ISTHR 147

１４７

[The thread… is there only one? The Reincarnator’s thread is just one, but can people here connect to multiple Reincarnators? Because that Hero stayed connected to Haruka and still underwent the next Ceremony.]

[Yes, that’s correct. A Reincarnator has only one thread, but a husband can connect to as many threads as he wants. To put it simply, the soul of a Reincarnator is like a dandelion fluff. It floats around until its thread is hooked onto a latch on a wall. The husband’s soul is that wall.]

I gasped softly and looked up at Saine.

[Saine, please. I’m begging you, this is my one and only request—connect to Haruka. Hook Haruka’s soul onto your wall.]

I clasped my hands together, pleading fervently, but Saine only looked down at me with a conflicted expression.

[My Reincarnator is you and you alone.]

[I know that, but Olphynn said it’s fine to connect to as many as you want. So please, connect with Haruka too!]

He’s my long-lost best friend. I want to talk with him more, so much more. I cried as I begged, but Saine refused to nod.

[Why?! Saine, why can’t you do it?!]

[One Reincarnator is enough. My Reincarnator is you.]

Saine’s unwavering words, spoken so resolutely, sent me plummeting into despair. He could connect with anyone, so why not? Even if souls are connected, you can’t see it. If it’s invisible, it shouldn’t matter, right?

[…It might not matter if you don’t know, but once you do, it’s different. It’s a matter of feelings. Reincarnators might not understand, but to us, you are special.]

Dole said that but I didn’t understand. Is the matter of their feelings more important than Haruka’s life?

[Besides, it’s impossible either way. There are no Priests capable of cutting a  soul’s thread in this town.]

Olphynn furrowed his brows in frustration.

[It’s easy to re-tie a severed thread. It’s no different from a normal Ceremony. Even if the priests were inexperienced, they could do it if they gathered 10 people. But… none of the priests in this town have the power to cut the thread that has been tied.”

[… Not even you, Olphynn?]

[You’re overestimating my powers. My strength is nothing special. And most importantly, I don’t have the knowledge. I don’t know how to cut the thread. The only person with the power and knowledge to cut the thread is probably Tart Deak from the Royal Capital.]

[Who’s that? Is he an amazing priest?]

[He’s an oddball priest. An outsider from the Silver Crest Deak Family, he doesn’t get involved in normal Ceremonies at all, he only does research…]

Suddenly, Olefin goes quiet.

[I see…Tart Deak might be able to give us some insight into the knowledge required to read those ancient documents, the Ceremony to summon Reincarnators, and the male Reincarnators. There should be no priest living in this country who knows more than Tart Deak. I’ve heard that he has researched subjects on the powers and spells of priests, and anything related to priests.]

I only just realized that this is a town in a certain country. Reincarnators basically complete everything within one of the sections divided into east, west, north and south. They can’t leave their section, and they can’t leave their house without their husband’s permission. That’s why they think in an extremely narrow range.

But this town isn’t everything. I’ve forgotten the name, but it’s a country. And I’m sure the grannies said there are many countries. That’s why it’s called a world.

[Is the Royal Capital far? I’ll go there right now. I need to bring Haruka with me, right? I’ll go talk to Haruka and get Uncle’s permission.]

Saine grabs my shoulder as I was about to run off.

[Wait.]

[Let me go! You know there’s no time to be doing something like this! I have to hurry or Haruka’s gonna die!]

[Enough, just calm down. Do you even know where the Royal Capital is?]

[I don’t, but I’ll be fine as long as I have a map.]

[What about money? And guards? Do you think you can get from this town to the royal capital without passing through monster territory?]

[Ugh…]

I could do nothing but groan.

Why am I a Reincarnator? I can’t work, I can’t earn money. I can’t even leave the Eastern Section, let alone the town. There was nothing I could do for my best friend.

Back in my previous life, when I was struggling, Haruka was always there to support me. Haruka probably never thought he was doing anything special, but just his presence was my salvation. If there’s a way to save Haruka’s life, I want to do whatever it takes.

Tears fell one after another, and it felt like a puddle was going to form at my feet. There’s a way, and there’s no time, yet all I can do is cry? That thought made me feel so frustrated and pathetic that my chest felt like it was about to burst.

Saine let out an exasperated sigh and gently placed a hand on my head.

[If you’re going from this town to the royal capital, you have to leave through the Southern Section. And if you’re leaving the Southern Section, you’ll need to hire guards from the Southern Section’s Guards Guild.]

[Then, when you reach the town across the sea, you’ll have to hire a new set of guards. Guards usually only escort you from their town to the next, so if you want to travel from that town to the one after, you’ll need to hire guards there. That’s the rule.]

[You’ll keep hiring guards like that. Depending on the going rates, just hiring guards to get from here to the royal capital will cost you at least 300,000 ales.]

[On top of that, you’ll need to eat and drink, and you can’t just camp out all the time. So, for the basic living expenses, you’ll probably need another 200,000 ales or so. Plus, you’ll have to rent a boat to cross the sea.]

[That’s about it. Altogether, it’ll come to 500,000 ales. Even if you manage to reach the royal capital safely, you’ll also need to pay the priest there.]

