Meteor Strike: Reawakened Past Life Memories
"Commander... I understand how you feel, but the place you're heading to right now is undoubtedly a trap set by Kedger Neres Chernburg, the greatest archmage in history and king of the Chernburg Magic Kingdom."
"He's right! The moment you enter the Royal Castle alone, all sorts of magic traps will trigger."
"We'll go with you! We're not afraid of death!!"
My subordinates, who had followed me for nearly ten years and sworn loyalty to me rather than the emperor, began trying to dissuade me with faces full of worry.
I could understand their concern. As they said, the ruler of the Chernburg Magic Kingdom was on the same transcendent level as me—a Cheonoecheon being who had reached the realm of Master.
But precisely because of that, I had to enter the enemy territory alone at this moment.
"You all know it well enough, don't you? That only a Master can oppose another Master."
"But..."
"Crude magic traps like those can't even scratch my body, so put your worries aside."
"...Understood."
Leaving my subordinates' farewell behind, I set off alone toward the deepest part of the Magic Kingdom's Royal Castle.
Contrary to expectations, the castle interior was eerily quiet. Not a single one of the magic traps my subordinates had feared triggered.
On the contrary, a lavish red carpet lay pristine on the floor, almost as if welcoming me.
Hmm... Has he finally decided to surrender?
Of course, that didn't mean I could let my guard down. Keeping my tension high, I pushed open the door to the audience chamber.
Creeeak—.
"......"
The audience chamber was completely dark, with only faint sunlight illuminating the interior. At the front, on the jade throne, sat an elderly man who was little more than a skeleton—the king of the Chernburg Magic Kingdom.
To avoid provoking him, I slowed my steps as I approached.
"Have you finally come to surren—"
It was at that moment.
"Heh heh heh... Uhahahahaha!"
The aged magic king, slumped on the throne, suddenly burst into maniacal laughter like a madman.
"...? Have you finally lost your mind? Anyway, just seal your dantian yourself and—"
"Shut your mouth, you young empress's hunting dog."
"What did you say...?"
"If I'm going to lose everything I've built anyway, I'll destroy it with my own hands!!"
Crack, kwarang!
With his shout, the sturdy-looking ceiling and walls of the Royal Castle began crumbling all at once.
And what was revealed in the sky above was a massive magic circle filling the entire heavens, emanating an ominous red glow. Not only was it enormous, but each rune inscribed was at least 8th circle level...
This crazy old fool—is he trying to take us down together with Meteor magic!?
Sensing the danger instinctively, I kicked off the ground and leaped out of the castle.
If that magic was truly Meteor, I needed to escape its radius as quickly as possible.
Even pushing my Master's physical abilities to the limit to flee at maximum speed...
The descending calamity from the sky was one step faster than my response.
Kuuuung!
A vibration so intense it rattled my eardrums hit, and a massive meteor instantly filled my vision, swallowing the entire territory of the great Magic Kingdom and crashing down.
Kwaaaaang—!
From the point of impact, a shockwave raced outward faster than the eye could follow.
"Damn it all...!!"
I hurriedly enveloped my body in Protective Battle Aura, but it was already too late.
The shockwave and dust storm, which left no trace of buildings in their wake, engulfed my body as well.
With that immense impact came memories of my past life surging forth.
Ah... right, that's it. This world wasn't some war simulation game where you swing a sword every day and bathe in blood.
It was just a perfectly ordinary, peaceful academy dating sim where you build affection with heroines full of colorful personalities and enjoy a beautiful youth...!!
So why the hell did I have to become the Sword Saint at 26, and on top of that, get hit by this damn Meteor!!
With my head filled with injustice and rage, my consciousness faded.
"...Are you awake?"
"...Is your mind clearing up?"
"Wh-what...?"
"You're finally back with us, Sir Teron!!"
Where am I? Didn't I get obliterated by that Meteor?
The last moments I remembered and the pain were definitely real.
So how did I survive?
"Wh-what hap— cough."
