Past Life Returner

Could it be something that only happened to me?

Some Awakened thought so.

This battlefield is already fucking tough, but is the Stage of Advent going to start again?

More Awakened were tense about that.

It is weird that the collection quest’s hand-in point is designated as the association.

Most Awakened couldn’t shake off such a doubt. However, all the Awakened realized one common fact.

I can now level up again!

Seong-Il was sitting on the fortress wall, looking down at the large movement of the Awakened. A status window was also floating in the center of this view.

[Name: Kwon Seong-Il

Level: 501 (Challenger)

Affiliation 1: World Awakened Association

Position: Director (Priest of Doom Man)

Affiliation 2: Corps One

Position: Corps Commander]

Seong-Il recalled the days when he roamed the mainland of Baclan with Odin at the beginning of the Stage of Advent. At that time, he didn’t know why he was enduring such hardships alone, but later he realized that after a series of tasks were completed, the System had changed. It went from a class system to a level system, and also transformed from unconditional random boxes to conditional random boxes.

Then, He eliminated the vicious tricks embedded in the System one by one.

He must have done something again. Truly a person with no limits.

A faint smile crossed Seong-Il’s face. He couldn’t believe that he once had a friendship with such a person.

Then, a sharp feeling broke Seong-Il’s thoughts, and he shifted his gaze to the distance. It was from the place where the Corps Two had finished preparing for battle. Hera was the commander there, waiting for the order from headquarters.

A small face in the distance grew bigger with rapid speed. Both Seong-Il and Hera were basically facing each other up close. The look that Hera was giving to Seong-Il was undoubtedly a challenge.

Fuck. I should have listened to Ji-Hoon.

The opportunity was when the Fire Spirit King Seleon committed. If he had played a trick at that time, Hera would not have survived Seleon.

That was the difference between two levels.

He was Level 501, and that annoying bitch was Level 499.

Things will get a bit annoying.

Moreover, Hera’s armament was famous. Unlike him, who had to offer all his income due to the priest ritual, Hera had been focusing her greed on equipment.

“Eat this.”

Seong-Il made a fist-raising gesture and spoke behind a guy.

“Hey, bro.”

The person appointed as Seong-Il’s chief secretary was of Korean descent, but not a citizen of the Savior’s City.

“Yes.”

“Go and tell her to share some quest information. I reckon that what popped up for us must have popped up for her too, right?”

Seong-Il’s secretary found Hera as he followed Seong-Il’s glance. His face suddenly turned ghastly pale.

“That is a great idea, but will she willingly share it? Her opinion on you would be definitive.”

What Seong-Il was talking about was a reputation quest. Quests that had come to the high-level Awakened, not the lower ones, displayed reputation points. Others would not have known, but Seong-Il had a guess where these points could be used.

Two of the priests had disappeared. Osiris had become a transcendent being, not even a human anymore, and had left. Mary noona was no longer a priest either, as she had become a being worshiped by the species that used to be the Guides.

The priest positions that remained vacant were two. It was highly likely that the reputation points would be used to select the next priest.

“Well then, pretend that nothing happened and make sure the preparations are properly done.”

“I have already spent some of my own savings.”

“You spent your savings?”

“It was difficult to get the position of Mr. Caliber’s chief secretary. Please trust me. I will serve you as faithfully as if you were my own father.”

Seong-Il rolled his eyes. “Don’t just say that, but go see your parents first once the emergency order is lifted. That is what you should do. I don’t care about other things besides personality.”

The secretary couldn’t believe the Caliber would consider Awakened’s personality first instead of their capabilities. However, Seong-Il’s stern gaze was too intense to just brush off as usual department head talk.

“I will keep that in mind, so just please lead us to the right way.”

“Whatever.”

“...”

“Anyway, Tae-Han… Ahem! The command is likely going to seize this opportunity to do as much as possible. When will they ever gather like this?”

“That is true.”

“The system has opened up again, so…keep an eye on them. They are restless like dogs wanting to poop.”

Seong-Il looked at the corps waiting for the order to march and continued speaking.

“The emergency order won’t be lifted anytime soon. So if you don’t stay sharp, you will have to run after those who ran out first and suck on your fingers.”

Right then, a loud noise like a bell started ringing from the Black Castle. It was the sound signaling one hour before departure. It was the sound that strengthened their determination.

If you are a man, then you should try to reach the Ender stage.

He was not necessarily conscious of Hera. After all, the word ‘ender’ meant one who stood at the end.

Seong-Il stood up while stretching his large frame.

***

On the second day when the Awakened began their invasions in all directions, Lee Tae-Han entered outer space. He had seen it countless times in videos, but this was the first time he was observing the battlefield with his own two eyes.

