Chapter 41

The tip of the rapier approached, threatening to pierce Havoc's body.

But just as the tip was about to pierce Havoc's body, the rapier suddenly stopped. It was an unnatural halt, but the rapier would not advance any further.

Irene and even Havoc, who was about to be pierced, widened their eyes. Liam and the others stared in bewilderment, unable to understand what had happened.

Reading from their expressions that it wasn't something Liam and the others had done, Irene directed her gaze around.

"Chaos! ...Is it you!?"

At the end of Irene's gaze stood a boy with black hair.

***

Surrounded by a group of goblin monsters, the odds were overwhelmingly against me.

I cast a spell to defeat the goblins as usual, but the number of goblins attacking me was greater than the number I could defeat.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, I wasn't anxious.

"Chain Bind"

"Leave the rest to me!"

Alexia bound the goblins' movements with magical chains. This skill, which looks like binding with chains, is a spell that paralyzes the opponent and makes them unable to move in the system. Seeing this, Irene finished off the goblins whose movements were sealed with the chains.

It's great to have such reliable companions. There's no way we can lose.

Thanks to the two of us, all the goblins were defeated.

"Teacher! Did you see that! Thanks to the spell you taught me, I was able to defeat them!"

Alexia said happily. It's a bit exaggerated. While it's true that I taught her a lot, most of it was just passing on information from strategy guides, and I don't remember doing anything that deserves such respect.

Still, I can't help but feel happy because I realize that I've been of help to her.

"Teacher, do you have time after this? I want to learn about the spells that sages can use."

Alexia looks excited. We talk about skills and the settings of "Another World." She really loves this game. But Irene doesn't seem very interested in such conversations, so maybe I should try a different topic sometimes.

Just as I was thinking that, the surroundings suddenly turned pitch black. I looked around, feeling uneasy.

The dead bodies of the goblins I had defeated had somehow transformed.

Into people. Into countless dead bodies of people. Among them was Rozeline's figure.

"Rozeline!?"

Rozeline, covered in blood, reached out to me for help. Irene approached Rozeline with a blank expression, and I had a foreboding feeling.

"Stop it! Irene! Stop it!"

It didn't stop. The thin tip of the rapier pierced Rozeline's back. As her upper body jerked violently, her outstretched hand fell to the ground.

"Rozeline! Hold on!"

I hurriedly picked up Rozeline, but there was no response. She was already dead.

"Teacher"

Alexia called out to me. Despite the murder that had just taken place before her eyes, her innocent smile sent a shiver down my spine.

"Teacher, aren't you going to praise me? It's because you taught me how to kill that I was able to kill so many people."

"No, I didn't teach you that. I didn't teach you to do that!"

"Didn't you teach me how to fight efficiently against enemies? I just put it into practice. It's because you taught me how to kill that I'm on the battlefield. Isn't it all your fault?"

"Even I and Alexia have started to get our hands dirty, and the woman lying there is ultimately your fault."

"I didn't know it was another world. I thought it was just a game. I never thought it would come to this."

"Doesn't knowing mean you can do anything? Can you really say you have no sin?"

I had no answer. Ignorance is no excuse. Moreover, I had been aware of it but chose to ignore it. If I had realized it sooner, maybe I could have prevented them from getting their hands dirty.

"It's your fault, Teacher."

"Receive your punishment."

Irene's rapier pierced me. Despite the lack of pain, a sharp pain shot through my chest. My HP was rapidly depleted and hit zero. As the rapier was pulled out, my robe was stained red.

I don't want to die. I frantically searched my inventory. I took out a potion and used it, but it had no effect. I was already dead in the system. There was no way to recover.

I tried to break the substitute doll I took out of my inventory, but it wouldn't budge. Instead, a message window appeared.

"No target in a dead state exists. If there is no target, the effect will not activate."

What nonsense. I'm in a dead state. There's no way there's no target. This is just like that time. If so, am I really going to die?

...Help me. I don't want to die!

Alexia and Irene just watched me suffer, indifferent. My heartbeat slowed, and my senses dulled. My consciousness gradually faded away.

