Chapter 16: Judgement after Death
A ball of flame, burning so fiercely that it could be mistaken for the sun, lashed down the trees and flew past, engulfing many magical beasts. It is a fire magic released by Mei.
(...Flashy. What are you trying to beat?)
The fire magic is too powerful to be directed at the magical beasts in front, just as Ren thought. It is the only advanced fire-attribute magic Mei has mastered.
Its momentum is tremendous, but unfortunately, its area of effect is narrow. The magical beasts that did not receive a direct hit from it were still attacking without fear.
The two arms of the Murder Bear swung with such force that even the sound of the wind could be heard. Slipping through the attack of those arms, Ren jumped into the Murder Bear's bosom. He then swung his sword in all directions. The hard fur covering his body was unable to withstand the blinding speed of the sword, and the Murder Bear's upper body turned bright red with the blood that flowed from it.
The arm that tried to stop it was also swatted away by the sword.
Finally, after swinging the sword in various ways, the Murder Bear's arm stopped and its body slowly fell backward.
(...Inefficient!)
While Ren was defeating the Murder Bear, the Class A hero candidates also entered the battle. Their strength is overwhelming.
"Wooooohhhh!"
Yuya shouted as he stood up to the Murder Bear. With a single flash of his sword, which he raised high above his head, he struck the Murder Bear with a single swing of his sword. With that single swing, the Murder Bear's arm was cut off.
(As expected, he drops it with a single blow.)
Seeing that, Ren was frankly impressed. It is a way of fighting that shows that the title of [hero] is not a title it deserves. And Yuya is not alone. Jin also cuts through the body of the Murder Bear with a single swing of his sword.
(……No way? Did he turn into a magic swordsman?)
Ren thought as he saw Jin's sword glint slightly. An aptitude that should not have been there when he received the blessing. Ren was quite surprised to see that Jin was trying to learn it.
(Interesting, but I can't just watch forever. Now then...)
It is only a matter of time before the intervention of Class A hero candidates will destroy the gathered magical beasts. There is no need for Ren to fight.
While battles with monsters are taking place here and there. Ren quietly left the scene.
◇◇◇
After fighting off quite a few of the oncoming magical beasts, Yuya and the others had to fall back, leaving the rest to the adventurers, where the Class C students were gathered.
"Yuya, where are the magical beasts?"
Shizuru, who hadn't participated in the battle, spoke to him with a worried look on her face.
"It's fine. If it's a magical beast like that, it should be a piece of cake."
"Yes, that's right. What about that adventurer?"
"...He's still on the front line. Look, over there."
Ahead of Yuya's finger was an adventurer dressed in black with silver hair blowing in the wind.
"Did you talk to him?"
"No. It's not the best time while we are fighting the magical beast."
"I see. Was he strong?"
"……Normal, I guess."
"I see"
"Well. You should ask directly, right? I don't even know him."
"Yes. I will. Ren!"
Shizuru thought the adventurer a little ahead was Ren, and called out his name. But just a little later, a voice calling the same name reached her ears.
"Ren! Hey! Stay strong!"
It was not from the front. It came from the Class C students in the back.
"Eh!?"
"What's going on?"
"I don't know."
"Let's just go."
"Which way?"
"Behind. They seems to be in a hurry."
"Yes"
Yuya and Shizuru were not alone. The other students, including Mei, Jin, and others, also rushed to Class C students.
"Hey! Stay strong!"
"It hurts! It hurts! Help me!"
"Hang in there! We're almost there!"
"I'm going to die! I'm going to die! Someone help me!"
What Yuya and the others saw was Ren lying on the ground covered in blood, crying, and the students of Class C desperately encouraging him.
"Help! Somebody!"
Ren cried out even louder. It was Jin who responded.
“Shizuru! What are you dawdling about? Hurry up and work your magic!"
"Ah, eh, that's right"
"Hurry up!"
"Help me! Someone... help me..."
"Hey! Stay strong! I'll deal with it now!"
Unable to bear the slow-moving Shizuru, Jin decided to treat Ren himself. Jin also has an aptitude for light-attribute magic, and has mastered it to some extent.
"Help me..."
"I understand. Please wait a moment. I'm going to cast a healing magic right now.."
"……Please"
The chanting voice slowly escapes from Jin's mouth. Jin's two hands shone white with it. The two hands were held over Ren's upper body.
