While I was quietly watching, the revival of the Third Prince and the others was completed.
Just like that.
You'd think it'd be more dramatic, given it's literally about life and death.
The power of God can manipulate even life and death itself.
It felt like I was being shown a glimpse of the vastness of D's power, and it left me unsettled.
It's not like I can't perform resurrection either.
But that's only possible in this world where the System exists.
A limited power that can only be wielded precisely because this world operates on different concepts of life and death from other worlds.
In a world without the System, there's no way I could resurrect the dead, not even if I stood on my head.
Yet D created that ability from scratch.
Before becoming a God, I couldn't see the upper limit of that power, and even now as a God, the bottom is nowhere in sight.
Honestly terrifying.
And yet, despite it being such a miraculous feat, Yamada used it at only a minimal cost.
He doesn't understand how extraordinary that is.
It's not the kind of miracle that should only cost a mere increase in Taboo Level.
For starters, if people could come back to life that easily, I wouldn't be so obsessed with life myself.
Hmm.
I limited it to three people because Yamada didn't have enough MP, but maybe I should've let him revive a few more?
Judging by how things look, Yamada's Taboo hasn't hit its cap yet.
Well, even so, his Taboo Level probably went up by three, so it wasn't wasted.
Besides, Yamada's Taboo cap is practically a bonus.
Or rather, this whole thing was basically a bonus to begin with.
No need to stress too much about it even if it had failed.
I accomplished my other objective, after all.
Observing the soul of the revived Third Prince.
Yep.
Even just confirming that a single death could sever the connection to Potimas was plenty.
Objectives achieved — now I just need to watch Yamada and the others escape safely.
They're going to get thrown back into that massive horde, aren't they?
I don't wanna.
Maybe I should take it easy a little longer. Yeah, let's do that.
"Shun, could you go check on the teleportation circle, just to be safe? It's probably been destroyed and won't activate, but still. I'll stay here and monitor Reston and the others' conditions."
"Understood."
It looked like Yamada and the group were heading out to check on the teleportation circle.
Teleportation circles were one of the key means of travel in this world.
Being able to cross an entire continent in an instant — of course they were convenient.
If you wanted to cross the continent without using a teleportation circle, your only options were crossing that sea full of water dragons or getting through the Great Ello Dungeon.
The sea was basically an impossible game, so in practice the Great Ello Dungeon was the only route.
Yamada and the others headed off to check the circle.
Of course, the circle had already been destroyed by Natsume.
I wasn't about to let them cross the continent that easily.
Well, the real reason he suggested it was probably that, like he said, just to be safe — and maybe because he wanted a bit of freedom to move around.
The door to my room opened.
Without even knocking — how rude.
"You've got a truly awful sense of humor."
And on top of that, the first thing out of his mouth upon entering was that.
You mad?
He's mad.
The proof was in the way he dropped himself heavily into the chair across from mine — careless and rough.
"Forcing Ronant,
Yeah, well, what do you want me to say about that?
I wasn't the one who positioned that old man there.
To signal that I wasn't accepting his complaints, I ignored him and sipped my tea.
"Hard to believe that was the work of a human."
Oh, excuse me.
I wasn't a human back then, and I'm not one now.
But being spoken to like some kind of monster didn't exactly improve my mood either.
"That sort of behavior doesn't suit a God."
So I shot back.
At Black's split-off form sitting across from me — the one going by the name Hylins or whatever.
"You're right. I feel the same way about that myself. Despite being the newly arrived one, you're far more godlike than I am."
Black let out a deep sigh.
"I know. I know that anything I say about this matter is nothing more than venting. I understand that the path you're all walking is the right one. But still, even so, this feeling is impossible to suppress."
He lamented.
Well, seeing as he'd grown up alongside Julius — the previous Hero — only to watch his childhood friend be sacrificed, and then watching his brother suffer through one hardship after another, he'd naturally feel a sense of guilt.
Not that it's any of my business.
I've got no interest in what some guy who used to play at being a hero of justice alongside the actual Hero while managing the world has to say.
"Separation confirmed via resurrection."
So, ignoring Black's emotions, I delivered the practical report.
"Good. If the separation hadn't worked, I would've had to deal with him again. This is a relief."
The relief on his face came from the bottom of his heart.
As Hylins, he'd had no small amount of interaction with the Third Prince.
He must have wanted to spare him if possible.
I didn't want unnecessary killing either, so this worked out better for me.
"Perhaps I should have had the King revived as well."
But I couldn't agree with those next words.
That was essentially the same as saying he wanted to save everyone who could be saved.
When it wasn't even possible.
"I know. You're going to say I'm too attached. I've placed my trust in you. So I have no intention of interfering with your methods."
"Good."
Says the guy who just came in here and chewed me out!
I'll let it slide.
You should be grateful for my kindness.
"So, the
Indeed, indeed.
Currently in transit, yes sir.
Oh no, a terrible memory just came flooding back.
Do I really have to go back into that massive crowd?
Maybe I should kill some time somewhere until the movement's complete?
"As for you lot, I'm not worried. But he's no slouch when it comes to years of experience. Don't let your guard down."
How kind of you to offer advice.
I'm well aware of all that.
I'm going into this fully prepared — there's not a single chance in ten thousand that I'll lose.
The only question is whether the damage will be great or small.
"Shun and the others should be back soon. I'll take my leave."
With that, Black left the room.
As long as that man was protecting Yamada and the others, nothing unexpected could happen.
That was precisely why I could stay at ease.
Yamada and the others would absolutely not die.
Even if something did happen, if he got serious, he could perform resurrection just like I could.
Hylins was Black's split-off form.
To be more precise, he was an existence born by transplanting a portion of his soul into the body of a stillborn nobleman's son.
The soul was God's, but the body was purely human, so it grew and Status reflected accordingly.
Well, through the soul, he could tap into a fraction of Black's power, so if he got serious, he could wield divine power.
The body originally had no connection whatsoever to Black, so he looked nothing like him.
Black apparently used to create these split-off forms from time to time and mingle within human society.
The purpose?
No idea.
Probably something as frivolous as killing time, or indulging in sentimentality while blending into the human world — something far removed from any practical reason.
Because it had nothing to do with managing the world.
So it was play.
But even play could foster attachments.
He and Julius had been close friends, sharing joys and hardships together.
And I had been the one to kill that Julius.
Black must have complicated feelings about it.
Even if he understood in his head that it had been absolutely necessary.
Maybe that was why.
He was so concerned about Yamada.
Perhaps it was an attempt at atonement.
For letting his brother be sacrificed.
Being so overprotective that he'd come complain to me over every little thing — maybe that was the reason.
Though, really, no consideration for my feelings.
Did that old man specifically declare he "couldn't win" and retreat just because the boy was his disciple's brother?
So even he had some sense of sentiment like that.
I see...
Well, I suppose there's no need to think about other people's feelings.
I'll just do what I need to do.
And to that end, I must go back.
Into that crowd.
...I'm really starting to want to abandon what I need to do.