Ah, I can't survive this, I resigned myself to the fact.

---

Suddenly, I woke up.

Tears were streaming down my cheeks. I was drenched in sweat. My T-shirt was soaked and felt disgusting. I felt like I had lost all the water in my body, and my throat was parched. Wiping away the sweat, I checked my surroundings with a dazed mind, and when I confirmed I was in my room, I realized I was still alive, and tears streamed down my face again.

When I regained my composure, I felt disgusted with myself for prioritizing the fact that I was alive.

Since logging out, I had been holed up in bed, wrapped in my blanket. My mother had come to check on me several times, worried that I hadn't shown up, but I had no energy to respond.

The room, with the curtains closed and no lights on, was slightly dim, but it was bright enough to see the objects inside during the day.

In the dim room, Valgea, the device that was the root of all evil, glowed dully. I couldn't take my eyes off it.

I hadn't touched Valgea since then. Just touching it made me feel like I would be taken back to that world. Of course, that was impossible. But given that I had been transported to another world from a game, common sense might not apply.

The device would not function now that it was powered off. I wouldn't be involved with that world as long as I didn't use this device to play the game.

Thinking about it, the days I spent in that world seemed like a dream or an illusion.

What will happen to that world?

The invasion of the Vaisel Empire. They invaded to reclaim the land of the Commune Union from the vampires. The vampires in Clermont had already been driven out, so there was no reason for the Vaisel Empire to attack Clermont. It should be possible to resolve the issue through negotiations.

However, if they only came to defeat the vampires, wouldn't they have informed Clermont first before attacking? Perhaps the Vaisel Empire has no intention of talking to the Commune Union. Maybe they think the vampires have already taken over the entire Commune Union.

What if the war between the two countries continues?

If the Vaisel Empire advances on the capital of the Commune, Clermont, the Commune is likely at a disadvantage. After all, Clermont had been under vampire rule until recently. They are already exhausted from the previous battle and are not fully prepared for war.

If Alexia and the others, who have changed classes, join the Commune, there is no chance of victory. If the Commune fights, they will lose. I, living in Japan, a country that enjoys peace, cannot imagine what the fate of a country invaded by another would be. There are many countries that have been invaded in the history of the real world. But in a history textbook, it would be just a few lines, or perhaps not even mentioned.

However, it might happen in the other world, connected through the internet.

Rozeline is a princess. She can't back down from a war with another country. Without Raul, who she relied on, she has no choice but to lead the defense of the country.

If that happens, what will be Rozeline's fate?

No, perhaps the Commune will miraculously repel the invaders. But if that happens, Alexia and Irene will be in danger. They are fighting on the front lines. Repelling the Commune would mean repelling them.

...It's futile. I should stop. I have no intention of going back to that world. It would be foolish to go to a world where I might die.

I can remain uninvolved by closing my eyes and ears. I can return to a peaceful life by forgetting and not thinking about it.

---

But. Still. What is this smoldering feeling? What is this chest tightness that keeps telling me it's wrong?

I can't forget. The days I spent in that world. It was only a few months, less than half a year, but I remember them vividly.

It's true that I didn't know the truth. But I had fun spending time with everyone. It wasn't a dream or an illusion. It was a real experience I had.

So I can't just turn a blind eye to that world and the people I met there.

But what can I do? If a war breaks out, can I stop it alone? It's a ridiculous idea. In movies and stories, the protagonist can do heroic deeds, but I'm just a fake hero.

This is happening in another world. It might not be my business as a resident of the real world. It might not be allowed to get involved.

There is fear. I might be killed like Raul in that dream, or I might kill someone. The thought of it makes me hesitate.

Still, I want to help Rozeline and stop Alexia and Irene.

Is it a naive sense of justice or a desire to be a hero? I don't know. But I don't want to twist that feeling.

Maybe I'm just bound by Raul's words. Maybe it's a sense of guilt over the consequences of my actions in another world.

Still, I want to know what will happen to that world and my companions. If it leads to something bad, I want to prevent it.

If a war breaks out, I might have to fight too. With the game skills I have now, I should have the power to fight. But can I use that power without hesitation?

