The teacher received a report from afar: an army was invading the
The flag they bore was that of the Lengzant Empire.
It was an army led by Yugo.
Upon receiving this report, the teacher declared she would return to the Elf Village without hesitation.
"Yugo can no longer be left unchecked. I will return to the Elf Village and intercept them."
Her eyes were filled with determination.
As if to interrupt her, Hylins spoke.
"So? How are you planning to get to the Elf Village?"
The Elf Village was located deep within an even deeper forest, in a place known as a Sanctuary.
This Sanctuary was situated in the center of the Kasanagara Continent, close to the Demon race's territory.
And right now, they were on the Daztorudia Continent.
The distance between them was staggering.
"Unless we teleport, there's no way to get there in under several tens of days, no matter how we calculate. If we leave now, the battle will likely be decided by the time we arrive."
Just as Hylins said, even with maximum effort, there was no way to make it in time without teleportation.
The royal palace did have a teleportation circle, but when they'd rescued Brother Reston and the others, they'd confirmed it was non-functional.
It wasn't completely destroyed, but restoring it would require advanced technology.
None among this group could manage that.
"It's fine. Once we reach the Kasanagara Continent, there is a teleportation circle that the Elves secretly possess."
They had something like that? Teleportation circles were rare even among magic tools, valued even more highly than high-level Appraisal Stones. The fact that they kept one secret... Perhaps the Elves' organizational power was greater than he'd realized.
Come to think of it, they had managed to independently gather reincarnators like them, so having one wasn't entirely impossible.
"However, even using that, it would still take over ten days. I don't know how fast the Empire's army can reach the Elf Village, but the fact that a report was made means they've already begun their advance in earnest. I don't think we can make it."
"Indeed, we likely won't make it in time for the start of the battle. However, the Elf Village has a powerful barrier, and the forest itself serves as a natural fortress. It is impossible for the village to fall before I arrive."
The teacher stated this with conviction. She must have immense confidence in the village's defensive capabilities.
"Rather, the problem might be that the Imperial Army withdraws before we even get there."
"Can you really be that certain?"
"The village has maintained an impregnable record despite being situated close to both the Human race and the Demon race. That's no empty boast."
"I see." Hylins glanced at him. "So? How are we crossing to the Kasanagara Continent?"
"We have no choice but to go through the Great Ello Dungeon."
"You think we can manage?"
"I don't know."
The Great Ello Dungeon. The only known path, besides teleportation, connecting two continents.
The sea was home to powerful Water Dragons' strongholds, and no successful voyage had ever been recorded. Those who attempted to fly across the sky were shot down without mercy.
The Great Ello Dungeon was a vast labyrinth that connected these two continents underground.
Because of its vastness, it was said that without a guide, one could wander and never escape, spending an entire lifetime lost within.
Furthermore, many of the Monsters inhabiting it used poison. Without proper countermeasures, one could end up in the worst possible situation.
It was the world's largest dungeon, boasting simultaneously the world's worst difficulty.
However, if one followed a guide's instructions and took a proper route, the danger was minimal.
That was how it was supposed to be.
"The dungeon's entrance and exit... There will likely be an ambush waiting."
"I would assume so."
Due to its strategic importance, the entrance and exit of the Great Ello Dungeon were heavily guarded.
The reason there were no Demon race on the Daztorudia Continent was to prevent them from crossing the dungeon.
As wanted criminals, it would be difficult for them to enter or exit.
And if a unit specifically targeting them was stationed there, it would be even harder.
"Shun, what should we do?"
"Huh?"
"Oka is planning to head to the Elf Village alone. I'm asking you what you intend to do about that."
Eh?
He had planned to go with the teacher as a matter of course. Was that wrong?
"Huh? I was planning to go with the teacher."
For some reason, a loud sigh escaped Hylins's lips.
"Shun, do you even understand your own situation?"
"Uh?"
"We've been charged with treason against the state and are being hunted internationally. The person named as the prime culprit is you, Shun, right?"
