The Beginning of the Story

To me, the town I lived in was the entirety of my world.

A small town where most people were farmers. Barley was the main crop, and most townspeople lived on bread made from it.

There were probably many similar towns scattered throughout the Holy Kingdom.

I followed what my parents told me, helped with farmwork, and lived the life of an ordinary farmer.

As long as I bowed my head to the priests who occasionally visited, I didn't need to worry about anything else.

It was a peaceful, yet happy daily life.

—Until that day, when fate changed everything.

"This year's sacrifice has been decided: Laura Avery. She will depart from this town tomorrow morning. The chosen one and those related to her shall make preparations immediately."

The moment a man in stern ceremonial robes called out my precious childhood friend's name, my life changed forever.

I knew that townspeople were occasionally offered as sacrifices.

According to the priests, a dragon dwelt within the large mountain near our town, and without sacrifices to appease it, the mountain would erupt in fury.

An eruption would cause countless deaths.

Therefore, to quell the mountain's wrath, one sacrifice had to be offered each year from the surrounding towns.

When weighing the lives of all the surrounding townspeople against one sacrifice, the conclusion was self-evident.

What a cruel story, I thought.

But at the same time, somewhere in my heart, I thought of it as someone else's problem.

Nothing to do with us.

Just some stranger somewhere becoming unfortunate.

That's how I'd been escaping from reality.

Only when my childhood friend was chosen as the sacrifice did I finally understand.

—I couldn't accept this.

Why Laura?

She hadn't done anything wrong. She'd simply been living an ordinary life.

Why did she have to die?

Being sacrificed to save people whose names she didn't even know?

Why did Laura have to be the one to die? Why did it have to be her?

I couldn't accept it.

So I tried to take Laura and run.

Sneaking her out was easy, but we were quickly discovered.

Laura's golden hair streamed behind her as she ran behind me, face deathly pale.

Behind her, a mob of adults chased us with bloodshot eyes. In their hands were lethal farming tools—hoes and sickles. Just yesterday, these same people had been ordinary townspeople chatting and laughing with us.

"Seize that heretic!"

"If we don't offer a sacrifice, everyone will be killed by the mountain's wrath! Don't you understand that, you murderer!?"

"I never raised a monster like you! Die and atone for your sins!"

With insults fouler than any I'd ever heard hurled at our backs, we ran with everything we had.

In a chase against armed adults, there was normally no way we could win.

Yet ever since I'd taken Laura, a mysterious power had been welling up within my body.

In this world, there were those who awakened to a power called "Soullight."

People who drew superhuman power from what lies at humanity's foundation—the soul.

Apparently, most great figures who left their names in history—exceptional knights and renowned mages—possessed this "Soullight."

The power propelling my legs was probably this "Soullight."

Once the power settled in, I scooped Laura up and ran.

With incredible leg strength and stamina, I never once let the adults catch up.

 

＊　＊　＊

 

Running, running, running, running until I could scarcely believe how far we'd come, my consciousness growing hazy—we finally escaped the town and shook off our pursuers.

By then, the sky was beginning to brighten.

Not a single person could be seen anywhere around us.

We'd finally reached somewhere that felt safe.

I collapsed heavily onto an empty patch of grass.

"Ahaha… that really took it out of me."

"Rio, is your shoulder wound okay!?"

When I spoke lightheartedly, Laura immediately rushed over with a pale face.

She was worried about the wound from being shot by a crossbow while we were fleeing.

I hadn't been able to pay attention to it when we had bigger problems, but now that I was sitting still, the pain came crashing in.

Not wanting to worry Laura, I answered with as calm a face as I could manage.

"I'm fine. It just grazed me."

"Liar. That's your 'I'm lying' face, Rio. Let me see."

My poor acting was seen through instantly.

Laura carefully pulled at the shoulder of my clothes to examine the wound.

The bolt had passed through and wasn't lodged inside. But blood was still dripping steadily from my shoulder.

