Warm.

Allen’s eyelids twitched.

This small movement was so tiny no one knew he did it unconsciously. It was almost a spastic movement; slowly, slowly, his eyes forced open the smallest of slits.

Even so, his vision was not going to recover within a few seconds, and he could not even grasp distances. After a moment, he realized he was looking at the white painted ceiling.

... I...

Allen did not know what place he was in, or maybe he had been here before, but his brain was unable to process any of this. Compared to the scene in front of his eyes, the disinfectant alcohol registered far more quickly and with much greater clarity.

... wha... t's... with... me...

He could feel something stuck to his chest and abdomen. Electrodes attached to him for information collection?

“Wh…Where am I…?”

Allen’s last bit of memories was him fighting Alkrasha. Although it was foggy, he could still remember how he was trashed easily…

Did…I die?

Though the lights in the room were off, Allen could feel someone's presence. There was a slight weight on one side of the blanket.

Allen moved his eyes in that direction and saw Ms. Grace sitting in the chair, sprawled across the bed as she slept. Though her long hair hid her expression, it seemed she was deeply worried even as she slept.

It made Allen’s heart ache.

"..."

“So you’re alive, you bastard.” A voice echoed inside the quiet room.

Allen turned his gaze and saw Mia sitting on the couch in front of his bed.

“Mia…”

“As expected of the immortal… you can’t be killed no matter what happens…isn’t it?” Mia teased with a playful tone. However, one could see the relief plastered on her face as soon as she saw him.

“Don’t give me that crap…what immortal? That’s just an insult, not a compliment…”

That’s right. No one knows who called him that first before but it wasn’t a compliment nor a heroic title but seemingly made for an insult.

The Immortal.

Someone who can’t be killed no matter how many times he experiences very dangerous situations.

He has faced numerous dangers, but in the end, he has always survived.

It should have been a cool title but the underlying meaning of it was nothing but an insult to him.

Because every time other than him, all were killed… only he with several people survive.

In fact, even though he was crowned as a [ King ] and managed to saved many people, no one wanted to become his teammate during missions and operations… because other than him, who miraculously survive each time, the death rate for others are… unbelievable 60% and above...

“But now, you can’t help but admit it… that title fits you now. To face that monster and managed to survive, just how the heck did you do that?”

Allen snorted. He said, “Is that reason why you left me without hesitation? That title? Hmph, just so you know I also have quite a fragile heart, at that time you broke it you know~”

He said it but his expression said otherwise. He was just relieved to see her safe and sound.

“…Anyway, where is this place?”

This obviously wasn’t his room.

“A hospital.”

Allen looked around him. A hospital, and in a single room at that. That’s going to cost a fortune— or rather, a hospital?

“Wow, so you’re saying that this hospital managed to get unscathed from those monsters?” so there’s still a place like this?

Mia glared at him, saying, “As if. This hospital is one of our branches in this country so I prepared its security beforehand.”

“Well, as expected of you, quite prepared are we?”

“Uu…” at this moment, Ms. Grace softly groan in her sleep.

Allen glanced at Ms. Grace, sprawled on the bed as she continued to sleep. The poor girl must truly be worried about him.

“You should be grateful to your teacher… she’s always been by your side ever since you are carried to here.”

Allen smile was filled with warmth. “What about you? I think I would feel bad if you say you’re not worried at all.”

“I, I’m not… d, don’t get me wrong, I was getting bored, so I just happened to stop by.”

Allen said it half-jokingly, but Mia only answered while averting her eyes. Hmph, who are you fooling~

Seeing her like this, Allen couldn’t help but smirk.

“But still, how long am I out?”

Seeing Allen’s smirking face that had a smile as brilliant as the sun, she suddenly felt an urge to send him flying with a punch.

However, even though she had a temper, she did not dare to attack Allen and only held it in, “Almost a day I guess.”

“A day?” Allen couldn’t believe. He then looked at his body; neither wounds nor scars were left. “Did you feed me an elixir or something? Maybe a healing potion?”

“Where do you think I could find that?” Mia snorted.

