CHAPTER 116
Sohan’s betrayal. Could this even be called a betrayal?
It was clear that Sohan had become Soun’s disciple from the very beginning for this day.
I remembered what happened at the Star Cluster meeting.
Who was it that suggested we go to the meeting?
Sohan.
And who was the first to leave the meeting hall, using a woman as an excuse?
Sohan.
Sohan must have planned to kill Aranseol that day.
And he likely intended to become Soun’s sole remaining disciple.
But my intervention flipped the script, and Sohan had no choice but to leave with Aranseol to avoid suspicion.
Looking back, Sohan had always kept himself one step removed from the center of events.
My head throbbed at the thought that it was all a groundwork for his betrayal.
“...Dammit.”
My mouth tasted bitter.
How could the situation be so screwed up every single time?
Absolutely nothing was going according to plan.
Black Dawn also hadn't anticipated the raid on their headquarters.
Come to think of it, I had never told Horizon about that plan.
It was top secret to begin with, and I had only told the three of them what they needed to know to act as bait.
I never expected things to unfold like this.
‘Though I suppose with a mole in the Regular Army, news of the raid would have gotten out eventually.’
They probably just hadn't expected us to be able to strike the headquarters directly.
But Black Dawn hadn't been sitting idle.
They, too, had anticipated an attack and made their own move.
Their plan was to strike Soun and rob the imperial treasury.
‘So we both landed a counter punch, huh?’
It was a headache, but you can’t win every battle.
For now, I had to be content with having crushed Black Dawn’s headquarters.
“How is Lord Soun’s condition?”
“He’s safe. But that man is more sentimental than he looks.”
Meaning the mental shock would be greater.
I lifted my head and saw the Regular Army returning to the 1st World in the distance.
Ririran was near the entrance to the 2nd World. It seemed she had sent the Regular Army ahead and deliberately waited here.
“So, young Harua, it’s time I heard your side of the story.”
The Sin of Wrath, Asheria Eve.
Her appearance was a crisis that could shake the world.
So when she asked about her, I first raised a hand to stop her.
“Let’s save the people who need saving first. We can talk on the way; it won’t be too late.”
We were heading to the Regular Army headquarters now.

Regular Army Headquarters.
The first thing I did upon arriving was receive the fingers from Ririran.
Babiyen, Aranseol, Horizon.
However, among them, Horizon’s finger belonged to Asheria Eve.
“This thing.”
Ririran glared at Asheria Eve’s finger with distaste.
Of course, glaring at it wouldn’t change anything.
“I’ll revive these two first.”
I immediately activated my Resurrection magic.
And just as I expected, the two of them began to regenerate from their fingers.
That woman, Asheria Eve…
…she killed everyone.
‘I had considered the possibility she might take them hostage.’
The reason she didn't was likely because of what she experienced with the Red Flame Lord.
As long as Resurrection magic exists, hostages are ultimately meaningless.
They would try to die at the first opportunity.
But I didn’t think Asheria Eve would let them go so easily.
I had experienced her persistence and malice firsthand.
She was not a woman who would let things slide.
There was definitely some kind of intention behind it.
What could it be?
I couldn't figure it out yet.
“Ugh, heuh.”
“Hic!”
At that moment, Aranseol and Babiyen opened their eyes.
As our gazes met, both of their eyes widened, and they threw themselves at me in a tight embrace.
I was pushed back by their combined assault and fell on my butt.
I expected it from Aranseol, but I never thought Babiyen would resort to a full-body tackle.
“I really thought it was the end this time!”
Babiyen shouted, her eyes wet with tears.
Ah, I see.
Aranseol, Babiyen, everyone… they were all worried about the same thing.
Just as I was secretly relieved at their revival, they were relieved at my survival.
The three of us had, at some point, developed this kind of relationship.
A relationship where we rejoiced and felt relief at each other’s survival.
“You know I don’t die.”
“I know. That’s why I’m like this.”
Aranseol hugged me tightly.
I could feel her desperation, her desire to never lose me again.
“Because you don’t die, you can suffer even more.”
I guess you could think of it that way.

