Confession & Go Back
'It's done...'
Tiny collapsed in the same pose he'd been swinging his shattered hammer, watching Zerik's axe cleave the Death Knight in two.
Clang, crash.
"Tiny!"
"Tiny!"
Familiar voices echoed faintly in his ears, but he no longer had the willpower to hold on—or any reason to.
We did it.
With that sense of relief, he seemed to close his eyes for just a moment, only to open them to a blurry view of a strange, yellowish ceiling.
"Ugh...!"
The moment he jolted in surprise and tried to move, a sharp, tingling pain raced through his entire body. At least it was a relief that the prickling sensation confirmed feeling had returned everywhere. His instincts told him right away there'd be no permanent disability or lingering aftereffects.
Only then did he have the leisure to look around.
"вдыклы цоыелкл КщвоылЕул!"
An orc whose eyes widened at the sight of him shouted something toward the outside. That gave Tiny a rough idea of where he was.
A tent... Inside Harharin?
He exhaled. Wherever this was, the priority was recovering his body. Even just looking at his exposed arm, it was covered in ugly bruises, like the limb of a corpse rather than a living person. At least it was clearly much improved from the battlefield—that was fortunate. It was probably thanks to his Mana Body's power.
The thought had barely crossed his mind when.
Bzzz.
As if to refute him, his shoulder armor vibrated faintly, asserting its presence.
Ah...
The shoulder armor felt like an extension of his own body now, with virtually no weight—Animus, the Transcendent Weapon. It was absurd that it was still equipped on an unconscious man, but no one would dare touch a Transcendent Weapon carelessly. Plus, the enhanced body and soul power from Animus must have played a huge role in restoring his body and mana.
Though not as effectively as him consciously directing the recovery now that he was awake.
I've got to heal up fast.
Whoosh.
The moment his will stirred, surrounding mana gathered like a storm, rapidly refilling his depleted reserves. At the same time, the tingling pain surged, and he felt wounds healing from the inside out at an astonishing speed.
"Mm..."
This recovery rate was ridiculously faster than after training with the Sword Emperor or any past injuries. It felt just like when Garen had once brought him an expensive high-grade potion.
Except this time, it wasn't potion effects.
Bzzz.
His Mana Body—Nian Ti—had advanced a stage, boosting his regenerative power that much.
At this point, I probably won't need potions for most things.
It wasn't just the Mana Body; his soul power was contributing too. Having leaped qualitatively through spirit arts and further elevated by Animus, his soul was aiding not just mana but physical recovery as well.
More precisely.
Is this what they mean by 'mind over matter'?
If his soul power grew even stronger, he might be able to cling to life no matter how wrecked his body was, short of total annihilation.
If only I'd known this in my past life...
He swallowed the pang of regret with a wry smile and slowly opened his eyes. He was already well enough to move.
But then.
Grab.
"Not yet. You need. To rest."
A familiar voice accompanied a hand on his shoulder. Turning his head, he saw a beauty with long, pale purple hair and amethyst eyes.
"Reaper..."
His eyes widened instinctively, but she frowned slightly and shook her head.
"Not Reaper. Sis, Tiny. You didn't die."
"Ah..."
Only then did the battlefield memories flood back. Joy hit first, but her words stabbed at his conscience anew.
Should I come clean now...?
A flurry of thoughts crossed his mind, but curiosity won out first.
"...Sis."
"Yeah."
"Why are you here?"
"Because of you."
"What?"
"You shortened my oath. Emperor said help you. Now free."
"Ah..."
Her choppy, halting speech was typical of Reaper Luna Morse, but the meaning was clear enough.
But.
"I was going to rebuild the family. But now, no need."
"...Huh?"
"Carrying the family line is man's duty. I'm free. So, favor, Tiny."
Her next words were impossible to accept.
"N-No, why would...?!"
"Shadow Law, I'll teach you. You marry, have kids. Light Knight. Perfect."
"W-What makes it perfect?"
Shock made casual speech slip out unbidden.
"Ancestor made assassin family noble. Your name now, as great. Proud."
Reaper—no, Luna—beamed with genuine happiness. Stunned by a smile he'd never seen even in his past life, Tiny snapped out of it briefly.
...This has gone too far.
Before the misunderstanding deepened, he resolved to confess and apologize.
"Sis, I have a confession."
"Yeah?"
"It's..."
How to even start?
Will she understand if I say the situation was urgent and I had no choice but to deceive...?
Her pure amethyst eyes belied her horrific past-life moniker. He hesitated.
But then.
A massive orc and a handsome human knight entered the tent, cutting off the conversation.
"Hey. Finally awake, sleepyhead. Human hero."
"Sir Tiny, you're finally up."
As Jenas spoke and frowned, stepping back, Zerik strode forward without a care.
Tiny sensed a difference from their first meeting in this life—his aura.
He'd broken through the wall at last. Aura Exceeder, beyond Aura User.
Still just the entry stage, though.
In his past life, Zerik had only shattered it after meeting him, honing it through end-times wars. Twenty years faster here—a result that naturally brought a smile.
