Posted: 2025 10 23

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Translator here! Just a reminder I will being picking up after a previous translation. Please enjoy the ride.

Bradley is dead. 

He had died. 

He was the main character. 

He had died. 

He had died. 

He had died. 

Still in shock, I reached out to touch what remained of Bradley, ignoring the root lodged in my stomach. 

Then I realized I could move.

Why? Why did the effects of the venom only disappear now? 

Renatus was running circles in his mind.

It’s not like the symptoms of poison would disappear in an instant without the antidote. It must have been the effect of the “corrective power” that caused Renatus to be weak. 

Now the effect had disappeared. 

The only reason could be Bradley’s death. 

Following the story along a predetermined path, then the death of the main character marked the end of the story. The corrective forces were forcing Bradley to follow the path of a hero.

The realisation hit me right in the face.

But at least the power stopping me had disappeared for the time being. If I could move, I could save the current situation. It was a race against time to save Bradley right now.

Renatus unfastened the strings of his mask, the wind harsh on his bare face. 

Lesser Yggdrasil withdrew the root from Renatu’s abdomen, forcing Bradley’s body to be flung away from him. Blood gushed from his stomach when the root was pulled. Renatus pressed the heel of his hand to block the wound in his stomach. 

There was a slight sting but it was negligible for now. The more important thing at hand was to destroy the core of the monster. 

The core was like a monster’s “power off” button, besides the heart. Once it was destroyed, the monster would no longer be able to manifest and would go back to their original state as dissipated magical energy. 

Renatus knew where the location of the core was in the original story. The Lesser Yggdrasil’s core was between the eyebrows. 

“Leviatate!”

Renatus activated his magic and stepped in the air as if on a staircase. 

The Lesser Yggdrasil’s roots shot after him in pursuit, but his magic made him faster.

Faster, faster.

Renatus leaped, stretching out his farms to point towards the core with a high cry.

“Thunderbolt!”

Bolts of lightning arched from his fingertips, faster than his eyes could keep up. Piercing the core and destroying everything it touched with a thunderous roar. 

Only then did the roots and branches stop moving. Lesser Yggdrasil collapsed, its body crumbling apart at the destruction of its core. 

The fragments broke down into power that vanished in the light. 

But it wasn’t over yet. 

Renatus rushed over to Bradley’s remains.

His restorative powers had a time limit. 

“Rewind*”

The same spell Renatus had used to repair that ripped notebook. 

(*See ch6)

While the same spell could be used, unlike inorganic material, the success rate increases the sooner after death he used the treatment. Plus it would also be a slower process. 

(AU Note: For living things, rewinding time must be done slowly to reduce repair errors.)

Bradley’s flesh and blood had been spilled over a large area, so the spell would need to have a larger range. The more elements that had to be pieced together meant more complications, but the more Renatus could collect would mean a higher success rate. 

Please, work—!!

Renatus prayed.

This would be his first time being a person back to life. 

He had once resuscitated a baby bird in the garden of his mansion. Perhaps it had fallen from its nest and died. Even after being revived, it was not accepted back into the nest. 

Raising chicks was difficult, many dying before they could grow. 

Maybe the reason it fell was it was too weak and natural selection had made its choice. Renatus never tried to revive another creature after that. 

Renatus felt anxious, especially with the body of somebody he cared about. 

Bradley’s remains floated as everything went back into place with only a slight sound. 

Strong bones, muscles, and delicate blood veins slowly regained their color. Even the shredded clothes were being weaved back together over his body. 

Bradley had been restored, without a single scratch. 

I slowly lowered his body to the ground. Now the question was whether he would wake up or not. 

Renatus had experienced the process of soul transmigration, so Bradley was likely to have a soul that held his consciousness. His memories, personality, and heart.

But even though his body was in perfect shape, would his soul also be restored?

There had been three cases of magicians resurrecting humans in the past, but there had been no detailed records or witnesses remaining.

So, it was impossible to say what state the subjects were in. 

I wonder if that baby bird was in pain when it had to experience death twice.

That skinny bird weakly begging for food.

It looked like it was in a normal state, but he couldn’t understand the language of birds and had no way to tell what it felt.

After that bird died, Renatus was so sad he had cried for three days. He had simply wanted the bird to live, even though it was a frail and weak child. 

And he still felt the same even now.

As long as he is alive… no matter his state when he wakes up… At least he’ll be–!

As if in response to his thoughts, Bradley’s eyelids twitched. His eyes opened slowly, still in a daze.

“Re…na…”

“Bradley!”

Bradley’s voice was shot. His memories must have been intact for him to whisper Renatus’ name though. 

All he could do was close his eyes, his breathing shifted into something gentle. 

Renatus sighed in relief. 

Thank goodness…

I hope you get better soon. I want you to say my name again.

Renatus gently held Bradley’s hand and gave it a squeeze. 

–

The infirmary informed me when Bradley woke up. 

Renatus knew it wasn’t a good idea to run through the halls, but he hurried anyway.

“Pardon me.”

Renatus knocked and took a deep breath before entering.

The white curtains swayed in the slight breeze. Bradley was sitting by the window with a book. He turned to the sound of Renatu’s voice and his expression softened.

“Bradley!!”

Be well behaved. But there were still things Renatus couldn’t help but say outloud. He quicked rushed over to the bed.

“I’m glad you’re awake. Do you have any issues?”

“Sorry Renatus, I think my memory is still a little jumbled and I’m not sure how I got here.”

“How much do you remember?”

“I can clearly remember the morning of the sixth day, but after that it’s all in pieces…” Bradley’s brow furrowed, as if trying to remember.

The morning of the sixth day.

Then he wouldn’t remember dying while protecting Renatus from Lesser Yggdrasil. 

“Were we attacked by a monster? Is Renatus okay?”

“I’m fine. You were knocked out by the monster, and hit your head in a bad spot.”

Renatus lied about Bradley’s death. It was better to pretend that it never happened. Being dead is a scary concept for anyone. Plus resurrection magic was rare, Renatus was starting to think magic power in his body would have been abused more if the original owner knew what to do with it. 

“Oh, I see…” Bradley looked down awkwardly. “I made a promise to protect you, Renatus.”

“No worries! You did keep me safe!” Renatus raised his voice.

It was really heroic.

Even though Renatus knew from the original story, he was still scared of the Lesser Yggdrasil. Yet Bradley didn’t hesitate to step up and sacrifice his own life to save him. 

That was some that was even more than heroic. So don’t look down on yourself.

“I had a strange dream…” Bradley muttered quietly.

“Huh?”

“...Nevermind, it’s nothing. He started, but suddenly stopped. 

Bradley turned towards me, narrowed his eyes, and gently placed his hand on Renatus’s head, stroking it tenderly. 

“Renatus.”

“Yeah.”

“Thank you.” Bradley smiled.

Renatus felt his heart start to race, cheeks heating up.

“Yeah…!”

Renatus was glad Bradley had woken up. He couldn’t sleep for three days after returning from the Demon Forest, and realized something.

He didn’t feel like how a fan would feel towards a protagonist of a novel anymore.

I fell in love with Bradley.

– – 

AU Note:

This is where [School Edition] ends.

The next arc will be [Bradley and the Lovely Light], and be from Bradley’s POV.

Afterward, it will be back to Renatus’s POV. Thank you.

– – – 

TN Note: This next Calc III Exam is gonna decide whether or not I drop out guys. :p