After watching her leave, I tried to stretch my stiff body. It's been a long time I used this body after all.

However, I can't even move my arms properly because of some muscle pains.

"Ah it hurts..." I couldn't help but groan in pain.

Startled by my voice, Ashley who was quietly standing beside my bed frantically supported my body.

"Young master! Are you really okay?!"

"Ah, aside from some muscle pains, I'm alright. Thank you, it seems I give you a lot of trouble huh."

Giving her an apologetic look, Ashley shook her head in response.

"No, this is my duty, my responsibility. Besides..."

"Besides?" Tilting my head in inquiry, Ashley's cheek was dyed in red.

"No... It's nothing."

"What's with that, I'm curious~"

"I, it's really nothing. More importantly, young master why did you suddenly faint as soon as we left the dungeon?"

Well.... I don't know.

Now that she mentioned it, why did we suddenly lose consciousness and then forcefully waking me up from my slumber?

From the way it looks like, it seems like the other me right now is resting and asleep.

I wonder why?

"Arche.. .why did that happened?"

Answer: Master, although I'm not entirely sure, it seems like you, forcefully quickening the process of your rebirth made some little problems towards your soul...

I'm even impressed to see you awake now master. I had thought that it will surely need some time for your soul to recover, leading you into coma...

But this, master just what are you?

My dear Arche... I also want to know that you know~

I see, so that's what happened... the reason I can go out is because my other half is still recuperating right now...

Man, this sucks!

I really want to sleep more you know. I already warned not to overexert himself but he is really too stubborn!

..... As expected from my other self! Hahahahahaha

Well, now what should I do?

I guess playing outside once in a while isn't that bad~

Noticing my smile, Ashley looked at me restlessly.

"Young master, is something wrong?"

Regaining my senses back, I immediately showed her a reassuring smile.

"I'm fine... anyway, how long was I out?"

"A few hours young master ..."

"I see... hm?"

Looking at my cute and lovable daughter, Iona for who knows when seemed like she fell asleep while still embracing me.

It seems she really didn't want to let me go even in her dreams.

Feeling happily, I unknowingly smiled as I once again stroke her hear.

"Young mistress must be tired. She didn't leave your side until young master wake up." Ashley said with a smile.

"Is that so ..."

Hearing it, I couldn't help but give a wry smile while stroking Iona's head.

... ...

Marie

"So please stop crying, Marie. Don't blame yourself, I'm the one who choose it after all...and besides looking at you crying like that just after I woke up is really too hard to endure~"

"Pfft ahahahaha I never thought I would hear such a sweet talk coming from him."

Remembering his words, I couldn't help but laugh. This is the first time I hear him say something like that...

No, it must be... it's the first time in a long time after 'that' person disappeared.

After 'that' person left, Hero change... no, he just didn't change but it's like he became another person.

The new genius and strong childhood friend I know would never say anything like that to others.

Although he likes to joke about things while talking like a gentleman or playboy, however it will always sounded insincere. Unlike before or this time which sounded very natural.

I wonder what got in to him~

My real name is Marie Levi.

I was one of the millions of players trapped in the game [ Fantasy Online ].

Truthfully, I was scared, frightened, anxious and even on the brink of despair when this whole trapped thing started.

However because I have some friends and students from my school with me, I managed to braced myself and accept it.

I worked very hard while steeling my fear just to keep them safe and sound.

I really thought that I'm getting stronger and stronger after successfully surviving dangerous fights against monsters.

I was invited by one of the strongest famous guild the [ Iron Maiden Guild ] and even known as one of the strongest mages. Although I didn't show it, I was pretty satisfied with my achievements.

But all that change.

Just a few days ago, we were trapped inside a dangerous dungeon surrounded by high level monsters.

I really thought that we were done for but that change when my childhood friend and at the same time my childhood hero came and saved us.

He was Hero Stein.

Originally I was an orphan, a beggar wandering in the streets, begging for food and homeless. I really thought I would live my life just like that and die but he came.

He took my hand and brought me to the orphanage.

I'm looking for someone who will clean my room every day. Seeing that you look like a servant then I will give you the honor to do it. Was what he first said to me while wearing a beautiful smile.

At first, I thought he was just some kid from an evil organization that was trying to recruit some children to do bad things but still I took his hands without hesitation.

No matter what I need to do, I'll do it as long as I can live. That's what I thought and decided.

However, I was completely wrong.

He brought me to the orphanage and taught me many things. He treated me as his own, treated me as if I were his real sister.

He was my ever so reliable older brother.

My one and only hero.

... ... And my one and only love.

That didn't change even after I was adopted by a pretty wealthy couple who couldn't give birth to a child.

I was loved and treated very well by my new family; however I still yearned my life when I was still in the orphanage with Hero.

When I learned that he entered school, I immediately persuaded my parents to enroll me to the same school.

I tried my very best and became number one in academics as well as the student council president.

I did all those things to prove my worth ... for him to acknowledge me.

However, I knew within myself that if... if Hero really tried his best, he will surely and easily surpass me not just in rank but also in life.

Because he was pretty laid back and eccentric hedonist, the things he believe to be boring, he will never exert his whole effort towards it.

He was also quite a trouble maker.

Although most of the adult scorned him for it but I knew that every fight he does, he has a reason for it. He just did it all by himself and accepted the blame without saying any excuses.

Reminiscing about our life back in the real world, my lips curled into a smile.

"---Marie!"

When I was thinking about it while moving forward, a familiar voice could be heard from the front.

Slowly lifting my face, I found where the familiar voice came from.

"Guild leader."

"Yow~ so how's our lover boy?" Angela joked.

"Don't call him like that! ... haa~ he's fine now. He just woke up so I thought to bring him some foods over." I answered.

"I see." Nodding at my words, she accompanied me towards the guild cafeteria.

When we arrived, we noticed the party like atmosphere filling the whole room. The cafeteria was filled with people laughing while eating.

"You should have seen him fight; it was very amazing and incredible!"

One of the girls that were trapped with me and the guild leader in the dungeon shouted.

Who knows how many times she said this sentence. Even the girls surrounding her have their eyes shining and sparkling as if they were listening to a fairy tale.

"Ever since we came back, those girls are always like this... haa~" The one who said that is our guild leader, Angela who is standing beside me with a bitter smile.

Hearing her words, I could only smile wryly.

Who could blame her? We almost made it to the grim reaper's door you know~

Everyone must have felt a huge relief just like me.

The happy atmosphere continued until a girl sitting not so far from them opened her mouth.

"A level 56 player beat an S-rank monster? Isn't that impossible? Even if he is the strongest player that shouldn't be possible. If not then maybe he was cheating in the game..."

Etc etc, she said it in a way that made the originally happy and joyous atmosphere crumbled in an instant.

Even I, too was shocked after hearing those accusations.