“I also don’t know what happened to your body. When I finally gathered a few men to save you, I found you lying on the 4th floor in a very bad condition. The Insect Queen's gone, only you were there lying in a pool of your own blood. I really thought that it’s already hopeless, even the doctors already given up on you but then, whether you can call it a miracle or not, your body suddenly excreted mucus-like substance and began healing your wounds. It was truly unbelievable, let alone the doctors, even the whole staff in the hospital couldn’t believe it…”

Mia grumbled. Even she herself couldn’t believe. That wasn’t mere healing. He seemed to have really died and was only virtually revived.

But that is utterly impossible!

“… …”

“Just what the heck happened? Did you acquire some healing skill or something?”

Allen’s heart trembled slightly. He nodded his head and huffed out a laugh and said, “I see, so that’s what happened~”

“Hey, answer me honestly. What’s with your body?”

“I don’t know.”

“What!?”

“I said I don’t know. I’m not lying. I never acquired a healing skill or something like that…” Allen honestly replied.

“You should also know that we have been together ever since the apocalypse happened.”

Mia was obviously not satisfied with Allen’s answer but she didn’t say anything anymore and only furrowed her brows.

She believes that Allen wouldn’t deceive her… that’s how much she trusted him.

But even so, Mia was gobsmacked by this overly simple explanation that came from Allen’s mouth. She looked at the youth in front of her with an incredible look and kept shaking her head, “Unbelievable, seriously unbelievable. What kind of monster are you?”

“Monster or not, I don’t have any idea…”

“Is it really not a skill? What about from ‘Before’ was it not your skill… The Immortal title or something?”

“Quit it. If I have that skill, do you think I would lose to any monsters?”

“Who knows…” Mia shrugged her shoulders in an exaggerated manner. “From all the crowned kings, you’re the most mysterious one. You never showed nor told us some of your hidden trump cards.”

At that, Allen only smiled bitterly; unable to argue.

“But this time I’m not really hiding anything. As for what happened to my body, I don’t have any clue.”

“Whatever, anyway tell me what happened after we left. How did you survive?” Mia smiled with a blink, like a girl yearning to listen to a fairytale.

Allen didn’t care about it one bit as he said, “We fought and I was completely trashed.”

“… …”

A silence dominated the room.

Mia who was waiting for Allen’s story suddenly felt awkward. All of a sudden, she found herself lost for words.

“...I lost.”

He squeezed the words regretfully. He just not loses the fight, he loses terribly.

In that fight, he found out just how huge was the distance between them.

If I still have my former power… “…Would I win, I wonder?”

“Allen... that’s——”

Although Mia wanted to deny it, she was stopped by Allen’s gaze. She wanted to say that it can’t be helped because they went back in time without their abilities. Right now, their current ability is only those of an average human or maybe just slightly above the norm and so, it would be no wonder he was defeated by that monster; Alkrasha.

But for some reason, she couldn’t say it as soon as she looked at his eyes. Allen was not an idiot, he also knows this so there’s no need for her to comfort him by saying it.

However, it was also the same thing with Alkrasha.

“…she’s not Lv5. From the powers she showed me, it should be Lv7 or above.” The youth calmly said.

“I was prepared to lose… but still, I held some expectation, even just a bit that I would be able to at least reach her. Even just a tiny wound, I might be able to fight her. But I was greatly mistaken. In that fight, she showed me just how vast of a distance between me and her… she trashed me from the beginning to the end.” muttered Allen with a self-deprecating smile.

“… …”

The first feeling of shame.

What had he done in that duel?

He couldn’t even touch his opponent’s skin.

“I couldn’t do anything.”

Allen’s tone was neither hot nor cold. There’s no trace of anger either, only indifference.

But what is truly behind that expression.

He couldn’t find any solution to beat her.

He only barely managed to run away.

Surely, his pride couldn’t accept any of these situations.

Mia couldn’t imagine. Just how did he feel when he realized how powerful his opponent was?

In that time, did he imagine himself as a small ant that was trying to fight an elephant?

Mia didn’t say anything and only listen. Of course, she was also frustrated. She couldn’t do anything and could only run away with her tail between her legs.

That was supposed to be their enemy that needed to vanquish but she couldn’t do anything against her. Then what will happen in the future? Not only Alkrasha but the other monster’s powers won’t stagnate but will continue to increase… can they really chase them?

Anger swirl in the back of her eyes as she closed her mouth. I’m useless.

What’s the point of going back in time?

At this moment, Allen’s voice resounded in the whole place. His words caused Mia’s thoughts to be cut off instantly.

“......I...want to become stronger”