On one side was a place where a wave of murderous frenzy had swept through, and thousands of corpses had already been incinerated. Hence, the mountain of corpses he had seen in the clips was no longer there.

Nevertheless, it was the land of death where fifty thousand Awakened had died in war. The wind still carried the smell of blood as it brushed past Lee Tae-Han. He then turned his gaze toward the Black Castle.

[Building: Black Castle

Defense Level: 99

Under Control: Human Corps

Owner: Odin]

As he approached the castle gates, a window inevitably popped up. The facts that the Awakened excitedly reported were true. If the current ‘defense level’ was measured under the same scale as in the Stage of Advent, then this castle was the most overwhelmingly strong structure he had ever seen. Indeed, it was incomparable to anything in his memory.

“I have restricted the mercenaries’ access.”

Lee Tae-Han was being guided by an Awakened with command level one authority. They had arrived at the so-called ‘Chamber of Authority,’ and citizens were guarding the entrance to the chamber.

Lee Tae-Han looked at them uncomfortably, and his gaze fell slightly to the side. He saw Kim Ji-Hoon sitting on the floor. Lee Tae-Han was going to say something to Kim Ji-Hoon, who was looking up at him, but stopped himself.

Anyway, he was right in front of the room that could be called His sanctuary. Instead, Lee Tae-Han spoke with a weighted voice.

“Move aside.”

However, the response was an unwelcome smirk.

“You can tell just by looking, can’t you, Mr. Chairman?”

“I was the one to name it the ‘Savior’s City.’ There is no reason for me to be lesser than you. Move.”

Then, Lee Tae-Han sent a glare not just to Kim Ji-Hoon but to other citizens as well, telling them to get out of the way.

“Ha, it is too shameless to mention that name now. He is not here. Please leave.”

Lee Tae-Han ignored him and spoke to the door.

“Great Odin, I have arrived.”

“I told you he is not here.”

Lee Tae-Han couldn’t understand why these people were wielding such power and why He allowed them to have this recognition. Mixed emotions crossed his eyes as he looked down at Kim Ji-Hoon.

Kim Ji-Hoon surely grasped his feelings, and said as if he was laughing, “Please leave. We received strict orders not to let anyone in.”

Lee Tae-Han acknowledged his mistake.

I raised them too much to the point where they are crossing the line.

Though unofficial, the citizens of the Savior’s City had been recognized as His close followers. It wasn’t that bad that Kim Ji-Hoon, who was somewhat a leader among the citizens, remained in the castle. Moreover, there was a reason to strictly protect his sanctuary, and if someone had to guard it, there was no one better than the citizens of the Savior’s City.

Since Kim Ji-Hoon’s growth had halted, Lee Tae-Han decided not to worry about him anymore. He reminded himself of the reason why he came here.

He is overseeing the System.

The situation clearly suggested that.

But it is hard to imagine what kind of power it is.

It was the power that opened the window of growth for all Awakened and issued quests. It could be defined as such in a small sense, but following the mystery of how such a thing was possible, it eventually culminated in one word.

God…

As time went on, the gap between him and Odin grew increasingly distant. At this rate, he wouldn't be able to follow the steps of Odin, who was truly heading toward the path of divinity. That was why Lee Tae-Han had hastily entered as soon as he completed the internal guidelines.

Just as Lee Tae-Han was about to turn around, a small blue light sprang from Kim Ji-Hoon’s arms. The frenzied flapping of wings went buzz—

[This little one speaks the truth. Doom Man is wreaking disaster on the foolish orcs. The reins are off. It is a bloodbath there. Very—]

[My apologies for the late introduction. Hello, Priest. I am the priest of Doom Mary, Lu-Luah.]

Then, Lulua seemed to have said something to Kim Ji-Hoon because he flicked his wrist as if to shoo it away.

[This human…isn’t his fussing adorable?]

“What is the matter?”

Lee Tae-Han did not have fond memories of these creatures either.

[Doom Mary has a message. It was supposed to be delivered to Lord Doom Man, but you know, he is too too too too scary.]

[But I couldn’t deliver it to this novice. Yikes. I have gone through such difficult days, not knowing what to do. But now, the priest of the human corps came here. Waaaah!]

“What did Lady Mary say?” he asked.

[You know the war that the human corps fought against the Elf Queen? There is a very important secret hidden there. Lady Doom barely found out. And it is…]

[And it is…]

Lee Tae-Han held his breath, waiting for it to continue.

However…

[To be continued in sixty seconds!]

Lee Tae-Han hadn’t lost his temper despite Kim Ji-Hoon’s attitude, but now a vein was bulging on his forehead that was extremely distinct and angry.

[ (☞ ՞ਊ ՞)☞ ]

[Saint Cassian knew that the war would break out from a very long time ago.]