Welcome to the Special-Grade Guild! ~ The Beloved Elf Poster Girl Soothes Everyone’s Hearts ~
Chapter 133

133. Resolve

Meg and I held hands in the white world. Her hands were a bit cold.

When I squeezed her hand tightly, I felt her squeeze back faintly. A definite will.

“Was that you… Meg, who spoke just now?”

Meg didn’t answer, her expression unchanged. But I could sense her affirmation, her heart reaching out to mine. It was a strange sensation.

“Is there something… I can do…?”

Affirmation, once again. I wonder what it is. Something that someone powerless like me can do…?

As I was thinking this, I felt images flowing into my mind, from our joined hands. I closed my eyes, focusing on those images. What I saw was… a beautiful woman, her long, shimmering pale pink hair swaying. Yenna-san?

『Meg, please forgive me for sending you off alone.』

Yenna-san said this with a serious look on her face, her hands on my shoulders, or rather, Meg’s shoulders. Her eyes seemed a bit moist.

『I’m so happy that I was able to give birth to you. You’re a precious treasure, a child born between me and the one I love. …I wanted to stay by your side… but…』

She choked on her words. I could see her resolve, her determination to not shed tears.

『You’ll definitely meet someone who’ll watch over you, in my place. Believe it. Even if there are hardships, the light will shine upon you.』

The light will shine upon you. I felt like those words had a deeper meaning.

『You can see it too, that light.』

Me too? But I’m just a human. Just Megu. Can I really do this? I’m a fake High Elf. My soul is that of a human.

『Finally… I’m glad I was able to tell you at least this.』

Finally? Ah, that’s right, these are Meg’s memories. Memories from right before she’d been separated from Yenna-san.

『Meg, I love you. Always.』

I could also feel the warmth and sadness as I was embraced tightly. A mother’s love. Ah, that’s why. That’s why Meg wished for it, right?

For a soul. For me.

When I slowly opened my eyes, Meg was still there, her expression unchanged. But there was one difference.

“Are you sad, Meg?”

Meg, silently shedding tears. She shook her head, denying my words.

“…I see. You’re happy, aren’t you? And frustrated.”

Affirmation. And resolve.

I understand, Meg. It’s time for me to make up my mind too. Hmhm, you made up your mind before me? You’re a brave girl. But I won’t lose either.

“Well then, shall we?”

She immediately nodded. Did she smile faintly? Maybe it was just my imagination.

I stood up, still holding her hand. I realized that I was back in my own body as Megu, so I quickly knelt down to meet Meg’s eyes.

“Thank you for calling me. I was happy to be alive again.”

I said this, looking directly into her eyes, trying to smile.

“Let’s be reborn. Together.”

I closed my eyes, following Meg, who’d closed hers, and grasped both her hands with mine. We touched foreheads, recognizing each other’s existence, melting, blending together.

Because we had the same will.

We want to live happily with those we care about.

But we’re incomplete, ambiguous beings.

So we’ll become one. The two of us, who were one to begin with, our soul and heart completely merging, a new “Meg.”

I could sense the dazzling light, even through my closed eyelids. I felt warmth, in my heart and body. It was a comfortable sensation. And then, when the light subsided, I finally opened my eyes.

“…I look forward to working with you, Meg.”

We’d finally become one, retaining Meg’s memories, emotions, and mine. I felt lighter than I’d ever felt, both in mind and body, and I realized just how much of a burden I’d been carrying. It’s no wonder I’d collapsed so easily.

“! This is…”

And then, I, newly reborn, saw the future—

I suddenly realized that I was in the wind barrier, watching the battle from above. I wasn’t sure how much time had passed… but I could see the exhaustion on everyone’s faces, so it must have been a while. They were all still fighting, bleeding, desperately.

It pained me to see it, but I no longer felt fear. It was because of the future I’d just seen.

Precognition allows you to see the future. It’s almost always a definite future, but it’s not impossible to change, with enough effort.

But this time, there was no need to change it. That didn’t mean I could just do nothing. I had to guide them towards that bright future.

So I’m going to act confidently. All I have to do is act as I see fit! The future I saw would give me courage.

“Shou-chan.”

『Yes, Master! Your complexion’s better!』

“Yeah, I’m fine now. I want to talk to the others…”

The wind barrier was too strong. It seemed like none of the other spirits, aside from my first contracted spirit, could enter. But I could talk to them through Shou-chan. It’s a lifesaver, Shou-chan!

“We were able to easily exit the barrier from inside. Sho, I was thinking, maybe we can get out of this wind barrier too, with less effort than entering it, if we apply force from the inside?”

『Got it! I’ll go ask Fuu!』

It was a wind barrier, so Fuu-chan would probably know best. Shou-chan went to ask Fuu-chan.

『It might be tough, but Fuu thinks we can do it if we release magic power!』

“Uu, I wonder if my small amount of magic powah will be enough…”

Even if it was from the inside, it was Schelmelhorn’s barrier. I wasn’t sure if my tiny amount of magic power would be enough! Shou-chan then said something unexpected.

『Master, your magic power suddenly increased! I was surprised! I was worried that something had happened!』

“Eh, weally?”

Apparently my magic power had increased by at least five times. Ehhh!? That much!? Well, I knew why, of course. Meg, you had so much potential…!

“Now that you mention it… I can feel it, my magic power. Ah, something definitely happened, but it’s not a bad thing.”

I told Shou-chan that I’d explain it later. “I vaguely understand, but I’ll wait,” it replied. It was a spirit, after all. It could probably sense it, vaguely. But I wanted to explain it properly, with all the other spirits present!

But right now, I had to do something.

“Alright! Let’s do thish!”

『Go, go, Master! 』

I’d told the spirits what to do once I exited the barrier. I was ready.

I don’t know what’ll happen, but I’ll make it work!

It’s my turn to counterattack!

I took a deep breath and then placed my hands on the ground. I felt my magic power, circulating throughout my body, building, building…

“Here I goooooo!”

And then, I released it all at once. Take this!