Healing Life After Leaving the Hero’s Party
Episode 2
To the Moment of Choice
If only I could turn back time.
Those were the words I had always muttered in my head.
Together with the vow that I would do anything, absolutely anything, if it were just possible.
I’d even offer up my soul.
Swish.
I looked at the Constellation, which still hadn’t said a word.
The Constellation, ears perked and head tilted in curiosity.
Even though no message had appeared yet, I felt like I knew.
The Constellation was puzzled by the question I had asked just moments ago.
Please, let it be possible.
I prayed desperately, with everything I had.
Even receiving the Box of Transcendence just now was an enormous achievement in itself, but.
If a second gift was possible, I couldn’t ask for anything more.
It couldn’t be helped if it got offended that I had asked something unnecessary.
After all, it couldn’t take back what it had already given.
The Constellation’s gifts held absolute law and ownership.
Even if one was chosen then abandoned, the gifts received beforehand remained valid.
Because of this, there were things that happened from time to time.
Pretending to be good in order to receive gifts from a benevolent Constellation.
Then after taking everything they could squeeze out, making a sharp turn into becoming a villain at the very end.
Perk.
[The Constellation says turning back time is possible. But it is curious. Why do you want to go back to the past when you are happy even now?]
What?
I almost responded to my Constellation in informal speech.
No matter how relative happiness might be, it did not describe me.
The word “happiness”—was there any word more unfamiliar than this?
I couldn’t even remember when I had last been happy.
Perk…!!
[The Constellation says, “You don’t mean…!?”]
I could see the Constellation’s body leaning toward me, ears fully perked.
It felt like it was trying to examine me more closely.
!?
In that instant.
Instinct blared a sharp warning.
I smelled something!
The smell of it doubting me…!
I quickly thought on my feet.
The Constellation believed I had sacrificed and devoted myself of my own free will.
But since I had asked to turn back time—
It might be suspecting that I regretted everything I had done until now.
Hooo.
After steadying my breath inwardly.
I put on an earnest, desperate expression.
“Of course, I am happy even now. I absolutely do not regret the sacrifices and devotion I have shown until now. As you know, Constellation, sacrifice and devotion are my joy, my pleasure, and my happiness!”
Perk!
I could see the Constellation nodding within the light.
[The Constellation says, “That’s true!” and apologizes deeply, saying it seems to have misunderstood needlessly.]
As expected, it had been doubting me.
Swallowing dryly, I let out a sigh of relief inwardly.
Good.
Having overcome a crisis once, the situation was flowing as expected again.
To press the advantage without giving it a moment’s rest, I continued speaking.
“But that is all! I regret the life I have lived! I remember the sacrifices and devotion I abandoned in order to take care of myself in the past! I have nightmares every night! If only I had set aside my greed back then! I wonder how much happier the countless people who passed me by would have been!”
[The Constellation is startled and waves its hand. It strongly says it is not your fault!]
“Nothing changes even if it is not my fault. Every night I suffer from nightmares, and each time I rebuke my greedy self.”
They were rotten fish eyes, so the impact would be weak, but.
I looked at the Constellation with the most woeful gaze I could muster.
Since actually producing tears was too much for me.
Instead, I covered my eyes with my hand and sniffled.
“If I cannot correct it now… it will be like that for the rest of my life, won’t it.”
[The Constellation shouts, “No!!”]
“….”
I didn’t speak any further.
The Constellation of Sacrifice and Devotion, Love and Comradeship.
Since it was a Constellation I was hearing of for the first time, I didn’t know much, but.
I had been feeling it the entire time I faced it.
How pure and kind the Constellation before my eyes was.
In other words, it knew nothing of the ways of the world.
“Hooo.”
Breathing quietly, I waited for the answer.
I wondered if there had ever been a time in my life when my heart had pounded like this.
Silence.
How long had I waited?
Instead of an answer, I felt a warm energy on my head.
Pat.
A hand brimming with affection was placed on my head.
A slight trembling could be felt from the Constellation’s hand.
[The Constellation says it has never seen such devotion and sacrifice before. It says it is so moved that it cannot continue speaking.]
…!
My heartbeat began to quicken.
Calm down, you heart!
While I tried to calm my heart, lest the pounding be transmitted to the Constellation’s hand.
[The Constellation says it understands. Turning back time is an enormous feat that only it, the supreme god above all gods, can do, and only exactly once, it says. Nevertheless, the reason it grants this wish is just one: because it wishes for you, who have shown the greatest sacrifice and devotion, to be happy without any regrets, it says.]
I nodded without hesitation.
“Yes…!!”
Yes! Of course!
I will surely be happy!
Pursing my lips, I nodded with a face showing that I was moved.
Etched on my face was a firm resolve that I would absolutely be happy.
This and only this was not a lie, but the truth.
Sparkle.
The Constellation’s body began to shine brightly.
[The Constellation asks if you are ready for it to turn back time.]
“Yes!”
[The Constellation says you must be happy without regrets.]
“Of course!!”
Uuuuuuuuuuung…!
A moment later.
The golden light leaking from the Constellation’s body filled my vision.
* * *
How much time had passed since my vision was obscured by the Constellation’s light?
Flash!
The moment the light filling my eyes disappeared.
A familiar scene entered my view.
“The Oath is sacred, beautiful, and an absolute promise made to the gods.”
The Cathedral of the Oath.
A place I had visited only once in my life, yet one I could never forget.
