Reincarnated User Manual

Chapter 302: Door Of The Future (2)

The banquet hall was bustling with activity as the party unfolded. Shiron blinked, as if trying to comprehend an absurd statement.

“…A hero?”

“Yes.”

Iris responded with a benevolent smile, while Shiron, glancing between Deviale and her, pointed a finger at himself.

“Me?”

“Yes. We expect great feats from you in the upcoming Apostle Extermination Campaign…”

“I’m not that kind of person.”

Shiron abruptly stood up, as if attempting to flee. Deviale, observing the conversation, sighed, and Iris followed Shiron, appearing flustered.

“Uh, excuse me. Hero… Hero!”

“…Sir Shiron. I don’t understand why you’re so adamant, but we know about the Apostles. We also know that you’ve already defeated many Apostles, Sir Shiron.”

Iris continued to pursue him.

“We in Lucerne won’t stand idly by and watch your solitary fight. We will support you, putting the fate of our nation at stake if necessary…”

“Ah, Lady Eldrina.”

“What’s going on?”

Ignoring the trailing Iris, Shiron approached Eldrina.

“I’m sorry, I’m not feeling well. I think I should head in early.”

“Are you sick, brother?”

“Sorry I can’t stay until the end.”

“Oh, no! I should apologize, considering you just returned from a long journey. Go in, get cleaned up, and have a good rest.”

“I will.”

After reassuring the apologetic Siriel, Shiron left the banquet hall. Deviale, who had been watching him, left Iris behind and followed Shiron.

“Sir Shiron!”

Deviale called urgently toward Shiron, who was exiting the building. Yet, Shiron didn’t react, descending the stairs and roughly pushing open the door.

This was unlike Shiron’s usual courteous manner toward Deviale. Deviale felt a chill down his spine.

Whoooosh-

After walking for some time, the two finally stopped in front of a detached building.

“Cardinal, who is that woman? What brings her here, and with what authority is she attending such a celebratory event?”

“Sir Shiron, I didn’t mention anything to her.”

“I thought as much.”

Clap!

As Shiron clapped, the surroundings transformed. The dim manor instantly turned into a warm, cozy interior, and Deviale’s eyes widened at the surreal sight.

“My goodness…”

Was this the interior of the annex seen from outside? Perhaps where Deviale had been walking until now was not a manor but a hidden passage disguised by illusion.

Whether it was fooling the senses of a cardinal or bringing a cardinal to some place without leaving a trace—it was a remarkable magical feat.

‘As expected of the hero…’

Deviale gazed at Shiron, feeling a swelling in his chest. Shiron was already seated in an armchair that had appeared out of nowhere.

“Cardinal.”

“Y-Yes.”

“We moved here briefly to avoid the scrutiny of that Iris. I ask for your understanding.”

“Is she watching us…?”

Deviale quickly glanced around. However, this space had neither windows nor doors, a completely isolated area. And yet, despite being watched, Deviale hadn’t noticed anything.

But Shiron didn’t seem overly concerned.

“Lucerne has many holy relics, doesn’t it? Among them, there are items that could escape even a cardinal’s awareness. The Eye of Saint Rosario, the Staff of Radiance… there are many that come to mind.”

“…Those items are holy relics that cannot be taken out.”

“The Shield of Chesed was also not allowed to be taken out. But it was through a special prayer from His Holiness that the ban was lifted.”

At some point, Shiron was holding a rugged shield—the [Shield of Chesed]. One of the most precious among hundreds of holy relics, counted on a single hand.

“…When did you go and bring another holy relic…”

Deviale bowed his head and sighed deeply. He, who managed the archdiocese of Rien, kept track of the clergy traveling between the Empire and his region.

Even if Iris were a cardinal like Deviale, she shouldn’t have been able to escape his notice, especially given that they had been together continuously for the past month.

“I’m sorry. I should have paid more attention.”

“This is not the cardinal’s fault. I expected someone to take notice after the commotion we stirred.”

“…Then why were you so adamant?”

“Apostle Extermination Campaign.”

Iris had indeed mentioned that, even adding that Lucerne would stake its fortune for support.

“Please, don’t do it. I ask this earnestly.”

Shiron spoke without a hint of laughter.

“If it’s beyond the Cardinal’s control, then go to Lucerne and persuade His Holiness. The Arwen Highlands, the mist lingering there is a place humans should not enter.”

