Chapter 29: Let's make sure to keep ourselves in check.?

  Even though I felt a sense of emptiness in my heart, I asked Uru to stop me if something were to happen, even if it was too te, because I don't want to go any further. And I got her consent.

  Just as I was about to head to bed, thinking that this time I would finally get some sleep, I heard a hesitant voice behind me.

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  "... Rion."

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  "Hmm? What is it, Uru? Is there anything else you'd like to ask?"

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  "Well, well... Sorry."

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  "Huh?"

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  When I turned around, Uru was looking down with listless eyes. She wasn't sleepy right?

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  "Sorry, hmm... Did Uru do something?"

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  "... It's not that I did something, it's that I didn't do anything... I mean I couldn't do it..."

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  After chewing her words, she looked up at me, looking like she was about to burst into tears.

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  "... Even though Rion was really worried, I couldn't do anything."

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  "Eh? But as Uru pointed out, it was too te to worry about it now, right?"

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  I've only just now realized that I've a screw loose for a long time. This may be serious, but I'll leave that aside for now.

  I've caused Fricka so much trouble, and made everyone else worried.

  It would be unbearable if even Uru started crying now.

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  "But even so... I am frustrated that I can't help you with anything other than 'force'."

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  The words she squeezed out sounded truly frustrated.

  It's true that the main reason I was able to calm down this time is because "Uru can use force to stop me.".

  I've benefited more than enough from just the power aspect. There's no need to worry about not being able to do anything else... But I'm sure she won't be satisfied with just these words.

  First of all, it's absolutely false that Uru hasn't helped me in any other way than with her power.

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  "Uru, I think I told you this before."

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  "...?"

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  "You're here. Just knowing that means a lot to me."

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  Even though I have the powers of a miko, deep inside I'm just a human. If I was alone I would have been crushed a long time ago.

  Even when I get angry or annoyed, she won't abandon me. Don't holding back, just being together in a natural form.

  The same goes for Fricka... The fact that I'm not alone, that they're with me, that they're alive.

  They are truly... Irrepceable, precious.

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  "So if there's anything I can say to you... It's 'Thank you.'"

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  Uru's eyes widen as I gently kiss her forehead.

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  ... Whaaat am I doing!?

  Returning to my senses, I looked at Uru, who looked stunned with her hand on her forehead.

  I know, I surprised you, I'm sorry!

  After Fricka had done so much to me, this area had become numb too...!

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  "Um, well, this is... Something you put on a special someone's forehead or cheek as a token of affection..."

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  "... Fumu?"

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  It's not wrong, it's common in the West! I don't know about this world though!

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  "Rion."

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  Before I could reply, "What?"

  She tugged on my colr, and I felt a faint sensation on my cheek.

  Huh?

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  "Is this something you give to someone special, right?"

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  "... I guess so..."

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  Uru was acting so nonchantly, while I was doing my best to suppress the embarrassment that was welling up inside me.

  Haaaah――I panicked and looked at Fricka.

  She had been jealous earlier. What would happen if I showed her a scene like this? I was terrified.

  But Fricka herself looked as if she had seen something adorable.

  ... Come to think of it, Fricka was the special type who always said things like "It's okay to be second"... It's safe.

  No, what do I mean by 'it's safe'? I'm the worst!

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  However... I feel guilty, as if I've taught something strange to an innocent child who knows nothing...

  But there's nothing I can do about it now that I've taught her, so I'll at least tell her not to do it in public...

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  I didn't want anyone to notice that we had snuck out of the vilge, so I had pnned to return at dawn, but... I fell into a deep sleep, and when I woke up the sun was already up.

  I decided to have a hearty breakfast while I was at it. I was really hungry because I had thrown up all of my dinner st night.

  As expected, there was not enough time to make a report to the Earth God, so I decided to leave it for next time and use the Return Stone to the Vilge.

  Maybe because I was thinking "If it could make us appear inside the church. Or at least, make us not stand out." while using it, although usually we teleport in front of the Creator Statue, this time we teleported behind it. Hmm, so it was possible to do something like this.

  The vilge was busy with restoration work, and it was far from the areas that had been destroyed in the attack, fortunately there were no witnesses.

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  We all met up and decided to help with the restoration. Uru helped to clear away the rger debris, and Fricka handed out various potions to help with the wounded. Naturally, my job was to repair or rebuild anything that was broken.

  Along the way, I made eye contact with Kiriku a few times, and was met with resentful looks from him, only to him be chased away by Uru, and this repeated over and over... I don't know what to say about it, but he never learns his lesson. Or is it just me who's weird for feeling somewhat refreshed after just one night? Well, our situations are not really comparable.

  I thanked Uru and patted her on the head.

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  "A funeral? You want me to do one?"

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  Around noon, the vilge chief called me and asked me to do just that.

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  "Yes. As you probably know, if we don't burn the bodies and purify the ashes, they'll turn into zombies or ghosts... If you don't mind, I'd like you to do it, Miko-sama."

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  ... I didn't know that. But I won't even say it.

  Come to think of it... I remember that desert maps had a lot of undead creatures like zombies and ghosts.

  In dungeons, especially pyramid and other ruins, mummies and living armors also appear.

  They're common monsters in pyramids, so I thought that was just the setting, but... Maybe it's just the culture of the pce?

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  I scratch my head, wondering what to do.

  One motive is that I've never held a funeral, even back in the game. And... Never mind the dead, I wonder if it's okay for me to hold one when some of the living resent me.

  It seems that funerals are held in Asteria so that the dead do not return as undead. but I also think of it as something that the living do to bring some comfort to the hearts of those left behind. A sense of anxiety rises in my mind, wondering if this will just ignite the resentment.

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  "... I'm sorry that Kiriku seems to be causing you so much trouble. I'm sure he knows too..."

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  "... Haha..."

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  I didn't defend him and just gave a vague wry smile... It's true that every time we meet he gres at me and it really stings my heart.

  After thinking again, I decided to accept.

  However, there was some preparation to be done, so I asked him to do it before evening. The vilge also had some preparations to make, so they agreed to this.

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  I told him I was going to the church to get ready, and then sneaked back to the base. It would be troublesome to leave them behind, so I took Uru and Fricka with me.

  As we walked together to the workshop, I bumped into the Earth God.

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  "Oh? You're back already?"

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  "Once I make some items, I'll be heading back again."

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  She tilted her head as soon as she saw me, so I gave her a brief expnation of what had happened today.

  After I expined, a thought suddenly occurred to me.

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  "Would it be better to have the Earth God do it?"

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  I had made the suggestion thinking that everyone would be more convinced by a God than a Miko, but... She gently refused.

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  "I'm sorry, but I'm not in top condition yet. If I go before the purification of the area is complete, my condition will probably get bad again."

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  "... That would be troubling."

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  It's true that I've been purifying the area little by little, but there are still many areas that are contaminated. Maybe it's too early for the Earth God to set foot there.

  I'll give up and do it myself as originally pnned. To do that, I'll need to make an item.

  I say goodbye to the Earth God, who appears to be doing some kind of work, and head back to the workshop.

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  "By the way, what are you making?"

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  "Holy-attribute fire and water, I guess."

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  I answered Uru's question while thinking about the items I would be making.

  Obviously, fire was needed to burn the bodies, but to purify the ashes... Holy water would be fine, right?

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  "In that case, should I just infuse it with magic like usual?"

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  Fricka raises her hand.

  Thanks to me, sacred fire magic must be a piece of cake for her, she says without any hesitation... I'm so sorry I overworked you!

  This time, however, I had something on my mind, so I shook my head.

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  "... No. This time, I'll 'create' it."