Chapter 27: 27 No time to rest. 

The darkness that clouded his mind began to disperse as Jin regained control over his scattered mind and fluttered his mind open. Slowly, as light entered his field of vision, he stared at familiar ceilings where he used to sleep.

“…My room?”.

In front of him stood a tall white closet filled with the outfits that his parents prepared for many occasions. On the right side, the glare from the late-autumn sun casts a warm halo through the window glass. He tensed the muscles around his body and found himself brimming with power that rejuvenated his mind and even his physique.

The creaking of the bed became a sign that he was indeed in his room. Jin looked toward his side only to find an adorable angel breathing softly and leaning on his side bed.

‘Why is Nina here?’. Jin didn’t dare to disrupt the princess’ sleep, so he slowly moved away from the bed and planned to wash away his face.

Although the sun was already hanging above the land, it couldn’t stop him from clearing away his drowsiness from a long slumber.

Jin entered the small private bathroom on the left side beside the closet and twisted open the faucet. He scooped up the cold and fresh water before splashing it on his face. In front of the mirror, he saw his reflection and felt something had changed.

‘What is this feeling?’. Jin clutched his chest, feeling some gap had bridged his consciousness from something important.

When he tried to recall it, it kept getting further and finally disappeared from his sight.

“What?!”.

All of a sudden, Jin found himself stiffened, seeing the glittering tears that streamed down his cheeks. He couldn’t control the urges and started to sob. ‘…What is this?! What the hell is happening right now?’.

*****

After calming down, Jin undressed his sleepwear and threw it into the basket Irena had placed in the bathroom.

“Woah, my body has become so jackass!”.

His body was none other than a masterpiece—lean muscle mass and without extra fat. Eight packs were perfectly rigged, like being chiselled from stone. His broad chest and other details were so minuscule that it was as if he were a sculpture made by artisans.

‘Ukh, let’s stop this! I’m beginning to get embarrassed’. Jin shook his head and tried to take some casual clothes from his bracelet, but he noticed he had none right now.

“Where is my bracelet?”.

Jin pulled out the bathroom door and found the silver thing on top of the drawer beside the bed. Because he didn’t want to interrupt Nina, Jin settled into his closet and picked some comfortable wear, not too fancy, but to ease his movement.

“I think this was good enough. Now, let’s return to where I have been in my room…?”.

Slowly, Jin pulled the chair beside the bed and began to dive into his memory from before he was unconscious: adventuring with Iris, then the appearance of the Dungeon, and facing the Trial by training hard.

‘Ukh!’. Every time Jin wanted to peek into the fog that clouded some of his memory, his head throbbed intensely.

A knock echoed within the room before a clear bell-like voice resonated from behind the door.

“Nina, are you inside?”.

“Is that you, Mrs. Iris?”.

The door slammed open, startling the helpless little girl and Jin, who saw Iris, her blonde hair still flowing gently behind her back, wearing a simple green dress that matched her emerald eyes.

“Jin, you awake?”.

“Ehhh? Big brother, Jin? Eeeh?”.

Iris and Nina’s agitated voices echoed in the empty hallway as the two suddenly approached Jin. Jin was overwhelmed by their momentum and shrank like a little kitten on his seat.

“Big brother, you awake?!”. Nina celebrates by raising her hands and then clinging to Jin’s leg.

Meanwhile, Iris stood beside Jin with a conflicted expression. She was happy to see Jin regain consciousness but angry about that day; he had said something so boorish before disappearing, and that fact infuriated her.

“You big dummy…?!”.

Unsure of what to do, her hand unconsciously moved and nudged the boy’s shoulder as she exhaled, throwing away all the anxiety for the days he was sleeping. A commotion happened as Iris heard loud, hurried footsteps approaching the room, making her body tense.

“Jin?!”.

Her blazing hair was unkempt because of the running she did; her ragged breath and black circles that couldn’t be hidden by make-up painted Marina’s face.

“Mother, what is the matter? You look unwell? Nina, can you please…?!”.

Jin abruptly stood up and told Nina to release his leg, but before he finished it, his mother’s hand arrived at his side, wrapped her hands around his back, hugging him tightly.

“I’m glad, truly glad…”.

The warmth that enveloped his body, accompanied by a slight trembling, put off his consciousness of what had actually happened while he was unconscious. He gently patted her mother’s trembling back and opened his mouth to say.

“I’m back, mother!”.

A few minutes after the mother-son reunion, Jin sat on a sofa in the living room, surrounded by his family members, with Iris and Nina as guests. He sat alone while before him, Jin was facing two of the strongest forces in the world: his calm father and his furious mother.

