Another World Reincarnation Chronicle

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“Ugh…”

Galad’s face hardened at the sight of the Skeletons.

Clicking her tongue, she turned to me and spoke.

“I’ll clear the way, so you just get out of here.”

“Aren’t you going to ask for my help?”

“This has nothing to do with you.”

With those words, Galad charged at the Skeletons.

Watching her, I drew the sword I had tucked behind me.

Swish—

As the sword came free with a cheerful sound, it began to scatter a brilliant light.

Soon, seven shining stars rose into the air.

I knew in my head that this action was unnecessary meddling.

As Galad said, avoiding this place would be the best choice.

But I didn’t want to do that.

I wanted to follow my heart, to go where my feet led, to do what I wanted.

Isn’t that what adventure is? What I’ve become now is the result of the journey I’ve taken.

This time was no different. I would just act as I wished.

I finished getting ready to take a big step towards a new adventure.

Whoosh—

The Nightmare that approached from behind revealed its presence fully.

It seemed to sense that I had no intention of fleeing and prepared to fight, rolling its front legs.

I nodded at the sight.

If the Nightmare’s powerful kick hit, even an ordinary Skeleton Warrior would be obliterated in an instant.

The Skeleton soldiers ahead numbered in the dozens.

Not just one or two, but a tremendous military force. Even as I stood here, more were pouring in from outside the forest, as the Dark Mage seemed to be continuously summoning them.

Galad and the villagers were holding off such Skeletons, but the situation wasn’t good.

In this village, Galad was the only person capable of properly fighting the Skeletons.

The other villagers couldn’t fly through the sky like Galad.

They struggled with axes or wooden clubs, resisting the Skeletons with all their might.

Seeing that, I charged ahead.

As my short legs kicked off the ground, weak mana surged forth, propelling my body forward swiftly.

After a couple more jumps, I reached one of the Skeletons.

My legs became a solid pillar as the power transmitted from behind held firm.

At that moment, the blue starlight that extended from my sword pierced through the Skeleton’s head.

Don’t stop moving. Take a deep breath and keep your body fluid.

Just like during training, I had to naturally string together the seven movements.

With one movement, a Skeleton fell, and as the seventh movement ended, seven stars sparkled along the path of the sword, turning seven Skeletons into bone fragments.

The Skeletons did not truly die; they merely collapsed momentarily, their spines and skulls blown away.

In a certain amount of time, they would regain their original forms.

But I wasn’t worried. The Nightmare that followed swiftly crushed their bones underfoot.

I moved to guard the Nightmare and the villagers.

After knocking down the Skeletons with my sword, the Nightmare would rush in to finish them off.

If they were too far, I would shoot a Magic Missile to knock down the Skeletons.

“You are…!”

“I’ve come to help.”

Galad, seemingly noticing us late, turned around.

Her body was enveloped in rough winds.

As if she had become one with the wind, she was smashing the Skeletons apart.

Galad, biting her lip while looking at me, turned to the trees.

Yet, even amidst that, she did not stop fighting.

As her fist extended forward, a small gust erupted at the end, obliterating two Skeletons that approached.

“You…”

It seemed the communion with the tree spirits was finished as Galad looked at me and spoke.

Seeing her expression, I recalled that I hadn’t told her my name.

“I’m Seris.”

“Seris. I formally request your help. Will you protect this village in my absence?”

“Where are you going, Galad?”

“The source of this trouble lies beyond the forest. I’m going to eliminate that source.”

I nodded, breaking apart the approaching Skeleton.

Galad smiled weakly at that.

Her smile resembled the forest.

Galad smashed a Skeleton charging at her with her fist and reached out to me.

Suddenly, a small wind gathered and wrapped around my body.

The wind was gentle and warm, beginning to push away the evil mana around me as if guarding me.

Looking at it as if to say, “What is this?” Galad explained.

“It’s the blessing of the spirits. It will protect you from evil attacks, so I hope you will accept it without rejecting it.”

“It feels magical… it’s a soft breeze.”

At that moment, something flew rapidly from across the forest.

An attack aiming at my head, but the small wind wrapping around me suddenly expanded and twisted its trajectory.

Wham—!

“What the…”

I frowned and looked down at the ground.

The twisted trajectory caused by the small wind was a long arrow.

Even lodged in the ground, it seemed the force hadn’t dissipated, as the shaft trembled slightly.

“Please take care of this.”

As Galad finished speaking and moved toward the other side of the forest, two arrows were shot toward her.

