Victory. And Apostle Han Doyun. 3

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As his senses gradually sharpened,

Doyun kept his eyes closed, assessing his bodily sensations.

‘My limbs are intact, and I feel no pain.’

Instead, vitality overflowed through his entire body.

Doyun activated his Dragon Heart, circulating mana throughout.

‘Immense energy lingers in my blood vessels and flesh.’

Complete healing of his previously crippled body. And tremendous residual energy within his physique.

‘I successfully used the Elixir.’

Relieved, Doyun circulated his mana through the draconic Mana Cultivation Method, striving to absorb the lingering energy.

However, that energy was too vast to handle immediately.

‘As expected of an Elixir.’

Even after expending most of its power on healing, this much remained.

He had endured hardships in his past life to acquire them, but each use reaffirmed their inestimable value.

‘For my Dragon Heart to tangibly expand in real-time…’

Having consumed it on the verge of death, a considerable amount had likely been lost already. Yet if he focused for the next few days, he could significantly raise his mana level.

After containing the energy within his body to prevent further dissipation, Doyun opened his heavy eyelids.

The familiar ceiling that greeted him was the treatment room of the Winny-Kaiser Alchemist Tower, where he had recuperated after the Tsunami Tamer incident.

Turning his head slightly, Doyun’s gaze met that of the attending novice.

“Oh, ah…!”

Startled to see Doyun awake, she dropped the vial she had been holding.

“J, Just a moment, please…!”

Flustered, she immediately dashed outside. Her fumbling demeanor suggested a recent trainee.

‘Winny must be coming.’

Likely to check his condition, Doyun thought.

However, the impending presence outside did not belong to Winny.

The one outside spoke in a gruff voice as he approached the door.

“Knock, knock.”

“…Come in.”

Still the same old geezer.

The Vagabond Hero opened the door and entered.

“Had a good rest?”

“Thanks to consuming something good, I slept very well.”

The Vagabond Hero smiled warmly, creasing the corners of his mouth.

Doyun reciprocated with a faint smile.

“Eetch.”

The old man plopped down on a chair beside the bed.

“How long has it been?”

“Not too long. Your condition was too critical to delay, so you were immediately treated after taking the medicine. Four days have passed since the war.”

“I see. Is Sir Haineken alright?”

“Following Winny’s advice, I administered an extremely small dose to him as well. Not as vigorous as you, but it should ensure his full recovery without lasting effects.”

“That’s a relief. Well done.”

Thus, amidst the Vagabond Hero’s trademark comforting and friendly atmosphere, Doyun and he exchanged brief updates.

In the midst of their conversation, Doyun sensed mana enveloping the room – an artifact preventing eavesdropping and sound leaks.

‘He’s about to broach the topic.’

As Doyun had anticipated, the Vagabond Hero abruptly dispelled his warm smile and spoke.

“…Doyun.”

Doyun met his gaze.

Gone was his trademark mischievous, grandfatherly demeanor, replaced by eyes tempered by ages and wars, eyes harboring unyielding justice.

“You’ve been an anomaly from the very beginning.”

“Have I?”

“You were no mere promising prodigy. You already possessed the air of complete mastery. From the moment you arrived, you displayed an oddly devoted support for the Alliance, accomplishing an unbelievable number of feats in a short span.”

“You’re aware I’m a Boss Monster Killer, are you not?”

“I’ve stood on the same battlefields as the two previous Boss Monster Killers. You outshine them both by far.”

But that was not all.

“Crucially… this recent war. I heard from Haineken.”

“He does seem rather generous with his praises from behind.”

“…It was no laughing matter for me, unlike you. For a six-month Apostle to defeat a Legion Commander is simply impossible. Yet you achieved it. Using Sir Hecleus’s pugilism techniques, no less.”

‘It was merely the natural course of action,’ Doyun swallowed his words.

“Haineken told me you had a strange conversation with the Legion Commander. Not missing a single detail, he recounted it all to me.”

“…”

“Doyun.”

For once, the Vagabond Hero regarded Doyun with slightly trembling eyes.

“Just who are you?”

Doyun met his gaze for a moment before speaking.

“What do you think, Sir?”

