MS Chapter 003

-Following the war, Vicentia plunged into chaos, its foundations weakened and in dire need of aid. Yet, Tayden and his four retainers, who were supposed to restore order, became obsessed with finding a way to bring you back to life and neglected the world. They delved into black magic and eventually learned of what you had done. What do you think became of them when they despaired over such a selfish sacrifice?

Hebe had a habit of biting his lip when he was worried about something. But as she was in a disembodied state, no blood came out.

-From the moment you died, the world began rushing toward ruin. It was your death that caused this catastrophe. It was not Tayden, but you who destroyed the world, you selfish creature.

Hegermi had been berating Hebe, calling him selfish and blaming him for everything. 

But to Hebe, it all sounded unbelievable.

He admits that his death was a surprise to the world. In their eyes, Hebe Myun was ‘a frail-bodied but great Archmage who used a bit of dark magic,’ and someone expected to live a long life. But even if his death came unexpectedly, would it not have been a cause for celebration instead of falling into chaos?

They all turned their backs on me. They abandoned me, thinking I was spreading a plague. 

Why would they try to bring me back?

Now it was Hebe who was confused. Despite having no body, his heart ached, and his head throbbed as if he were still alive.

“Because of me…….”

He had given everything for the peace of Vicentia, only to learn that, in the end, his actions had brought about the world’s destruction.

Hegermi spoke again as Hebe, overwhelmed with emotion, could not respond.

-At this rate, I will have no choice but to abandon Vicentia.

Hebe’s head snapped up. Hegermi continued.

-Do not look at me with such resentment. Tayden has given up on me. Since he abandoned this world without you, I have no choice either.

“…There must be another way, right? You have been searching for me for a year and a half.”

Undoubtedly, a god would not go to such lengths to find the dead only to show them such a cruel scene. Hegermi responded to his desperate voice.

-Yes… I have decided to entrust my last remaining power to you.

Hebe bit his lip hard.

“Whatever it is, I will do it. I will even knock some sense into Tayden if that is what it takes.”

-That is impossible. You are dead, and I do not have the power to resurrect the dead.

“Then… should I appear in his dreams and tell him to forget about me and move on?”

As Hebe anxiously stomped her feet, the cotton-candy-sized white light shone even brighter.

-That method is already too late. The world has fallen into ruin, past the point of healing.

“Then what is it that you want from me?”

-Did I not say I would send you back to Vicentia? In the final moments of my power, I will 

send you to the past.

“The past…”

It meant turning back time. Hebe wondered if even an archmage could cast such magic but concluded that a god certainly could. But how far back would he go?

-Even before your death, I was already weakened from the long war against the demons. 

Had the Great Temple reached completion earlier, I could have regained my omnipotent power, but it took longer than expected. And after your death, all the gods have been focused on preventing Tayden’s despair from affecting other worlds. Now, I have little power left.

“If there is only a little power left… do not tell me it is just one day before I died?”

-Not that close.

The god cut him off, slightly annoyed. Hebe had a talent for interpreting things most extreme and pessimistic.

-I am sending you back a year and a half before your death.

“A year and a half ago is 951?”

-April 951, to be exact.

In April, Hebe would already have only a year and a half left to live, so technically, Hebe would die again after defending the world, but he had no choice.

Just like in his previous life, when he chose the path of dark magic.

Hebe sighed.

He had thought death would be the end, but that was a foolish belief. It appeared he still had a long way to go before he could truly atone for his sins.

“By April, my health was already failing. Could it not be January 951? Or even February?”

– …….

“Even the 11th of February would be fine.”

-You are not asking to be returned to that day in 950. It was hard to find your soul because you have so little attachment to life.

Hegermi spoke reproachfully.

That day, 29th of December, 950, came to be known as the moment Hebe embraced dark magic.

“That day is fine. There is another day I regret more.”

Tayden killed the King of demons in February 951 and restored peace. Unfortunately, at that time, Hebe was being interrogated in the palace prison and missed witnessing Tayden slay the Demon king. He regretted not seeing the moment that changed the history of the world.

Even the sword he had used to kill the Demon King still pulsed with his magic. Yet he was not there.

He had always felt wrong about that. Ever since he was young, Hebe had developed his technique to dispel feelings of injustice. He called it ‘self-loathing’, but it worked because he would not feel wrong if he directed the blame inward. It was surprisingly effective, except for that one time.

Hebe’s earliest memory was of slaughtering monsters and being rewarded with candy. 

He had spent so long on the battlefield that he desperately wanted to witness the end of this long war with his own eyes.

“Could it be… maybe even 9 p.m. on the 11th of February, 951?”

-Hebe Myun, can you not be serious?

“I am serious…”

-Now, I will be sending you back a year and a half. You know what you must do.

“I will tell Tayden not to destroy the world even if I die.”

-…….

Though he could not see, Hebe could feel Hegermi letting out a deep sigh.

-If you do that, Tayden will again walk the same path. He will search for a way to save you, only to realise it is hopeless, and after your death, he will destroy the world.

“I will convince him. I will tell him not to fall into despair. Tayden has a gentle heart, he will listen.”

-He is far more possessive than you think. He is obsessed with you. He will not listen.

“Are we talking about the same Tayden?”

-His true nature is a bit… different from what you know. He is worse than a beast.

Hebe frowned, thinking Hegermi was being too harsh. Where could you find anyone as kind and gentle as Tayden? He wanted to protest, but the god spoke again.

-Make him not love you.

“…….”

Hearing the word love left him speechless. No matter how much he heard it, he doubted he would ever get used to it.

-Of course, since you love Tayden, this will not be easy…

“I do not know what you are talking about. I have known Tayden ever since he was a child. So, I feel fondly toward him, but it is not love.”

-You say that, yet he is the first person you think of when you open your eyes.

The god clicked its tongue.

-Even a year and a half ago, Tayden already loved you. So you must do everything you can to keep that love from deepening.

“Do not worry. I am confident.”

Making someone fall out of love was Hebe’s speciality.

It is hard to make someone fall in love, but it is easy to make them fall out. Those who once admired Hebe had turned away the moment he became a dark mage.

“I am ready. Please send me back.”

-…Do you understand my will?

“Yes, I understand. Do not worry. I have already chosen death once. I am not foolish enough to hesitate just because death comes again. I will handle it wisely.”

-You still do not understand what true foolishness is.

“I am not foolish, I am a genius Archmage.”

-Of all my creations, you are the most foolish.

Hebe lowered his eyes at the repeated rebukes.

He understood Hegermi’s intentions. But what could he do? Being told that he had to make Tayden stop loving him, and that he would die as planned in a year and a half. How could he say he did not want to die in this situation? If it was fate, he could only accept it. If he kicked and screamed now, he would only die anyway. Wouldn’t clinging on be even more foolish?

Hebe wanted nothing more than to go back to sleep in the endless darkness.

Maybe it was because he had sinned in life. Even in death, everything was a mess.

“Why does Tayden like someone like me?”

-…….

“How did it end up like this? It does not make sense. So many wonderful people are around him. Maybe… maybe he met me too young and confused admiration for love. If I knew the reason, it would be easier to make him stop loving me.”

-Hebe Myun. Why did you become a dark mage?

The god answered his question with another question.

Hebe stared at the white light. Silence filled the space before he spoke.

“Because I needed dark magic.”

-Why did you need it?

“You know why.”

-Answer me.

He did not understand why the god insisted. But if it is His will, he will answer.

“To create the shield… I had to use dark magic.”