『An Untimely Death』

Dark.

How long has it been?

I thought to myself.

I knew that I was insignificant, that in this new world—my life wouldn't turn out to be like the stories that I'd read. But I was fine with that, I was fine with just taking my time and enjoying this new world.

I was naive. Naive for thinking this way.

"Again..."

Did I really want to be strong? I thought. I was cultivating day and night—but was that really enough? I wanted to be proud of myself and to one day be able to stand on my own glamorously, along with the people I held dear. Although yet again, I have failed to stand up to my convictions...

By dying.

<<----------->>

"Woken up...?"

"...?"

After what felt like an eternity in a single second, Naoki heard a voice—this was the same voice that he had heard for the very last time.

"Careless..."

"Iso?"

"You won't... survive like that..."

"...I know."

Naoki listened to her voice, her voice was nowhere and everywhere at the same time—It seemed he had lost all his senses, quite literally.

"Iso can... rewound at most... 10 seconds..."

"Rewound?"

Apparently, Soul Saints could control time to a certain extent—this was the indicator that their souls' were strong enough to even bend the laws of the world.

"Cannot disturb... others notice..."

"You mean, you can return back time...?"

"Yes..."

While that was the case, it was still up to Naoki to prepare for his oncoming death. Iso explained that any form of "helping" from a Soul Saint is taboo and can lead to persecution from the Heavenly Realm of Zenia.

"But... this won't be noticed... so it's okay..."

"I assume this isn't free..." Naoki inquired, trying to find the catch.

"Soul Contract..."

As if she had already foreseen this, Iso presented him with an elegant white scroll—listed there were the terms of their contract. But most importantly, however, there was one term that caught's Naoki's attention.

[Iso's soul is bound to Naoki Ozawa, the same is true and vice versa]

As if already knowing he would agree, the usually calm Iso made a soft smile—one that was not off-putting or weird but rather, a welcoming smile.

"This... what does this exactly mean?" Having a bad feeling, Naoki asked anyways.

"Iso... explore... eat food..."

"Is that all...?" Naoki sighed.

Domain Masters were prohibited from exiting their domains—as it was apparently a rule that the Heavenly Council decided, or so she explained. This is true unless there is a soul-binding contract—which allows one to go and find someone's soul signature and be together, essentially overriding Heaven's Law.

"Yes... Iso can... go out..."

As if to prove her excitement, the insignia glowed bright crimson—Naoki couldn't help but laugh, she was not scary at all. And despite it sounding monotonous, Naoki knew that it was genuine.

<<----------->>

"...!"

"Nadia."

As if concluding that he was not a threat, she dropped her guard—sitting on the floor once again. She was not expecting this encounter.

"Hmm..? So? What did you come here for?"

"...nothing."

As Naoki said that...

[Blitz]

Using [Blitz] to escape, the calm and composed Nadia Walter immediately reacted—catching up to the dashing Naoki.

"You...!"

"Sorry, I won't bother you again...! Why not resolve this in peace!?"

Running for his life, Naoki still felt the shock of feeling his previous death—his voice was devoid of the usual happy-go-lucky tone. This was serious, he thought, as he exerted all of his Soul Nodes on his speed.

*Thud*

"Ugh...!"

Catching up, Nadia had pinned down the running Naoki—her dagger pointed at his throat. Her eyes were deadly serious, and if it weren't for Naoki's confusing actions, she would have already killed him.

"How did you know I was here?" Speaking in a calm voice, she glared.

[Now...!]

"I'm sorry!"

"...!?"

*Pulse*

As if a needle was pierced in her heart, she flinched back.

"This is...!"

[Naoki...]

"..."

Despite the threat, Naoki just stood there—and while he was an easy target, Nadia Walter was not moving. That's right, she clenched her chest in pain—though she didn't say a word.

"I had hoped that there was a way to resolve this peacefully—and here I went here to fix your already damaged soul."

"..."

Though she didn't say a word... her soul was in total chaos now—all because of Naoki's pseudo-Soul World Projection.

"I..."

"-!?"

"If I'm gonna die...!"

She lunged forward, grappling Naoki down. Her dagger pulled back.

*Clink*

Though she had the chance, Nadia had stopped—redirecting her iconic dagger at the pavement behind Naoki.

"..."

Naoki went silent, he wasn't sure what to feel at this moment.

This person had no hesitation to kill him before, so why? He thought. He thought long and hard—but there was no clearer evidence than what was in front of him right now.

"You..."

This woman—this girl, despite the fact that she was one swing away from taking Naoki's life, was crying. Her tears flowed, in contrast with her usual cold demeanor—in contrast with the angered face that she showed. Slowly, one by one, they smear onto Naoki's cheeks—it was then that he understood.

"You just had to poke into my business! At this rate...!" As if cursing her own weakness, she exclaimed.

"..."

Naoki went silent, but despite his silence, his palm glowed brightly.

"...!"

"You sure had it rough..."

That's right, the power that he wields, and while it cannot be used effectively in combat—this has allowed him to find the answers he seeks. The answers that he couldn't otherwise find with just power alone.

"...Diana."

The mere mention of that name had broke her face, she was tired—tired of everything.

Overflowing.

As if all of her heart's burden over the years were releasing all at once.

[Alone...]

[Alpha-XIV has fallen...!]

[Tonight's mission—]

[A Vacation...? What do you mean, Beta?]

<<----------->>

"Diana."

"Hmm?"

"Someday, father will have to leave you—I hope you'll be a good girl by then."

"No! father will stay here forever!"

"Ahaha, your father is very selfish you see—he has a very dangerous job."

"...?"

"I hope you won't hate me for it, Diana—Someday..."

<<----------->>

"Someone will say your name with the most genuine of intentions..."

The light from Naoki's hand had faded, it seemed he had accidentally activated his Soul-Seeking abilities out of instinct.

"Goodbye..." Not saying anything else, she bathed herself with purple light.

*Silence*

Nadia Walter had vanished—it seems her soul had been fixed. Naoki couldn't help but stay lying down, processing what he had just seen.

[It seems... you are alive...]

"Yeah..."

Though he was glad that he didn't die this time—it wasn't enough to outweigh the heaviness in his heart. The weight that Nadia Walter—no, Diana Walter, was carrying her entire life. The burden that, at a young age, she was forced to fulfill.