shin Iheon now.
"Shin Iheon…?"
What kind of name is that?
No one in this world uses Korean-style names.
"Does the system even list original names?"
…Feels off all around.
Whatever, these nagging bits sort themselves out as you follow the quest.
For now, key is: where am I, and how long since this body's death?
First one's easy.
"Academy."
No fancy title, just the Academy.
The world's one and only.
Where countless Performers gather, trained by Arhats.
Digital clock and phone on the wooden nightstand by the bed.
And right next to them, my cadet ID.
My name and birthdate: Shin Iheon, December 31, 761.
Phone wallpaper date: February 23, 782.
So I'm 21 now.
Academy's this grade.
Phone calendar has one event: opening ceremony, March 2.
A week from now.
…No time extension?
Too short on time.
Any bonus time?
Service from the boss, please…
"This is insane…."
Thinking about the timeline hurts, but…
Still, gotta do what needs doing.
Year 782.
Know when I died, and I know how many years passed.
Records about me should be online.
"…Demon King."
Saying it myself feels embarrassing.
But best search term for the net.
"What the…"
Search results for "Demon King" on my phone: tons.
Way too many.
…Why no records of me?
Plenty of results, but no solid info.
Quest messing with me?
Maddening…
Thought it'd be easy, now my head's blank.
"Haa…."
Just sigh.
Whatever… how long since I died? Who cares.
No records? Fine.
I forgot my own memories anyway; others might not know.
Or too long ago, records wiped.
…Yeah, probably.
"…Maybe get some air."
Time: 6:41 AM.
Some morning sun might lift my mood.
Or so I thought.
Changed into comfy clothes, unlocked the door with the electronic lock.
Walked the hallway, down the stairs.
Reached the first floor: vast hall of marble floors and white walls.
Center: fountain ringed by wooden benches.
Far corner: flower bed.
Marble-bordered flower bed.
…This indoors?
Why build like this?
Gawking at the bizarre interior.
Then: back of a woman with frizzy snow-white long hair.
Skin pale as if it'd never seen sun.
A single woman with a gloomy aura.
Everything else blurred; my gaze locked on her.
Memories fade, but traces remain.
That's habit, familiarity.
Yes, this sensation was terribly familiar.
The filter-like feeling whenever I looked at Yusiel.
…A revolting sensation.