Memories flow through me. My name is Deed. I'm a freelance knight assistant/apprentice. I'm currently 16 years old. In this world to survive at a young age, and as someone that got kicked out by my family, I did everything I could that would get me paid. And no matter the job, I must always finish it.
Currently I'm hired by a young woman named Erica. She's a noble, and she hired me mostly to do some 'bodyguard' work... well, at least that was her reason. She actually just wanted some company to try all sorts of dishes and for me to be the 'trash can' to finish all the food that she didn't like.
"As a noble lady, it's bad to waste food, so I must always show a good example towards a peasant like you. You should be honored and grateful for being my dish cleaner." Is what she always said while flipping her hair.
And currently I'm just napping until she needs me. It's an easy job that pays well. As for her real bodyguards, however, they're also on a diet since they are women regardless and don't want to get fat... which they did, and became sluggish with their job. In terms of strength, of course they were stronger than me.
I'm just a conman that needs to get paid. By 'knight assistant', it means that I'm just a horse dung cleaner, an armor polisher, etc, etc. Who wouldn't want to accept this kind of job? It's all very easy for me compared to fighting and risking my life to get injured. An easy life where I could be safe is all that matters.
Well, that's the summary so far...
'Hmm... Mr. Knight... are you there?' I asked.
Deed is currently facepalming himself sitting at the round table. While the other three vary with their reactions.
"I didn't expect that our future thoughts and memories were sent back to the first life." Amused Roh.
"Isn't this interesting? We don't even need to wait for our awakening in the fifth life. Now we could all see how we lived in our different lives in different worlds." Zeroze said, seeing this like some sort of a movie.
"Heheheh, I like the way my first life thinks! It really is me." Zeronoz the Lunatic said.
"Still, the one that is in control is Null. We still remain as spectators." Roh said, seeing the situation so far.
"Why did it have to be this period." Deed muttered, thinking there could be a better time to return to.
"What's there to be ashamed of, you are also us." Zeronoz teased, wanting to know more about this first life.
"Alright Null, time for you to act like Deed as in our first life!" Zeronoz said like some sort of director. "Remember you are a conman! Scam all those nobles for their gold keh keh keh." He said while laughing like a devil.
"I like it! This is all for the sake of our fifth life! Make sure to drain them of all their wealth." Zeroze said.
Deed facepalmed himself further and started asking Roh. "What do you think of this situation? Is this just a fragment of my memories, or did we truly get sent back to the past?" He cautiously thought about what might happen if things change, since it's Null... him from the future life... who is the one in control.
"I know what you're worried about. But we really are in the first life. As for any changes that would happen and what it would affect, even I don't know. But one thing for sure... we can do better in this new life." Roh said.
"New life..." Zeroze pondered, while Zeronoz chuckled thinking of these new opportunities.
"Slack off? This isn't what you could call slacking off, I was merely thinking of strategies on how to protect you, Miss Erica." I said, mirroring the way 'me' from my first life would say it.
'Pff! That was so edgy! You pulled it off well, Null.' Zeronoz couldn't hold back his laughter.
'Please just be normal... Null, I'm begging you, me.' Pleaded Deed.
'Who knows what would happen if you suddenly change personality.' Thought Zeroze. 'I think this is the best way to do it.'
'...isn't there a better way to do this? It feels so weird seeing yourself in the third person.' Deed said.
'Don't worry, we've all seen your 16 years of memories so far, just think of it as normal. We're all you, remember.' Zeronoz chuckled, teasing Deed.
"Ara~ how thoughtful of you." Erica said, and pinched my cheeks. While her bodyguard looked cringed out towards me.
"You think I'm stupid?" Erica said.
I mean, like, seeing Deed's life so far and for this gig, what am I even supposed to do?
Meanwhile, Deed inside the mental void shrugged his shoulders, thinking that he doesn't have anything better to do anyway.
Seeing that, Zeronoz said. "A nap is always the best during work."
"Wipe your drool and get ready. Today we'll go to the Seven Sea City." Erica said.
"Won't that take like three weeks?" I asked curiously.
"Of course, but with our transport it'll take only two weeks with our trade routes. Don't tell me you've forgotten how powerful my family is?" Erica said, pinching my ear. "But of course, on the way there we'll try all sorts of cuisine as well." Erica said, eager to try different types of food.
'Wait! Seven Sea City?' Deed suddenly shouted, remembering something. 'Don't go!' Deed said panicking.
'Damn it, it's today.' Deed said.
'What's wrong?' I asked in my head.
'Is it possible if I conjure my memories for today, Roh?' Deed asked.
'It's possible. If you tell it, the scene will play out.' Roh explained how the mental void space works.
'Erica will die at the Seven Sea City...' Deed said. 'This journey is the turning point of my life. And why I became a knight... no, why I decided to be a full-fledged knight.'
'As you know, Erica is a daughter from a renowned noble family. It's obvious that a lot of people would want to abduct her, heck, even kill her in exchange for money.' Deed explained further as scenes regarding Erica showed up in my mind.
