Chương 3: Back to Averula

"Not a chance." I shot her down instantly.

"What? Why?" Halunar looked genuinely shocked, and frankly, I was shocked that she was shocked.

"Why? Didn't you just say the chosen ones can't be changed? So even if I go back, it's not like I'm magically becoming a Hero, right?"

"You can just do what you did last time, be the sixth member!"

"And what? Spend another three years as their personal doormat? Look, lady, back then I was 16, the age where you actually believe that hard work leads to 'recognition' But I'm a grown-up now. I have much better plans for my life than being an errand boy in some backwards, primitive world." As I finished my rant, the last bit of Halunar's friendliness evaporated. A chill ran down my spine. The blonde woman's gaze shifted, taking on the cold, impatient ruthlessness of a superior.

"You don't get a choice, Asher Griffin." She used my Averula name.

"You are my chosen one; now go prove you're worth the trouble. If you refuse, I'll leave you rotting in a time loop forever." Before I could even process that threat, she lunged forward, slammed her hand against my chest, and gave me a massive shove. The world pulled a 180 again. I woke up in a room that was both hauntingly familiar and deeply unwelcome. Sunlight filtered through thin curtains, illuminating a pathetic excuse for a desk and a wardrobe with a basic-tier design.

The rug looked like it hadn't been washed in a century, and the blanket covering me felt like it was woven from potato sacks, especially compared to the silk sheets on my bed back on Earth. This was Asher Griffin's room. My entire body felt like a block of ice, my limbs were useless, and every breath was a struggle, as if I'd just survived a near-fatal illness. Actually, that's exactly what happened. Asher Griffin's body had gone through a deadly fever, and the original owner didn't make it.

Just like the first time, I had hijacked a corpse that had already checked out. Asher's father was a first cousin to Marquis Griffin, but since he'd married a commoner, his status in the family was basically "bottom-tier." However, thanks to being around the same age and sharing some DNA, he became the personal lackey for the young master, Jullius - the legitimate heir to the Marquis title. This body was fragile and scrawny, looking even more undersized than I remembered.

I buried my face in my hands, utterly depressed. This crap was happening all over again. Wait... if I just die right now, do I get back to my world just as the old time? Only one way to find out. The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. I remembered this room was perched pretty high up since I had to be close to Jullius Griffin's quarters to wait on him hand and foot. Sure enough, the drop from the window to the ground was a solid 20 meters.

Without a second thought, I jumped. When it comes to the whole "dying" thing, the longer you hesitate, the harder it gets. Wind whipped past my face for a split second, but right before the impact hit, I felt my body being sucked into some invisible vortex again. Goddess Halunar reappeared, and boy, was she livid.

"You really think you can escape that easily? Don't forget, I can rewind time, and I'll always be faster than the moment your heart stops beating." I was on my knees, gasping for air, still reeling from the shock of the jump.

"Don't do anything that stupid ever again, it's just a waste of our time." The Goddess's voice suddenly softened as she tilted my chin up with her smooth, pale hand. That's when it hit me: I was in 16-year-old Asher Griffin's body, far cry from my toned, gym-honed adult self.

"Instead, be a faithful follower, and I'll grant you a favor."

"What kind of favor?" I asked. Halunar smirked.

"I can't meddle too much in mortal affairs, even Gods have their limits. But I can see things that humans can't. If you agree, I'll grant you a fraction of that divine vision." I calmed my breathing and started running the numbers. It looked like Halunar was desperate enough to come crawling back to an "extra" like me, and she wasn't going to take no for an answer. My knowledge of the divine was zilch, fighting her head-on was a losing game. I'd be better off negotiating for some perks to fuel my future plans.

"If I actually help those 'Heroes' bag the Demon King, will you send me back to my world?" I asked.

"Of course."

"At the exact moment I left? I'm not interested in returning as a dying man."

"I can make that happen too."

"And if I fail, will you just rewind the clock again? Do I get to pick the checkpoint?"

"It's not that convenient, Asher. You only get two options: either rewind to today - Awakening Day - or to the most recent Holy Prayer Day."

"Will I keep my memories, or will I be a blank slate like the others?"

"You'll likely keep them. After all, your soul belongs to a completely different timeline." Awakening Day was the day the Demon King's seal would crack. On that day, marks would start popping up on the Hero candidates. Then there was the Holy Prayer Day - the biggest holiday in Averula, when the Church opens the Sanctuary to bless the masses. It happens three times a year, marking the start of the three seasons: the Season of Winds, the Season of Rains, and the Season of Snow.

The gap between checkpoints was way too long for my liking, so I didn't think I would use the "rewind" button anytime soon. Still, it functioned as a decent psychological insurance policy. At least I wouldn't have to walk on eggshells anymore. If I screwed up, I still had a do-over. Weighting all the pros and cons, I realized I actually had a much better hand this time around than I did ten years ago. But I couldn't just play nice and roll over. I still had to squeeze a little more out of her.

"… So, what exactly is this 'favor' you're granting me? If I'm still the same useless nobody I was last time, I can't guarantee I'll do any better." Halunar went silent. She lowered her golden lashes, touched her right hand to her left eye, and pulled out a gem that shimmered like a star in the night sky. With a heavy sigh, the Goddess muttered:"I never imagined the day I'd have to go this far for a mere mortal. You'd better reclaim my dignity for me, Asher Griffin."

Then, with a casual flick of her finger, the gem flew straight into my left eye. A searing burn surged all the way to my brain. I clutched my face as my vision blurred into nothingness, with only the Goddess's resentful voice echoing from the distance.

"Honestly, I'm not even sure how this will affect a human from another world. Well... good luck, I guess..." That vortex-sucking sensation hit me again. I was really starting to hate this feeling.