Chapter 79: The Unknown Art of Revival

What does it mean to miss a loved one?

When Shion asks what the mysterious words mean, Jin tells him the whole story surprisingly easily.

“It’s a story that happens all the time. They were killed, while I was out doing my heroic work”

Shion felt a pain deep in his chest. He was compelled to listen to the stories of others who had experienced the same things he had.

“It was a crazy street person who did it. Of course, I got my revenge, but it didn’t make me feel any better. I regretted very much that I had become a Hero. I risked my life every day to save those who were becoming arrogant, and I could not protect those whom I wanted to save the most. What in the world is a Hero?”

Shion strongly sympathizes with Jin, who speaks without hesitation. Normally, once you’re in front of an enemy, you shouldn’t lower your guard. Even if the opponent appeared to be surrendering.

However, this has turned into a situation where the enemy stabs the feelings.

Though, he doesn’t seem to attack the innermost of Shion’s feelings.

“Have you ever felt empty, while doing your ‘Hero’ work?”

“To be precise, I’m not a Hero anymore. The ring that is my proof was taken from me by another Hero”

“……You’ve been through a lot too, huh? Ever lost someone dear to you?”

After some hesitation, Shion nodded his head and Jin put on his softest expression since they met.

“I knew it. I have good instincts when it comes to something like that. You should follow me. Then there’s a good chance we’ll meet them again”

“Meet them…?”

“The people that we loved. That’s the reason why I helped the Demons. They have created the art of raising the dead”

“You’re so pitiful, Hero Jin. There’s no way something like that exist”

Even Shion has wished for it. And there was no lack of ways to do it, even if imperfectly. But that would be desecrating the souls of the dead. It would be to resurrect them as so-called zombies or to force the corpses to move like necromancers.

“No, Shion. It’s not about resurrecting a dead body. You create new life. It reads the memories of the living”

“I don’t understand”

“Copying beings from the memories of the living and creating people through alchemy”

“That’s impossible! That would be God’s domain”

“Then, we just have to surpass God, won’t we?”

His tone is gentle, but his mouth is greatly distorted and his eyes are extremely intense.

No amount of alchemy can create a person. And even more so, someone who existed in the past. Shion quietly asks.

“Will it be the person we loved? It can’t be real”

“No, it’s real. I created her from the memories I have inside me”

“Even if you could, she wouldn’t remember you”

“That’s right. But we can start all over again from scratch. Start over, start our life together. This time with no regrets. This time, we will protect them. This time, we will be together to the end”

It’s hard to tell the inside by just looking at the outside.

Shion, who had been a little deceived by Jin’s calm appearance and atmosphere, now fully understands. This man is completely broken.

At the same time, Shion thinks that it is because he had the qualities of a Hero that he could go so crazy for the sake of one person. A person who is evil from the bottom of his heart would not be like this even if he lost someone.

He, himself is the most important after all.

“…… I believe there is a fine line between right and wrong. Why can’t you bring some of the feelings you have for that person to the people of this town”

“Because people are unequal. I decide what I value. Wouldn’t you like to meet your loved ones? If you come with me, you can fix your mistakes”

“There was no mistake made. I’ve been through a lot, and I’m here now. Haku, Aria, and the rest of my friends are here”

Jin looks a little disappointed when Shion is strongly opposed to his idea.

Mei, who has been silent all this time, interrupts their conversation.

“Does …… Jin knows where Granpa is?”

“I know. Your grandfather, he’s very good. That’s why we’re taking him into custody now. Rest assured, he’s not dead yet”

“I… I’ve been deceived…”

Jin smiles softly at Mei, whose eyes are moist and on the verge of tears.

“People grow the most, you know, when someone cheats them. Mei, you have grown up one more time, congratulations”

“You’re terrible… I…I trusted you… sniffle”

“Yes, the best kind of deception is to be betrayed by someone you trusted. And know, don’t trust people easily. Stop trusting anyone anymore. That’s all right, Mei”

Finally, Jin looks on with satisfaction as Mei cries loudly. Shion was tempted to attack him right now, but he held back and asked a question.

“Why didn’t you, the Brainwash Hero, manipulate Mei directly?”

“It is correct to say that I could not manipulate her. My brainwashing magic cannot be used on those with high magical power or excellent magicians. It can only manipulate muscle heads”

“Okay. That clears up a lot of things. Now we can get started”

A grows from Shion’s back. He flaps one black wing and sends several jet-black feathers flying. It has the power to dissolve anything that sticks in it.

“Oops. I smell danger”

Jin does a sideways roll and ducks all the jet-black feathers. The fact that he does not block them shows how experienced he is in combat.

“…hmm? Where’s—— ah, behind”

It was the right answer, and Shion floated out of the shadows. Jin was also reacting as expected but was pushed aside by the difference in physical ability.

Shion’s swiftly swung right fist punches Jin in the face. It blows up the desk and chair in the room and puts a hole in the wall, sending him outside.

“This is where it starts. Brace yourself, Jin”