0.01 Second Sword Master

195

0.01 Seconds Swordmaster Chapter 195

I know too.

That this world is a fake.

And that everyone living in this world is a fake.

Of course, I know.

—

But—

“I can’t just stand by and watch everyone die, even if I know that!!”

I slashed through the darkness that had overturned the sky, erasing the shadow of the apocalypse that loomed over this world.

After all, it’s just a game.

A world where everything disappears in an instant if you delete the save file.

Yet, foolishly, I couldn’t bring myself to abandon them.

“Uwaaah—!!”

Boom boom boom—!!

Perhaps it was because they felt more real than the people in the real world.

Or maybe I was just lacking in some way.

Whatever the case, I made my choice.

Not to return to the real world, but to stay here and save them.

“Phew—”

The black sky vanished, and the sun, once stained dark, returned to normal.

The apocalypse that sought to destroy this continent had come to an end.

‘Choosing the fake over the real. You will come to regret that choice.’

Rahal’s words echoed in my ears.

Yeah. Maybe I will regret it.

No. I will definitely regret it.

But if I make them all disappear just to save myself, I’ll have to carry that unease for the rest of my life.

“Rather than that, I’d rather not go back at all.”

As I descended to the ground, nobles, knights, and commoners gathered from all directions.

“Your, Your Majesty.”

“Your Majesty!”

“Your Majesty, you have saved us once again!”

They prostrated themselves before me, bowing in reverence.

It was the highest form of respect they could show me.

Perhaps that’s why.

“Don’t make a fuss over something trivial.”

This bravado of mine flared up, showing that I was still very much alive.

“Returning to the castle. There is something I must do.”

I approached the graveyard where those who had fallen in this war were buried. Countless knights lay asleep there.

Aaron and Hariel are buried here as well.

“Your Majesty. Why is this place…?”

It was by my command that such a large graveyard was created.

For today.

“I will resurrect them all today.”

“Pardon?”

“What do you mean…?”

The courtiers looked bewildered, unable to comprehend.

Resurrecting the dead is something that no magic or miracle can achieve.

But in this moment, in this nation, it is possible.

“Because that is the promise.”

I extended my hand.

Then, a gentle aura of life began to spread from my fingertips.

Swoosh—!

That intense and radiant energy of life forcibly opened the grave’s entrance, breathing vitality into the bodies of those buried within.

Their decaying corpses returned to their former selves, and the breaths that had ceased came back with violent coughs.

“C-could this be! The dead are coming back to life!”

“It’s a m-miracle! This is a miracle!”

“It is the power of resurrection that only the Creator can wield!”

“If that’s the case, Your Majesty…!”

“Ah—”

They knelt before me once more, bowing their heads.

The power of resurrection, greater than anything else.

The very power that only the Creator can handle is being witnessed by them here.

It was a natural reaction.

“W-what on earth…?”

Those who had risen from the graves were confused, not understanding what had happened.

The first to regain his senses was none other than Aaron.

“Your Majesty!!”

Aaron rushed in front of me and bowed deeply.

“Aaron.”

“I dared to be away from Your Majesty’s side for too long. Please forgive this sin.”

The miraculous moment when the dead rise again.

Naturally, it would have been touching, and tears might have welled up in my eyes, but consumed by bravado, I spoke in a solemn voice.

“If you die again without my permission, then I will not forgive you.”

“I am deeply grateful, Your Majesty!”

And then Hariel slowly walked toward me.

“Y-Your Majesty. What on earth is happening… How can we be alive again…?”

“Hariel.”

I called out to the confused Hariel.

“You are the same as Aaron. Do not leave my side again without my command.”

“…”

Hariel looked at me in silence, then suddenly ran over and embraced me.

“Oh, my!”

“Gah!”

The startled knights tried to pull Hariel away, but Horace stopped them.

“Let it be. Is this not a beautiful sight?”

Thanks to Horace’s warm smile, Hariel nestled comfortably in my arms, rubbing her face against me.

For a moment, it felt like my heart had dropped, but this bravado still did not waver.

“…Get away.”

“Ah! I-I’m so sorry. I must have been momentarily out of my mind.”

Suddenly regaining her senses, Hariel’s face turned bright red.

“You have brought everyone back to life!!”

“Wowww—!!”

The atmosphere was about to turn awkward, but the cheer that followed someone’s shout echoed throughout the entire castle.

“Take them away. They must still be confused, so Horace, take responsibility and assist them.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. But where are you planning to go now?”

“I must awaken those dear ones who left without my permission.”

The next place I headed to was where the elves were.

As I appeared with a pillar of light, the elves looked at me with astonished eyes.

“Aslan, Your Majesty?”

They had all gathered at the tomb of Queen Eltihe.

When the black sky engulfed the entire continent, it seemed they had come together to share their final moments with the queen.

“Your Majesty. What brings you here…?”

“I have come to keep my promise.”