Just as the arrows swiftly flew toward her body, it seemed they would collide.

Galad’s body moved gracefully.

The wind wrapped around her shifted, gently intercepting the long arrows and redirecting them.

The arrows, shot alongside a gust, disappeared into the other side of the forest.

I shook my head. While Galad’s movements were fascinating, I couldn’t just stand there staring.

Because Skeletons were still pouring in even at this moment.

I gripped my sword tightly and swung it toward the Skeletons.

As seven stars twinkled, a small storm surged along with the Nightmare.

*

In the moment of continuously smashing down the endlessly incoming Skeletons, they suddenly all collapsed from across the forest.

The evil mana that had engulfed them also vanished without a trace.

This signaled the complete death of the Skeletons. The resurrected Undead had finally found their peace again.

“Phew… huff…”

I gasped for breath.

My legs, which had been moving non-stop, now trembled as if they had lost all strength, and my heart, squeezed to its limit, felt like it was about to burst.

Despite the situation being over, I didn’t let go of my sword because a sliver of anxiety remained.

After all, who knew when such a massive group of Skeletons would rise again?

I readjusted my trembling grip on the sword and held my ground.

How long had passed like that?

A small shadow appeared from across the forest.

Long, flowing green hair swayed gently like the leaves of the trees.

“Ha…”

Revealing herself was Galad.

Her body was a patchwork of wounds, indicating a fierce battle, yet she had returned here safely.

Only then could I finally drop down to the ground.

Galad approached, her steps unsteady, and smiled softly at me.

That smile, reminiscent of the gentle wind, was a signal that tranquility had returned to this forest.

The wind that came back caressed my weary body gently.

With a small smile, Galad walked toward the vast lake.

It seemed there were still things left to do.

Stepping over the wind, she crossed the lake and landed before the giant tree, extending her hand toward it.

The moment her hand touched the massive tree, a gigantic wind began to blow, starting to clear away the scattered bones of Skeletons lying everywhere.

[Seris.]

It was a call from Galad, or rather, a call from something borrowing Galad’s body.

It gazed at me, wrapped in the massive wind.

“Yes?”

[Thanks to your help, this forest was able to be safe. That act was truly worthy of being called a hero…].

As those words ended, a small wind blew over and enveloped my body.

It felt similar to the spirit’s blessing that Galad had given me, yet distinctly different.

[I gift you a small wind. The wind will grow alongside you and sometimes become a fierce storm, serving as a sign that you can form bonds with those who walk with the wind.]

The moment its words finished, a small light burst forth from inside the giant tree and flew toward me.

It was soft and infinitely warm, resembling the essence of the forest, a seed the size of my palm.

[Seris. Hero wrapped in the small wind. May I ask you for a favor?]

“What favor?”

[Please accept that seed.]

“This seed? Where should I deliver it?”

It responded to my question with silence.

I looked at the seed, feeling doubtful, and asked.

“Is it something I must do?”

[Not at all. You are free as the wind.]

As I exhibited reluctance, the seed that had flown toward me began to drift away.

I quickly reached out and grasped the seed in my hand.

The seed was warm, and I could still feel the gentle essence of the forest.

“If I carry this around, won’t it bring danger?”

[On my existence, I promise. There will never be a moment where you find yourself in danger.]

“Hmm…”

[When the flowing wind happens to brush by there…].

Just as its words finished, a soft breeze brought countless leaves swirling.

The leaves flying in began to wrap around me.

“This is…”

It wasn’t just me that the leaves were wrapping around.

The Nightmare standing beside me was also encompassed.

Seeing it standing still while reacting sensitively to danger, it seemed there was no threat.

Whoosh—!

In an instant, the wind scattered, and the leaves dispersed.

I blinked and looked around.

As the leaves scattered, the surrounding environment changed at once.

The clear lake, overflowing with clean water, and the houses nearby were intact, but the tall tree, which Galad had called a spirit, stood shriveled and dead.

What the…

Where did the villagers and Galad disappear to?

The deserted village, feeling as if it had never housed any people, maintained a quiet silence.

I wondered if everything I experienced until now was just a fleeting dream, but the warm heat I felt in my palm told me it was no dream.

“Ugh…”

At that moment, the Nightmare approached.

It held a saddle and bridle in its mouth, looking as if it was saying it was time to leave.

Ultimately, I rode the Nightmare, exiting the forest.

The seed tucked in my pocket still felt warm.