The Second Salvation Myth of a Retired Regressed Hero

+++

Doyun bid farewell to the Headmaster and some instructors. With mixed feelings, they saw off their grown disciple joining the World Tree Guild.

Sophie had already decided to follow Doyun.

And Doyun said goodbye to Dewshy.

Doyun had chosen not to take Dewshy with him.

Just like his past life, he would be extremely busy in this life too. Despite their bond, he couldn’t care for everyone. Dewshy wasn’t talented enough for Doyun to mentor personally.

It was a callous decision. But Doyun had no time to think of anything other than slaying the Demon Lord.

While stressing over this mindset himself, it was the path the Hero Enoch had walked.

“Get along well with Sophie. Though a woman devouring her husband seems troubling.”

“…It’s not like that. And devouring? What steadfast and gentle woman is there like Sophie?”

“…Steadfast? Gentle?”

Dewshy scrunched his face as if he’d heard something he shouldn’t have.

“…Ah, I see now. No wonder the atmosphere feels rather different before you.”

“What does?”

“No, forget I said anything. I don’t wish to be trampled under Sophie’s feet.”

“…?”

“Let’s meet again later.”

Doyun tilted his head briefly but didn’t dwell on it, having something else to say to Dewshy.

Their parting was merely for efficiency – Doyun didn’t disregard their bond itself.

“Right. Thank you.”

Doyun remembered Dewshy’s sincere kindness throughout the Cradle. It had been truly valuable.

Thus, Doyun decided to leave Dewshy a small gift.

“…When you have time later.”

“Hm?”

“In the Lamujin Desert southwest of the continent, a red-skinned elf will be living there.”

Though Dewshy found it an abrupt non-sequitur, he listened silently for now. Doyun wasn’t one for idle chatter.

“Since elves living in deserts are rare, she won’t be hard to find. Pass this on to her.”

Doyun handed Dewshy a prepared bundle of parchment. It contained acknowledgment of Doyun being Enoch and urged Dewshy to have his debt to the Blood Maiden repaid. She would undoubtedly aid Dewshy per Doyun’s request.

Even if Dewshy opened the parchment, it didn’t matter – only those versed in blood magic could decipher its coded contents.

During their time together, Doyun had felt the Vampiric race would suit blood magic well.

If Dewshy could find her, it could become a great opportunity.

“…”

Dewshy received it, glancing over it nonchalantly before carefully pocketing it.

“And?”

“That woman will become your strength.”

“Understood.”

There was no long conversation, but the intention was conveyed. They had always conversed this way.

“Consider it a parting gift.”

“Thank you.”

Dewshy didn’t inquire further – about who she was, how Doyun knew her, or why he didn’t explain more.

He must have had his reasons for not divulging it. That was the kind of person Doyun was, or so Dewshy thought.

“Farewell.”
“You too, see you later.”

That was it. Enoch and Dewshy exchanged a light handshake before parting without hesitation.

Though boarding separate carriages, their unspoken sentiments aligned – hoping to face each other on the same battlefield someday.

+++

Eloah, riding in the same carriage as Doyun, couldn’t sit still from sheer anxiety.

In contrast, Millaine cheerfully treated them overly attentively.

“It’ll take a while to reach the guild house, so help yourselves to refreshments! This is a magically preserved pantry, so the fruits are ultra-fresh and chilled!”

“Thank you.”

Doyun politely accepted Millaine’s courtesy.

But for some reason, Sophie kept glancing around restlessly, not bringing the refreshments to her lips.

“Disciple Sophie? Why the long face? Is something troubling you?”

“Ah, no…! I’m just… ner, nervous…”

“Don’t be nervous! The guild members will all welcome you like family!”

“I, I see…”

Sophie gave a perfunctory response to reassure Millaine while glancing at Eloah.

Eloah was concerning her. The way she kept eyeing Doyun seemed rather strange. As a woman, she couldn’t help feeling unsettled.

It didn’t help that Eloah happened to be such an extreme beauty.

‘Her chest is so huge too…’

With her beast folk’s keen senses, Sophie could tell an overwhelmingly large chest was concealed within Eloah’s ceremonial armor, utterly dwarfing her own.

It was a physique unimaginable for Sophie’s tribe, whose females had flat chests and extremely developed lower bodies.

Sophie focused her senses towards Doyun’s crotch and sighed in relief. His member showed no reaction whatsoever.

Considering how it kept twitching whenever he was with her, this was a blessing.

‘As the Hero said… is his preference hips…?’

Sophie fidgeted with her chest unnecessarily. Doyun had certainly not denied the Hero’s words.

But she couldn’t let her guard down. Regardless of Doyun’s tastes, Eloah was simply too beautiful.

Sophie shifted her hips restlessly, beset by unease.

