Estimated reading time: ~10 minutes
Chapter 71
○○○
In the Immortality Dungeon, the Reverse Dead undoubtedly slices off both my arms and pierces my heart.
At that moment, my existence truly comes to an end.
My bodily functions completely shut down, and my consciousness utterly disappears.
Therefore, I have no idea exactly how much time passes before the revival occurs.
In the midst of my once-blackened consciousness.
I strangely feel an intense light piercing through my closed eyelids and a powerful heat coursing through my entire body.
As I open my eyes and sit up, I see a giant figure before me – the Reverse Dead, with its ash-gray skin covered in armor-like muscles, observing my condition.
Checking my body, I find that not only is there no pain, but all my injuries have completely healed.
Moreover, my mana and physical strength have both fully recovered – no, beyond that, I feel a power coursing through my entire body that I’ve never experienced before.
The Reverse Dead swings its sword down from above with all its might, intending to deliver the finishing blow.
I think it must be some kind of joke.
The boss monster’s sword speed is far too slow.
Still sitting on the ground without getting up, I easily catch the approaching blade with my bare hand.
I flick the tip, stealing the hilt, and with one swing – I cut off the hand holding the sword, then with a return stroke, another swing – I slice off the remaining hand.
The Reverse Dead, which had never shown any semblance of emotion before, steps back.
It’s a complete opening.
I slide under its massive body using the strength in my hands, grab its tree trunk-like leg reinforced by repeated regeneration, and execute a dragon screw, twisting it to the ground. I immediately stand up and thrust the sword into the Reverse Dead, now with its back on the ground.
Finally – this proves to be the decisive blow.
The Reverse Dead, which had repeatedly super-regenerated, finally perishes, unable to regenerate further. It emits light and vanishes.
The long-standing confrontation with the Reverse Dead finally comes to an end after 1,080 times.
○○○
After returning from the Immortality Dungeon and reporting to the guild, I’m organizing my spoils at the inn when my eyes fall on an orb I obtained in a hidden room during the exploration.
Although it’s called an 「orb,」 this item isn’t spherical but a pure white regular tetrahedron crystal formed by combining four equilateral triangles.
As I place it in my palm and examine it lightly, I suddenly notice something.
When I first acquired it, all of its faces were pure white, but now one of the faces has turned completely black.
○○○
According to the appraiser, its name is the 「Resurrection Orb.」
It’s an item capable of resurrecting the dead and enhancing the resurrected person’s strength, mana, and overall power by one level, up to four times.
Presumably, each time it’s used, one white triangle turns black, and when it’s completely used up, all faces will become black.
Thanks to this Resurrection Orb, I had regained the life I should have lost when defeated by the Reverse Dead.
○○○
And now…
I take out the Resurrection Orb, which already has two faces blackened, and place it in Chloa’s unconscious hand as he lies on the bed.
I’d heard he was seventeen, but his hand looks like that of a twelve or thirteen-year-old girl, far too small for his age. Blue veins are visible through his skin.
In any case, Chloa is thin and delicate.
He probably couldn’t even swallow food due to his incurable fatigue and worsening symptoms over time.
「It’s going to be alright now.」
I place my hand on his forehead and pray.
May nothing cause him any more suffering.
「Sensei, it’s okay. Please proceed with the ‘Curse Removal.’」
Sensei nods solemnly at my request.
Silence.
Gracefully, Sensei steps forward to Chloa, places a hand on his forehead, and slowly traces down to his neck, chest, waist, and legs, as if caressing him.
「[Prayer of Those Beings]
[Purification of Those Beings]」
Sensei briefly glances at us.
「[White Blessings to Those Who Seek Blessings Through Prayer]
[Black Misfortunes to Those Who Seek Misfortunes Through Curses]」
I feel a warm light emanating from Sensei as she chants something.
「[Reason to Reason]
[Advantage to Advantage]
[Disadvantage to Disadvantage]
[Universal Principle to Principle]」
The light emitted from Sensei envelops Chloa – in the next instant, black lines appear all over Chloa’s body, branching out like roots.
Chloa lets out a voiceless scream from the intense pain.
I hold back Chloe, who tries to rush to his brother’s voice, saying, 「It’s okay.」
「[In the Name of the Great God of the Divine Mirror]」
The black lines that appeared on Chloa’s skin writhe and begin to detach from his skin, floating up.
The black lines condense, giving off a sticky, tar-like quality. As if possessing a will of their own, they try to reattach themselves to Chloa’s body.
「[Curse, Curse]
[Release]
[Be Released]
[Return to That Which Sought to Make Humans Fleeting]
[Release]
[Release]
[Return Now]」
The light emitted from Sensei does not allow the black lines to remain on Chloa’s body.
As she finishes her chant, the black lines on Chloa’s body are repelled by the light, shooting upwards, tracing eight arcs, and flying off into the distance.
