“Whoa.”
Rin finished her connection with the Spirit Realm and sighed, wiping the sweat off her brow. Handing over Daniel’s shard to him in such a tense combat situation was quite exhausting.
It felt a bit like reading a book.
We can understand what’s happening in the text, but we can’t interfere.
Originally, Rin could only see the Spirit Realm, but thanks to the help of Eris and Adriana, she was able to interfere, even if just for a moment.
This way, she was able to pass on Daniel McLean’s decision that remained here.
‘The 10-year-old Daniel was quite cute.’
Seeing that adorable sight after such a long time made Rin smile slightly. She was supposed to come back and make an excuse, but in reality, her heart had already softened at his cute appearance.
On the other hand, the Goddess of Death, who was tightly hugging the 10-year-old Daniel, couldn’t just stand by anymore.
“Did you succeed?”
Glancing at Mei, who was urging her from the side, Rin nodded slightly. She had passed on Daniel’s decision, and through that, he returned to his 18-year-old body.
It was a bit surprising to suddenly be fighting the God of Life, but she believed that with time, it would be resolved.
When Rin explained the situation she had seen, the most surprised was the Goddess of Time.
“A bird, the life invaded the Spirit Realm?”
She seemed flustered by something that she had never imagined. Apparently, the Goddess of Time hadn’t been able to grasp the situation properly since she had just been dragged along since coming to the continent.
“Why? He isn’t the kind of kid to do that!”
“Isn’t that suggestive?”
Sen sighed in frustration. After hearing the situation, it turned out that Daniel was fighting to protect the Goddess of Death.
As a result, Adriana’s opinion that Daniel would save the Goddess of Time became indirectly correct.
“Hehe.”
Realizing that, Adriana shrugged her shoulders.
Women like Rin and Elise, who were intent on killing the Goddess of Time, pretended not to hear anything.
“Anyway, now we just have to wait.”
“That’s right. It’s been a while since I’ve seen him.”
Seeing the bright expression of Eve after a long time made her close friend Tana involuntarily smile.
“Sherpa.”
A long time had passed.
During the time they were apart, the continent had been destroyed three times, and he had ultimately saved the world, sacrificing himself and closing his eyes.
“I didn’t know a reunion would be this hard.”
Eris closed her eyes tightly, reminiscing about Daniel, who would return.
*
“……”
The God of Life stared rigidly with his mouth shut. Various emotions were contained in his gaze, but most of them were unpleasant.
The flames he was spewing continued to rage fiercely, ready to burn me alive, but the actual god looked like he wanted to step back.
That sight felt rather ridiculous.
“Is that what you call a god?”
I casually threw that line.
The effect was quite excellent.
The God of Life flared up in anger and immediately struck the ground with his spear, while the flaming serpents that erupted from the gigantic sun came flying directly at me.
“With such a cheap provocation, I shall respond!”
The flames of the serpents were a magnificent strike that befitted God’s wrath. I infused mana into my sinister sword.
The mana that had been completely gone in my 10-year-old body was now circulating slightly, allowing me to use it a bit.
“When a person dies and comes back to life, shouldn’t there be some changes?”
I couldn’t help but smile wearily at how my meager mana remained the same. The sword felt a bit long to wield with a 10-year-old’s body, but now that I was 18, it fit perfectly.
“Whoo!”
The blue mana wrapped around the sword. It seemed like there was some reaction as my mana turned into black.
Even so, I couldn’t help but feel it wasn’t just some ordinary sword bestowed by a goddess.
After all, it was a function that I could use only once before running out of mana completely.
“With that little mana, do you think you can cut through my flames? Poor tricks…”
“Seems you’re quite nervous, huh?”
Your tongue is too long.
I gave a slight laugh and charged forward.
The serpents screamed threateningly, their mouths wide open, but before they could attack, I had already avoided them.
‘Is it because my body has changed? Normally, I should have narrowly dodged that.’
Having adapted to moving in the Spirit Realm with a 10-year-old’s body for quite some time, there was bound to be some discrepancy in my movements.
Of course, it was a positive discrepancy, so it wasn’t a big problem.
“Benefit!”
The God of Life continued to shoot flames with clenched teeth. Initially, I was a bit surprised by his firepower, but soon it became laughable.
“Just like during the Following Apocalypse, nothing has really changed.”
He was simply stronger in firepower since he was the original body, but his combat style remained the same.
