Aftermath

It’s been a week since the attack.

For my efforts in slaying the Tanglemaw, I was promoted from Wood to Iron. Skipping Tin entirely.

Apparently Alin and several other adventurers of similar rank put in a good word for me since they themselves couldn’t beat it.

After my supposed victory over the Tanglemaw, I was at the Outpost having a drink in the bar.

Everyone was partying and celebrating the victory over the Tanglemaw.

To be honest, I don’t feel any victory.

Ralph and his family are dead, the ranch destroyed, and I’ve become a ticking time bomb. It

“Give me a pint.”

A bar girl with a professional smile pours me a mug of wine.

Without a toast or any other ceremony, I down it in a gulp.

God! Tastes utterly vile!

I once ate overripe grapes before, but this on a whole other level!

The other patrons seem to revel in my suffering as they order more rounds.

Thankfully, they were all too busy drinking to notice me slip away.

Alin wasn’t there, immediately after the defeat of the Tanglemaw, she went off somewhere, leaving me to deal with the rowdy adventurers whose personalities aren’t compatible with my introverted nature.

A couple of days later, I attended Ralph and his family’s funeral.

The funeral took place at the former ranch house. Now lying in utter shambles.

Just like yesterday, no cows were grazing in the fields.

The beast must’ve eaten the poor things.

“We are gathered today to mourn the deaths of Ralph, his wife Jess, and his three young children, Shaun, Millie and Rufus.

Their deaths were sudden and a tragic loss-”

I couldn’t listen to the rest of the priest’s sermon, or some of the people’s weeping.

It was a humble funeral.

There wasn’t a large crowd.

All the people were simple farmers or acquaintances in town, a few of whom I recognize from some of my daily encounters.

Most of the people were busy helping fix the town after the Tanglemaw’s rampage. They didn’t have time to worry about farmers living on the outskirts.

After the priest gave his sermon, the coffins containing what remains of their bodies left uneaten by the Tanglemaw, descended into the five freshly dug graves.

Sadly, what remained of their bodies wasn't much.

Ralph only had an arm.

Jess, a leg.

The kids, Rufus and Millie, were so brutally murdered, the only things recognizable were a few digits.

And Shaun, poor baby Shaun. I can’t tell if he had the best end or the worst. His body wasn’t recovered.

These people didn’t deserve to die.

Why, why did everything have to happen.

What should I do?

Their deaths hit much harder than Kael or Eric’s.

Is it because I knew them longer? They died in a far more gruesome way than the others I’ve seen?

When I came to their place for dinner, they’d always ask me if I wanted seconds after I finished with the first bowl.

These guys aren’t part of a world where anyone can buy a bag of rice for five thousand yen. Sure, crops grow better in spring, but farmers are still among the poorer lower class people in these fantasy stories.

It was a good family. Makes me wish I could actually be a part of it.

Soon, the funeral was over.

Before I knew it, I was the only one still standing by their fresh headstones.

As I quietly stand there, I see a shadow approaching next to mine.

A familiar voice calls out, “There you are. I’ve been looking for you.”

I turn around and find myself face-to-bosom with Enath, standing a meter away, still dressed in her loose cultish vestments.

I’m not in the mood for eye candy right now.

“Why are you here?”

“You have much work to do.” She answers cryptically.

What? Is she offering an apprenticeship? Thanks, but not in the mood right now. I would’ve appreciated it if you offered me one some weeks ago.

“It’s possible to revive them.”

“What?”

I can’t believe my ears.

“The followers of the Pantheon have the means to resurrect people from the dead. However, you must act fast, the longer one is dead, the harder it is to bring them back. You must make haste, when the sun makes its rotation, then it’ll be nigh impossible.”

“Why are you telling me this?”

“...”

“You have to tell me! It’s because of these stupid powers of mine that got them killed!”

“The fabric of reality is weakening, the seams are falling apart.”

Excuse me!?

She elaborates, “My task is to patch the fraying parts to prevent our realm from colliding with the Beyond.

Unfortunately, in my duties, there was a single spot I was unable to reach in time to fix.

This spot gave way to the gate the denizen from Beyond came through.”

I stood, befuddled, “Why are you helping me? There’s no need for you to come tell me of your mistakes, what do you want from me.”

“A whim.”

“So you’re helping me because of a whim?”

What a load of isekai writing bull.

“You’ll find some of the biggest events that occur can arise from just one small event. A late arrival, a misplaced item, even a misspoken word. Just one action can lead to a tragedy

It has been a long time since an individual with such a deep connection to the Beyond has appeared in history. Your existence will cause waves.

However, you can control the storm. You can choose whether to become a rain that nourishes, or a maelstrom that consumes and destroys.”

After saying her piece, she turns around and walks off, mist forming behind her.

“Where are you going?” I ask.

“There are other places where the folds are weak that need my attention and care.”

I asked her the same parting question in our first meeting, “Will we meet again?”

She stops and briefly glances back, “Perhaps by chance.” She continues striding forward. Before the mysterious mist completely enshrouds her, she gives one last message, “Also, another fair warning. Don’t explore the forest again.

My powers aren’t as potent as before. You entered a shallow part of the woods, thus I was able to rescue and guide you back to your companion, and send you back to the edge of the forest. Had you gone any deeper, you would’ve been lost forever, eventually succumbing to madness.”

“What’s going on with Nazul?”

“An ancient site of Eldritch worship. Now fallen to powers beyond control.”

I don’t bother asking, and she doesn’t bother to explain.

Not like I’ll go back to those accursed woods again.

After the brief little reunion with Enath, I go back to the outpost where I’ve been temporarily renting a room to stay and pack what meagre belongings I had.

When I came out of the outpost, I found Alin standing against the doorway.

She looks at my little pouch, “Where are you off to?”

“I’m going to Brooks.”

She doesn’t question, she just curtly responds, “I’ll tag along.”

“Why?” I ask.

“We’re a team, plus we work together pretty well, don’t you think? It’s been a while since I had a real misadventure let alone three.”

I smile, I try to pull off a cool facade like the cliche cold isekai protagonists, “Do whatever you want.”

But inwardly, I was thrilled to have someone who supports me. Though it pains me to hide my secret affliction and eldritch powers from her.

Who knows, maybe we’ll get closer and she’ll come to accept my quirks, with us having an inseparable relationship.

You better make it happen you fucking writer. Or I am going to find some way to hop out of these pages and give you a violent prostate exam with my third arm after what you put me through.

No, it’s not a euphemism for homosexual acts. I literally mean it.

Thus, I set off with my companion, not to kill the demon king or get some revenge against those that tried to kill me.

No, it was to right the wrongs my existence brought upon just a few kind individuals.

Redemption.