It's impossible. The skills I use can hurt and kill the opponent. If there's a chance I might be killed, there's no room for holding back.

I just want to help someone, but do I have to hurt someone? Why did I only take offensive skills? If I had taken status effect skills like Alexia, I could have put them to sleep or paralyzed them without hurting them.

...Like Alexia...? There is a way! That's it, that's the way!

I made all the preparations I could think of. I could still turn back. A warning that contradicts my will flashes through my mind. I hesitate a little just from that warning, but I don't have a firm resolve.

In movies and stories, the protagonist acts with unwavering conviction. Unfortunately, I don't have that conviction. Going to another world is scary, and I don't want to die. I can't shake off that fear.

But if I close my eyes, cover my ears, and pretend nothing happened, I'll probably just keep running away and regretting. I might never be free from the spell of that dream.

Suppressing my trembling heart, I picked up Valgea with my shaking hands.

Let's go. Back to that world!

The place where I logged out last time was deserted. The sound of metal clashing from outside was similar to what I heard when Clermont was attacked.

This is the sound of battle, isn't it? Could the Commune and Vaisel really be at war?

If so, Rozeline is in danger. Is she safe?

The map was filled with green markers, making it impossible to determine Rozeline's location. There's no convenient function to find a specific person. There were two areas where people were concentrated: near the palace entrance hall and another place.

Rozeline, an important figure, should have many guards. It's unlikely that the princess would be at the entrance hall where enemies could enter. By process of elimination, it's more likely that Rozeline is in the other place.

I'll try to avoid the green markers as much as possible. It's tough not knowing who is friend or foe. If I encounter someone, it could lead to a battle. But to get to the room where Rozeline might be, I can't avoid the entrance hall where people are concentrated.

I tried not to be discouraged and ran out with determination.

Fortunately, I didn't encounter anyone. My cautious movements, checking for hidden people at corners that didn't show up on the map, must have looked ridiculous.

I was about to reach the entrance hall. The sound of battle was clearly audible. My throat tightened with tension. Alright, let's go.

I emerged into the entrance hall, where a familiar group was fighting.

It was Havoc and the others. Their opponent was... Irene!?

She was fighting multiple opponents on equal terms. In this case, it might be worth praising them for holding their own against the high-level Irene who had changed classes.

Havoc's level, as far as I remember, was around 13 for the highest, Emilia. I didn't check everyone, but the knights I had teamed up with in the Commune were around levels 10 to 20. So, Emilia and the others are about as strong as the knights.

I don't know Havoc's level, who seems to be the oldest in their party, but it's probably not much different from Emilia's. But that made me wonder.

If an adventurer in their thirties or forties like Havoc had been fighting monsters longer than me, they should be much stronger. Of course, it's possible that Havoc became an adventurer very recently, but his worn-out equipment and experienced demeanor make him look like a seasoned veteran.

Yet, my level-up in a few days was enough to surpass him, which seemed unnatural.

So, in this world, it might be difficult to level up.

Indeed, in reality, it's impossible to become stronger just by defeating more monsters. There's no clear division of strength like levels.

However, this raises a question. Irene and Alexia leveled up at the same pace as me. The more they leveled up, the stronger they became, so the difference in strength due to levels is evident in reality.

It's a concern, but I'll think about it later. They seem to be holding their own, but if it's difficult to level up, Havoc and the others probably haven't reached level 20.

On the other hand, Irene's level is over 50. It's a no-contest. It's a miracle they're holding their own.

"Stop it!"

I shouted, but it didn't reach her. The battle didn't stop.

But if I give up here, I won't know why I came this far.

I have to stop it! I closed the distance to Irene. Now is the time to use it.

I took out the paid item "Skill Reset Certificate" from my inventory and tore it up.

"Skill Reset!"

All the skills I had built for offense became unusable and were converted into skill points. Skill points are used to allocate skills. Now I can rebuild my skills as I like!

Not to hurt the opponent, but to incapacitate them without causing harm. I allocated my skill points to paralysis and other movement-sealing skills, avoiding DoT damage skills like poison, based on Alexia's skill setup. I used all my knowledge to allocate the most optimal status effect skills.