"I owe you, Tiny. We nearly had a disaster. A demon-possessed traitor from our own orcs... That bastard..."
"What happened to that chieftain, Nergui or whatever?"
"Hm? Nergui? Obviously dead. He left some suspicious last words, though..."
"What words?"
"Well..."
Zerik recalled Nergui's final moments.
-The Great Warrior system cost us our 'warrior spirits.' 'Ago-Khan,' who made it, doomed all orcs!! Zerik, without Great Warriors like you...!!
Just the ravings of a dying man who'd sold his soul to demons. No doubt.
But it touched on sensitive tribal history.
"...Hmph, no need for non-orcs to know."
As Tiny frowned, Zerik changed the subject before more questions.
"You bantered casually on the field, but now formal speech? You sure I understand Common right?"
Called out on his slip-up, Tiny couldn't argue. Even as past-life friends, Zerik's age and status outranked him now.
"...Battle urgency. Haha."
He could only laugh awkwardly.
"Hahaha, fine."
Zerik chuckled and clapped his massive hand on Tiny's shoulder.
"Ack!?"
I'm still a patient!
"Whatever. I owe you big, and your courage and skill were proven. I, Zerik, admire the human hero's valor. No need for formalities. We're friends now."
Jenas gawked at Zerik, but Tiny couldn't help chuckling.
Yeah. That's Zerik.
He ignored status or face. Boisterous and bold, save his occasional bullheadedness—a true friend.
Tiny gripped Zerik's huge hand firmly.
"You got it, friend."
"Sir Tiny! Now...!?"
As Jenas yelled in shock and Luna smiled warmly at the scene.
"Hahaha. Knew it'd be like this. True warriors ignore petty etiquette."
Jenas's silver brows twitched irritably, but he sighed without interrupting, sensing the mood.
Everything seemed to flow smoothly, easing Tiny's mind—until a nagging unease hit.
What is it? Something... forgotten?
Not just from Luna's talk.
Something more important...
As Tiny's face hardened in thought, Zerik tilted his head, then grinned knowingly.
"Ah, you two have human talk. I'll step out."
As Zerik turned, Jenas immediately nagged.
"Tiny! Enough recklessness. Do you know how worried His Grace is? Sir Drexler outside too..."
But Tiny cut him off.
"Wait, just a sec, Sir Jenas."
"...Huh? Hm?"
"Sorry, Sir Jenas. Zerik! I have something to tell you. You have to hear it. Sorry, but others, please leave."
He signaled Jenas and Luna apologetically.
"Yeah, got it."
Luna nodded and vanished instantly, while Jenas's eyes widened, glancing between them.
"Ah, that story..."
"You know, Sir Jenas?"
"His Grace told me. Don't worry, only I know, so the aftermath's safe, Tiny."
His wink confirmed the Sword Emperor had told him the truth. Risky with more knowing, but Jenas was trustworthy.
"...We'll talk later."
"Mm. Sure."
As Jenas nodded and left.
"What is it?"
Zerik grinned—his fierce face making it look intimidating.
And then.
"Listen well, Zerik. Hard to believe, but it's the future. What we went through—what we must overcome."
"What're you on about?"
Zerik's brow furrowed at the nonsense.
"It's..."
Tiny's tale stretched long into the evening. By the end, moonlight dimly lit the darkened world.
"...That's how it is. That's why I'm here. To stop the orcs' fall. Can you believe it?"
Tiny eyed Zerik complexly. The orc, who'd clutched his head groaning throughout, snorted then chuckled.
"If you weren't my friend, just some human hero, I'd call it a lie."
Relief washed over Tiny at the positive response, but Zerik thumped his chest boldly.
"But friend's word, so I believe."
You simple bastard—thanks.
But Zerik continued.
"And those lines you quoted? All sound like me. Explains why you helped us out of nowhere, friend."
"Even knowing I had motives?"
"To preserve our tribe's strength, right? Grateful as Great Warrior. We're friends."
Zerik bowed his head—unfamiliar yet warm.
But then Tiny realized what had nagged him.
"Ah! Damn it!!?"
"Hm??"
"Zerik! The southern war! I told you to stop it!!?"
"...With Nergui dead, won't it stop on its own?"
This guy's still an orc, damn it!
"Shit! Nergui had demon worshippers beside him! The war's still raging! We have to stop it now!!"
His belated shout widened Zerik's eyes.
"Damn, no comm orb?! Fucking orc shamans..."
"I'll go myself."
"Me too!"
The talk veered wildly.
That night, under the midnight moon, the urgent decision reached Luna and Jenas as reinforcements.
"His Majesty's orders end here, Captain. No more meddling in orc wars..."
"You go back. I'll follow my brother. Know? His Majesty promised this ends my duty, my freedom."
"...Brother?"
The Shadow Leader questioned the term over orders, but Luna offered no explanation.
And Jenas decided to follow Tiny alone.
"Sir Drexler, return first with the others."
"Captain!"
"Might get fully involved in tribal wars. If we're all spotted, even His Grace can't cover it. You know."
Next dawn.
Harharin's south gate burst open as the orc Great Warrior and human knights raced madly southward.