After parting ways with Jeon In-hwa, I didn't want to show up empty-handed, so I bought some simple snacks like last time before heading to the dormitory. When I arrived, I knocked on Hui-hyeon's door, but it was quiet inside as if no one was there.
What's this? Where did he go again?
*Looks like he stepped out for a bit.*
"Hmm."
While waiting, I considered going to eat at a nearby restaurant but decided against it.
Last time when I came looking for Hui-hyeon and he wasn't here, I went to get food and ended up tumbling down the stairs.
That was an experience I'd rather not repeat.
"I'll just sit and wait for a while."
*I must really have nothing better to do.*
"This is killing me, seriously."
I sat idly in front of his door, and after about an hour, I finally saw Hui-hyeon coming up.
He's earlier than I expected.
Still sitting by the door, I greeted him from my seated position.
"Hey, Hui-hyeon."
When he saw me, his eyes widened slightly in surprise that I was waiting, then he smiled and greeted me back.
"Hey, Ye-a. I was actually about to come find you."
Hearing that he was planning to visit me, I asked him:
"Really? What for?"
I didn't mean to imply we had no reason to meet.
As a Regressor and Reincarnator, we had plenty of reasons to see each other.
Hui-hyeon replied:
"Let's not talk out here. Let's go inside first."
"Sure."
I stood up so he could open the door.
Once inside Hui-hyeon's room, we faced each other and spoke simultaneously.
"You go first."
"You can go first."
After we both spoke at the same time, Hui-hyeon hesitated for a moment, so I took out the Thousand Waters necklace from my pocket and said:
"Hui-hyeon, I came because I have something to give you."
"A necklace?"
As I was about to explain the necklace to him, I suddenly felt my body twitch.
No, why now of all times?
*What? Why?*
Despite my internal questioning, the other me who had taken over my body smiled at Hui-hyeon, pretending to be me, and said:
"Yes, a necklace. I heard somewhere that it's good for your health. I brought it specially for you, Hui-hyeon."
"I see. Thank you."
As Hui-hyeon reached out to take the necklace, the other me pulled back her hand and said:
"Let me put it on for you. Would you turn around?"
"Oh, okay."
*Hey! What are you doing? I worked hard to get that!*
*Just stay quiet. I need to recharge our lacking Hui-hyeon.*
This girl, seriously.
Despite my protests, the other me reached out to put the necklace around Hui-hyeon's neck but noticed another necklace already there and asked:
"Huh? Hui-hyeon, what's this necklace?"
To the other me's question, Hui-hyeon replied casually:
"Oh, this? It's a dragon tooth necklace I got as a gift from Yu Ji-a."
The hand that was about to put the necklace on Hui-hyeon's neck paused.
"...Yu Ji-a? That kid?"
Hui-hyeon briefly turned around at the other me's somewhat hostile tone but faced forward again and said:
"Yeah, she gave it to me as a gift before."
"Hmm, I see."
I could feel the corners of my mouth gradually twisting and my hands tightening around Hui-hyeon's neck as I was putting on the necklace.
Sensing that something bad might happen if I didn't intervene, I hurriedly said to the other me:
*Hey, don't strangle Hui-hyeon.*
*Am I crazy? Why would I strangle Hui-hyeon?*
*Your emotional conflict is transmitting to me too. Just put the necklace on and switch back.*
The other me seemed to realize she was gradually applying more pressure, so she relaxed her hands and put the necklace around Hui-hyeon's neck.
*Now that you're done recharging, switch back.*
*Just wait a moment.*
The other me finally returned control of my body to me.
After regaining control, I clenched and unclenched my fist before asking Hui-hyeon:
"...So, Hui-hyeon, what did you want to see me about?"
At my question, Hui-hyeon asked me to wait a moment.
"Before that, hold on. I have something for you too."
With those words, Hui-hyeon went to the kitchen and came back with something wrapped in cloth.
When he unwrapped it, I saw it was the Ayong Sword I thought I had lost forever.
"Huh? How did you find this? I thought it was gone for good."
"Hwayun said it was abandoned in the forest of Ganyangju."
"Thank you so much, Hui-hyeon. Really."
I picked up the Ayong Sword after a long time and drew it from its scabbard.
The pure white blade with the engraving of a soaring hawk, marked as "First," caught my eye.
After using mass-produced factory swords for so long, holding the Ayong Sword again felt very welcoming.
After all, this was the sword I had used for a long time throughout my previous cycles.
As expected of the Ye-a Ayong Sword.
*It's been so long since I've seen this sword.*
The other me also spoke in a tone of deep emotion at seeing the sword she had used in her past life.