“Daniel McLean!”
In the end, the God of Life stepped forward himself after all. Flames bubbled like lava from his toes and he charged at me as if riding a wave of fire.
“Whoo!”
I deeply bent my body, lowering my waist.
The tension caused veins to stick out on my feet, and cracks began to form in the path of light.
As I jumped upwards, the path of light couldn’t withstand the shock and began to crumble.
“……!”
The God of Life thrust his spear at me as I rushed in, but my sword cleaved through it directly, biting into the God of Life’s neck.
Whoosh!
“Gah!”
The god bleeds.
Despite spewing crimson blood, he couldn’t stop the wave of flames under his feet and fell beneath the crumbling path.
I tumbled down with him.
“Ah, damn!”
Flames poured down from the sky with the God of Life and me.
While I was regretting that I had exerted too much force while leaping, I managed to grab onto the God of Life, landing atop him.
“If you’re a god, you should be solid!”
I intended to use the God of Life as a cushion to soften the impact of my landing. It was quite a height, so the wind rushed into my mouth, causing my cheeks to jiggle.
I had a similar experience facing a Dragon God, so it felt surprisingly familiar.
‘Man, we’ve come a long way.’
Thinking so, several memories rushed back.
An anxious countryside boy who had been expelled from the academy at 18.
That boy became the only human to conquer the Forest of the Demon Realm, becoming a Sherpa. He received a confession from the Guardian of Yggdrasil.
For some reason, he was reincarnated and went through various incidents.
If I don’t count the time when I regressed, it had only been a year, and I went through so much that I ended up dying to save the world.
Now, witnessing myself fighting to save a god after dying again, I mused.
“I’ve really gone through hell.”
Can’t I rest a bit now?
Is there anyone else on the continent who has suffered like me?
“Ah, dang it.”
Should I truly just live according to my desires when I return?
They say experiencing many things broadens one’s horizons. As I gazed at the Spirit Realm designed for the dead from the heights, many thoughts filled my mind.
Since I’m going to die anyway, I’ve lived my life way too earnestly.
“……That can’t be.”
Of course, that was just idle talk.
With my personality, I probably wouldn’t be able to live that way. If Rin and company revive me, I’d have to repay them, but afterwards, I’d likely live just as I originally did.
Becoming a Sherpa in the Forest of the Demon Realm.
Building a house, guiding people, gathering materials.
Occasionally sharing drinks with Kurika.
That kind of life.
‘Oh right.’
I should be able to graduate from the academy.
After all, I’ve been through multiple regressions and still haven’t moved past my third year at Aios Academy.
Naturally, I could transfer to the fourth year without any issue, right?
‘Though I don’t know if that’s possible.’
A grin broke across my face.
It seemed worthwhile to at least make an effort.
The year I spent at the academy was surprisingly enjoyable.
“Ugh, ugh!”
The God of Life had awakened. Realizing that I was using him as my landing mat, he struggled, but it was already too late.
At the moment he fell to the ground of the Spirit Realm.
The God of Life and I froze mid-air.
Then, as if someone carefully lowered us, we landed smoothly.
“Aren’t you supposed to know I’d save you? There wasn’t a need to use a god as a step.”
The Grand Witch approached, patting her waist. Even though she said it didn’t hurt, it seemed like a habit as I shrugged my shoulders.
“It’s not every day you get the chance to step on a god and fall from the sky.”
I had known the Grand Witch would save me from the moment I started to fall, so I wasn’t particularly concerned.
“Your no……!”
Bam!
The God of Life sprang up and tried to charge at me again, but I delivered a punch to his face. Since he was wearing a helmet, he wouldn’t be injured, but he seemed dizzy and fainted.
“Wow, wow!”
The path of light created by the God of Life disappeared, beginning to fall onto the Spirit Realm like snow.
“I won!”
The Goddess of Death jumped into me, pulling me into a hug. I smiled slightly and wrapped my arms around her back in return.
“Huh? Wh-What’s going on?”
The Goddess of Death raised her voice, excited that I responded unexpectedly.
“Hey.”
I spoke in a low, weak tone.
“Go explain to Rin that it was all your fault.”
“……”
I sought an excuse.
“Honestly, thinking back, it is true that it’s your fault.”
I can just sell the Goddess of Death out.
“I don’t wa-want to! Let me go!”
The struggling Goddess of Death insisted, but I had no intention of letting her go.
