HPMC 05

Chapter 05

Even in the cloudy surface of the mirror, it wasn’t hard to recognize the face…

“…!”

For a moment, he froze at the sight of the strikingly handsome man reflected back at him.

It wasn’t because it looked so different from his original appearance.

‘It looks exactly like me?’

This wasn’t some doppelgänger or parallel world—then what on earth…?

Alec slowly scanned his face, raising a hand to touch it.

Messy dark hair, pitch-black eyes, smooth brows, a straight nose, a sharp jawline, and oddly alluring lips…

Aside from a vaguely foreign aura, there wasn’t a single feature that didn’t resemble his own.

It was to the point that he could believe this was his long-lost identical twin.

“Ha…”

His hand dropped weakly.

This was simply… him.

‘What the hell happened?’

He tried to recall the last thing he remembered before waking up here.

His memory felt hazy, like he had just awakened from a long sleep.

Fortunately, he still clearly remembered who he was and his past.

Originally, he had been the hero of a modern game-fantasy novel that had reached its grand conclusion.

One day, gates—dimensional portals—appeared across the world, unleashing monsters that threatened humanity and spread disease.

An unending fear of death and destruction.

For the first time, humanity truly felt the terror of extinction and helplessness.

Then, before certain “chosen ones,” a blue system window—like something out of a game—appeared.

The system awakened superhuman abilities in ordinary people, and those awakened grew stronger by completing endless quests.

Alec had been one of them.

In that unpredictable apocalypse, he fought monsters appearing all over the world.

He had started out weak, but his growth had no limits.

In the end, no one could rival his rank. The gap between him and second place was like that between a god and an ordinary human.

Even SSS-rank boss monsters were no longer a challenge.

He had to find the entity responsible for sending those grotesque beasts to Earth.

It was a god from another world, attempting to conquer Earth.

At last, in the final battle, he fought—and defeated—a being beyond human.

The world was safe. Humanity was no longer in danger.

The peace he had longed for had finally arrived.

For someone who had lived through countless battles with the system, he had finally reached an “end.”

I did it.

But what followed that relief was an unexpected emptiness.

He had done everything he could for the world.

Could he now live an ordinary life?

A life without battle or bloodshed?

He had saved the world, but—

‘Can my life be saved too?’

He couldn’t even tell what he truly wanted beyond peace for the world.

For now, he just wanted to rest.

As he closed his eyes, a familiar system window appeared.

[Congratulations, “Cold-Blooded Lifelong Single”!]

“….”

[Your title has been changed.]

[Cold-Blooded Lifelong Single → Savior Who Killed a God]

“….”

[To the “Savior Who Killed a God,” who has successfully completed the 21st-century quest, your final reward has arrived! Would you like to accept it?]

‘Final reward?’

He thought the final battle had been outside the system.

Was that a quest too?

There was no reason to refuse, so he accepted.

He only hoped it wouldn’t be something like game currency, items, or skills.

Suddenly, everything around him flickered into darkness, and he lost consciousness.

The last thought that crossed his mind was—

‘Send me to Hawaii. Or Guam… Bali…’

He deserved a proper vacation.

When he regained consciousness, the voices he heard were—

‘Alec!’

‘Are you awake, Your Grace? Ah—no, Alec Myers, sir!’

‘…Husband?’

“….”

To suddenly become someone else in another world.

He had only hoped for a vacation abroad, at most.

His confusion didn’t fade easily.

He roughly rubbed his face.

“This is insane…”

No warning whatsoever…

So the “final reward” was a new life?

* * *

“Haah…”

After stepping out of the room and closing the door, I let out a deep sigh.

My husband still seemed confused, so I let him rest.

Leaning against the wall, I pressed a hand against my heavy chest.

Thump, thump, thump…

My heart was still racing anxiously.

Ever since I learned he had taken poison, it hadn’t calmed down.

Maybe it was because I had ridden a rollercoaster of shock, despair, and relief in such a short time.

I was truly relieved he hadn’t died—but I realized I felt far more relieved than expected.

Had his presence really become this important to me?

‘Alec must’ve been startled by my reaction… He even spat out water.’

Well, I was just as shocked.

I pulled out a handkerchief and wiped the water from my face.

We weren’t a loving couple who whispered sweet nothings.

I had always harbored resentment and disappointment toward him.

Even if I didn’t show it openly, he must have known.

So for a wife like me to feel relief at his survival…

He probably never imagined it.

No wonder he had choked on his drink in surprise.

It felt bitter. And lonely.

‘…What if he tries to divorce me again?’

Even though he had woken up, nothing had really changed.

He might push me away again.

Of course, his mother would never allow it until we produced an heir…

‘Divorce… I don’t want that…’

I clenched my fists behind my back.

Tears welled up in my eyes.

Had I grown that attached?

When he mentioned divorce before, my mind had gone blank.

When I thought he was going to die, it felt like the ground collapsed beneath me, leaving a hollow void in my chest.

Even I didn’t recognize myself.

But I didn’t want to go through losing him again.

* * *

Before sunset, I borrowed the inn’s kitchen.

We hadn’t eaten anything since last night.

Our family had just collapsed, and we had no appetite anyway.

Even if someone had offered us food, we probably couldn’t have eaten.

But just as I started thinking my husband might be hungry, my sister-in-law came looking for me.

“Are we not eating?”

“Ten gold.”

“…What?”

“That’s the fee to use the kitchen.”

The innkeeper held out his hand.

“Oh… right. Of course.”

I handed over ten gold coins from my dress pocket.

“Sorry for the trouble we caused.”

“…It’d be best if you leave soon. If His Majesty the Emperor finds out, we might get dragged into trouble.”

Without waiting for my reply, the innkeeper turned away.

A cold breeze from his passing brushed my hair.

‘…He’s not wrong.’

We should be grateful he even let us stay, considering we had fallen out of favor with the tyrant.

‘That damn tyrant…’

Just thinking of him made curses rise to my lips.

I felt like someone infected with a disease.

After calming myself, I opened the bag we had brought.

It had been secretly given to me by the head maid when we were kicked out.

Inside were canned emergency rations and bread.

Cooking was little more than heating them up.

“Where’s the milk?”

When I brought warm bread and soup to my mother-in-law and sister-in-law, the latter looked at the tray and asked.

“There isn’t any.”

“What? How am I supposed to eat without milk!”

“Then don’t—”

“No, wait! Sister!”

Bang!

“….”

As I tried to take the plate away, she quickly shut the door and ran inside.

I shook my head and headed back to my room.

‘Just endure it. In the original world, she’s basically a middle schooler…’

Eloi had always been like that.

When I gently pushed open the door, my husband was pacing the room anxiously.

“….”

Until yesterday, he looked like a soulless person.

Was he now trying to figure out a way out of our situation?

It was the first time I had seen him so sharp and deep in thought.

“Alec.”

At my sudden voice, he flinched and turned to look at me.