The Girl in the Ashes
When my memories first surfaced amid the ashes...
I'd been left at some facility. I didn't know who my parents were or why I'd been abandoned there. The problem was that the place looked like an orphanage on the surface, but in reality, it was a hellhole run by human scum who forced kids into grueling labor, committed all sorts of atrocities behind closed doors, and even sold children off for cash.
Then one day, I was sold to a religious group. At first, I clung to a faint hope that this new start might be better than life at the facility. But that delusion shattered before the day was out.
If survival at the facility had been a brutal fight, life here was a denial of survival itself. I became a guinea pig for all sorts of inhuman curses and rituals, living through hell day after day.
It was around then that vague memories of my past life started to emerge. Drawing on that previous life's experience, I tried to resist somehow, but I was just a powerless little girl. No special abilities... just a helpless kid.
'If I'd been reborn as a boy, would things have been different?' I doubt it would've changed much.
In the end, I was laid out on a bloodstained altar as an offering for some unknown ritual.
"Be grateful, child. You're the last one. Under the blood covenant, your suffering will reach our god... and with you, our god will descend upon this world."
The ritual dagger plunged into my chest, the agony shooting straight to my brain.
"Pain is devotion, destruction is salvation... this is martyrdom itself, a blessing."
My soul felt like it was being torn to shreds, burning to ash. 'So this is how I die...' I could sense this was truly the end.
—Death won't be the end for you.
And then, a voice echoed from somewhere.
—If things continue like this, your soul will suffer eternally.
—Is that okay with you?
I don't know. Maybe it's fine this way?
—Really? But what can I do? I'm already dying, and I have no power left.
—If you wish it, I can keep you from dying.
—And not just that... I can save you from the ones tormenting you.
...Really?
Ca...n you... really save me from this hell?
—Yes. But in exchange, you must make a contract with me.
A contract?
—That's right.
...Who are you?
—I can't tell you yet.
What do I have to do in return?
—Can't tell you that either, not yet.
Then how am I supposed to trust you?
—But you have no other choice, do you?
...
—I'll help you.
—Let's make the contract.
...Fine. Let's do it.
—...Good choice...
Awakener's consent confirmed.
→ Proceeding with the task.
If it meant escape from this pain... I didn't care anymore. Even if it was a deal with the devil, trading my soul...
Congratulations!
Contract with *** successfully established.
Acquired secret trait '**'.
Acquired trait Soul Hunger Mark.
Acquired trait Immortal.
→ Due to trait Immortal, all damage is recovered.
In that instant, the unbearable pain vanished, and my body felt light. Then, all my senses slowly sank into the abyss.
...
..
.
A ruined building lay in rubble, and a group of adventurers appeared before it.
"...Damn, we're too late... Who would've thought a demon cult hideout was stashed in a place like this."
"How gruesome."
"What the hell happened in there?"
Black bloodstains splattered amid the debris, with unrecognizable corpses scattered everywhere. Some looked like they might've been children.
"...Kids? Why were children in a place like this..."
"Probably dragged here as ritual sacrifices."
"Filthy heretics..."
"No survivors, it seems. Let's head back and report this."
As the adventurers turned to leave, the one who looked like a priest halted.
"...Hero, wait a moment."
"What is it?"
"...I just heard something."
The priest cautiously approached the rubble, sifting through collapsed pillars and stone piles. Moments later, something emerged from the debris.
A blood-soaked girl in terrible shape. But she was breathing.
The priest gently lifted her, his voice trembling. "She's alive."
...
..
.
When consciousness faintly returned, I stared at an unfamiliar ceiling.
'...I'm alive?'
Not quite believing it, I checked my chest where the dagger had pierced—but as if it had all been a dream, there was no wound, no pain.
Suddenly, I recalled the mysterious voice that had spoken to me.
'What was that? Did I really make a deal with a demon or something?'
I slowly sat up and looked around. I was in a room, lying on a bed. A few worn pieces of furniture, half-open curtains fluttering at the window, scratches on the floor... The scent of aged wood mixed with cool air felt surprisingly pleasant.
Lost in that unfamiliar comfort for a moment— the door suddenly swung open, and a group of people entered.
The woman in front spoke first. "You're awake."
She wore light silver-gray armor, with striking blue eyes and a playful smile.
I flinched back on instinct. "Who are you people?"
"We're adventurers."
"...Adventurers?"
"Yeah, I'm... well, swordswoman Reina. Just call me big sis Reina."
"...Big sis Reina?"
She grinned and introduced her companions one by one. "This is the mage Vivian... and this is the priest Carlos."
As she moved to the last one... my body jerked violently, dread racing to my fingertips.
'P-Priest!'
His robes, his aura... everything was different from the cult's.
'...N-No way... am I... found out... already?'
The realization hit that I'd contracted something possibly demonic, and terror prickled across my skin like needles.
"Hey, Carlos! The kid's freaking out just looking at you! You didn't do something to her, did you?"
"Of course not... Still, it's odd. She does seem afraid of me."
"...Maybe she mistook 'priest' for one of the church cultists?"
"Hm, possible."
The man regarded me thoughtfully, then approached slowly. "Am I scary?"
"..."
Is this a threat?
"No need to fear. I'm an official priest of the Restia Church."
"Uh, o-okay..."
Of course...
"I'm nothing like the heretics who held you. In fact, we're enemies of demon-worshipping cults like them."
Reina chimed in. "Yeah, he's a bit of a pain sometimes, kinda old-fashioned, but he's not a bad guy."
"...Old-fashioned? Reina, you've thought of me that way all this time?"
"Eek! No, that's not— I mean, I was just trying to defend you..."
Watching them blankly for a moment, they didn't seem like bad people.
"Understood. I don't get what makes you old-fashioned or annoying... but I'll be more careful."
"See? That's exactly the annoying part!"
"I truly don't understand."
My mind settled a bit, and I started grasping the situation.
"You... saved me?"
"...Huh? Oh, well... 'Saved' might be a stretch. We just found you in the ruins of that cult hideout and brought you here."
A brief silence fell, then Reina asked abruptly, "So, what's your name?"
"...No name."
"What? No name?"
"Didn't need one."
They couldn't hide their shock.
"Everyone has a name! It's important!"
"We'll need to give you one, then."
"How about we pick one for you?"
Their eyes turned to me expectantly.
"...Whatever."
"Great! Leave it to us!"
"..."
...I'd meant I didn't care either way, but Reina got excited and huddled with Carlos right away.
"A name... How about 'Marie'?"
"Not bad, but too common."
"Yeah? What about Cassandra?"
"Sounds like a villain."
"Shining Star?"
"Are you joking?"
"Hmm..."
After agonizing awhile, Reina snapped her fingers like something clicked. "Ah! Teresa—how's that?"
"...Teresa... Yes, that suits her."
With Carlos's approval, Reina turned to me. "What do you think? Like it? Teresa?"
"Yeah..."
"Awesome! From now on, you're Teresa! Nice to meet ya, Teresa!"
"...Uh."
It wasn't my favorite, but... I let that moment pass.
"Now that that's settled, let's get to the point."
Then, the mage who'd been quietly observing spoke up for the first time.
"So, Teresa... Mind if I ask you a few questions?"
"..."
I nodded silently.