Chapter 19 : The Mysterious Visitor (Part-2)

It was late into the night, with the large, luminous moon positioned high in the vast expanse of the sky, casting a silvery glow over the landscape.

Many villagers could still be seen working tirelessly, diligently burying the bodies of their loved ones, paying their last respects amidst the somber atmosphere.

Therefore, Eden and Neb made their way back to the empty house where they had been residing temporarily, seeking solace in the solitude of the space.

Inside the house, a small fire crackled quietly, its flames flickering gently, as it continued to burn with glowing embers, providing warmth and a faint light in the otherwise darkened room.

“The goddess is tired…”

Neb muttered under her breath, expressing a hint of frustration or self-deprecating humor, even though she hadn’t particularly engaged in any significant actions that would warrant such a comment.

Eden couldn’t help but chuckle at her friend’s remark, finding amusement in the moment.

It’s true, she had indeed utilized magic during their recent endeavors, which could be regarded as quite an accomplishment.

As Eden reminisced about that specific moment, she turned to Neb and asked,

“When did you start using magic?”

“Hmm…? Didn’t you see it yourself?”

When Eden looked confused, Neb, lying comfortably on the dry straw floor, continued talking.

“That was the first time for me too. Of course, I knew of the existence of magic already.”

I suppose it could be attributed to the fact that she possesses the qualities of a goddess.

Eden contemplated that he might have finally grasped the reason behind the magician’s earlier display of emotion, where he had wept tears of blood and experienced profound despair.

He found himself feeling a tinge of envy.

Had he chosen to create a character of a magician rather than that of a barbarian, his experience in this medieval setting would have been entirely transformed.

“Rather, as a goddess, I find it frustrating that no one can use something this simple naturally.”

…That’s annoying.

Neb didn’t notice Eden’s thoughts and continued boasting.

“It’s so simple that it’s hard to teach, actually. It’s kind of like… trying to explain to someone how you move your physical arm, a simple process that’s hard to describe to others.”

“You contract the biceps and triceps to move the muscles. The command comes from the nervous system, and movement is supported by the joints and bones.”

Neb immediately fell silent.

“…Let’s just sleep.”

She collapsed onto the dry straw, feeling the rough texture beneath her as fatigue washed over her body.

However, as time passed, Eden still didn’t prepare for bed, remaining there in the dim light, lost in her thoughts and hesitations.

Neb tapped the floor and said to Eden,

“Why are you still not lying down? I’d love to lie down as well, but unfortunately, the soft floor prepared by the villagers is only here. It can’t be helped. Come, lie down next to the goddess.”

Well, I’d be fine sleeping on the bare floor.

Eden, who didn’t quite understand Neb’s words, had something else on his mind.

“I think we’ll have a guest.”

And not long after, a faint sound was heard from outside the house, drifting softly through the stillness of the night.

The sound of an old wagon wheel coming to a stop, the kind that had seen better days, echoed gently against the quiet backdrop.

Soon, with a creaking sound that reverberated through the hushed air, the door of the house opened slowly, as if it had not been used in quite a while.

Beyond the soft glow of the moonlight, casting shadows that danced eerily against the ground, the figure of another villager emerged, stepping cautiously into the light.

Was he someone who had just come of age, on the cusp of adulthood, navigating the threshold between youth and maturity? A faint stubble marked his face, hinting at the beginnings of manhood and the responsibilities that lay ahead.

“…?”

He furrowed his brow at the sturdy, unyielding wall that lay directly in front of him, an imposing barrier that seemed to mock his efforts.

He had taken the action of opening the door, so why was there still a solid wall separating him from the unknown beyond?

For a moment, the perplexing thought lingered in his mind, creating a sense of confusion and frustration, but as he raised his head to gain a clearer perspective of his surroundings,

He was met with the horrifying, piercing gaze of a barbarian, who loomed large and intimidating as he stared down at him with an expression that conveyed both menace and intent.

At the same time, Eden noticed the sharp blade in the man’s hand.

It didn’t seem like he had come with good intentions.

“C-Die!!”

Swallowing his panic, the blade swung toward Eden.

Eden casually grabbed the man’s wrist.

With a sickening crack, the man’s face twisted in pain, as if his bones were breaking.

“Grrr!! L-Let go!”

Eden had anticipated this situation unfolding.

How was it even possible that the magician had not been made aware of the recent news concerning a barbarian who had made an appearance in the village?

At the very least, this meant there was someone in the vicinity who possessed the ability to communicate, to convey information, and to interact with the villagers about this strange occurrence.

As Eden’s gaze shifted, he directed his attention to the cart that was stationed outside the house.

In that cart, he noticed a corpse that had yet to be laid to rest, a grim reminder of mortality that loomed over the scene.

The magician, in his relentless pursuit of knowledge, was likely embroiled in research focused on the concept of resurrection.

A lifeless body sat there, its presence evoking a multitude of emotions.

Surrounding them were angry villagers, their frustration and fear palpable in the air, likely fueled by the unsettling circumstances surrounding the deceased.

Eden had a fairly accurate understanding of how the narrative of this unfolding scenario had been progressing, despite the fact that it was not officially labeled as a quest in a traditional sense.

Just at that moment, a young man, his clothes still stained with dirt from the village pathways, came sprinting toward them, urgency evident in his voice, which was thick with panic and alarm.

“Klein!! What’s going on here?”

“It’s better to ask this guy directly,” Eden said, releasing the wrist he had been holding.

Clang.

The sharp blade fell to the ground, making a noise that echoed.

Heim immediately understood the source of the commotion.

He realized that this barbarian wasn’t tormenting the poor villager.

“This bastard! What the hell are you doing to the person who just saved the village?”

“Saved the village?!” Klein’s voice was filled with frustration.

“If only, just a little bit more… that magician could’ve brought my mother back to life. What’s this bastard done?!”

“…What?”

At Klein’s wailing voice, Heim sighed quietly.

It was a common enough story.

Not everyone could deal with death so calmly.

As Eden listened, he thought to himself,

‘How should I explain this?’

Should he say the magician was a fraud?

Should he explain that while the research was real, because the magician was tricked by a demon, bringing his mother back to life was almost impossible?

No matter how he answered, one thing was clear: Klein’s anger would not be easily appeased.

While Eden pondered this, Neb, who had been inside the house, came out with a yawn and walked toward the cart.

“Really, this is such a hassle. Fine, I guess I’ll talk it through and see if it solves anything.”

Neb approached the cart and checked the condition of the body.

“Hm… It’s been a little while, but it’s still good enough for now.”

The scene that followed was just like what they had seen in the cave.

A translucent figure of the dead began to rise.

Tears flowed as the figure stared at the empty air.

Heim watched the miraculous sight.

“Mm.”

If Klein hadn’t snapped out of it, Eden had been ready to slap him a few times to bring him back to his senses.

But the situation resolved much more easily than he had expected.

Eden watched the scene quietly, then silently went back into the house.

It was unclear if the young man who couldn’t accept his mother’s death and had clung to the magician would change.

Neb’s magic wasn’t a perfect resurrection, after all.

But maybe.

Klein could take one step forward.

Or perhaps he’d take a step back.

Eden didn’t care about that.

After all, he was just a stranger in this world.

A stranger inhabiting the body of a barbarian who knew nothing.

Still,

He was satisfied with the fact that he could sleep peacefully without any uncomfortable feelings.

Early the next morning, someone came to visit Eden’s house.

“Good morning.”

“…?”

Eden frowned as he looked at the well-dressed knight standing at the door.

Who could this be?