Past Life Returner

“I have not yet been resurrected.”

Lee Tae-Han understood my intention immediately. At least, he wouldn’t let the Awakened know through him.

After I sent Lee Tae-Han away, it was time to pray to Doom Kaos. I prayed that he would grant my scheme. I knelt on both knees on the floor and raised a voice of obedience toward Him.

“Oh, Almighty Lord, my Master. Your servant pleads for an audience.”

Indeed, he heard my voice.

[Your Almighty Lord, Doom Kaos, has called you.]

Whoosh-!

The stairs below were completely empty. I was on the stairs just below the pitch-black curtain. It seemed like I could be promoted to the Entegasto’s position, who had lost its divine status, if I asked now.

However, that was not why I came. Rather, it was the opposite. I corrected my posture, which had become disordered during the teleportation. I pressed both knees to the floor and recited quietly.

“The Great Silver and Black seem to be waiting for an opportunity to ambush your servant near where you battled with Old One. Could you please confirm if they are actually hiding there?”

There was no reply. It could have made Doom Kaos uncomfortable. It was evident from what Entegasto had done. This meant even Doom Kaos had an area that couldn’t be confirmed, and I wondered if I approached too hastily.

Perhaps, I should have skipped the intermediate process. There was no reason to make Doom Kaos uncomfortable, especially considering what was likely to happen. I had to be especially cautious about why Entegasto had no choice but to tear apart the old Undead Emperor. I even acquired the power to turn back in time.

The Old One wasn’t the only one who was cautious of that ability. Doom Kaos also…

“After Entegasto lost his divine status, the resurrection of the Great Blue had been confirmed. We should also suspect the revival of Silver. The Great Red, known as the Saint Jayden, is not a threat to our camp yet as he hasn’t recovered from his injuries. The Great Gold, known as Saint Cassian, is believed to be on your radar.

“However, if Silver has actually been revived, then your servant will have to face it along with Black simultaneously. While your servant was waiting for resurrection, they must have made full preparations. They might have implanted some powerful mechanism in the place where your servant must inevitably be.

“Oh, Almighty Lord, my Master. Your servant pleads.”

The conclusion was enough to raise his suspicion, so I continued, “Please relieve your servant of the burden and bestow upon me your great power.”

The curtain didn’t even shake a bit. However, the ripple that began in an instant was more violent than any other case I had ever seen.

I hastily spat out my words before it was too late, “If your power enters the battlefield as it is now, there is no doubt that my actions will be exposed. If you could withdraw your great power, then your servant can secretly infiltrate and ruin the enemy’s preparations.

I continued, “I have been a part of Elsland in the mental world. It was also a time when I was devoted to probing their abilities to later conquer Elsland. So that’s why I am asking. Elsland’s Holy Knights have the ability to perceive the moment your servants invade.”

Their capability was identical to the Awakened’s trait Explorer.

“They might have completed the barrier to prevent your servant from invading from the start. I have not tested it yet, but from my judgment, the plans that the transcendents of Elsland and the Old One could prepare are various. All I thought about while waiting for the revival was that. I was thinking of dedicating the victory to you and establishing a merit.

“The reason why Elsland has left Greenwood alone so far may have been to observe your servants and your corps. Nonetheless, they have started to move. Omnipotent Master, Doom Kaos. I am the supreme commander of the war, and I am the best one among your servants. If I fall into the enemy’s trap, then who would be able to replace me?”

The shaking curtain was slowly subsiding.

“The war started from a single land in Greenwood, and the reason why we must surely seize victory there is that the future battlefield depends on it. There may be something left from the aftermath of your fight with the Old One, or something that even you couldn’t clean up, in the area where the aftermath remains.

“If not me, then who will retrieve those and dedicate them to you? Would it be Doom Mount or Doom Caso? Or Doom Entegasto, who is left in only by its name?

“My reasons are long, but this is why we must defeat the enemy using all possible means. If you take away the great power that surrounds your servant, I will dismantle the enemy’s plots and turn their preparations into a mess, unseen by their eyes.

“If you think your servant is being worried for no reason, then please give me a command. I will join the battle and offer you the neck of the elves’ queen.”

I kept my eyes on the movement of the curtain. Only silence began to fill there, where even the slightest movement had completely disappeared. It must be a matter that even Doom Kaos, who existed in the realm of the absolute, needed to ponder.

The request to take back the power that Doom Kaos had given to me was ultimately a request to remove the restraint imposed on me! Nonetheless, that was nothing but Doom Kaos’s needless worry.

Why would I have rebelled against Doom Kaos despite the safety of the mainland originating from him? Moreover, a grand path was laid out before me as Entegasto had collapsed.

