To think that Id come here again.

The sun had set and the moon had risen in the sky. Shin, alone, stood in front of Marinos grave. The others were probably already asleep.

From the clear, cloudless sky, the moon quietly shone on the grave, the flowers surrounding it, and Shin.

Hey, Marino. Is Tiera somehow connected to you?

Shin naturally did not expect to hear an answer, but he could not help but ask. The skills Tiera had learned were ones Shin knew well. He had seen them often, since they were Marinos skills.

She had consulted with him many times before learning some of them. It would be a different situation if the skills Tiera knew were one or twobut as far as he could remember, Tiera had all of them. It was too much to be labelled as a mere coincidence.

.correct. I am inside that girl.

!?

Shin turned around, shocked. Even if it was in his private area, it should have been impossible for anyone to sneak up on the current Shin unnoticed.

Tierano, Marino?

Yep. Its been a while.

Shins eyes saw Marinos silhouette overlap Tieras. Tiera, or rather, her host body was looking in the distance with a hollow gaze.

Dont worry, Ive explained everything to her.

Marino understood that Shin must have been worried about Tiera and reassured him.

Is Tiera your reincarnation?

I wonder? I am just inside her. I was only able to fully comprehend it after we kissed, though.

She was probably referring to what happened in Hinomoto. Shin thought that Tiera had invoked Marinos soul, but that had apparently triggered the awakening of Marinos soul inside her.

Until then her conscience had been blurry, as if she was dreaming. That too had started when Tiera became a World Tree priestess.

This girl seems to be able to communicate with many things. She can create connections with things that cannot be reached normally. That might be the reason why I ended up inside her.

Thats why she became the World Tree priestessor was made one, maybe?

Yes. But it was just a coincidence that she was born like this. Same goes for the curse. That cant be said for her meeting with you, though.

Marino talked while looking straight at Shin.

After her exile, she was found by Schnee because I called for her. I thought that she could be safe in your Tsuki no Hokora. My conscience was still hazy then, so it was really lucky that my voice reached her.

Marino said that since her conscience was still blurred, she could not give more concrete assistance then. Marino was the reason why Tiera had been saved, however. Shin told her that she should be proud of that.

Thank you. But I helped her because I had my reasons too.

Marino?

Being inside Tiera, Marino would die too if Tiera did. Tieras expression, however, showed that Marino meant to say something else.

Its true that I wanted to help her. But I thought that, with her powers, I could maybe talk with you again. I could tell you what I couldnt before, the feelings lingering in me.

Lingering feelings?

Her sad expression reminded Shin of Marinos last words. Marino had died saying Lets go back. Shin could not tell what her lingering feelings might be.

The words I said that timeare tying you down. Watching you from inside her, I thought that I left you with the wrong words.

Thats not.!!

Shin wanted to protest, but Marino sealed his lips with a finger.

That time, I was only thinking of myself. I didnt even think for a moment that my words could tie you down. Thats why I want to say something again, now.

Faint but gentle, such was Marinos smile as she talked.

You dont have to work so hard anymore. You kept your promise. You saved everyone. So, dont let my words tie you down anymore. Just do what you wish.

Marino, using Tieras body, quietly embraced Shin and told him her feelings. Even as the person hugging him was Tiera, he felt a very nostalgic sensation.

.to tell the whole truth, I dont think I have much time left.

After a few minutes, Marino stated this all too casually. Shin could not just let it go, however.

What is that supposed to mean?

How can I say itIm like the remains of a dead conscience, now. I am fully aware now, and remember most of the time we spent together. I can exist here thanks to Tiera, but I feel that my memories are gradually getting hazy. I dont think Ill be able to maintain this state for more than 10 minutes.

Her own existence was gradually vanishing, or so Marino concluded, calmly. She had probably already accepted it: having dispelled her last regrets, there was no trace of sadness in her.

You mean youlldisappear?

Its probably more correct to say that Ill fuse with her. Tiera, originally, could have been the Chosen One meant to inherit my strengthbut since I remained, she couldnt inherit my stats and abilities, turning out as a normal person with no special powers, except the Priestess job.

Marino added that if she had been gone from the start, maybe Tiera wouldnt have been exiled from her village.

Who knows, maybe its all as you said. But thinking about it in game terms, had Tiera been stronger, she would have just been attacked by stronger monsters. There would have been even more damage, dont you think?

The monsters summoned by Cursed Gift depended on the stats of the cursed target. While there was an upper limit, the stronger the target was, the stronger the monsters would become.

Marinos avatar did not have exceptionally high stats, but they were still much higher than this worlds average citizen. The monsters summoned in such a case would be far superior to the level 200 beasts Tiera mentioned. In Tieras village too, there probably were those who made fighting their profession. Thanks to the absence of Marinos stats, however, the village was likely spared extensive destruction.

Is, that so??

Probably, yeah.

Thats where you say definitely, you know.

I cant be certain, but I dont think its wrong.

As always, you become a realist in the weirdest moments

Marino sighed at Shins unconvincing answer. Her expression then turned completely serious.

Hey, Shin. Do you want to go back to the former world?

I wonder. Honestly speaking, right now, half of me wants to, while the other half wants to stay.

I would have expected it to be more unbalanced. This world should be much easier for you to live in, after all.

In the beginning, I wanted to go back a lot more. But, I guess after living here for a whileI cant just abandon everything so easily now.

