Thinking back, it wasn't as if there had been no signs at all.
Kria had lingered a long time before the corpse of the archer who'd attacked us, and she'd grasped the cause of death in detail too.
'What if that wasn't simply a keen eye, but direct communication with the dead?'
Or what if she'd been well-versed in the human body as a whole from the start…….
Looking at Kria's face with these various thoughts—
"N-no!"
That startled me. It was a cry close to a scream.
When I looked closely, this girl's face was white as a sheet, and she was gasping roughly like someone who'd just sprinted at full speed.
She looked precarious at a glance, so even I soothed her in a calm tone.
"Kria. Calm down first."
"I-I……."
"Take slow, deep breaths first. No one here is going to think you strange."
Just then, Seigrena cut in.
"Wait a moment. Can you really commune with ghosts? Wow. That's disgusting……."
"No……!"
At those words, Kria shook her head, backed away, and then bolted straight into the depths of the Corpse Pit.
"……"
Seigrena read my face, then cleared her throat.
"Sorry."
I really want to smack her just once.
"You wait here for a moment."
"What? Me, alone?"
"You're not alone, after all."
"Huh? ……Hey!"
When I pointed at the Pyromancer, Seigrena shouted in a shrill voice, but I ignored her and ran.
'Seems like she's caught the <Confusion> debuff.'
I recalled the penalties a character afflicted with Confusion receives.
Increased stress level.
Decreased stats.
Increased failure rate when casting skills.
Beyond that, a greatly increased chance of contracting <Reduced Focus>, <Fatigue>, <Depression>, and <Panic Disorder>.
For the record, contracting <Reduced Focus> or <Panic Disorder> among those can lead to the atrocity of attacking allies mid-combat.
What I recalled next was the method for removing the <Confusion> debuff.
'Converse often. Give gifts they'd like. Avoid deploying them in combat if at all possible…….'
Only by steadily repeating these things over several days does the <Confusion> debuff disappear.
'Goddamn.'
There's nothing I can do right now, after all.
At present, there's no time for conversation after conversation, no gift to give, and I have to coax and soothe her into combat somehow.
"……"
If this were a game, for instance, I probably couldn't even attempt <Persuasion>. Because the dice don't even roll for an action with a probability of zero from the start.
But—
"Kria."
Reality is different.
Whatever you do, once you act, the possibility isn't zero.
Even if it's odds so slim they make you swear.
I approached Kria, who was trembling with her back turned.
***
What should I say first?
Honestly, I don't know.
Because I haven't grasped anything about Kria yet.
I thought it'd be nice if dialogue options at least appeared at a time like this, but naturally, no such convenient thing happened.
"……"
Kria was crouched in a remote corner. Except for her shoulders trembling like an aspen, it was a sight I'd often seen.
I didn't approach rashly, and just stood still for now.
[Time Remaining: 00:19:57]
……Of course, there's no leeway. Rummaging through corpses had already eaten up a fair amount of time.
But if I opened my mouth rashly, Kria seemed likely to run again.
'Let's wait a little.'
The time I set in my head was 3 minutes. If there was still no reaction by then, there'd be no help for it.
I'd have to brace myself for curses and come on strong.
That was the moment. Kria mumbled.
"……Shut up."
I haven't said anything yet.
"I said I don't want to. Whatever you all say, I……"
But somehow, Kria's words didn't seem directed at me.
I tried calling out to her as she muttered like a madwoman.
"Kria."
Her shoulders twitched.
She seemed to have only now realized my presence.
"Wh-when did you get here……?"
Even while speaking, she still didn't look behind her.
It seemed she didn't want to show her face right now.
Respecting that, I sat down at a suitable distance and replied.
"Just now."
Not a lie—genuinely.
But Kria, with a suspicious gaze, opened and closed her mouth repeatedly as if she had something to say—
"Ha……."
And in the end let out a deep sigh.
"……Why did you follow me?"
"Because I don't want to die."
"I don't know what you mean."
"I mean that if you don't help, we might all die here. So I'm struggling as far as my strength reaches."
Saying it, I felt a sigh coming on too.
My true feelings had spilled out first, and I thought once again that comforting people just doesn't suit me.
"We somehow made it to the Corpse Pit, but honestly, even now, our survival odds aren't high."
"You didn't say that."
