Chapter 50

Previous Summary:

It turns out to be the same place as the beginning of Chapter 1, Section 8.

32

The light floated up from the deep darkness, and consciousness returned to my body.

I felt as if I had been in that strange space for quite a long time, but it seems that in the real world, I had lost consciousness for only a brief moment.

Through the mess of Shiran biting into my shoulder, I could see Lily, who was in a state of disarray, reconstructing a human body.

"Ma, Master!"

"…I'm fine. It worked, there's no problem."

When I spoke to her, Lily showed a relieved expression.

I shifted my gaze from her and focused on Shiran again.

Her body, which I had unconsciously embraced when she attacked, had lost its strength and was now leaning on me. From the outside, it might look like we were hugging, with her face buried in my shoulder.

Of course, in reality, it was not a romantic scene, but rather a rather grotesque one, as I was being bitten by her.

"Ow…."

I let out a small groan.

Shiran's teeth, which had sunk into my shoulder, were pulled out with a wet sound. Of course, since I couldn't get away without this, it was a necessary pain. I released my arms, which had been wrapped around her back.

"…?"

Then, after a few seconds, I tilted my head in confusion.

Shiran, who I thought would immediately pull away, showed no signs of movement.

Although her teeth had been pulled out, her arms were still holding me tightly. Because she was holding on so firmly, I couldn't get away.

Moreover, there was no sign of her moving either.

She stood still with her face buried in my shoulder.

Was something wrong?

Just as I was wondering, I felt a rough sensation near the wound on my shoulder.

It made a sticky, wet sound, like a cat lapping up milk.

"…Huh?"

A shiver ran down my spine. Was it from a chill or from pleasure?

Her tongue was crawling over my skin, just like lovers who are intimate.

Carefully, teasingly.

Shiran's tongue, which combined the lasciviousness of a prostitute and the innocent enthusiasm of a dog or cat, crawled over my skin. It made a sticky, wet sound. It pecked, savored, and licked.

Yes, Shiran was diligently licking the blood flowing from my wound.

"…"

Shiran slowly pulled away from me, who had involuntarily stiffened.

Her slightly downcast eyes, her parted lips, and her face, which was wet with red blood, showed a melted expression uncharacteristic of the serious Shiran.

Her pale face felt somewhat eerie, but at the same time, it added a mysterious allure to the young girl.

Her tongue traced her lips.

The gesture of licking the blood that clung to them, as if it were nectar, was vivid.

"A, h…."

A hollow voice reached my ears.

Even that, which seemed to carry a hint of sensuality, was strange.

If the usual Shiran was a delicate wildflower, the current Shiran was a bewitching flower. A sweet fragrance and a precarious atmosphere. She seemed about to wither away, and yet, precisely because of that, her beauty was captivating.

"H, h…."

Her single eye, which was now soft and languid, looked at me.

Our eyes met. And then—something in Shiran seemed to switch.

"…Huh?"

A voice of confusion rose.

From both her expression and her posture, I could sense that she was returning to herself.

At the same time, the time that had frozen for me began to move. It was only then that I realized I had been holding my breath.

"Shi, Shiran? Are you…awake…?"

In response to my call, Shiran, who was still looking at me, blinked once. Her lips, which had been beautifully licked clean of blood, trembled.

"Takahiro, dono?"

Her response was lisping and somewhat childish.

However, at least the current her recognized me as me.

"Wh, where…?"

Her expression quickly became firm.

As if confirming her own existence, she looked down at her outstretched hand.

"…Could it be that you really…came back?"

Her trembling lips began to form meaningful words.

The light of reason could be seen in the depths of her eyes.

The precarious Shiran from a moment ago was no longer there.

"I'm glad. You're awake."

I sighed in relief.

From what I could tell, the Shiran from a moment ago was in a vague state, just on the verge of regaining her self, and was somewhat influenced by the actions of a ghoul. I was a bit startled, but it seemed that everything would be fine.

"Lord Takahiro!"

Shiran, who had been staring at her hand, raised her face.

Her emerald eyes, which once again reflected me, shone like a unique gem in the world. I was captivated by this shine, which was different from the one a moment ago.

"Thank you, Lord Takahiro."

Her hand gripped mine tightly.

The cold sensation of her fingers made me look down. At the end of her arm, which had once been cut off, was a 'ring with a red stone'.

The ring, which serves as proof of the knight's identity, has a function to determine if someone is a ghoul. It seems that the ring's color changed because Shiran was no longer a ghoul. The fact that it didn't return to its original blue color, even though she was no longer a ghoul, might be because she had become an undead monster.

"With this, I can fight again. I can protect what I wanted to protect…!"

