Reincarnated in the Same World for the Nth Time

Aquila ran wildly down the corridor.

Tatata-tat!

The smooth marble floor was clean.

Walls showing the passage of time here and there, and finely engraved decorations.

And a long corridor that seemed as if it would never end.

Right there…….

Aquila got lost.

‘Did she vanish into thin air? Where on earth did she go?’

He looked around with a bewildered expression.

He thought he had run following the footsteps, but suddenly he was all alone.

Moreover, none of the servants who should have been around were anywhere to be seen.

Frowning, Aquila glanced around here and there.

He briefly looked out the window.

Kahena and Chelsea’s fight was just beginning, and the remaining personnel would be searching for other guild members.

But strictly speaking, they weren’t the only ones who needed to be pursued.

Celsia’s close associates.

Not only those who had obtained Aquila’s hair, fingernails, and blood to cast the Curse of Deadly Poison, but also those who had acted together with them.

Accomplices, whether they acted unknowingly or knew everything, also had to be caught.

That’s why Shen was moving while he used the Scales of Judgment.

Shen knew this mansion best, and having served as Aquila’s attendant for a long time, trust in him would likely be deep.

However.

‘Even if I say Celsia committed evil deeds against me, I wonder how many people in this mansion would believe it.’

It had been almost ten years since she married and took the Reshenhardt name.

Ten years was more than enough time to have built up quite a few allies on her side.

Yet, this body, who knows what it had been doing all this time, seemed to have no proper allies besides Shen?

The number of people who had properly approached Aquila during his time in the mansion could be counted on one hand, and it wasn’t an exaggeration to say that Shen was the only one among them who expressed intimacy.

‘Shen also said this guy had no friends……. It’s hopeless.’

If those close to Aquila had been called away for the Frost Forest subjugation, that was a problem in itself.

He wouldn’t be able to ask for help right now.

Aquila couldn’t tell whether there were more of Celsia’s people or not among those remaining in the mansion.

And understandably so, since it had only been a week since he possessed this body!

‘…They certainly timed it well. Though they probably didn’t know this exact situation would arise.’

Aquila looked at his own cold expression reflected in the window before turning completely away.

Various circumstances were overlapping, creating a cycle of advantageous and disadvantageous situations.

And the absolute worst among them was definitely the fact that Aquila had no knowledge of the layout within the Reshenhardt mansion.

This grand mansion was just too vast.

‘It would be better if I could use the Power, but…… I don’t think my stamina can handle it.’

‘Stolen Divine Power (Minor)’ was a search-type skill.

He wanted to use it right away if he could, but his stamina was already in a terrible state to push himself further.

His head was already dizzy from motion sickness, and if another wave overlapped with that…

He was highly likely to be seized by the urge to just grit his teeth, throw his body into it to end the playthrough, and start over.

Where to put his body, which would become defenseless, was also a problem.

‘If only it weren’t for that damn Sun God.’

Anger towards the Sun God blazed fiercely within him.

Narrowing his brow, Aquila swept his hair back and then rolled up his left sleeve.

A silver bracelet adorned with a blue gem revealed its presence, glittering under the light.

They had agreed to contact each other after it was over.

More than anything, in this situation where he couldn’t trust anyone and didn’t know what would happen, he needed even slightly more allies.

To the current Aquila, the personnel he had gained through a deal felt more reliable than the Reshenhardt name.

As he activated the mana stored in the mana stone, the blue gem emitted a brilliant light.

Blink, blink.

The light flickered as if sending a signal, and then.

Woong!

A mana formula soon appeared like a golden ring encircling his wrist.

–[…Is this Lord Aquila Leshenhart?]

“Yes. Is this Lord Heinnon?”

–[Correct. I was just waiting for your contact. I will report first. We have captured the guild member disguised as a coachman. Shortly after Lord Aquila disappeared beyond the teleport, the Temple Knights discovered him attempting to exit and immediately arrested him.]

“That’s good news. Did anyone else get out besides him?”

–[Yes. There were a few more merchants, but their merchant certificates appear genuine. Nevertheless, we are detaining them just in case.]

Heinnon’s blunt and business-like voice echoed.

It felt stiff, uncharacteristic of a Holy Knight, but Aquila quite liked this conversation that focused solely on the matter at hand.

He glanced around his surroundings while heading down the stairs.

“Good. Then, I will report the situation on this end. I obtained a confession using the Scale of Judgment. I also received confirmation that she is colluding with the Dark Guild, so you won’t need to worry about justification.”

–[More good news, then. We don’t know who else might emerge from the teleport, so we’ll leave a few personnel behind and quickly send people inside.]

Then, Heinnon, who fell silent for a moment as if conferring with those nearby, suddenly asked.

–[There’s a suggestion to transport the captured guild member disguised as a coachman to Port Plum first. May I ask your thoughts on this?]

“If the guild member is kept unconscious, can just one person head to Port Plum?”

–[One Holy Knight should be sufficient.]

“Then send him. Please include a Priest among the personnel left behind, and I would like those with combat ability to come further inside here.”

–[Is the situation urgent?]

“The Dark Guild member here seems not ordinary. Vice-Commander Kahena and Priest Chelsea’s movements are restricted, and the culprit is fleeing. I am pursuing her, but something feels off.”

–[……Understood. We will quickly divide the personnel, and I will enter together with them.]

“Alright.”

–[Then, I pray for your fortune in battle under the Sun God’s glory.]

The communication cut off abruptly with the short farewell.

The brilliantly shining blue gem grew quiet, and the golden ring also disappeared.

Aquila pulled down his sleeve to hide the bracelet and came completely down to the first floor.

His plan was to find anyone, whoever caught his eye first.

