Another World Reincarnation Chronicle

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At the southern end, known as Greenfall, it turned out there was nothing. I discovered a shocking secret of this world in the Valley of Storms, but the Storm Wall I was looking for did not exist.

I began to set out on the road again.

In the past, I would have wandered around this world, following my feet without a second thought. That was my idea of adventure.

However, I couldn’t do that now. Bound by a contract with the Magic Book, I had to head north.

“Skasha.”

I opened the Magic Book and called that name once more. The owner of the Magic Book presented themselves just as they had before, a mix of human and beast.

[Do you need power?]

It was the same words as when I had first called upon them.

I shook my head in response.

“No. I just wanted to ask something.”

[Speak.]

“You told me to come north. That place is the Grimshade Kingdom, right?”

[That is correct.]

“How long do I have to come? Is there no fixed deadline?”

[In due time, you will come on your own.]

I tilted my head at Skasha’s answer. They said to come north and pass on power to me, so I thought they might want my body too, but that wasn’t the case.

“So, there’s no need to hurry…?”

Skasha silently stared at me, as if it were unnecessary to answer. Seeing that, I let out a sigh of relief.

“So I won’t go then?”

Skasha again remained silent. I looked at him suspiciously and closed the book.

I wrapped the Magic Book with chains and checked my condition. Accepting the wicked mana used by dark mages, I had assumed it would have a negative effect, but after about a month of observing my health, I didn’t notice any significant changes.

The mana circle revolving in my heart seemed fine, and the mana was in perfect order. However, it was too early to feel reassured. The Magic Book that lent power to dark mages surely leads the user to ruin.

Rather, the changes began with the peculiar markings inscribed on my right hand. The prominent warrior symbol engraved by the orc’s essence.

The blood-marked symbol faded naturally over time, but whenever I used mana, the markings would reappear faintly on the back of my right hand.

Of course, it was not an unfavorable change. This symbol significantly increased my strength.

With my eyes closed and mana concentrating on the back of my right hand, the blood flowing within began to heat up intensely.

It was a kind of doping technique that artificially excites the body and greatly enhances strength.

“Hmm…”

I pulled on the reins of Nightmare and began to turn. If there was no need to rush to the Grimshade Kingdom, I thought I might stop somewhere else first.

Thus, my next designated destination was Monster Island. A place where fierce storms of mana endlessly surge, only accessible to strong adventurers.

To go to Monster Island, I first needed to return to the Karma Empire. I had to head there and take the ship that comes every six months.

I hoped the timing would align well…

I started to retrace my steps with Nightmare, leaving the land of savagery and arriving at the Kingdom of Oblain.

“Hmm…”

I glanced at the grand castle of Oblain, swallowing a faint groan. I felt a little guilty for having stolen swordsmanship from a boy, but now I couldn’t even remember his name.

Did the monster subjugation mission they had spoken of go smoothly?

If I were worried, it would be a simple matter of going inside the castle and checking if the subjugation team had returned safely. However, for some reason, I didn’t want to enter the castle.

How should I express this feeling?

An instinctive repulsion?

Suddenly—

As I stood there blankly staring at the castle of Oblain, Nightmare began to urge me to move. I turned my head at his request.

The next place I arrived after leaving Oblain was the border area where the Karma Empire met Oblain. Like before, it was crowded with people, and small fights occurred frequently.

As I watched the scene absentmindedly, a female priestess on horseback approached. I felt a sense of familiarity with her face, and upon closer inspection, I recognized her as the nameless priestess who had given me a blessing when I entered the Kingdom of Oblain.

“It’s been a while. Adventurer. Did you enjoy your travels?”

It seemed she recognized me just as I did her. I nodded and replied.

“It was an enjoyable journey, thanks to Elune’s blessing.”

The female priestess smiled faintly at my answer.

“I would like to offer a short prayer for you, departing adventurer. May I do so again?”

“Of course.”

The female priestess approached me, who was waiting for the departure inspection, and began to recite a prayer. The prayer was short and concise, but her voice was so reverent that it sounded sacred.

As the female priestess’s prayer neared its end, I had to cover my mouth suddenly. I felt an overwhelming wave of nausea. It was like experiencing a hangover after drinking way too much.

“Adventurer…?”

“Yes…”

“You look unwell. Is there something bothering you?”

“I—I suddenly feel nauseous… Is it from the meat the orcs gave me…?”

“Oh! So you’ve been to Greenfall. It seems the different food culture from humans caused an upset in your digestion.”

The female priestess looked at me with concern and began reciting a new prayer. The内容 was a brief wish for my health and safety.

However, the more her prayer continued, the more uncomfortable I began to feel.

Just as I could no longer hold back the urge to vomit everything inside me, I heard the guard’s voice.

“Next!”

“Oh, it’s my turn. I’ll be off now. Thank you for the prayer!”

“Oh, yes! Please visit again!”

I waved to the female priestess and quickly moved through the archway. As I distanced myself from her, remarkably, my stomach began to settle.

“Hmm… Passed!”

The guard let me through without any issues.

I pulled on Nightmare’s reins and wiped the sweat from my forehead, my expression serious. Sweat beads had formed on my forehead.

No way, that can’t be.

I shook my head, trying hard to deny reality. Feeling unwell just because someone recited a prayer? That doesn’t make any sense.