"Ah, yeah."
"Do you really need to show your face and head to the Elf Village?"
He thought about it. He could see Hylins's point. From an outside perspective, he had no obligation to protect the Elves.
"Mr. Hylins. My fellow countrymen, my friends from before reincarnation, are in the Elf Village. I can't just leave them be."
Hylins looked surprised at his words and glanced at the teacher. She nodded in confirmation.
"Besides, I have to settle things with Yugo."
Perhaps sensing his resolve, Hylins closed his eyes for a moment, then nodded.
"Fine. If you say so, Shun, I have no objections. I'll come along to protect you as well."
"Thank you."
"Naturally, I shall be joining you as well."
Kathia made her presence known, seeming to echo Hylins's sentiment.
Honestly, he was worried about Kathia and would rather not bring her to the battlefield, but at this point, she wouldn't back down. Regardless, Kathia was quite strong herself. If he stayed by her side and provided support as usual, nothing terrible should happen.
Even if something did happen, he had the Resurrection by Mercy skill.
Relying on it too heavily was dangerous, but having it was infinitely better than not having it at all.
Resurrection by Mercy looked like an unfair, cheat-like skill, but in reality, its use had significant restrictions.
First, it only worked if used immediately after death. Resurrection had to be performed within about five minutes of death to be effective.
If he had used resurrection immediately when his father was killed, perhaps things wouldn't have turned out this way.
That said, he too had been caught off guard and injured by Yugo back then. Resurrection wouldn't succeed unless he was in peak condition.
Furthermore, even if he used it, resurrection was impossible if the original body had been completely destroyed.
These conditions had to be met for resurrection to work.
On top of that, if he resurrected even one more person, the Taboo skill would level up to 10.
It was said that when Taboo reached level 10, something terrible would happen.
He wanted to avoid that if possible, but if a comrade fell victim, he would resurrect them without hesitation.
"Regrettably, I'm a liability in combat. I'll stay here and proceed with preparations to reclaim the Royal Capital."
Brother Reston chose to remain behind, saying this.
"Then I will focus on supporting Lord Reston as well. I doubt my abilities would be of much use where we're heading anyway."
Clevea also decided to stay with the brother.
"Please," Ana said, her expression tense. "Let me go with Lord Shurein."
It was surprising that Ana would say this.
She was a half-Elf. And they were heading to the Elf Village. Elves were an exclusive race. They didn't even accept half-Elves, who were, after all, the same species by half. Perhaps it was precisely because they were only half.
In any case, half-Elves born in the Elf Village grew up feeling unwelcome, and once they could fend for themselves, they were unconditionally expelled from the village. In severe cases, some were cast out as infants.
Ana had spent her childhood in the Elf Village before being exiled to Human territory. The village shouldn't hold good memories for her. Yet here she was, wanting to go.
"Ana, there's no need to force yourself."
"No. I'm not forcing myself. I can't forgive myself if I stay like this. Please, take me with you."
Ana's expression was grim. Frankly, this situation felt dangerous. She was being pushed to her mental limits.
Leaving her behind or taking her... neither option was good. Maybe leaving her where she could be easily monitored was better?
"I understand."
"Shun."
"It's fine. Ana, promise me you won't push yourself. Always stay with me."
"Yes."
He met Kathia's reproachful gaze with his own. It felt like he'd taken on a troublesome burden, but Ana was still a capable magic user among the Human race. Once her mental state stabilized, she should be fine. Until then, he'd watch over her closely.
He suddenly thought how their roles had reversed. In the past, Ana had protected him and taught him various things. Now it was his turn to protect her.
"With that decided, let's begin preparations immediately."
At Hylins's command, everyone began to move. First, they had to reach the Great Ello Dungeon. That was where it started.
That night, Kathia came to his room.
"What is it?"
"Well, there's something I should tell you."
Kathia's slightly awkward expression told him it wasn't good news.
