A New Party Member to Use as I Please
“The Rune of Resurrection? Yeah, I’ve heard of it in passing.”
To be honest, I’d completely forgotten about it. The Rune of Immortality was relatively easy to obtain, but most runes had ridiculously difficult acquisition conditions, so I’d never bothered obsessing over them. I’d dropped a vague hint to the hero about power-up items, but Leonhart, whose nose was already sky-high from his buff skills, had simply brushed it off, claiming he didn’t need anything like that.
“The Rune of Resurrection that can bring back the dead. Right, there definitely was a rune like that. However, my little sister… this might sound strange, but she isn’t a human from this world.”
“I know. She’s probably on Earth, right?”
“…What?”
What the hell was this? I’d been debating whether to explain my situation, but here he was casually dropping the name Earth. Don’t tell me this guy was also possessed like me? No, his tone just now sounded more like he’d simply heard about it.
“No need to look so shocked. Any well-read mage knows of the existence of other worlds beyond the Pangaea continent. And scholars well-versed in archaeology are quite familiar with the fact that, on very rare occasions, people from Earth cross over through dimensional travel.”
“…So it’s not exactly a secret, then?”
“That doesn’t mean there’s any need to broadcast it yourself. As I said, it’s information that only circulates secretly among esteemed scholars. If you told an ordinary person you came from another dimension called Earth, they’d treat you like a lunatic brainwashed by the Demon King’s army.”
If I wasn’t the first person from Earth to be possessed in this place, then Zero’s words made sense.
“In one ancient tome I read, there was a record of a man from Earth who used the Rune of Resurrection to revive his dead daughter in a city called New York and then returned to his homeland.”
“What…?”
“Exactly how Earth and the Pangaea continent are connected remains unclear, but it seems that runes—powers treated as irregular even on Pangaea—can exert their effects across dimensional barriers.”
I had just managed to calm my mind, planning to boil some spicy stew and wait for the end of the world. Now this bastard had me overthinking everything again. Could the Rune of Resurrection really bring my little sister, who died in South Korea, back to life? Could I see her again?
No, but this was too sweet a bait to swallow whole.
“How am I supposed to believe that?”
“Of course, whether you believe it or not is entirely up to you. I simply recalled a record I found in an old book and shared it with you. Not everything written in books is true, so even if you find the Rune of Resurrection, it might all be for nothing. However, it is an undeniable fact that those who possess the Rune of Immortality do not die of old age.”
“……….”
“Between certain despair and uncertain hope… my intellect would choose the latter. What about you?”
I didn’t know much about the man called Zero. I’d run into him a few times at the imperial palace while following the hero party, but those had only been formal, public encounters. Nothing more. Still, Zero, the Guardian Duke, was so famous that I’d heard the rumors. Things like how he fought the Four Heavenly Kings’ Luci to a draw, how he’d faced the Demon King directly, or how he was the youngest sage ever appointed by the Magic Tower. I’d simply thought, Wow, impressive.
But in my experience, humans with such flashy careers always had something shady in their past. Even in the democratic country I came from, politicians lied as easily as they breathed. How much worse must it be here on the Pangaea continent, with its medieval-style class system?
“What’s your purpose in giving me this information? Can you explain it in a way that makes sense?”
“You must have heard that the Demon King’s army is preparing to invade Lydorphia’s border.”
“Yeah, everyone’s talking about it.”
“The hero party has set out on an expedition to the border. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that the fate of… no, the fate of all humanity rests on that party you once belonged to.”
Then humanity was doomed. There was no hope for that hero party.
“…I want to prevent the end of humanity at all costs. However, His Majesty…”
Suddenly, Guardian Duke Zero looked up at the sky with a deeply troubled expression. I could feel his patriotism in that look.
“At a time like this, he has ordered me to recapture—no, to kidnap—Princess Cynthia.”
“Hmm. And? When are you going to answer my question?”
“In this chaotic situation, can the hero party truly win?”
Absolutely not.
“If the hero party fails… another expedition force must stop the Eight Protection Army. If they cross the border, Lydorphia’s peace-drunk army won’t stand a chance. That’s why I—”
Zero finally got to the main point.
“—want you to form a new party and fight the Eight Protection Army separately from the hero party.”
“I refuse.”
I had already decided never to join any party again. I had no intention of becoming a monkey that repeated the same mistake over and over.
“Of course, I’m not asking you to do it for free. As I mentioned earlier, what you need is the Rune of Resurrection. Coincidentally, that rune is hidden in the border region where the Demon King’s army is advancing. No one knows the exact location, but…”
I knew it. I’d seen it in the strategy guide.
“Whether it’s me, the hero party, or the Demon King’s army who finds the Rune of Resurrection, I swear on the honor of the Guardian Duke that we will hand it over to you somehow. If you find it yourself, it’s yours, naturally.”
“……….”
“If you’re thinking of going to find it alone, that would be a mistake. It’ll be difficult to search for the rune by yourself in the middle of fierce battles.”
“…No.”
I didn’t need to search. I already knew its location. But just like with the Rune of Immortality, simply knowing where a rune was didn’t mean you could take it. You had to fulfill the acquisition conditions.
