Chapter 81: Forest Wave – Epilogue: Afterstory③ and Prologue

Giving a Name

The importance of giving a name is the same, whether in my past life or in this world.

Because I understand that, I hesitate.

“Me…? You want me to give you a name?”

“Yes. Please give me a name.”

“Oh ho ho ho. This… is quite significant, isn’t it?”

The witch grinned with delight.

Damn her. Things always seem sweeter when it’s someone else’s problem. Yeah, it’s sweet.

“A name… huh.”

I have actually given names before—just not in this life. In my previous life, I named a dog.

“Necia.”

I whispered it softly.

“Necia. That’s my name…?”
“Yes. How does that sound?”
“Necia… Necia…”
“What do you think? Do you dislike it?”
“Not at all. Necia. It carries a feeling that touches my heart. I really like it. From today, I am Necia!”

It seems she was pleased.

“Oh ho ho. Necia. That has a nice ring to it.”

The witch also gave her approval.

“Yes, I am truly happy. Thank you, Wof-kun.”

Haiyaan Body—now Necia—smiled warmly.

A smile so captivating it made my heart skip a beat.

In truth, the name Necia comes from a cat at the old tobacco shop in my past life.

It reminded me faintly of that cat, and the name just slipped out.

Apparently, the cat’s name originally came from Phoenicia.

Over time, it became corrupted into Necia.

Why Phoenicia? That was a region a long time ago… I have no idea.

But more importantly—this wish was truly fulfilled.

The queen, who had been a white orb back then, wished to “become human.”

She wanted to see the form of the people she had always dreamed of and be human herself.

Normally, that’s impossible. Only a god could grant it—a wish of that scale.

Yet I was able to make it happen.

I had an empty body and a Phoenix resurrection egg.

I had them, and because I had them, it succeeded.

Yes, that’s a good thing—but the fact that it went so smoothly also makes me uneasy.

I had carried it out so calmly.

“Necia. Necia. Necia. That’s my name.”

Necia repeated her name with an innocent smile.

Somewhat childlike, yet the contrast with her adult body gave her an unexpected allure.

She bore a striking resemblance to Megadia, which made me unconsciously recall her.

“Now then, Necia. You’ll be accompanying me for a while.”

“…Who are you?”

Necia noticed the witch’s presence—hadn’t realized before.

“Oh my, yes indeed. Nice to meet you. I am the witch.”

“Wof-kun.”

The witch introduced herself. Necia looked at me with worried eyes.

“It’s okay. She’s my mentor.”

“Mm-hm. That’s right, so you’ll follow along.”

“…Wof-kun.”

Necia’s eyes glistened as she looked at me. I gave a wry smile.

“Necia. It’s alright. And you, witch—what do you mean by ‘following along’?”

“Hmm. In cases like this, you must check whether body and soul have fully settled. With a Phoenix, there’s no worry, but one must be cautious.”

“I see. Necia, are you okay with that?”

“…Understood. If that’s the case, I will cooperate.”

I was relieved that she understood.

“Much obliged, indeed.”

“Ah, excuse me. Nice to meet you. I am Necia, the queen.”

She bowed politely.

“Mm-hm. Nice to meet you. Also, you are very conspicuous, Necia.”

“I’m conspicuous because I am the queen.”

“That too. Because you’re a queen in body.”

“Well, that’s true…”

“Well, actually, someone else used this body before. They did many conspicuous things.”

“Ah… Laada…”

I had completely forgotten. Right, there’s a risk of being mistaken for Laada.

True, It was Laada’s body at one point, so it wouldn’t have been wrong then. But now, it would be a mistake. Complex, and hard to explain.

“Well, that can be managed. But the remnants of Jinryu may try to kill you.”

“Killed… the original owner of this body was such a person?”

Necia seemed slightly shocked.

“Well… many things.”

I don’t feel confident explaining everything about Laada. Necia lowered her gaze. I feel sorry for that.

“So, for now, I’d like you to stay calm here.”

“…I don’t fully understand, but if that’s the situation, I suppose it can’t be helped.”

Her weak voice showed she understood. For Necia, it’s unreasonable, but it can’t be helped.

“If you endure just a little, you’ll regain freedom.”

“Yes. I trust you.”

Necia gave a faint smile.

I left the rest to the witch and went to meet Torquetam as planned.

I was told she would be at the house I had rented.

I had met Pakira in the morning, but there was something I needed to give her.

A letter entrusted to me by Hars.