After I put the sword down, Hui-hyeon said:
"First, I should tell you that we failed to completely annihilate the World-Ending Cult."
"I guess that was inevitable..."
I had heard about the attempt to destroy the World-Ending Cult during the second field training.
They had actually gone to eliminate the World-Ending Cult, not for exorcism.
"I'm sorry, Hui-hyeon. If only I hadn't been captured..."
"The ones who captured you are at fault, not you. Don't say things like that."
"So what are you planning to do now?"
At my question, Hui-hyeon thought for a moment and said:
"Having failed one extermination attempt, they'll probably hide deeper, making it harder to completely eliminate them this time. Especially 'that person' might not be active in the Human World anymore."
Does that mean we'll have to perform that ritual for the World-Ending again?
"Is there anything else?"
At my question, Hui-hyeon nodded and said:
"Yes, two things. First, could you look at this?"
Hui-hyeon took out a document from inside his clothes and handed it to me.
The emblem on the cover of the document was...
"A lotus emblem? Isn't this from the Jeon Clan?"
"Look at the contents."
At Hui-hyeon's gesture, I picked up the document and read it.
By the time I finished reading the last page, my hands were trembling.
This document contained detailed information supporting the fact that I was a vessel.
"Hui-hyeon, what is this...?"
When I asked in a dumbfounded voice, Hui-hyeon replied:
"Jeon In-hwa gave it to me."
"Jeon In-hwa did?"
Hearing that Hui-hyeon's Jeon In-hwa had passed this on, I recalled the face of the Jeon In-hwa I had just met.
She had definitely greeted me warmly.
Then the other me, who had seen the document, spoke in a mocking voice:
*Miss Ye-a, more versatile than me when it comes to relationships. How does it feel to be backstabbed?*
Normally I would have told her to shut up, but I was too shocked by this unexpected betrayal to say anything.
Seeing that I couldn't respond, even the other me seemed to feel a bit sorry and spoke in a softer tone than before:
*You called In-hwa your friend earlier, right? Do you really think that sinister fanatic woman is capable of making 'friends'? You might not know because you don't have memories of previous cycles, but Jeon In-hwa is not normal.*
Ignoring the other me, I asked Hui-hyeon:
"But why did Jeon In-hwa give you this document?"
"I received a recruitment offer."
"A recruitment offer?"
"Yes, since it's certain that you're a vessel, she said my squad would disappear after 'the Calling,' so I should join her squad. She showed me this while saying that."
"Jeon In-hwa really did that?"
I was truly dumbfounded.
After all I'd done for Jeon In-hwa in this cycle, this is how she repays me?
Looking at me, Hui-hyeon carefully said:
"It's okay, Ye-a. No matter how much clear evidence there is, if you get through 'the Calling' well, that evidence becomes meaningless. So you just need to get through it like last time."
Hui-hyeon spoke as if to comfort me, but I was worried about how detailed the information was.
Now that they had this information, I needed to prepare accordingly, but I was concerned about whether I could handle it well.
"I just can't believe it. I thought I had built a good relationship with Jeon In-hwa this time..."
Hearing my words, Hui-hyeon spoke as if Jeon In-hwa's actions weren't surprising at all:
"That's just how Jeon In-hwa is."
*That's how Jeon In-hwa has always been.*
They both said it at the same time.
Jeon In-hwa is just that kind of person.
Right, originally in the game, Jeon In-hwa was a heroine who could turn into an enemy depending on the route.
I pulled myself together and let out a light sigh.
I had been backstabbed, that's true, but I couldn't stay dejected forever just because of that.
I need to help Hui-hyeon save the world.
Jeon In-hwa, you fucking bitch, I'll deal with you later.
"Thank you so much for letting me know, Hui-hyeon."
"You're not calling me 'Nimi' this time?"
"....................."
He probably meant it to lighten the mood, but it had the opposite effect.
This isn't the time for that.
"You're making jokes at a time like this?"
I picked up the Ayong Sword and hit Hui-hyeon with the scabbard.
Thwack! Thwack!
"Ow! Ouch! Ye-a! At least hit me with your hands, not a weapon! That hurts!"
"Good that it hurts. It means you're alive."
"What's that supposed to—Ow!"
After chasing and hitting Hui-hyeon a few times, I asked him:
"Anyway, Jeon In-hwa's betrayal aside... you said you had more to tell me?"
Hearing my words, Hui-hyeon nodded and said:
"Right, actually this is the more important news."
More important than Jeon In-hwa stabbing me in the back and gathering information?
"...What is it?"
"Honwon has started to move."
"Oh, seriously."
I let out a short sigh.
The nightmare of the Night Parade of a Hundred Demons that Honwon orchestrated in the previous cycle automatically came to mind.