I Became a Veteran Who Has to Stir Up Trouble to Survive - Chapter 65

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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[065] Old Journal
“And so… after Karen defeated the Vine Hydra with her magic, you managed to escape?”
“Yes, it was quite a close call.”
“Truly remarkable! To subjugate a monster whose level nearly reaches triple digits… I would be grateful if you could document this directly in the report.”
The man who had guided us initially couldn’t hide his admiration and astonishment as he heard the full account.
Beyond the tent, which carried an air of bureaucratic formality, I could sense the bustling movement of mages passing back and forth.
However, just as I was in the midst of drafting the report, someone suddenly burst through the tent entrance with a rough gesture.
“The Distorted Space has been eliminated?!”
The mage who had intruded stared at us and the Guide in turn, his voice filled with disbelief.
“I heard that personnel dispatched from outside resolved it in an instant! Then what exactly have we been doing for the past several weeks?!”
“Well, that is….”
The Guide attempted to make excuses while breaking into a cold sweat, but the mage dismissed him with a wave of his hand as though his words were worthless.
His gaze, wounded in pride, turned toward our party.
“Hmm… fortunately there’s a mage among you. From the Tower of Wisdom, I see… wait?”
The mage’s eyes flickered faintly as they fell upon the seal embroidered on Karen’s robe.
“The Ignas Family? You’re definitely that troublemaker….”
“The nephew of Grand Mage Belmont also contributed significantly to conquering the Distorted Space. This party was directly designated by Grand Mage Belmont himself.”
“Hmm…? That elder is not one to take interest in a mere Adventurer Party. The fact that he sent along a blood relative speaks volumes.”
The mage swept his gaze across us with a puzzled expression and posed his question.
“How exactly did you resolve the Distorted Space? Countless mages have attempted to dispel the magic binding the Mansion, yet all have failed.”
“There was a hidden space beneath the Mansion. By exploiting loopholes not specified in the rules, we were able to resolve it.”
“What obstacle blocked the final gateway?”
“We eliminated the Poison Vine Hydra using flame magic.”
“Flame magic, you say… It doesn’t seem likely that the Ignace Family Young Lady would willingly undertake such a task. There must have been a strategist orchestrating the whole affair.”
The mage’s gaze fixed upon me.
He looked me up and down, then raised the corners of his mouth as though finding something intriguing.
“Does your party have a name?”
“Not yet.”
“…Is that so?”
The mage stared at me for a moment before leaving a cryptic remark.
“You should consider creating one soon.”
With only those words, he abruptly departed the tent.
‘What was that about?’
I understood why the mages felt their pride wounded—a problem they had clung to for weeks without resolution, we had unraveled in merely two or three days.
Still, I was grateful they hadn’t escalated into outright confrontation.
As I continued the report with an uneasy feeling, I reached the final item.
‘Rewards obtained from within the Distorted Space.’
The moment I paused my pen, the Guide added supplementary information.
“I understand the three of you each received a specially modified crossbow, a recovery potion, and a magical artifact. Did you obtain any items from the Distorted Space as well, Doran?”
I quietly set down my pen and answered.
“I didn’t receive anything.”
“….”
For a moment, I felt my companions fall silent and exchange cautious glances.
Fortunately, the man didn’t suspect anything and simply nodded.
“I see. That’s unfortunate. Once you’ve finished drafting the initial report, I’ll collect it. Now, let’s discuss the matter of the reward payment….”
“Ah… wait a moment. We already collected compensation from the Distorted Space. Are you saying you’ll give us a separate reward on top of that?”
“Of course, Radi. Everything you obtained from the Distorted Space is entirely yours, and what we’re providing is the formal compensation for the commission. Since you prevented what could have become a major catastrophe, it’s only right that we reward you for that achievement.”
The Guide extended a piece of parchment with the amount written on it, and Radi’s eyes widened.
“This… this much?”
“The Mages tend to be quite generous with their spending. In return, we’d appreciate it if you could prepare the report with a bit more care.”
“Of course!”
Radi eagerly began moving the quill across the parchment with swift strokes.
* * *
Alone in the quiet Tent, I returned to my Lodging and retrieved the item I’d obtained from the Distorted Space.
An old book bound in black leather.
‘I couldn’t bring myself to open it in front of my companions….’
I had no idea what contents might be written inside.
At least, judging by the complete absence of magical energy emanating from its exterior, it didn’t seem to be the type that would trigger a trap upon opening.
“Well… I suppose I have no choice but to check it myself.”
I rested one hand on my sword hilt, ready to respond to any sudden danger, and carefully opened the pages.
And there—.
“Huh…?”
Nothing was written on it.
Only desolate blank pages greeted me.
Just to be sure, I held the book upside down and shook it vigorously, but nothing fell out—only dust scattered into the air.
“What… what is this? Was there some mistake?”
I’d given up other valuable equipment for this? A blank notebook?
My past self wouldn’t have left this behind just to use as a pot holder.
I adjusted the reflector of my lantern to maximize the light and examined the pages carefully.
‘There’s… definitely some trace of writing here.’
Looking closely at the individual sheets, I could faintly make out indentations left by the pen tip.