"Why would I? The situation's already in the gutter—no need to smash your fighting spirit on top of it."
"Then why are you saying what you weren't going to say……?"
"Because thanks to you, the situation's changed."
"Me?"
I nodded.
"Yes. You."
"……"
"The ability to communicate with souls, and the aptitude of a Necromancer. If we use that well, our survival rate will rise dramatically."
Kria closed her mouth again.
Was I too hasty?
I wanted to be as calm as possible too, but with no time left, it was hard to suppress the impatience.
"Aren't you scared of me, Kaindel?"
Now that's a question I didn't expect.
"Scared?"
"Touching corpses, talking with souls…… things like that are unsettling, you know."
"So what if they are. I go around communing with Magic Beasts myself."
Only then did Kria's gaze land on the weasel sleeping sprawled on my shoulder.
"……Come to think of it, what's that one's name?"
"Doesn't have one, really."
"Give it one. Calling it 'weasel' all the time is sad, after all."
……What kind of conversational flow is this?
"If you feel that sorry for it, you name it."
"Me? Hmm……."
Kria pondered, then said carefully.
"How about Weaselly?"
Because it's a weasel, Weaselly?
The words "that's not great" rose to my throat, but somehow I sensed expectation, so I nodded.
"……Sure. Nice. Weaselly, as in weasel plus jelly. Does it carry the meaning of using it as emergency rations when push comes to shove?"
"That kind of joke isn't funny at all."
"……"
"Weaselly…… hmm. Cute. It must like peanuts too……."
I don't know what peanuts have to do with jelly…… but unexpectedly, Kria's voice seemed to have brightened a little.
"Can I hold it once?"
"Later. It seems tired right now, so let's let it rest."
"Ah. Okay."
The mood's loosening in a way I never imagined.
The weasel—no, Weaselly—had pulled off another one.
Somehow, that thing purring away in its sleep is getting harder and harder to dislike.
[Time Remaining: 14:41]
Not that there's leeway for dawdling…….
I said in a calm tone.
"I know Necromancers are shunned."
"……"
"But that doesn't mean you need to deny the talent you have. The ability to see souls itself is extremely rare."
I wasn't selling snake oil. The talent for communicating with the dead is genuinely precious, and depending on your career path, you can even receive good treatment from the kingdom.
"What are you trying to say?"
"That when and how you use an ability matters far more. Isn't it the same with a sword? It's clearly a dangerous tool, but it feels completely different in a criminal's hand versus a knight's…… no, a cook's hand."
I hastily changed my words, worried that saying "knight" would make her think of that White Knight bastard.
"In fact, they say the most important talent for clergy is perceiving souls, like you do."
"……Talent isn't the problem."
Kria said in a gloomy voice again.
"They said if I go around saying I can see ghosts even one more time, they'd sew my eyes and mouth shut."
……Now that's a savage thing to say.
Judging by the manner of speech, it doesn't seem like Kazen.
"Who?"
"The scariest person in the world."
"So who is that?"
"……"
Kria closed her mouth.
Judging by the mood, I felt it'd be hard to press further than this.
In the game too, trust dropped sharply when you asked questions that crossed the line.
"It's just like they said. Talking with souls is unsettling and disgusting."
"Who knows. I'm not so sure. If you ask my impression, if anything I'm envious—there's no reason to dislike it."
"Envious? Are you serious?"
"Yes. Because I wanted to be like you."
Perhaps taking this as a joke in bad taste, Kria said with a stiff face.
"If you're saying that as a joke……"
"Does it sound like a joke?"
I looked at Kria's face with a clear conscience.
Necromancer was the class that suited my aptitude best to begin with.
'I set my <FoS> record with that class, too.'
If I could change class even now, I'd want to toss <Tamer> aside on the spot and switch.
That's how refined the Necromancer build I've worked out is.
Thinking that I can't use it still makes my stomach burn even now.
I don't know much about this world's social notions…… but that's how I feel as a gamer.
"……"
Kria fell silent again.
Somehow, there seemed to be bewilderment in that silence.
"……That's the first time I've heard someone say that."
"……"
"Anyway, you really are strange, Kaindel."
"Me?"
"Your way of speaking, your way of thinking, the things you do……. You don't look like a stoker at all."
"Why bring up jobs here? And anyone would act like me in a situation like this. There's nothing a person driven to the brink of death can't do."
