97th Episode: The Express of Despair
“Kuh… Ju, I’m dying.”
I clutched my throbbing head and let out a groan.
As the pain subsided, and my mind started to function a bit better, the first question came to mind.
‘But… how is that demon lady connected with the Resurrection Sect?’
I never in my wildest dreams imagined we’d meet in such a worst-case scenario. In fact, I didn’t even think we’d meet again. It feels like I’ve been blindsided.
I tried to consider the possible connections between the Resurrection Sect and that lady.
‘No matter how I think about it, I just don’t know.’
The only thing they have in common… is that they both want me dead. Other than that, there’s nothing.
What connection led them to work together?
‘Hmm. Thinking about it won’t lead to anything if it can’t be solved. Let’s not think about it anymore.’
After some pondering, I eventually came to this conclusion.
With the information I currently have, it’s undoubtedly insolvable. Hence, mulling over it is just a waste of time.
I immediately opened my status window afterward to check something.
[Name: Park Jeong-yong]
[Nickname: The 163417413th official hero. Guardian of the Demon King’s Egg. One subjugated by immortality]
[LV. 164]
[HP: 1220/1220 MP: 450/450 Physical condition: Mild confusion]
[Strength: 232 Agility: 388 Intelligence: 51 Hero Sense: 19]
[Remaining stat points: 0]
“Alright.”
As expected, a significant amount of experience points have returned.
Since I had already mastered the “Death’s Favor” skill at level 20 during the Halsenberg era, recovering residual memories restores about half the experience points.
Considering I leveled up to around level 21 in my previous life… roughly half of that, 10 levels, have been transferred over.
Additionally, the additional stats from Izanami’s Heart are no small matter.
Although these boosts won’t transfer to the next life, they do make combat easier for now, ultimately making leveling up easier as well.
‘And so, I continue to grow stronger. Bit by bit!’
I clenched my fist, reaffirming my resolve.
Indeed. This is the fundamental strategy I’ll take in this fight. Namely, the ‘Second Financial Institution-Style Compound Interest Stat Infinite Death Run Operation’.
After death, when I recover the residual memories, “half the experience is lost?” No.
After death, when I recover the residual memories, “half the experience is regained!” Yes, yes, yes!
With this positive mindset as my motto, I accumulate experience points with each death, slowly growing stronger and eventually overwhelming them. It’s a simple but surefire strategy.
“… Hmph. Crazy.”
I know it. This plan of mine is insane.
When I had a deep fear of death, back during the Halsenberg days, I would’ve never come up with such a plan. It’s only the somewhat broken me now who could.
There are two essential conditions that must be met to carry out this operation.
‘Must level up more than the previous life. And must die after restoring residual memories.’
Dying at a lower level than the previous life is meaningless.
If I die again at level 164 without accomplishing anything, my level in the next life will be reduced to 159.
Moreover, if I die without recovering the residual memories, all the combat experience accumulated so far is lost. That would be fatal.
Of course, even if I forgot the fact that I had died, I wouldn’t be aware of the loss.
In any case, after working hard to accumulate levels through battle, it’s time to die.
Die gloriously, and after spewing out experience points, the next me will gobble them up.
Die gloriously again, spit out experience points, and the one after will consume them…
Let’s rename this operation to the “Park Jeong-yong Leaves Experience Points Through Death” strategy.
Reflecting on it now, this is a truly humanity-shattered plan.
‘Alright… I should invest some skill points too.’
If you level up skills after dying, the amount recovered upon resurrection will be restored when the residual memories are restored. However, if you don’t recover them through Izanami’s Heart, the skill points start to pile up.
In my previous life, I was too busy nonstop fighting to even think about skills, but now I have the time.
To be precise, I don’t have time to invest in skills besides now.
Once the battle begins, there won’t be much room for leisure. Even the time to invest in stats is tight.
“Even if my head gets bashed in, I’ll start with attack skills.”
I focused my skill points on Black Wing, Seven Sword Pierce, and Fatal Shot.
I plan to invest most of the skill points I gather during fights into Seven Sword Pierce or Fatal Shot in the future.
While it would be better to spread them out evenly for a long-term strategy, this is a desperate measure to overcome the Resurrection Sect.
‘Let’s focus on the skills we need right now. If it goes down to a war of attrition, I’ll definitely be at a disadvantage… so we need wide-area attacks.’
I need stronger, faster, and more accurate attacks to achieve one-hit kills. Not skill one-shots but having each tentacle or magic blade achieve one-hit kills on enemies. Without that, this asymmetric battle has zero chance of victory.
Of course, the Fatal Shot, where the tentacle cap increases one-by-one while my attack power grows, is ideal in this regard…
‘But the cooldown is problematic, and it consumes quite a bit of magic power.’
Ultimately, my true main skill can only be Seven Sword Pierce. Especially in a situation like now, where it’s a one-vs-many battle.
Without this excellent skill, I really wouldn’t know what to do. I’m once again deeply grateful to Halsenberg.
“Alright. Then…”
I’ve roughly figured out my strategy. Let’s go stop the Resurrection Sect.
Hesitation benefits no one but my enemies. If I can take out one of them while the citizen resistance forces are still around, it’ll mean fewer targets for me later.
I immediately prepared to take off using Black Wings.
“Excuse me, mister.”
I braked suddenly when I heard a frail voice from behind.
Glancing back, a scruffy little girl in tattered clothes was staring at me.
Just to confirm, I pointed at myself.