"This wound is terrible… Rio, I'm so sorry."

"… Don't apologize."

She apologized in a trembling voice, head hanging low.

Tears spilled from her eyes.

"I keep thinking about it. Wondering if everything that happened today might just disappear if I fall asleep. If maybe when I wake up, Mom and Dad will be smiling, Rio will come over to play, and then, and then…"

Hearing those words made me want to cry too.

Through her tears, she gave voice to her heart's wish.

"—Oh, if only time could turn back."

The moment she spoke those words, something changed where she was touching me—my shoulder.

The wounded shoulder began to heal, as if time itself were rewinding.

The pain vanished in an instant, and my shoulder returned completely to normal.

"… Huh?"

"—Soullight."

I understood instinctively.

She, too, had awakened.

The radiance of the soul. A supernatural power manifested through powerful will.

A power to heal people—it suited her gentleness perfectly, I thought.

"I thought today was the worst day of my life, but I guess it's not all bad."

I said it as if putting on a brave front.

The physical enhancement power that had manifested in me.

And the healing power that had manifested in Laura.

With these, we might be able to survive in the outside world.

Laura, just wait a little longer.

The past won't come back. Our life with your parents, with my parents—that's gone forever.

But we can still search for an even happier future.

If we've lost happy days, we just need to create even happier ones.

I absolutely will not let my precious childhood friend be made miserable by some senseless decree.

As I steeled my resolve anew, I felt something like my soul shining near my heart.

 

＊　＊　＊

 

We left the country we'd lived in—the Holy Kingdom—and made for the Empire.

The Vanguard Church that had tried to make Laura a sacrifice was a religion headquartered in the Holy Kingdom. Once we crossed the border, our pursuers shouldn't be able to follow for a while.

Fortunately, a kind merchant we happened upon along the road taught us the way to the Empire.

We encountered monsters several times during the journey, but managed to escape using our Soullight powers.

After arriving in Imperial territory, we earned our own money for the first time.

I mainly took on physical labor using the monstrous strength I'd gained from Soullight, while Laura apparently found work helping out at a restaurant.

Through such hardships, we managed to secure the bare minimum—food, clothing, and shelter.

After that, Laura and I registered at the Empire's Adventurers' Guild.

Having never left our town before, we had no way of knowing, but apparently most people who awakened to Soullight made their living as adventurers.

For Soullight holders with the combat power of a thousand warriors, being a freelance adventurer apparently paid better than serving a nation as a knight or mage.

Government service, for better or worse, demanded conformity. It wasn't uncommon for Soullight holders with exceptional abilities to find themselves unable to fully demonstrate their power.

An adventurer's work mainly consisted of combat with monsters and escort duty.

Subjugating monsters that appeared in areas the national knights couldn't respond to, mining ore in dangerous regions, guarding nobles' carriages.

Adventurers who could serve as a massive fighting force with just a small number of people were in considerable demand, apparently.

They were especially needed when powerful monsters appeared in remote regions beyond the knights' reach.

 

＊　＊　＊

 

"Goooooo!"

Having received an emergency request from the Adventurers' Guild, I was facing off against a monster called a Red Bear that had appeared in a certain village in the Empire.

Standing upright, its body must have been two meters tall. A single sweep of its arms, thick as great trees, cut through the air with a terrifying whistle. Two of the village's hunters had already fallen victim to it.

A monster that had grown this large could no longer be brought down by ordinary bows. This called for knights from the Imperial capital—or adventurers.

"Haaaaaaah!"

I ducked to avoid a horizontal sweep almost too fast to see, then slipped inside its guard and slashed. My sword carved into the Red Bear's torso.

"Gooo…!"

The Red Bear faltered and stumbled backward. Spotting my opening, I leaped toward its head.

"Hah!"

And then—my full-power strike. A downward slash unleashing every ounce of my Soullight-enhanced strength crushed the Red Bear's skull and ended its life. Its massive body crumpled to the ground.

The villagers who had been watching from afar erupted in cheers.

