Reincarnated User Manual

Inside the lower reaches of the river that cut through the city.

Berta barely managed to rise, using her sword as a staff. Her cracked blade and blistered palms showed just how many battles she had fought.

She had swung too much, and in return, she had been struck many times.

There were so many fights that it would not be strange if she had died, but whether it was talent or just pure luck, she had survived.

Among dozens of comrades, she was the only one still conscious. It couldn’t be explained any other way but luck.

However, she had exhausted her stamina.

Even trying to stand was too much, and her body wobbled before collapsing again.

‘…I really should stop now.’

What she wanted to stop was this tiresome work as a guard.

She had no grand sense of duty, only a spot she had earned by trusting her swordsmanship. She hadn’t saved much money, and it was too early to retire, but at least she thought it was time to stop risking her life.

‘If something like today happens again…’

She wouldn’t survive.

Berta closed her eyes tightly before raising her head. On a high platform, a silver-haired woman was laying the attackers down in order.

Facing the 64th person, Siriel shattered the core of her opponent with a simple touch of her fingers.

“Phew. Finally done.”

“…”

Berta swallowed her saliva, grateful she had fallen. She even pretended to faint, hoping not to make eye contact.

“…”

The reason for such cowardly behavior was fear.

Berta feared Siriel more than she feared the attackers she had crossed swords with.

Though it was common to feel a kind of reverence toward a strong person, the feelings Berta harbored toward Siriel went beyond that.

It was one thing to chop off the limbs of a subdued enemy, but Siriel went a step further, breaking their cores, the source of their power, which could be seen as a relatively humane method of restraint.

And wasn’t it Siriel who, despite everything, remained unharmed and still moving?

There were no proper ropes, and Berta thought even she would have done the same—breaking their cores to cripple them seemed the most humane and rational course of action.

However, wasn’t it still causing permanent disabilities?

Siriel systematically laid down each person and crushed their cores, one by one, as if popping fleas.

Of course, there was a hint of anxiety on her face, but Berta instinctively knew it wasn’t because of the attackers.

To Berta, Siriel appeared to be a heartless, cold-blooded person.

A psycho.

At that moment, when Berta was holding her breath, Siriel descended from the platform and approached her.

“Is it difficult for you to stand up?”

“…It seems so.”

Berta answered awkwardly. After all, she had just tried to stand and then fell back down, so pretending to faint wouldn’t work.

“Oh dear, you’re bleeding.”

Siriel noticed Berta’s condition and immediately began administering first aid.

She applied ointment to her scratches and massaged her swollen leg.

Berta’s face flushed with embarrassment.

“There’s no need to go this far, really. You should tend to the others…”

“Don’t worry about it. I’m just doing what needs to be done. Oh, I have a potion, would you like it?”

Unlike how she treated the attackers, Siriel’s actions were filled with genuine concern and compassion. To think that the empire’s finest swordswoman was treating her wounds and massaging her legs—it was overwhelming for a mere public servant like Berta.

Feeling honored, Berta revised her assessment of Siriel. The affection she felt from this woman, so long removed from her family, made her chest tighten.

Siriel was like a mother.

Of course, Berta was older by far, but age didn’t matter when it came to feeling motherly warmth.

“How do you feel now? Can you move a bit?”

“Of course.”

“That’s a relief.”

When Berta responded confidently, Siriel smiled softly. She then placed an extra potion and ointment in Berta’s hands.

“Well then, I’ll leave the rest to you.”

“…Pardon?”

“I’m asking you to handle the rest of the people.”

Berta glanced between the medicine and Siriel.

“Oh, are you worried because there are too many people to handle? Don’t worry, I’ve broken their cores for just this reason.”

“Oh, right.”

No further explanation was needed. Siriel gently helped Berta to her feet.

“Just one more thing, if I may.”

As if she still had something to say, Siriel turned back as she was about to leave.

“You mustn’t kill those people. Sudden deaths are unavoidable, but never out of anger or for any other reason.”

“…I’ll try.”

“No, not just try, you must. If anyone attempts to kill them, use the emperor’s name to stop them.”

“The emperor… you say?”

“Yes, the empire must remain the empire even a hundred years from now.”

It was a meaningful statement. Berta watched as Siriel disappeared toward the east where dawn was breaking.

Siriel was heading north.

---

As the holy light that drove away the darkness disappeared, Deviale immediately sought to check on Shiron’s condition.

Thanks to witnessing a miracle, he squeezed out as much divine power as he could, making his steps feel lighter. Before long, he spotted Shiron crouched among the ruins.

“Sir Shiron!”

“…You’ve arrived?”

Shiron spoke without turning to face the approaching figure.

Sensing the unusual atmosphere, Deviale quickly straightened himself.

…Oh no. I got too excited just knowing that the warrior was safe. As he approached, Deviale lowered his gaze slowly.

There lay a woman with her face covered by a white cloth, and Deviale knew exactly who she was.

“She’s dead.”

“…Yes.”

“The Barbarian Princess Yoru is dead. I used all the divine power I had, but I couldn’t save her. This is the first time I’ve ever felt so powerless.”

“……I see.”

Deviale scratched the back of his head, listening to three steady heartbeats.

Dying, my foot. The Barbarian Princess was alive and well. Even without hearing her heartbeat, the slight movement of the cloth from her breathing indicated she was eavesdropping on their conversation.