"It's almost there. Be patient."
"I-it hurts..."
"A little more... how is it?"
"……Oh?"
"Does it hurt?"
"No?"
"I see. Hey, does anyone have a clean cloth? Anything. To wipe his blood off!"
"Oh, then I will"
One of the female students from Class C, who was watching over Ren, came forward. Although she came forward, the female student did not have any cloth. She took off her own jacket and began wiping the blood from Ren's upper body with it.
"...No, it will stain your clothes."
"It's fine."
"I'm fine. It doesn't hurt anymore, so there's no need to get your clothes dirty."
"But we better be sure."
"Yeah, but..."
"It's fine. I can just wash it later."
"……Sorry"
The female student wipes Ren's upper body with her clothes without listening to Ren.
"……It hurts."
"Eh? Still hurt?"
"No... you're putting more pressure."
"Ah, I'm sorry. I put too much effort into it."
This time, the female student gently wipes him. In fact, the female student does not have any power. It was just that the cloth, which had a different texture from the original world, was painful. The reason Ren called it pressure was to create an opportunity to get her to stop, but that failed.
"So how's the wound?"
"The wound is closed. I'm fine."
"I see. Good."
"...Only me."
"What do you mean?"
"Three people"
"Three people?"
"Killed by magical beasts"
"What..."
"That's a lie!" "No way..." "You're kidding, right?"
Upon learning of the death of a classmate, the voices of turmoil spread among the students of Class A.
"It's true. Their name... who was it?"
"Saeki-kun, Kobayashi-kun, and Yuka."
The one who answered Ren's question was the female student who had wiped Ren's blood.
"She said."
"...Why don't you at least remember the names of your classmates?"
"That's a misunderstanding. I remember the name, but I just didn't know who was killed."
"I see……"
"So what are we going to do now?"
"...I think we're pulling out. That's right, let's transport the three bodies while we still can."
"I'm sorry, but we don't have time for that."
"What?"
Suddenly, they heard a voice from behind and turned to see a man standing there, playing the role of the leader of the adventurers.
"What do you mean!?"
"We'll have to move on now. This place is dangerous."
"I understand that! But I can't leave my friend's corpse!"
"...What are you going to do with it?"
The adventurer playing the role of the leader does not understand the meaning of carrying the corpse.
"We will mourn them properly at the grave."
“No way, are you going to carry it to the capital?”
"Yes, but"
"Don't joke around. In the middle of the winter, I can still understand. But even if that were the case, I would not carry a corpse to the capital."
If an adventurer dies, the body would be buried on the spot. The only way to do that is if you can afford to bury the body.
"Why not?"
"They rot. It's a joke to live with a stinking corpse all the time."
They can't be refrigerated or frozen. Naturally, the leader of the group was right.
"But our comrades..."
"Once they're dead, they are no longer your comrades."
"What!?"
Jin expresses his anger at the adventurer's words.
"Hey, don't tell me you're calling a dead body your comrade?"
The adventurers don't know why Jin is angry. Even if they die. He has no intention of throwing away their memories, but he has no fondness for corpses.
"I don't say so! But I can't think that way!"
"It's up to you. Anyway, we'll move right away."
"Then, at the very least, we will bury them right here."
Jin thought that if it was impossible to carry them to the capital, he would at least bury them here.
"What would you do if a new magical beast appeared in the meantime?"
"That's……"
"The smell of blood attracts magical beasts. You are strong, so you might not mind. But what about the rest of you? You'll be causing even more deaths."
"…………"
"Understand it. We'll go back! Gather around! As soon as we have a headcount, we'll move out!"
In the situation where there were actually three casualties, Jin couldn't complain anymore. It was the other students who were in danger, not himself.
The same goes for the other Class A students. They obediently followed the instructions and began to gather in one place.
"...Ren-kun?"
Ren was lying down without joining the circle of students. A female student called out to him, looking concerned.
"Somewhat anemic. Did I bleed too much?"
"Can't you stand?"
"...Is it okay if I rest for a while?"
"That's right. Well then, I'll lend you my shoulder."
"No, your shoulder."
In fact, if it was the petite Ren, he would probably be okay with a woman lending her shoulder, but Ren replied like this. Since being sick was only an excuse to stay, he had no choice but to say, "I'm not feeling well about it".
