A few minutes passed by, and Larah was currently running through the castle halls with all her items with her except her backpack; instead of that, she had a pouch beside her. She had worry on her face. I’m not sure what the hell that was, but it was huge.

  Larah thought back at the moment, recalling the vast blue light she had seen in the distance while standing on the balcony. The thought made her feel uneasy.

  "Please, Ria, Taren, Seris, and Tenshi… please be okay," Larah thought as she continued running. Suddenly, she bumped into someone. He was a man with brown hair and dressed like a noble or royal, but he wasn’t Noah. He turned to face Larah.

  "Miss Larah? What are you doing out here at this hour, looking so rushed?" he asked.

  Larah looked up at him, urgency in her eyes. "I’m sorry, Your Highness, but I must leave the city immediately. There’s no need for any payments; I just have to go," she said, quickly running past him.

  He looked over at her with confusion. "Huh, interesting..."

  Larah was now outside the castle. The guards looked at her with confusion as she ran out. Larah was now out in the city, and she looked around the area. "Travelling merchant… traveling merchant… come on…" she murmured.

  Some people were also looking into the distance to where the bright light came from, many saying, "What was that?" or "Did you see that?" and more questions.

  Larah then noticed someone looking at that area who was in a carriage. "Please be a traveling merchant…" she murmured.

  "What was all that light?" the man in the merchant's carriage asked, peering through binoculars to see if he could spot what it was. Larah quickly hopped onto the back of the carriage.

  "Huh, who the hell are you?!" he exclaimed, turning to face her.

  Setting her staff down, Larah replied, "Are you a traveling merchant?!"

  "Yes, but you're not supposed to—" he would get interrupted by Larah pulling out thirteen silver coins, thirty-three mini silvers, and one gold coin.

  Larah looked back up at him. "Now, take me to the capital of the Welra region down at Dalria." As he stared at the money in shock, he nodded and turned his gaze forward, maneuvering the reins to get the horse moving.

  Larah picked the coins back up, placing them securely in her pouch. As the horse trotted on, she gazed into the distance, gripping her staff tightly as anxiety crept in. "...I guess I’ll be seeing you soon… Tenshi."

  ***

  It was several minutes earlier in a pleasant room adorned with wooden floors and white walls. Flowers decorated the windowsill, and a sword hung on the wall next to some familiar clothing.

  Suddenly, a small tremor shook the ground for a brief moment. In the bed, a man with long blonde hair and a beard stirred awake.

  He sat up, grasped his head, and rubbed his face before holding his forehead. "What is…?" Herrick muttered.

  He looked over and saw that his sword had fallen to the ground. Glancing out the window, he noticed that the sky was overcast. He returned his gaze downward, still clutching his head. "Why does my head feel like this? Where the hell am I?"

  Herrick got out of bed and realized he was wearing a white robe. He looked into a mirror on the wall and touched his beard. "I look… older…"

  ***

  A couple of minutes passed, and Herrick had put his clothes back on and sheathed his sword.

  "That’s better." He walked over to the window and noticed a small, bright blur of light in the distance. "What is…?"

  The light grew larger, and Herrick suddenly sensed danger. His eyes widened as it continued to approach until it was right in front of him. "WAIT—" And then, the light engulfed him.

  ***

  It would be some point after Rias and I got engulfed by the strange rift that exploded. "Uh?" I said as I woke up.

  I looked down at my hands, noticing my arms covered in some black shadow. I quickly looked around. The place looked dark, but I saw space above me. There was a bunch of stars and space dust up there. "Rias! Rias!" I looked all around as I shouted.

  This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

  I would quickly notice that my voice sounded deeper and more familiar. Wait a minute, why do I sound like that?

  I would notice a piece of my hair that fell onto my eye. It looked blonde, and my eyes widened. "I’m… I’m in my old body…" And I was correct.

  I would look down and notice my whole body covered in some black shadowy clouds except for my hands and head. "Wait, so does that mean I’m…" I was shaken and started panting with fear until I calmed down and sat on the ground. …I’m… dead…

  I would just sit in silence as I looked up into the sky. I continued to look up in silence, just feeling sadness. So that’s… really it… I failed…

  I looked down, placed my arm up to my knee, and sighed. "I lost my family, I lost Lumi, I lost Larah, Vieta, and Rias… now I’m in… hell…" I muttered as I clenched my fist. I thought back for a moment, remembering the magic circle turning to a rift and then exploding, to also how Desha was rifted away, and remembering Defrimi and Oliver.

  …But what even was that?

  Footsteps could be heard getting closer to me. I was too in shock to react, and then the footsteps stopped as there was now a man with white hair and blue eyes who also had triple cowlicks. "Hi there, Tenshin Trius," he said with a smile. "I must say you look different in your astral form than compared to how you look down there—quite interesting."

