CH 92

18. About Pepe, My Eternal Friend

‘I must be the reincarnation of an ancient witch.’

It’s a common cliché in these stories.

Let’s recap.

The condition for the Curse of the Rose, as far as I can tell, is ‘liking me’.

Even when I found out, I thought it was strange.

Why me? And why shouldn’t they like me?

‘I didn’t even know the Curse of the Rose existed.’

But it made sense if I was related to an ancient witch with the most powerful powers.

So let’s say………… the original condition for the curse to manifest was ‘to like an ancient witch with the most power.’

The Curse of the Rose existed in ancient times, but gradually faded into history.

Even when it did exist, the symptoms were mild and rarely interfered with people’s lives.

Then, 21 years ago, the curse of the rose suddenly began to resurface.

‘To put it another way.’

After the ancient witches disappeared, the curse subsided.

But with the birth of Roselina, the curse was revived.

‘It is possible that Roselina is the reincarnation of the most powerful of the ancient witches.’

What, was I a munchkin*?

(t/n: this is a terminology used in Korean in games to characterize a character who is too strong to defeat/overpowered, like One Punch Man (if you watched this anime))

I knew I was a munchkin, but I didn’t think I was this munchkin.

As I thought this, a notification popped up.

【Quest 〈Discover the secret behind the Curse of the Rose〉 has been confirmed】.

【Quest 〈Uncover the secret behind the Curse of the Rose!(3)〉 has been completed】.

【You have received 50 Fate Energy as a reward】.

【As a reward, the scenario 〈The Return of the Ancient Witch〉 has been created】.

“I haven’t seen the scenario’s name yet?”

I wondered as I looked at the notification, and as if to answer my question, a new quest popped up.

【Uncover the secrets behind the Curse of the Rose! (4)

That’s right. The scenario 〈The Returned Ancient Witch………….〉 hasn’t been fully created yet.

This is because the name of the most powerful witch has been erased from history.

You need to find the name that exists, but doesn’t exist.

Find the one being that can call that name.

But that’s no easy task.

Because that being’s name has also been forgotten.

Find the name of the forgotten being, and call it!

-Credits: Learn the name of a forgotten being.

-Reward: 50 Fate Energy, scenario 〈The Returned Ancient Witch〉】

A new puzzling quest.

But I think I know who the forgotten one is.

“A spirit.”

I was reading a fairy tale to Leonhardt when I remembered the existence of spirits.

Since then, I’ve been trying to find its name.

But it wasn’t easy.

Ever since I was possessed, things have gone strangely well.

But finding the spirit’s name was not as easy as getting divorced.

In my experience, the former was more difficult.

I had asked for its name many times since I opened up to the spirit.

“Why don’t you tell me your name now?”

– Well. Guess what.

Each time I asked for its name, the spirit evaded the question.

“What was your name?”

“I’ll wait until you figure it out.”

At the time, I didn’t think it was weird.

I thought it was just playing a trick on me.

And from the day I realized that if I called the spirits’ name, I could meet him again, I gathered information about him.

I even asked Master to research the spirits that existed on the continent.

As soon as the results came back, I returned to my room.

Holding up a sheet of paper with the names of the spirits, I called them out in order.

“Number one, Sylphid.”

But nothing happened.

“Number two, Elaim.”

Again, nothing.

I kept my eyes peeled and called out the spirits’ names as soon as I could.

“Number 155, Almagel.”

But in the end, the spirit was not summoned.

I was frustrated, but I didn’t give up.

“Jennifer.”

“Sandra.”

“Giogel.”

I started calling people’s names.

Of course, it didn’t work.

But I didn’t give up.

“Okay. Let’s find the spirit’s name.

This was the perfect place.

【Do you want to use the 〈Glasses Summoned from the Unknown World〉?】

“Yes. I want to find information about spirits.”

The book next to me glowed, and I checked it out.

It was titled “About Spirits, Our Eternal Friends.”

I opened the book without a second thought.

