Reincarnated User Manual

Furrowed brows, a flushed face, and tightly pressed lips.

The raised voice and slightly faster speech.

The girl in front of me was clearly angry with me.

Annoyed, I forcefully brushed away Latera’s hand. The sudden outburst made me respond in kind. Where on earth did she learn to grab someone by the collar when she’s slightly annoyed?

“You.”

I got up, dusting off my hands. Due to our height difference, Latera naturally looked up at me.

“You sure have a funny way of talking.”

“…Funny?”

Latera glared at me. My face wasn’t exactly welcoming or mild, but she neither retreated nor seemed intimidated.

“If I retreat just by a mere glare, I’d be disqualified as a guardian angel.”

It wasn’t just the glare. I wasn’t fond of what she said. Showing me Kyrie’s body, implying my decisions were wrong.

“Of course they were wrong!”

Latera’s eyes widened as if wondering what was on my mind.

“Do you even understand the implications of making a deal with a demon? They etch the transaction onto your soul! That mark will never fade. Even if you’re lucky to reincarnate…”

“Is that it?”

I cut off Latera mid-sentence.

“Regardless of what you say, I don’t see how having a transaction with a demon etched onto my soul hurts me.”

I smirked at the girl in front of me. Returning the same attitude she gave me made me feel slightly better.

“Feel… better?”

Confusion marred Latera’s face, but not long after, she managed to regain her composure. It seemed she was quite adept at it.

“Making a deal with a demon puts a penalty on your soul. You might not have made it here.”

“Which is more important? Having a penalty or facing immediate death? I’d go with the latter.”

“There’s a chance for reincarnation.”

“Just a ‘chance’, huh? So it’s not certain.”

“Even if I’m about to die, what does reincarnation matter? Even with the penalties, I still qualified. So it’s fine.”

I rubbed my neck in irritation.

Then, a thought struck me.

“Didn’t you just say I had a penalty of 500 points?”

I wondered how many points would disqualify me from coming to this place.

“Oh, no! What are you thinking?”

Latera’s calm demeanor was once again taken over by panic.

Seeing my point get through to her, I grinned.

I didn’t care about Latera’s flustered state. Given that she already knew what I was thinking, there was no need to be subtle.

“Why can’t I?”

“If you can’t come here… you’ll surely regret it.”

“Regret? What can I do here?”

I smiled wryly.

“Let me be clear: since the opportunity has arisen, I don’t care about coming here.”

A place not even in my knowledge had no value to me. The same applied to the cheeky brat in front of me. What I didn’t know could potentially harm me.

“…?”

“Actually, it seems like you’re the one in trouble.”

If Latera wasn’t lying, then I was the first in 500 years to possess the qualifications to enter this place.

With a hero not appearing for so long, the value of my existence would inevitably rise. A hero would be even more essential, especially if the demon lord was still alive.

“So, here’s the thing.”

I crouched to look her in the eyes.

“Aren’t I the dominant one?”

“…Excuse me?”

“I’m the dominant one, and you’re the subordinate. Your arrogant attitude has been bothering me. You… shouldn’t grab or interrupt me, right?”

I gently patted Latera’s head. Even to me, the touch didn’t seem very affectionate.

---

“…”

Latera pouted like a little child.

She sat down on the ground, hugging her knees, and refused to even glance in my direction.

“…”

She must’ve read my thoughts, yet she didn’t respond even when I teased her about sulking. This made me feel even more awkward.

Ignoring the silent girl, I observed the transparent vessel. I was curious about what it was made of, but I had no intention of breaking it.

Ting ting-

I merely tapped on the glass with the back of my hand.

I turned my gaze back to the sulking child.

“Let me ask you something.”

“…Ask away.”

Latera, looking dejected, nodded slightly. It seemed that she was still willing to answer.

“You mentioned this place exists for souls.”

“…Yes.”

“Then what is this?”

I pointed at Kyrie’s body.

The lifeless, pale corpse just lay there with its eyes closed.

“In a place for souls, why is there a body that isn’t even a soul?”

“…Because you’re alive.”

Despite her gloominess, Latera reluctantly answered.

“‘The Hero’s House’ is like the final destination.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to call it ‘The Hero’s Hall’ then?”

“No.”

Latera firmly disagreed.

“House is better. A hall isn’t somewhere to return to. This place is where Hero Kyrie rests, not a place for others to worship.”

“You seem to care a lot about Kyrie, even considering the state of the deceased.”

“… It’s a bit different.”

Latera smirked with a hint of bitterness.

“I admire the relationship with the hero.”

“You admire the relationship?”

“My goal is to become a wonderful angel like my senior.”contemporary romance

“Who’s your senior that you admire so much?”

“The Guardian Angel, a companion of Hero Kyrie.”

Latera said so after hesitating for a moment. Then, she seemed to check my reaction, moving her gaze from side to side.

I approached Latera.

As far as I knew, Hero Kyrie’s companions were an elf mage and an alchemist. I had never heard of a Guardian Angel.

“Tell me. I’m curious.”

“…Can I really tell you?”

“If you can read my thoughts, you should understand well.”

“…As you say.”

Latera looked straight into my eyes and began.

“My senior told me stories of their adventures when I was here. Like when Kyrie first met them and how they recruited members one by one.”

Latera, narrating the story, looked somewhat joyful.

“And their stories were recorded in the scriptures. They’ve etched their names in history. It’s clear that future generations will remember them.”

“You seem to be guessing that part.”

“I’ve never left this place.”

Latera giggled as she fidgeted with her fingers.

“I don’t really know much. All I know are the emotions of those who came here and… the stories my senior shared.”

Then, Latera looked at me.

“Being here, you tend to yearn for an adventure, especially after continuously hearing such fun tales. I’ve been here for 500 years. I’ve waited patiently all that time. I’ve been really good…”

Latera’s words trailed off, and her eyes began to redden. This wasn’t a good sign.

Reading my thoughts, Latera thumped her own chest with her hand.

“I am! The ‘Guardian Angel’ who exists to assist the Hero in defeating the evil deity. You can say I’m the hero’s sidekick, chosen by fate. I certainly won’t cry over something like this.”

“You’re impressive.”

I ran my hand over my face.

Listening to her, it sounded like she had been waiting for the next hero for the past 500 years, acting like a tomb guard…

“That’s right. Do you know how lonely I was during that time? Just think about how I felt when I heard that the Hero I’ve waited for so long had made a contract with a demon.”

Yet Latera, with a big smile, took my hand.

“I’ve been waiting for you here all along. You’re the Hero of my destiny.”

Latera’s eyes, big with anticipation, revealed a burning desire from her purple irises.

“So, please take me out of here.”

“I can’t.”

“…What?”

Latera leaned in closer, almost interrogating me.

Her previous gloomy attitude was nowhere to be seen.

“No, it’s a cliché to accept such a request here, right? Just when the atmosphere is perfect! After a touching line!”

“Calm down.”

“What do you mean? Calm down!”

“…Sigh.”

I couldn’t help but laugh out of disbelief.

Acting upset… and then being so brazen about it. I had never encountered someone of her sort before. But regardless, I had to explain why I couldn’t take her out of here.

“If I take you out now, you won’t be able to do anything, right?”

“What do you mean I can’t do anything? What are you talking about?”

“I’m only 11 years old.”

At my words, Latera blinked in surprise.

“…What?”

“I’m not ready, and I’m too weak to do anything right now.”

done.co