Irena, Iris and Nina sat on the side, watching the little boy with pity. But they wouldn’t tolerate his foolish action without knowing what danger lay ahead of him. All of them were holding grudges toward the black-haired boy except for Nina, who was happily munching on cookies.

“So, Jin…”. Ryan’s low tone made the entire atmosphere freeze.

“…What is it, father?”. Jin’s body was tense as he gulped his saliva to moisten his parched throat.

“What happened back then? We want to hear it in detail!”.

“Detail…?”.

Seeing Jin’s mood suddenly sink to the bottom, the adults around him faltered. His vacant eyes, gazing down, shook them to the core of what was actually happening inside the door.

However, their fear instantly vanished as Jin returned to his usual expression and clutched his forehead in a pained expression.

“Okay, this must look like I made an excuse, but I have no clear images about what actually happened back then…”.

“…?!”. All the adults tilted their heads in wonder as Jin continued.

“…Back then, I entered a place called Sanctuary that provided me with a Trial by God…”.

Jin began to explain what he experienced inside and about the short or long time he spent there. Facing the super hard Trial, he started his training, coupled with resilience, which in the end bore him a fruit of victory, as Jin finally beat the Trial and returned to his original world. ‘Well, I don’t want to worry them that I train inside for centuries’.

The adults were having a hard time believing the boy’s story; not only was it unprecedented, but it was also considered strange or rude to mention God so casually in the Mortal world.

As the parents’ side felt lost, only Iris stared at Jin with wide-open eyes. Her emerald pupils glowed in the shadow of gold before they became distorted and returned to normal. ‘He’s lying?! ‘

Iris’s face hardened, and Marina, who caught it, began to suspect Jin, who was still clutching his head while explaining.

However, all of their bodies jolted upon seeing blood trail down Soma’s nose; it alerted everyone in the room, and soon, their earlier thoughts were dismissed, and worry began to cloud their faces.

“Jin, it’s okay. You don’t have to force yourself! Rest for the day”. Marina swiftly arrived at her son’s side and wiped the blood on his nose using her dress sleeve.

“Your mother is right, Jin. Get some rest. I’m sorry for forcing you?”. Ryan sighed while his face knitted in disgust, thinking about his own foolishness.

“I’m okay, Mother, Father. It’s just, every time I try to recall the memory I have inside that door, I am assaulted with a throbbing headache that splits my skull apart”.

Jin shook his head to show his parents some kindness. But that kindness was twisted, and it made both of them feel wronged instead.

“Young master, let’s rest for today. I will also give you some healing magic. You two can follow me.”

“Alright”.

“Okay”.

Irena, who arrived on the other side of Marina, glanced at her pained face and exhaled in worry. She took Jin’s hand from Marina and began guiding him to his own room. Followed by Iris and Nina who also held hands, leaving the Midnight spouses delved in their own shortcomings.

“…Dear?”.

“What is it, my love?”.

“…Jin, is… He, …What will happen to him?”. Marina’s voice carries a trace of fear and worry about her son’s condition.

“That, I don’t know”. Ryan could only answer weakly while clenching his fists tight until it was bleeding.

After being escorted to his room, Jin was pushed into the bed by the three females who left him and began to prepare for his meals. Left alone, Jin stared at the stretched scenery beyond the window and suddenly opened his mouth.

“Status!”.

[Status Panel]

Name: Jin Midnight (M)

Race: Human

Age: 14

Talent: Magic Swordsman

Parameters:

Vitality: D-

Mind: EX

Strength: D-

Agility: D

Stamina: D+

Skill:

Skill:

String of Fate (Divine), Swordsmanship (EX), Wind Magic (EX), Physical Enhancement (EX) / Elemental Enhancement{Derivative Skill} (EX) NEW!, Jade Eyes (Unique), Mana Manipulation (EX) NEW!, Mind Sword (Divine) NEW!

Title:

Apostle of All-Father, Sky Ruler

######

World Quest: Prevent the Tragedy!

Reward: ???

Penalty: Death

######

“What in the world? Is this how strong I am?”. Jin gasped while beginning to doubt his own memories.

The disadvantage of Sanctuary is that it puts Jin into a state of stoppage time, prevents his physical strength from growing, and only brings his training experience and battle instinct, which are engraved in his soul.

He skimped through the skill details, but another translucent panel obstructed his view and choked his breath.

#####

[Character Quest opened!]

[Character Quest: Queen of Monster! Part 02]

Detail: Protect from the hands of Evil grasped!

Reward: Unique Skill Item Box.

Failure:

– Iris’s Death.

– A powerful enemy that could control thousands of monsters would be born. Unleashing Calamity upon the World.

#####

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep