My body wouldn't respond.
It felt like I was trapped in nothingness.
I couldn't move. I couldn't speak. I simply existed in an absolute void, floating in infinite darkness.
And yet… my consciousness remained.
I had no idea how long I'd been in that state, but at some point, a light appeared before me. It was warm, comforting… a sense of peace wrapped around me as I slowly drifted closer.
But just before I could reach it, something held me back.
—Wake up!
A voice echoed from the distance. Then another. And another. They were desperate, filled with anguish.
The warmth of the light began to fade.
—Please… I don't want to lose you…
That last voice…
I recognized it instantly.
It was Kaori.
My heart pounded, and suddenly, the darkness shattered into a thousand pieces.
My eyes opened slowly.
At first, everything was blurry. I could barely make out the silhouettes of people around me. Their voices sounded distant, like echoes, as if I were still caught between a dream and reality.
I blinked several times, trying to focus. My mind was dazed, confused, but little by little, the images became clearer.
Kaori was there.
Her eyes were filled with tears, her expression pure anguish.
Beside her, the others stared at me with worry. I could see the old man, the boy, and the girls, all with tense faces, waiting for any sign from me.
I tried to speak, but my throat was dry.
I barely managed to whisper a single word:
—Fight…
I wasn't sure why I said that. Maybe I still hadn't accepted that the battle was over—or maybe my body still carried the echo of every blow, every impact.
But before I could say anything else, my strength left me again.
My eyes closed once more.
The last thing I felt before completely losing consciousness was a pair of warm hands pressing against my chest.
My body still wouldn't respond.
I could hear worried voices around me—some trembling, others barely audible. I wanted to answer, to move, to show I was still there, but no matter how hard my mind sent the signals, my body refused to react.
Fear began to creep in.
Was this the end for me?
Then… I saw it again.
That white light.
It seemed to call me, offering a way out of this paralysis.
I didn't have many options: stay trapped in the darkness or follow the light.
Accepting my fate, I stepped toward it.
The moment I touched it, everything changed.
I found myself lying beneath the shade of a massive tree. The breeze was warm, the sky a clear blue, and an incredible landscape stretched out before me.
The place was beautiful.
As I sat up, I looked around and saw rolling green hills, a crystal-clear river winding through the valley, and, in the distance, a grand walled capital with a majestic castle at its center.
But what surprised me most was the person standing beside me.
He had short hair and wore medieval-style clothes. His presence was imposing, yet his expression was calm.
Without thinking much, I walked over and stood beside him, gazing at the same landscape.
From our vantage point, I could see the city's bustling streets. There were humans, demi-humans with animal ears and tails, and robed figures radiating a faint magical aura.
My surprise grew when I noticed a group of warriors leaving the capital. They wore different kinds of armor and weapons—some with swords and shields, others with bows or spears.
They were adventurers.
I recognized them instantly.
That style, those formations… it was a guild.
My heart raced.
This… this was just like those isekai anime I had watched so many times.
I couldn't contain my excitement. I was fascinated by everything I saw, every detail of this world that felt straight out of a fantasy.
Then the person beside me spoke in a calm, gentle voice:
—Do you like this place?
Without hesitation, I replied enthusiastically:
—Yes… It's incredible.
He smiled softly and turned his gaze back to the city.
I was about to ask how I got here, but before I could open my mouth, he spoke again, as if reading my thoughts.
—This place…—he said, pausing for a moment, —is fascinating.
Hearing that, I felt tears well up in my eyes.
—Yes… it's a beautiful and peaceful place,— I replied.
The man beside me simply smiled.
—You arrived too early this time,— he said quietly. —There are still many things you must do in your world.
His words left me stunned.
—How… how do you know I'm not from here?
He looked at me serenely and answered in a firm voice:
—Because I'm a cherub, one of the angelic hierarchies.
My eyes widened in shock.
—An angel?— I murmured in disbelief.
He nodded with a gentle smile.
—That's right.
My mind swirled with questions, but the first one to escape my lips was:
—What are you doing here?
The cherub turned his gaze back to the vast kingdom before us.
—I enjoy watching this world. It's fascinating… it has many similarities to yours, though from a different era. And I enjoy being here, though I must hide my mana to avoid drawing attention.
His answer left me speechless. An angel choosing to spend time in another world, far from what I imagined as his home.
Still, I felt relieved. If he truly was a celestial being, then maybe… there was a way to return.
—Is there any way I can go back to my world?— I asked eagerly.
He watched me in silence for a moment, then nodded.
—Yes, but I must ask permission to send you back.
He took his time, as if silently praying or communicating with someone beyond my understanding.
Finally, he looked at me with a smile.
—Get ready. It's time to return.
He pointed to a circle on the ground, inscribed with glowing symbols.
Before stepping forward, I couldn't help but ask something that had been on my mind.
—Do you know who I am?
The cherub looked at me confidently and answered without hesitation:
—You are the human who received a portion of my Father's power. Of course I know who you are. In fact, you're quite well-known among the angelic ranks.
I stood there silently, trying to process his words.
Famous… among angels?
Before I could ask anything else, he began tracing the ritual to send me back.
Just before the light surrounded me, I asked one last question:
—Will I ever be able to return to this world?
The cherub smiled knowingly.
—This will be your next destination… once you complete your mission in your world.
His words filled me with a strange sense of certainty.
—See you soon,— I said with determination.
—See you soon,— he replied.
Suddenly, my feet began to glow, and a sensation of weightlessness spread through my entire body.
I closed my eyes.
And when I opened them again…
I was back in my room at the temple.
I had returned to my world.