But the marks were so faint that it would be impossible to make a rubbing by placing paper over them.
“Does the writing only appear when certain conditions are met? Some special skill, perhaps?”
If I took it to an appraiser, I’d have no idea what content might suddenly appear.
If anything sensitive emerged, it would only complicate matters.
After struggling with it alone, I reached a conclusion.
“Let me sleep on it for now. Something might come to me then.”
The accumulated fatigue was pushing me to the brink of collapse.
I tossed the book onto the bedside table and collapsed onto my hammock.
But while tossing and turning, I accidentally knocked over my water cup.
“Eek…!”
I startled and quickly grabbed the book.
But then….
“Huh? Wait… it’s completely dry?”
There wasn’t a single trace of moisture on the book’s cover.
The cup was clearly empty, as if it had absorbed all the water….
‘…Could it be.’
I immediately rushed out of the Tent and headed to the adjacent Tent.
“What, what?! Why are you suddenly barging into someone else’s Lodging?!”
“I’m borrowing this for a moment!!”
I snatched the inkwell from Karen’s Lodging and hurried back.
Carefully pouring ink over the book and opening the pages, the absorbed ink slowly transformed into letters that rose to the surface.
Texts composed of dates and brief event summaries.
‘Is this… a journal I wrote in the past?’
Though many sections were worn and faded, making them difficult to read properly, I carefully deciphered each character one by one.
[Year 627 of the Old Calendar, June 13th. Cycle 17 –
Failed.
]
Reason for failure. I couldn’t save Malton again. No matter how many times I regress, I cannot revive Malton. Is there truly no way to break the curse that binds him?
[Year 683 of the Old Calendar, March 27th. Cycle 24 –
Failed.
]
Reason for failure. Radi died. In that critical moment, Radi inhaled the Corrupted Lord’s serum and saved the Party. She must have known she would perish… How many times has she made this sacrifice now…?
[Year 127 of the New Calendar, December 21st. Cycle 46 –
Failed.
]
■■■ died. On the day they suffered critical wounds during the final battle with Leviathan, I exhausted all my divine power to transfer my life force to save them. If only I had been stronger, this wouldn’t have happened.
[Year 572 of the Old Calendar, August 12th. Cycle ■■■ –
Failed.
]
■■ died. When the Party was cornered, they incinerated the Evil God with flame magic and perished together. We were so close to the final stage, yet I failed again.
With trembling hands, I turned each page, and the handwriting grew increasingly erratic.
Every ink mark carried such heavy self-reproach and regret that the monologue continued relentlessly.
When combined with passages written in an incomprehensible language or sections too faded to decipher, the records approached at least three digits in page count.
Beyond this, there were diverse records—fierce battles against powerful monsters, blood-soaked conflicts with demons, and even combat against entities of unknown origin.
‘Did my past self really regress this many times….’
This journal depicted the desperate journey of a man who, through repeated failures and regressions, accumulated knowledge and bonds with comrades, gradually overcoming enemies that seemed impossible to defeat.
It was striking that Malton and Radi were consistently mentioned throughout the journal, but there were other figures who appeared periodically as well.
‘Could it be… these are the comrades I’ll meet in the future…?’
There was one keyword that appeared with particular frequency in the journal.
Bows, Holy Power, Flame Magic—I even glimpsed entities that appeared to be monsters.
One thing was certain: my past self possessed a clear objective.
The mention of a “final stage” and the sheer magnitude of sacrifice suggested I harbored an overwhelming purpose and mission.
Yet I soon confronted a fundamental paradox.
Why was it that I….
“…why can’t I remember anything now?”
My past self had meticulously documented these records through countless regressions.
But I retained no memory of any of it.
I didn’t even know which iteration of life this was, and before discovering this Mansion and its diary, I hadn’t grasped that I was regressing at all.
The answer to that question lay in the diary’s final soliloquy.
My memories grow increasingly hazy.
The recollection of my first regression feels distant. What if I forget everything? What if I simply cease to exist?
Damn it… I’m struggling to remember the names of my comrades from the previous cycle.
In this life, I failed to recognize Radi for quite some time after meeting him.
My companions’ cries no longer pierce my heart.
The enemies I must defeat are gradually fading from my consciousness.
How many attempts has this been…? What was I even regressing for…?
If this continues, I will truly lose all memory and dissolve into oblivion.
Will I become like the inhabitants of this world—a broken cog, stripped of all recollection?
Few chances remain. Soon I’ll forget even the existence of this diary.
Beyond that, countless anguished soliloquies continued.
A man’s desperate cries—unfamiliar yet strangely intimate—struggling against the erosion of memory with each regression.
As I reached the final page and prepared to close the book with a heavy heart, ink-stained words materialized before my eyes.
Listen carefully, Doran. I know you’re there.
I flinched, confirming no one was nearby before reading the words that had emerged on the final page.
Time is running out.
If you feel as though you’re seeing this diary for the first time, then this is your last chance.
Unfortunately, you must recover your own memories.
Find your scattered companions.
Prevent the catastrophe that approaches.
Then you’ll naturally come to understand.
Who you are, and what you must do.
I wish you luck.
Ding—!
｢A new Main Quest has appeared!｣

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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