As that realization settled in, questions continued to pile up.
The sensation of clashing with the Demon Queen in our final battle.
At that moment, I had clearly felt my own death.
Everything rapidly dwindled to zero, yet I'd felt a deep sense of satisfaction as I perished.
'Could it really be possible to reconstruct my body here on Earth after death?'
Or did only my consciousness travel to the other world? No, that didn't seem likely either.
Wait. Something feels off about my body.
"…No scars?"
I looked at my arm and saw no scars.
In that world, war was constant.
I'd fought in countless battles in a brutal, unending war. Despite healing magic, I'd suffered wounds so severe that scars remained.
But now, they were all gone.
I hurried to the bathroom to check my reflection in the mirror.
"…It's hard to tell, but did I get younger?"
I'd spent years in the other world. I didn't remember the exact number due to the intensity of my days there, but it must've been seven or eight years at least.
Yet something still felt off.
The amount of mana within me was the same as it had been when I fought the Demon Queen at my peak.
If my body had reverted to its younger self, it'd mean time had rewound. But my mana remained unchanged. Even my Item Box still worked, suggesting some strange process had occurred during my return to Earth.
First things first: I should start working out again.
"Let's see… my smartphone… hah, a smartphone."
I chuckled at the word, which felt so unfamiliar after not saying it for so long. I grabbed my phone, left casually on the table.
The nostalgic sensation of operating it made me smile. When I checked the calendar app, I confirmed it: the date was the same as the year I was first summoned.
The sheer amount of unanswered questions made my head spin, but…
"…I think I'll go for a walk."
Feeling a sudden urge to experience Country Q again—this peaceful land without conflict—I left the house.
'HAAA…what a polluted air and this ear busting honking's!' My ears instantly bleed with all the vehicle sound and cars rolling down the street, however it was a scene that I didn't hate.
I stopped in my tracks, staring at the peculiar scene before me.
A girl, no older than ten, with golden fox ears sprouting from her head and a matching fluffy tail wagging happily behind her, was crouched on the ground.
She held a stick in her hand, drawing something on the dirt.
OH, what a cute beastkin child…wait!
Just wait a moment!
No, wait. There are no beastkin in Earth!
"...What?"
The word slipped from my mouth before I could think.
The girl's ears twitched at the sound, and she raised her head, revealing bright amber eyes that shimmered with an unnatural glow. Her gaze locked onto mine, and her expression lit up with delight.
"Oh! Human! Human!" she chirped, her tail wagging faster as she scampered toward me.
"Uh, hey there…" I said cautiously, instinctively stepping back.
She stopped a few paces away, her head tilting to the side. Her fluffy ears twitched again, and her nose scrunched up as though sniffing the air.
"Hmm… You smell funny. You're not a normal human, are you?"
"What does that even mean?" I asked, more bewildered than anything.
The girl giggled, her tail swishing playfully. "You've got lots of magic on you. You're different. Kinda like us!"
"Us?"
She turned and pointed toward the church at the top of the stairs. "The spirits! We live here. This is our home."
Spirits?
I glanced at the old, weathered church sitting quietly atop the hill. It had an air of antiquity, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary—aside from the beastkin girl standing in front of me, of course.
"Okay, hold on a second," I said, holding up a hand. "You're saying you're a spirit? Like, a guardian or something?"
"Mmhmm!" She nodded enthusiastically. "I'm Kina, the fox spirit! Nice to meet you!"
"Kina, huh…?"
I muttered her name under my breath, trying to process what was happening. First, I wake up back on Earth. Then, I find out I've retained my powers. Now, I'm talking to a fox spirit in what I thought was an ordinary neighborhood church.
What kind of bizarre turn of events was this?
Kina's golden eyes sparkled with curiosity as she watched me. "And you? What's your name, funny-smelling human?"
"...Revan."
"Revan! Okay, Revan! You're interesting. I like you!"
"Well, thanks, I guess?"
Before I could say anything else, Kina grabbed my hand, her small fingers surprisingly warm.
"C'mon! You should meet everyone!"
"Wait, everyone?"
But the fox girl was already tugging me toward the staircase, her excitement infectious.
The moment we stepped through the church gate, I felt it—a subtle yet distinct shift in the atmosphere. It was as though I had crossed into another realm. The air grew heavier, tinged with a faint hum of magical energy that resonated in my core.
Kina noticed my reaction and grinned. "Feel that? That's the barrier. Only special humans can enter!"
"Barrier?"
"Yup! It keeps bad things out and protects us spirits. Pretty neat, huh?"
I couldn't argue with that. The barrier felt strong, yet it allowed me through without resistance. Did this mean I was considered "special"?
We reached the church at the top of the hill, and I immediately noticed the presence of others. Several figures moved about, some with animal-like features similar to Kina's, while others appeared more ethereal, their forms shimmering like heat waves.
"Wow…"
Kina beamed, clearly proud of her home. "Welcome to our home, Revan! It's not much, but it's ours!"