Chapter 35 – Miraculous Revival

Nо matter what I dо, Мom cаn’t be savеd аnуmоrе.

In thе dark hosрital cоrridоr, Kаnzаki Мао starеd blanklу at the flооr.

Shе thоught she had dоne еverything she соuld to save her mоthеr.

In fact, her body hаd аccumulated cоnsidеrable fаtigue, аnd shе hаd nо strength left to stand.

Вut was that rеаllу true? This thоught соntinued to dоminate hеr mind.

Her mother hаd rаised Mао single-hаndedly.

Shе worked desрerаtеly, but money was nеver еnоugh—shе evеn had to bеg rеlаtives for hеlp.

Yеt shе nеvеr shоwed аnу sign оf it, alwауs greeting Mao with a smile.

Believing she shouldn’t let her child go without, she never bought new clothes or cosmetics for herself, devoting everything to Mao.

She must have wanted things for herself.

As a woman, she must have wanted to dress beautifully.

But even when money came her way, her mother bought nothing for herself, happily using every last bit for Mao’s upbringing.

Was it okay to lose such a mother like this?

Had she repaid even a fraction of the love her mother had poured into her?

Just thinking about it made tears spill uncontrollably.

“Maybe… I could have tried harder…”

She should have tried harder.

Otherwise, her mother wouldn’t be rewarded.

“Let me try a little harder.”

Staggering, she somehow managed to stand up.

Just lifting her hips left her breathless.

It was no wonder. Ever since her mother was hospitalized, Mao had barely slept, running around searching for Hunters who could help.

But she couldn’t complain.

Her mother was suffering far more than she was.

Just as Mao took a step forward, a nurse came rushing over in a panic.

“M-Miss Kanzaki, your mother—!”

“—!?”

Had the end finally come?

As Mao stood frozen in shock, the nurse broke into a smile.

“Congratulations. She’s over the worst of it.”

“…Huh?”

“The doctor is examining her now, but she’s going to be fine!”

Mao’s mind went blank at these completely unexpected words.

Just moments ago, her mother had only hours left.

She never imagined she’d hear that the worst was over.

“How… how did this happen…?”

“Well, a strange man suddenly appeared in the ICU and gave your mother something to drink. When we checked the surveillance camera and rushed to the scene, your mother’s condition had stabilized, and her wounds had completely vanished.”

“—!”

All her exhaustion vanished in an instant.

Mao ran toward her mother’s hospital room.

Just before entering her mother’s room, she suddenly sensed a presence and turned her gaze.

There stood Yuki Asuto, looking utterly worn out.

In his hand, he held an Invisibility Cloak that had lost its effect.

“Mr. Yu—”

“Shh.”

Yuki raised his index finger to his lips.

Seeing this, Mao hurriedly covered her mouth.

This was a hospital, and it was still early morning, just as the sun was beginning to rise.

She couldn’t raise her voice.

“Mr. Yuki, why are you here…?”

From there, her words trailed off.

Why was he here? Why did he look so worn out? Countless questions swirled in her mind, jumbling together until they stuck in her throat.

Seeing Mao like this, Yuki wore a slightly puzzled expression.

“Miss Kanzaki, you look like you haven’t slept.”

“Eh, ah, yes…”

“Then take this.”

He pulled out the fateful ‘Dreamdrop’ from his pocket.

Right now, she didn’t even want to look at this Item.

Perhaps sensing her feelings, Yuki gently shook his head.

“This is an Item that gives people good dreams. It’s especially effective when you’re tired, so give it a try. You’ll probably sleep well.”

“…Okay.”

He had helped her without any reward to obtain the Dreamdrop.

When he spoke to her so kindly like that, there was no way she could refuse and say, “I don’t want it.”

As she accepted the Dreamdrop, Yuki turned his back to her.

“Ah, wait. Mr. Yuki, could it be that you—”

“Miss Kanzaki.”

Yuki gently interrupted Mao’s words.

He turned his head slightly and pointed toward the ICU door.

“Your mother is waiting.”

“—!”

Hearing those words, Mao could no longer stand still.

There were mountains of things she wanted to ask him. But her desire to see her mother won out.

Mao bowed deeply and opened the ICU door with the card hanging from her neck.

Suppressing her urge to hurry, she walked quickly down the hallway.

And the moment she opened the door to her mother’s room…

“Mom…my…”

“My, good morning, Mao.”

Seeing her mother sitting up and smiling at her, tears spilled uncontrollably.

“Mom!!”

There was no need to hold back anymore.

Mao crumpled her face and threw herself into her mother’s chest.

Her mother, who had regained consciousness, had recovered completely, as if her previous condition had been a lie.

Still, to be safe, they decided against an immediate discharge.

Her room was moved from the ICU to a general ward.

The life-threatening crisis had passed.

Relieved, Mao was hit by the first wave of sleepiness in days.

With unsteady steps, she returned to the small condominium for patients’ families attached to the hospital.

As she collapsed onto the bed, the Dreamdrop rolled out of her pocket.

‘It’s especially effective when you’re tired, so give it a try.’

Even now, remembering how Aim the Angel had deceived her by misrepresenting this Item’s Effect made her blood boil.

But the one at fault was Aim, not the Item.

Trusting Yuki’s words, Mao broke the seal on the Dreamdrop.

Immediately, a floral aroma enveloped her, and a peaceful sleep wrapped around Mao.

In her dream, Yuki Asuto was fighting a vicious Monster.

The difference in True Strength was clear—it wasn’t a Monster he could defeat.

He was killed over and over again.

But each time he died, he revived and continued to face it.

Countless small experiences piled up, and Yuki grew until he could overwhelm the Monster.

And finally, he obtained the Item that would save Mao’s mother.

—Why… to that extent?

No matter what Skills he had, he couldn’t possibly be unafraid of death.

It couldn’t possibly be painless. It couldn’t possibly be without suffering.

Yet he continued to face that immense wall.

—How could he go that far?

The dream answered that question.

The impulse driving him was a fierce anger at his own powerlessness and a strong will for strength.

And the reason he could overcome death and repeatedly transcend himself was because he had witnessed the figure of a Top Ranker facing Heaven.

Seeing that back, she gasped.

—Is that… me?

Countless Monsters swarming in Heaven, and the profile of the woman challenging them—it looked so much like herself.

Yuki respected “her” and acknowledged her as a great genius.

But what about herself?

—Could I become that strong?

The future was unknown.

But if she couldn’t become “her” now, he would surely be disappointed.

That would be… so painful.

—I have to become strong.

If she remained weak, he would have to face the Heavenly Host all alone.

Besides, she still hadn’t repaid him at all.

To repay the debt of saving her mother, she had to become strong.

—I have to become strong.

Stronger than anyone, stronger than anything.

And she would gather comrades who could elevate each other and form a Guild.

To stand side by side with him.

—I have to become a self far stronger than “her”!!

Mao’s consciousness slowly Awakened.

As she sat up, a single tear rolled down her cheek.

The warmth of that tear was different from when she had been trembling at the thought of losing her mother—it was very, very warm.