Don’t Look for the Resurrected Villainess - Chapter 255
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 255
There were several branching paths.
Though there were no signposts or guides, I could instinctively tell what lay at the end of each path.
‘Did every knight stand at this crossroads?’
With that thought, I stood blankly at the crossroads, gazing at what lay beyond in the distance. It was an endless horizon.
As I stared at the paths lost in thought, a faint voice came carried on the wind.
《When you reach this end, you shall be reborn in the form you desire. A life of abundance begins, guaranteed with wealth and glory alongside the family that loves you—what greater rest could there be?》
A long red carpet was laid out on the first path that had been empty. At its end stood a magnificent mansion, with sounds of happy laughter coming from beyond the walls.
Some kind of banquet seemed to be taking place inside, as petals occasionally fluttered up into the sky.
So what could be gained at the end of that path was the beginning of a fairy-tale life. I withdrew my gaze without needing to see more.
Then once again, a voice rang out.
《Or perhaps you could return to the moment you desire and gain the chance to change everything.》
The second path was dyed blue. It was a mysterious and dreamlike light. Fireflies that seemed to have brought the Milky Way itself sparkled and captivated the eye.
《If you could make up for everything at the time and place you desire and create a perfect ending, that would truly be comfortable rest.》
To think they could send me back to the past—such power was truly remarkable. I suppose this was what divine power meant.
Even as I gazed at the path with my lips twisted into a crooked smile, I didn’t move a single step.
As if I’d go back to the past like some madman. I didn’t want to go through all that suffering twice, nor did I want to face again the faces of those humans I’d barely managed to shake off.
The moment I felt intense revulsion rising, a warm breeze blew from the third path.
《Everything is meaningless. Deep sleep is absolute and perfect peace.》
A white, smooth marble path stretched out. At its end was a pure white door.
《My poor child, you can finally lay down all your heavy burdens and entrust yourself to peaceful death—what is there to hesitate about?》
Was that end eternal death? Neither reincarnation nor regression.
Suddenly I remembered when I had climbed the guillotine. That day when I had given up on everything and silently listened to the condemnation poured on me while offering my neck.
The priest asked if I had any last words, and I answered then.
“…Creator, have mercy.”
《I grant you the most perfect and complete rest, so you need only rest in peace.》
As if answering my murmur, the voice came once more on the wind.
To rest in peace. That this was the most perfect and complete rest.
Honestly, it would be a lie to say I wasn’t tempted. At that end, there would be nothing to torment me, and I would never again be held back by any troublesome things.
But that was all.
Having nothing meant that while there would be nothing I disliked, there would also be nothing I liked.
I slowly stepped backward.
The three brilliantly shining paths before my eyes were tempting me, but my heart wasn’t drawn to any of them.
《Birth tormented you, yet how could it be proper to continue life relying on his power!》
Wind wrapped around me. Brushing up my fluttering hair roughly, I turned around without regret.
Though there was no path, I began walking aimlessly. The three shining paths gradually grew distant.
Wind blew endlessly from behind me.
《You could simply cast everything aside and be born anew—such foolish attachment.》
《How could the final power belong to you alone? Your choice will greatly affect all life that has deferred its rest.》
《If you choose while swept up in phantom emotions, you must live the rest of your life relying on a wicked shell.》
《This is the last chance—never again will such miraculous power be exercised for someone’s sake, so you must be prudent.》
The wind whispered endlessly in my ear. The more it did, the wider my stride became.
《How pitiful. The poor knights will regain their noble souls yet awaken as monsters because of you.》
At the words that followed like a threat, my steps stopped short.
Feeling that I had been persuaded, the voice endlessly tried to guide me back to the three shining paths.
《You surely don’t truly wish for them to maintain their monstrous forms. If you let go of your attachment, their rest too will become perfect.》
“That means…”
Wetting my dry lips with my tongue, I smiled faintly.
“My knights want to remain on earth even in monster form.”
The Dura’han who had disappeared before my eyes and whose fate I couldn’t know were deferring their own rest before those shining crossroads, waiting for me.
If I remained, they would remain too.
“Past or future, I don’t need any of it.”
They too wanted me to choose the present.
A strong wind struck my back like a blow. But I stood firm and raised my head. Glaring at the empty sky where nothing could be seen, I replied fiercely.