'My biggest regret... was that I'm not strong enough to protect her... I vowed to get my revenge... I was the one that was supposed to die... but she saved me.' Deed said.
'That time, the bandits wanted to do awful things to her. Kidnap her and demand ransom money, while all her people were being killed. The fight was fierce between the two sides, but being the weakest in the group I was being targeted, and they wanted to kill me first to demotivate our morale, yet Erica jumped in to save me... would you believe me that Erica is actually faster and stronger than me?' Deed said, reminiscing the scene. 'I'm just a loser...'
"Why? Why did you save me?" Deed asked Erica as he held her in his arms.
"You stu...pid..." Erica said weakly and smiled. "I'm a noble... isn't that obvious... you stu...pid peasant." She said, as she took her last breath.
In the memories, Deed cried so hard, his eyes full of determination.
'Null, please, this time... save her. I'll teach you everything... please.' Deed pleaded, looking down.
The memories that Deed told me were so vivid, as if I'm the one that experienced it. My heart ached, I felt the sorrow from the loss.
This past life is real... makes me wonder of myself... my future self.
As Null.
I'm just a freelance photographer, taking pictures of monsters, agents, and all sorts of phenomenal things that are worth it. It would be a lie to say that I wasn't jealous of them... who wouldn't want to be special.
My life before was so boring. As if I'm devoid of myself. Something is just missing.
Deed, the me from my first life. His life was also mediocre like mine at first... but the death of his employer changed him. Maybe I did wish for this kind of development in my life. But even this kind of emotion... I don't have it... yet now, I feel the fire in my heart which I, as Null, never really felt before.
I want to save her. I thought to myself. I want to be stronger. I'm gonna protect her.
'Please teach me how to be strong. Deed, The Death Knight.' I suddenly entered the round table and looked at Deed, as his armor transformed into that of a Death Knight.
'Let's do this, Null.' Deed said in his Black Death Armor.
'Sigh, didn't you forget something?' Another voice said; unexpectedly it came from Zeronoz. 'This is a turning point of your life, Deed. It's what makes you the Death Knight... if we change that, even you will no longer exist here anymore.'
'...' Deed took some time to think.
'It doesn't matter... myself... no... Null... even if I'm no longer the Death Knight, I would still have my fifth life.' Deed said with determination.
'I expected this. Don't worry about it.' Roh said. 'Time itself is way stronger than what you think. It will always repair itself.' He assured us.
'Seems like you have experience in this.' Zeroze said.
'You can view my memories when the time comes, let's focus on this first.' Roh said.
'So shall we think of a plan? How about we take a vote?' Zeronoz proposed.
'Vote?' Deed asked.
'Of course. Either we convince that little noble of yours to not go, or we just go on the little adventure and kill those bandits with our own hands?' Zeronoz said with an evil smile. 'Unlike that time in your memories, we aren't weak now.' He continued.
'Interesting, then I'll vote we go on the adventure then. It'll be a great time to train our fifth self.' Roh said, agreeing with Zeronoz.
'No! What if we fail to protect her?' Deed warned cautiously.
'Don't you believe in Null? Our fifth self.' Zeroze said.
Deed felt ashamed that he doubted Null.
'So that's 2-1 already. For me, I'll just remain neutral.' Zeroze said, looking at me. 'Since you're the pilot now, what say you, Null?' He said with a smile. 'If worst comes to worst, we'll just possess you and take care of the situation. Mind you, we are quite strong.'
'I...' I started remembering the scenes of Deed's memories. 'I've taken this job... obviously I'll finish this.' I said.
'Hah... really took the words right out of my mouth. You are indeed me.' Deed said.
A meeting with myself felt quite long, but time was frozen the moment I entered the mental void... the round table... I wondered why?
"Are you listening? Deed?" Erica asked as I returned to reality.
"Sure." I said, as I unsheathed my sword. Erica and her guard were shocked by my action.
"How about we spar first? Who knows what might happen during the trip." I said.
"Ehh!!!" Erica was shocked by the sudden development. "Are you possessed or something?" She couldn't believe her eyes.
"Maybe we should knock his head first, shouldn't we, my lady?" One of her guards said, readying their weapon.
"Is this because we've been feeding him too much? That he's also starting to diet like you girls as well?" Erica said.
I looked at them seriously.
'Sigh... this is so out of character.' Zeroze sighed.
'Did I do anything wrong?' I asked my other selves.
'No, this is perfect.' Zeronoz chuckled.
"Fine, if you insist..." Erica said as she looked at me straight in the eyes.
By the time I realized it... I was already on the ground.
"Eh..." I said, shocked. 'Are they too strong, or is this body just so weak?' I asked Deed in my mind.
I could tell Deed was facepalming himself. 'Don't blame my body for it... but you're the one who's very weak... Null.' Deed said.
'You can only use 10% of my body... heck, this is my untrained body too.' He explained. 'If it were me in that period, I could see her movements clearly and respond well to her attacks.'
'Isn't this hopeless...' I said, like I'm giving up already.
At the round table, Deed seemed disappointed, Zeronoz laughed, Zeroze seemed to figure something out, and Roh just looked unsurprised.