And unfortunately, the Rune of Resurrection was an item that required the help of comrades to obtain. Even if I found it alone, it would be useless.
“…Are you saying you’ll form a party with me?”
“Ah, no, not me. Since you’re hated by His Imperial Majesty, it wouldn’t be good if someone saw us moving together.”
That was a shame. If I gave Zero a buff, the Eight Protection Army would probably get wiped out instantly.
“I’ve carefully selected someone who can become your limbs, so feel free to use them as you wish. This time, you will be the party leader.”
“You’re talking as if I’ve already accepted.”
“Considering your situation, I believe you have no choice but to accept my proposal.”
——He was right. When I thought about the effects of the Rune of Immortality, it was easy to believe that even my cells were constantly regenerating. Moreover, if there was even the slightest chance of reviving my little sister, my honest feelings were that I wanted to cling to it.
There was no way I would die fighting the Eight Protection Army while possessing the Rune of Immortality, and if Guardian Duke Zero secretly supported me from behind, this was a deal worth taking.
But there was still one thing that bothered me.
“…Why did you come to me?”
“What do you mean?”
“If you doubt the hero party’s victory, you could use the Magic Tower, the Church, or your own position to mobilize the imperial army. So it’s strange that you’re asking for help from someone who’s nothing more than a baggage carrier.”
“Ah… that.”
The giant over 190 centimeters tall walked over with heavy steps. In the back mountain of this empty rural village, he whispered into my ear as if someone might be eavesdropping.
“After the octopus-head scandal you caused half a year ago, His Imperial Majesty’s authority has weakened more than ever. You have become the traitor the pro-emperor faction wants to kill the most, and a superstar to the emperor’s political enemies. If someone like you drives back the Eight Protection Army and saves humanity from crisis, what do you think will happen to the emperor’s authority?”
“…It sounds like you’re deliberately using me as a hitman to screw over the emperor. In other words, you—his most trusted right-hand man—are secretly planning to overthrow him?”
“Who knows? Did I say something like that?”
This bastard was playing dumb now.
“Besides, it has nothing to do with you, does it?”
“…That’s true. I really couldn’t care less about Lydorphia’s political struggles.”
“Then can we say we’re on the same boat?”
A large palm waited for my answer. It was the way of the world to join hands with even an enemy if interests aligned.
“…Let’s just say we’re temporarily forming a common front.”
“That’s enough. Then shall we eat this freshwater spicy stew while I explain the outline of the operation?”
“I don’t mind, but it’ll be pretty spicy since it has red pepper powder in it.”
People here usually seasoned with cheese and butter, so red pepper powder wasn’t a popular spice. Thanks to that, it was cheap, which was good for me.
“Mmm~ It’s quite spicy. This is better than I expected?”
“The fact that you can appreciate this flavor makes me like you a little more.”
“That’s fortunate. Oh, but before I explain, don’t tell anyone else about the rune.”
“Why?”
“Research on runes is basically treated as one of the highest secrets forbidden even by the Magic Tower. If rumors spread that you possess the Rune of Immortality, you could be branded a heretic and face disaster.”
Keeping my mouth shut wasn’t that hard. Watching Zero sweat buckets as he frantically scooped up the spicy stew with his spoon, I felt genuinely sorry that I couldn’t offer him any kimchi.
…The Rune of Resurrection. If I could really bring my little sister back with that…
Ah. It felt like the sun of hope was blazing again.
“—This operation must succeed.”
“Oh! That’s the spirit. Thank you for approaching it with such passion.”
“But if you’re not coming with me, who’s going to form a party with me?”
“Ah, well… hmm.”
What was this? The Guardian Duke Zero, who supposedly wouldn’t bat an eye even if a knife was at his throat, was avoiding my gaze and acting evasive. He scratched his cheek and let out a hearty laugh, looking extremely uncomfortable.
“…? What? Is there some problem—”
“Ouch!”
Suddenly, a girl fell from the sky. No, not the sky—she must have been hiding in the tree branches. I hadn’t noticed her at all. Who the hell was this kid?
“It’s not what you think! Vanessa absolutely did not secretly follow you because she was curious about what the two of you were talking about, nor did she hide in a tree to eavesdrop! So I definitely don’t know anything about the rune or how the Guardian Duke is scheming to stab His Imperial Majesty in the back! I also didn’t fall because I leaned forward to smell the spicy stew better, so please don’t get rid of me!”
She had purple hair tied into twin tails with black ribbons. Green eyes that were shamelessly pretending to cry. A straight nose bridge and high nose tip. Her trembling lips, as if frightened, looked glossy—probably from lip balm. A round-collared blouse with dangling frills. A short flare lace skirt that barely covered half her thighs. Black stockings that reached her knees, connected to a garter belt. Overall, she was a girl dressed in what was commonly called gothic lolita fashion.
“Hey, Guardian Duke. Don’t tell me…”
“This child will be your comrade. As I said again, feel free to use her as much as you want.”
Would someone like this actually be helpful?
“Oh my, oh my. Is this person Vanessa’s new master? Vanessa’s heart is pounding☆”
The girl named Vanessa sparkled her green eyes and acted cute like a puppy at a pet shop begging to be taken home. My little sister had taught me that girls who acted cute had a 100% chance of being liars.