With the intention of having them guide him.

And, as if rewarded for coming down, he heard footsteps nearby.

Aquila quickly ran towards the source of the sound.

Turning the corner, he spotted familiar wheat-colored hair.

“……Young Master Aquila?!”

“Shen!”

Aquila’s voice grew slightly louder with unexpected relief.

Shen, his green eyes wide open, hurried to his side.

“How are you here……. Is it over? You succeeded, of course, right?!”

“Yes. I succeeded.”

“Phew, what a relief! I was so worried. Of course, it’s not that I didn’t trust you, Young Master, but…….”

When Shen learned that the price for forcibly using the Scales was risking Aquila’s soul, he couldn’t recover from the shock for a while.

Complaints like ‘Why did you decide something like that alone?’ and ‘Couldn’t you have told me first?’, along with worries, had poured out of him.

It was a reaction born from having seen Aquila in critical situations several times in a short period.

And Yuzellia was the same way.

She didn’t express her opinion as strongly as Shen, but she spoke with a sorrowful expression.

“We’re just worried. Please just know that.”

Aquila had simply nodded.

Because even if he went back, he would do the same thing anyway.

In any case, if they hadn’t needed to move busily right after that, the time required to meet them might have been much longer.

“Um……. But why is your look so bad? You look like someone who just came from rolling around somewhere. Is Vice-Commander Kahena chasing the Dark Guild member?”

Shen, who had been smiling brightly, quickly turned serious upon seeing Aquila’s face.

He flinched guiltily.

‘Is it that obvious I was rolling around?’

Aquila pushed back his still-messy hair, then grabbed Shen’s arm instead of answering.

“I need you for this matter. Follow me.”

“……Yes!”

Shen looked like he had many questions, but he replied energetically to Aquila’s words.

And then he turned around.

Because only Shen stood out, he hadn’t realized, but behind him were two individuals who appeared to be Reshenhart’s private soldiers.

“Please finish what you were doing and let me know later. Go on now.”

“Yes, understood.”

The private soldiers replied energetically.

Aquila gave only a nod with his eyes, and after bowing their heads deeply, they quickly disappeared as if they had urgent business.

Shen, whose gaze followed their departing figures, asked with a smile.

“Uh, so what can I do for you, Young Master?”

“Yeah. Celsia Reshenhardt has fled. Help me find her.”

“Yes! Help find… What? Who?!”

***

Shen briefly explained what had happened while Aquila was heading into the dimensional space using the Scales of Judgment.

Among those things, the surprising part was that more people than expected believed Shen’s words.

Although the Temple Knights were directly pursuing, mentioning the Dark Guild, it was also because those who couldn’t stand Celsia’s eccentric nature all along believed she was more than capable of committing evil deeds.

Especially since the target was none other than Aquila Reshenhardt.

Regarding this, Shen replied, “Because everyone knows how much that person considered the Young Master a thorn in her side. It would be harder not to believe it.”

Furthermore, he said that with the current family head away for the subjugation, the second son, appointed as the temporary head, was helping to manage the situation.

Anyway, contrary to Aquila’s expectations, the situation was proceeding quite smoothly.

“A long, silver key, you say? Hmm……. Perhaps it’s the key to the greenhouse? Lady Celsia often takes walks near there!”

Shen, having heard the description, immediately recalled the place.

And then, he added an unnecessary remark, “Does she use the garden all by herself? It’s so hard to walk around without our paths crossing, right?”

“A greenhouse with nothing in it?”

“Probably. I don’t know for sure either, but……. I do know there are lots of moonflowers nearby. I went near there when she asked for ingredients for something.”

Aquila nodded at those words.

The flower representing the Night God Helitica.

He didn’t know exactly what the ‘Ritual’ referred to, but since a follower of the Night God was involved, there was a high probability that was the place.

Guided by Shen, Aquila ran, following behind him.

Passing well-maintained trees, grasses, and flowers, they soon found the greenhouse.

The building was quite large.

Nearby, just as Shen had said, moonflowers were in full bloom, and although the greenhouse walls were transparent glass, the plants growing against them prevented a clear view inside.

‘It certainly is a good place for plotting.’

That was the thought that immediately came to mind upon seeing the greenhouse.

Shen, approaching the door, discovered the silver key inserted in the lock and quietly called to him.

“Young Master. This…….”

Though it was just a glance, the possibility that it was the correct key was high.

If this was here, it meant Celsia was definitely in the greenhouse.

But the surroundings were still strangely quiet.

Like the calm before a storm.

Aquila sensed the ominous air and checked his mana out of habit.

Because it hadn’t been long since he completely emptied what was in his vessel, the amount of mana wasn’t very large.

He quickly repeated the mana breathing he had been doing habitually.

‘It’s enough to shoot simple magic, but it will run out quickly. Is there anything nearby that can be used as a weapon…….’

It was when Shen took the lead and was about to open the door.

“……Kyaaaaaaah!”

Suddenly, a sound came from inside.

“Aaaah! Mother, please! I don’t want to……!”

A tearing scream and an desperate voice.

Shen and Aquila quickly exchanged glances.

And then.

Fling!

Without needing to decide who went first, they hurriedly burst into the greenhouse.

Pushing through the towering bushes to the innermost area.

Reaching it in a single breath, Aquila momentarily widened his eyes at the sight unfolding before him.

Two children and Celsia.

“Mother! Please, please stop……!”

A child who had not yet reached puberty was hiding an identical child behind him.

But what drew Aquila’s attention wasn’t the children who looked like twins.

His black eyes turned towards the black ore held in Celsia’s hand.

‘Isn’t that the Mud of the Black Swamp.’

…But that shouldn’t be here right now?