The Man Who Remained — His Second Life Began with a Humble Bow of Apology. - Chapter 87: A Move to Turn the Tide of Fate.

A Move to Turn the Tide of Fate.

Interactions at Suzaku Gate and in Suzaku Town were a completely new experience for Cross.

After all, no one cared that Cross used to be human, or that he was once a Hero. They didn’t even care that he was now a Sage.

Instead, they treated him not as just another monster on the street, but as a truly famous and incredible being, showering him with endless praise and attention.

Cross was timid, an ordinary and humble man at heart.

That was precisely why being doted upon like this made him so happy.

And this time, it wasn’t praise based on an empty title, but admiration for himself.

Such a thing had never happened before. It filled him with such joy that he felt his pride swelling almost embarrassingly.

Strangers approached him, picking fights.

Shop owners treated him to meals – then picked fights.

He was summoned to the guard post at the gate, where so-called “training drills” quickly turned into sparring matches.

About half… no, maybe seventy percent of all that attention ended up with someone challenging him to a fight. But even so, he was generally satisfied.

He didn’t remember how many matches he won, but he clearly remembered his losses.

Two times.

The first was when Hibuse defeated him in a rematch.

So far, his record with Hibuse stood at three fights – two wins, one loss.

He still had the upper hand, but a loss remained frustrating nonetheless.

The other was against an unknown resident of Suzaku Town.

Just an ordinary resident – yet unexpectedly strong. And above all, Cross had let his guard down completely and ended up defeated.

It stung more than he expected. His swelling pride was instantly deflated, and that day he quietly spent extra time on his usual training routine.

Beyond Suzaku Gate and Town, Cross explored the surrounding areas as well, taking Ellie along as if on a casual date.

Unlike the chaotic streets of Suzaku, the outskirts were calmer. No one challenged him to a fight there.

Each of the Four Sacred Gates had its own unique cuisine, streets, and character. For a village that wasn’t particularly large, it brimmed with diversity, and Cross found himself thoroughly enjoying the exploration.

A week passed as he spent his days wandering from district to district.

He had enjoyed his time.

But… his purpose remained unfulfilled.

Cross still couldn’t think of a single idea that could save this village.

Gyokuran quietly poured tea beside him as Cross read his book.

It was a volume he had bought near the Black Tortoise Gate, filled with unusual anecdotes about local history and geography.

In short, it was little more than a gossip collection.

“…Hey, Gyokuran, this book mentions something called a Killing Stone. Did that really exist…?”

Cross spoke in a lazy drawl, and Gyokuran smiled gently.

“Yes, it did exist.”

“No way, of course it didn’t… wait, it did?!”

“Yes, it certainly existed. Though it no longer does.”

“For real? Was it really as dangerous as they wrote here?”

He re-read the description to confirm. According to the text, the Killing Stone was about the size of a pickling stone, and any who approached it would die, as if cursed by its malevolent will.

Its fearsome legend was exaggerated with dramatic flair.

“Well… to be honest, it wasn’t that dangerous. Its nature was troublesome, yes, but…”

“But?”

“It could kill nearby monsters using invisible slashes or blows… a sort of lethal curse, perhaps. However, it wasn’t nearly strong enough to wipe everyone out. It only managed to kill weaker monsters.”

“I see. So it was harmless to the strong?”

“Not harmless, exactly… it could still cut an arm or cause something like a pebble striking your head. The weaker the target, the stronger its effect. It was a very bothersome stone.”

“Wait, it wasn’t a monster?”

“No. It was just a stone with such properties.”

“So… what happened to it?”

At his question, Gyokuran scratched her cheek awkwardly.

“Um… well…”

“Hm? If it’s something I shouldn’t ask, it’s fine.”

“No, it’s nothing like that… it’s just, at the time, I was a little angry with it…”

“Angry?”

“Yes. At that stone. So… I…”

“So…?”

“I… smashed it to pieces.”

“I see. You smashed it.”

Cross repeated her words as Gyokuran averted her gaze, looking slightly embarrassed.

“Yeah… well, things like that happen, I guess.”

He decided not to probe further. It felt both tactless and a bit frightening to do so.