  I slowly looked up at him, still thinking about what just happened. "...Are you… Satan?"

  He raised an eyebrow. "Satan… never heard of him. I am the god of life. It’s nice to meet you."

  "...So, are you the god Maria mentioned?"

  He would ponder. "Maria… Maria…" He stopped pondering. "Never heard of her either. I’m a god who looks over the world down there. Not much else, you may call me Celif."

  I was silent and looked back down. "...All right, well, whatever you are, how about you just send me to hell already. I’m not going to bother wasting my time any further."

  "Hell? Why would you want to be sent to—"

  I stood up and glanced back at him with a frustrated look on my face. "Look, how about you save me the trouble and do it already! I’m dead, okay, and there’s nothing I can do. You don’t understand how pissed I am. I lost people that gave me a life that I didn’t have before I was reincarnated!"

  I looked back down. "All my life, I struggled back in that old body, and to think I would actually change myself to be happy next time I died, but no, all I had was ten years, and now I’m dead and going straight to hell!"

  I looked back up at him. "There is no need to talk any further, you dumbass god. So, let's get this over with." Celif would continue to look directly at me as I did the same. He snapped his fingers, and the sky went sky blue but had no sun.

  My reaction stayed the same. "What the hell are you doing now?"

  Celif smirked. "I thought I could make the area feel more positive, given your current attitude. Look, you aren’t being sent to hell or anything like that. You will be sent back to your world in the present with your normal body. I just wanted to talk to you before you go."

  My eyes widened. "W-Wait… I… I’m going back? So I’m not… dead?"

  Celif turned away briefly. "Tenshin, Tenshin, Tenshin, not at all. You are alive and with the girl named Rias right now." He turned back to face me. "Isn’t that nice?"

  I started to feel a heavy sense of relief wash over me. I smiled and looked down. "Thank… thank God… I can still keep going..." I quickly looked back up at him. "All right, then send me to my world!" I shouted as I looked away with my arms out.

  He pointed his finger up. "Ah, not so fast. I said I wanted to have a conversation with you, remember?"

  I frowned as I looked back at him. "Yeah, well, like I could give a crap. Sorry, but all I care about is being sent back and continuing the happy life I wanted. Come on."

  He sighed. "All right, if you insist." He snapped his fingers and opened a small rift next to us.

  I smirked. "Thanks." I began to walk toward it.

  Just as I was a step away from the rift, he said, "Have fun traveling to different continents to get all the way to Dalria."

  I paused and looked back at him, confused. "...What do you mean?"

  "Remember the massive rift explosion? It sent you away from Dalria along with Rias, all the way down to the East Hilima continent in the country of Zenrios."

  My eyes widened, and I turned my entire body to face him. "Wait, another continent?! H-How far is it from Dalria?!"

  "It's the furthest one," he replied. "It's all the way to the east, while Dalria is all the way to the west. It would take a couple of years to get back."

  I clenched my fist, shaken by this news.

  He would walk around me as he continued. "Good luck on your journey; it will be tough. The Demonia country is home to many beasts, even some that are much stronger than those in Dalria, and its harsh climate is not the most suitable for humans such as yourself, mainly because of how hot it is and also the fact you don’t have much on you. You’ll also have to pass through the Perith continent, which is known for its dangerous landscapes, including numerous hidden sinkholes, hilimaquakes, ravines, and more." He stopped right in front of me as I was processing the moment. "So, will you hear me out? All I ask is that you follow my every instruction every time we meet, and I’ll help guide you through all this so you may return to your loved ones." He took his hand out. "So let’s make that deal."

  I would look directly into his eyes and think for a moment. Things really went up quickly; he’s offering to help me through an adventure to get back to Welra. If I really am that far, then I have no choice. I may die if I don’t get any help. Every option will just lead to death or possible death, and this…

  I looked down at my hand. I don’t know if I can trust him, but all I know is that I have no choice if I want to try to live.

  I looked back up at him and shook his hand. "Listen, dumbass, This doesn’t mean we are friends; I do your small little errands, and you help me get back ALIVE with Rias."

  He grinned. "The oath has been sealed." We put our hands back beside us. "Now listen carefully. When you wake up, Rias will be right with you in a deep sleep. There will be a man with you both who is friendly."

  He turned to the left and closed his eyes. "He may have features that may scare you, but don’t be alarmed. He is friendly. You help him, and he will help you; once that happens, continue heading south, and I will give you further orders when the time comes. Oh, and try to remember not to tell anyone about our conversations."

  "Ah!" I yelped as he pushed me right into the rift.