Before Irene's attack could reach... it's done!

"Chain Bind!"

I chanted the spell as soon as the allocation was complete, and magical chains bound Irene. Her movements were completely stopped.

If she had moved one more step, Havoc would have been pierced by the rapier.

"Chaos! ...Is it you!?"

"Chaos!?"

Havoc and the others looked at me in surprise, while Irene's eyes pierced through me.

"Long time no see, Irene."

"Why are you here... you?"

"There's a long story, but to put it simply, I came to help a friend."

"Help? Nonsense, what are you talking about? Why are you aiding the Commune?"

Irene didn't hide her hostility. It was sad to be faced with hostility from a friend, but I had to stop her. It was necessary.

She didn't resist. She knew that resisting while paralyzed was futile. Alexia had used this spell several times, so it's natural that Irene knew its effects.

"Irene, stop this."

"Stop this, you say?"

Irene's expression grew even more severe.

"Are you kidding me! You, of all people, are saying this. Do you have the right to say this to me!"

Irene shouted.

"Do you understand what I've been through, what Alexia has been through to be here? You don't understand!"

How has she changed? Will she blame me like Irene? I'm afraid to find out.

"It's your fault."

It stabbed me in the heart. For a moment, the scene from the dream came to mind.

"If you weren't here, Alexia wouldn't have changed so much!"

How has she changed? Will she blame me like Irene? I'm afraid to find out.

"Leave. I can't let you interfere any further. I can't let you see Alexia."

Her firm rejection made me hesitate.

But if I just back down, what was the point of coming here?

"I can't back down."

I have to stop Alexia and help Rozeline. No matter how much they reject me, no matter how much they refuse to acknowledge me, I have to stand my ground for my own ego.

Irene remained silent, her head bowed. I couldn't understand what she was thinking.

The magical chains disappeared. The paralysis effect is not permanent. It had worn off while we were talking.

At the same time, Irene started moving. Her face was even more severe and cold than usual.

I was slapped across the right cheek. It must have been a powerful blow. I rolled on the marble-like floor, feeling its coldness.

I didn't faint because there was no pain, but if my HP runs out, I might die. I hurriedly checked my HP. It was fine; despite the flashy attack, it hadn't decreased as much as I thought.

Maybe it was because I was a magician with paper-thin defense, and the level difference was significant, but the damage was minimal because Irene, a berserker, had hit me with her bare hands without a weapon.

"Get up. I know you're not the type to go down with just that. We fought together, after all."

The pressure made me shrink. The pressure she usually directed at monsters was now mercilessly aimed at me. It was the first time I realized I didn't want to make this person my enemy. Not as an acquaintance, but out of pure fear.

Is there such a big difference between someone who has been killing monsters in a game and someone who has been risking their life for a long time?

This is ridiculous. Since the reset, my level is far inferior to Irene's. If she fights me with the same mindset as before, I'll be killed.

I might die. When that thought became real, I panicked, and my mind was overwhelmed. I wanted to log out and run away immediately.

"Wait a minute!"

A voice interrupted. It was Liam. Irene's gaze also shifted.

"I didn't interfere because it seemed like you knew each other, but I'm going to help you!"

"I don't understand the situation, but are you trying to stop this beautiful lady?"

"Fighting a monster without killing it is a bit beyond me! I might hurt her a little, so you'll have to bear with it!"

"I'll heal the wounds later."

"Why..."

That was all I could manage in my panic.

I didn't understand. Their levels were as low as mine. Yet, they were willing to fight. They faced a powerful opponent with sharp eyes without fear.

Moreover, they were trying to fight without killing the opponent for my sake.

Why? Aren't they afraid? They might die.

I wanted to ask. How can they be so calm?

"It's a thank you for saving Havoc earlier. If I could, I'd look cool."

Liam, blinking his eyes, answered playfully.

"To be honest, I'm terrified. I'd run away if I could. After all, we're facing an overwhelmingly strong opponent who can take on four of us in a party. But we have our own reasons not to back down. We want to protect our companions' homeland. So we can't just back down. Let's fight