“…It must be painful for you.”

However, Deviale did not bother pointing out Shiron’s lie. Instead, he matched Shiron’s shamelessness with equally blatant sympathy.

Deviale coughed and whispered to Shiron.

“Do you wish to be alone?”

“Yes. I am alone. Yoru is dead, after all.”

“Hmm… Shall I keep others from entering this place? I only suggest it because it seems like you might need time to grieve, Sir Shiron.”

“…Thank you for your consideration.”

Sniffle – Shiron forced out fake tears.

“I’d prefer not to meet anyone until I get back to the mansion. Could that be arranged?”

“You must be truly heartbroken… Of course.”

“As expected, the Cardinal is such a reliable man. I don’t know how I could ever express my gratitude.”

“…”

Just then, the cloth covering Yoru was pulled away, and Yoru, her eyes half-open, stared at Shiron.

“See? I told you the Cardinal is a good man.”

Shiron brushed off Yoru’s skeptical glare.

“Truly someone to admire. We need more people like him in this world.”

“…Does it make any sense to pretend to be dead when I’m clearly alive?”

“After thinking about it, this is the best option.”

“And pretending to be dead makes things better? I might as well just die then…”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

Shiron tossed Yoru a set of new clothes. Although he had healed her wounds using holy power, her blood-soaked clothes still made her appearance disgraceful.

“You’re my slave, my personal property. Do you think I’d just let my gold disappear? And do you know how much time and effort I’ve invested in you?”

“…For all that, you seemed indifferent whether I lived or died.”

Yoru examined the clothes she had received. It was a rather elegant suit, and from the embroidery, it seemed to be custom-made.

“If you died, you’d still be useful. Who knows? Maybe we’d find some dark magic in the labyrinth that could bring people back to life.”

“…What exactly do you want?”

Yoru turned her back to Shiron and began undressing. There was some embarrassment in showing her naked body to others, but throwing a tantrum about it now seemed even more humiliating.

‘Is he really planning to make me a sex slave?’

-Keep giving birth for each one you kill.

But embarrassment often comes without warning. It triggered an unwanted memory, and with the feeling of being watched, Yoru’s back burned with shame.

“…This slave game ends here.”

Shiron said as he looked at Yoru’s back. After waiting for her to finish changing, he removed the collar around her neck.

“I’m giving you a new identity. Live freely; that was always meant to be your fate.”

“Weren’t you going to make me pay for what I’ve done by giving birth?”

“What nonsense are you talking about?”

“…This, this doesn’t make any sense!”

Yoru slapped Shiron’s hand away and jumped up. Her face turned red, realizing she had completely misunderstood.

“You went through all this trouble, put me through hell, just so I could live freely?”

“I almost forgot to mention that you should live righteously.”

“Are you an idiot?”

Yoru grabbed her head, her face full of confusion.

“Does this even make sense… Are you sure there’s nothing wrong with your head?”

She squirmed as if her entire body itched.

“I… I’ve done things. If you act all noble and righteous like some saint… I’ll…”

She would be left feeling pathetic. The one bit of pride she had barely clung to would crumble, leaving no trace behind. She had been saved at least three times—perhaps even more.

There were no tales, no legends, where someone had fought this much just to free another.

“In any case, I’ve said my piece. Oh, by the way, your wanted poster is still up, so maybe change your appearance—either your makeup or your hairstyle.”

“…This is really the end?”

“If we meet as enemies next time… Actually, never mind.”

There was no need to say such things. After casually throwing a pouch of gold coins to Yoru, Shiron turned his back.

“What are you doing?”

Suddenly—Yoru grabbed Shiron’s clothes.

“Why… Why are you doing this?”

“This is the last time you’ll ever see me.”

“…What?”

“You won’t have another chance to meet me after this.”

Only two Apostles remained. If they headed to the Arwen Highlands, there would be one.

‘Once I kill that one…’

“Soon, I’ll be leaving the empire. Even if you continue hunting the people you used to target, we’ll never cross paths again.”

“I’ll live righteously.”

Yoru replied in a barely audible voice. Though there might come a time when she’d be forced to fight again, she knew…

No matter what happened, she wouldn’t kill anyone.

Even animals understood the grace of someone who spared their life.

She hated the word “barbarian.” She wanted to improve the treatment of her people. There were many who had never fought.

…Where did the end of the struggle lead? All Yoru ever wanted was a life of dignity.

If she betrayed him now, she would fall below the level of a beast, and not only her fellow countrymen but future historians would point fingers at her.

But what Yoru did next was something even she couldn’t have anticipated.

“…?”

Before she realized it, Yoru was clinging to Shiron. One hand, which had been gripping his clothes, was now joined by the other, and she was sobbing like a lost puppy, tears streaming down her face.

‘Why… why am I doing this?’

By the time she regained her senses, it was already too late.

Yoru, with a messy face, looked up at Shiron in disbelief.

Her whole body felt hot, and her heart was pounding unusually loudly.

But soon enough, she understood why.

Click – Shiron, wearing a bitter expression, reattached the collar to Yoru’s neck.

“If you beg like that, what else can I do?”

“…Wha- what?”

She had already crossed a point of no return. Her trembling lips couldn’t form any words.