A world that lets you live freely. That was very attractive, of course. What was important for Shin, however, was not that.

Friends, family, love. Important people, a place to back to, its all important. Now I have those things in both worlds.

Both world contained things and people important to Shin. Choosing either had become increasingly difficult.

Your love in the real world is no more, though.

Even so. I promised to go meet her, didnt I?

.ah, for heavens sake.

Marinos serious expression crumbled, making way for a mixture of annoyance and happiness.

If you keep that up, Schnee and Tie-mghmgh

Whats wrong?

After saying Schnees name, Marino suddenly started talking gibberish. Tieras formerly expressionless face seemed to blush a little.

I got attacked by Tieraanyway. Schnee loves you that much, so you might as well respond to her feelings, no?

Marino tried to act as if Tieras interruption just now had never happened and proceed with the conversation. Her expression was serious again.

Schnee is a support character I created with the settings I wanted. Since you were inside Tiera, maybe you know already, but I used items to increase her affection level towards me. In a way, its like I brainwashed her.

Shin didnt think that it was all because of the items he used, but every now and then he would be reminded of their influence.

Aahwhy are men like this? No, I suppose its just you, Shin.

Eh? Did I say something dumb now?

Looking back on Schnee, I wouldnt have expected you to start talking about brainwashing of all things. Those are her true feelings, get a clue already.

But she might be affected, no?

No. One hundred percent impossible. You should understand at least that.

That doesnt make sense

Being a woman, she could tell, or so she surmised. Shin had no idea why Marino could say that with such confidence.

I want you to be happy, Shin. I dont know which is best for you, between staying here or going back, but Ill tell you everything I know.

Everything you know?

After all, you were flung into this world all of a sudden. Before you said that half of you wanted to go back to the former world, but you think theres a low probability of being able to, right?

Well yeah, I had no idea what happened, and I still dont.

The death game was supposed to end, so what happened next was completely unexpected. Even if he wanted to go back, what was he supposed to do? He didnt have any actual clues.

The existence of the Boundary Guardian monster and the Sacred Places, and other unknown elements, could be key in going back. Especially the Boundary Guardian, which was very different from other monsters.

About that, there probably is a way to go back.

Really?

It mainly depends on Tieras powers, though. As you are now, its like you have two containers. One is your body in this world, in game terms the avatar, and the other

is my actual living body.

Exactly. Thats the result of me and my knowledge of the former world bonding with Tiera and her powers. I think theres a way to go back, maybe your soul, or spiritif we can separate it, you should be able to return.

According to Marino, Shins material body in the real world was probably pulling on Shins spirit with more strength.

Does it mean that Id go back to the former world if I died here?

Its possible, but dont even think of trying, okay? If it failed, youd just make everyone sad.

I was just thinking out loud, no way Im going to try.

It was hardly the situation to gamble on something like that. Shins equipment had also the ability of resurrecting its wearer once: he wouldnt test it, however, so he was not sure that it would activate.

Anyway, what I meant to say is that you dont have to feel pessimistic about the chances of going back to the real world.

Actually, having more possibilities is just more troublesome. If it wasnt possible, itd be easier to give up.

I could have just not said anything.

Are you maybe enjoying seeing me conflicted?

Of course not. But it wouldnt be fair, right? There are people waiting for you over there, after all.

Shin glared at Marino, half-jokingly, but she replied with a gentle yet strict tone. His parents, siblings, and friends were there.

Shin was important to Schnee and his other comrades in this world, but so was he to the people waiting for his return in the other world.

They were probably worried, hoping he would wake up soon. How could he ever say that they were less important than Schnee and the others?

In the end, whether I go or stay, it all depends on me.

Well, yes. With this, I said all I had to. Now you just have to choose whatever would leave you with the least regrets.

You should say no regrets there, no?

Any choice would leave you with some regrets. Thats why youre so conflicted.

Marino could see through Shins thoughts.

Okay, its about time for me to disappear. Just being here like this is taxing for Tiera, after all.

Hey, youre not going to vanish just like that, right?

Shins question was very serious: he could tell Marinos expression had a tinge of sadness in it.

you found out.

Marino probably meant to hide it: she laughed, sheepishly.

When you came here, Tiera had learned skills she didnt know before, right? Just as you guessed, those are my skills.

That was proof that Marino was about to become one with Tiera, apparently. Her very existence was vague and unstable from the start, so she could have vanished anytime.

Sothis is goodbye?

Honestly speaking, I dont know. But I cant be sure that well ever meet again. So Ill say it nowgoodbye.

Marinos smile was too bright for Shin. She had accepted that she would disappear, so Shin had no way to keep her.

Marino

Dont go. Dont disappear.

Shins words stopped in his throat, then vanished in thin air before Marinos smile. He stretched his hands, but could only touch Tieras body. No matter what he did, he couldnt hold Marino in this world. Even a High Human was powerless now.

He had to say something, but nothing would come out.

It wasnt set in stone that this was the last time.

Or maybe it could be.

Shins chest tightened. Hurt.

Goodbye, then. My beloved.

With these last words, Marinos silhouette overlapped Tieras and started shining.

The light was gradually absorbed by Tieras chest, on the side of her heart.

Marino.

Marino did not answer, simply smiling serenely. Just before she disappeared, Shin managed to wring out a feeble goodbye.