[Yeah. So, just getting to the royal capital will cost more than half the money needed for the Ceremony. And since you’ll have to come back too, it’ll be double that.]

Saine and Dole explained it all so smoothly that the shock of their words made my tears suddenly stop.

[But, there is also another way.]

Saine put his hands on his waist and sighed as he said that. He looked super reluctant to say it, as if he’s extremely troubled by it.

[Saine?]

[That’s right, there is another way.]

[What? How does that work? If I do that, it won’t cost money?]

[No, it will need money. Along the journey, to be precise, it’s for the living expenses. However, you can scrimp on spending money to hire a guard.]

[That’s awesome! If that’s the case then, uhh, I can save 300,000 ales on a one-way trip, right?]

 The necessary expenses, which were just over 1 million ale round trip, would be just over 400,000 ales. 400,000 ales is a huge amount, but the impact of 1 million ale was so great that I felt like I could manage it just by cutting it in half.

[How do I do that!?]

[You don’t need to hire a guard.]

[Can we pass through the forest of monsters without hiring a guard?]

[Yup, that’s right. If you make it so you don’t need to hire one.]

[Wow~! How is that possible!? Can I do that, too?]

When I looked up at him to ask, Dole was looking at Saine amusedly. 

[…… A guard just has to go with you.]

Saine said quietly.

[What do you mean? I’ll need money to hire a guard.]

[Yup, and that is why. The guard will become a traveler. Because there is no guard who will hire another guard.]

[……Oh!? I see!]

I was so happy that I clapped my hands.

That’s right, a guard just has to come with us. That way, the forest of monsters, the mountain, and even the ocean won’t be scary anymore.

[Olphynn, how long can one last with a dead husband? How long can Haruka stay safe?]

[It depends on the individual, but… well, three months to six months.]

[What!? That won’t do! There’s not enough time at all……]

[Why? You can get to the Royal Capital from here in 1 month. Even if something happens, 2 months is enough.]

[Hmm, but, I can’t become a guard in 1-2 months.]

[Wait a minute, what do you mean?]

Saine tilts his head and looks down at me.

[I have to become a guard so I won’t need to hire one. If I do that, it won’t cost money.]

The moment I said that, Dole roared out in laughter.

[Bwahah! As expected of you. You’ve gone way beyond my imagination.]

[You idiot! There’s no possible way that a Reincarnator can become a guard!]

[More importantly, it’s impossible with your build. Can you become a guard with that skinny little frame?]

I feel like Dole has been making fun of me for a while now. I look up at him with a pout.

[You don’t know that. Not all Japanese are skinny. Maybe if I worked out I could get big too.]

[I do know. After all, I was as big as you when I was 10 years old, you know? By your age I was already a guard.]

[But if I don’t become a guard, I won’t be able to help Haruka. So I’ll do it with sheer determination! Haruka’s grandma used to say that if you’re willing to die for it, you can do anything. I’ve died once, so I know how it feels.]

It’s despair. There is no hope or salvation. Rather than that feeling of despair, I would rather train to be a guard many times over. Alright, I grip my fists.

[Isn’t there a faster method than you becoming a guard? You have 2 guards over here, you know? Moreover, they’re not just ordinary guards, they’re both extremely skilled and strong Dauntlesses.]

Upon saying that, Dole pointed at himself and Saine.

[……? If you both come with us, won’t I need to hire you?]

[Nope, not at all. Saine knows him and you’ve talked about Haruka so many times that it feels like I already know him. That’s why I’ll go out and travel for my own sake.]

[Are you sure!?]

I jumped up in surprise. If the two of them come with us, it’s like giving an ogre a club. Haruka’s grandmother also used to say this. An ogre who is given a club is very strong.

As I looked at him in excitement, Saine glared at Dole.

[There is no need for you to come along.]

[Don’t say that. It’s no big deal, right? The only monster territory we know is the forest and mountains that lie beyond here. We don’t know anything about the ocean, and the forests and mountains beyond the next town are unknown territory to us. No matter how strong you are, you can’t get there alone. We have to take this Haruka guy with us, and we’re also taking him with us, right?]

[Me? I’ll come with you! Um, I  can go with you, right?]

When I looked up at Saine and begged, he accepted with a low growl.

[Yay! Then, let’s depart right away. I’ll go and persuade Haruka.]

I’d hate it if he declined out of some weird hesitation. I definitely wouldn’t want to just sit there and watch my best friend die.

[I’ll go too.]

Olphynn, who had been watching silently until then, said.

[What are you going to do if you also go?]

Saine refused him but Olphynn just smiled. 

[It’s better if I go with you. Tart Deak is an odd and eccentric man. It will probably be hard to convince him by yourselves. Besides, the cut thread must be bound quickly. In that case, I will ask the Daryss family living there for help.]

[I see! The Daryss family also live in the Royal Capital. Okay, then let’s go together. Oh…… but, to whose soul are we going to bind it to?]

[I’ll just bind it to my soul.]

The handsome guy laughed and told me not to worry, and my heart skipped a beat. That’s cool! Olphynn! I’m really glad I came here and became friends with him.

TN: Hi all, it’s still me. I just translated the title into English. I will update this novel once a week (for now) because I can only translate during my days off.