The Returnee Wants Peace

“After meeting death like that, I came back to life thanks to the Crystal of Life. When I regained consciousness and looked around, I was in the outer area of the city.”

“Hmm…”

A small grumble sounded from Froy’s throat.

Silence followed. Certainly, this part didn’t make sense no matter how one thought about it.

‘How could I have moved from the inner area to the outer area?’

The heat from the ring was suspicious, but even Froy didn’t seem to know the inside story.

The only fact that could be known was that thanks to the Crystal of Life, the Trial of the Sacred Relic had been extended.

“So, what happened after that?”

At his question, Rosha snapped back to attention.

“After that… I trained magic for quite a long time. I thought I would need to reach at least the 7th stage to enter the inner area.”

“7th stage… That’s the highest stage one can reach while maintaining their humanity.”

Froy, who had been muttering softly, belatedly added:

“It’s a sentence you added in . In fact, you probably only explained it assuming magicians, but now the ‘stages’ are used to divide ranks regardless of whether one is a warrior or magician.”

Warriors also used magical power, so broadly speaking, there were many similarities.

‘Well, even in the previous world, they divided by stages…’

Since it was the first theoretical book to appear in confusing times, people seemed to rely on it even more than she had expected.

However, Rosha was embarrassed that the credit for establishing the stages was given to her when it wasn’t actually her doing, so she quickly changed the subject.

“Ah, anyway.”

“Anyway?”

“…I spent most of the half year I stayed in paradise training magic in the outer area. While doing so, I also learned a bit about paradise.”

Paradise was a place that did not discriminate in welcoming those who came.

The outer area of paradise where food, clothing, and shelter were all provided.

In that place where everything was perfect, people lived an eternal life without any worries.

If you entered a well-furnished empty house on the street, it became your home, and food and clothes were created anew every day.

Those who arrived in paradise never aged.

Only their hair gradually turned lighter, and even if they were injured, they regenerated immediately.

“While I was there, there was never a time when the weather was bad. The sky was always bright, and the humidity and wind were just pleasantly cool. It was truly a place worthy of being called paradise.”

“But those who went all the way to paradise wouldn’t be satisfied with just that. The fair benefits given to everyone wouldn’t be enough to fill their greed.”

“…That’s right.”

At Rosha’s answer, Froy nodded as if he had expected it.

Her gaze was drawn to the smile on his lips.

While his ‘Anyway?’ earlier had felt somewhat teasing, now he had the expression of a cynical realist.

Perhaps for Duke Echerzen, who had managed businesses in dark places, this was an obvious fact.

After a moment of silence, she continued in a small voice:

“There was one huge building in each of the north, south, east, and west of the outer area. It occupied an entire block of land, and people would line up in long queues around it every morning. I heard they sell ‘happiness’ there.”

“Sell, meaning it’s not given for free, I suppose.”

“Yes. But I couldn’t figure out what they paid with. Everyone entering had empty hands, and I couldn’t approach because there was a wanted order out for me.”

“…A wanted order?”

Froy’s eyebrows curved elegantly.

“Ah. The wanted order was probably… issued by to catch me. She seemed to have intense animosity towards my god.”

Fortunately, the city of paradise was very large. If one was careful about a few things, one could run away for a lifetime.

However, despite her reassuring words, Froy’s expression didn’t brighten at all.

“But… as I remember, the Crystal of Life went out for the second time a month after you fell asleep. Calculating the flow of time simply, it would be the 4th or 5th day in paradise.”

“That’s…”

“Did you die once because of the wanted order?”

Rosha nodded silently.

At that time, she didn’t know the few things to be careful about when being wanted in paradise.

But she was about to explain that it was fine later, when Froy said something unexpected:

“You must have spent half a year running away as a wanted person in a paradise where everyone was happy. You should have had someone there to support you, but you went through a lot alone.”

At those words, something suddenly rose up, burning her throat.

The Trial of the Sacred Relic.