“We’re here!”

The carriage arrived at the World Tree’s guild house.

“Woah…”

The students disembarking marveled at the grand exterior.

It was a building befitting the number one guild’s stature, resembling a noble’s opulent manor. Particularly striking were the thick wooden vines enveloping the outer walls.

Sophie sensed an invigorating, pleasant energy emanating from the building – a truly refreshing aura.

‘Is it coming from those vines…?’

It seemed those vines served some purpose.

Doyun and the students entered the house, where Millaine briefed them.

There was nothing special – just that they would be assigned rooms for today and could freely explore the building’s interior.

But in the midst of the briefing, Sophie tugged on Doyun’s collar.

“Hm?”

“Um, Disciple Do… no, Doyun…”

She whispered something into Doyun’s ear.

Doyun’s eyes widened upon hearing it. His luck was clearly following through from the very beginning.

“The official admission ceremony and education will be held tomorrow. For now, please follow that cat person over there to be assigned rooms. Well then…”

“Ah, wait a moment.”

Eloah cut off Millaine.

“Disciple Han Doyun will… join me for a brief conversation.”

“Ah, now that you mention it, without the formal contract, there must be many details to go over. Disciple Han Doyun, will you follow the Master upstairs?”

“Yes.”

Doyun nodded and stiffly followed Eloah’s steps. It seemed the time had come.

With each step up the stairs, Eloah felt her heart pounding uncontrollably. Doyun could sense her pulse too.

“I’ll bring some refreshments~”

Millaine left the two alone in the parlor, humming as she exited.

As her humming faded outside, silence settled within.

“…”
“…”

Unable to bear the awkward silence, Eloah rolled her eyes restlessly.

‘Wh, what do I do? What do I say?’

Her mind was in utter chaos, unable to find the right words.

The Hero? I missed you? No, that wasn’t it. She still couldn’t be 100% certain Doyun was the Hero.

Then what could she say? You’re the Hero, aren’t you? No, this wouldn’t do either. If her suspicions truly were mere delusions, how could she bear the ensuing embarrassment?

Eloah placed her hands on her lap, lowering her head as she couldn’t bring herself to speak.

Seeing her state, Doyun shook his head inwardly.

‘I should start first, then.’

Doyun gathered his thoughts briefly.

“Here we are! Since I’m busy with the new guild members, you two can take your time chatting~”

In the meantime, Millaine entered, setting down tea and refreshments before exiting again. Eloah naturally remained speechless until then.

The fragrant tea aroma gently filled the room. Just before taking a sip, Doyun’s eyes widened at the scent.

‘This tea…’

Enoch had enjoyed fine cuisine in his past life.

Appreciating cuisine had been one of his few hobbies as he relentlessly pursued his goals, serving as a means of survival amidst the mounting stress from reincarnation.

As such, he had frequently indulged in tea ceremonies, particularly favoring the proprietary tea leaves of the guild house’s dedicated chef, affectionately called “Uncle.”

Regardless of age or gender, all guild members had addressed him as Uncle – a portly, unkempt but comforting elderly man whose very presence invited slumber.

Yet his culinary skills were unmatched.

Peculiarly, he had worked alone without any assistant chefs, single-handedly handling all meals and snacks for the dozens of guild members, never allowing anyone into his kitchen.

Except one. Only the chubby little chick Eloah had been permitted to enter his kitchen and receive snacks.

‘So she managed to learn his secrets.’

Uncle had never divulged his culinary recipes to anyone. Even after 18 iterations, Enoch had failed to uncover his secret tea leaf blend.

But it seemed Uncle had ultimately succumbed to that incessantly cheeping chick’s stubborn insistence to brew tea for the Hero.

Doyun picked up the teacup, savoring its aroma.

“…A nostalgic scent.”

Eloah abruptly raised her head.

“…Pardon?”

Without realizing it, she responded with trembling honorifics.

What did he just say…? Had she misheard?

‘He definitely said… a nostalgic… scent…’

Doyun closed his eyes and sipped the tea slowly.

“…!”

Even that habit was identical – taking a tiny sip to spread the tea thinly across his palate and savor the aroma.

Just like the Hero.

“Eloah.”

Eloah stared at Doyun wide-eyed, utterly dazed.

“I don’t know where to begin.”

Doyun set down the teacup, gazing at the stunned Eloah.

“Ah… Ahh…”

Eloah’s heart raced violently, fit to burst.

Her mouth hung open, emitting unintelligible sounds.

She still couldn’t believe it.

Could it really be…? Could it truly be…?

‘Could it truly be…?’

Eloah rose from her seat in a trance, her legs trembling uncontrollably.

And then.

“Let’s embrace again after so long, our little chick.”

She rushed towards the Hero.