Ch.11. The Beginning of the Aftermath

The carriage rattled along.

Rattle, rattle.

Inside the carriage heading back to my hometown.

As I take in the unremarkable scenery passing by, I find myself reflecting on my peculiar life.

My current name is Deus Verdi. The second son of a count family ruling the northern Norsweden.

But if you were to ask for my original name.

Shinwoo Kim.

A 25-year-old man who lived in South Korea. Graduated from university, completed military service, worked at a company, and could see ghosts.

A young man who seemed ordinary, but was actually quite extraordinary.

My maternal grandmother was a shaman.

And not just any shaman—a powerful and mystical one. When she saw me, she reportedly left these words:

“His spiritual energy is too strong. Tsk, if he doesn’t follow the path of a shaman, this child will be ruined.”

My mother, who had always been troubled by my grandmother, naturally didn’t believe it, but that was a mistake.

Could a boy who had seen dead people his entire life develop proper emotions?

Could anyone remain sane when yesterday’s classmate who died in an accident comes back to school and chokes you for ignoring them?

Could anyone avoid trauma when every night, someone who fell to their death from an apartment building climbs up your window saying they want to live?

Thanks to all this, my emotions became thin, as if worn away.

It wasn’t something that just happened as I lived.

It was something that happened so I could live.

As for why I became Deus Verdi, a character who only appears by name in the game “Retry”…

I don’t really know myself.

I initially thought it might be another ghost’s prank, but after living here for about half a year, it seemed that wasn’t the case.

So much has happened in these six months. I learned noble speech patterns and etiquette, and understanding magic was essential too.

Not everything Deus Verdi had built up disappeared. His understanding and application of magic remained within me, so it didn’t take long to adjust.

If you asked whether Deus was a genius, the answer would be absolutely not.

Not awkward, but not exceptional either.

Deus Verdi was a man of average talent, fitting for his ambiguous position as the second son of a count family.

A man with quite a lot of gossip behind him and what you might call not-so-good conduct.

Anyway.

Having become Deus, I thought I might finally become somewhat normal.

I thought these cursed eyes that see ghosts would disappear too, but that wasn’t the case.

Ironically, since the game world was set in a fantasy medieval period of swords and magic.

I saw several times more ghosts than in South Korea, which was under armistice.

[Hoho, isn’t the scenery lovely?]

Look at this now.

Though I was the only passenger in the private carriage sent by my family.

A ghost in the form of a noblewoman was suddenly sitting across from me, smiling and striking up a conversation.

“……”

[My, couldn’t you at least give me a response?]

I deliberately don’t answer.

My grandmother told me countless times that it’s not good for the living to converse with the dead.

In reality, I’ve rarely had good experiences getting involved with them.

[I know you can see me.]

The ghost stands up abruptly and approaches me.

‘Damn it.’

From my angle, I could only see her left side, but as she approached, her other side came clearly into view.

As if she had suffered burns, her entire other side was charred.

I almost closed my eyes instinctively but maintained my composure.

It was an ugly wound even among ghosts, but I was already used to such sights.

[Look at me.]

I slowly meet the eyes of the ghost who thrust her face toward mine. Her mouth splits into a wide grin with joy.

I speak quietly so the coachman won’t hear.

“Sit down.”

[Oh my? After ignoring me, now you’re being polite?]

“I wasn’t ignoring you.”

[You weren’t ignoring me?]

“I was being considerate.”

[…Considerate, you say?]

The noblewoman ghost sitting across from me tilted her head and asked. Her left side showed a truly beautiful middle-aged woman, but the other side was distorted by burns, the skin mangled with fluid still dripping.

“I thought you might prefer not to be seen.”

[……]

“I too wouldn’t want others to see the ugly parts of myself.”

[Oh my.]

“However, you possess a beauty beyond that. Not being ashamed of your weaknesses. That’s a beauty worth boasting about.”

[You’re quite the gentleman, aren’t you?]

“I’m merely stating what I felt.”

[…Thank you.]

The ghost, her face flushed, vanished. She hadn’t found peace.

Finding peace isn’t that easy, after all.

She probably just left because she was satisfied with our conversation.

“Hah.”

And this was precisely how I dealt with ghosts. Not getting pushed around here and there.

I give them the words they want to hear.

I engage in the conversations they want and offer the comfort they wish to hear.

“What a ridiculous life.”

As I stare blankly at the spot where the noblewoman disappeared, my tongue stings as if I’ve chewed on bitter herbs.

I live with emotions dulled because of them.

Yet I’m the one who comforts their empty hearts and wounds.

