I am back – Chapter 25

Arna and Dana.

Pia easily recalled the reason for the two of them isolating themselves in their rooms without receiving guests.

Both of them must be blaming themselves.

Arna, endowed with the powers of the Elves and the World Tree, could have likely stopped the Demon King’s last gasp at the very last moment. Of course, Arna would have lost her life in the process.

But from the perspective of the other party members, that wasn’t a choice that could be considered right. Pia, Dana, Kalia—if they had to choose between the life of one of the two, the hero or Arna, none of them would have selected either side.

Dana criticized herself for not completing her research. If, at the last moment, she had managed to finish that research, there undoubtedly wouldn’t have been a reason for the hero to sacrifice themselves.

However, even being the unparalleled genius mage who overturned and redefined existing theories, diving into the battlefield to achieve unprecedented feats, there are limits. If she had been given around twenty years to research, she surely could have found the answer.

But she had only seen that possibility a mere year ago. That time frame was painfully short for the research to bear fruit. Just during that period, looking at the foundational theories she had accumulated, the mages of the Magic Tower were astonished.

Thus, the two didn’t fail to save the hero.

The situation simply didn’t allow it.

Everyone made an effort and achieved the best outcome possible, and that result was the hero’s sacrifice.

It’s only natural for someone to die on the battlefield. To say, “They didn’t have to die,” would rather tarnish the dignity of those who have perished.

…But.

…Still.

Those left behind would ultimately recall that possibility again and again.

Because a person’s life cannot be retrieved.

“Are Dana and Arna still avoiding contact with outsiders?”

“No.”

Last time, Pia ultimately couldn’t provide Kalia with an adequate answer. The best she could offer was to say to give the two a bit more time.

Days passed since then.

Fortunately, it didn’t seem like Arna and Dana were living like hermits. Both of them occasionally came out when necessary for external activities. However, they hadn’t come to visit Kalia and Pia. The reason for not being able to see comrades they had risked their lives with for five years… was probably only one.

Every time they saw another comrade, they were reminded of the comrade they lost.

Pia and Kalia felt the same.

I could hold on, but why can’t you… They didn’t think such thoughts.

It was just that their ways of enduring were somewhat different.

The two wouldn’t continue living like that forever.

“I don’t know exactly what Arna is doing in there, but Dana will likely continue the research she was doing before. No matter how much the Demon King may someday be resurrected… that would be hundreds of years from now.”

So the situation was pretty optimistic. Dana’s research wouldn’t take hundreds of years, after all.

However, Pia shook her head at Kalia, who muttered that.

“No, I don’t think she’s rushing her research.”

“…I suppose that’s true.”

Kalia slowly nodded in agreement with that statement.

Dana believed it was her lateness that caused the hero’s loss.

She must think she could afford no more delays.

Each time research was delayed, someone could be put in danger, and it could be someone close to her. That’s why Dana was so devoted to that research.

And in reality, the results of that research wouldn’t only be significant for the Demon King. It would also be surely valid against the remaining remnants of the Demon King’s army and some of the Demon Race. And naturally, the sooner the research was completed, the less danger someone somewhere would face of losing a loved one to the remnants of the Demon King’s army.

Even so, it was unreasonable for all that burden to fall on Dana alone.

“So, the reason you called me is likely related to those two, right?”

For Kalia, who originally hailed from the Duke’s family, to speak to Pia like this was quite rude. While the status of the Duke’s daughter could never be labeled low—no, it would be more efficient to categorize her as superior to those below. Additionally, as a member of the hero’s party that defeated the Demon King, Kalia’s standing within the kingdom had considerably increased.

However, even so, being in the same hero party and solidly standing alongside the Saintess, who was also the head of the Church, allows her to speak in such a way because they had shared life and death together.

Pia, while not caring whether the other party shows respect toward her, was someone who would take great care as to how she spoke.

“Yes.”

At Pia’s firm answer, Kalia’s eyes lit up.

“Do you perhaps have a hint to turn the minds of those two back?”

“Yes. I’m sure of it.”

Oh, Kalia nodded in response.

