Chapter 78

My body feels hot, and I also feel drowsy and lethargic.

This is the same condition I was in before Hasano-chan cast a spell on me.

It seems I must have fallen asleep.

Before I fell asleep, Hasano-chan told me that I had another [Magical Power Rampage] and that I was about to disappear.

The fire in the Elven Forest, which I was worried about, seems to have been extinguished...

"Samyū-chan...?"

I open my eyes groggily.

There, I see a pair of beautiful blue eyes looking at me with concern.

They look red, as if she had been rubbing them.

When I instinctively reach out to touch her, she grabs my hand before I can.

"Reni-sama... Are you feeling unwell?"

"Yeah... It's the same feeling as before."

"I'm sorry... It seems you've returned to the same state as before the spell..."

"No, it's not Samyū-chan's fault."

Thanks to the sleep, even though I feel feverish, it's not to the point where I can't get up.

I slowly sit up, and Samyū-chan helps me.

As I sit up, I see a girl with long black hair...

"Ah, Black Ham and Dragon."

The wings sprouting from her back and the thick, long tail sprouting from her buttocks.

It's the [Black Dragon of the World's Foundation]. It was supposed to be caught by Hasano-chan after trying to burn the Elven Forest...

The [Black Dragon of the World's Foundation] is not a ham, but has folded its wings and tucked its tail away, sitting skillfully on a chair.

"It seems you've finally woken up, young Elf."

In response to my words, its tail sways from side to side.

It seems they reconciled while I was asleep.

"Reni, how long did I sleep?"

"Reni-sama collapsed in the morning. It's now almost evening."

"Wow... almost half a day..."

I slept longer than I thought.

"Reni-sama used her power to extinguish the fire in the Elven Forest. This put a strain on the [Magical Power Circuits], causing another [Magical Power Rampage]."

"Yeah."

"And... unlike before, due to the sudden changes in your body, it seems your body and soul have separated."

"Body and soul..."

I nod in understanding as Samyū-chan explains.

I thought it was just a memory of my past life, but it might have been my soul leaving my body.

It felt like my soul was being pulled into the world of my past life...

"I returned your soul to your body."

"Black Ham and Dragon did?"

I tilt my head in confusion.

I try to recall what happened then.

"Reni, I was about to be swallowed by a black vortex."

"...Yes."

"But I heard Samyū-chan's voice."

"...My voice?"

"Yeah. Samyū-chan was crying. I thought, 'Don't cry.' Then, light appeared."

The me who always causes trouble, the me who keeps apologizing and living, the me who keeps blaming myself for what I can't do...

I was about to be consumed by it.

But then I heard Samyū-chan's voice... and because she was crying, I thought I had to wipe away her tears.

"I also thought about Papa and Mama. Then, I heard Hasano-chan's voice."

"Indeed. Your soul was about to disappear from this world. It would have been strange if it didn't, but there was a trigger. After that, I helped, adjusted the power of the [Orb], and stopped the magical power."

"I heard a voice saying, 'Stay focused.'"

"That was me!"

The [Black Dragon of the World's Foundation] puffed out its chest proudly.

It seems I woke up in this world again thanks to everyone's efforts.

"Thank you both."

I first thank the two in the room.

Samyū-chan, however, unusually averts her eyes and looks down.

I thought she would be happier...

"I'll thank Hasano-chan later."

A lot has happened since morning, so Samyū-chan must be tired.

Hasano-chan isn't here now, so I'll have to thank her later.

"It's really good that you didn't disappear. You were about to disappear along with the [Orb]."

"Along with the [Orb]?"

"Yes. You have the [Orb], don't you?"

...Is it okay to answer?

I glance at Samyū-chan, who nods slightly.

"Reni-sama, the [Black Dragon of the World's Foundation] came to check on your [Orb]. And it says the seven [Orbs] were created by the [Black Dragon of the World's Foundation]."

"Really...!"

I didn't know the origin of the [Orbs] in the game, but it seems they were created by the [Black Dragon of the World's Foundation].

I get excited.

The opening movie of the game, where the [Black Dragon of the World's Foundation] and the goddess were shown. Maybe the [Orbs] were depicted there too.

And I had one of them.

This is exciting. I feel happy.

I can't help but giggle, and the [Black Dragon of the World's Foundation] sighs in exasperation.

"To think you can smile like that after trying to take my [Orb]..."

"So, you were looking for Reni because you wanted the [Orb]?"