It was only natural, as it was the place where the moment I would regret for the rest of my life had begun.
The fact that I was here meant—
Gulp.
Slowly raising my head, I looked at the Chalice of the Oath placed before me.
My face was reflected in the polished chalice.
The first thing that caught my eye was my white hair.
Not the unkempt, limp white hair that had threatened to fall out in clumps.
But lustrous white hair that flowed with vitality.
Sparkle.
My eyes were the same.
The rotten fish eyes were no more.
Clear blue pupils sparkling with anticipation for the adventure that would unfold ahead.
I hadn’t known before, but looking now, they were truly the universe and the sea itself.
I’m back.
I almost shouted out loud.
Even when the Constellation said it would send me back, I had doubted it somewhat.
Thinking, even if it’s a Constellation, is something like that really possible?
But… I had really returned.
“Hooo.”
A sigh escaped me at the rising emotion.
It was so overwhelming that I felt I had to exhale.
Heat.
Perhaps because I was so moved.
Even my face grew hot and tears welled up.
“Lian, is the Oath that moving?”
A soft voice was heard from beside me.
It was Seria.
“Aren’t those tears of gratitude? Where else would you find a party like ours?”
Next was Mint.
“Hehe, it is such a sight to behold! Of all the Hero parties I have been in charge of until now, yours is the most beautiful!”
The one speaking now was the priest in charge of the Oath ceremony for me, Seria, and Mint’s party.
At the priest saying it was a sight to behold, I furrowed my brows without realizing.
And it wasn’t just because of those words.
What a crook!
I hadn’t known when making the Oath.
He only held a chalice instead of a knife, but he was truly a crooked bastard.
The cost of the Oath ceremony itself and the management fees thereafter.
I learned only later.
That I had been thoroughly ripped off.
“I shall continue.”
The priest continued speaking.
What was currently proceeding was the Oath ceremony that had thoroughly ripped me off.
It was also the moment when I would soon be bound by the massive shackles called the Oath.
“The Oath is a promise and a pledge that must never be taken lightly, one that the party must keep together for life.”
A chill.
A chill ran down my spine at the word “for life.”
I hadn’t known at the time.
Because I had thought it would continue to be good as it was then.
I had simply grinned foolishly while drawing an absurd future.
“Lian, you really hit the jackpot, you know.”
“Right?”
Some jackpot.
I slowly closed my eyes.
Countless scenes of being with those two flashed through my mind.
What a relief.
That I had seen how things ended.
If I had returned to this moment not long after it all went wrong.
I might have thought, let me try leading them a bit better!
Boil.
Perhaps because I was recalling the terrible memories.
Something began to boil up from within.
“Party leader Lian di Cassian. The duty of the party leader is to protect and take responsibility for the party members no matter what happens.”
Responsibility, my ass.
“Right, right. Do a good job, Lian.”
“We’ll be watching.”
The more I heard the voices of the crooked priest, Seria, and Mint.
Indescribable anger welled up.
“Now then, this is the last step. I ask you. Miss Seria, Miss Mint, do you consent to the Oath?”
Seria and Mint looked at me with smug eyes.
Eyes that said, shall we consent or not?
That I had made the Oath even while seeing those eyes.
My rage at my past self, that bastard, also grew.
Smirk.
Perhaps because I didn’t react.
Seria and Mint smiled slightly and nodded at the priest.
“I consent.”
“Very well. Next, the party leader, Lian di Cassian.”
At the voice calling me, I looked at the priest.
Swish.
I pushed both hands under the desk where the chalice was placed.
A cheap desk that wasn’t even properly finished.
To think he had sold me this trash, ripping me off by calling it an Oath ceremony.
My rage stacks kept accumulating.
“Do you consent to the Oath?”
“Hooo.”
I slowly gathered my breath.
“Don’t be nervous, Lian.”
“Look, your breathing is trembling.”
Glancing once at each side where they were giggling quietly.
I slowly opened my mouth.
“I consen—”
I put strength into both hands.
“I caaaaaaan’t!!”
Craaaash!!
* * *
Swooooosh!
An enormous downpour began.
“Oh my, the weather was so nice, and suddenly this rain!”
“Hurry and pack up the stalls! Everything will get wet!”
It was a sudden downpour.
People busily moving back and forth.
“Did something happen!? The sky has sprung a leak!”
Looking at the old man clicking his tongue, I smiled.
Something did happen, Grandpa.
It sure did! A joyous occasion has happened!
Pfft.
Since I was walking alone, I had tried hard to hold it in.
But the laughter I couldn’t hold back leaked out little by little.
“Pfft… Wahahahahahahaha!!!”
The leaking laughter burst into roaring laughter.
“Th-that Hero has gone crazy.”
“Mom, why is that guy like that?”
“Shh! Don’t look!”
People muttered as they passed by.
I didn’t care about any of that.
Let them mutter more, mock me, or curse me out.
Right now, I could take it all.
Plop.
I fell to my knees in a puddle and looked up at the sky.
The rain was pouring so hard it was difficult to keep my eyes open, yet.
Even that felt good right now.
- # Hero Tahikan has defeated a legendary demon beast!
- # The Urato Hero Party has discovered a new island, Shayna!
I recalled the countless video texts I had seen before returning.
Adventures in a mysterious world and thrilling battles with powerful demon beasts!
It was a life I had to give up and turn away from until now, but no longer.
I was now.
Swish.
I raised both hands high toward the sky.
Freeeeeedom!!