That last line is also my personal creed.
"Is that so……? I was told that even at the cost of their life, a person has things they must protect."
"Like what?"
"Dignity, or grace, or honor……."
A snort came on its own.
"Dignity, grace, and honor are all things you can only tend to after you've survived."
"Then do you think it's fine to commit anything to stay alive, Kaindel?"
"Not necessarily. There's a limit to everything. But I think abilities like talking with souls and handling corpses are fine to use actively."
"To live?"
"Yes. To live."
Echoing Kria's words, I added.
"But if you'd still rather die than use that ability, then just don't use it."
Kria asked with a surprised look.
"Is that all right?"
"Why wouldn't it be? It's not as if I came here already knowing your talent. The success rate will drop, but it's not as if there are no other moves at all."
Of course, that road would be hard and grueling enough to make you cough up blood, but forcing someone unwilling to work would drive efficiency into the ground.
It was the same in <FoS>.
There's no history of things going well after forcing an unwilling companion. Better, in that case, to walk the thorny path by choice.
"……"
Kria fell silent.
Still, she seemed much calmer than at first.
I wanted to let it sit a little longer, but regrettably, there was no time for that. In the end, I was the one who needed this, so I said one last thing.
"But if, just if, the reason you won't use that ability is simply that you're afraid of people's disapproving looks or judgments…… I'd advise you not to be. Not just for my sake, but for yours."
"Why?"
"Because this is the forest, not the kingdom."
"……The forest."
"Yes. A place where you have to do anything to survive. And among those things, a place where you have to find what you're good at."
A place where reflection on and study of the talents you possess connect directly to survival.
Looking at Kria, I said.
"Please—whatever else, don't deny your talent."
That was the moment.
[Trust of <Kria> rises.]
I suddenly heard a rustling, and Kria turned to look at me.
"……"
I was slightly surprised.
Was it because she'd run so hastily earlier? Or had it flipped up while she was curled up with her head buried? Her usually shaggy bangs were neatly pushed back, revealing her bare face.
Actually, if that were all, there'd be no reason for me to be surprised, though.
"Kaindel."
"……Yes. Go on."
"I'll help. If it's something I can do."
I nodded.
"……Thank you. But let me ask one thing."
"What?"
"Why did you always go around covering your face?"
Kria said as she pulled her bangs back down, as if it were nothing.
"Because my brother told me to."
Kazen……. So he was wiser than I'd thought.
I nodded and said.
"……Keep doing that, as much as possible."
***
When we returned to where Seigrena was, this girl sprang up and shouted.
"Why were you so late? I thought something had happened!"
"Something like what?"
"Th-that's……."
Judging by her hemming and hawing, I could guess.
'She thought we'd abandon her and leave, like Laurent.'
Abandon, nothing.
Every single usable hand is precious at this moment.
Meaning even a noble young lady who looks like she's never dipped her hands in water is better than nothing.
I pointed at the Pyromancer's corpse.
"Kria. Go to that soul. You remember what I told you on the way here? Just do it exactly like that."
"Okay."
Nodding, Kria approached the Pyromancer. Her expression had stiffened a little, which was worrying, though.
"……I have come to the forest to burn the black tree. Using the cursed trees as kindling, I shall hold a cremation to honor you."
Kria recited the prepared lines splendidly. Though her voice trembled slightly.
Watching that, Seigrena whispered in my ear.
"……Why is she suddenly using such a pompous way of speaking?"
"……"
She was just imitating the manner of speech used when communing with the Pyromancer's soul in the game.
Hearing it in person, it wasn't easy on an emotional level for me either, but since I'd ordered it, I didn't show anything in particular.
Whoosh!
Still, she must have delivered it properly, since the vanished flame revealed itself again.
-Aah……. At last…….
Karen Hogbal's soul spoke with a smile clear enough to make you forget its faintness.
-Young junior……. I gladly offer you my remains. Raise the corpse of this Pyromancer, Karen Hogbal. Using my remains as your tool, burn those loathsome trees, and soothe the spirits of those who could not close their eyes in grief…….
The Pyromancer's soul gradually faded, then seeped into Kria's chest.
'Soul Storage.'
With this, the Pyromancer's soul belonged to Kria.
'Whew. For now, that's everything that can be done…….'
[Time Remaining: 00:04:11]
Now, only the decisive battle remained.