I now understood why Aranseol and Babiyen had been so worried.
“So please, stop doing such reckless things! Do you have any idea how nerve-wracking it is for the people watching you?!”
Babiyen shrieked.
Babiyen, my ears hurt.
I think my eardrums are going to burst.
“Were you that worried about me?”
We were always bickering, so I thought she’d say ‘good riddance’ if I dropped dead in a ditch somewhere.
Babiyen flinched, then rolled her eyes.
Then she snorted with a “Hmph” and looked away.
“W-Who said they were worried about you? I was just hoping you’d drop dead in a ditch so I could say good riddance.”
She said exactly what I was thinking.
Could it be that Babiyen and I are surprisingly in sync?
Still, I could feel that Babiyen’s worry was genuine.
Her body, clinging to my arm, was still trembling slightly.
“Babiyen, I’m safe.”
So I smiled at her to calm her down.
“So it’s okay.”
I came close to being dragged off and turned into a Resurrection machine, but I came back alive anyway.
So she didn't have to worry so much anymore.
Babiyen flinched at my words and looked down.
“You’re… you’re unnecessarily handsome. Stop smiling like that.”
“...The boy is handsome?”
Ririran, who was standing beside us, wore a puzzled expression.
“I’m quite the looker, you know.”
“Hmm, my tastes run more towards muscles and a large build.”
One look at Rapha Hastel was enough to know that.
But for some reason, I received an unusual number of compliments on my looks from Babiyen.
And every time, everyone around us would look puzzled, so it seemed my looks were only appreciated by Babiyen.
“I think you’re handsome, Harua.”
“Thanks, Aranseol. You’re pretty, too.”
“Yes, I know.”
Of course, she knows.
In any case, two of them were back.
But there was still work to be done.
“Lady Ririran, could you bring me the list of the deceased?”
“I will.”
My Resurrection magic was already known to Black Dawn.
At this point, was there any reason to hide it?
No, there wasn't.
On the contrary, the time has come to use it proactively.
Resurrection magic is no longer a tool to be hidden.
It must be actively used as a trump card to crush and end those Black Dawn bastards for good.
That’s why I had prepared.
Click—
Before me, in the room of the headquarters that the door opened into…
…an endless number of fingers lay on the floor, each with a person’s name.
What were these fingers?
They were the fingers of every Regular Army soldier who had participated in this operation.
In truth, they must have all been confused while cutting off their fingers.
‘Why on earth are we doing this?’ they must have thought.
But it was necessary for this very moment.
“In a battle where I am present…”
…I will not permit a single death.
With the list of the deceased from Ririran in hand, a grim smile spread across my lips.
Black Dawn, you sons of bitches.
I’ll show you just how terrifying Resurrection magic can be.
Arise.

One person, ten, a hundred, a thousand.
As this was a decisive battle against Black Dawn, countless members of the Regular Army had fought and sacrificed their lives.
It was, in effect, a war for the world.
I hadn’t seen the war firsthand, but I knew how many had died.
They were noble sacrifices who gave their bodies for the world.
Such sacrifices deserve to be rewarded.
Not with death, but with medals they would receive upon returning alive as a mark of their valiant fight.
“Huh?”
“You there, once you’re awake, come over here immediately and get some clothes.”
“Yes? But… I’m sure I died after my lower body was severed.”
“Right. You’re alive now, so get dressed.”
After I revived the first few people…
…the Regular Army soldiers had quickly adapted, dividing themselves into a revival waiting team and a revival support team.
Since everyone was revived from a finger, they were all naked.
So they began to help with explaining the situation and distributing clothes.
“Thank that person over there. He is the one who brought you back to life.”
“Brought me back?”
The Regular Army member looked at me, completely dumbfounded.
But his eyes shot wide open when he saw a person regenerate from a finger I touched.
“J-Jamie!”
He soon realized who the revived person was and ran to embrace them.
There stood a woman.
“Allen?”
Judging by their reactions, the two seemed to have been lovers.
“Th-thank you. Thank you so much!”
The soldier called Allen said to me, tears streaming down his face.
“I’m busy. Could you please move her?”

“Yes, of course. I’ll help with anything, not just this!”
He bowed to me repeatedly, then lifted his lover into his arms and left.
After he was gone, I moved on to the next person, and then the next.
And then, one more.
This time, a familiar face was revived.
“...So you really came back to life.”
It was Anastasia, a Lieutenant General of the Regular Army.
She was resurrected with her muscular body as impressive as ever.
Her expression suggested she had already anticipated being brought back.
“You confronted the Sin of Wrath, didn't you?”
“Yes. She was strong. I would have lost even if I hadn't been fighting Ganibal.”
Anastasia stood up and clapped a hand on my shoulder.
“Still, we fulfilled our duty. Be proud.”
“I always live with pride. And with the knowledge that I’ll definitely crush that bitch next time.”
“Damn right.”
As Anastasia started to walk, Regular Army soldiers rushed over, handing her a uniform and a lieutenant general’s coat.
Draping them over herself, she immediately gave an order.
“Who is the current commanding officer here?”
“Sir! Colonel Mirnov of the Regular Army Headquarters, at your service!”
“Then, with the exception of Colonel Mirnov’s direct unit, all remaining personnel will move to the Black Dawn headquarters. But before you go, cut off one of your fingers.”
Although the Black Dawn headquarters itself had been captured, some remnants were still engaged in guerrilla warfare.
This battle would likely drag on for quite some time.
They knew they would be killed if caught, so they would resist with everything they had.
That was why Anastasia was rejoining the front lines the moment she was resurrected.
What incredible military spirit.
Following Anastasia’s command, everyone left a finger behind.
Then, they gathered in one place and shouted a salute to me.
It was a gesture of thanks for bringing them back to life.
“I’ll revive you even if you die, so please fight with all your might and without regret.”
When I returned their thanks, their eyes gleamed with a soldier’s resolve, and they departed as one.
The war wasn’t over yet.
So I, too, rolled up my sleeves.
My job right now was to resurrect every last person I could.