Chapter 14 : Moving On

"Urk..."

...how long am I sleeping now..? Ehh..? All I remember is that my spell worked...

That's right! The 'Soul Summoning' worked!

I immediately tried to move my body, but somehow I really felt sluggish... oh. This happened after I casted that spell. Maybe this is the result of my magic completely depleting. I tried to check my magic

"「Manifest, 'Appraisal'.」"

After I chanted it, a screen appeared and my stats could be seen.

"I knew it... my magic power's down to 7. My magic power now reaches to more than 2000, but it was drained up to 0, I'm sure of it. It'l take until tomorrow to get me back in shape.

"Oh, you're awake? Thank goodness."

Hearing that voice, I immediately looked around and found Eina closing in on me. She had this kinda worried looked though... has she changed, or it's just my imagination?

She then touched my body as if it was natural.

"Hm... there doesn't seem to be an injury because of your fall earlier."

"Huh..? What falling? I don't remember myself falling though."

"...You were standing when you fell unconscious though."

"..."

I-I see... I thought something might have happened while I was unconscious... Turns out it was that.

"I... I would like to thank you very much for letting me meet my parents again. It was thanks to you that I can now move on. While it still hurts thinking of it, I'm sure they won't be happy seeing me sad."

Hey! Why are you bowing your head to me?! Or rather, what's with that formal speech?! 13 year-old kids sure think like an adult now... I know I am an exception, but still.

"H-hey, raise your head, will you? I think it's only natural that I helped you. It's all good, so raise your head now."

"Okay."

Phew. Now then, what to do now...? It was almost dusk. I need to go home. However, what do I do with her..? I looked at her who just tilted her head innocently, not knowing what as on my mind. And so, I talked to her about it.

"Um... what are you gonna do now? You're free to do whatever you want now. I won't stop you."

"...Are you driving me away now? You know I can't do that right? I still have this collar."

"Ah... I almost forgot about the collar. I really dislike the idea of slaves, y'know. So, here we go. 「Manifest, 'Dispel'」."

And just like that, the collar that fits on Eina's neck crumbled into dust. I bought her with my saved money, but I don't eeally plan on ever owning one as I dont like the idea of slaves.

Eina, on the other hand, was schocked at what I just did it felt like her jaw will drop.

"You dispelled that so easy..? Even someone won't be able to do that. The merchant even needs to use keys just to unlock it. Come to think of it, you also aummoned my parents like it was a piece of cake... just what are you?"

Alright, she definitely asked about it as I predicted. Well, I'm not keeping it a secret, so why not say about it?

"A-ahaha... it is because of my Skill. It lets me do whatever I want, even if it's kinda impossible, though the more impossible it is, the more magic power it would need. That's why I fainted, you see."

After explaining it to her, Eina's face could be seen with a confused state. Though it didn't take long before that face turned into one of sadness.

"If only I have that Skill... maybe I could've saved both of them..."

Aah, here we go again. Guess I'll try to distract her mind away from it.

"...What did your parents say to you about what should you do now?"

"They said I should move on and stay positive. They also said I should thank you and that you should make me happy or they'll haunt you."

"..."

What's with that response?! Eina's parents, why are you now dumping this on me?! But I guess I have no choice...

"Alright. They also said you should move on. I'm sure they're now on their way to their next life."

I said those words containing with complicated emotions, remembering what also happened to me. Though I muttered the last sentence under my breath, Eina seemed to pick it up as she began getting curious about it.

"Next life? What do you mean? They're dead, aren't they?"

What should I say..? Even that was also a secret kept from my parents... but I guess she can keep secrets? I'm an honest man. I don't like to lie, so I guess I'll tell her. And it's not like my parents also asked about it.

"...Can you keep this a secret then? To anyone."

"...Yes?"

"Alright, I'll tell you then. I believe that after everyone dies, their soul goes into it's next cycle, going into another body again to live a next life. I mean, I know what that feeling is like, after all."

"What do you mean..?"

And so, I proceeded telling her what I know, my own theory about it and what do I mean experiencing it. It also includes where I came from, naturally. Aftel all the explanations I've tried to convey to her, it was now almost nighttime, and she ow had the face of utter confusion, a face you coul expect to see in a 13 year-old kids.

"I don't get it. How can a world without magic and monsters exist..?"

"It's kinda hard to explain that..."

"...But all I understood there was Mother and Father was now gonna experience what you also did, though different. Am I right?"

"You could say that."

"I see. Then I'm happy they will live again, even though they won't remember me anymore."

"..Yeah. That said, it's nighttime now, what are you gonna do now? You're free now. You don't need to follow me anymore."

"I know. However, I could never forget what you just did for me. So, I'll follow you wherever you go. Mas,ter."

Gah!! W-what's with that?! That's so cute! She even emphasized the word master!

"B-but, I'm not your master anymore, right? And you also aren't my slave now..."

"This and that are different."

After that grin she gave me now, I can't turn her away now. No, rather, why am I turning her away? She won't have anyone else to live if I didn't take her...

And so, I--no, we are now going home, and I'm thinking of explanations I should give to them. It was quite a long day, but even the night will be long, too...