Right now, I wanted to call Skasha and ask about this phenomenon, but I had to be cautious; we were at the border area of Oblain. There was a chance that the priestesses might sense the aura of the Magic Book I carried, so I needed to be careful.

Entering the Karma Empire was not difficult. Showing the guild’s rank badge issued from the capital made it easy to pass through.

Thus, having crossed the border area, I hurriedly ran.

To a place far away where I couldn’t sense any priests.

Arriving at a quiet plain, I cautiously took out the Magic Book while glancing around. Once I untied the chains wrapped around it, Skasha revealed themselves.

[Do you need power?]

“Wha-what happened?”

[What do you mean?]

“I almost threw up just listening to the priestess’s prayer… What on earth is going on?”

[That’s strange…]

“Strange? It definitely is strange…”

[You heard a priestess’s prayer? How can you be fine?]

“What…?”

As I blankly asked, Skasha’s eyes lit up as they scanned my body. I frowned at that displeasing gaze, as Skasha continued speaking, closer to muttering to themselves.

[A weak divinity is embedded in your body… It’s Elune’s aura. Even having accepted the mana of the dead, you can safely contain Elune’s blessing…? No, I don’t even sense the echoes of death.]

At that moment, as Skasha muttered to themselves, they began to move. Arms shot out from just their head. It looked as though they were trying to crawl out from inside the book.

The arm that emerged from Skasha reached towards me, as if trying to grab me.

[Wait, wait, I need to check… ]

I jumped back in surprise and slammed the book shut.

The arm that had been reaching out was severed and vanished, leaving behind a blurry hint of mana.

“Huh…”

I gasped for breath, wrapping chains around the book once more. I couldn’t understand exactly what had just happened to me, but based on what Skasha had muttered alone, I inferred the general situation.

Skasha questioned me. How could I be fine, and whether I had really heard the priestess’s prayer.

According to them, those who accepted the mana of the dead would likely not come out unscathed from a priestess’s prayer.

But I was fine, at least aside from feeling a bit queasy.

“Is this okay…?”

Suddenly—

It was Nightmare responding to my question.

It seemed to urge me to leave quickly, tapping its tail against my back.

“Wait… this is a bit serious.”

But Nightmare didn’t wait for me. As if asserting that it was the one walking, it started walking away with me.

I glared at the Magic Book, which was wrapped in chains, atop the swaying Nightmare. Yet there was nothing to gain by just glaring at it. I sighed and stuffed the Magic Book back into my bag.

I supposed I would need to investigate information specifically about dark mages.

*

The vast plain spread out with a cool breeze rustling through my hair. Before me lay a blooming flower garden. I had returned to the windmill city of Talen after passing through the border area.

In a bid to rest my exhausted body, I headed into the city. The guard at the entrance remembered my face and easily permitted my entry.

Considering the profession of encountering dozens of faces a day, it was impressive that they remembered mine.

Strolling through the city with Nightmare, I happened to come upon a familiar opponent. A man with an exotic appearance, dressed in a thick robe and turban.

It was Kasim.

“Oh…”

Kasim seemed to recognize me but didn’t recall my name. Raising his hand and mumbling, he awkwardly smiled and approached me.

“What was your name…?”

“It’s Seris. Kasim.”

“Oh, my apologies. I tend not to remember women’s names.”

“It’s been a while. Have you been traveling, Kasim?”

“Well, in a way, yes. Where are you headed?”

“I’m thinking of going to Monster Island.”

“Monster Island… Now that you mention it, it’s about the time the ship returns.”

“Have you ever been to Monster Island?”

“Once, I went briefly and took a look around.”

“Oh…”

Kasim naturally followed by my side. Though we weren’t traveling partners, it felt like we were.

Nightmare displayed an air of discomfort towards Kasim, but Kasim just smiled.

“Still charming as always…”

Kasim seemed to need a brief conversation partner. He chatted with me until I found a suitable inn.

“I should take my leave now. Though it was short, it was enjoyable.”

“Same here. Ah, thank you for the brooch. It allowed me to rest comfortably.”

“You still have it? I thought you would have sold it…”

It was a memento proving a journey to the desert; how could I sell it? I lightly laughed and waved my hand at Kasim.

That evening, I left the inn alone and headed towards the large bridge. It was the place where I had purchased storybooks before. The merchant who sold the storybooks was still at the same spot, selling tales.

“Hello?”

“Hmm…?”

The merchant looked up at my greeting.

After a brief frown, he seemed to recognize me and opened his mouth with a bright smile.

“Oh, it’s you. So, was that book satisfactory?”

“Yes. It was a good story.”

“Seeing that you’ve returned, it seems you need a new book?”

“Yes. Do you happen to have a storybook about dark mages?”

“Oh, we do.”

The book the merchant handed over was an old fairy tale book.

Made with short texts and illustrations.

[The Great Mage Haiven]

“The Great Mage Haiven…?”

“Do you like it?”

I skimmed the book’s contents from where I stood. It was indeed a fairy tale with hero stories suitable for children that featured a dark mage, but it did not contain the information I hoped for.

“Is there anything else? A book with more accurate information…”

“Hmm… Sorry, but that’s pretty much it for books featuring dark mages. Due to the mage tower, we can’t handle books with more detailed information.”

“Ah…”

“So, will you buy it?”