Fled Without Realizing I Had Prevented the Apocalypse

After Kyle’s shocking statement, Kyle and Arlea returned to their original inn for now.
Regardless of what he had said, it was right to quickly move locations now that there weren’t many Contaminants left.
Returning to the inn, Arlea slumped down on the prepared sofa.
Although Arlea thought she had been through quite a lot, what had just happened exceeded her imagination.
The precursor to the Outer God’s descent, the horde of Contaminants, the summoning of superhumans to confront them, and Kyle Amillan’s sword that cut down the ghosts.
Each was an event that couldn’t be filtered out.
To the extent that Arlea’s strength drained away for a moment as she relaxed her tension.

“Sigh…”
However, Arlea immediately regained her tension.
It wasn’t related to the Outer God’s power that had been dwelling in her body.
Kyle had definitely cut down and annihilated the ghosts’ existence.
The scepter containing the Outer God’s power was well stored and taken away by Karla, a woman belonging to the Empire’s Special Forces.
The Contaminants gathered by the power of the scepter and ghosts would all be crushed by the superhumans.
Nevertheless, Arlea didn’t let go of her tension.
Because what was about to happen was that important.
“What do you think about putting Arlea de Raziel into the Special Forces?”
Before returning here, those were the words her master had said to Karla, the woman from the Special Forces.
Using the recommendation right possessed by a member of the Special Forces to recommend her to the Empire’s Special Forces.
To be honest, it was a bewildering proposal.
And it seemed that wasn’t just the case for her.
It was evident just from Karla’s expression when she heard his proposal.
She heaved a deep sigh at Kyle’s proposal, then said it wasn’t something that could be decided immediately, so they should move locations first and then discuss it afterward.
After returning to the inn like that, Arlea sat on the sofa and pondered over Kyle’s proposal.
Whether the proposal would be accepted or not could be thought about later, but objectively speaking, being part of the Empire’s Special Forces was quite an attractive option for Arlea right now.
What kind of place was the Empire’s Special Forces? Wasn’t it a place where superhumans known to be outstanding across the continent voluntarily come?
The Imperial Household provides many benefits accordingly, but among them, what Arlea needed most was that becoming a member of the Special Forces naturally grants honorary citizenship of the Empire.
Originally a princess of the Kingdom of Raziel, but with the kingdom’s destruction, her citizenship itself had disappeared.
She had essentially been incorporated as a refugee, so it would be good to obtain it for the convenience of future activities.
And if possible, obtaining citizenship of the Empire where she was now would be best.
In that sense, the Empire’s Special Forces was certainly a good choice if she could take it.
“He must have thought of that in advance.”
From before, she had felt that her master seemed to know and tell her the best path she could take.
Probably this time too, it felt like that.
Thinking like that, there was no reason to refuse.
However.
Knock knock.
“Arlea, may I come in?”

With the second life she had gained.
She wanted to live as she wished.
Princess Arlea recalled the last words of the craftsman who created the Divine Bow as she slowly opened the door.

“Come in.”
Hearing Princess Arlea’s words, I slowly opened the room door.
Then I saw the princess sitting on the sofa with her legs neatly together.
Unlike when she was tainted by the Outer God’s power, the sight of the princess fully unleashing her own magic power made me realize that she was now the princess I knew.
I looked at her for a moment before opening my mouth.
“How’s your physical condition?”
“There’s still some lingering effect from the curse, but I think it will recover quickly. Other than that, everything else is fine enough for daily life.”
“I see…”
Being immersed in an Outer God’s power and then released happens more often than you might think.
However, most cases are accidents that occur when citizens step into areas contaminated by Contaminants.
In cases like Arlea’s, where someone is directly involved with an Outer God’s power, most people can’t withstand the power and die.
Probably the reason she’s alive now is largely due to her own rank and the special nature of her body.
“That’s good.”
Well, anyway, it’s good that things were resolved without much injury.
Especially considering the scale of what happened this time.

“Then, what do you think about what I said earlier?”
About recommending Arlea as a member of the Empire’s Special Forces.
This was something known only to members of the Special Forces, an authority given to the unit’s captain and their aide.
After all, the Empire’s Special Forces is a place where only the best of the continent’s talents gather, so they inevitably suffer from a shortage of manpower.
Moreover, superhumans who are qualified to enter the Special Forces don’t feel the need to go through the complex procedures and troublesome elements of the Special Forces, so to prevent this, the authority of recommendation was created by His Majesty the Emperor.

Working as Special Forces, you naturally have to meet numerous superhumans.
Among them, there are bound to be superhumans who show potential for the Special Forces, or whom you want to recruit into the Special Forces right away.

