Chapter 002: Revival 2

* * *

A sudden sound echoed.

The man and woman reacted to the voice coming from behind. Unexpected visitors always bring unrest. Turning their heads, the two saw a knight in pure white standing there.

The embodiment of chivalry.

The son of God descended into the human world.

The White Knight, Arphen Schwalzenstein.

His reputation had already spread across the entire continent, transcending borders. Without a doubt, he was one of the leaders of the next generation.

Even in the dark alley, he shone brightly.

With an overwhelming presence, Arphen took a step forward and moved his head slightly.

"Is this an internal conflict? While following the trail of the Holy Maiden, I couldn't help but see scenes I didn't want to see."

Arphen smiled as if it were nothing, as if he had expected it. His smile was so fresh that even those who saw him felt their tension ease.

But the two facing him were different.

They couldn't help but know how powerful an enemy the knight in front of them was.

The two people, trembling, exchanged glances and readied themselves.

"I have many questions for you. You must be the ones who captured the Holy Maiden. A group that has never shown its face until now. Personally, I am very interested."

As Arphen finished speaking and took a step closer, the man tightened his grip on his hammer.

"Stay focused, he's the White Knight."

The opponent was formidable. A moment's lapse in concentration could lead to an irreparable disaster.

"I know, stop nagging."

The woman, feeling around her waist, picked up a whip.

To them, the opponent in front of them was the worst enemy. Running away might be their only option. They might even be captured and killed. As the man and woman bent down, Arphen scratched his head.

"Are you really going to resist? I want to skip unnecessary steps, but looking into your eyes, I see it's impossible."

Soon, his words became reality. The man swung his hammer.

Bang. With a powerful explosion, the ground split open. The woman dashed through the buildings torn to shreds. The alley, cracked like a spider web, blurred her vision, but Arphen moved calmly.

The woman tried to bind him, and the man aimed for his head, but their combined attack never reached him.

Arphen didn't even draw his sword.

A light that illuminated the darkness rose and fell several times. Cain couldn't even see their exchange.

Worthy of his reputation as a member of the Ten Seats, the White Knight, Arphen, faced the two without taking a single step back.

Even in the relentless exchange, he didn't lose his composure. Instead, he observed his opponents closely.

"I've seen a family that uses such a whip. If I'm not mistaken, this is... "

"Shut up!"

The woman swung the whip in Arphen's hand roughly, and thorns sprouted from the chains. As sharp blades shot out, Arphen nodded reflexively and took a step back.

"Strange. Why are you... "

Before he could finish, lightning struck from the sky. Boom. The hammer the man swung with all his might caused a cataclysm, sinking the ground.

A powerful blow that changed the landscape in an instant. As Arphen waved his hand, the shockwave heading underground shot up into the sky. It was a measure to reduce damage, but it left an opening.

Sure enough, Arphen quickly turned his head, but no one was there.

"Running away is quite impressive."

Sighing as if he regretted the sudden end of the encounter, Arphen turned around. This wasn't the time. There was someone else on the other side.

Pushing through the dust cloud, he approached Cain and sighed again. The condition was dire. To be precise, it was beyond revival. But he didn't say it directly, choosing to phrase it delicately. It was the least consideration he could show.

"You're badly injured."

The White Knight, Arphen Schwalzenstein, was a well-known figure. They were the same age, which gave Cain a strange sense of kinship, and he had been paying close attention to him for a long time. Even if not, they had been involved in many incidents, known or unknown.

Recalling the futile past, Cain smiled wryly.

They started from the same point, but one reached the peak while the other wallowed in the mire. It was only amusing.

The rising despair made him open his mouth, but the sound rising from his throat couldn't find its way out.

"Ugh... Th... Sss..."

Only a gush of blood bubbled up and burst. Cain realized his throat had been punctured a beat later and lowered his head.

His lower body was crushed beyond recognition, and his split abdomen exposed his insides.

The price he paid for tirelessly chasing the Holy Maiden day and night.

Even with body modifications that transcended human limits, there were clear boundaries.

Unfortunately, there was no way out. No one had told him, but Cain knew.

"Too bad. The Thousand-Year Boy could have saved you."

Arphen knew how ridiculous his words sounded.

The Thousand-Year Boy was the one who branded the Holy Maiden as a heretic. He wouldn't help someone who aided her escape, even if he could.

"Waiting to die will be a great pain for you. Even if you survive, those who want the organization's information won't leave you alone."

So what was he suggesting? It wasn't something someone who had just been swinging a weapon to get the organization's information should say.

Reading Cain's thoughts in his eyes, Arphen laughed awkwardly.

"Stop looking at me like that. The information you have isn't so valuable that I'd interrogate a dying man. There are many others, after all."

Clapping his hands lightly to change the mood, Arphen revealed his thoughts.