That was the life I now lived—a fusion of Shinwoo Kim and Deus Verdi.

*

“Wow.”

Looking around her newly acquired research office, new professor Per couldn’t help but smile.

The spacious room was clean as if brand new, and the furniture was harmoniously arranged.

“Am I really allowed to use this room?”

Having been hired due to a sudden staff vacancy, Professor Per had expected to receive just a small cubbyhole.

Erika Bright, who was introducing the research office from behind Per, nodded kindly with a gentle smile.

“Of course. We should at least do this much since you’ve come to join us, Professor Per.”

“N-no, I’m the one who should be grateful for accepting me.”

In fact, Per had been a professor at another academy. She was not only highly capable but could be called an unparalleled genius of the current era in human body-related magic.

The reason this talented woman suddenly came to Robern Academy was due to factional fighting at her previous academy.

Having focused solely on research with absolutely no interest in the political games among professors, she found herself unemployed during the most crucial period when new students were entering.

It was Erika Bright and Robern Academy who immediately snatched up Per when she was frustrated about having no place or support to continue her research.

“There might still be some belongings of the previous professor.”

“Ah, I’ll take care of that myself! I don’t really like others touching my research space.”

“Yes, if that’s what you prefer, just send me your lecture plan when it’s ready. Given the time constraints, you can reference what you used at your previous academy.”

“Yes! Thank you!”

As Erika left with a benevolent smile, Per let out a deep breath while watching her go.

“She’s incredibly beautiful.”

Well-maintained, lovely blonde hair and a selfishly perfect figure like a model.

Add to that a sunny smile, restrained etiquette, and a considerate personality.

Thinking this was exactly the image she wanted to emulate, Per looked at the full-length mirror on one side of the research office.

Her unkempt light pink hair stuck out in all directions from lack of proper care. Her skin was pallid from being cooped up in research labs, and her frame was small.

Her excessively voluptuous chest rather distorted her body’s proportions.

“Terrible.”

She stuck out her tongue at her reflection in the mirror, which looked like a vagrant brought in from the street.

Per had always disliked herself. She didn’t particularly try to hide it either.

[Terrible]

“Hm?”

Something felt off.

It was as if she heard her voice again. And from inside the mirror.

“Terrible.”

Trying once more just in case, but it seemed to be her imagination as no sound came back.

“Maybe I’m not getting enough sleep?”

Seeing her dark circles stretched down, Per stretched. It seemed like she should just do some quick organizing today and then sleep.

Lecture plan?

She could just use what she had prepared at her previous academy.

‘At most, I just need to transfer it to fit the format here.’

Thinking she could finish it quickly, Per turned her body to start unpacking, but—

“Hmm?”

She quickly turned back to the mirror.

“That was strange just now?”

Since she had turned her back, her back should be reflected in the mirror, but strangely, it felt like the Per in the mirror was still facing her.

Swish! Swish!

Moving back and forth, but the mirror is still just a mirror.

“Did the previous occupant place some kind of spell on it?”

From what she heard, the professor had been dismissed. A professor bad enough to be dismissed might have a twisted personality and could have left such a prank.

Per cautiously reached out to check, but.

“That’s not it?”

There’s no magic on it.

Rather, it’s an ordinary mirror without even a trace of mana.

“Hmm.”

Finding it strange, Per crossed her arms, and at that moment—

[Where did you go.]

“Eek!”

A small girl’s voice whispered in her ear.

She quickly turned her head, but she was still alone.

“W-what?”

But this time she definitely heard it.

Just as she was wondering what it could be—

[I said, where did you go!]

This time, a thunderous male voice erupted.

“Kyaaaah!”

Startled, Per immediately sat down. Instinctively, she cast a protective spell around herself, but—

[Where did you go!][Where are you! Where are you!][Don’t abandon us! Don’t abandon us!][Come here!][Come back to us!][I was wrong! I was wrong!][I’ll kill you!][Come here, come to me!][Enough already!][This is our land! This is my room!][Mommy!][Get away! Get out!][A female-scented bitch.][Shall I eat you?][You can’t replace them.][Just get out!][Why did you come here? Why? Why? Why? Why?]

No matter what magic she used, the voices continued unabated.

Even covering her ears with both hands, the voices rang out clearly, as if they were coming from inside her brain.

[Hey, big sister.]

“Ah, aah!”

Tear-streaked Per, trembling, very slowly raised her head at the voice calling her.

A small girl with long black hair covering the entire floor.

The girl’s hair gradually climbed up the walls, reaching the ceiling and beginning to envelop the entire room.

[Where did that person go?]

With those words, Per’s eyes rolled back, and she fainted.