Published: March 21, 2026
Commander saran was killed, and the Kingdom of Reytis tried to use us.
If I hadn’t run away back then, I’d have ended up the same as Commander saran by now.
Or at the very least, I would have been used in some way.
Honestly, if it weren’t for the classmates I left behind, I wouldn’t even want to hear that name again.
“I’ve heard most of it. Your guesses are probably right. You were thinking the same thing, weren’t you? That there’s a country wanting those documents as a pretext for war… I’m saying that country is Reytis.”
Crow flopped down onto the only sofa in my room as he entered.
Even though Ria and I were standing, maybe it’s his age.
“For now, I won’t ask why a member of the Demon Clan is here.”
Crow said that and shot a glance at Lord Lattice Nail.
Lord Lattice Nail shifted uncomfortably but didn’t respond.
Crow doesn’t have the world eye, so he shouldn’t be able to tell that Lord Lattice Nail, who conceals magical power to the level of the Human race, is actually of the Demon Clan — unless they already knew each other.
Whether he read my thoughts or not, Crow continued speaking as casually as ever.
“Anyway, do you want to hear the current situation in the Kingdom of Reytis? Your acquaintances are probably there, right?”
“Acquaintances, or rather people from the same hometown…”
What we are to those guys is more than acquaintances but less than friends, I guess.
There’s no word for classmates here, so it’s hard to explain in words.
Do schools even exist in this world?
“To be honest, I don’t really care about them, but if they’re dead it would leave a bad taste.”
“I see… Unfortunately, I don’t have info on the summoners inside the castle. But they don’t seem to be dead. The food supplies delivered to the castle haven’t changed.”
Hearing that, I let out a relieved breath without realizing it.
Apparently, I cared about my classmates more than I thought.
I don’t regret leaving the castle alone after being falsely accused that day, but I did think I should’ve dealt with the curse placed on my classmates before leaving.
Back then I was desperate and shocked by Commander saran’s death, so I wasn’t thinking clearly.
I figured things wouldn’t be the worst since Mr. Zeal was in the castle, but now neither Mr. Zeal nor the hero is there.
I wonder how they’re doing.
I don’t know how the heroes left the castle, but they probably hate me at least.
“If they’re not dead, that’s fine. Anything else? You said you had reason to suspect Reytis wants to start a war, right?”
When I asked, Crow nodded gravely.
“Yeah. Didn’t you hear rumors in the castle that the king was interested in reviving the dead?”
I thought for a moment and nodded.
I vaguely remembered hearing something like that from Commander saran in the castle library.
He’d lost his beloved wife and wanted to bring her back, neglecting his living daughter.
Would I feel the same if either my mother or Yui died?
But even in this world where magic exists, I thought resurrection like that was impossible, so I ignored it…
Even Amelia’s revival magic can’t bring back someone who’s been dead for decades — it’s just a fairy tale.
“But that’s impossible. How is that related to wanting to start a war?”
If the dead could come back to life, people in this world wouldn’t fear death.
Yet Crow’s face remained stern.
“What if, according to calculations, it’s possible?”
At Crow’s words, I felt the temperature in the room drop.
“Hey, surely you’re joking, right? There’s no way the dead can come back.”
Yoru muttered incredulously.
But I know Crow doesn’t joke — not even when the world’s falling apart.
Still, if it were true, would Crow try to bring his sister back?
“Unfortunately, it’s true. …However, the cost is tens of thousands, even millions of lives. I’d like to ask who would want someone resurrected at the price of that many lives.”
I was stunned by those words, but also a little relieved.