CHAPTER 14
Inside Breath Neck, the fairy village, Aerield.
We had been teleported there by Ririran.
“My apologies. The situation was such that I couldn’t come to your aid.”
Ririran guided us to a house large enough for human-sized people to rest in.
She apologized to us repeatedly along the way.
“I’m glad you’re both safe.”
We weren’t exactly safe.
We both already died once.
“No, it’s alright.”
But only an amateur would let that show.
It's better to act like nothing happened.
Seeing the house Ririran led us to, I felt a little relieved.
I thought for sure we’d be sleeping outdoors in the forest, so this was a relief.
“Harua.”
Just then, Aranseol spoke to me quietly.
We had come here to deliver a letter to Ririran.
It was probably safe to tell her now.
“Lady Ririran, we were sent here by my master, Rapiel, and Aranseol’s master, Soun.”
“Rapiel and Soun?”
Ririran’s eyes widened, as if she hadn’t expected to hear Rapiel’s name.
“So you are their disciples.”
“Yes, that’s right. This is the letter.”
Ririran accepted the letter I held out.
It was a bit crumpled from all the rough movement, but it was fine.
She opened the letter, which was much larger than her, and began to read.
She furrowed her brow from time to time, but she finished reading it without any issue.
“...I see. So the time of war is finally approaching.”
War.
As soon as I heard that word, I listened intently.
Even on Earth, talk of war always felt like something happening in another country.
Of course, we had a primary enemy right above our heads, but the armistice line was drawn long ago.
War was a distant concept to me.
But now, the word ‘war’ had come from the mouth of a fairy chief.
This was the worst.
Should I start looking for emergency rations and an underground bunker?
Countless powerful beings exist in this world.
I could only imagine the scale of a war fought between them.
It would be a completely different scene from modern warfare.
“Thank you. I shall pay them a visit as soon as this matter is concluded.”
Despite her words, Ririran swallowed a bitter smile.
The matter she spoke of was clearly Cosmic Jac.
And it didn’t seem like something that could be resolved overnight.
Not that it was something we could interfere with, either.
“Lady Ririran, there’s a possibility that Cosmic Jac will target the search party that will come to investigate the airship crash.”
So, we decided to proceed with the plan Aranseol and I had made.
“...I see. That is a possibility.”
“Yes, so if we could send a letter to the airfield before the search party arrives…”
“That’s impossible. I am currently in a state where I cannot leave the fairy forest.”
“Pardon?”

What was this now?
“Cosmic Jac has been preparing for quite some time. He has installed Sealing Stones throughout the forest that distort space magic. Thanks to them, he can detect not only external intrusions but all movement within the forest as well.”
Ririran answered everything with surprising candor.
It seemed to be because Aranseol and I were the disciples of her acquaintances.
And thanks to her, I now understood why we were caught by Cosmic Jac so quickly.
With those things spread throughout the forest, he must have noticed as soon as we tried to head for Breath Neck.
I thought it was just bad luck, but there was a reason after all.
I also understood why a formal army hadn’t arrived despite a Great Sinner appearing. Due to Cosmic Jac's interference, they couldn’t get word of the internal situation to the outside.
“And that fiend stole something important from us.”
If Cosmic Jac were just rampaging on his own, she could have ignored him.
She was a master of space magic; even with the Sealing Stones distorting it, she wouldn't be completely without options.
But the fact that she was remaining passive meant Cosmic Jac had pulled some other trick.
“However, I cannot remain passive forever.”
Ririran let out a sigh.
“...He is targeting me. This will be resolved if I step forward.”
Ririran looked back at us.
“This will not cause you any trouble, so do not worry. I will resolve it quickly while you rest.”
With that, she quietly stepped outside.
Only Aranseol and I were left in the room.
“Harua.”
Was she about to tell me this room was for her alone and I should get out?
That, I could never accept.
I resolved to stand up against injustice, crying out for gender equality.
Just then, Aranseol looked at me and bowed her head.

“I’m sorry for putting you in danger by acting on my own.”
My arguments for gender equality went right back in.
We had no way of knowing Cosmic Jac had set such a trap.
“You can’t be blamed for not knowing. In the end, we somehow survived.”
I had no desire to blame others for things that were already over.
Besides, Cosmic Jac wouldn't have figured out my resurrection ability.
He’d more likely think I used some kind of trick.
“More importantly…”

