Dazed, I glanced around. Through my foggy mind, I recognized this place as my room back at the Familia's home base.
Somehow, this feels familiar… I think something similar happened recently.
I tried to move my body, but almost no strength returned. I wasn't tied up or anything, it was just that my consciousness wasn't fully clear.
I don't remember going to sleep here, so I tried to recall what happened before that. Right… I went to a dungeon with someone… then fought someone… Ah, it was Lefiya.
If Lefiya appeared, then the"someone" must have been her, right? But there were others too… who were they again?
Knock knock knock.
"Toki, may I come in?"
I still couldn't remember when Asfi entered the room. It was unusual for her to come in without asking first.
"Oh, you're finally awake." she said.
"Asfi-san, what happened to me?"
"From your state, your consciousness still isn't clear. It's understandable, since you've been asleep for seven days."
Seven days!? That was hard to hear.
I tried to sit up quickly.
"Wait, what do you mean, "
Then I fell off the bed, face-first. Yet, strangely, there was no pain.
"Are you alright!?"
"…It seems like you're okay in some ways, but not really."
I struggled to get up but couldn't move at all. With a sigh, Asfi supported me and helped me into a chair.
"Let's figure out what's going on. How much do you remember?"
"Well… I think I went to a dungeon with Lefiya… and fought someone…"
"I see, so you remember very little. I guess I'll have to explain everything step by step."
Asfi sighed again and pulled out a guest chair.
"First, your current condition… it's probably the backlash of magic."
"Magic… backlash?"
I didn't quite get it. The only magic I can use are Infinite Abyss and Cerykeion. But backlash this strong, ?
"No, that's not it."
I'd learned a new magic. Its name was… Spirit Regression.
"It seems you've remembered now."
"Yes."
"According to the 'Nine Demon Princesses: Nine Hells,' transforming into a spirit and then reverting to your original form caused this backlash that knocked you out."
That made sense. After all, they're a race called 'Divine Incarnations.' It can't be risk-free. Wait…
"Asfi-san, does that mean, ?"
"Yes. No matter how strong you become, even if you rank up, this backlash will never lessen."
"What…!?"
No way… That means I can't use it during normal dungeon expeditions. Couldn't I just stay transformed all the time? But since it's magic, staying transformed continuously drains your mind power. So it's impossible to keep it up forever.
I thought this powerful magic would fix my lack of firepower… but it didn't. And worst of all,
"I thought I could trade the 'Undine Dress' in the Familia…!!"
The Undine Dress is a special equipment blessed by the water spirit Undine. Its value starts with five zeros. If I could make it myself and sell it to other factions… I'd been dreaming of that for a long time!!
"Well, there's no helping it. This plan's off the table."
"…I'm sorry."
"It's alright. Your health matters more than profit."
By the way, the third dungeon floor I flooded apparently dried up on its own, probably thanks to the dungeon's self-repair function.
That seemed to be the end of that story, and Asfi moved on to the next topic.
"Next, about the captured spies."
"!?"
Right… I remember now! I fought former comrades who had infiltrated as spies for the Kingdom of Rakia. And I settled things with Svartá.
"First, a little person named Sarba from the Pallum tribe offered a plea deal. Because of that, we obtained the information they leaked to the Kingdom of Rakia, along with detailed info about Rakia's forces. The current war is based on that intelligence."
"I see…"
Knowing what info was leaked helps us guess what Rakia is targeting in their attack. Honestly, if the war god Ares is involved, he might blindly trust that info and charge straight in.
"By the way, I didn't know Orario even had a plea deal system."
"It's rarely used. Even among those who attended the 'Academy,' only a few know about it."
A plea deal is basically when a criminal betrays their comrades, in this case, by giving information, in exchange for a lighter sentence.
"And the price for this deal?"
"After the war ends, they get the right to enter either the Academy or a Familia."
If Orario wins, Sarba and the others would usually have their 'Blessings' sealed, which would effectively reset them to before. So they're trying to get protection by entering the Academy or Familia.
"But was this approved?"
"…Because Hermes accidentally revealed your past, it caused quite a stir."
