Chương 112: A Hope Called Resurrection

Everyone carries regrets in life. If no hope existed, people could only bury those regrets and keep walking. But once even the smallest possibility appeared, many would give up everything to chase it. Shinobu was in exactly that state. To the world, a person's death only added one more grave. To someone who depended on that person, the entire world could feel buried in that grave.

"A monster who can speak like a human," Shinobu said quietly.

"If I find one, I may find the person who can bring the dead back."

"Yes. His name is Fels. He is a sage who has lived for a thousand years. Because he pities intelligent monsters who are accepted by neither humans nor monsters, he has been helping them in secret." Cael looked toward the forest below.

"If we meet those intelligent monsters, Fels will probably appear." He paused, then added, "Of course, when I reach Lv. 2, I might gain the ability to revive others myself." Shinobu's clear violet eyes turned to him in surprise.

"Captain might gain that ability?"

"I will know when the time comes." Cael leaned back against the tree trunk, hands behind his head.

"Maybe we will not need to wait until we meet Fels." The Infinite Skill Tree had never disappointed him. Resurrection abilities were rare in anime worlds, but they were not nonexistent. He already had the possibility of Magic. If a new leaf appeared, perhaps he could write Fels's Dia Orpheus onto it directly. If Hestia Familia gained the power of resurrection, the future would open in ways that were impossible now. Some risks could be taken. Some losses could be reversed.

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. They would no longer need to fear losing everyone forever.

"Honestly, I do not know how to thank you," Shinobu said.

"The debt I owe you is too heavy, Captain. You gave me permission to imagine the impossible."

"If I say we are family and you do not need to thank me, you will only feel more guilty." Cael raised one finger, pointing first at Shinobu and then at himself.

"There is an old trope in my world. When someone has no way to repay a favor, they pledge themselves." Shinobu blinked. Then she laughed.

"Very well. That would repay the favor too." Cael almost choked.

"Wait. I was joking. You are joking too, right?" He had only wanted to lighten the mood. If she took it seriously, he would look like an impatient fool. Shinobu was attractive, and Cael was not immune to noticing that. Teasing was one thing. Throwing away his principles was another. He preferred feelings to grow slowly. Without feelings involved, being together felt empty.

"Fufu. Captain, how do you know I was not joking?" Mischief flashed in Shinobu's eyes. Only then did Cael realize he had been teased.

"Shinobu, has no one told you that you are easy to dislike?"

"No. No one has disliked me before."

"You are now. I dislike it when you tease me and do not mean it."

"In any case, thank you, Captain." Her voice softened again. No matter how hard she tried, a debt like this could not be repaid easily. Perhaps after her revenge was complete, this Familia would become her only home.

"Then I will accept your thanks," Cael said. Being thanked by someone gave him a quiet fullness that was difficult to describe. He liked that feeling. Before he could find another topic, the sound of metal clashing came from the forest. A pained cry followed. Cael stood on the branch and looked toward the noise.

"Adventurers. They are coming this way." Monster roars and the harsh buzzing of insects echoed through the trees. Everyone in Hestia Familia reacted immediately. Kyojuro and Tengen leaped onto branches to gain a wider view. Lili stopped cooking and hurried over with obvious irritation.

"Lord Cael, adventurers are coming toward our camp? We only just set up! Do not tell Lili they are planning a Pass Parade."

"It is possible," Cael said.

"This is the Dungeon. Anything can happen, even when it is annoying."

"We should not have camped here," Lili muttered.

"This is a known temporary rest point. They may be trying to drag us into their mess because they have injured companions and cannot recover on their own." No one present was foolish. They understood the situation quickly. In the Dungeon, many adventurers became selfish when survival was at stake.

"It has already happened," Cael said, his gaze sharpening.

"We deal with it first." A Pass Parade meant shifting danger onto another party. It happened often in the Dungeon, but once it happened, resentment was almost guaranteed. It was using someone else's life to buy your own. If the victim killed the offender later in the Dungeon, no one would be surprised. When Cael saw who was bringing the monsters toward them, his expression shifted.

"Why them?" The approaching group was Takemikazuchi Familia.

"Didn't they only recently become Lv. 2? Why are they on the Nineteenth Floor instead of staying above the Seventeenth? Are they trying to die?"