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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 001
Chapter Title: The Savior Returns
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A monster with a lion's face crowned by a red-glowing diadem, tiger legs clutching a jewel-encrusted scepter, and dragon wings vast enough to blanket the night sky.
The beast destined to awaken from its long slumber at the promised hour of the apocalypse and devour the world.
—You are splendid.
After vomiting a basin's worth of blood, I stroked the spear gripped tightly in my hand with my other palm. Following my touch, pitch-black flames erupted along the shaft.
The flames raced along the spear until they reached the tip—buried deep in the monster's chest.
"I'm not splendid. And you're finished."
—Not quite my style.
A laugh escaped me. A gaping hole yawned in my gut, one leg was mangled beyond use, and one eyeball dangled from its optic nerve after being gouged out.
"I survived. You got wrecked. Who cares about appearances?"
—Agreed.
Through relentless training, I'd grown strong. Through thousands of crises, I'd gained experience.
And over centuries, I'd hunted down and crushed the lunatics who worshipped this monster. That had taken exactly twenty years.
Then, sifting through their records, I'd found the path to hell and the monster's lair. Another fifteen years.
—My end draws near. Before it comes, one piece of advice. A small courtesy.
The lion-headed monster's eyes flicked toward something behind me.
—You trust them, but they're no comrades of yours. I've stood before you as your foe, but they... they don't seem inclined to do the same.
Ah, so that's it. I glanced over at the ones watching our battle: a knight, a mage, a saintess. Five years ago, a series of so-called "coincidences" had thrown us together.
"I know."
—You know?
The creature clung desperately to its fading life, staring at me. Even now, the black flames crawling along my spear were incinerating its vitality.
Yet it postponed death through sheer will.
Tsking my tongue, I yanked the spear free and stepped back, ensuring those lurkers behind me could hear every word.
"That knight's sword is the empire's sole national treasure."
"That..."
The knight's face hardened, his grip tightening on his blade.
"If he'd unleashed its power, I wouldn't have taken this much damage in our fight."
"..."
The knight fell silent. I pressed on.
"But the emperor didn't grant you that treasure to slay the monster before us, did he?"
Kill the monster, then lop off my now-useless head.
One reason: I might threaten his throne.
"And that woman they call a saintess? She's got a lover on the side."
Yet over our five years together, she'd acted smitten with me, pulling out all the stops to seduce.
"All to make me hesitate at this moment of promised purge."
Something about needing the church's elixir to cure her lover's incurable disease?
The saintess—who'd just been gazing at my wounds with teary eyes—went white as congealed lard poured over ice.
Who knew that heavily powdered face could pale even further? Amazing.
"The mage hates that I oppose slavery."
No better test subjects for human experiments than slaves. And mages, who hoard knowledge by design, reap massive benefits from the class system.
—So...
"Yeah. I've known for five years that they'd kill me after you were dead."
That's why I never bothered learning their names. Confusion clouded the lion's face.
—Then why?
"I want to go home."
—What does that even...
I don't owe you an explanation. With those meager final words—not much of a last testament—the monster breathed its last.
"It's over."
My goal had been singular from the start. Slay this beast, avert this world's fated end, and return to my blue planet Earth.
Behind me, the mask-wearers dropped their act.
"Feels better now that it's out. You're too dangerous."
"It's not just your power—your ideas are the real threat."
"Pretending to be impressed or lovestruck while swallowing rage at your mockery of the holy church? This ends now."
This was hell, no witnesses. They'd kill me, then cook up an excuse.
A bright smile tugged at my lips. No matter. They'd shown me no affection, and I'd returned none.
"You know what? I hate this world."
People obsessed with religion and class. Hygiene so poor they flung chamber pots out windows, and they barely bathed.
Knight, noble, royal—they dressed fancy but stank from lack of washing, doused in heavy perfume and slathered with lead-laced powder. Get close, and you'd lose your mind.
Even that saintess, whom her church deemed a beauty, held no appeal for me.
Priests with zero medical knowledge peddled quack cures; people followed, got sicker, and died.
Mages knew, but stayed silent to cling to power.
"If you knew, you're prepared. No apologies here."
