HEO 69

Part 3

reconnect()

restore.snapshot

The winter sky was flat like a blue plank. The air was dry. Every child playing in the vacant lot had cracked lips. Thin sheets of ice trapping pale weeds were trampled by small feet.

The playground for the tribal children was a small clearing at the edge of the dense forest. A pile of stones sat all alone in front of the dark, narrow path leading into the mountain. This pile, which had appeared suddenly a few years ago, was known among the children as the “cat grave.” This was because the tribal people’s communal cemetery was located elsewhere.

“A cat that had been loved by an old woman for a long time died. The old woman came here in the middle of the night, shedding tears, to bury the cat.” On the day they first discovered the stone grave, the children concluded this and offered a solemn prayer.

“Goose! Goose!”

“Gotcha! From now on, you’re the fox!”

“Stop right there! Goose!”

The children chased each other while shouting. The youngest one got hit on the back and became the fox.

“Stop right there!”

“No, Fox!”

The cat grave, located a distance away from the noisy children, suddenly shook slightly. The small movement soon turned into violent shaking. The top stone fell. The children, who had been chasing each other, stopped abruptly. Stares of shock rained down on the cat grave.

Meanwhile, the stones flew in all directions. It was a scene resembling a person roughly throwing off ill-fitting clothes. The soil that had filled the gaps between the stones crumbled into fine particles. A cloud of dust rose. Finally, with a loud thump, a fist burst through the pile of stones.

“Ahhh!”

The children screamed in unison. The pile of stones crumbled down in front of the terrified children. Immediately, a man’s head emerged from the ground. Covered in pitch-black dirt, only the whites of his eyes shone brightly as he gasped for breath.

“Ahhh!”

The children all turned around and ran away. Yellow urine streaks followed the hurried footsteps.

“Fuck.”

Black Weasel spat out the dirt.

“That servant bastard… is quite something.”

He cursed and slid off the ground. When he scratched his face with his fingers, white streaks were left behind.

“That damned bastard, he attacked first while I was empty-handed? If only I had my axe…”

Black Weasel shook his whole body vigorously like a wet dog. Pitch-black dust clouds billowed up.

“Servant bastard, I won’t easily go down this time. I’m going to twist his neck while he’s still alive. Fuck, but why is it so cold?”

He wrapped his arms around himself, but then felt a strange sensation. Upon looking down, he saw that nothing was covering him except for dust. Why am I naked in the middle of winter…Uh, wait?

Black Weasel blinked and looked up at the sky.

Didn’t I… … get my head chopped off by that bastard?

He was beheaded so fast that he remained conscious. Even after his neck had left his shoulders. Roughly enough time to down a cup and slam it down?

Only his head flew high into the air. The sensation of that intense glide was so vivid and exhilarating that, for a brief moment, he thought he had turned into an eagle. And then, splash. Dark, cold water. A slow descent. The memory ended there.

But I’m alive? Besides, I dug my way out of the ground. What the…

The question could not continue any further. A sudden voice pierced his ears.

〔Reward distribution complete.〕

“Ugh, fuck!”

Black Weasel jumped in fright.

〔In accordance with established regulations, the reward <Cycle> has been granted to you. I will begin the explanation.〕

“Who are you?!”

Black Weasel turned around once. There was no one to be seen. Even though he could hear the voice, as if someone were speaking with their mouth pressed right up to his ear. Just as a shiver ran down his spine, he felt a sudden sense of déjà vu. At the same time, his memories rapidly returned to their place. The skeleton evil spirit. The task. And…

‘If you do well on your assignment, my master will reward you. Then I’ll send you back to where you came from.’

Is this….the reward?

〔It seems your memory hasn’t been fully restored. I’ll explain later.〕

“No! I remembered everything! Explain it to me quickly!”

〔Understanding. Accelerated Explanation.〕

The voice sped up.

〔<Cycle> reconstructs the body and consciousness after death to ultimately resurrect the individual. Granted a total of 3 times in a lifetime. However, since you died and were resurrected once immediately before entering <Our Domain>, this is effectively your second resurrection. Corresponding side effects occur starting from the second resurrection.〕

〔This world does not recognize those who have been resurrected more than once as ‘Existences’. Therefore, starting from the second resurrection, the artificial regeneration period for the body and consciousness takes five years. All related records of the subject are classified as ‘Existence Eradication Items’ and disappear from this world.〕

“What kind of bullshit is that?”