"Then boys."
"……Do you believe so?"
"Eh?"
Where Ren's gaze turned. The adventurer was looking at Ren with a stern look.
"...Come back later"
"I knew it."
"Wait a minute! That's impossible!"
"I won't leave you alone. I'm going to escort you. That's right..."
"I prefer the strongest person"
"...That would be. Hey! It's you!"
"Me?"
Lyle was nominated. This is what happens when you are the strongest adventurer in the group.
"You're the highest-ranked one in the group, right?"
"I understand. I should take him and follow, right?"
"Yes, that's right."
"Then go ahead. I'll catch up with you soon."
"...That's right. Alright! Let's go!"
After receiving the command of the leader, the students who lined up left the place. In the dense forest, They soon disappeared from sight.
"...Well, how are you feeling?"
"A little more"
"I see. We'll move out as soon as you feel better."
"But……"
"Don't worry. I'll carry you. You're small. We can pass them and get ahead of them."
"I see... can I ask you something?"
"What is it?"
"Three people died. Has your mission been accomplished?"
"...What are you talking about?"
Although he was stunned, the turmoil was clearly visible in Lyle's expression.
"Only three people were left behind. Does this mean your mission is accomplished?"
Ren then repeated the question.
"...What do you know?"
He won't be surprised this time. If known, he must erase it. Lyle thought.
“The mission you received from the church. The one you took without telling the guild."
"Are you... the adventurer from earlier?"
"No, I'm not. That adventurer is behind you."
Without listening to the end of Ren's words, Lyle swung his sword away. A sword swept horizontally. A shadow that jumps right above it and dodges it. Seeing this, Lyle quickly raised his sword above his head and tried to swing it down at the shadow that had leaped into the air.
However, the shadow did not land on the ground, but floated far above his head.
Unexpectedly shaken, Lyle stops moving. The next moment...
"Wha... kuh..."
A sword showed from Lyle's belly. It's the sword that Ren stabbed from behind.
"You shouldn't let your guard down just because you're a high rank."
"Y-you"
"And I, the weak one, will not let my guard down."
From the sword thrust at him, Lyle pulled it out forcefully by leaning his body forward. From there, he reversed and swung the sword, but by then Ren had taken a large step backward.
"With a wound of this degree"
“As expected of a B-rank. I can't believe you can do that without a single groan.''
"I'm going to shut that silly mouth now."
"Ah, behind you."
"I won't fall for that!"
It was almost at the same time that Lyle shouted and the magic blades pierced his shoulders. A magic blade pierces his shoulder, and the sword slips out of Lyle's hand.
"...No way."
"I told you. Did you think it was an illusion?"
"People don't just float in the air..."
"People. But my partner flies in the sky."
"No way... a spirit?"
"Correct. Well, with both arms in that state, do you still think you can win?"
"…………"
With both arms immobilized, there was nothing Lyle could do.
"It's a wise decision. Then stop your useless resistance and listen to what I have to say."
"……What?"
"I'll give you a choice"
"A choice?"
"Choose between being tortured to death, or telling your client's name."
"Client's name......."
"It's not an official request. There is no confidentiality obligation."
It was not an adventurer's action in the first place. The reason Lyle refuses to tell the client's name is more for self-preservation than to protect confidentiality.
"But that doesn't mean......"
But the idea is naive.
"Then your legs, too."
"Wha! Ughh!"
The magic blade pierced Lyle's knees from behind. Lyle could no longer stand and collapsed to the ground.
"...Raise your voice this time. I didn't hear your words earlier."
"Y-you"
"What did you think, finding an opening while we were talking? If I don't get an answer, I'll continue to attack you in the meantime. Now, which one will you choose?"
"…………"
Lyle still refuses to speak. With his mouth shut, he was glaring at Ren in anger.
"That one's going to attack even if you don't talk. Besides, you don't have a choice."
"...Threatening me."
"You think I'm just a kid and you're going to take advantage of that? I have a word of advice for you."
"What?"
"If I know, then the Guild knows."
"…………"
Lyle kept his eyes wide open and didn't try to say anything.
"Are you weighing the church and the guild this time? No need to think about it."
"……Why is it so?"
"They say the church's influence is spread across the continent, but it's actually not that much. Do you think the populace will revolt against you at the direction of the church?"
