Chapter 229: Sien's Revenge (2)
Before translating, I'll scan for character names and terms in the glossary.
Characters mentioned:
- ì¼ì¤ (not in glossary, appears to be a companion/clone of the protagonist)
- ì´ëª ì ë³´ë ì¬ì (The Goddess Who Sees Fate)
- ì¼ì¸ (Cain)
- ë¦¬ì ° (Rishe)
- ì©ì©ì´ (not in glossary, appears to be a pet/companion)
- ë¯¸ë¼ (Mira)
- ìì (Anje)
- ì ì´ë (Jade)
- ì¤ëë¥ (Andrew)
- ë¡ë² (not in glossary, appears to be a subordinate)
Terms:
- íê· (regression/return)
- ì¸ë²¤í 리 (Inventory)
- ì§ë 보기 (Map View)
- ê¸°ìµ í¡ì ì¥ì¹ (Memory Absorption Device)
- ì±ì¢ (Constellation)
- êµë¨ (The Cult)
- ê°ë¶ (Executive)
Let me begin the translation:
Before I explain, let's go back to the past.
At that time, I woke up earlier than usual.
And there was a message that appeared before my eyes.
It was none other than:
[You have died.]
A regression message.
A regression message that appeared while I was asleep.
I couldn't understand it at all.
What does it mean to die between falling asleep and waking up?
So the first thing I did was:
-Swoosh!
I closed the curtains in case someone was watching me.
*Inventory.*
I entered my Inventory.
The next moment.
"Sorry, but I don't know either."
Without hesitation, I summoned Kejun.
But, as expected, he said he didn't know either.
"If I don't know, how would you know? Let's think about this. Two heads are better than one."
"Okay."
We racked our brains until they felt hot, but...
"There are too many variables."
"Exactly."
When we tried to recall what happened, we couldn't remember clearly enough to reach a definitive conclusion.
Still, just in case, I turned on "Map View."
Kejun asked in a serious voice:
"How is it? Main body, did you find any suspicious person?"
"No... I can't see anyone."
Contrary to my expectations, there was no suspicious person.
I fell into deep thought.
*What is this? Why did I die?*
Could I have been poisoned?
That's certainly one possibility.
There's no guarantee that assassins only kill with daggers, right?
However...
*If I died from poison, shouldn't I have felt something wrong?*
My body felt too normal that day to have died from poison.
Therefore, it's better to rule out poison.
"Sigh... Then there's no other way."
"...Are we going with that?"
Kejun asked as if he had read my mind before being summoned.
I nodded and handed him the Memory Absorption Device.
"Yeah. We can't figure anything out in our current state."
[The Goddess Who Sees Fate asks if you really need to erase your memories.]
At that moment, Fate, who had been just listening to our conversation, sent a message.
Cain nodded.
"This is the most reliable way, right, Kejun?"
"Well, that's true."
Kejun nodded in agreement.
The next moment.
[The Goddess Who Sees Fate sighs deeply.]
Fate sent a message as if saying she gives up.
While Cain smiled at Fate's message, Kejun spoke.
"Then I'll begin."
"Yeah. Start."
I nodded and accepted the Memory Absorption Device.
Soon, my vision darkened.
***
Even if I use the Memory Absorption Device, when regression occurs, these items return to their original place.
But what if...
*When a clone is deactivated, where do the absorbed memories go?*
I predict they'll definitely return to me.
After all, when deactivated, the clone becomes one with me.
As evidence, he understood my plan completely without me saying anything.
*He probably shared the plan I thought of as soon as I saw the regression message.*
Otherwise, it wouldn't make sense for Kejun to execute the plan according to my thoughts.
Anyway, the plan I came up with was:
*I had Kejun monitor me from inside the Inventory as I acted exactly the same as in the previous cycle.*
Of course, that wasn't all.
Mere observation wouldn't be enough to figure things out properly.
*Even Kejun would lose his memories during regression if he wasn't deactivated.*
So I made an additional plan.
Put what he saw into the Memory Absorption Device, then commit suicide right before I die.
After all, when Kejun dies, he returns to me.
In other words, if he becomes one with me, he won't be affected by regression.
Regression doesn't actually touch my memories themselves.
*Therefore, everything stored in the Memory Absorption Device...*
Comes to me.
As a result...
*I was able to confirm how I died.*
As I said earlier, Kejun's emotions and memories are all shared with me.
After organizing my thoughts, I let out a deep sigh.
"Haaah..."
So that's how I died.
The death Kejun witnessed was, as expected, an assassination.
But there was something unusual about it.
*I was stabbed and died when no one was around.*
I can say with certainty that whoever killed me must have the stealth ability.
Moreover, if Kejun couldn't sense their presence...
*They must be quite formidable.*
As I continued to narrow it down, one person came to mind.
*Jade.*
An Executive of the Cult, but one who specializes in assassination.
If we assume he was the assassin, everything makes sense.
From Kejun not being able to sense his presence to not being able to find him with Map View.
"Ah!"