"Yes! I thought I didn't need the vessel and just wanted to recover the [Orb]... But things were a bit off, so..."

The [Black Dragon of the World's Foundation] clicks its tongue.

In other words, the [Black Dragon of the World's Foundation] was—

"Before we reached the Elven Forest, were you going to attack us?"

"...Well, that might have been the case."

The [Black Dragon of the World's Foundation] turns its face away from me.

It seems Samyū-chan was right to keep running without stopping.

The "vessel is not needed" means I was not needed.

If we had stopped there, I would have been attacked and killed.

Before Hasano-chan cast the spell on me, I wouldn't have been able to use my true power or the [Orb] properly, so I might have lost.

"There's no way I would stop in front of someone emitting such killing intent."

"But you didn't have to blow us away!"

"It was because you were blocking my path."

Samyū-chan must have considered various things and chose to keep running.

As a result, the Elven Forest was set on fire, but I extinguished it, so no problem!

So...

"Reni, I have the [Orb]."

"Yes, that's certain. When did you get it?"

"Probably from before I was born."

"...From before you were born..."

The [Black Dragon of the World's Foundation] winces at my answer.

"Reni-sama is special. Your mother used the [Orb], and you were born inheriting it."

"Hmm. An Elf used the [Orb]? That's rare. I thought humans were the ones who usually did such things."

"...Reni-sama's mother was a special person."

That's true. An Elf becoming human is unprecedented.

Also, the [Black Dragon of the World's Foundation] doesn't seem angry about the use of the [Orb].

"I understand that it was passed down from mother to child. If someone uses the [Orb], their child will inherit it. But..."

The [Black Dragon of the World's Foundation] looks at me with its purple eyes, as if observing me.

"Even so, something strange has happened. If there's no one to inherit the [Orb], it should remain in the world. The soul disappears, but the [Orb] should remain. Yet, you were about to disappear along with the [Orb]. The [Orb] and your soul are closely intertwined... What mechanism caused this..."

The [Black Dragon of the World's Foundation] sighs deeply.

"So, the important part is coming up. I need you to stay alive."

"Stay alive?"

"I thought you would say, 'Give me back the [Orb]!' or 'I don't need the vessel!' But it seems that's not the case.

The [Orb] supports the world when all seven are together. If your soul disappears, the world will end."

"...End?"

"End."

"Destroy?"

"Destroy."

Those words sent a chill down my spine.

The end of the world I love so much...! That means...

"Service termination notice...!"

The worst thing in online games...! Service termination...!

"I need you to stay alive until we can separate the [Orb] from your soul or until the [Orb] is firmly rooted in the world."

"Okay."

"I can't afford to lose you to another [Magical Power Rampage]. Understand?"

"Okay."

I nod seriously. Very seriously.

Service termination. I must prevent it at all costs.

And—

"I don't want to disappear in a [Magical Power Rampage]."

—This world I love so much.

I want to see more of it. I want to experience it with my own senses.

"So, first, we'll have the Elven Queen cast a spell on you again."

"The one to thin the [Magical Power Circuits]."

"Yes, but just thinning the [Magical Power Circuits] won't be enough. You tend to overexert yourself, so it will be like pouring water on a burnt stone."

I nod at the [Black Dragon of the World's Foundation]'s words.

Even if I get the spell to thin the [Magical Power Circuits], if I use too much magical power like this time, I'll end up in another [Magical Power Rampage].

I plan to listen carefully to the precautions from Hasano-chan and try not to end up in the same state again. But, I inevitably make mistakes. No doubt about it.

"Is there another way?"

I stare at the [Black Dragon of the World's Foundation].

With this tone, it must know another method.

And since it wants to separate the [Orb] from my soul, it should cooperate.

The [Black Dragon of the World's Foundation] points two fingers forward in response to my gaze.

"There are two things you need to do."

The index and middle fingers are up.

"One is to master [Magical Power Control]. It's not just about releasing everything. Since it's something Elves are good at, you should learn properly."

"Okay."

I also wanted to train in [Magical Power Control].

It's not just about forcefully releasing power like when I extinguished the fire.

"The other is—"

The [Black Dragon of the World's Foundation] chuckles.

"—Treasure hunting."

↓ A new work has started.

'Prologue: I Immediately Reincarnated as a Princess Who Dies in the Third Line'

The princess who dies immediately is working hard, so please look forward to it.