"…………"
"In other words, once you leave the country, there is no more physical threat. But the guild is different. No matter which country you flee to, there will be someone like me who will try to kill you."
"…………"
"Which one is the scariest for you? No, which one has the chance to survive?"
Ren's words are just a misdirection to scare Lyle. In fact, there are probably people in other countries who kill people in the direction of the church. In fact, Lyle is one of them. But Lyle was taken in by this incomparable comparison.
"...I don't know the other person's name."
"You've never met him?"
"That's right."
"Then what are your instructions?"
"I got a call, so I went to church."
"You guys met?"
"I can't see his face."
"Oh, the confession room in the chapel."
If there's a place in a church where you can talk face-to-face without seeing each other, he can only think of a confession room.
"That's the one."
"Then can you tell me the exact date and time you went to see him?"
"A month or so ago."
"I said exactly"
"...July 2nd"
"The time is?"
"It's Seventh Hour"
"I get it."
With this, it's the same as getting the information Ren wanted to know.
"Now what?"
“It is recorded when and who entered the confession room. It's a safeguard against the confessor's secrets being divulged."
“So you know who they are?”
"Yes. That's why you are no longer needed."
"What!? What do you mean by no longer needed!?"
Hearing Ren's words, Lyle let out an angry voice. In the end, Lyle didn't understand Ren until the end.
"I didn't say I would help you. I just told you to choose between torturing and confessing."
"Did you deceive me!?"
"I didn't lie. Now, one more choice."
"No!"
"Would you rather be killed at once or be eaten alive by a magical beast? You should answer fast, the latter is already waiting for you."
Enough time had passed for the magical beast to reappear. What's more, there is a magical beast that was even stronger than the magical beasts that have appeared so far.
"...Kill me."
"Hmm?"
"Kill! Kill me!"
If he was going to die the same, it's better to die quickly. Thinking this, Lyle tells Ren to kill him. He doesn't know that Ren is teasing him.
"Understood. Then let the magical beast eat you to death."
"What did you say……"
"I'm sorry. If you die quickly, these spirits will leave a grudge."
"A spirit?"
“A classmate of mine who died because of your trickery. I'm not really on good terms with them, though."
Ren's eyes turned to the three dead people as he said that.
"Do not joke around!"
"I'm not kidding. I'm a necromancer, that's what I do. Well, I'm sorry, but this is the end. There's some kind of a great magical beast out there. I'm running away."
"W-wait!"
"I won't wait! I'm gonna die too!"
"Wait! Wait! Help me! I don't want to die!"
Lyle cries out, throwing away his calm demeanor. Without minding that, Ren ran with all his might towards the exit of the forest.
Because he thought that if he didn't do that, he would be killed by the magical beast.
"What is that?"
When they were far enough away, Ren asked Luna what the magical beast was.
"I don't know."
It was a magical beast that even Luna didn't know. Luna doesn't know much about magical beasts. Ren knows that and asks.
"Right. I'll look into it later. Luna did a great job this time."
"Great?"
"Yeah, that was very helpful."
This is from the heart, not the joke. It was all thanks to Luna's cooperation that he was able to deceive the hero candidates and defeat Lyle.
"Then, a reward."
"Reward? What would that reward be?"
"……A kiss"
Luna's wish was a kiss.
"Eh? Why did you say that? Wait, did you read my mind again?"
"It's a secret. But that's a good reward."
"...Then, after we get home. But before that, I have one more job to do. Let's hurry to the capital."
"Yeah"
◇◇◇
The man was bewildered, unable to grasp what was happening.
The man woke up and found a man who looked like him lying on his bed. He was so startled that he tried to scream, but no sound came out.
He tried to shake the woman lying next to him awake, but she did not react at all. In fact, he could not even feel her touch.
What had happened to him? As the man stood there stunned, a voice suddenly reached him.
(This is unsightly. Is this the man who held the status of a cardinal?)
When he looked for the owner of the voice, he found a man sitting on a chair right next to the bed. He tried to call out loudly for someone to come to the room, but no one answered.
(It's no use, you have no voice.)
Ren is staring at the man with cold eyes.
(…………）
(Don't you get it yet? You're dead.)
(…………）
(If you want to talk, think in your head. Try to tell me what you think.)
(…You are?)
