Lyclean (5): The Girl in the Mirror
A girl painted within a mirror-like wall that didn't truly exist. For some reason, she had an incredibly familiar appearance. As if it weren't the first time seeing her….
"You…."
Lyclean. The black-haired girl looked at Lyclean and opened her mouth.
Are you satisfied with your current life?
"My life?"
What was this girl reflected in the wall asking? Questions filled Lyclean's mind, but for some reason, seeing her made his mouth move on its own.
"Life as a hero isn't easy, but it's equally fulfilling. That's why I'm satisfied with it. Very much so."
Is that so? Then I'm glad. The girl spoke in a voice devoid of any emotion.
I recommend taking a short rest first. Passing through the underworld in a living body can't have been easy.
"A rest…? I want to retrieve my friend's soul as soon as possible…."
I'll grant your purpose for coming here, so please rest briefly in the lodging beyond this point.
"A rest…."
His body and mind were already ragged from the descent into the underworld, making the rest she suggested feel desperately needed.
But.
"I want to get my friend's soul and go back as quickly as possible."
In your current condition, you'll collapse on the way back. You need rest. The black girl's words were firm.
"Sigh. Fine. I get it. I'll take a rest, sure."
A wise choice. And there's much to discuss while you rest.
"Discuss?"
Yes. Stories about you. Stories you don't know. Stories of your future. Your story. Stories we can share here in the underworld, where the gods' ears can't reach.
Lyclean could only tilt his head at the black girl's words.
And so, a small lodging appeared beyond the black corridor. For some reason, it looked familiar to Lyclean's eyes.
Lyclean began to rest in one corner of the lodging room. The black girl reflected on the wall watched him, then lightly gestured toward somewhere. A small box flew over and spilled its contents.
Bandages made of soft cloth and medicines made from herbs. Healing items similar to those sold at the Life Temple poured out and began attaching themselves to various parts of Lyclean's body. As if the bandages and medicines were treating him of their own accord.
"This is?"
Bandages and medicine. I guarantee their effectiveness.
"No, I can see what they are…. But why are they in the underworld?"
Just in case. I didn't expect to use them like this.
The sharp, herbal scent of the crushed herb medicine stung Lyclean's nose. It was the smell of one of the particularly potent medicines available at the Life Temple.
"The efficacy is good. I can already feel my wounds healing."
Fortunately, there are no major injuries. These prepared medicines should fully cure you.
Lyclean lightly moved to check his condition, then looked at the girl reflected in the black wall and spoke.
"By the way, who are you?"
Me?
"Yeah. You. Being here means you're connected to the underworld…. From what I know, there are three gods of the underworld. But you…. You give off a different feeling. And somehow familiar, too."
At Lyclean's words, the black girl paused to choose her words.
I am one of the split spirits… a sub-spirit created by the Life Goddess. Hades.
"Hades?"
Yes. A sub-spirit made to help with the increasing workload of the underworld. I handle death among the domains under the Life Goddess's oversight.
"So you're a god of death? Like the three judges of the underworld?"
My role is a bit different. They primarily handle trials for the dead souls and their subsequent disposition. I assist with trial efficiency, transport approved souls, respond immediately to unexpected issues, and summon the Life Goddess if it can't be resolved here.
"That's a lot."
Normally, it's just trial assistance. Otherwise, I step in only if the Life Goddess gives direct orders regarding the underworld.
Lyclean gazed at the black girl—Hades—who said this. As expected, she looked like someone he'd seen before. He couldn't recall where, but she was extremely familiar.
"You seem familiar…. Have we met somewhere?"
No.
"You say that so definitively."
Precisely, I haven't met this life's you.
"This life?"
Hades nodded slightly at Lyclean's question.
The story I'm about to tell relates to your past life. And your future. Please listen carefully.
With that, Hades began her tale. The story of the king of the gods. Baal.
"So, you're saying I'm the reincarnation of that god Baal? And he was the king of the gods, no less?"
Yes. That's correct.
"Honestly…. Hard to believe."
Hades nodded in affirmation at Lyclean's words.
Reincarnation is unfamiliar enough, and saying your past life was a god? I understand it's not easy to accept.
Hades glanced around and said,
This lodging is where your past life stayed briefly in the underworld before reincarnating. You might not remember it.
"Hm…. It did feel oddly familiar. And you looked familiar too…. Related to my past life?"
My appearance feels familiar…. I think it's related to the Life Goddess, not me.
"The Life Goddess?"
Yes. My original form. And the god your past life… admired.
"Admired…?"
Lyclean tilted his head at the word. For some reason, it didn't feel like admiration. If not admiration, then…?
Well, it doesn't matter if you don't believe it. Whatever emotions your past life had have no bearing on who you are now.
"Yeah, true. Past life is past life. This life is this life. But Baal…. Hm. I've never heard of a god named Baal."
Baal's name… has been erased from most history.
"What? Erased? Why?"
Hades replied matter-of-factly to Lyclean's question.
When a god vanishes, their followers naturally shift faiths. Humans rarely believe in gods who give no oracles or blessings.
"No, but…. Records usually remain, right?"
Hades shook her head slightly.
For ordinary gods, yes. But Baal was the king of the gods. That position tempted other gods. Many erased Baal's traces to overlay their own name and claim it.
"No honor among thieves."
The god who blessed you, Zeus, was one of them. Or rather, Zeus was worse than most. He even coveted Baal's temple remaining in the Pantheon.
Zeus. The god who had blessed Lyclean before he was even born. But now silent. Did that god have a grudge against his past life?
If so…. Why had Zeus blessed him?
"No idea. Why did Zeus bless me?"
Probably to use you.
"Use me?"
Yes.
Lyclean's expression turned puzzled. Even if he was the reincarnation of some god Baal, he was just human now…. Well, one of the strongest humans, but still—what use would a god have for him?
To explain that, I must first tell you what the Life Goddess intends to do.
"The Life Goddess?"
Yes. After Baal lost his body through unfortunate events and only his soul remained, the Life Goddess—who had secluded herself in her temple—emerged. And she was furious at Baal's absence.
"Secluded?"
There are details, but they're not appropriate to explain now, so I'll skip them. Anyway, the Life Goddess was enraged that Baal, whom she had elevated to king of the gods, would abandon everything to reincarnate as a human.
"Enraged at Baal?"
Somewhat, but… strictly speaking, her anger was toward the gods who tormented Baal. In her fury, the Life Goddess issued a prophecy to the gods.
Hades cleared her throat slightly and continued.
Baal's soul will reincarnate as a human, so return that human to the seat of god. If not, the gods will walk the path of ruin.
"Baal's soul…. Me?"
Yes. You.
Hades regarded Lyclean with a calm gaze.