“…Because it’s an ‘opening’ from which endless monsters emerge?”

To Deviale’s question, Shiron shook his head.

An opening from which monsters emerged.

Not incorrect. Before the extermination campaign began, dense mist suddenly appeared in the grasslands, and monsters poured out incessantly.

But the mist’s essence was not merely an opening from which monsters emerged.

“It is [The Door to the Future].”

“……What do you mean by that?”

“If you go there, you can reach the future, more precisely, an era where the demonic realms and the continent have merged.”

“Wait… Just a moment.”

Deviale was confused by these incomprehensible words. He clutched his head, his hair, was streaked with white, seemingly on the verge of falling out.

“I can’t quite… understand.”

“I feel like I’m talking nonsense, too.”

“No. I would never doubt you, hero. I don’t think you’re lying either. It’s just… the word ‘future’ troubles me…”

Deviale looked up at Shiron with a gaunt face, appearing as if he had aged several years in just a moment.

“You said that place is a door connected to the future?”

“Yes.”

“Then…”

Deviale wetted his lips with a face that looked like he might die any moment. He doesn’t ask how the present and future connect. Miracles do not happen for no reason.

However, there was one thing that concerned him.

The merging of the demonic realms and the continent. That meant…

“The future… does it become a place teeming with so many monsters?”

“Yes.”

As Shiron gave an immediate response, Deviale’s face turned pale, as if he had heard something forbidden.

“Is the world doomed?”

“If we do nothing, then yes, it will be. Or if I go in there and die, it’ll also be doomed.”

“No! That can’t happen!”

Deviale stood up in a fit of panic.

“I—I will protect you, Hero! I’ll die in your place if necessary…!”

“No, Cardinal, there’s no need for you to come with me. If you go in there, you’ll be in danger too, regardless of your status.”

Shiron laughed playfully, trying to calm Deviale down. Perhaps he’d been too serious; seeing the large, middle-aged man display such weakness was hard to watch.

“Surely, you don’t think I’m going to do nothing. The future shown by the Apostles is one where everything is ruined and everyone dies. But I won’t let that happen.”

“Hero…”

Deviale gazed at Shiron with dazed eyes. Somehow, he felt as if there was a halo shining behind him. Overcome with emotion, Deviale even shed tears as he wept.

“What do I need to do? Just give the order.”

Clap!

Instead of answering, Shiron clapped into the air.

The scene transformed back to the rear garden of the annex where they had been earlier.

“Go and keep Cardinal Iris occupied. And if she really wants to watch over me, tell her to do it openly, instead of sneakily using holy relics. What kind of nonsense is that?”

“Y-Yes… Understood.”

Deviale hastily wiped his tears and hurried back toward the banquet hall.

“Is it true? That mist is actually a door to the future?”

He turned toward the voice coming from the forest.

An elf stepped out from the shadows. It was Seira. Since she was the one who had transported Deviale and Shiron, she had heard their entire conversation.

“Yes.”

“Wow… you live long enough, and you really do see everything. The future… the future, huh…”

“You’re going too this time, so brace yourself.”

Shiron crossed his arms and gave her a stern nod. Hearing this, Seira swallowed hard. In all the years she’d known Shiron, this was the first time he’d told her to brace herself.

“Brace myself? Is it that dangerous? The future?”

“It’s not exactly hell, more like 10 to 20 years from now.”

“…But you said earlier it’s filled with monsters.”n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

“You, Lucia, and Yoru aren’t ones to struggle with mere monsters.”

“…Then what is it?”

Even without Seira asking outright, Shiron could sense her intent and humored her.

“When you go there, you’ll meet the future Lucia.”

“…What? Really?!”

“And you’ll also find the future Seira Romer, Yoru, Siriel, and Yuma.”

“But… so what?”

Seira’s lips curled into a wide smile. The idea of meeting a future Lucia and Siriel made her feel excited.

Snap.

Shiron snapped his fingers, creating a barrier around them. He was even more cautious now than before, as if he wanted to ensure no one could overhear.

“I’m not there.”

“…Huh? What do you mean?”

Seira didn’t understand at first. How could Shiron not be there if Lucia, Seira, and even Yuma were?

“Why aren’t you there? Did you catch some incurable disease?”

“Well…”

Shiron didn’t answer right away, taking a moment instead. Seira felt a foreboding sense of dread.

“Lucia killed me.”

A future that remained unchangeable lay hidden within the mist.