I had completely forgotten about it.

When I took out the Phoenix resurrection egg earlier, I happened to find the letter.

And I remembered.

So I decided to deliver it before I forgot again. I was on my way.

“Long time no see, Wof. How have you been? Ura is, of course, well too!”

Ah, yes.

I was in the corridor between the girl statues of Generous at the Great Temple.

There, Narcissus stood with arms crossed, wearing the same attire as before. The miko outfit, I think.

“Well, I’ve been reasonably well.”
“That’s good. Congratulations. You defeated the dungeon anomaly.”
“Actually, Nabel defeated it.”
“Oh? But the request was still fulfilled.”
“Yes, but I wasn’t much help.”
“I see. That happens.”
“Indeed.”
“Then, as promised, I’ll give you a ship. Isn’t that wonderful!”

A ship… ah, I had forgotten. But that’s fine.

I had actually anticipated her coming. So I could get to the main point.

“Um, may I ask something?”
“Sure. What is it?”
“Shall we do a normal dungeon?”
“Normal? What’s that? What do you mean? Hmm, sounds interesting!”

As always, Narcissus is strong-willed.

I spoke the words I had carefully formulated in my head.

“Instead of surface-type dungeons, can we do the usual underground ones?”
“Why? Interesting. Alright, let’s do it!”

I thought she would respond exactly like that—ignoring my will and agreeing.

But decisions must be made consciously.

“May I explain my reason?”
“Yes, please.”
“When the balance of surface-type dungeons collapsed, I was transferred into the sky. I honestly thought I’d die. If the same thing happens again, someone will definitely die.”
“But deaths in dungeons aren’t unusual.”
“True. But I am prepared to die from monsters or traps. I am not prepared to die due to dungeon glitches. That’s unreasonable.”
“That’s true.”
“And leaving the garbage site as it is… is unacceptable.”
“Agreed.”
“So shall we build a normal dungeon in Heizen?”
“Fine. We’ll build it!”
“Thank you so much.”

Thus, a normal dungeon would be created in Heizen.

Since the dungeon’s will agreed, everything was safe now.

“So, Wof, as per the dungeon’s will in Heizen, I have another request for you.”
“Huh? A request?”

Suddenly?

Narcissus smiled faintly. She often smiled devilishly for no reason.

“The request is: construct a proper dungeon in Heizen!”

“Eh… eh?”

I was dumbfounded. A request!?

“No, shouldn’t the dungeon’s will create it?”

I had assumed it would just form automatically. That’s why I casually suggested it.

“If it could do that, it would have already done so. True enough!”

“Eh… it can’t?”

“Can’t? Don’t know how? Then that’s fine!”

You don’t know… seriously?

But indeed, if it could, it would have already been done.

“Wof, you who calmed the dungeon anomaly—you can do it. Yes! Wof, you can! Ura has approved it!”
“…No, I can’t handle creating a dungeon…”
“Of course, the reward will be tremendous. Something… secret? I’m very excited!”
“…Uh, well…”
“If it’s necessary, I’ll cooperate. That’s what they said!”
“Still… creating a dungeon seems… too much.”
“Ura supports you! When it’s ready, call her. She’ll clear the dungeon herself. Got it? Next time we meet, it’s a dungeon!”
“Eh, wait!?”

Back in the alley, I was stunned. Really?

I have to create a dungeon.

A few days later

A cave in the forest outside the city.

“Finally here. This is the ‘Gesu,’ huh.”

Chimenso looked around.

Now in his original form, no longer the suspicious bird-masked figure in a black robe.

A white sword hung at his waist.

“Nothing here, huh.”

(Not quite. Gesuo, look there.)

His partner—or rather, his beloved sword—moved on its own, as if pointing to something.

Something had fallen nearby.

“Could it be…!?”

He ran over. It was a broken red mask.

Faded, dirty, with black stains here and there.

(No doubt. This mask. That cursed… red mask!)

“Only this red mask remains. Whoever wore it cannot be safe. That means… Biggs is already…”

Chimenso shivered.

He didn’t want to think about it. He didn’t want to imagine the worst, most terrible outcome.

(Gesu. Only the mask remains. So the body might have survived, but likely dead. Judging by how degraded the mask is, it happened long ago.)

“Th-this is too cruel, Gesu!!!”

Chimenso collapsed to his knees. His desperate shout echoed through the cave.

Thus ends the quest concerning the red-masked man, the mastermind Biggs.

Well done.