Chapter 210: A Little Reunion

"It’s not like that!"

Regis felt like their gazes were persecuting him.

"Oh, I know..." He then pointed towards Vanessa, "Can you touch your left chest?"

"Regis, I didn’t expect you to be that kind of person..."

"Enough, Lea. Don’t you see that he’s close to burying his head in the ground from embarrassment?"

Greg whispered to the smirking Lea.

"I’m sorry, his reactions are fun to watch."

"That’s true, but... look at Vanessa too."

"What do you mea—" Before Lea could finish, she saw Vanessa’s cheeks, which were as red as tomatoes.

’Why is she blushing like that?’

Vanessa’s image to her and every child that had been a part of the demonic humans’ suicide squad was akin to that of an eldest sister.

Aside from Regis, they all looked up to her as someone they could depend on.

Thus, seeing her make such an expression made them feel foreign.

At this moment, Regis finally came to his senses and calmed down by utilizing his Gold-grade git.

"I meant your heartbeat, Vanessa. Feel your heartbeat!"

"My... what..."

As if in a trance, Vanessa slowly placed her right hand over where her heart was back then.

Ba—Dump!

"This... can’t be..."

Ba—Dump! Ba—Dump!

"Is this... real?"

Ba—Dump! Ba—Dump! Ba—Dump!

Feeling the soft pulsation through her chest, Vanessa’s eyes became teary.

Her whole body trembled as her knees suddenly buckled, her cries resounding in the area soon after.

Perto, Brutt, and the other children chose to distance themselves first so that she would have some time alone.

Although Greg and Lea wanted to stay, they surmised that Regis and she had something to talk about.

Regis smiled at the scene and sat beside the crying Vanessa.

He did not do or say anything; he just stayed there, sitting beside her in silence.

’Why am I even crying?’

Vanessa inwardly questioned herself as she sobbed.

She had not expected the difference between living as a soul and living with a body to be so stark.

’I thought I would be fine even if I died...’

The rush of sensations coursing through her body took her by surprise.

Every touch, every breath of air, every beat of her heart—it was all too vivid, too real.

To feel the world again was like being struck by a storm of life she had forgotten.

’I thought I wouldn’t be able to feel this anymore...’

The moment she felt the sun’s warmth on her skin and the ocean breeze brushing past her, a wave of clarity struck her—it was all so refreshing, so painfully alive.

The simple joy of breathing and catching the salty scent of the sea stirred something deep within her.

Memories of her once ordinary life rushed through her mind like a flood, each feeling and sensation she had long forgotten crashing down on her at once.

Noticing that her sobs began to soften, Regis asked as he looked into the horizon, "Are you feeling better now?"

"Hic... Don’t look at me."

Vanessa’s voice trembled, hoarse from crying, as she fought past the tightness in her throat.

"Oh? Alright. But answer my question first."

"Well, yes. I’m feeling better now."

"I’m glad to hear that."

"Regis."

"What?"

"Let’s just act like the crying never happened, okay?"

"Huh? What crying? I don’t know anything about that..."

Hearing his reply, Vanessa merely smiled.

A second later, she suddenly stood up and stretched, "Woahhh, this feels refreshing! Being alive really is the best!!"

"Don’t go falling now!"

"Heh, who do you think I am?"

The two of them played along the shoreline, flinging water and sand at each other with carefree joy.

Under the warmth of the four suns and the stretch of endless blue skies, their laughter rang out, light and infectious.

Noticing the shift in atmosphere, the others drifted over, smiles blooming as they joined in the fun.

Time slipped by unnoticed as they lost themselves in laughter, their worries washed away with each crashing wave.

***

An hour or so later...

Everyone had just finished playing and enjoying themselves earlier.

Now, they sat together in a large circle around a crackling bonfire, nestled in the soft green grass beneath the glow of four moons and a sky full of stars.

Lea was the first one to speak, "Woah, it’s the first time it became night here..."

"Right? Did you know you could do this, Regis?" Greg spoke as well.

Seeing their amazed expressions, Regis scratched the side of his face, "Actually, I just discovered I can do this too..."

It was only this time that he discovered that he could control whether it was day or night in his inner world.

He also felt determined to explore just how much "control’ he had over his inner world since it was inside his very own consciousness.

Clap— Clap— Clap—

At that moment, Vanessa clapped her hands to gather everyone’s attention, causing all eyes to turn toward her.

"Everyone, Regis has something to tell you all."

In an instant, low murmurs spread through the area as the children whispered among themselves.

"Ehem..."

Regis cleared his throat with a cough as he stood up.

"What do you think he’ll say?"

"I don’t know. It’s the first time I’m hearing this too."

Greg and Lea whispered to each other, both with confused expressions on their faces.

Under everyone’s gaze, Regis began to talk.

"I know that you all don’t like it when one beats around the bush, so let me get straight to the point: I have an offer to all of you."

His voice sounded calm, making it easier for them to understand what he was saying.

"I’m here to ask all of you if you still want to return to the outside world and live there. If you want to, I can make it so that you will all regain your physical bodies as well. Though it will take time, of course."

At his words, a slight commotion arose as the children whispered among themselves, surprised by Regis’s unexpected statement.

However, their reactions all had something in common: expectation, excitement, and nervousness.

"Outside in the real world, I formed a party of adventurers, and we’re planning to grow the party into a corporation in the future. However, I’m not like the demonic human leader who will use all of you as weapons of war."

At the mention of the demonic human leader, they could not help but chuckle.

Though their past experiences had been unpleasant, sharing those memories allowed them to joke about it together.

Their humor had become a unique way to cope with the hardships they endured at the demonic human camp.

"I’m just giving you choices; what you’ll decide will be according to yourselves."

"You can choose to stay here and I’ll fully support all of you, and you can also go your separate way and I won’t stop you."

"Don’t worry, I’ll give you some time to think about it. Whatever you decide, I won’t interfere."

At this moment, one of the children raised his hand.

"Brother Regis, I have a question."

"Go ahead."

"If we accept your offer, can we still return here?"

"Of course, if you want to. I can make it so that you can return here anytime you want."

His response drew cheerful reactions and warm smiles from the children.

A girl with messy brown hair raised her hand.

"Brother Regis, I have a question too..."

Regis smiled as he gestured for her to go on.

Time quietly passed by, with him answering the questions of all his companions.

Afterward, they began sharing stories from their pasts—memories stained with sorrow, fear, and the rare flicker of joy that only they could truly understand.

They spoke of the first time they were forced to take a life, hostages used as tools by the demonic humans.

Of the pain that tore through them when they were made to slaughter innocent villagers for the sake of survival.

And of the lives they once led before it was all stolen from them, their homes, their families, their childhoods.

Their voices wavered between quiet sobs and wistful smiles, the silence between them heavy yet comforting.

Sorrowful cries, bittersweet laughter, and moments of quiet nostalgia wove into their conversation, uniting them in a bond that no words could define.

Above them, the four moons and a sky full of stars cast a gentle glow, like silent witnesses to the pain and healing they shared that night.

Time flew by just like that.

After their little reunion had concluded, they spent the time silently stargazing.

A certain group of children lay on their backs in the grass, eyes wide as they gazed up at the shimmering stars.

"What do you think of what Brother Regis said?" A boy with dark green hair spoke.

A boy with gray hair replied, "I want to live again! How about you?"

"I want to live too!" Exclaimed a girl with dirty blonde hair.

Another girl with red hair chimed in, "He said that the world is really beautiful, so I wasn’t so see for myself!"

"Well, I’m not really sure since I don’t have any family to return to anymore." Said a boy with black hair.