“Yes, they happen. Oh, and I gave the fragments to the previous Demon Lord, thinking they might find a use for them. After that, I have no idea what became of it.”

“Got it… so this book isn’t entirely lies, then. Hey, it also says here there are ninjas—”

“There aren’t any.”

Her answer was immediate, her expression dead serious.

“Huh? Wait, you’re that sure—”

“There aren’t any.”

“Uh… okay…”

“I’ve never heard of such a thing, nor do I know of their existence. Therefore, they do not exist.”

“Um… Gyokuran-sama? Uh…”

“There are none. Even if they did exist, we would be obliged to insist they do not.”

“…Seriously? …I see… it really is like that… okay. I understand. No ninjas. I won’t bring it up again. Sorry.”

Seeing the solemn determination on her face, Cross nodded gravely and made that promise.

Ruling over land could never be done with only pretty words. There were always certain truths that must never be touched.

And it seemed… this was one of them.

Seeing his reaction, Gyokuran’s expression softened, and she let out a small chuckle.

“I’m just teasing.”

She murmured it lightly, leaving Cross gaping in dumbfounded silence.

“Huh? …Oh, so it was a joke… wait, which part was the joke? That there are none, or that there really are some?”

“Who knows?”

She giggled softly, clearly enjoying herself, yet her demeanor suggested he wouldn’t get a straight answer no matter how much he asked.

Cross could only let out a small sigh and smile wryly.

***

“I’ve gotten so used to this tea’s flavor now.”

It was a distinct type without any sugar. Having grown up on standard black tea, it was quite foreign to Cross at first. But now, sipping it felt completely natural.

That just meant… he’d been here that long – or rather, that he had simply come to appreciate its unique taste.

“My humble thanks… for everything.”

“Hm? Everything?”

“Regarding Ouka.”

“Ah. It’s nothing.”

Cross smiled softly.

Using information he’d gathered through his feet – and countless fights – he had helped Ouka finish her punishment assignment: investigating conduct within Suzaku Gate.

Twenty offenders. Whether that was many or few wasn’t for him or Ouka to decide. That judgment lay with Gyokuran as village chief and Hibuse as the gate captain.

With that, Ouka’s punitive duty was complete, and she was released without charges.

Just as promised, she had begun assisting Gyokuran with her official work.

Just one more monster added to their workforce.

Even counting Ellie, it was merely two.

But even so, it was a world better than managing everything entirely alone.

“Which is why… please, don’t push yourself too hard, okay?”

Gyokuran spoke with gentle concern.

“I’m not pushing myself.”

“But… aren’t you planning to?”

At that, Cross couldn’t immediately reply.

“…I’m sorry. I haven’t thought of anything. I’m not giving up – I’m not – but…”

He didn’t want to give up.

He refused to give up.

And yet, he still hadn’t come up with a single way to save this village.

Of course he hadn’t.

It was foolish to think an outsider like him could easily solve what Gyokuran had spent years desperately pondering.

That was only natural.

But at the same time, Gyokuran understood something else very clearly.

No matter how impossible the task, this man called Cross – unless someone firmly stopped him – would push himself to any extent, for the sake of others.

He was… that kind of hopelessly kind fool.

“It’s fine, really. The ones who need to keep trying are us. If an outsider like you pushes yourself too hard, we’ll have nowhere left to stand… isn’t that right?”

Gyokuran smiled gently as she spoke those words.

Cross didn’t respond.

He couldn’t respond.

There was nothing he could say to someone like Gyokuran, who kept pushing herself beyond her limits and yet had eyes that looked as if she’d already given up.

“…Well then, it’s getting quite late. I shall take my leave for today. Good night, Cross.”

Returning to her usual polite tone, she gave him a gentle smile, stood by the door, and bowed her head gracefully.

“Ah… yeah. Good night.”

“Yes. Until tomorrow.”

Smiling once more, Gyokuran gathered the teapot and cups and quietly left Cross’s room.

Almost as if perfectly timed to replace her presence, Ellie entered the room.

Rather than them arranging it beforehand, it was clear she had been waiting, reading the atmosphere for the right moment to come in.

“Excuse me. These sliding doors in Hourai really make it hard to knock, don’t they?”