Having grown up as a noble young lady, she naturally knew quite a bit about magic and divine power. However, that didn’t necessarily mean she was an expert. As a knight, she had to know how to combat those two powers. In the case of divine power, one was required to at least know how to use it minimally.

Yet, no matter how much knowledge Kalia possessed, she could never surpass the Saintess.

Though she had the body of a young woman, she was the only one capable of directly communicating with the Goddess. It wasn’t just feeling the distant existence of the Goddess; since she was someone who could directly communicate with the entity known as the Goddess, she could undoubtedly seek advice from the Goddess herself.

“I see. You called me to go meet the two.”

“Yes. The remaining party members need to gather in one place.”

“Is this perhaps related to divine power?”

“That’s correct.”

“I see.”

Kalia no longer asked any more questions.

Pia was a comrade she could trust with her life. Honestly, if Kalia heard rumors about Pia betraying the kingdom, she would undoubtedly think that the kingdom must have been in the wrong. The party members who had spent five years together felt more reliable than her own brother.

“Then which one should I guide you to first? Shall we head to Arna who stays in the royal palace?”

“Yes, since Dana likely doesn’t want to come out of the Magic Tower.”

Neither of them would be outright turned away for merely going to the Magic Tower.

However, all sorts of research were taking place all at once within the Magic Tower. Among them, some studies could significantly harm the human body if mishandled, which is why the Magic Tower worked hard to prevent accidents by thoroughly dividing internal sections and varying access rights for each area.

Naturally, Kalia and Pia were outsiders who could not enter any ‘danger zones.’

Even if the request to meet Dana was accepted, procedures were necessary to visit her research lab, which was at the highest point of the Magic Tower. For the sake of the Magic Tower and the nearby area and for Kalia and Pia’s safety.

Moreover, Dana was conducting several very difficult and dangerous studies, as the master of the Magic Tower.

If they were to meet first, it would be better to head toward Arna, who could be met only by going to the royal palace.

“Then I’ll guide you. I’ve been to the royal palace numerous times.”

“Please.”

*

“…”

Even after knocking and calling out, Arna still didn’t open the door.

No, perhaps she was not able to open it.

“…I can feel her presence right outside the door.”

Kalia muttered as she sensed Arna’s presence beyond the door. If Arna wanted to hide, she could surely hide well, but it seems she didn’t have that intention for now.

Kalia’s gaze turned toward Pia.

She had already tried several times before to no avail.

This time, she only hoped Pia, who followed her, would carry the solution.

“Arna.”

Without hesitation, Pia stepped before the door and spoke in a calm voice.

“We have a way to meet Siyun.”

“…?”

Kalia’s eyes widened.

“But it won’t be an easy method at all. That’s why I need your help. And Dana and Kalia’s help too.”

Kalia sensed Arna moving behind the door.

Always walking gracefully with the Elvish light-footed gait, Arna now made uneven footsteps as if she were in a hurry.

In just a few days, the door that had remained tightly shut unless absolutely necessary suddenly swung open.

“…Really,”

The figure that stepped out was a single Elf who appeared extremely haggard.

Her hair and body were well-groomed, yet Arna, who had regularly participated in official matters, couldn’t hide the dark circles vividly painted under her eyes.

“Is that really true…?”

“Yes.”

To Arna, who asked in disbelief, Pia nodded.

“But the possibility of failure is also quite high.”

“How?”

It was Arna’s question.


How on earth could they meet the soul of someone already dead?


It was said that the souls of the dead find peace in the afterlife, guided by the Goddess or as viewed by the Elves, by the prophets.


Moreover, the soul of the hero Siyun had already crossed over to another world—


“I will persuade the Goddess.”


“…What?”


Kalia’s mouth dropped open upon hearing the story.


“We cooperated so that the hero could save the world, so I plan to demand a suitable reward from the Goddess.”


“…What?”


Arna’s mouth also dropped open.


“I will take charge of the negotiations, so please help us as well.”


No one present could respond.


Even if Dana were here, it would have been the same.


…Sigh.


And the one left speechless was likewise the Goddess watching the situation unfold.