Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 232: Death, and Then…
Aeris, Ankh, and Ragune waited for Tauro to return from his reconnaissance.
When too much time had passed, Ankh suggested that they proceed toward the village. After climbing the steep road, they finally saw the settlement described by the peddler.
“Do you think Tauro already entered the village?”
Aeris turned toward Ankh and Ragune.
Before either could answer, black mist burst from the center of the village and covered the entire settlement in an instant.
The sight was so sudden and overwhelming that all three froze.
“That’s an area-of-effect instant-death spell!”
Ragune’s voice was grim.
Fearing Tauro was inside, Aeris tried to rush into the village. Ankh caught her wrist and held her back.
“Wait, Aeris! Don’t go in!”
“Tauro may be in there!”
“Even so!”
As Ankh restrained her, the black mist rapidly thinned and disappeared.
“Ragune, is it safe now?”
Ankh asked the one person who recognized the spell. Aeris looked at Ragune desperately.
“It should be safe to enter now. But anyone who was caught inside…”
Stunned by the implication, Ankh loosened his grip. Aeris immediately ran into the village. Ankh followed, and Ragune came behind them with heavy steps, already fearing there would be no survivors.
“Tauro! Where are you? Is anyone here?”
Aeris shouted as she ran through the silent settlement. Near the central house, she found Tauro lying on the ground.
“Tauro!”
She rushed to him and rolled him onto his back. Ankh came running at her cry.
“Ankh… Tauro isn’t breathing. His heart has stopped!”
Though distraught, Aeris immediately began casting healing magic.
Ankh pressed an ear to Tauro’s chest and confirmed that there was no heartbeat.
“Damn it! Leader, don’t leave us!”
He began chest compressions, using a resuscitation technique he had learned as a mercenary.
Ragune arrived and stared at Tauro in despair.
“Ankh… it’s impossible. That forbidden spell sacrifices the caster’s life to impose ‘death’ itself upon everything within a fixed area. It takes life directly. Ordinary healing can’t bring its victims back.”
Ankh ignored her and continued the compressions for a long time, but eventually his hands stopped.
Aeris finally understood that Tauro was truly dead. Her healing spell faded, and tears streamed silently down her face.
“I’m going to search the house.”
Unable to remain beside them, Ankh entered the building from which Tauro seemed to have fled.
Inside, he found a boy lying on the floor. On closer inspection, the child was still barely breathing.
“Tauro… is dead, isn’t he? Then I can finally die too…”
As the boy spoke, a deafening high-pitched tone rang from his body. Ankh covered his ears but kept watching him. When the sound ended, the boy drew his final breath.
The tone may have been a signal to someone waiting outside the village.
Ankh returned to the others.
“That sound may have summoned someone. I’ll carry Tauro. We need to leave the village immediately.”
Ragune nodded, pulled Aeris to her feet, and guided her forward. Ankh lifted Tauro’s cold body onto his back.
As they left, fires ignited throughout the village. Ankh couldn’t tell whether someone had started them from a distance or whether a delayed mechanism had activated after the boy’s death, but the flames spread with unnatural speed.
“I don’t sense anyone nearby, but we should reach the bridge as quickly as possible.”
Ankh hurried down the steep path with Tauro on his back while Ragune led the stunned Aeris by the hand.
Then Ankh felt it.
A heartbeat pressed faintly against his back. Warmth was returning to Tauro’s body, and breath touched his shoulder.
“Aeris! Tauro’s heart is beating!”
Aeris’s vacant eyes snapped back into focus.
“Are you certain, Ankh?”
She tore free of Ragune’s hand and rushed to them. Holding a hand near Tauro’s mouth, she felt his breath.
“He’s alive! Tauro is alive!”
Ragune stared in disbelief and hurried over.
Ankh lowered Tauro carefully and laid him on his side.
“Aeris, use healing magic to restore his strength! I’ll give him the advanced-grade potion Tauro entrusted to us.”
Ragune opened Tauro’s mouth and administered the potion a little at a time.
There was no time to dwell on the miracle before them. Aeris, Ankh, and Ragune immediately began doing everything they could to save Tauro.