Indeed, existing only in reflection, a girl depicted within the mirror-like wall.
For some reason, she was an eerily familiar sight—like seeing someone you’ve known forever…
“You are….”
“Rychlen.”
The dark-haired girl gazed at Rychlen and opened her mouth.
“Are you satisfied with your current life?”
“My life?”
What exactly was this girl reflected in the wall asking?
Though doubts swirled in Rychlen’s mind, upon seeing her calm demeanor, words flowed from his lips as if by instinct.
“As a hero, life isn’t easy, but it’s equally rewarding. That’s why I’m content with my life. Very much so.”
“Is that so? Then it’s fortunate.”
With no emotion in her tone, the girl spoke.
“I recommend you take a bit of rest. Passing through the Underworld while still alive wasn’t likely an easy task.”
“Rest? I want to recover my friend’s soul as soon as possible…”
“All your purposes will be fulfilled here. Please take a short rest at the accommodations beyond this point.”
“Rest…”
It was true; his body and mind were utterly drained after descending into the Underworld. The idea of rest felt desperately necessary.
But..
“I’d rather hurry back with my friend’s soul.”
“In your current state, you’ll collapse halfway. You need rest.”
The black-haired girl’s voice was unyielding.
“Fine, fine. I get it. I’ll take a break.”
“You made a wise decision. And while you rest, there are many stories we must share.”
“Stories?”
“Yes. Stories about you. Things you don’t know. Tales about your future. Stories about you that can only be told in the Underworld where the gods’ ears cannot hear.”
Perplexed, Rychlen tilted his head as a small inn appeared down the dark corridor.
Strangely enough, the inn looked oddly familiar to him.
—
Rychlen began resting in one corner of the inn room.
The dark girl projected on the wall watched him before lightly gesturing toward something. A small box flew over, spilling its contents: soft cloth bandages and medicinal herbs akin to those sold at the Temple of Life.
As if acting on their own, the bandages and medicine adhered to various parts of Rychlen’s body, treating his wounds.
“What is this?”
“Bandages and medicine. Guaranteed efficacy.”
“They seem fine, but why are they here in the Underworld?”
“Precautionary items, though I didn’t expect them to be used like this.”
The sharp scent of crushed medicinal herbs tickled Rychlen’s nose—it smelled like highly effective remedies from the Temple of Life.
“The effect is good. I can already feel my wounds healing.”
“Thankfully, there are no major injuries. It seems these preparations will suffice for a full recovery.”
After checking his condition, Rychlen turned to the dark girl reflected on the wall.
“So, who are you?”
“Me?”
“Yes, you. Your presence here implies a connection to the Underworld, yet I’ve heard there are only three judges in the Underworld. But you… feel different. Familiar somehow.”
After a brief pause, the dark girl responded:
“I am a fragment created by the Goddess of Life—a ‘Fragments of Spirit,’ or Gak. My name is Hades.”
“Hades?”
“Yes. Created to assist with the increasing workload of the Underworld, I oversee the domain of death under the Goddess of Life.”
“So, you’re the God of Death? Like one of the three judges?”
“Our roles differ slightly. They focus on judging souls and handling post-mortem matters. Mine involves streamlining their work, transporting approved souls, and addressing unexpected issues. If something can’t be resolved here, I immediately summon the Goddess of Life.”
“That’s quite a lot.”
“Still, aside from assisting during trials, I usually have little to do. Unless the Goddess of Life directly intervenes in underworld affairs.”
Rychlen stared at the dark girl, Hades. Her face felt strangely familiar, though he couldn’t place where.
“Have we met somewhere before?”
“No.”
“You’re cutting me off sharply.”
“To be exact, we’ve never met in this lifetime.”
“This lifetime?”
Hades nodded slightly.
“What I’m about to tell you concerns your past life—and also your future. Please listen carefully.”
And so, Hades began her tale.
Of the King of the Gods: Baal.
—
“So, you’re saying I’m the reincarnation of Baal, the King of the Gods?”
“Yes.”
“To be honest… I find that hard to believe.”
Hades nodded understandingly.
“Given how foreign the concept of reincarnation is, claiming you were once a god makes it hard to accept. I understand.”
Looking around the inn, Hades continued:
“This inn is where you stayed briefly in the Underworld before your current reincarnation. Whether it lingers in your memory, I cannot say.”
“There’s a strange sense of familiarity… Does your appearance relate to my past life too?”
“My resemblance stems not from me, but from the Goddess of Life, whom you admired in your previous life.”
“Admired?”
Rychlen tilted his head. For some reason, admiration didn’t feel right.
“If not admiration…?”
“Well, whether you believe it or not, the emotions of your past life have no bearing on who you are now.”
“Hmm. True. Past is past, present is present. But Baal? I’ve never even heard of a god named Baal?”
“Baal’s name has been erased from most histories.”
“What? Erased? Why?”
“It’s natural. When a god disappears, believers often shift their faith. Few continue worshiping a god who offers neither prophecy nor blessings.”
“But shouldn’t records remain?”
Hades shook her head.
“For ordinary gods, perhaps. But Baal was the King of the Gods—a coveted position among other deities. Many sought to erase his traces, replacing his name with their own to claim his throne.”
“Intense stuff.”
“Zeus, the god who blessed you, was one of them. In fact, Zeus went further than most, coveting even Baal’s temple in the Divine Hall.”
Zeus—the god who had blessed Rychlen long ago but now remained silent. Could this god have ties to his past life?
If so, why did Zeus bless him?
“I don’t get it. Why would Zeus bless me?”
“Perhaps to use you.”
“Use me?”
“Yes.”
Confusion clouded Rychlen’s face. Even as the reincarnation of Baal, he was just a human—albeit one of the strongest—but why would a god seek to use him?
“To explain this, I must first tell you about what the Goddess of Life intends to do.”
“The Goddess of Life?”
“Yes. After Baal lost his physical form and became a wandering soul, the Goddess of Life—who had secluded herself—reappeared, enraged by his absence.”
“Secluded?”
“There are details, but they’re irrelevant now. Anyway, the Goddess of Life was furious—not just at Baal, but at the gods who had wronged him. In her wrath, she issued a prophecy.”
“Baal’s soul will reincarnate as a human. Restore him to his divine seat. Fail, and the gods will face ruin.”
“Baal’s soul… Me?”
“Yes. You.”
Hades gazed steadily at Rychlen with unwavering eyes.