“I’m going back.”
I’ll travel around eating sweets with my precious ones.
“So goddess or whatever, get your hands off me and get lost.”
* * *
When I opened my eyes again, the world was still unchanged.
It was still full of all sorts of tiresome things, with humans who had set their eyes ablaze wanting to use me scattered everywhere.
The fortunate thing was that having been resurrected once, I could respond more skillfully the second time.
The first thing I did upon opening my eyes was to pick up a scrap of cloth lying around and wrap it around my head and face.
The place where I opened my eyes was an isolated body disposal site that the Empire usually used to dump criminals’ corpses.
It was also the very place where I had been left after my beheading.
“No matter how detestable, to treat a person like this…”
I was about to voice my complaint but ended up swallowing my sigh and closing my mouth.
When I looked around just in case, my power had completely disappeared.
The scar on my neck remained, but seeing how I staggered after just a little walking, it seemed my strangely robust stamina had been taken away.
[Gasp, it’s a living human!]
[Eek! Run away!]
As I was examining my limbs, I casually turned my head toward where the sound came from. I saw several gray mice quickly hiding themselves, dragging their long tails.
Ah, at least this crazy ability to communicate with everything hadn’t disappeared.
I got up to leave this place. Whether the goddess had thrown my body to the ground when she sent me back, my whole body ached.
Making groaning sounds as I barely managed to get up, I sighed while holding my throbbing head.
“For something called rest, this is…”
I can see the path of hardship all too clearly from the start.
* * *
The ring communicator I had shared with Jeon was broken.
It was amusing that among all this, Roam’s ring containing my wealth was perfectly fine.
At this point, Dekin’s skills were becoming questionable, but I couldn’t confront him about it right now. More important was recovering my body.
Because of my terribly weakened stamina, I couldn’t just set out on a journey like before.
So I stayed at a nearby inn to recover while making plans for the future.
‘The final destination should be Beladia Castle.’
Jeon would be waiting anxiously for me at Beladia Castle, so I should depart as soon as my body recovered somewhat.
‘It would be nice if I could contact him directly.’
Fiddling with the completely non-functional communication ring, I felt anew how alone I was.
Somehow it reminded me of the first time, when I was resurrected at the guillotine. Back then I had left aimlessly without a destination, and now I had a clear destination, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that it was somehow similar.
Perhaps it was because I had to find and gather the Dura’han again on the way to the castle.
As I tapped the tip of my knee with my index finger while pondering, I glanced out the window.
This was the capital. The body disposal site was near the execution ground to begin with, and that execution ground was set up on the outskirts of the capital.
‘Seeing that I opened my eyes here, the Dura’han probably aren’t at Beladia Castle either.’
It was more likely they were waiting for me at the place where I had first gathered them.
I didn’t think I could meet all the Dura’han again. I couldn’t be certain whether they would be waiting for me or even remember me.
But I decided to set out to find them anyway.
Having done it once already, the second time would be easier.
“Hey, you there, brown mouse. I’m talking to you.”
[Huh? Huh?]
“Yes, you.”
I stared at the mouse hole in the corner of the inn room as I spoke.
A mouse cautiously poked its head out from beyond the hole and sniffed in my direction.
“Let me ask you something.”
[Huh?]
“Do you have many friends?”
Bak was waiting for me at the Imperial Palace, and Minte had come looking for me from the capital.
Since I’m awake in the capital, it would be good if I could find those two first and take them with me.
“There’s a monster I’m looking for. Could you help me find it?”
[Mo, monster?]
“I’ll buy you food in return.”
To lure animals for a while, I should probably buy some raw meat, vegetables, and fruits. I also need to buy a small separate space dimension magic tool and prepare for travel.
“If you don’t want to, could you introduce me to any animal or insect with many friends? Monsters are fine too.”
[What, what are you talking about?]
Mouse looked up at me with bewildered eyes. Confused emotions subtly leaked through its squeaking cries.
“Birds would be even better.”
[…You’re a crazy human…]
The brown mouse muttered in a frightened voice while sniffling. Regardless of that, I busily prepared to go out.
There were many things I needed to buy for long-term travel ahead.
Finally, the very first thing I needed to do was decided.
First, let’s go shopping.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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