“No!”
Emilia dashed out reflexively. Even though the air outside was filled with toxic gas. At this moment, she could think of nothing but saving Yujin.
Cough… cough…!
Yujin collapsed weakly onto the ground, coughing up blood. Blood was already spurting from his throat, pooling on the floor. As the bleeding increased, the color drained rapidly from Yujin’s skin.
“Uncle…! No, Uncle…!”
Hastily, she pressed her hand against the gash on his neck. It was the first time she had ever touched a stab wound on a person’s neck. But no matter what, she had to stop the blood pouring out.
Sputter…!
“It won’t stop… what do I do…”
No matter how hard she pressed, dark red blood seeped through the gaps between her fingers. She hadn’t realized human blood could spurt out like a fountain. Nor that it could be this dark and hot.
“Grk… grrk…”
Yujin’s eyes shifted toward her. Due to the blood flowing back into his mouth and the wound in his neck, only a rattling phlegm sound came out. But it seemed he was trying to say something as the sound repeated steadily.
“Grrk… grrk…”
“Don’t speak! The wound will reopen!”
She had no medical knowledge, but all she could think was to stop the bleeding. If misused, regenerative magic could cause malignant tumors in patients. Even a student from the Royal Academy’s Magic Department wouldn’t be able to use such advanced magic.
‘What’s the point of learning magic if I can’t even save the person right in front of me!’
Being a student at the Royal Academy’s Magic Department was meaningless now. Helplessness overlapped with urgency, and tears welled up.
Please don’t die… please…!
Could Silvia save Uncle with holy magic? Or could Needle Uncle have treated an injury like this? But by the time she reached there, Yujin would already be dead.
‘If only I hadn’t left the guild without permission…!’
If that were the case, Yujin wouldn’t have had to come to rescue her. If only it were just me who died. But if Uncle died, it would be as if I killed him.
“Uncle?”
Feeling a touch on the back of her hand, she looked up. Yujin traced a crescent moon with his bloodied lips. Warmth shone in his eyes as he looked at her.
“Grk… grrk…”
His trembling hand grabbed hers and pulled it away from his neck. It meant that his wound was hopeless and she should stop. The rattling sound coming from his mouth said, ‘It’s okay.’
“Khh!”
She squeezed her eyes shut. She wished he would at least blame her. If he got angry and said he was dying because of her, that would be better. But for him to say ‘it’s okay’ until this moment made it all the more heartbreaking.
I’m sorry! I’m so sorry…!
Hot tears streamed down her face. Uncle had volunteered for the protection duty to protect her. But instead of helping him, she had caused him to lose his life.
“I’ll do better, so please live!”
She couldn’t bear the thought of anyone dying because of her anymore. Her mother had died when she was young, and it was the same pain. Now she didn’t want to lose Uncle Yujin as well. But reality didn’t listen to her wishes. Yujin’s eyes suddenly rolled upwards, and the grip on her hand released.
“Huh?”
Uncle no longer moved. If a person is alive, there’s always some slight movement. Only a corpse stops moving entirely.
“Uncle?”
She shook Yujin again. But he gave no response. This cold, hard sensation was familiar.
“Ah, ahh…”
No words came from her mouth. She couldn’t believe this reality. How could Yujin die?
“No, it can’t be…?”
She smiled weakly as she spoke to him. He could overcome injuries like this. He’s already reflecting, so don’t pretend to be dead. Please get up.
“Please…”
But there was no answer. The harsh silence finally brought the full weight of reality down on her, and she buried her head in Uncle’s chest.
“Waahhh…”
She wept uncontrollably, just like back then.
*****
‘Have I died once before?’
Yujin awoke in darkness. The vast blackness stretched endlessly with no sense of where he was stepping. Not even the horizon was visible; this was the sight of death.
‘Soon I’ll wake up again.’
The curse of immortality revealed a single beam of light within the darkness. That light began as a hole piercing the dark, and then grew larger. This consciousness, together with the body’s recovery, would return him to the living world.
‘When was the last time I died?’
Of course, dying was always painful. Especially when dying from dangerous work like mercenary missions. That was why he never stopped training, so he wouldn’t die by murder if he could help it.
‘Fifteen years ago.’
The orc chieftain he’d been sent to assassinate was strong. If he had died even once at this body’s hands, it meant he was quite powerful. Only a handful of people had been killed more than twice across the continent. As he recalled memories, the hole of light appeared in the distance.
‘It’s about time.’
Soon that hole of light would pull his body back to the living world. Spreading his arms, he embraced the incoming light. As the light engulfed him, the dark scene shifted.
“Huh?”
Instead, a different landscape appeared. A temple overlooking a crowd like an ant colony beneath the blazing sun of the Aram Desert in the Empire’s south. The crowd’s skin was sun-bronzed, resembling the desert tribes.
‘This wasn’t here before?’
Could the situation have changed after connecting with Ilu? If Ilu was the cause of his immortality, this was entirely possible. In that case, this situation needed to be observed carefully.
‘If it gets tough, I can just commit suicide.’
If he died, he’d be reborn there again. While thinking this, someone called out.
“Why do you look troubled, Ilu?”
Turning his gaze, he met the eyes of a blonde woman. Her abundant golden hair shone brightly like the sun. Unlike the crowd below, her skin was pale and her eyes blue.
