Chapter 315: Hoping to return home

315 – Hoping to return home

Because of vampire girl dropping an extra-large bomb, the reincarnators are in uproar. Even vampire girl’s previous threats had no restraining effect of them, such is the buzz in the air. Surely that indicates just how sensational it would be for them to be able to return to Earth.

However, unfortunately I can’t do that. It’s certainly the case that I had previously asked vampire girl about returning to Earth. However, that was only in the context of after everything was settled. The context of after the System is destroyed. Not in the current context where the System is still going strong.

The reincarnators are not able to return to Earth. The reason for that, is they have the n%I=W skill.

Originally it was just a mysterious skill, but the effect of it is to link the reincarnators to the System in this world. The reincarnators are not originally inhabitants of this planet. Under normal circumstances the System on this planet would not have had any particular influence upon them after their original deaths and they would have returned to the normal cycle of reincarnation. Their souls were forcibly inserted into the System, and they were granted a second life. That is what the reincarnators are. So then, the thing that ties the souls of the reincarnators to the System, is the n%I=W skill.

Because they have this skill, despite being outsiders, the reincarnators are able to receive the blessings of the System in terms of skills and status values. At the same time, this skill prevents the System from having intimate and perfect control over them. If the reincarnators die, unlike the natural inhabitants of this planet, they are able to return to the normal cycle of reincarnation. Once the System has intimate control over your soul, you will be trapped into endlessly reincarnating inside this incessant hell from then on. To ensure that doesn’t happen, while the n%I=W skill grants the reincarnators the blessings of the System, it also manages them such that they aren’t completely brought into the System, basically. Ultimately, the reincarnators are simply temporary visitors from the perspective of the System and this world.

In short, the n%I=W skill is extremely important to the reincarnators, but in this instance the skill gets in the way. Skills are something that are attached to the soul. In addition, the n%I=W skill that is particularly essential to the reincarnators amongst all the skills, is firmly bound to their souls. In further addition, the n%I=W skill is the bridge that connects the reincarnators to the System. In other words, it’s tied to the System. It cannot be disconnected. In yet other words, the reincarnators cannot be taken out from this planet where the System is.

If the System is destroyed, then that bond will vanish. Therefore, in the context of that being done I had asked vampire girl and oni-kun whether or not they wanted to return to Earth. It seems like vampire girl took a broad interpretation of that, and misunderstood that it would be possible to return right away. In practice, I am already no longer under the influence of skills in general, so I can go to and from Earth. However, that it something I am able to do because I don’t have any skills, and to take the reincarnators from this planet it would be necessary to either destroy the System, or for them to have no skills like me.

There does exist a skill that enables getting rid of skills, after a fashion. A method to offer up the power of one’s skills. However, when sensei applied that on Natsume-kun and his skills were taken away, the n%I=W skill was the only one remaining. That’s just how important n%I=W is, and how difficult it is to remove it. Well, since it’s an interface for conveying the influence of the System, I’m sure it’s impossible to use the System’s power from the inside to detach it. That being the case, there’s no other method to detach it other than to become a god like me. What’s with this impossible video game? Nai wa.Thê source of this content n/o/v/(el)bi((n))

I resolve myself and simply speak that. Immediately following that, an indescribable atmosphere breaks out.

Vampire girl seemed to be just about to speak, so I activated my Evil Eyes and compelled her to be still. She was probably about to blurt out something like “Eh, but you had said before that we could return though?”, but I’d rather she doesn’t say anything further.

Certainly, in the case where the System is destroyed, it would be possible to return. However, I’m not intending to bother myself with what happens after the System is destroyed. My agreement with D doesn’t cover that either. Besides, as to whether or not I will be able to do it after the destruction of the System, there is no guarantee.

If it was just the pair of vampire girl and oni-kun, then if I made the preparations beforehand then I thought I might be able to manage it, which is why I had made that proposal before. However, I don’t have either enough time or raw energy to make the preparations for all the reincarnators. I can manage two or three people. What would happen if I was overly honest and revealed that now? Obviously there would be a scramble for the limited places. If it’s impossible to return everyone, then it’s better that everyone stays behind. At least that way, there won’t be any conflict in the scramble for the limited places and neither will there be any deep resentment from those who lost out.

The silence is so complete it’s painful. During that, Kudou-san sat down onto her chair with a thump. Or rather than sitting down, it’s might be more accurate to say that she lost strength and collapsed and the chair just happened to be there. That’s just how lifeless Kudou-san’s expression was. Without saying anything, she hung her head. In addition to Kudou-san, there were several others who couldn’t conceal the disappointment on their faces.

For unnecessarily stirring up hope, I’m sorry.

Even vampire girl felt uncomfortable in this atmosphere, and had an awkward expression. Seeing that, I cancelled the Evil Eye that I had activated on vampire girl.

「For today, let’s leave this matter here.」

I said that and stood up. There’s no longer any point in having a debriefing session with the mood like this. The reincarnators also need some time to think about things I’m sure. As if escaping from the frozen atmosphere in this place, I quickly moved to go outside. Somewhat flustered, vampire girl and oni-kun followed after me. Nobody tried to stop us as we left, and we departed the tree house. The closing door separated us from the reincarnators.