Ch.90 Are Ghosts Practically Invincible?

"..."

The next thing I knew, I opened my eyes to a familiar sight. The scenery of the fairy forest was just as it always had been.

If I shift my gaze slightly, I can see my own branch with leaves on it.

...Hahaha... There are a lot of protagonists that have experienced thisー is what I'd like to say. What good would it do to embody that template myself?

Isn't it incredibly unfortunate that when I tried to back off so that I could observe better, only to be coincidentally hit by ome of their attacks and killed?

I guess it was just my luck that I got hit by chance? No, that doesn't matter. ...It's not good, though... Oh man, this is so embarrassing.

A blackout while observing the situation from above. I've died many times during my previous playthrough, and I've even experienced actual death in my past life.

Even so, I still can't get used to blackouts, when my consciousness suddenly cuts out.

Getting used to death isn't good, so I guess that's for the best.

Apparently, my consciousness would be sent back to my main body if my fairy body were to die.

I knew that Cern-san had died because I witnessed her death during my time as a grass, and I also knew from information I gained in my previous life that she would be resurrected as a ghost.

In this world, those who die without accomplishing what they were meant to do, with lingering regrets, have a strong desire and wish to fulfill those wishes that influences their souls, causing them to reappear in the mortal world as ghosts.

To return to the cycle of reincarnation, one must fulfill their strong desires and wishes. Only when they achieve can they finally return from their vessel to the cycle of reincarnation.

Then, they wait for their next opportunity to be reborn, and when their turn comes, their soul is reset to a blank state, they receive a new vessel, and are reborn into the present world.

-An excerpt from a book self-published by a priest at a certain church.

Since no one knows if it's true or not, it's something to be taken with a grain of salt. That's what I thought at the time, but seeing Cern-san actually revived like this, the very simple thought that came to mind was, "It must be true."

I've experienced it myself just now. Though I didn't die and reincarnate in this case.

Ghosts, wraith-type monsters, and other demons are immune to brute force attacks like simple physical or magical attacks. If you want to affect them or inflict damage, you have no choice but to use holy magic or something with a similar effect.

Since I was thinking that Cern-san, who is a ghost, wouldn't take any damage, I didn't intervene, assuming it would be fine.

I wasn't sure if the Fairy Flame Gerbil had those kinds of attacks, so it's just a personal guess of mine, though.

Even if she did take damage from the gerbil, she's someone I don't know and have never spoken to. Our relationship is superficial, based solely on my one-sided knowledge.

It's only natural that I would treat her differently than Nabla-kun. That kind of thing should be left to a hero with an overflowing sense of justice.

Even if people think I'm a failure as a human being (I'm not really human anyway), my own life is more important than the lives of strangers. The lives of my family and friends are more important than my own. That's how I think. Because as long as I don't die, I can come back to my main body.

I don't want to risk attracting the attention of that sparrow lookalike by helping out Cern-san, and honestly, whether the attack hits or not, whether I die or not, it doesn't really matter... what am I thinking? Why would I even think that?

Even if it's a stranger, if you see someone who looks like they're about to die right in front of you, you'd be worried about them, regardless of whether you decide to help or not.

I never thought I was the kind of person who would think, "It's fine if I die..."

This feels similar to my state of mind right after I was reincarnated. Back then, I didn't feel anything about my own death.

What on earth is this...?

...But this is no time to be thinking about that. Nabla-kun is about to attack that sparrow lookalike.

It moved its branches in a wriggling motion like pulsating blood vessels, creating a dark red, round ball right in front of my eyes.

That thing that cut me in two was definitely a stray bullet. It didn't change direction to attack.

I got that impression from observing the sparrow-like bird's eye movements and subsequent actions.

It seems that as long as we don't become enemies, he will behave like a king, someone we can protect.

Unnecessary hostility is dangerous. I must stop Nabla-kun.

I create a new clone and head towards him.

"Nabla-kun! Stop attacking!"

"Wait for me, Vester. I will avenge you now... Huh, Vester...?"