Still, she is undoubtedly Shiran.

Finally, I could feel that she had truly regained her mind. Naturally, a smile appeared on my face.

The thought that the precious girl in front of me had not lost her heart was overwhelming. Now, I should be happy about that first.

"All of this is thanks to you, Lord Takahiro."

"…No, that's not right."

In response to Shiran's grateful words, which were spoken with deep emotion, I shook my head.

Shiran, whose single eye, now filled with tears, widened, looked at me. I said something to her.

"‘This is a world where wishes come true.’"

"…?"

"Didn't you tell me this before? I think it was a saying left by the first hero."

It is a phrase attributed to the first hero. During the dark age for humans, he encouraged people to 'not give up on their hopes.'

Of course, as Shiran also mentioned when talking about this phrase, it is only one interpretation. The phrase is too simple and too ancient for anyone to verify its true meaning.

However, it is certain that this gentle interpretation supported a brave girl who continued to fight to protect what she cherished.

That is why there is no more fitting phrase for this moment.

The power I possessed alone was not enough. My wish alone probably wouldn't have reached its destination. If 'wishes come true,' then it must be because of Shiran's strong desire and the wishes of those who tried to protect the stronghold.

Shiran is here now as the crystallization of all our wishes. It would be a bit wrong to claim it as my own achievement.

"Our wishes…."

Hearing my words, Shiran gently lowered her eyes.

What is she thinking? She is staring at our connected hands.

"…Yes, that's right."

Eventually, a beautiful smile appeared on her lips.

"This might be a miracle we all created together. …But, Lord Takahiro, please let me express my gratitude."

Shiran's blue gem-like eyes once again reflected my image.

"Thank you for picking up everyone's wishes. …For saving my wish. You might deny it, but at least to me, you are…"

Shiran, who was about to say something, swallowed her next words.

She shook her head. The face she turned to me again had changed to that of a knight who had fought to protect the world.

"For the sake of the thoughts you have recovered for everyone… and for my own wish, I must fight. Let's go, Lord Takahiro. To our battlefield."

The light of the vow to protect someone from harm remained the same. As an undead monster, the knight Shiran was reborn here.

＊＊＊

I want to celebrate our reunion.

I want to feel more of what I have recovered.

However, the situation does not allow it.

"Yeah. Let's fight. Do you need an explanation of the situation?"

I released the hand I had been touching and confirmed with Shiran.

"No. I have a general understanding."

Shiran shook her head, raising her eyes, which had been following my hand.

"While you were carrying me in that strange world, I received information about the situation here."

"…Even now, you remember what happened there?"

"Yes. Although it didn't feel real, like a dream… but it wasn't a dream, was it? If so, my task is clear."

Shiran turned and looked down the corridor.

Through the haze of rising flames and dust, the tall figure of a boy could be seen, using fire magic to burn away the spider silk scattered by Gerbera.

Shiran had been defeated once by Tenji. A brutal defeat can be terrifying. Considering that being stabbed through the heart and killed is something that doesn't normally happen, I was also worried about her.

However, from what I could see, there was no sign of fear in her expression. Her gaze was strong and unwavering. She would have no problem facing Tenji in battle. After confirming this, I spoke.

"As you can see, Gerbera, one of my familiars, a white arachne, is currently fighting Tenji."

From what I could see, Gerbera was using spider silk, which is less effective against Tenji's fire magic, in her battle.

This was a pre-arranged strategy, aimed at luring out Tenji's fire magic. Thanks to this, Tenji hasn't noticed our situation due to the rising flames. …The walls of the corridor are starting to collapse, which might be a bit excessive, but she is doing a good job.

However, this won't last forever.

"Even as a white arachne, it's difficult to defeat Tenji. If the battle continues, there's a high possibility of being overwhelmed. I'm sorry, but I need Shiran to support her."

"Understood."

Shiran nodded and let out a small smile.

"However, I never thought I would be fighting alongside a legendary monster. Life is unpredictable. Well, I am already dead, after all."

"To me, she is an important companion. She has her cute side too."

"Cute…?"

Shiran's eyes widened, seemingly surprised by my words. If she only saw Gerbera's fierce and beautiful form as a white arachne, it was understandable.

"Yes. If you get the chance, be nice to her, Shiran."

After smiling a little, I tightened my expression. To create such an opportunity, we need to fight now. I turned to the battlefield.

At that moment.

"Huh…?"

The world distorted.

A severe dizziness hit me. I couldn't stand.

"Master!?"

"Lord Takahiro!"

Two screams echoed as I sat down.

A strange sense of weakness overwhelmed my entire body. I couldn't stand up immediately.

Lily, who rushed over in a panic, cast a healing