She murmured with a small smile, referring to the fact that the rooms used sliding doors rather than hinged ones.

“There probably isn’t much of a knocking culture here…”

Cross mumbled while recalling that although some homes did have standard doors, traditional architecture was still prevalent, creating a blend of old and new.

New buildings felt somewhat like those near the Demon King’s castle, while the old houses retained their nostalgic charm.

The overall aesthetic was unbalanced, and yet somehow perfectly balanced at the same time.

Such was the scenery of Hourai Village.

“Ellie. Just now, Gyokuran told me not to overdo it.”

“Oh dear… Well, I suppose to her, it looked like you were about to push yourself too far.”

“Hahaha… Then Ellie, can you guess what I’m thinking right now after being told directly not to overdo it?”

“Something like, ‘If it’s for a good woman, pushing myself isn’t really pushing myself,’ right?”

Ellie responded in a playful tone, making a crisp, serious face as she mimicked Cross.

Her impression wasn’t accurate, but she captured his lighthearted attitude perfectly, and Cross gave her a troubled smile.

“Close, but not quite. The real answer is, ‘When a beautiful woman, looking desperate and pained, tells you not to overdo it, that just makes a man want to overdo it even more.’”

“Yes, yes. Same as always.”

“Exactly. Same as always. Ellie, are you ready?”

At his question, Ellie nodded firmly.

The truth was, Cross hadn’t come up with any ideas.

He couldn’t think of anything at all.

There was no way someone like Cross could come up with a way to save Hourai Village.

He knew himself well enough to accept that.

So from the very start, he had left everything to Ellie.

Because even if he couldn’t do it, he believed that Ellie could.

He was prepared to endure any hardship, any unreasonable burden – as long as she could find a way.

And Ellie… had brought back exactly that.

A way forward. A method.

“I have prepared two plans for you: one with low risk and moderate returns, and another with high risk and high returns. Though rather than preparing them myself, they’re actually ideas borrowed from Gyokuran-sama.”

“What do you mean?”

“They were plans Gyokuran came up with after much thought, but deemed impossible to execute. However, some of these, while impossible for her, are entirely feasible for you. That’s what it means.”

“I see… And Ellie, these risks… who bears them, and what are they?”

“All of the risks fall entirely on you, Cross. Even if the plan fails, Hourai Village will not suffer any loss whatsoever. However, you must be prepared for the possibility that you may lose your life. In fact, I know you wouldn’t accept any plan unless it came with that level of risk.”

“Ah, as expected of you, Ellie. You really do understand me.”

Ellie responded to his words with a sigh and a faint, weary smile.

“Good grief… I’ll take that as a compliment, I suppose. Now, let me explain the details. First, the low-risk, moderate-return plan—”

“No need. Go with the high-risk, high-return plan. If the risks are only on me, then I’ll shoulder them all. Besides, nothing we’re trying to do here will work without taking that kind of risk… right?”

“Understood. Then, my beloved master… allow me to explain the high-risk, high-return plan.”

And with that, Ellie began detailing what Cross needed to do.

The plan was so simple and straightforward that even Cross could easily understand it.

Of course, part of that was because Ellie explained it in simplified terms, but fundamentally, it was just that straightforward.

They would move a great force, use it as momentum to shift the flow, and rebuild from there.

Even someone as ignorant of economics and governance as Cross could see: if this succeeded, it would become the driving force to restore Hourai Village.

However, precisely because it was such a great force, the risks involved were far greater than anything Cross could have imagined.

If it succeeded completely, Hourai Village wouldn’t just be saved – it could potentially grow to surpass even the Demon King’s castle in prosperity.

But depending on how it failed, nothing would change at all, and Cross’s life would simply be lost in vain.

And that possibility… was more than real.

“What will you do?”

Ellie asked the obvious question, though she already knew the answer.

Cross smiled back at her.

“We start tomorrow. Make the preparations.”

At his words, Ellie smiled softly. Then, with utmost reverence, she bowed her head deeply, displaying the greatest respect a knight could show to her master.

The next day,

With many people gathered to see them off,

Cross and Ellie left Hourai Village behind.

“We’ll be back soon.”

Those were the words they left behind.