“Excuse me, which mister? This older brother?”
“Yeah. It’s you, mister.”
Even after I corrected her and called myself ‘older brother,’ she remained consistent. A persistent kid.
I carefully observed the girl’s face.
“…”
A face streaked with tears, dry brown hair, and striking murky gray eyes. Despite her shabby appearance, her eyes felt alive.
Normally, I might’ve ignored her because of the urgent situation, but I turned completely to her. Perhaps because of her determined gaze.
“Why are you calling me? I’m kind of in a hurry right now. Hurry and say what you need.”
“Sir… you’re going to fight those scary people, aren’t you?”
“That’s right.”
“Then… you’re a good person, right?”
“My nickname was ‘walking UNICEF.'”
Actually, it wasn’t from being good but from being a softie. But since she doesn’t know what UNICEF is, let’s just gloss over it.
While I smirked at my own joke, the little girl came closer and firmly grabbed my sleeve, looking up with urgency.
“Sir, could you help me find my mom?”
The smile on my face disappeared instantly.
The gravity returned to my voice.
“Your mom?”
“Mom went out for the night market but hasn’t come back yet. There are too many scary men around the market… so I can’t go find her.”
“…”
“Is mom okay? Is she hiding safely somewhere? Can I meet my mom again?”
It’s not my department, so I don’t really know, but maybe you should inquire with the Resurrection Sect.
I wanted to make a civil servant-style joke, but seeing the girl’s teary face, all thoughts of joking vanished.
At the same time, ding, an alert window popped up in the corner of my vision.
[Quest Available!]
[Name: Please Help Find Mom]
[Difficulty: Legendary]
[Details: Tara, a refugee from the destroyed village of Ellata, anxiously awaits the return of her mother who works late at the night market. Bring Tara’s mother back safely to her.]
[Reward: Tara’s Ring, 13 Copper Coins]
Weird.
A personal request from a single kid having the same difficulty as escaping Halsenberg… Is it my eyesight? Is the UI bugged? Or is the world wrong?
Well, if that mission is harder than escaping Halsenberg, it’s probably justified to tag it as Legendary.
‘But the reward…’
Tara’s Ring and 13 copper coins.
I glanced at Tara’s hand, observing an old iron ring. That was enough to estimate.
While pondering how to extricate myself from this awkward situation, she delivered a follow-up punch.
“Um, sir… here!”
“Hm?”
“This is all the money I have. I’ll also give you my ring if you bring my mom back… Could you do that? I don’t have anything else to offer…”
I blankly took what she offered. The sound of a few copper coins hitting my palm echoed, along with a worn ring.
“Uh… Hmm…”
13 copper coins and Tara’s ring. Her entire fortune – and the reward listed in-system for the quest.
She gave it to me before I even accepted the request.
Ping! An alarm-like sound effect played and a panel floated up.
[Quest Completed???]
[Received Reward: Tara’s Ring, 13 Copper Coins]
“…”
The hero support system itself must be confused at the unprecedented situation. The three question marks indicate a complete system freeze.
I sighed deeply and scratched the back of my head.
“Your ace move should’ve been presented later, kiddo.”
She doesn’t seem familiar with the ways of the slums. If you continue like this, you’ll get robbed blind. I know because I’ve been robbed blind before.
As I stared at Tara’s gray eyes looking up at me, I eventually lowered my hands and shook my head in surrender.
“You have good instincts, kiddo.”
“…Huh?”
“You’re really good at spotting softies.”
In this dire situation, of all the people, you picked me. Thinking about it, she does have a good sense of perception – maybe not business acumen, but her instincts.
…Or maybe her instincts are so sharp that they can smell weakness like mine from miles away.
Feeling a bit uneasy, I pulled out the Box of the Dead and scribbled a note.
[Find a girl named Tara in the slums. Legendary quest with astonishing rewards.]
[Around 7 years old. Brown short hair with gray eyes. You’ll recognize her at first sight.]
It was a note to my future self.
I may not care about strangers, but the moment I get involved, it’s another story.
I have to give it my all. After all, it’s from me, and my future self won’t blame me.
“Hmm… I didn’t lie, though.”
Of course, I’m not thoughtless enough to leave the problem to my future self without attempting anything first.
I roughly mussed up Tara’s hair and spoke as reassuringly as possible.
“Brother will find your mom. Just wait here.”
“A… Ah!”
Finally, Tara’s usually somber face lit up with a smile. She began to cry while nodding her head repeatedly and tightly grabbed the edge of my coat.
“Sir, can you really find my mom?”
“Naturally.”
“Sir, are you stronger than those scary men at the market?”
“Of course!”
“But… what if you die, sir?”
“Ah…”
My earnest effort met with the innocence of a child and crumbled effortlessly. In the end, I turned around with a bitter smile of defeat.
Pababak! My cloak split apart to reveal crow wings. Before taking off, I left Tara with one last message.
“I’m immortal. I won’t die, I promise.”
And I leaped off the ground, soaring into the night sky.
As I flew higher, I noticed the widening astonishment in Tara’s eyes and felt a grin spread across my face.
“Hah. That was quite impressive, Park Jeong-yong.”
To be honest, accepting Tara’s request just to enjoy this exact moment now might be an overstatement.
As I muttered a few times, reveling in the role of ‘Charming Bad Guy but Heartwarming to Children Dark Hero Park Jeong-yong’, I gleefully flew towards the city streets with a smirk on my face.