For the sake of my honor, I have to say, I really didn't know anything! The elves like Svartá (or rather, it was Regos who planted that idea) only trained us for assassination and combat. We never learned anything else, not even basic common sense. So when I was first sent on an errand and attacked the shopkeeper or didn't know how to use money, it was all Svartá's fault!!
According to the gods, they shouted 'Mucishichu' and a battle broke out. Adventurers protecting the gods had to contain it.
Asfi was probably one of those adventurers, she looked visibly tired.
"So, what happened in the end?"
"It's been left to you."
"......What?"
"You're in charge of deciding which individuals join which Familia."
"...What!?"
That's a huge responsibility!
"Why me!?"
"Hermes suggested, 'He has connections with many Familias, so he's the best choice.' The gods agreed with, 'Shadow Devil Familia is fine,' and Mr. Makur also consented, saying, 'I can trust Toki.'"
"The pressure of that trust is too much!"
In this case, 'joining a Familia' means converting from Ares Familia to another Familia. And once you convert, you must wait a year before converting again. So a careless decision could ruin someone's life.
"This is where your network and skills come in. We're counting on you."
"Please don't!"
I swear they're enjoying this way too much.
"What about Regos and the other elves?"
"Don't worry. They're already set to join Freya Familia."
"...Huh?"
Freya Familia? Why?
"Apparently, the 'Warrior King' went too far and caused serious mental trauma, so they're taking responsibility."
…I don't know why, but that made sense to me. Also, I felt a little jealous.
"And the ringleader, Svartá Deck Alv…"
𓂀═════════════𓂀
After hearing Asfi's report, I stepped outside. The sun was already dipping west. The sunlight was dazzling after so long underground.
I wasn't fully recovered yet, but I could move with a cane. Asfi and Nelly, who I passed by at the home base, asked if I wanted company, but I shook my head.
I slowly moved, easing the lingering effects of the backlash from my body.
There was a lot to do: accept the plea deal at the guild, visit the shop's customers, apologize and thank those involved with Loki Familia and the recent incident, inspect various Familias, and more.
I debated a lot but decided to keep running the shop. I couldn't keep the adventurer schedule of once every three days anymore, but with all the chaos these days, I need my own information network. Plus, I believe there are still people who come to me to talk.
But before all that, there was one thing I really wanted to do first, something I didn't want to put off. While I still had the freedom to walk alone, before things got too busy.
On my way, I found a flower shop. I went in and made a special request. The clerk looked puzzled but fulfilled it.
Holding the bouquet, I headed to the Third Cemetery outside the city. Though war was ongoing, there was no fighting here. The cemetery on a gentle hill was filled with graves.
This was where those who didn't fit in the First Cemetery in the southeast district of Orario were buried. Mostly adventurers' graves, though few actually had bodies underneath.
"So, are you lucky to be buried whole and intact?"
I joked at the grave before me.
There was already a bouquet there. I thought whoever left it must be conscientious.
"Well, I guess that goes for me too."
The name on the tombstone was 'Svartá Deck Alv.' Yes, Svartá was dead.
After being frozen on the second floor, Svartá was rescued but locked in the guild jail. When Regos and others failed, he apparently bit off his own tongue and committed suicide, saying he'd rather die than be judged by the gods.
I was amazed at how much he hated the gods.
There were many things I wanted to say and do. Like,"Since you tried to touch Lefiya, I'll strip every one of your nails." or"Unlike you, I'm very happy now."
"But if you're dead, you can't do any of that."
Souls of the dead are purified by the gods in the heavenly realm and reincarnated into new vessels, or so Hermes said.
So this was just my own closure. Mine alone.
"I think you were a hopeless scumbag. Because of you, I killed many people and have to live carrying that sin. I hate you for making me bear that burden. If you hadn't killed yourself, I'd want to kill you."
But,
"Who I am now is because of you."
The wind blew, and I hoped it would carry away my words, far, far away.
I placed the bouquet down, pinkish flowers called sweet peas.
Their language is 'farewell.'
Note: I updated the names of the Hermes Familia members who headed to the 24th floor based on the manga Sword Oratoria.
Now, I plan to take a break from the main story to catch up on requests I haven't fulfilled yet, even though I opened requests myself. The long story is still ongoing, but please understand if the request order gets shuffled.
Your feedback and thoughts are always welcome!
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