CHAPTER 51
I don't fundamentally believe in fate.
Every event occurs as a result of previous incidents overlapping in stages. Those who believe in fate are simply ignorant of the existence of these steadily accumulating incidents.
This time was no different.
Three groups were hunting the No-Named Serial Killer.
The Avengers and the Radiance Faith.
Add us to the mix, and that makes three.
The Radiance Faith appeared here around the same time as us. That means the signs of battle left here were most likely caused by the Avengers. They must have run into the killer who was chasing Cain and fought her.
I wasn't unaware of the possibility that things could turn out this way. The reason I got involved anyway was for Bulldog’s sake, and for my own personal revenge.
After all, that bitch stabbed me in the gut and smashed my head in.
"We came here chasing a Japanese Transferee."
As he spoke, the cultist with the friendly smile revealed a murderous aura.
"Somehow, meeting twice feels like too much to be a coincidence, don't you think?"
It was a touch-and-go situation.
If I were alone, I would've been foaming at the mouth and cursing a storm at the sight of the Radiance Faith. But next to me were three people who currently had nothing to do with them.
"An acquaintance of mine is suffering because of the serial killer."
Bulldog flinched for a brief moment.
"Given his personality, he's probably blaming himself for everything and enduring the pain, but I just can't stand to watch that."
I mirrored the cultist's smile.
"Aha, I see. So you want to catch the killer for that reason!"
"Right. Our goals seem to be the same. Is there any need to be so hostile to each other?"
"Hmmmm."

The cultist stared at me blankly, then slowly began tapping his forehead with his middle finger.
A moment later, he stopped.
"No. No matter what, that won't do."
He smiled faintly, as if he'd just received a revelation.
"You are an insect-like Transferee, after all."
Son of a bitch.
I knew it.
I tried to be cooperative, but sure enough, I got a response worthy of the Radiance Faith.
The rest of his group had the same expression.
These bastards are fanatics who wouldn't accept help from a Transferee even if their own lives were at stake. It was my mistake to expect cooperation from them.
"How could we possibly work together with the likes of a Transferee? The heavens and the earth would cry out in rage."
"I've heard just about enough!"
Aranseol started to step forward, but I stopped her with a hand gesture.
They were in a hurry to chase the killer.
As long as we didn't cross the line, they didn't seem to want to fight.
It's always best not to deal with madmen.
"Fine, have it your way."
As I backed down without any intention of pursuing them, the cultist turned away, his smile never fading.
"You know your place."
He just doesn't know when to shut that cursed mouth of his.
The cultist and his group continued on their way.
At the same time, my eyes met Bulldog's for a fleeting moment.
"Don't."
This is not your business.
That's what he seemed to say before he left.
The foul-tempered old man had gotten a lot softer.
The Radiance Faith passed through the tunnel.
I wanted to tell him I could save his wife with Resurrection magic, but with those bastards around, there was no way.
"Harua, are you just going to let them go?" Babiyen asked, wondering if I was going to back down after coming all this way.
"Bulldog himself went after them."
My reason for trying to find the killer was, in the end, to pull Bulldog out of the Radiance Faith.
If this incident with the killer is resolved, Bulldog will leave the cult.
In that case, it might be better for him to get his revenge with his own hands.
The Radiance Faith bastards wouldn't have come after the already-famous No-Named Serial Killer without any preparations.
They must have their own way of killing her.
As long as the killer is eliminated, I can rest a little easier.
A serial killer targeting me because I have Resurrection magic would be a problem, but the Radiance Faith is fine as long as I don't get involved with them.
It's a matter of choosing the lesser of two evils.
"H-Harua."
Just then, Horizon spoke up quietly.
She spoke while looking in the direction the Radiance Faith had gone.
"There's a rumor about the Radiance Faith. A rumor that they can bring the dead back to life."
Her next words made me freeze.
I subtly pointed a finger at my own face.
Horizon, of course, shook her head.
She was saying it was someone other than me.