“…I have several hypotheses, but none make any sense. With you being an interdimensional being, all hypotheses become moot. The most plausible scenario would be… inheriting Sir Hecleus’s martial arts from Sir Enoch’s legacy.”

Of course, even this made no sense.

According to Haineken, Doyun had executed Hecleus’s Style more perfectly than the Legion Commander Berthe, who had reached Skill Level 8.

Doyun had discovered Razvolnic’s legacy a mere four months ago. It was impossible.

‘And above all else…’

Doyun’s conversation with the Legion Commander defied explanation.

“May I have a cigarette?”

Doyun and the Vagabond Hero lit up together.

“Phew…”

Savoring the smoke, Doyun organized his thoughts.

He could immediately brush it aside. Obfuscate as the Vagabond Hero had suggested.

However, Doyun had already made up his mind.

He had observed those who had inherited his will, the Successors. Their determination to protect the world Enoch had saved.

‘I can trust them.’

Then there was no longer any need to hide.

Doyun nodded inwardly to himself.

“Did you meet Eloah and Brudhild?”

“Yes. It seems Brudhild already knew something.”

Eloah and Brudhild?

The Vagabond Hero furrowed his brow at the unfamiliar names Doyun used, as if referring to them with disrespect.

“That will make things easier.”

No one would believe Doyun’s words. Reincarnation – it was far too preposterous, incomparable to miracles like gods, dragons, or Elixirs.

However, Eloah and Brudhild from his past life could readily comprehend, and fortunately, their current social standing was unparalleled.

Whatever Doyun said, they would corroborate. The Vagabond Hero would know this, perhaps believing Doyun’s words here and now.

Reclining on the upright sickbed, Doyun puffed on his cigarette.

Was it due to his prime condition? Or the gravity of the situation? The smoke tasted remarkably sweet.

By the time their first cigarettes had burned down, Doyun and the Vagabond Hero lit new ones.

It was time to speak.

“Sir.”

“Go on.”

Doyun exhaled the smoke weakly… no, with a sense of relief, and spoke.

“I was happy.”

“…”

An abrupt start, but the Vagabond Hero silently listened.

“The conversation we had before about Enoch’s death. It was likely not your opinion alone. Many others must have thought the same.”

Upon an individual’s demise, that individual’s world perishes with them.

Thus, Enoch, who had lived and died for the world’s salvation, had died in vain. For he could neither witness the world he had saved nor experience a lifetime of happiness.

Those had been the Vagabond Hero’s words as he advised Doyun to cherish his life.

“But your perspective seems different. Evidenced by your frenzy this time.”

“Yes. Quite different.”

“…It was merely an old man’s rigid thinking. Do not dwell on it overmuch. In the end, you achieved tremendous accomplishments in your own way…”

“Sir.”

Doyun cut off the Vagabond Hero, who had misinterpreted his intent.

Naturally. Including the Vagabond Hero himself, no one could have even conceived the true meaning behind Doyun’s words.

Doyun met the Vagabond Hero’s gaze.

As he reminisced his life, his resolute will caused his mana to flow unbidden.

“…!”

The Vagabond Hero witnessed Doyun’s eyes emit a brilliant golden luster.

“Your eyes…!”

“Sir.”

Exhaling the smoke he had inhaled, Doyun spoke.

“I was happy.”

“…!”

Initially a mere fleeting “Impossible” thought, an absurd presumption to instantly dismiss.

Yet now, the Vagabond Hero began hearing Enoch’s words differently.

“Countless cycles of death. 200 years of life. Agonizing, yet… I never once regretted it.”

“Y, You… what are you saying…”

The Vagabond Hero saw Enoch’s eyes sink deeply.

It was not an expression a man in his twenties could make.

It was… a profound gaze, as if reminiscing over a truly long time. As if recounting 200 years.

“When I set foot in the world I had saved, breathed the air here.”

“When I conversed with the people I had saved, reunited with Eloah and Brudhild once more.”

“When I witnessed you all taking my place, fighting to uphold my will.”

“I was truly happy.”

Enoch gazed at the Vagabond Hero, who still could not comprehend this reality, his mouth agape.

“Sir.”

Enoch Razvolnic, the savior of everyone including the Vagabond Hero.

He smiled faintly and spoke.

“Do you still believe my death was in vain?”