In that trial which the owner of the sacred relic had to endure alone, there was no Koko and no companions.

The hardest part about enduring for half a year was the loneliness.

The loneliness of not being able to confide her situation to anyone.

The loneliness of having to leave an area before becoming familiar with the eyes of those around.

Those emotions she had forgotten since returning here suddenly came flooding back. She had just meant to bury them, but the fact that someone understood this made her feel choked up.

“So, did you enter the inner area again?”

“The inner area…”

At Froy’s question, ignoring her agitation, Rosha took a deep breath and calmed herself.

She was inwardly grateful that he just passed over the emotion she wanted to hide.

“…I did go in. But I don’t remember much from here on. The mist surrounding the inner area became very thick when the wanted order was issued.”

A mist of confusion that prevented one from seeing inside.

In fact, the frequent use of [The Guiding Lantern] was because of this mist.

Having to keep one’s mind straight somehow in the midst of confusion affecting the entire city.

“Come to think of it, there’s a lot I need to ask the god too…”

She couldn’t find the whereabouts of the shrine she had made before, so she needed to make it again.

Rosha, who had been muttering softly, let out a big yawn.

“You look very tired.”

“Yes… Ever since [The Guiding Lantern] changed to this form, I’ve become very sleepy.”

The ability develops in the way she uses it.

After her ability and eyes unintentionally became unified, at first she was so exhausted that she had to sleep fourteen hours a day.

Even now that she’s somewhat adapted, she still needs to sleep eight hours a day.

‘There were times when crises came while I was sleeping… At those times, the ring warned me.’

Rosha fiddled with the ring slightly while yawning again.

It seemed the ring had functions unknown even to Froy who had gifted it, but she thought it was good to have them, though it didn’t really matter either way.

“Anyway, thank you for this ring. Thanks to it, I was able to survive for a long time.”

“…I’m glad you returned safely. It’s quite late now, so let’s go to bed and meet again tomorrow.”

“Yes. Let’s do that.”

* * *

Froy lightly picked up Rosha, who had fallen asleep as if collapsing on the way back to her room.

Her gait had been staggering, so she must have been this tired. He felt a bit bad for keeping her up so late without realizing.

‘…She fell into a deep sleep already.’

Her sleeping face was familiar.

Until two snow seasons had passed, she had been sleeping quietly without the slightest movement.

However, unlike before when he had anxiously searched for her, now that he had confirmed her soul was there beneath those eyelids, he was as calm as a lake without ripples.

Of course, there was some anxiety about whether she might fall into another long sleep like this, but not enough to show greatly.

“Mmm…”

As Rosha stirred, Froy brushed back the hair that had fallen on her face and reaffirmed his own feelings.

He had doubted it once, and once tried to bury it, but after 3 years, things had changed a lot.

The vanishing point of this moonlit corridor was focused on her. It couldn’t be his imagination that his hand touching hers felt hot.

Froy decided to frankly acknowledge all these facts.

He acknowledges it.

With just that, most of the questions he had about his own actions were resolved.

It was an easy answer, but not an easy process. And it wouldn’t be easy going forward either.

“…Hah.”

It was then.

Froy’s expression hardened as he saw the head butler approaching from the other end of the corridor.

His expression was cold, almost frosty, for looking at his own subordinate, but the head butler seemed used to it and bowed his head as he spoke:

“It’s late at night, Your Grace. I’ll guide you from the front.”

“Not necessary.”

He couldn’t trust anyone who had been under his father’s hand. Even if it was someone he had known all his life.

At that moment, a small voice brushed past his ear.

“Respect for elders… Propriety between old and young…”

Surprisingly, it was Rosha’s sleep-talking.

She muttered some incomprehensible words and then rested her temple against the inside of his arm again.

Some words were unclear in meaning, but he understood some of them.

“…”

After keeping silent for a while, Froy nodded slightly to the head butler.

The head butler, who had been staring at his master’s slightly softened expression, deeply bowed his waist and led the way.