‘Similar to the Empire’s race.’
She called him Ilu, so this must be connected to the one sealed within the dagger. This might be a scene merged with his memories. Her clothing was unfamiliar, likely ancient attire. He’d have to check its era when he revived later. That would help him identify Ilu’s true identity. For now, he made a vague excuse so as not to arouse suspicion.
“It’s nothing, Lucy… hmm?”
He stopped mid-sentence. How does he know this woman’s name? Are Ilu’s memories blending with his own?
“What? Why did you stop talking…”
“Ah, just tired, that’s all.”
He held out his hand to Lucy, who tilted her head in confusion. He wasn’t sure how perceptive she was, so he needed to avoid suspicion.
“Heh heh.”
Lucy chuckled. Her smile was almost joyful. That smile reminded him somewhat of Celestia.
‘Though Celestia is more beautiful.’
Putting that thought aside, he asked her.
“Why are you laughing?”
“Because you never once said you were tired until now.”
Lucy wrapped her hand around his.
“Since you took on this mission, you haven’t rested.”
If he understood correctly, she was asking him to rely on her. He had no idea what mission she meant, but Lucy clearly cared deeply for the body’s original owner.
“Thank you for your concern.”
“Concern? I’m alive because Ilu saved me.”
Lucy smiled as she gestured toward the crowd below the temple.
“Now wave to your subjects.”
“Alright.”
Apparently this was part of an event where he revealed himself to the crowd. Though he wasn’t sure, Ilu seemed to be at least a king or noble. As Lucy said, he looked down at the crowd and raised his right hand.
“Gilgamesh! Gilgamesh! Gilgamesh!”
The crowd roared and chanted his name. That was the end.
*****
Emilia buried her head in Yujin’s arms and wept. Though it was impossible for the dead to be revived, she didn’t know what else to do besides crying.
“Uncle…”
How was she supposed to explain this to the kids? How could she say Yujin died because of her? Even if she told them, their eyes would surely turn cold.
‘Should I give up on the demon realm exploration?’
What kind of adventure was it if she had caused a comrade’s death? What kind of mage was she if she couldn’t even save someone? She wanted to quit the Academy and go back to her hometown.
“Someone like me… someone like me…!”
Drowning in helplessness and self-loathing, she scolded herself.
“Who do you think you are?”
“Uncle Yujin is dead because of you…! Huh?”
Who had just spoken? From the voice alone, it sounded like Yujin. Had she gone mad, hearing the dead’s voice as a hallucination?
“Why cut me off? Finish what you were saying.”
“Huh?”
She pulled her face away from Uncle’s chest and turned toward the voice. Yujin was looking at her with an expressionless face.
“Have you never seen a person lying down before?”
“Huh?”
He’d clearly died from severing his own throat, causing that bleeding. Startled, she backed away from him. She had seen him stop moving with her own eyes.
“Surprise! I thought I’d be going back to a heart attack.”
“Uh…”
Yujin said with a completely unbothered expression. If anyone was surprised, it was her. How could someone dead be talking to her with eyes wide open? Just to be sure, she pinched her cheek.
“Ow!”
“I was going to say it’s not a dream.”
“Y-You should’ve said so earlier!”
Though she said that, her emotions overflowed. Her uncle had come back to life and was joking around. She felt freed from the negative emotions that had ruled her mind just moments ago.
“Uncle!”
She finally threw her arms around him.
“Get off! You’re getting snot on my clothes!”
Yujin pushed her head away. But she only buried it deeper into his chest. She never thought being in his arms alive would feel this good.
“Tch… alright, alright…”
Understanding her feelings, Uncle finally patted her head. As they held each other tightly, a short time passed. Yujin pulled away and spoke.
“First, promise me one thing.”
“What? What is it?”
Surprised by the sudden mention of a promise, she wondered what he meant. His eyes looked serious as he stared at her. Swallowing, she prepared to listen.
“Don’t tell anyone I’m immortal.”
At first, she didn’t understand what that meant. But as the meaning sank in, chills ran through her body. So Yujin had regained consciousness because—
“You died and came back to life!?”
“Yes.”
“Oh my goodness…”
Death is inevitable for everyone. Regardless of wealth or age, death comes to all. That was how she had always understood it, yet this man was an immortal.
“How is that possible…?”
She had heard of mages living longer than normal lifespans. The great witch who founded the Empire’s Magic Association was said to be alive by magic, and the elders of the Magic Academy extended their lives through magic as well.
‘But that only slows aging.’
It didn’t mean true freedom from death. They could delay aging and evade death, but to have died and revived, then be immune to death—that was unheard of.
“I’ll explain that part later; it’s a long story.”
Avoiding further explanation, Yujin asked again.
“So, will you keep the promise?”
“That’s…”
A promise to keep his secret of immortality. She didn’t know why he was hiding it, but one thing was certain—She already owed her life to him.
“Of course!”
Even if it meant her death, she would keep his secret. That would be her atonement to him. Hearing her answer, Yujin nodded in satisfaction and stood up.
“Then, it’s time to deal with the remaining task.”
“Remaining task?”
“Yes.”
Yujin fixed his sharp gaze on the fog.
“We need to remove the weeds.”