“Pardon?”

I used the power of resurrection I had gained in exchange for the dark authority to revive Eltihe.

As that power spread, the crystal tomb that held Eltihe emitted a strong light.

At last,

KWA-BOOM-!!

Eltihe kicked open the tomb door… No, she shattered it completely and stepped outside.

“!?”

“C-Can this be happening!”

The elves looked back and forth between Eltihe and me with wide eyes,

“G-God!!”

“O Omnipotent One!!”

The elves, who had buried their faces in the ground.

Eltihe gazed at me with trembling eyes.

“Aslan. What on earth is happening…?”

She seemed unable to believe that she had come back to life.

“I should have certainly died at the hands of Terukana. Did you bring me back, Aslan?”

“Yes. Do not attempt to die without my permission, Eltihe.”

“…”

“I must take my leave now. There are many others I need to save besides you.”

As I turned to leave, Eltihe called out to me.

“Aslan.”

“…?”

When I glanced back, Eltihe spoke with a beautiful smile I had never seen before.

“Thank you.”

I nodded, offering a faint smile in return.

And then I headed to the next location.

* * *

“Your Majesty!!”

“Indeed, Your Majesty is a god!!”

“Our creator!!”

The next person I revived after Eltihee was none other than Elberstein.

Though he had been buried in his own palace, he now emerged from the tomb, in a complete state.

“Your Majesty.”

He was shedding tears.

“Elberstein.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“You are the king of this kingdom. Do not show tears recklessly.”

“Sniff! Ah, understood!”

Struggling to hold back his flowing tears, Elberstein made a choking sound.

“From now on, do not die without my permission.”

“Yes!!”

After reviving Elberstein and all the wrongfully slain citizens of that kingdom, the place I arrived at was right here.

“Now, only you remain.”

It was the nest of the Red Dragon.

Dragons are quite fascinating; when they die, it doesn’t take long before only bones are left, as their skin and flesh are completely burned away.

The same was true for the Red Dragon, Flame.

After moving its corpse to the nest, it wasn’t long before it was left with nothing but bones.

“Awaken. Flame.”

I poured the power of life over the bones.

Then,

Kugugugu-!!

The entire nest shook as red flames surged within it.

And as flesh adhered to the gaunt bones, vitality surged forth, and the dragon’s bright red eyes sparkled.

[Crwa-larara-!!]

Is it because I just woke up, or has my memory been reset?

Flame bared its teeth and glared at me with furious eyes, ready to bite me in one gulp.

“······.”

I looked at the rampaging Flame and spoke briefly.

“Bow down.”

Kwang-!!

With that, the flapping wings of the creature broke, and Flame crashed to the ground.

I placed my foot over its head.

“It seems you’ve lost your mind lately, Flame.”

Was that effective?

[······S-sorry.]

Flame immediately apologized.

“If you show your teeth to me one more time, I’ll pull them all out.”

[Yes.]

As I lifted my foot, Flame got back up and spoke.

[But how did this happen? I’m alive again.]

“Did you think you could die without Jim’s permission?”

I stepped out of the nest first.

“Now, let’s go back.”

[Huh?]

“To home.”

Home.

I can say it now.

Even if it’s a fake world, this place is my home.

* * *

“Foolish—”

An unexpected event unfolded.

Rahul had naturally assumed that Aslan would escape this world.

Accordingly, he had laid out his plans.

—

Surely, I never thought that even a single point would remain in this world without hesitation.

“He must have a strong desire to return to the original world.”

Because Rahal could see through everything in this world, he understood Aslan’s heart as well.

More than anyone else, he wanted to escape this world and gain freedom.

He no longer wished to engage in a game where life and death were at stake.

Above all, he wanted to live.

His intense survival instinct and longing could be said to have shaped who he was now.

Thus, Rahal believed that he would inevitably choose to return to the original world.

But once again, he was caught off guard.

“Well, no one expected him to come this far.”

Just like Rahal, all the administrators managing the other worlds within the game had measured Aslan’s survival probability at 0%.

Rahal was no exception.

Yet, he had broken through a survival probability of not even 0.0001% to become the strongest in this world, no— a god.

“But my calculations were not wrong after all.”

Rahal smiled faintly.

Aslan still wanted to return to the original world.

Because a pillar of light had fallen before Rahal.

“You’re still here.”

And the one walking out from that place was none other than Aslan.

“To come back here. What brings you?”

“I’ve been thinking all along. While saving everyone, I kept pondering.”

Aslan’s eyes sparkled as he gazed at Rahal.

“What exactly is your identity? Why did you put me into this game? How is such a thing even possible?”

“I’m sorry, but I cannot provide an answer to that.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

There was one more thing that Rahal had not calculated.

Aslan was a survivor, and he would achieve his will by any means necessary.

“If I cut you down and take that power, I will understand it naturally.”

Even if it meant slaying a god.