I gestured with my thumb towards the door Ririran had just left through.
“Lady Ririran is planning on taking Cosmic Jac down with her.”
“What?”
Aranseol stared at me with a stunned expression.
Her eyes asked how I could possibly have known that from our brief conversation.
“Just a hunch.”
And a pretty good one, at that.
Like it or not, I was an expert when it came to dying.
There might be people in the world who have died once, but there’s probably no one who’s died twice, three times, or four times.
Because of that, my senses had become quite sharp when it came to death.
The look in Ririran’s eyes at the end.
The meaning behind that look was clearly the face of someone resolved to mutual destruction.
“Then what should we do?”
“This is one thing we have no answer for.”
We had successfully completed Rapiel and Soun’s mission.
Our part ended there.
Going any further was not our responsibility.
“Let’s just get some sleep. I’m so tired I’m not even hungry.”
I stretched and lay down on one of the beds.
Aranseol remained silent for a moment before picking up her sword and heading outside.
It seemed she was going to train, even after fighting Cosmic Jac like that today.
Well, maybe she had some kind of epiphany.
I wasn't sure, but they say epiphanies are important.
No need to interfere.
Aranseol swung her sword late into the night before returning.
Soon after, I heard the sound of her washing up.
Then came the sound of Aranseol lying down on the bed on the opposite side of the room.
She must have been exhausted from the long day, as she fell asleep quickly, her breathing soft and even.
On the other hand, despite saying I was going to sleep, I hadn’t slept a wink.
After confirming Aranseol was asleep, I quietly got up.
I walked outside and saw the fairy village at dawn.
The fairies who had been curious about us seemed to have all returned to their homes to sleep.
“Boy, can you not sleep?”
Just then, a voice reached my ear.
I shifted my gaze and saw Ririran on the roof of the house we were staying in.
She had a long pipe in her mouth.
She leisurely flapped her wings and descended before me.
“The girl was training until just now, and now it’s the boy.”
She was still tiny.
All fairies must be like this.
“Lady Ririran.”
“Mm, what is it?”
“Are you planning on taking Cosmic Jac down with you?”
Ririran froze.
Her eyes widened slightly, and she slowly lowered her pipe.
“Was it that obvious?”
“No. Aranseol didn’t notice.”
It’s just that I’m sensitive when it comes to this.
The other fairies probably hadn’t guessed either.
“Yes, you are correct.”
Now that she was caught, Ririran didn’t hide it.
“Cosmic Jac is targeting me. However, he cannot catch me.”
She is the master of space magic.
Not even Cosmic Jac could catch her when she moves with space magic.
“However, if the distance between us closes to within one meter, even I cannot escape.”
Cosmic Jac’s explosive leaping ability.
It was something no human could possess.
His leap was most likely an application of his Ability.
“I intend to let myself be caught by him.”
“You plan on taking Cosmic Jac with you via teleportation.”
I understood her intention.
If a space mage was going for mutual destruction, the method was obvious.
A smile formed on her lips.
On the face of one who had resolved to die, there was even a sense of relief.
“Yes, just as you said. To a place from which not even he can return alive.”
She would die there along with Cosmic Jac.
That was Ririran’s plan.
“I am sorry that I cannot properly reply to the letter after you came all this way.”
I didn’t know what Rapiel had asked for either.
But I owed Rapiel a great debt.
She had taught me holy magic just on Bulldog’s request.
She had even willingly given me a room in her large mansion.
To me, that was definitely a debt.
And it is proper to repay one’s debts.
Ririran was necessary for whatever Rapiel was dealing with.

Lately, she hadn't been able to leave her desk, working all day long.
If she was asking for a favor, it must be a big deal.
If Ririran was needed to solve it, I was willing to make a move.
More importantly…
I was killed by Cosmic Jac.
That flower-headed bastard. Debts must be paid in full.
“Lady Ririran, I would like to propose a deal.”
Ririran’s eyes met mine.
“However, there are conditions. You must keep this matter an absolute secret from now on, and you must help me when I need it.”
She was the chief of an entire tribe.
On top of that, she was a powerful figure whom Rapiel, the daughter of the Grace Magic Tower Master, and Soun, the Sword Lord, would ask for help.
Connections are directly linked to a comfortable life and survival.
Look at how my life blossomed after starting with the connection I had with Bulldog.
Connections are justice; they are truth.
And what is the best opportunity to secure such a connection?
By making them owe you their life.
I have the ability of resurrection.
There is no better Ability for making people owe you their life.
This choice is a risk for me as well.
But life is a series of risks anyway.
The moment I was saddled with the risk of my resurrection ability, a risk-free life was already out of the question.
If, as Ririran said, this world is truly on the brink of war and in a critical situation…
Then it’s better to create allies who will protect me, even if I have to use my resurrection ability to do it.
I only realized this after meeting Cosmic Jac today.
No matter how hard I try, can I become stronger than a monster like Cosmic Jac?
To be honest, it’s impossible.
I knew long ago that I don’t have much talent for combat.
Moreover, my talent lies in holy magic.
Even if I were to learn combat skills, I can't be certain I could fight against monsters on the level of the Great Sinners.
In other words, I am not strong enough to protect myself.
In that case, I’ll make reliable connections.
A connection that even Rapiel would ask for help.
The chief of a village.
A master of space magic who can provide support at any time.
A character who would readily offer to save a stranger she just met.
There was no one more suitable to be my first major connection.
Through the moonlight filtering through the gaps in Breath Neck, my eyes met Ririran’s.
Ririran still looked like she didn’t understand my proposal.
To her, I confessed for the first time.
“Have you ever heard of… Resurrection?”
Beneath the flowing moonlight, I smiled.
My first gamble, staking my future life in this world.
I revealed my selfish ability, one that allows me to choose mutual destruction, yet be the only one to survive.