"Why bother? Were we ever that close?"
We'd traveled years together, yet I didn't know their names. I snorted at the saintess's words and bellowed skyward.
"I've completed my mission! Honor the pact!"
At once, hell's sky tore open, white light pouring through the rift.
—Well done.
"Send me back."
To the world I knew. My longed-for home. That was all I wanted.
—Does this world truly displease you so? The one I created?
Is that even a question? I could rant nonstop for three days and four nights on why.
—You've power enough to threaten me. But return to Earth, and all your achievements vanish.
Not even this world's king could enjoy Earth's every perk.
This power I now held? I'd earned it through hellish toil to get back to Earth.
Saved up for a new computer? Once you have the cash, you buy it. No regrets now.
—You could rewrite history. Those trying to kill you? Sweep them aside in seconds.
"Enough. You're relieved I'll leave as promised."
Power to threaten a god? No delight there. Needless temptation. Show any attachment to this world, and divine punishment would strike.
This "holy" voice belonged to a petty, suspicious god fitting for this crude realm.
—True enough. Farewell, then.
"Don't forget the deal."
Find someone on Earth doomed to die, possess their body.
All achievements here would vanish, but my experiences, memories, and soul remained intact. That was the pact from the beginning.
—That world's time has advanced exactly twenty-five years since you left.
Good—not as long as I'd feared. Twenty-five years? Adaptation might sting, but better than here.
I trusted Earth twenty-five years on was improved.
"Found me? Now send me."
Light enveloped me, intensifying as consciousness faded from this world.
Suddenly, strength drained from my body. All power, authority, mana that had dwelled in flesh and spirit—gone.
"Ah."
Opening my eyes, I shuddered. First sensation: cool air blasting from the wall-mounted AC.
The utter weakness pervading my body? Whatever.
"More importantly."
Cold chicken sat abandoned by the computer. The breast meat I'd disliked remained untouched.
Trembling hands snatched a piece and shoved it in my mouth.
"Sniff."
Why had I hated dry chicken breast? So delicious. Tears streamed from the bliss.
Couldn't even recall the last time.
Tongue spasming with flavor. Yes—this was food.
The chicken vanished into my mouth like someone might snatch it.
I headed to the bathroom. Flush toilet, instant hot shower. Shampoo, soap...
"Doomed to die, huh."
This studio resembled my old one but wasn't. This body's original owner was fated to perish; I was recycling it.
"Wonder why."
Cause of death hit in under ten minutes. Acrid stench stung my nose.
"Shit...!"
I bolted, shut the gas valve, doused the stove. Fire out, I exhaled.
"Unbelievable."
Save another world, return to Earth, die in a gas explosion? I'd have died unjustly with eyes wide.
Catching breath, I checked the phone. No lock screen or pattern—lucky.
"Twenty-five years, and it looks barely changed? Imagination?"
Flip phones debuted in 2004, Galaxy S3 in 2013. Twenty-five years? Flying cars at least.
Scratching my head, I powered it on.
Black screen prompted right thumb for fingerprint. It unlocked.
"Gotta know who I am."
No info provided. I knew nothing of this body. First up: calendar marked "Parents' Death Anniversary."
"Friend whose parents passed."
Sorry—I'll make good use of the body.
Showered clean, I crashed on the bed, surfing the net on my phone.
"..."
Moments later, I sat up.
[13 Years After Erosion Zone Emergence: How Has Our Lives Changed?]
[Partner Hunter Steven K of Chronomaker: 'Situation Nears Full-Scale War... Companies, Hunters' Dedication and Citizens' Support Crucial']
[Northern Korean Peninsula Erosion Zone Spread Accelerating. Association Again: 'Under Investigation']
['One Step Back for Two Forward'—Hunters' Excuses. DMZ No Longer Safe.]
[This Year, South Korea's GDP Growth Hits 'Zero'. Last Bastion Falls?]
Rubbing my eyes at the news, I blinked hard.
What the hell were these headlines?
Four hours staring at the phone, I squeezed my eyes shut.
"What kind of screwed-up mess is this."
One-word summary of Earth, twenty-five years after I left:
"It's going to hell."
Systematically, steadily crumbling.