By Zephyria =======
Part 3
reconnect()
restore.snapshot
The winter sky is flat, like a blue plank. The air is dry. Every child playing in the open lot has cracked lips. A thin sheet of ice trapping pale weeds is trampled indiscriminately by small feet.
The tribal children’s playground was a small clearing at the edge of a dense forest. In front of a dark, narrow path leading to the mountains, a large pile of stones sat solitary. This rock pile, which had appeared suddenly a few years ago, was known among the children as the ‘Cat’s Grave.’ This was because the tribe’s communal cemetery was located elsewhere.
‘A cat that was loved for a long time by an old grandmother died. The grandmother came here in the middle of the night, shedding tears, and buried the cat.’ On the day they first discovered the mound, the children reached that conclusion and offered prayers with solemn hearts.
“Goose! Goose!”
“Got you! Now you’re the fox!”
“Stop right there! Goose!”
The children shouted as they chased one another. The youngest little one got a smack on the back and ended up becoming the fox.
“Stop right there!”
“No way, Mr. Fox!”
Far away from the rowdy children, the Cat’s Grave suddenly shook slightly. The faint movement soon turned into a violent heaving. The topmost stone fell with a thud. The children chasing each other stopped instantly. Gazes of astonishment rained down upon the Cat’s Grave.
Meanwhile, the stones were flying in all directions. It was a sight akin to someone violently stripping off clothes that didn’t fit. The soil that had filled the gaps between the stones crumbled into fine pieces. A cloud of pale dust rose. Finally, with a thwack!, a large fist burst through the rock pile and soared upward.
“Aaaah!”
The children screamed in unison. Before the terrified children, the rock pile collapsed in a heap. Following that, a man’s head pushed through the loose earth. On a face covered in black soil and gasping for air, only the whites of the eyes shone clearly.
“Aaaah!”
The children turned and fled all at once. Trails of yellow urine followed the sound of their urgent footsteps.
“Dammit.”
Black Weasel spat out some dirt.
“That Attendant bastard… not bad.”
After uttering a short curse, he leaped out of the ground. When he scratched his face with his finger, white streaks remained.
“That goddamn piece of shit, taking advantage of me being empty-handed to land the first blow? If only I’d had my axe…”
Black Weasel shook his entire body like a wet dog. Fluffy clouds of black soil billowed out.
“You Attendant bastard, I won’t be fooled this time. I’m going to twist that neck of yours while you’re still alive. Fuck, but why is it so cold?”
As he wrapped his arms around himself, he felt something strange. Looking down, there was nothing covering his body except for dust and dirt. Why am I naked in the dead of winter… Uh, wait?
Black Weasel blinked and looked up at the sky.
Didn’t I… get my head chopped off by that Attendant bastard?
It had been cut so quickly that consciousness remained. Even after the neck had left the shoulders. Roughly, for as long as it takes to down a glass and strike a blow?
Only the head had flown high into the air. That sensation of fierce gliding was so vivid and ecstatic that for a moment, he had mistaken himself for an eagle. And then, splash. Black, cold water. A slow descent. The memory ended there.
But I’m alive? Moreover, I just dug myself out of the ground. What the hell is…
The question couldn’t continue. An unexpected voice drove itself into his ear.
〔Reward distribution complete.〕
“Gah, fuck!”
Black Weasel jumped.
〔According to the established regulations, the reward
“Who are you!”
Black Weasel spun around. No one was visible. Yet the voice sounded clear, as if someone were speaking right into his ear. Just as a chill was about to run down his spine, a sudden sense of déjà vu hit him. Along with it, memories rapidly snapped back into place. Skeleton wraiths. Tasks. And…
‘If you perform the tasks well, your Master will grant you a reward. Then, you will be sent back to where you originally were.’
Could this be the reward?
〔It appears your memories have not been fully restored. I will explain later.〕
“No! I remember everything! Explain it now!”
〔Understood. Accelerating explanation.〕
The tone of the voice quickened.
〔
〔This World does not recognize those who have been resurrected more than once as an ‘existence.’ Therefore, from the 2nd resurrection, the artificial regeneration period for the body and consciousness takes 5 years. All related records of the subject are classified as ‘existence erasure items’ and vanish from This World.〕
“What kind of bullshit is this?”