He was just about to release a dark red, round ball at the sparrow lookalike. He stopped moving when he heard my voice and turned his face towards me.

"Yes, it's me, Nabla-kun."

"Were you alive?"

"As you can see, I'm still alive and well."

I spread my arms wide to indicate I'm safe, and even do a sideways somersault in mid-air.

Nabla-kun deactivates his magic, extends his branch hand towards me, and touches my body.

"That's good... I thought you were dead because your body had split in two."

"You know, don't you? That tree is the real me. This fairy form is me too, but this one can die any number of times and I'll still be okay."

I explained, pointing with my finger, and then turned my gaze towards Cern-san.

Yeah, it looks like she's doing fine over there.

This is the view that unfolds before my eyes.

The sparrow lookalike keeps on attacking her as she's crouching. It's just like the first time I saw them, but this time there's no meat to gouge out of, making the attacks ineffective.

It probably doesn't even have a scratch on her.

"Jui? Jujujuju...jujuju...juiiiiiii?"

The sparrow lookalike is tilting its head. It seems confused that the attacks have no effect whatsoever.

"Stop it pleeeeeease..."

She shieded her head with her left hand while shaking her right hand behind her back as if to chase it away.

Having realized that the attack wouldn't work on herseld, she acted boldly and without fear. Yet, he remained crouched, probably still afraid of being attacked.

Since she's a ghost, the hand that tries to scare it away just slips right through the sparrow lookalike without hitting it, rendering it pointless.

Whatever they do is pointless. Both of their actions are ineffective.

The sparrow lookalike pecked at her with its heads tilted, while Cern-san crouched down and chased it away. They continued this same behavior for several minutes.

The first to break was the sparrow lookalike, the Fairy Flame Gerbil.

It was trying to drive out the intruder who had entered the fairy forest without permission, but when it realized that its efforts were futile, it stopped attacking and returned to the forest.

This is a rare moment where a raid monster is defeated by a single NPC.

"Your clothes have changed color, have they not?"

"Yes, what do you think? Does it suit me?"

Oh, that's right. I mentioned before that I might be able to change my clothes now that I've leveled up, and as expected, there have been a few changes.

Before leveling up, no matter how many different outfits I tried to imagine myself wearing, it would only recreate a frilly, off-the-shoulder white dress and underwear...well, it's still the same dress, but now I could at least change the colors.

When creating this new clone, I decided to use carmine red as the color for my dress. I thought it might suit me since I have black hair.

By the way, I did Ice blue yesterday.

"I think it looks good."

It looks good? Didn't Nabla-kun say the same thing yesterday?

Does that mean it suits me? Or does it mean it suits me somewhat?

Or does it mean that even if it doesn't suit me, if you think it looks good, then it's okay?

...Ah. I seem to have come across as a troublesome girlfriend...

ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー

〘Job: Low-Tier Bandit〙

A primary job. People who live in mountains or caves near human settlements, and make a living by attacking people to gain experience points or stealing things.

This is a job often taken up by people who don't feel any guilt about committing crimes, such as wanting to make easy money by killing people, enjoying the act of stealing, or simply finding pleasure in deception.

Be careful, as your karma penalty will increase just by having it set as your occupation.

When set as the main job, it gives a slight boost in AGI and DEX.

It also gives a slight reduction in LUK.

Requirements for employment:

① Having previously joined and then left a thieves' guild.

② Belonging to any bandit group.

〘Job: Beginner Porter〙

A primary job. A courier who effortlessly carries various kinds of luggage, accompanying a central figure and carrying their belongings.

However, the job itself wasn't simply to carry luggage.

Porter's true value is revealed when the central figure is in trouble.

When set as the main job, it gives a slight bonus in STR and DEX.

It also gives a slight reduction in AGI

Requirements for employment:

① Have a total of 100 STR or higher.

② You must be able to carry 10 or more items for 15 minutes without dropping them.

③ You must choose someone for you to carry their load and obtain their consent.

ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー

Previous | ToC | Next