"So I'll give you a choice. Do you want to cling to a futile hope, or choose your own end? I will respect your choice."

As he spoke, Arphen's scabbard rattled.

'Is he offering to kill me painlessly?'

In a way, it could be considered a kindness. Cain didn't expect much. The shadow of death was already at his throat. Even if he survived by a fluke, it would be a life worse than death.

'I wanted to see the Holy Maiden smile one last time, but...'

It was impossible, so he had to give up. Cain remained calm even in the face of death.

He had nothing to achieve, so he had nothing to hope for. His eyes were heavier than ever, but his heart was lighter than ever. Perhaps it was the result of accepting reality.

'Even though I didn't want to accept it.'

Sensing Cain's decision, Arphen raised his sword.

"Do you have any last words? I can understand short phrases, so just move your lips."

None. So he shook his head.

It was a half-hearted attitude, but the man, who was a picture of chivalry, nodded as if he understood. For someone who had crossed the line of death, such occurrences were common. Such reactions, such moments.

As Cain closed his eyes, Arphen twisted his wrist. Instantly, the sword was drawn and sheathed simultaneously. The sword, moving silently, grazed his neck.

Swish. The sound of flesh and blood splitting echoed faintly. A round shadow fell on the dark alley. Arphen, looking down at the headless body, smirked.

"The Holy Maiden is mine."

* * *

Consciousness returned abruptly.

'What is this?'

He reflexively looked around.

Mercenaries gathered in groups, merchants raising their glasses to quench their thirst, and residents quietly moving their knives and forks.

It was a noisy place. The scene in the restaurant, which could be seen anywhere, evoked a faint sense of nostalgia.

Cain, sitting down, wondered blankly.

'Why am I here?'

Just a moment ago, his body was filled with pain, but now it felt as light as a feather, and his dazed mind was crystal clear.

"What happened? You turned your head in the middle of eating."

Hearing his name, Cain raised his head, his mouth agape.

Wrinkles around the eyes, but a robust build that didn't match. The person he saw was someone he could never forget. No, someone he didn't want to forget.

'Battem Romulin.'

He was the guide and martial arts instructor in the organization. How could he be here, in front of Cain, who was supposed to be dead? What did this situation mean?

Battem, who seemed to sense Cain's confusion, tilted his head.

"That's strange. Do you want to go back? Unfortunately, that's impossible. It's a story that's already ended."

"That's not it."

He buried his nose in his plate, hiding his shaken expression. Whether it was reality or not, he didn't want to show any weakness.

Cain, who knew how many ugly masks lay behind the smiling face, wanted to run away immediately, but it wasn't the right time. The presence of many people was a problem, but his untrained body was an even bigger issue.

Even if he forced himself to move, the time he could exert his full strength was extremely limited.

'First...'

He needed to clear his mind. Of course, thinking wouldn't provide a clear answer. There was only one possible scenario, no matter how much he pondered.

'Have I come back?'

It was an unbelievable story, but there was no room for doubt.

The warm warmth and vivid vitality were something that couldn't be recreated by imagination alone.

The saying "Life flashes before your eyes" was just a metaphor. Such a calm and composed recollection was impossible.

A new nightmare or another chance.

His contemplation didn't last long.

It was fine whether it was a dream or not. If it was a dream, he might as well enjoy it to the fullest. Thinking of it as a prolonged, unrealistic hope made it easier.

'I have to find out.'

Why was the Holy Maiden abandoned?

With no clues, he had to start from the beginning, but there was no need to worry. Knowing the future was an interesting starting point.

More so than the fact of being reborn.

'First, I need to get rid of Battem.'

It was impossible to rejoin the organization knowing the outcome. He had to find a way to resolve it.

Clank. As Cain put down his knife, Battem nodded.

"Seems like you're not enjoying your meal. I guess it's understandable, leaving your hometown and all."

Just like before, and even now, he was acting like a displaced person. Battem continued, making assumptions.

"But don't worry. You'll become a valued member of our organization. It will be better than now. If you work hard, you'll get the rewards you deserve. So don't look so down. You made the right choice."

The old man's words were kind. One could easily believe them if they weren't careful.

But Cain wasn't swayed.

How many times had he fallen for those words? Life in the organization wasn't bad, according to Battem. No, it was impossible to think it was bad.

They controlled emotions to prevent being affected by joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness, and restrained the mind to prevent betrayal.

It was never better or worse.

A cog in the organization's machinery, no more, no less.

If he hadn't met the Holy Maiden, he would have lived and died like that.

'Damn... If I had been a bit more careful.'

He was so disgusted with his past self, who had expected everything to go well.

But it was too late to regret. At 11, when he became aware of his past life, there was nothing to fear. Hadn't he acted recklessly, as if he had achieved something?