"You heard the teacher's story about the missing students, right?"
"Yeah."
"Four of them are already dead."
"I see."
He'd somewhat expected it. But hearing it confirmed still hit him.
"Why bring it up now?"
"If we go to the Elf Village, we'll be meeting our old classmates, right? Before that, I figured you should at least know the names of those who died."
"Right. Thanks. You knew I'd be upset if I heard, so you've been keeping it quiet until now, huh?"
"Yeah."
"Tell me. Who died?"
"I'll go in order of closeness. First, Kogure."
Kogure. So he'd never see that guy again.
"He was a high schooler but cried so easily."
"Yeah. When he lost at rock-paper-scissors and got stuck with the biology club duty no one wanted, he really broke down crying."
"And when his game console broke, he came to school with swollen eyes..."
"Ah, I remember that."
They spent a while reminiscing about Kogure.
"Next is Hayashi."
"The table tennis club guy?"
"Him."
"We weren't that close, but I remember him going all out during P.E. table tennis."
"Me too. He was usually pretty gloomy, but the moment he picked up a racket, his whole personality changed."
"Screaming 'Tornado Smash!' and all that while he smashed."
"That was pretty funny."
"Next is
"Huh? The school-wide beauty?"
"Her."
"A loss for the world."
"Yeah. She was always quiet and expressionless, barely talked to anyone, but had this incredible presence."
"She was our school's idol. And unexpectedly clumsy at sports—that was a plus."
"Last is Sakurazaki."
"Natsume... Yugo's friend, right?"
"Yeah. The only one who could talk to Natsume on equal footing and rein him in."
"When Natsume was about to go off the rails, Sakurazaki would always casually step in to stop him."
"And then later, he'd quietly come to apologize. Saying Natsume had done something wrong."
"So Sakurazaki not being around is why Yugo ended up like that?"
"Who knows."
"Why? How did this happen? Everyone was doing fine in Japan."
"We reincarnated into another world. Anyone would change. Yugo just changed for the worse. That's all."
"You haven't changed, Kathia."
"Do you really think so?"
He met Kathia's gaze as she asked that, and felt a jolt.
"Hey, what do you see when you look at me?"
"What do you mean?"
"In your eyes, am I Kathia? Or am I Kanata?"
"Huh? What do you mean?"
Kathia was Kanata. They were the same person. He didn't understand what she was trying to say.
"Sigh. Never mind. Do I *seem* like I haven't changed, or am I just telling myself I haven't?"
"Um... Sorry." He apologized instinctively to Kathia, who looked somewhat annoyed.
"It's fine. I know what kind of person you are."
"What kind?"
"An oblivious idiot."
"That's harsh!"
"Not really. You're an oblivious idiot with cheat-like bugged skills."
"That's even harsher!"
"Fair point. Honestly, it's more puzzling to me why you *haven't* changed that much."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah. Do you really understand the situation you're in?"
"I do."
"Then why are you so calm about it?"
"Is that a bad thing?"
"Not bad. But think about it, okay? Your real parents were killed, your half-sister was kidnapped, and you've been driven from your own homeland. You're now going to fight the one who destroyed that homeland. So why can you stay so composed?"
"That..."
Why was that?
Now that she mentioned it, she was right. Normally, someone in his situation would either fall into despair or be consumed by rage.
Yet he felt nothing of the sort.
No, he did feel something. Just pure sadness.
But this sadness felt different. It wasn't sadness over his own circumstances.
This was...
『It's sad』
Yes, it was sad.
『That the world is so ugly』
Yes, the world was full of conflict, ugly, and that was sad.
"Shun?"
"Huh?"
"What's wrong? You zoned out."
"Ah, no. Nothing."
"Really? If you're tired, get some sleep."
"Yeah. I should."
"Right. Well, sorry for bothering you."
Kathia left the room.
He was acutely aware of the sweat forming on his back.
What was that just now?
What was going on?
What had happened to him?