〔Difficulty in understanding information confirmed. Re-transmitting as a summary.〕
〔If you die, you will be resurrected 5 years later. Total of 3 times per lifetime. It is not free. All records, memories, names, and connections regarding you are erased or distorted. In This World, you become ‘one who never existed from the start.’〕
Black Weasel gasped. Resurrection is amazing enough, but he could even scrub his past as a contract killer?
“Really?! That’s the best! I’m glad I died!”
〔Positive reaction confirmed. Are you illiterate?〕
“What do you take me for? I’m fluent in two languages, for your information.”
〔Confirmed. Opening ‘Mirror Document’ now for accurate and continuous transmission.〕
A white panel opened before Black Weasel’s eyes like a flower calyx. Text streamed down.
〔Accessing Mirror Document…〕
〔Connection complete. Starting document viewing.〕
〔Subject: You〕
:: Distribution Details: 〔Cycle〕
:: Remaining Uses: 3 total
:: Activation Condition: Cessation of life activities :: Reconstruction Origin: 〔Neck〕 — Coordinate for physical restoration :: Reaction:
— Subject’s ‘existence’ item is erased from world perception — All records, memories, names, and connections are distorted and erased :: Non-regenerable Condition: Neck damage of 60 calden or more :: Progress History:
— 1st time: Authorization complete
:: Remaining Available Uses: 2 times
✧ World Reaction:
– Erasure and distortion of all subject’s information and memories => Completion confirmed – Determination and action for key related parties => Completion confirmed Key Related Party 1: 〔Silver Wolf〕
>> Connection Boundary Value: 97 calden >> Status: Confirmed highest lifetime intersection frequency with 〔You〕
>> Action: Classified as “Common Origin Entity”
=> Erased from world perception along with 〔You〕
Key Related Party 2: 〔Silver Wolf〕
>> Connection Boundary Value: 22 calden >> Status: Confirmed as the entity decisively involved in 〔You〕’s death Same name as Key Related Party 1
>> Action: All remaining memories related to 〔You〕 erased and distorted => Allowed to be maintained within the normal flow of the world ✧ Other Related Parties:
– Connection Boundary Value: 20 calden or less – Action: All remaining memories related to 〔You〕 erased and distorted => Allowed to be maintained within the normal flow of the world Black Weasel’s entire body turned cold. Silver!
“Silver! Where is Silver!”
〔What is that?〕
“Don’t play dumb! The first Silver Wolf in that document is Silver! Tell me where he is!”
〔The information regarding Silver Wolf listed in the Mirror Document is a record of This World’s reaction left by the observation device of
〔I am your dedicated tool. I do not know about any individuals other than you.〕
Even in his state of extreme agitation, Black Weasel paused.
“A tool? You’re a wraith, aren’t you? The one attached to me…”
〔Incorrect. I am a tool.〕
“But you’re talking?”
〔Think of me as a talking quill or a talking spoon. I am a tool integrated into your biological system.〕
“So that’s the same thing… Huu, huu…”
Black Weasel closed his eyes and steadied his breathing. He was furious that he didn’t have a physical body to beat that wraith bastard senseless.
〔I manage your post-mortem regeneration and restoration. My functions were activated upon your death.〕
“Then did you bury me here? Because I need my neck to be resurrected?”
〔Misunderstanding. I do not possess physical manipulation abilities.〕
“Speak in a way a person can understand, damn it! Hey, you were attached to me, right? Then you must have seen this and that?”
〔Impossible. I do not have a visual sensor.〕
〔My functions are limited to your regeneration and restoration. A visual sensor is unnecessary.〕
〔Re-summarizing. I have no eyes.〕
Black Weasel blinked both eyes. Dirt dropped from his eyelashes.
“Stop talking nonsense. You read text but have no eyes? Do you take me for a fool!”
〔While it appears as text to your eyes, it is recognized by me as mutual information signals. I do have listening and speaking functions for your convenience.〕
At those words, Black Weasel’s gaze sharpened.
“So you did hear something? Speak!”
70 – Hell Execution Order