A soft bed. Clean air. The distant, rhythmic sound of hammers.
Zeke Ren's eyes snapped open. His body was whole. His right arm, the one torn from his socket, was… fine. He was in a simple, rustic hut. He'd survived.
He'd fainted as Himmel arrived, the world dissolving into a safe, warm darkness. He'd woken up here.
Is this... the Reincarnation Space? It was... a dump.
He sat up, his mind racing. He'd won.
He focused.
A blue screen bloomed in his vision, the hut dissolving into a pure white void.
[You have acquired: Memory Magic - Temporary Mana (Lv1)]
[Effect: Consume 1 MP to gain Temporary Mana = Max MP. After 10s, enter 1hr "Spiritually Exhausted" state (SPI -80%).]
[You have successfully completed Main Quest: The Choice (Branch 2).]
[Villager Survival Rate: >90%. Your contribution was CRITICAL.]
[Mission Rating: S+]
[Hidden Objective Detected: Confronted and stalled Demon General Schlack.]
[Rating Upgraded: S → EX!]
[You have been officially RESURRECTED. Welcome, Reincarnator.]
[You have received: 3 Stat Points, 500 Plot Points.]
[Based on your EX-Rank evaluation, you may choose one (1) of the following rewards:]
[1. 5 Stat Points]
[2. 1000 Plot Points]
[3. Bonus Mission (Rare) (Remain in current world)]
[Return to Reincarnation Space in 60 seconds. Please choose.]
[...3...2...1...]
[Countdown aborted. Highest value reward has been AUTO-SELECTED.]
[Return sequence TERMINATED. Issuing Bonus Mission.]
[Bonus Mission: The Hero's Respite]
[Time Limit: One Month]
[Difficulty: SAFE]
[Mission: Stats, skills, equipment... In this mission, you will receive a generous reward, as well as a chance for your soul to rest.]
[Objective: None]
[Reward: 1 Green-Grade Equipment (Guaranteed, will be issued in a special format.)]
[Hint: The Hero's Party has learned from a near-death Schlack that you are "a human-to-demon experiment with only one month to live." They will not be hostile.]
[WARNING: THE HERO'S PARTY IS EXTREMELY POWERFUL. DO NOT BE HOSTILE!!!] [WARNING: LEAVING THEIR VICINITY WILL RAISE DIFFICULTY EXPONENTIALLY!!!]
The void dissolved. He was back in the hut.
Zeke let out a long, slow breath.
Thank God the system is smart.
Schlack's lie. His "one month to live." It was now his plot armor.
And a "Safe" mission for one month? With the Hero's Party?
It wasn't a reward. It was a gold mine.
His [Memory Magic]... it wasn't about desks and cars.
It was about people.
He'd get to study them. Frieren, with her millennia of mana and flawless stealth. Heiter, with his divine barriers and healing. Eisen, with his diamond-hard body that could survive a fall from the sky.
And Himmel...
Himmel, with his flawless, perfect swordsmanship.
If he could understand them...
He wouldn't just be a Reincarnator.
He'd be an entire team.
But how? How do I copy a skill?
A shadow fell over the doorway.
His [Mana Sense] flared. A massive, calm reserve of power, almost as vast as Schlack's, but... warm.
Not Frieren. Heiter.
The door creaked open. The priest entered, holding his scripture. His face was a mask of exhaustion, his green hair mussed.
"Ah... Good morning, Mr. Zeke." He startled, then bowed his head. "I... apologize. I forgot to knock."
"It's fine, Mr. Heiter." Zeke played his part. Weak. Grateful. "Thank you. For... for helping me. And Mr. Himmel."
His arm hadn't just re-grown itself. This man's magic had knit him back together.
"You... you know who we are?" Heiter asked, surprised.
"Of course." Zeke's voice was full of awe. This was the moment. His "Prophet" knowledge was now his greatest weapon. "The strongest Hero's Party in the Northern Kingdoms. Who doesn't?"
Heiter tried, and failed, to suppress a proud smile. "You... you flatter us..."
He performed a quick check-up, his hands glowing with a soft, warm light. The arm was perfect. His face, however, grew heavy with pity.
"Zeke," he said, his voice soft, "you're recovering well, but... about your condition... The demon general... he..."
He was trying to break the "one month" news gently.
Zeke cut him off.
"I only have a month left," Zeke said.
His voice was perfectly calm. Serene. Accepting.
Heiter flinched. The boy's "bravery" was a physical blow.
"I know."
Zeke met his eyes, then looked away, as if in quiet contemplation. He changed the subject, his tone light. "What are your plans for the next month, Heiter?"
Heiter was stunned. "Ah. We'll be staying here. Helping the villagers rebuild."
"Then I'll help, too."
Zeke swung his legs off the bed, his movements steady.
"If I can help the party that's destined to defeat the Demon King," he said, "maybe the Goddess will praise me when I reach heaven."
Heiter's eyes went wide. This boy... this dying boy... was a true believer.
A warm, gentle smile spread across the priest's face.
"The Goddess," he said, his voice thick with emotion, "will most certainly praise you."
Heiter opened the door. The village was a ruin, but it was not dead. Under the light of the setting sun, men and women were already clearing rubble.
"Heiter," Zeke asked, "where can I be of most use?"
"Hmm..." Heiter rubbed his temples. "Can you use levitation magic?"
Zeke shook his head.
"I see." Heiter sighed, a new dread settling on him. "That... is a problem."
"Well... I'll take you to Frieren. Let's... let's see if she's willing to teach you."
Zeke could hear the real thought in his sigh: Frieren hates demons... and she's as stubborn as a child. This is going to be hell.