Following Ren's instructions, the man was finally able to express his intentions.
(Yes, yes. But I'm not going to answer that question.)
(...You said I was dead)
(Yeah)
(Did you kill me?)
(I'm not even going to answer that.)
(...Then what are you doing here?)
(Finally, you are starting to sound like a big shot in the church. I would have been truly appalled if you made a fuss over this ineptly.)
(What are you doing here, I'm asking you!?)
The man's will strongly tremble with anger.
(I take back what I said before. Shock)
(Fine, explain! What's going on!?)
(I already told you. You're dead. And I'm here to judge you.)
(Judge?)
(Yes)
(What do you mean?)
(I don't mean anything. I just used words that you can understand when I said judgment.)
(……I can not understand)
(Let's confirm the facts. Attacking the Hero Candidates. Was this something you ordered?)
(…………）
The man refuses to speak up. However, it is a constant struggle.
(Even if you keep silent, it's no use. Once we're connected, I know how you feel. Then you are in a position to be judged.)
(What are you talking about now? I'm dead, right?)
(If you die, it's over? Are you really from the church?)
(Judgment after death is done by God)
(If there is a god in this world, then it must be so.)
(What do you want!?)
The man has no idea what Ren wants to do.
(Well, I'm not the one who decides that. There's still confirmation. Was it your order to kill the teacher who was summoned along with the hero candidates?)
(...Why, you?)
(Yes, you guessed it. I thought you didn't see it. Well, now your crimes against me are clear.)
(Are you a hero candidate!?)
(I'm not a hero candidate. I'm a summoned alien from another world.)
(…………）
(Now, Cardinal Pedro. You were involved in the murder of a hundred and four people.)
(A hundred and four people?)
(Three hero candidates in this case. Four people with one teacher. And for a stupid ritual like summoning heroes, there were 100 people who were sacrificed. One hundred and four in total.)
(……Why?)
Cardinal Pedro's will shook with surprise. This is a fact that the otherworldly people who were summoned should not have known. It is a fact that happened before they were summoned, and it is a fact that has not been made public.
(Well, there are two options. One is to keep you in this world without letting you ascend to heaven. The other is to destroy you here.)
(Don't joke around! I can't accept either one!?)
(...You know what I mean, and you're saying that? Well, that's fine. Either way, it's not your choice.)
(You, even to God...)
(Not even me. It's them, the jury behind me, who chooses.)
(...What!?)
Behind Ren where there should be no one. More than thirty people appeared there now. All eyes are on the cardinal.
(Well, what's the verdict?)
(W-wait! Who are those behind you!?)
(Who are they? Are you serious?)
(...What do you mean?)
(The spirits behind me are the people you sacrificed.)
(What?)
(You killed them and you don't even remember their faces? That leaves a grudge.)
(Wait!)
(What?)
(I didn't kill them)
(But it is your instruction. In another world, it was a crime of inciting murder, I guess. It's the same crime as if you actually did it, but depending on the situation, it might be more serious.)
(…………）
(Well, the verdict is... I don't even need to confirm it. This is the first time I've met a filthy spirit like you. Evil spirits seem purer.)
(W-wait. I am not the only one. It's not my decision alone!)
(It's bad luck after death... is this word correct? Because you're already dead.)
(What is this nonsense? Tell me! What do you mean by destroy?)
(......Go away already)
A shining white sword extends from Ren's hand. With a light swing of his arm, the cardinal's body was cut in half by the sword. The cardinal's body crumbled like mist from the cut. Soon, the cardinal's body was no longer human-like and dissolved into nothingness in mid-air.
(……It's the end)
In response to Ren's voice, the spirits behind him grew luminous. A light that was familiar to Ren. A glimmer before ascending to the heavens. The light is invisible to others, but to Ren, it is so dazzling that he cannot keep his eyes open.
After being blinded by the dazzle for a moment, the darkness returns, and all that remains is a single spirit.
(Did you stay? I didn't kill them all, though?)
(…………）
(Don't you want to kill him? Then what? You're the one who taught me everything in the first place, so I want to do something about it, you know?)
(…………）
(......I don't understand. But if it's possible, I'd like you to ascend to heaven when I graduate. If I have to leave the church, I won't be able to do anything for you.)
(……Perhaps)
Thanks for the chapter!
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