If I had to choose the most surprising memory since coming to this world, the top one would undoubtedly be when the [Priest of Corruption] unexpectedly appeared as the first boss.
The four wings that blocked out the moon. Hundreds of Chaos Insects swarming the northern region. And the [Priest of Corruption] standing against the backdrop of flames...
These memories still occasionally sneak into my dreams.
After spending a year preparing to see the original ending and gathering all three of my juniors, I was utterly shocked when that black lizard suddenly appeared with a smug "Hehe, not even close" attitude.
"Well, I guess nothing that happens now will be worse than that. So, I’m not as easily surprised anymore."
A man grows through despair. No matter how much you forget about Romance of the Three Kingdoms , the truth remains unchanged.
Besides that, if there were other moments that greatly surprised me...
Hilde's sudden confession, Hilde's surprise kiss, Hilde's surprise wedding, and so on.
"... It feels like Hilde has been taking up a lot of space."
Anyway, aside from Hilde's outrageous actions, I thought there was nothing left in this academy city that could really surprise me.
But it turns out that the cliché about airheads is true. Today, my confidence was shattered.
I felt my heart drop to my feet again, like a startled pink airhead, trembling uncontrollably, as I had to ask,
"What... did you just say...?" "Jinsu! Jinsu—! Jinsoo! Abuu—☆"
There's no mistake. That little kid just said "Jinsu."
... That was my name in my previous life.
Hearing it made my mind go blank.
"..."
A few minutes ago... when Nella, the head of the Theology Department, suggested that Albite and I take turns having a one-on-one meeting with the [Spirit of the Sword], I had confidently volunteered to go first and arrived at the meeting place where no one else was.
There, in Nella’s arms, was the [Spirit of the Sword].
But as soon as I arrived, that pink-haired little kid nonchalantly called out my name from my previous life.
There was no time to prepare myself—just walked in and heard it, no filter.
"Hearing my Korean name in this world feels so strange."
Wondering if maybe it was just baby talk, I cautiously moved around, sidling here and there...
Shuffle... Shuffle...
The little one pointed its chubby finger at me again and said,
"Jinsu! Jinsu!" "..."
No escape from this.
That translucent pink kid... the [Spirit of the Sword] got my name right.
Huh...
"Is this the mystical power of 'Just Big Tree'?"
Given that the World Tree has cosmic-level powers, maybe it's like a mountain god who recognized my original name.
If I didn’t have prior knowledge from the original work, I might have succumbed to faith under this miracle, turned into a nun, and fallen into wild antics with someone like Hilde, eventually becoming addicted to drugs and enduring unspeakable things.
The BAD ending would be someone passing by the church, mumbling, "Was there always a waterwheel around here?" as the scene closes with a close-up of a damp floor.
Such was the fate of an airhead.
... ... ...
I was so shaken that my thoughts went off track.
I shook my head, trying to clear the odd thoughts.
"I need to stop spouting nonsense internally when I’m surprised."
Nella, noticing my reaction, let out a small laugh.
"Hehe. It seems the Spirit really likes you, Saint." "...Re-really—☆ But I haven’t done anything yet, so why would that beee~?" "Hehe... Who knows? Maybe it’s destiny."
Nella didn’t say anything else after that. She just watched me and the pink spirit interact with a faint smile on her face.
I cringed at Nella’s smile, which seemed like something a scheming character would have.
"She’s not really a scheming type, so why does she look so cryptic?"
-Oh, I see... I get it now. -So that's how it is. -But you don’t need to know that.
...It was that kind of smile.
In the original, she was responsible for the Holy Sword’s succession, but she didn’t give off this kind of mysterious vibe.
The appearance of the [Saint] in the current timeline also felt out of place.
"When I heard Urd's explanation, it seemed like the [Saint] was originally part of this world, but was forgotten for some reason, and later discovered by Clara after the original timeline."
But the [Spirit of the Sword] knew.
"..."
In a quiet space beyond the fields, deep in the forest. Even in broad daylight, there was an eerie atmosphere.
"..."
Amidst that, the pink spirit’s pure cries echoed again.
"Jinsu—! Jinsu—!"
With both hands raised, the spirit continued to chant my name with sparkling eyes, clearly overjoyed.
"Abuu—☆ Jinsu, Jinsu—! Jinsu, I like youuu—☆"
Alright, I get it. Please stop calling me that.
"Being called the name of my past male self by a baby voice makes it feel like I’m being scolded for my fallen state as an airhead."
...
No, it’s probably just my imagination.
"..."
The [Spirit of the Sword] wasn’t a deep thinker. Strictly speaking, it was just a child... a spirit that acted on instinct.
"I thought it was simply a fantasy element, like a fairy in stories that inherit the Holy Sword... like Excalibur."
But amidst the confusion, one thing was clear... my past name, which I hadn’t revealed even to Urd or Hilde. The [Spirit of the Sword] knew it.
I couldn’t understand what kind of sorcery this was.
"..."
Feeling like my secrets were exposed from the start, I couldn’t think of a response.
"I thought I’d just quietly pledge to 'set an example as a Saint—☆' and end it... but now I can’t just let it go, not after being called by my past name."
I eventually voiced the concern that had been nagging me.
"So... when the [Spirit of the Sword] called me 'Jinsu'... What do you think that meant—☆ Oh, could it be an ancient word for 'cute!'?—♪"
"..."
Nella looked at me closely, then smiled softly and said,
"When the [Spirit of the Sword] was alive as a [Saint] before being fragmented by [Fate], there was someone they respected the most. The Spirit says they sense a similar aura from you."
... ... ...
"...What?"
Now knowing the true identity of the [Spirit of the Sword], I was once again stunned.
"..."
Whether I liked it or not, I couldn’t help but understand.
The [Spirit of the Sword] was my predecessor.
And...
"..."
An ancient outsider. An outsider in this world within the game. The person the previous [Saint] of that era respected the most. Someone who led the [Three Heroes] but at some point began aiding <Ratatoskr>.
That prophet’s name was 'Jinsu.'
"..."
Whether I liked it or not... I instinctively understood.
Albite approached the lakeside where Nella had told her she would face her [Fate] to claim the sword.
"…This is the Holy Sword."
There, embedded in the water's edge, was a long sword, rusted to the point of looking like a blackened branch. Its appearance, worn down by time and moisture, made it seem ready to give someone tetanus just by touching it. Yet, Albite found herself irresistibly drawn to it, reaching out her hand.
She had come all this way for this moment. To pull this sword, she needed to move forward.
Her mother's prophecy. The stories from her friends. The destiny shared by her senior and herself.
These thoughts flickered through her mind.
"…"
But…
The sword, firmly lodged in the ground, didn't budge. Despite its worn appearance, as if a child could knock it over, it was as if it had been driven several meters deep into the earth.
"…Why?"
Albite stood there holding the sword for a long time. A faint cry of a hawk echoed in her ears, followed by the sound of giant wings flapping.
-Not yet… you are not ready...
"…"
Not ready… for what? Was this not her [Fate]?
"…"
Albite tried again to pull the sword.
She even used her ether, exerting all her strength. She even tried digging around it to pull it out from below.
But the sword remained immovable.
"…Why."
Albite stood at the lakeside, staring out at the water. Gentle waves lapped at her feet, and a chilling breeze rustled her hair.
"What am I lacking?"
A month passed since then. And still, Albite could not draw the sword.