At that moment, Yongyong shook me from my thoughts.
Judging by those sparkling eyes, he wanted me to play with him.
I patted Yongyong's head and said:
"I'll play with you later."
"Myuu..."
At those words, Yongyong looked dejected.
Then, he held out his pinky finger.
As if asking me to promise.
"Okay. I promise."
"Muu!"
We linked pinky fingers and made a promise.
"Young Master. Are you awa—"
Rishe opened the door and then squinted her eyes at Yongyong.
I spoke up:
"I need to get ready now, so Rishe, please take Yongyong out."
"Should I help with your clo—"
"I'll change my clothes myself."
I cut her off since her next words were too predictable.
She nodded with a disappointed expression.
"Yes, understood. I'll take Yongyong out."
Saying that, she left the room with quick steps.
I naturally prepared for school while thinking hard.
To somehow resolve the current situation.
***
Several hours passed.
On the outside, I acted just like in the previous cycle, but my brain was working overtime.
As a result...
*Damn it.*
Contrary to my expectations, no good ideas came to mind.
I felt like calling a Constellation right away.
However...
[The Goddess Who Sees Fate says it doesn't seem possible.]
It seems the other goddesses are strongly against it.
*Hmm. Is there a reason for this?*
Fate doesn't usually follow others' words, even among transcendents.
No. Actually...
*Except for Happiness, the others do whatever they want too.*
But seeing them dissuade her like this, there must be some reason.
So it's probably best to accept it.
Besides, putting that aside...
*Descent isn't such a good method anyway.*
The moment a Constellation descends, Jade obviously won't make a move.
I don't know exactly where he's monitoring from, but considering Mira couldn't sense his presence despite being in the same mansion, he's probably not very close.
Therefore...
*If a Constellation descends, he'll definitely run away.*
Of course, even a nerfed Constellation would have a high chance of catching him, but things don't always go as planned.
If we make a mistake, information might leak to Andrew.
*Well, I've spread some misinformation, so he might not believe it.*
Anyway, it's best to rule out Constellations.
Then...
*There's Mira and Anje, but they should be excluded too.*
Anje is not only busy but also too famous.
The moment I ask Anje for help, it would be obvious what I'm planning.
That leaves Mira, but...
*That won't work either.*
If she keeps hovering around me, he'll notice something's off and likely flee.
He might even call in other Executives.
*Hmm. Is there no safe way to lure him in?*
While pretending to listen to the lecture, I fell into thought.
Then, after a while...
*...Ah!*
A flash of inspiration struck my mind.
At the same time...
*That Kejun, sneakily trying to take all the credit.*
I lowered my head and secretly raised one corner of my mouth.
***
Meanwhile, at that time.
Jade, who was secretly watching Cain, narrowed his eyes while stroking his chin.
*Hmm. It seems I was mistaken.*
Cain, who suddenly woke up and then showed an unusual expression.
He wondered if Cain had noticed his surveillance.
*But he's acting just like usual.*
Fortunately, it seems that's not the case.
When people think they're being watched, they unconsciously act differently than usual.
But Cain went about his daily routine as normal.
So he must not know that he's being monitored right now.
*Hmm. Then it's about time to carry out Lord Andrew's orders.*
He had been cautious because there were so many people from the Cult keeping an eye on Cain.
But now that he had completely memorized Cain's routine, it should be safe to move.
Just as Jade was organizing his thoughts...
*Hmm?*
Cain raised his hand during the lecture and went to the bathroom.
Jade frowned deeply as he watched him.
*What's this? He's never done this before...*
Feeling an inexplicable sense of discomfort, Jade observed Cain more closely.
Then...
*Was I mistaken?*
Contrary to his expectations, Cain entered the bathroom.
Perhaps he was being too sensitive since it had been a while since his last assassination.
As Jade watched the bathroom Cain had entered...
-Click.
Cain came out, shaking his wet hands.
The next moment...
-Looking around.
Cain looked around nervously, checking if anyone was there.
*What? Why is he doing that?*
Jade's eyes sharpened at this unexpected variable.
Just then...
*What?!*
Cain suddenly started running.
Hastily sprinting away.
Jade secretly followed Cain from a distance.
And before long, he was certain.
*That guy noticed.*
That he was being monitored.
*How did he notice?*
He couldn't help but wonder, but more importantly, he needed to kill him right now.
If he left him alone, he might fail Lord Andrew's orders.
"Robe."
"Yes, Lord Jade."
A man with a mustache who had been hiding with stealth appeared.
Jade ordered Robe:
"I'm going to chase the target, but just in case, block his escape route. Can you do that?"
"Yes, of course."
Robe nodded without hesitation at his order.
Jade shifted his gaze to the fleeing Cain and said:
"Then I'll go after the target right away."
With those words, Jade chased after the hurriedly running Cain.
***
Meanwhile, around the same time.
Cain, who had been watching the situation through Map View from the bathroom...
"Now it's my turn to move."
He began to move carefully to catch the fish that had taken the bait.