The Second Salvation Myth of a Retired Regressed Hero

“By the way, how did you realize the Minister was an assassin? Even I didn’t notice.”

Those words made the others turn towards Haineken in shock. Someone from the inspection party asked him.

“Pardon? What do you mean by that…”

“I was in the vicinity because he had alerted me. After that, he deliberately lured the assassin to that secluded area.”

Haineken gestured with his javelin towards Doyun, his expression one of disbelief.

“Now that I think about it, having the notion of baiting an assassination attempt to capture the assassin – just what kind of mind conceived such an idea? And a mere student, no less.”

“It was the most convenient and effective method.”

“This madman must have read it in a history book and mimicked Enoch’s words. No one else in the world would employ such outrageous methods. You nearly died, you brat.”

“But I didn’t, thanks to you, Lord Hero.”

“Hah…”

Finding it too absurd, Haineken simply closed his mouth.

“Anyway, how did you realize the Minister was an assassin?”

Doyun glanced at the blinking system messages before his eyes.

[The skill ‘Seventh Sense’ has been created.]
[The skill ‘Localized Acceleration Control’ has been created.]

[Seventh Sense]
(Lv.- Rate.A)
Living beings perceive phenomena through six senses: sight, hearing, taste, touch, smell, and intuition. You have honed these six senses to their utmost limits. As a result, you have attained the realm that unlocks a new, integrated sense – the Seventh Sense. This is a state akin to a premonition rather than analysis or proof, belonging to the mystical realm.

Doyun recalled his 15th death.

Enoch Ruszvolnik, already bearing the title of the allied forces’ strongest, had met his 15th demise in the most mundane manner.

He had been camping with comrades, closing his eyes to savor the aroma of a delicious mushroom soup in a wooden bowl.

And when he opened his eyes, he had already regressed.

He hadn’t perceived his death in that moment nor after. The 15th cycle’s strongest hero Enoch Ruszvolnik had died such an unremarkable death.

It had taken him a long period before realizing his death had been at the hands of the Demon Lord’s Commander – the being people called the ‘Death God’.

‘Death God’ wasn’t an official title bestowed by the Demon Lord’s forces, but a term coined by the people themselves.

The inexplicable, terrifying circumstances surrounding the mysterious deaths of historically powerful figures and rulers since ancient times. People had trembled, attributing such eerie phenomena to the ‘Death God’.

The true culprit behind those deaths that had fueled the ‘Death God’ myth – it was the Demon Lord’s Commanders.

To survive that terrifying existence, Doyun had spent the entire 16th cycle honing only his senses.

Growing stronger had been secondary. First, he needed to detect the Commander’s approach. What use was gaining power if he couldn’t even perceive his demise until the final moment?

And the result had been this Seventh Sense – the pinnacle of perception.

“My senses.”

“What?”

“My senses.”

“…You really keep being disrespectful to your senior, huh?”

At his words, the inspection party’s eyes gleamed.

Haineken was renowned for strict seniority among heroes. Yet he had referred to Doyun as ‘senior’ when addressing him.

It revealed how Haineken perceived Doyun’s standing as a hero.

Meanwhile, Doyun found Haineken’s reaction rather amusing, nearly chuckling out loud.

Who was the real senior here? The very title ‘hero’ had been derived from Doyun’s own surname.

“I’m well acquainted with assassination attempts. To survive, I’ve honed my senses to the utmost limits. I can generally sense those who harbor ill intentions towards me.”

“…”
“…”

His words left the crowd in stunned silence. Eloah flinched, Sophie’s teardrops growing heavier.

Even Haineken briefly opened his mouth before averting his eyes uncomfortably, scratching his neck.

“Hmm! …I see. I understand.”

“?”

After a brief puzzled look at their reactions, Doyun disregarded it to ask what he was curious about.

“But then… the Vielorn Minister of Finance was an assassin?”

“…So it would seem.”

Haineken looked at the bound minister beneath him with conflicted eyes.

“You sensed it too?”

“Yes. I can roughly guess what transpired. The Royal Family must have been compromised by them as well.”

His words left everyone aghast, unable to close their agape mouths.

An entire nation having fallen under the Demon Lord’s control while maintaining appearances for 20 years – it was a horrific prospect.

Vielorn was infamous for investing exorbitant resources into intelligence-gathering to an abnormal degree. Only now did their actions make sense.