Receiving their celebration, I waved back, feeling somewhat embarrassed. It was a little awkward, but knowing I had saved these people filled me with pride.

Laura and I steadily accumulated experience as adventurers.

Monster subjugation, ruby ore mining, life grass gathering—we took on requests of all kinds.

The days were far from easy, but through completing requests, we gained all sorts of experience.

My Soullight was a power that enhanced physical abilities.

I fought monsters with a sword, and so far I'd never lost.

I could cleave through large monsters in a single strike, and my leg strength surpassed even horses.

My arm strength was especially tremendous—I remained undefeated in arm wrestling against fellow adventurers.

And Laura's healing power was exceptional even compared to local clergy.

If I got injured during combat, she could treat me immediately.

On top of that, she could manifest a barrier before herself to block attacks.

This barrier was sturdy enough to withstand even a salamander's fire breath, so Laura rarely sustained injuries.

However, Laura possessed almost no power to attack enemies.

Most likely, her gentle nature had shaped her Soullight that way.

Having watched her all this time, I sensed this intuitively.

If Laura couldn't fight alone, then I would protect her.

Spending time with my most precious childhood friend, I renewed my determination once more.

 

＊　＊　＊

 

This was the beginning of a story called "Souls Light Nobly."

The boy named Riogren was the protagonist, and the girl named Laura was the heroine. From here on, they were fated to face countless trials.

And these two happened to be a certain death god girl's "OTP."

 

＊　＊　＊

 

From my knowledge of the source material, I knew that after assembling, the protagonist's party would base their activities out of the Adventurers' Guild in the Imperial capital.

I relocated my base of operations to the Imperial capital and threw myself into gathering information.

The most conspicuous member of the protagonist's party would be Fren.

Not only did she possess eye-catching beauty, but her elegant bearing—far too refined for a commoner—naturally drew attention.

She'd already stood out back when we were together, so now that her beauty had matured even further, she must be attracting even more gazes.

As a proud fan cheering from the sidelines, I couldn't be happier.

 

＊　＊　＊

 

After about a week of gathering information, I finally pinpointed the protagonist party's location.

"…!"

Despite having searched for them all this time, I couldn't believe my eyes when I actually saw them.

A party of four adventurers. The moment I recognized who they were, my heart started pounding.

Ohhhhh, they're real!

This was my first time seeing the three besides Fren in person.

At the front were the childhood friend duo—Rio and Laura.

Riogren was a boy who retained a rustic quality befitting his rural upbringing. The eyes watching Laura beside him held a gentle light.

His face wasn't flashy, but he looked earnest and honest.

Laura, on the other hand, had eye-catching beauty. She was a girl who gave an impression of "adorable" before "beautiful." Her slightly downturned eyes and the smile perpetually gracing her face revealed her gentle personality.

Her large eyes were fixed on Rio. That gaze carried a tender warmth.

Ugh, they're standing so close… just get married already…

Following slightly behind were Gil and Fren, who had joined up with the other two. They appeared to be arguing about something.

Gil was a young man somewhat older than the other three. Taller than average, with a slim but firmly muscled body. His narrow eyes might be somewhat intimidating to those facing him. But right now, mid-argument with Fren, that unapproachable impression had faded.

Fren, looking up at him and arguing about something, was a girl with the kind of beauty that would always command the center of attention at social gatherings. She'd grown even more beautiful than she had been years ago. Her braided golden hair shone magnificently, and the flare skirt flowing from her waist accentuated her composed bearing.

But at this moment, she was saying this and that to Gil with none of her usual composure.

Haaah… watching GilFren content has extended my lifespan by about a year… Well, I paid twenty years to the Death God, so I'm still deep in the red. Gahaha!

 

＊　＊　＊

 

Several days after that moving (one-sided) encounter, I continued observing them while keeping enough distance not to be noticed.

And so, my recent daily routine had become observing my OTP.

