The next day.

　It was a refreshing morning, something of a rarity.

　The weather was perfect, making it an ideal day for anything.

　I took out the Pearl of Resurrection from the Shadow Storage.

(Not a dream.)

　The pearl emitted its usual mysterious glow, dimly shining on the palm of my hand.

　I put the pearl away and stepped outside the inn.

　It was almost time for my meeting with Jeanne, but perhaps I should buy something for breakfast beforehand.

　No, better to let her choose—everyone has their own preferences.

　Nearby at the market, stalls had been open early in the morning, offering a wide selection of meat, fish, and vegetables. Prices were low, and portions were generous.

It's not bad in taste, but it's on the stronger side, and if it's something heavily spiced, it might not suit everyone's palate.

I don't really know what French people usually eat.

Last night, I drank too much.

Maybe because Jeanne is French, or maybe for some other reason, she seemed to drink a lot.

I got caught up in it and drank too much myself.

I still had a bit of the old-world sense that underage drinking is wrong, and I did worry about the viewers, but perhaps I figured that Jeanne is also a transfer, so worrying would be pointless.

With delicious wine and food, my memory became a bit hazy.

I washed my body with well water.

My slightly drunk head felt refreshed.

Besides, I washed the clothes that had been soaked in seawater yesterday.

The ability to use clean water freely is this town's greatest advantage, and from a hygiene standpoint, it's excellent. Great spirit,

Indeed. After finishing the laundry, I hung the clothes out to dry.

There's a clothesline in the inn's garden, and guests are allowed to use it.

All that's left is for food to arrive, but this inn doesn't provide meals.

Well, there are countless restaurants and markets nearby, so I suppose I'm expected to handle my own meals.

(Still, it's taking forever.)

With nothing else to do, I waited by polishing my short sword and cleaning my boots, but Jeanne still didn't show up.

Could it be she's left after receiving the gem?

That kind of straightforward woman might just do something like that.

I grabbed the innkeeper and asked if Jeanne had already quit her job.

"No, I think she's still here. She's your friend, isn't she? Just go check for yourself."

"I see."

This inn isn't like a Japanese hotel. Most things are just "do whatever you want."

I knocked on Jeanne's room door.

The lock is still on, so she's probably still inside, but there's no answer.

She probably drank a lot yesterday and is still down.

Maybe I should give her a detox potion or a crystal.

After knocking a few times, I heard a loud thud, then the sound of shuffling footsteps, and Jeanne finally appeared.

"Mmm... Is it already morning?"

"Yeah. Good morning. Hangover?"

"There's no way I, with poison resistance level three, could suffer from a hangover... I just felt good because I haven't slept in a bed in ages..."

"Oh, I see."

Removing her armor, Jeanne wore only a loose, baggy shirt, her usual stern demeanor from yesterday completely gone—now she just looked like an ordinary girl her age.

Watching her slender arms and legs extend from the sleeves and hem of her shirt, it was hard to believe such strength could come from such delicate limbs.

"What's with staring like that? Pervert."

"Ah, no—sorry!"

I quickly shut the door.

I'd gone too far, even for a woman waking up.

After waiting outside for a while, Jeanne came down the stairs.

Gone was her armored look from yesterday—now she wore casual clothes.

"Sorry I kept you waiting. I'm weak in the mornings. I've always been a night person."

"It's been a while since I last slept in a bed, so I can't really complain. I remember when I first came to this town, I pretty much slept for a whole day."

I don't remember clearly, but I think I fell asleep around evening and woke up in the middle of the night. Probably slept for about thirty hours. Well, after nearly dying in the forest and being mentally shattered, it's probably not surprising I needed that much rest.

Maybe I should have let Jeanne sleep more too.

"So, what now? You're going to bring Nanami back to life, right?"

"Yeah."

Cecilia messaged me this morning asking me to do it, so I guess it's fine anytime now.

If we delay too long, it'll be daytime.

"Let's do it in the garden."

In the yard where countless white sheets fluttered in the wind, I took out the treasure.

When I opened the status screen, an unfamiliar画面 appeared.

'Use the Pearl of Resurrection? Pray to the gods!'

'Prayer... how am I even supposed to do this? Oh, gods! Hear my plea!'

It was a completely random prayer, but apparently the act of praying itself was just a formality—without any fuss, the status screen abruptly switched.

'Your wish has reached the gods. You may revive one person dear to you.'

• Soma Nanami

• Soma Nami

• Soma Yukio

Seeing those three names lined up, my heart pounded painfully hard.

It wasn't just Nanami. The names of my uncle and aunt were also there.

All three had been killed. The reality of it hit me like a punch in the face.

(—Nanami)

Just touching her was enough, yet my fingertips trembled.

For a fleeting moment, I wondered if it was truly right to bring her back to life—wasn't this against the natural order of things?

Even if I could revive Nanami alone, what would become of the old man and the old woman, who were no longer there?

If she came back… would she only face greater despair?

"What's wrong? Did you already press it? I can't see the status boards of the other transmigrants, so I don't know what's going on."

"No… I haven't pressed it yet."

Imagining Nanami alone in that room, revived but confused and lost, made me question whether I had the right to do it now.

I truly wanted her to come back. That feeling wasn't a lie.

But who could claim it wasn't merely selfish desire?

Was I only wishing for her to come back so she could prove my innocence, not for her sake—but for my own?

"I don't know what you're worrying about, but everything—this too, that too—is already being broadcast, isn't it? There's no need to worry about what happens after Nanami comes back to life. Some neighbors might show up, and at worst, the country will take care of her."

"I see... yeah, you're right..."

There's still worry.

But maybe it really doesn't make sense to worry about someone who's already come back to life.

Nanami was chosen as a transfer subject, so she's famous, and maybe Serika or Karen will step in too. ...No, they're not even in Japan, so that won't work.

Either way, there's no choice but to use this.

With resolve, I pressed the text 'Soma Nanami' displayed on the status board.

'Revive Soma Nanami. Confirm? YES / NO'

I pressed YES.

Calling out silently in my heart, "Nanami, come back home."

Then, the 'Pearl of Reviving the Dead' in his hand floated into the air and gradually disintegrated into countless tiny, glowing particles, as if dissolving into the atmosphere.

Those particles were sucked into the status board, and with that, all phenomena came to an end.

Yet, on the screen, one message remained.

'Revived Soma Nanami.'