“Those present must remain silent about this grave matter concerning the allied forces. I request your cooperation.”

The inspection party and Headmaster nodded solemnly. There was no need to worry about the inspection party, and the Cradle’s instructors would follow the Headmaster’s lead.

“What will you do from here?”

Eloah asked, her eyes shining with cold composure befitting the World Tree’s Guild Master.

“Upon returning, I will conduct an investigation before invoking my authority as a hero to initiate an inquisition. Remain discreet during that preparatory period.”

“…Isn’t an inquisition just turning a blind eye?”

“…”

“The target is Vielorn itself. Resolving this through their legally-established systems will be impossible.”

“No.”

Haineken raised his head.

“Vielorn isn’t the Royal Family.”

His previously slouched shoulders tensed with resolve.

“The citizens are Vielorn itself.”

His eyes burned with unwavering determination, resembling a wild beast’s gaze.

The atmosphere shifted. Some stroked their bristling arm hair apprehensively.

They could sense it.

‘War is coming.’

For Haineken, the ‘White Tiger’ of Vielorn, it would become a long, lonely battle.

“…Will you require reinforcements?”

“Being geographically proximate, I may request some assistance from Skeletonia. But I assume the senior will readily lend his full support as well.”

“Ah…”

Eloah nodded silently.

The Immortal Army – they could provide Haineken tremendous aid.

Then Doyun’s subdued voice rang out, drawing everyone’s gazes towards him.

“I can assist you.”

Such brazen words from a mere student. And yet, strangely, they didn’t sound outrageous at all.

There were no guarantees the Demon Lord’s spies only existed within the Royal Palace. Perhaps Haineken’s guild harbored moles too – highly likely, in fact.

If Doyun’s hunch about the assassin’s true allegiance was correct and he was concealing it, any important figures interrogating him could potentially fall victim. It would be a grave incident.

Rather than risk that, it would be safer for Doyun to retrieve the highest-grade confinement item he had stashed in a continental vault somewhere.

Doyun provoked the minister via telepathy.

[Hey there. Did you perhaps see me 100 years ago?]

“…!”

At those words, the minister, who had been lying limply until then, abruptly raised his head.

“Wh, what? Why is this bastard acting like this?”
“Student Han Doyun! Fall back!”

The minister’s wildly dilated pupils trembled violently, as if struck by an earthquake.

‘So it’s you… you’re really…!’

Had the deity played some trick? Hadn’t this existence been erased when the System was created? Just when had they pulled such a stunt?

He was terrified – of the horrors from a century ago repeating, of those hands once again reaching for the Demon Lord’s neck.

‘No…!’

He had to kill him. Prevent him from ever reaching the Demon Lord, from harming that sacred form. No matter what, he had to die here.

The minister’s blood began to boil. The blood in his veins vaporized, reverting to its primordial mana form.

“Wh, what’s going on!”
“Why is this happening all of a sudden!”

As the minister’s eyes rolled back and he convulsed, those around him recoiled in panic, his protruding veins pulsing beneath his reddening skin.

Though distant, Haineken sensed the shift and rushed over, but it was already too late.

‘Die, Ruszvolnik!!’

Simultaneously as his ivory javelin severed the minister’s head, the curse completed its incantation.

“No!!”

Accompanying Haineken’s scream as he reached out towards Doyun, the blood-red curse pierced Doyun’s heart.

And in that moment.

Fizzle-

‘…Huh?’

The curse dissipated.

‘…What was that?’

Contrary to expectations, Doyun patted his chest in bewilderment at the curse’s spontaneous disappearance.

Haineken, who had lunged towards Doyun, gripped his shoulders tightly.

“This damn…!”

“Wha, what just happened?”

“A curse! Healers! Mages! Everyone, over here now!”

The previously calmed scene descended back into chaos.

‘…Why did it dissipate?’

Amid the tumult, Doyun could only tilt his head in bafflement at the inexplicable phenomenon.

+++

Two weeks had passed since the assassination attempt on the boss monster killer.

The 8th week at the Cradle drew to a close.

Resplendent carriages waited with bated breath, tightly clutching their contract papers as the Cradle’s gates prepared to open.

Today marked the Cradle’s final day – and the day the recruitment war for the boss monster killer would unfold.