○○○
「Chloa!!!」
Shaking off my restraining hand, Chloe rushes to his brother’s side.
「Chloa! Wake up! Please! Chloa!!!」
Shaking the shoulders of his breathless brother, Chloe cries out.
「Why?! You said it would be okay-」
Chloe turns to us, glaring with tear-filled eyes.
「It’s alright, Chloe. Just a moment now – look, it’s happening!」
An abundant light overflows from the tetrahedral item – the Resurrection Orb – that I had placed in Chloa’s hand as he lay on the bed.
It’s the same intense yet warm light I felt right after my defeat by the Reverse Dead.
As the light fades, we hear quiet breathing from Chloa.
It’s a gentle, rhythmic breath.
Not only that, but his expression, which had been contorted in pain and letting out groans earlier, is now peaceful. His complexion, which had been pale with visible blue veins, is now filled with a healthy color.
Is it a dream or reality? Can we believe it?
Chloe gently touches his brother’s face.
Eventually, as if finally accepting this as reality, he breaks down, crying loudly like a child.
○○○
「What exactly did you do?」
Chloe asks me, his nose still runny, having calmed down a bit after witnessing his brother’s recovery.
His question is understandable.
「I used the Resurrection Orb.」
I hold up the tetrahedron that was in Chloa’s hand moments ago, raising it towards the light illuminating the room.
Another face has turned black, leaving only one pure white triangle remaining.
「This thing not only resurrects those who have lost their lives but also enhances all their abilities by a couple of levels. It’s quite the marvel.」
I toss it lightly into the air and spin it on my finger.
Chloe’s eyes widen in surprise.
「Such an item───?」
「Yep,」 I nod, and he opens and closes his mouth, at a loss for words.
Eventually, he puts on a serious expression and closes his eyes for a moment.
「There’s no need to worry. As per our initial agreement, if you just lend a hand with this matter, I don’t need anything else.」
Chloe’s eyes snap open at my response.
「I’ll give you anything I can in return.」
「It’s fine. Your feelings alone are enough-」
「That won’t do! For starters, I’ll disband my clan!」
「What are you saying?」
「I’ll disband the clan and start by settling our finances!
Except for the payment to the party from Vienetta participating in the sealed domain matter, I’ll give you all of my assets!
And then I’ll work for you for the rest of my life!」
He has that dangerous look unique to someone who has made up their mind. He seems oddly fired up, snorting through his nose.
So I lightly smack him on the forehead.
「Ouch! What are you doing?」
「Calm down.」 I say.
Chloe rubs his reddened forehead, groaning 「Ugh.」
「I’ll say it again. I don’t need anything.
As per our initial agreement, if you just lend your strength towards conquering the sealed domain, that’s enough for me.」
「But the item you used isn’t just some rare item. It’s practically a national treasure. It’s such a rare item that it’s embarrassing to even try to put a monetary value on it. What should I do?」
「You don’t need to do anything.」
I’m the type to use the last elixir. It’s the height of foolishness to save it for later and regret not using it when the time comes.
Besides, even if I hadn’t used it this time, I would have undoubtedly used it in a similar situation somewhere down the line.
More than anything, I’ve taken quite a liking to these siblings I’ve just met.
「The clan policy your brother mentioned before losing consciousness-」
───Brother, please… help them.
───We… our clan… have always… reached out… to those in need. That’s… what we’ve… been doing… all this time.
「You know, even I think it sounds sickeningly sweet when I hear it.
But I love that kind of sweetness.
So, please continue with Vienetta as you have been. If that helps someone somewhere, that’s more than enough for me.」
It’s as sweet as honey.
But it’s the kind of sweetness I prefer.
Even living in Japan, I often felt the irrationality of the world. It’s even more so in this world.
I’ve been through enough hardships myself, and I’ve seen many others going through tough times.
I understand that the world doesn’t run on pretty words alone. You can’t fill your stomach with just righteousness.
But isn’t it okay for someone who can, within their means, to aim for those pretty ideals?
That’s what I can’t help but think.
And one more thing-
Just then, Chloa wakes up with a soft 「Mm, ugh.」
「Chloa!」 his brother rushes over.
I don’t need to tell them this, but seeing their strong sibling bond firsthand, I had no choice but to use the Resurrection Orb.
───Sorry, big bro~ I ate your pudding~ Tee-hee!
No matter what, to an older sibling, their younger siblings are ridiculously adorable.
At that time, Chloe declared that for his brother’s sake, he would give not only his fortune but even his life.
His words resonated in my heart with the ring of truth.
「I agree.」
I mutter to myself, filled with emotion, as I watch the once-unfortunate siblings embrace each other in tears, my words too quiet for anyone else to hear.
If you enjoy it and wish to see more, please consider giving it a 5-star rating for the series on NU. Click Here.
Check out my Patreon for early access to upcoming updates. Patreon Link