If I accomplished something here, then I would advance over the curtain. Then, I would confirm the true nature of Doom Arukuda and begin planning to eliminate it.

I shifted my gaze away from the curtain. I waited, lowering my head for Doom Kaos’s decision. However, no matter how long I waited, there was only silence. Eventually, I had no choice but to open my mouth again.

“I dare to speak, but your servant is not like the bastard Lunea or Entegasto. Please don't doubt me. What your servant fears the most is you, and next is the mainland turning back into a battlefield. If I rebel against you, then the result is clear. You will send your other servants to my mainland. Then, the Old One would do the same.

“I swear. After I defeat Silver and Black, I will surely be loyal to you. Please praise my achievement then. And please establish the Demon King’s Castle at the headquarters of my corps.”

Now, all I could do was wait. There was not a single lie in my sincerity, so I had nothing to fear, even if my mental world was laid bare.

Meanwhile, there seemed to be no end to Doom Kaos’s deep contemplation. A long time passed.

[The castle of the Human Corps has been established in Sector Thirty-three (Central Greenwood Continent).]

That message was clear evidence that Doom Kaos accepted my intentions. In our world, there was a famous phrase, ‘You make a poor decision if you hesitate too long,’ but that didn’t apply in this situation.

Yes, Doom Kaos would make the right decision.

[Common Power ‘Advent of Main Figure’ has been removed.]

[Common Power ‘Gate Formation’ has been removed.]

[Common Power ‘Purification’ has been removed.]

[The ritual of Doom Man’s priests ‘Mammonism’ has been removed.]

[Doom Man has been expelled.]

[ Name: Incarnation Na Seon-Hu

Level: 641 (Overlord) * Second Round *]

[Name: Na Seon-Hu

Level: 641 (Overlord) *Second Round*]

I could see Doom Kaos’s dark powers leaving my body.

***

Only after being thrown into Lee Tae-han’s office could I stop the thoughts I had been deliberately focusing on. I no longer needed to suppress my sincerity.

Fucking Doom Kaos. I only let him into my body once, but I ended up acting as if a greenhorn Awakened was cursed. I couldn’t believe I genuinely thought he was great and followed him for a moment.

I felt embarrassed because of the words and actions I had shown him and the thoughts I had. At the time Kaos entered my body, I resisted so much but ultimately couldn’t fully escape the influence of brainwashing.

Then Lee Tae-Han, who was waiting outside the door, rushed in. As soon as he confirmed it was me, his face seemed relieved. Then he said, “I lost the power of the priest. It seems to be related to the ritual, Mammonism.”

I explained, “From now on, we are not part of the Seven Demon Kings. However, nothing has changed. The Old One is still our enemy.”

As Lee Tae-Han was about to ask me something, he hesitated, then took out his phone. “It’s the King of Hell.”

It was a call for him, but he handed it to me. As soon as I pressed the call button, Jonathan’s urgent voice popped out.

<Jonathan: Life Vessel! Life Vessel! Speak now! Lee Tae-Han. Right now! If you know something and are hiding it, I will burn you first!>

Not informing Jonathan about the location of the Life Vessel was a mistake. Yeon-Hee should have told him before she left.

<Jonathan: You must have felt that, too! There is a problem with Odin’s well-being! From now on, the mainland will enter a wartime system. Mobilize all personnel and all supplies right now…>

“Calm down. I’m fine.”

I Had felt the silence just beyond the curtain, and I felt it again from the call. All I heard was the sound of faint breathing, which was not like Jonathan.

I casually said, “I just left the Seven Demon King Corps for a bit.”

<Jonathan: You are still good at surprising people… Congratulations on your revival, Sun.>

“I will never forget how you took care of my parents.”

<Jonathan: Revealing the battlefield situation to the public was an inevitable decision.>

“I have entrusted everything to you. Now and in the future, you are the owner of the mainland. I have no intention of going back on my word.”

<Jonathan: That’s reassuring. But… No, never mind. I will stop my congratulations here. The situation is not good.>

“Don’t cut me off, Jonathan. I have entrusted the mainland to you. The mainland should be the top priority, even over me. Even if I am in a critical state… If there comes a moment when you have to choose between me and the mainland, you must choose the mainland.>

<Jonathan: You must know that is impossible.>

I sternly said, “Jonathan.”

<The mainland relies entirely on you, Sun. Don’t forget that. If you are in serious danger, then I have no choice but to mobilize everything I can by using the authority you entrusted to me to the fullest.>

“…….”

<Jonathan: It is the worst-case scenario, but at that time, that would be the only way to protect the mainland. So, Sun. You must win.>