Chapter 04
The second magic bullet pierced through Eden Croyden’s body.
His body, weak against magic, couldn’t withstand even such a low-powered magic bullet. The bullet tore through him, and he collapsed in a pool of blood, his final breath leaving him.
Then, the blood began to flow backward, returning to his body as his wounds rapidly healed. Soon, Eden Croyden stood up again, completely unharmed.
His second resurrection was faster than the first. Both he and I were getting used to it.
My heart was still pounding, but not as violently as when he had died the first time.
Eden Croyden, having died and come back to life for the second time, grinned triumphantly.
“Looks like I really do come back to life when I die.”
“Seems like it……”
But somehow, it felt unfair.
If a quest window was going to appear, shouldn’t it appear to me, not him? I’m the one who came from another world. Do people native to this world get quest windows too? No, wait—was that even a quest window in the first place?
“You can still see the text?”
“…No. It disappeared already.”
I fell into thought.
What did this situation actually mean?
Eden Croyden wiped the blood splattered on his cheek with a handkerchief and asked,
“Then it’s your turn. What exactly are you? What does it mean that you’re an ‘outsider from another world’?”
“Exactly what it sounds like.”
“Were you sent by a god?”
“Maybe.”
Honestly, I didn’t know anything either. But a strange excitement coursed through my veins.
Someone knew that I was a soul from another world.
Something had displayed that quest window before Eden Croyden. I didn’t know if it was truly a god, but if it was… then maybe there was a way for me to return.
As I stood there lost in thought, Eden Croyden watched me carefully, his expression turning suspicious. Then, as if arriving at some grand realization, he nodded to himself.
“So gods really do exist.”
“…You believe in gods?”
And yet he wants the world to end?
As I muttered weakly, Eden replied,
“Wouldn’t it be stranger not to? Magic exists, after all.”
“Ah… that’s true.”
After all, people say magic is a blessing bestowed by the gods.
In most fantasy novels, such divine power is called “holy power,” but in this world, everything was simply called “magic.” There was no distinction between the two here.
I was recalling those setting details and trying to piece things together when—
Eden, who had been muttering to himself in a near-mad state, suddenly lifted his head.
“Then that means the gods have finally acknowledged me.”
His face was filled with excitement.
‘Acknowledged?’
Well, they did say something about a special reward.
“I mean… I guess you could see it that way…”
“The gods are supporting my plan.”
“…Your plan?”
My head snapped up.
“The gods want me to destroy this world. Otherwise, why would they grant me such an ability and send you to me as a sign?”
Eden met my eyes and smiled brightly.
And once again—his smile looked like something straight out of a holy painting, like that of an angel.
“They sent you so I could realize my power. Right?”
“……”
“So that I can bring this world to an end.”
My expression darkened.
Why was Eden Croyden given the ability to resurrect?
And of all people, why give it to a villain who prays every single day for the destruction of the world?
‘If anything, shouldn’t that kind of ability go to the protagonist?’
Like the novel’s main character, Arthur Cameron—a righteous and upright hero who wants to save the world from villains.
‘So why him… why Eden Croyden…?’
Did the gods really want this world to be destroyed?
And what did it mean that I was an outsider from another world?
The questions I had when I first opened my eyes here resurfaced once more.
‘What is this world?’
“Ruana, are you done cleaning yet?”
“Ah, yes! I’m doing it now!”
Tch. Just when I was about to think things through.
My deepening thoughts were interrupted by the voice of my fellow maid, Karin.
I dipped the mop back into the water and began scrubbing the floor again.
“You’re still not finished?”
“There’s a big stain here…”
I dragged out my words as I half-heartedly wiped over a spot I had already cleaned several times.
It had already been a week since the day I tried to rob Eden Croyden’s safe—and ended up killing him.
Perhaps the incident had been so shocking that the master had completely forgotten to punish me. He had locked himself in his room and hadn’t come out for an entire week.
It wasn’t unusual for Marquis Croyden to isolate himself for days on end, so no one in the mansion found it strange.
Even Robert, who had rushed over when he heard the gunshot, seemed to think it was just some passing incident.
‘Maybe it’s because he’s such a lunatic.’
I was the only one who knew the truth of that day.
Unable to relax, I spent each day in growing anxiety, like someone waiting to be dragged out and beaten.
The last time I saw Eden Croyden, he had firmly believed that his resurrection ability was a divine revelation—one that meant he was meant to destroy the world.
I didn’t even want to imagine what conclusion he had reached after locking himself away for a week.
‘He’s not going to suddenly put his world-destruction plan into action, right?’
Or worse—what if he decided to punish me for trying to rob his safe?
“Ruana, are you done cleaning the reception room?”
“Yes, just finished!”
At Karin’s call, I quickly wrapped up my cleaning.
As I stepped out of the reception room feeling refreshed, Karin took the rag from my hands and said,
“If you’re done, go to the kitchen and receive the master’s meal from Robert.”
“Huh? What meal?”
Why would I be receiving the master’s meal? Normally, we just take food ourselves from the kitchen.
As I blinked in confusion, Karin shot me an incredulous look.
“Seriously. Weren’t you the one who begged to be assigned to serve the master’s meals? And now you’re pretending you don’t know? The master has come out of his room.”
‘Damn it.’
That’s right.
I had completely forgotten because of all the chaos.
I was the one who had insisted—no, practically begged—to be assigned to serve the master’s meals.
Back when I thought I’d rob his safe and leave this place for good.
But now?
I failed to rob the safe.
I’m still stuck working in this mansion.
And the shut-in master has finally come out of hiding.
Which means I now have no choice but to go serve dinner to the man I killed.
“Uh… can’t someone else do it today? I’m not feeling well…”
“You were scrubbing floors just fine a moment ago. And the master specifically asked for the maid who served him last time, saying she was meticulous and did a good job.”
‘You damned master!!’
Ten minutes later, I found myself in the kitchen, receiving the master’s dinner from Robert.
He looked down at me suspiciously.
“Why did the master specifically ask for you?”
“Guess he likes me.”
“What about you?”
“My steady, delicate hands that serve dinner without a single tremor?”
Robert’s gaze grew even more suspicious.
Ignoring him, I took the tray with Eden Croyden’s meal and turned away.
As I left the kitchen, I could feel Robert’s piercing stare burning into my back.