An authority created to recruit such individuals without any restrictions.
Although it wasn’t used much because it’s very difficult to find superhumans to one’s liking even with this authority, it was occasionally used to discover decent superhumans.

“Recommendation… letter.”
“Yes, probably they would have no reason to refuse you on their side.”
Beyond just ability, even looking at the political aspects, there’s no reason not to recommend Arlea.
Late 5th rank. Someone who could reach 6th rank at any time given the opportunity. Moreover, a superhuman who built up her rank with a bow, a weapon that’s hard to find.

Additionally, among the Empire’s citizens, she already has the image of the Divine Archer who alone defended the castle walls and led the war as the princess of the Kingdom of Raziel, so the image of the Imperial Household willingly bringing such a person into the Special Forces would improve.
Probably the Imperial Intelligence Department would even relate the incident that happened this time to the Empire’s Special Forces in their announcement, so that perception would only improve, not worsen.

“If I join, they’ll probably provide various benefits along with citizenship on their side.”
“That’s right.”
It’s a proposal that benefits the Empire in many ways, and the same goes for Arlea.
At least the current Emperor isn’t someone who betrays those who have benefited him.
Instead, the problem is that he never forgets those who have caused him harm.
“Special Forces…”
Arlea frowned, unable to easily answer my question.
Certainly, no matter how good the conditions are, it’s not a problem that can be easily decided.
Although the Kingdom of Raziel has fallen at this point, joining the Empire’s Special Forces means more than seeking asylum, it means voluntarily enlisting in another country’s army.
There must be something that bothers her, whether in terms of perception or physiological factors.
I slowly opened my mouth, as if understanding her concerns.

“If you’re troubled, you can think about it slowly. You’ll definitely be able to join the Special Forces anyway. You could consider it until then while we’re on our way to the capital…”
“What makes you say that with such confidence?”
“…?”
I tilted my head for a moment at Arlea’s words.
What makes you say that with such confidence?

I couldn’t immediately understand what that meant.
“From before, you had an amazingly certain conviction and information about me. You noticed about my body as soon as you saw me, and said I could overcome it despite having such a body.”
“……”
“Moreover, you were sure that I could grow, and now you’re certain that I’ll join the Special Forces.”
I heard everything she said.
Certainly, those words are what I said.
At that time, Arlea’s self-esteem had hit rock bottom due to the atrocities of the royal family, and to help her recover, such confidence-boosting words were necessary.
Of course, it wasn’t just empty words, but because I had confidence that she could aim for the top.
“When I asked before, you brushed it off with nonsense about being able to see the future. But now I need a definite answer. Why do you have such confidence in me?”
…That’s right.
I looked at Arlea without saying anything.
Her face was more serious than I’d ever seen before.
It seemed she wouldn’t believe at all if I gave the same answer here.
I can see the future. I’ve entered the game I played. You were among the characters in that game. And as an archer with a high rank.
Even if I laid it out like this, she wouldn’t believe it now.
Rather, she’d think it strange.
And above all.
‘That expression.’
Like when I first saw her,
That expression that seems to show no self-esteem at all.
That looks like it desperately needs someone’s belief.
That expression naturally made me open my mouth.
“A person doesn’t need a reason to believe in another person.”
It was the right thing to say.
Does a person need a reason to believe in another person?
To that question, I thought that if the other party is a person, that reason isn’t necessary.
However.
“That’s an idealistic view.”
To most people, these words feel like an ideal.
Trust without compensation or basis. That trust would rather evoke rejection.
It was even more so for those with low self-esteem like Arlea.
Why are they helping me? That can’t be. Don’t they have some other purpose?
Because it leads to this kind of thinking, it’s not an easy task to remove the barriers built in their hearts.
Like an injured cat, they reject everyone except themselves.

In such cases, there’s only one measure to take.
“I believed because it was you.”
“…What?”
“It’s idealistic to say that a person doesn’t need a reason to believe in another person. I needed that reason too. And, that reason was you.”
A direct approach.
Even if the injured cat swings its claws, embracing and stroking that wound.
“Not someone else, but Arlea de Raziel. I could show that much faith because it was you.”
“Wh-What do you mean…”
“Shall I say it one more time?”
Looking at Arlea stammering, I opened my mouth again.
“I believed because I knew you would reach it. I believed because I thought you would go further. I believed because I thought you would provide value worthy of my faith.”

Without saying anything, just quietly stroking and embracing repeatedly.
Even if they don’t eat, continuously providing food and showing your face and not causing any harm to them, making them believe that it’s okay to stop being wary.
If you do that, naturally the cat’s heart will soften and accept my touch.
The reason is simple.

“Does that answer your question?”
Because whether animal or human, they desperately long for someone’s warmth.
I truly thought so as I looked at Arlea nodding her head and shedding tears.