There's someone else with the ability to resurrect people?
Even the Holy Church's Saintess can't do it, so how could the Radiance Faith?
"I-It's not from an exact source. It could be made up, or maybe they've done something... in a bad way."
"I have heard something similar," Babiyen, the former noble, added.
"They're probably spreading the information on purpose. The power to save people is something many covet. I don't know the details of powers related to the Holy Church, but it's not like there's nothing similar to resurrection. However, that kind of revival often results in a form that can hardly be considered a revival as a normal person."
Aranseol scowled at this.
They were luring those who harbored false hope in the face of an illusion into their cult.
"If a complete resurrection truly existed in the first place, this world would have been in an uproar by now."
Aranseol's gaze flickered toward me. Her expression showed she was imagining just how much of an impact my Resurrection magic could have on the world.
"Yes, that's right."
Babiyen was still a noble at heart. For her to say something like this made me realize anew just how important it was to hide the existence of my magic.
"Then, that means Bulldog..."
Aranseol, and I, finally understood why Bulldog had joined the Radiance Faith.
If it were just for revenge, he could have joined the Avengers.
But Bulldog, who had dedicated everything to love, wanted to save his wife.
He wouldn't care what form she took, as long as he could have her back.
That’s how much Bulldog adored his wife.
I didn't have to think hard to know this was the answer.
"Th-The Radiance Faith are not to be taken lightly. Even if this incident is resolved, they'll surely use her revival as an excuse to keep him tied down," Horizon said.
The worst brings about the worst.
The evil surrounding Bulldog was constantly reaching for him.
The Radiance Faith would suck Bulldog dry, leaving nothing but his skin.
And even after he was just skin and bones, they'd find another use for him.
They were a group of madmen.
For them, who had no humanity left, moral standards were meaningless.
"His wife's body must also be with the Radiance Faith," Babiyen added, and I bit my lip.
If her corpse was being stored by the Radiance Faith, it would be even harder to find her.
Bulldog had walked into the pit of death of his own accord, all to save his wife.
"Besides, if the Radiance Faith revives her first, there's no telling what might happen. It would surely be a form that borrows the power of a Transcendent, so there's a chance Harua's power won't be able to intervene."
Like a true mage, Babiyen assumed the worst-case scenario.
And I was also the type to assume the worst.
"These damn pseudo-religious bastards."
Not once have they ever been helpful.
In the end, there was no solution unless I could get Bulldog out of the Radiance Faith.
More importantly, I had to get his wife's body back from them too.
Should I just kill them all?
The thought crossed my mind for a second, but I shook my head.
Killing them wasn't an option for me.
I was a Holy Mage who possessed Resurrection magic. The fact that I had zero combat ability has been a known fact for a long time.
So, what other way was there to get Bulldog out?
As I stood there in silence, a thought occurred to me.
"...Resurrection."

Everything came back to Resurrection magic. The answer was in Resurrection magic.
Skitter, skitter.
Just then, the sound of something crawling echoed through the cave.
We looked up to see a single Fantasy Species spider scurrying along.
A Corpse Spider.
It was a corpse scavenger of the Moss Flower Cave that only consumed dead bodies.
A bottom-rank species.
It was a Fantasy Species that even pioneers didn't bother with.
Was that the one that was on Arshel earlier?
The creature didn't even glance at us.
Its goal was a corpse, so it was just moving forward to consume one.
My gaze followed the Corpse Spider.
It was diligently making its way in the same direction the Radiance Faith had gone.
I couldn't know if the Radiance Faith had made contact with the killer by now.
But seeing the Corpse Spider heading there so eagerly, it seemed at least one person was dead.
It too was trying hard to live, to fill its hungry belly.
The moment I saw that diligent creature, an idea struck me.
"...Horizon, can you hide us inside the Corpse Spider's shadow?"

Horizon could travel between shadows.
However, it was impossible for her to cross long distances at once. Other members of the Amyeong Tribe could, but she was a half-breed Amyeong with a white mask.
That fact placed a restriction on her shadow abilities.
But she could still immerse herself in a shadow.
And if that shadow was moving on its own, she wouldn't even need to use much power.
Just like when she hid in my shadow during our escape from Arachne.
Over there was a Corpse Spider that would deliver us to the Radiance Faith, the serial killer, and the Avengers. Although I couldn't tell if it was a ticket to heaven or hell, it was announcing boarding.
They would never guess that people could be hiding inside a Corpse Spider's shadow.
This move would be the best one to turn the entire situation around.
The look in Horizon's eyes changed.
It was the same earnest look she'd had when we were escaping the Moss Flower Cave before.
"Y-Yes, I can do it!"
Horizon had also figured out what I was planning.
This might be another life-or-death gamble.
But one thing was certain: if this plan succeeded, we could get Bulldog out of the Radiance Faith.
I clenched my fists.
The Avengers.
The Radiance Faith.
The No-Named Serial Killer.
Let's see who gets the last laugh.