I tried to open my mouth to grasp the situation, but my parched vocal cords wouldn't cooperate.
Still, I raised my hand with effort and squeezed out a few words.
"W-water first... please."
"Right away!"
A man in a doctor's gown hurriedly offered me a cup from the table.
I snatched it and gulped down the cold water in one go.
The cool sensation sliding down my throat finally cleared my foggy mind.
"Whew, that's refreshing."
Now able to assess the situation calmly, I first looked around carefully.
A pure white ceiling, the smell of disinfectant. And unlike a regular hospital, the faint, well-organized mana permeating everywhere.
This seemed to be a room in the Imperial Army Central Hospital, where I'd brought subordinates a few times before.
Does that mean... I actually survived a direct Meteor hit?
I bolted upright in bed and asked the doctor in front of me.
"What's the current situation?"
"W-well, first of all, four days have passed since the war with the Magic Kingdom. Your Majesty was extremely worried because the Sword Saint had been unconscious for so long."
"Four days after taking a Meteor barehanded is 'a long time'? No, never mind that—does that mean all this is real?"
I shot back with a bewildered expression, and the doctor nodded vigorously in affirmation.
"Even more astonishing is that the entire Magic Kingdom vanished without a trace, yet Sword Saint Teron's perfect body emerged without a single scratch. Only the armor and clothes you were wearing burned away completely!"
"That's fortunate... wait, what? Just the clothes burned?"
A bad feeling crept in.
"Don't tell me... I was found naked?"
At my question, the doctor grinned and gave a cheerful thumbs-up.
"As expected of the Sword Saint—your body is flawless in every way! And don't worry. The only ones who saw you naked were your closest aides: Lt. Col. Vester, Captain Aideon, and Adjutant Lt. Jenia!"
"Th-three people is a relief, but Lt. Jenia... she's a woman. What do you mean 'don't worry'?"
To that, the doctor casually raised his other thumb.
"The lieutenant just blushed a little and actively helped move your body without a word!"
"......"
His relentlessly cheerful attitude, as if it were someone else's problem, brought a mix of shame and irritation surging up, but I swallowed my boiling anger with effort.
Spilled water couldn't be gathered—what would beating up an innocent doctor change?
"Haa, fine, whatever. Let it go."
I sighed softly and slowly got out of bed.
"Anyway, my body's fine, so I'm heading back now."
"Ah, yes! I'll handle the discharge procedures right away."
"Good."
After watching the doctor leave the room first, I quickly dressed in the uniform prepared on one side and turned my mind to the situation.
Timeline-wise, the original game's story probably started a year ago.
A year after the original start. It was very late—extremely late, even—but it didn't matter.
This academy dating sim was overflowing with conquerable heroines you could trip over.
Even if I retired and enrolled in the academy right now, it wouldn't be too late to enjoy my peaceful, radiant youth genre.
So first, I needed to face the empress who'd used me well for ten years and settle things.
Everything for my retirement and youth...!!
With those hopeful dreams, I arrived at the Imperial Palace.
Passing through crowds cheering my return and praising me with embarrassing modifiers like "the absolute swordsman who felled the archmage, unmatched by any," I finally came face-to-face with the emperor of the Seresius Empire, Adelia Irene Seresius.
We stared at each other silently for a moment before opening our mouths simultaneously.
"Your Majesty, I think it's time for me to retire."
"Finish reorganizing as quickly as possible and head to the next conquest target, Ednber."
"...Pardon?"
"...?"
Completely opposing claims.
Thinking it absurd to send someone who'd just returned alive from a Meteor strike back to the battlefield, I pressed her.
"Your Majesty? It seems you haven't heard the news... I fought Kedger Neres Chernburg four days ago. I barely survived the Meteor."
"That's why, as per our initial contract, I've already sent commensurate compensation to the Maker family."
"Uh... um, yes?"
No, forget compensation—I just got hit by a freaking meteor twice...?
And because she fulfilled the contract, now back to the front lines?