On this perfect day for an outing under clear skies, I sat in a damp thicket, stalking—I mean, observing the protagonist party from extreme long range.

What made this stalk—er, observation possible was one of my powers: "Death God's Eye."

"Death God's Eye" was an excellent ability that let me clearly perceive assassination targets even through fog.

Under clear skies, I could see things a full kilometer away with perfect clarity.

Truly an ability made for observing one's OTP.

If the Death God who granted me this power saw what I was using it for, they'd probably heave a great sigh.

In my field of vision, Laura was giggling at something Rio had said.

… So precious.

… Hah! No, wait, this isn't stalking driven by some perverted motivation.

I'm merely monitoring when the original story's events will unfold. That should be coming up soon.

Making such excuses to myself, I turned my attention back to the four of them.

The protagonist, Riogren.

The gentle-faced blonde girl, Laura.

These two were childhood friends locked in a frustrating will-they-won't-they romance that never quite reached its conclusion.

However, their relationship wasn't simple enough to call them just a typical childhood friend pairing.

To start with, Laura felt indebted to Rio—he had saved her life, and she had made him abandon everything he'd known for her sake.

Rio was keenly aware of this as well.

From his perspective, he'd do anything for Laura—he'd been head over heels for her since they were kids, and she'd always seemed out of his league—but that devotion never quite got through to her.

This caused considerable awkwardness in the early parts of the story.

But! The relationship where they overcame all that and both genuinely strove to become lovers was truly wonderful!

They were my OTP number one.

 

＊　＊　＊

 

And I had a second OTP as well.

The serious-looking noble lady, Fren.

The silver-haired young man with the intimidating eyes, Gil.

Gil was a young man with a somewhat complicated background.

Having participated in resistance movements, worked as a vigilante, and done various other things, he now walked alongside them as an adventurer.

When Gil said something with a sardonic smile, Fren confronted him with a dead-serious expression.

… So precious.

Fren and Gil were my OTP number two. The bickering-couple dynamic was their appeal.

Fren, with her serious disposition, challenged Gil every time he said or did something that seemed flippant.

At first, they simply didn't get along.

However, through their interactions, Fren gradually came to notice the seriousness within Gil—his own sense of justice—and began to see him as someone she couldn't leave alone.

And Gil, too, was drawn to Fren's strength as she strove to uphold the integrity he himself had abandoned.

Ugh, I wanted to see Fren's lovestruck face so badly!

As I continued grinning to myself and maintaining my observation, I noticed the distance between us had closed before I knew it.

They showed no sign of noticing me.

However, now that we were closer, I could hear their voices.

It seemed the other three were listening to Fren speak.

"—There is someone I admire."

Fren spoke in a serious tone.

The person she admired was probably her father.

Her father, who had devoted himself to living as a proper noble should, was someone she respected—and the origin of her Soullight.

"That person had not only the strength to stay true to their convictions, but also the nobility to help others without seeking anything in return."

Yes, yes.

"When we were together, their seemingly brusque yet delicate consideration saved me many times over."

Mm…?

"And yet they never gave a thought to their own wellbeing—shockingly careless about themselves."

…?

"More dependable than anyone, yet so precarious I couldn't leave them alone. Such a mysterious person."

… Who was she talking about?

Suddenly encountering a divergence from the original story, I was bewildered.

While I puzzled over it, the conversation continued.

"I can really tell how much you care about that person, Fren. Where are they now?"

"I don't know."

Fren shook her head with a gentle smile.

"They were like mist—the moment I took my eyes off them, they would vanish. Ever since they suddenly disappeared, I haven't the faintest idea where they are…"

"Huh? They left without saying anything to you, Fren?"

What a terrible person.

I wouldn't forgive anyone who treated Fren so carelessly.

"No. Originally, that person only stayed with me out of kindness, worried for my sake when I was still so helpless… But if I could meet them again."

Fren paused briefly, as if mulling something over.

"I would like to at least speak with them a little more."

With those words from Fren, their conversation faded beyond my hearing.