〔Difficulty understanding information confirmed. Summarized and re-delivered.〕

〔If you die, you will be resurrected five years later. A total of three times in a lifetime. It is not free. All records, memories, name, and connections regarding you are erased and distorted. In this world, you become ‘someone who never existed from the beginning.’〕

Black Weasel swallowed hard. A resurrection was incredible enough, but even his past as an assassin was whitewashed?

“Really?! That’s the best! Good thing I died!”

〔Confirmed positive response. Are you illiterate?〕

“What do you take me for? Believe it or not, I’m fluent in two languages.”

〔Confirmed. Opening the ‘Mirror Document’ now for accurate and continuous delivery.〕

A white panel opened like a flower calyx in front of Black Weasel’s eyes. Letters flowed in a continuous stream.

〔Accessing Mirror Document… …〕

〔Connection complete. Start viewing document〕

〔Target: You]

:: Payment History: [Cycle]

:: Remaining uses: Total 3

:: Activation Condition: Cessation of life activity

:: Reconstruction origin: [Neck] — Body Restoration Reference Coordinates

:: Side Effects:

― The individual’s ‘existence’ category is erased from world perception

― Distortion and erasure of all records, memories, names, and connections

:: Condition for Inability to Regenerate: Neck damage of 60 Kalden or more

:: Progress History:

― 1st Time: Authorization Complete

:: Remaining available uses: 2

✧ World Reaction:

– Erasing and distorting all information and memories of the individual=> confirmed complete

– Identification and handling of key related parties => confirmed complete

Key related party 1: [Silver Wolf]

>> Connection boundary value: 97 Kalden

>> Status: highest lifetime intersection frequency with [you] confirmed

>> Action: classified as “common origin individual”

=> Erased from world perception together with [you]

Key related party 2: [Silver Wolf]

>> Connection boundary value: 22 Kalden

>> Status: Confirmed as an individual critically involved in [your] death

Person with the same name as Key related party 1

>> Action: all remaining memories related to [you] erased or distorted

=> Allowed to remain within normal world flow

✧ Other related parties:

– Connection boundary value: 20 Kalden or less

– Action: Erasure or distortion of all remaining memories related to [you]

=> Allowed to remain within normal world flow

Black Weasel’s whole body grew cold. Silver!

“Silver! Where is Silver!”

〔What is that?〕

“Don’t pretend you don’t know! The first Silver Wolf mentioned in that document is Silver! Tell me where he is!”

〔The information regarding the Silver Wolf listed in the Mirror Document is a record of this world’s reactions left by the observation device in <Our Domain>.〕

〔I am your exclusive tool. I know nothing about anyone other than you.〕

Even in his agitation, Black Weasel hesitated.

“Tools? You’re an evil spirit? The one clinging to me………”

〔No. I am a tool.〕

“You’re talking though?”

〔Think of me like a talking quill or a talking spoon. I am a tool integrated into your body.〕

“So, that is… that…haa…”

Black Weasel closed his eyes and took a deep breath. The fact that it didn’t even have a body to beat made his anger boil.

〔I manage your post-mortem regeneration and restoration. My function was activated upon your death.〕

“Then did you bury me here? Because I need my head to be resurrected?”

〔Misunderstanding. I do not possess the ability to physically manipulate.〕

“Speak so I can understand! Hey, you’ve been clinging to me. Then you must have seen a few things by now, right?”

〔Impossible. I have no visual sensor.〕

〔My functions are limited to your playback and restoration. No visual sensor required.〕

〔Re-summarizing. I do not have eyes.〕

Black Weasel blinked. Dirt dripped from his eyelashes.

“Stop talking nonsense. You say you have no eyes while reading? Do you think I’m a fool!”

〔It appears as text to your eyes, but to me, it is perceived as a mutual information signal. I have listening and speaking functions designed with you in mind.〕

At those words, Black Weasel’s eyes sharpened.

“So you’re saying you heard something? Tell me!”