Where is this...?
When Grace regained consciousness, the only thing in the space around her was darkness. It felt as though she had just woken from a very long sleep, yet when she opened her eyes, there was no light at all, leaving her blinking into the void with nothing to focus on.
“...I have no idea.”
She glanced around for a moment, trying to understand what was happening. But she soon gave up and dropped onto the floor. Everything felt like too much effort.
So I really died.
There was no pain in her body at all. The terrible agony that had clung to her without any rest until recently was gone. That alone was enough for Grace to be certain she was dead.
“Haa...”
A long sigh escaped her lips.
She had struggled desperately to survive. What glory had she been chasing to live such a grueling life? When she learned her illness was incurable, a part of her had actually felt relieved.
I must have been far more exhausted than I realized.
Having someone else’s life entirely in your hands wears you down more than expected.
“Still... it’s all because of that d*mned Black Forest.”
The Black Forest.
A forest of monsters that had begun appearing across the world at some point. In places where there was nothing, black trees would suddenly grow in thick clusters and seal off the surroundings. Their size varied, but one thing remained the same. Anyone inside couldn’t leave the Black Forest’s domain.
The black trees would only disappear after every monster within the forest were eliminated, and only then could those trapped inside escape.
However, entry from the outside was always possible, almost as if the forest welcomed new prey. That’s why mercenaries and soldiers would enter to rescue those inside.
Since incidents like that happened so often, the injured were always overflowing. The more severe their wounds, the more they sought out Grace instead of ordinary healers, which meant her days were always filled with relentless work.
“Even if I were asked to do it all again, I don’t think I could.”
The faces of the countless people she had treated flashed through her mind.
Was it pride? Satisfaction? No... it was neither.
Exhaustion.
Yes, that was it. A deep exhaustion welled up inside her, so intense that even thinking about it made her feel sick.
It’s not like I lived that long.
She only lived a short life, and yet all that remained was relief that it was finally over without the slightest trace of regret.
“Does that make sense?”
Didn’t that mean there was something fundamentally wrong with the way she had lived?
[...please.]
“...Hm?”
After drifting in her thoughts for a while, Grace raised her head at the faint sound that reached her. Like it had been waiting for that moment, light began to spill from a distant point.
Is it telling me to come over there?
As though drawn by something, Grace slowly rose and began walking.
[Please.......]
All the while, the unfamiliar voice continued weakly. The closer Grace was, the clearer it became.
[Please... please help me.]
At the low yet piercing voice, Grace stopped in her tracks.
“What is it now?”
It was something she had grown utterly sick of hearing.
“Please... save me...”
“Help me! Please, please help me!”
“Please... my child... sniff... please...”
Hadn’t she lived her whole life hearing those words to the point of nausea?
“Haa...”
But why? Wasn’t she dead? Why is she still hearing this after dying?
“It’s just a hallucination... it has to be...”
[Please... just help me...]
“......”
Letting out a long sigh, Grace started walking again. That light was the only thing visible in this darkness. Whatever it was, she felt she had to go to it.
[Please help me.]
Before long, a girl who looked to be in her mid-to-late teens came into view. She was sitting on the ground as she quietly sobbed, her appearance looked pitiful. Yet Grace felt no particular emotion.
It’s not like this is anything new.
She had spent her entire life watching people cry and cling to her. At some point, her emotions had simply run dry, leaving her unable to feel their pain alongside them anymore.
[Please......]
“What’s wrong? Are you hurt somewhere?”
[Please help me.]
“So what exactly do you want help with? You don’t look injured.”
[Please... please help me.]
...Let’s just go.
After giving the woman one last glance as she repeated the same words, Grace turned away. There was nothing she could do if they couldn’t communicate.
Swoosh.
[Please... please help me.]
“......”
But the next moment, when the girl reached out a pale hand toward her, Grace found herself stopping again. The desperation in her eyes, as if begging her to take it, drew a quiet sigh from her.
Taking her hand wasn’t difficult. Stepping closer, Grace grasped it and pulled the girl to her feet. She couldn’t ignore the sight of her collapsing on the ground any longer.
Flash!
“—!”
In the next instant, a brilliant light erupted from the woman and swallowed everything around them.
“What is this...!”
[Thank you... truly... thank you so much.]
No, explain this first!
She needed to understand what was happening, but her eyelids grew heavy. With the girl’s fading voice as the last thing she heard, Grace lost consciousness once more.
[I’m really sorry...]
***
...What is this now?
Is this what death is supposed to be like? Why is she collapsing again when she’s already dead?
Haa...
Well, you wouldn’t know unless you actually died. It’s her first time as well.
She remembered taking that girl’s hand and being swallowed by light, but after that... nothing.
Anyway, how long do I have to stay like this?
More than anything, this current situation was what irritated her the most.
At least let me open my eyes.
Her entire body felt unbearably heavy, as if something was pressing her down and making her unable to move at all. Maybe this was what being dead felt like...
Then what happens next?
By now, shouldn’t a grim reaper or a demon show up to take her away? How long was she supposed to stay like this?
This is nothing like what I imagined.
Isn’t it supposed to go like this? Your soul leaves your body, you take a look at your own corpse, maybe watch people mourn for a bit, and then you get whisked away somewhere?
So what is this suffocating and miserable situation?
“...Res...”
Just then—
“Ce...re...”
What was that now? As she lay trapped in the darkness, a faint voice began to reach her ears.
Has someone finally come to take her?
“...Ceres!”
Ceres?
As if that word were a spell breaking a curse, the suffocating pressure immediately vanished.
Feeling puzzled, Grace slowly opened her eyelids as strength returned to them. Her blurred vision quickly began to focus after she blinked a few times.
“Are you awake?”
When the voice came again, she turned toward it and found a boy around eleven or twelve. As soon as their eyes met, he let out a quiet sigh of relief.
What is going on here?
Could he be a Grim Reaper or demon sent for her?
Definitely not an angel.
Even she, who had long since thrown away her conscience, wasn’t shameless enough to expect heaven.
Seriously... what is this kid?
“Who are you?”
“...What?”
“I asked who you are.”
“Have you gone crazy?”
Seeing the boy scowl, Grace let out a dry laugh. It had been a while since someone called her crazy so bluntly.
“I admit I’ve done my share of crazy things, but is asking a kid I’ve never seen who he is really that insane?”
“You’re asking your own brother who he is. What kind of answer do you expect?”
...Brother?
“Who? You?”
She never had anything like that. When did her parents, who died when she was young, suddenly have time to produce him?
When the boy’s expression twisted, Grace’s own frown deepened.
What exactly are you?
Click.
Just as the two stared blankly at each other, the door flew open and several people rushed inside.