〈Spirits are always with us, bringing us joy. Spirits are not limited to things like water or fire.

They can inhabit even the parchment you are using. That’s why names are so important to them.

Spirits can only exist if there is someone to call them and recognize their existence.〉

‘Good thing I used an item.’

The information I needed followed.

〈Spirits want names that are cute and loving, so that they can be remembered and called for a long time.

The preference for nicknames was also noticeable. There were spirits who wouldn’t answer unless they were called by a nickname.〉

“A nickname?”

〈For example, the wind spirit Sylphid, who was close to an ancient witch, was known as the ‘The Hunter’. He famously protested that he should always be called something cuter.

One day, Sylphid wasn’t satisfied with his nickname and went on a rampage. For a month, until he found a nickname he liked, Sylphid’s obsession became an……………〉

I narrowed my eyes as I read.

‘So that’s why he wasn’t summoned.’

I had assumed with near certainty that the spirit was a wind spirit.

So I called out Sylphid’s name for the hundredth time.

‘If it’s a cute, endearing nickname for Sylphid.’

I trailed off carefully.

“……………Sylphy.”

And the next moment.

“Ah………….”

Thump!

A loud bang echoed within the secret library reserved for the royal family.

“What was that?”

“Roselina!”

And the person that appeared before me.

A voice that sounded like it had been waiting for this moment.

A pair of mournful eyes looking at me.

I panicked a little.

“What’s wrong, Felix?”

As if I wasn’t annoyed enough with my failure to summon the spirit, Felix interrupted.

“I need to talk to you, actually………….”

“Uh-huh. What is it?”

“I went to 〈Rose House〉 once.”

“What? Wait, but………… I don’t remember meeting you as a guest.”

“I was trying to …………….”

I wonder where Felix’s bravado went as he dropped to his knees with a loud thud, and he hung his head and mumbled.

“Speak straight. I don’t understand.”

“I went to 〈Rose House〉 to………… cause a ruckus.”

“What?”

“I felt like you were disrupting my life, so I wanted to disrupt yours.”

Felix hesitated for a moment, and when he finally answered, I was stunned.

〈He was trying to sabotage Rose House?〉

Of course I knew.

I had changed Felix’s life overnight.

So I assumed he would hate me.

-There was an intruder.

“Really? Is that who I told you about?”

-Yes. Yep.

The beast chimeras were visiting the Rose House to watch and patrol.

So I knew that Felix was trying to break into the Rose House.

I was puzzled by Felix’s next words.

“Actually, it’s my fault. I knew I wasn’t the real crown prince.”

No. Felix is apologizing for admitting this?

I already thought he knew he wasn’t the crown prince, but kept his mouth shut and pretended not to know.

【The newly tamed beast confesses his wrongdoing with tears!】

Felix wasn’t lying, judging by the notification.

“I’m sorry, but I wasn’t…………. I won’t ask you to forgive me. Instead, do what you want.”

“Of course.”

I replied, my eyes shining, and Felix looked a little surprised.

“Uh, what are you going to do……?”

“Beat you up, of course! I’m going to beat you up!”

“Beat, what………?”

I put so much effort into 〈Rose House〉!

“What do you mean? I’m going to beat you up!”

I rolled up my sleeves.

Suddenly, a white light emanated from the air.

“What was that?

【Quest 〈Discover the name of the forgotten being〉 confirmed】.

【Quest 〈Uncover the secret behind the Curse of the Rose (4)〉 has been completed】.

【You will receive 50 Fate Energy as a reward】.

Suddenly, the quest is complete.

I stare at the notification in disbelief.

– Rose! You finally called me!

“Huh?”

A spirit popped out of nowhere.

(T/N: Ok, this is a bit tricky to explain. The spirit’s nickname is Pepe. So when Roselina was telling Felix she’s going to ‘beat him up’, she’s saying ‘패! 팬다고’ which is ‘Pe! Pendagu!’ and could be mistaken as her calling Pepe.)