Is It Wrong to Explore the Dungeon Even Though I’m Overpowered? (Danmachi SI- WC) (Patreon)

Chapter 22: Where the Heart Waits

The moment I opened my eyes again, the light of a new day greeted me—and with it, the quiet warmth of two bodies nestled close on either side.

One belonged to a pink-haired maid whose sharp tongue often belied her gentle care. The other, to a white-haired girl—my loyal companion and sword—who had stood at my side since the day I arrived in this world.

Then the memories returned.

Like a wave crashing down, they resurfaced all at once. The battlefield. The screams. The fire and blood.

My heart sank.

‘So it wasn’t a dream,’ I thought bitterly, a grimace tugging at my lips. ‘I really did that.’

As if sensing the shift in my mood, two small hands reached for mine, fingers intertwining gently. I looked down—and was met with the worried gazes of Ram and Est, their crimson and violet eyes searching mine.

“Reinhard… are you okay?” Est asked, her voice as soft as a whisper against the silence.

“There’s no need to burden yourself,” Ram said, her tone quieter than usual, but no less firm. “We’re here.”

I looked away, guilt gnawing at me. I didn’t deserve their kindness. Not after what I’d done.

“But I… I killed tens of thousands,” I murmured, my voice barely audible. “With my own hands.”

“We,” Ram corrected sharply, her fingers tightening around mine. Her expression was fierce. “We killed them, Reinhard-sama.”

“Yes,” Est echoed with a nod. “Together.”

I stayed silent at their answer, grateful for their support—yet still feeling unworthy of it.

“…Did you know I could’ve ended that war without a single drop of blood spilled?” I murmured, barely above a whisper.

Ram tilted her head, curiosity flickering in her eyes. “What do you mean?”

“I have a Divine Protection,” I admitted. “One that lets me change the mind of anyone I choose. I don’t even have to be near them. I just have to picture their face, and their will becomes mine.”

Ram, more familiar with the concept of Divine Protections due to our original world, froze in shock. Her eyes widened—but only for a moment. Then she slowly shook her head.

“Then there must have been a reason why you didn’t use it.”

I gave a small nod, though it brought me no comfort. “I made a promise. To Hestia, Artemis, and Hephaistos. That I would never use that power unless there was truly no other way.”

A bitter chuckle escaped me. “In honoring that promise… I sentenced tens of thousands to death.”

“See~?” Ram replied at once, a bright—almost stubborn—smile blooming on her face. “You did have a reason. A good one, too. And besides… who’s to say they wouldn’t have rebelled later, after we left this world?”

“That’s right,” Est added softly, her grip on my hand tightening. “Reinhard would’ve felt even worse if he had taken away all their free will… even if it meant saving their lives.”

Their words cut through the fog, warm and sure.

I didn’t deserve them. I truly didn’t.

But in that moment, as I closed my eyes, I felt the weight on my shoulders lift—just a little.

“…Thank you,” I whispered, my voice raw but sincere.

=====

By the time I pulled myself together enough to leave the room, the sun had already begun its slow climb into the sky. The air outside the fort still held the dryness of the desert, but after everything, it felt almost… peaceful.

Arry was waiting at the lookout post Ram had used during the battle, her cloak billowing gently in the wind. She didn’t turn around when I approached—but I knew she sensed me.

“You’re leaving soon, aren’t you?” she asked quietly.

I stepped beside her and nodded. “Yeah. My place is in Orario.”

A long silence stretched between us, filled only by the gentle rustling of wind over scorched earth.

“I don’t think I ever said it properly,” she said at last, her voice steady. “Thank you, Reinhard. For everything.”

“You already did,” I replied gently. “More than once.”

“I know.” She turned to face me now, her violet eyes bright with unshed tears. “But I needed to say it again. I owe you more than I can ever repay.”

I offered her a small smile. “You don’t owe me anything, Arry. Just keep your word. Free the slaves. Build a future worth fighting for. That’s more than enough.”

She nodded slowly, swallowing hard. “I will. I swear it.”

Her hands clenched at her sides for a moment—then she stepped forward and surprised me with a tight hug. I froze for half a second before returning the embrace, resting a hand gently on her back.

“You’re going to make a great king,” I whispered.

She pulled away, brushing her eyes with the back of her hand. “Come visit sometime, yeah? I want to show you the kingdom once it’s not… well, ashes.”

I chuckled. “I’d like that.”

As Est and Ram stepped outside to join us, I turned to face the sky.

It was time.

With the picture of the place, I wanted to travel firmly in my mind, I signaled for Est and Ram to get close and they quickly followed my instruction.

Before leaving, I gave Arry one last look.

“Be safe.”

“You too,” she said, her voice quiet—but strong.

With that, Est took my left hand and Ram my right, and together we disappeared, using Yuuya’s ability to teleport great distances with the desert vanishing behind us.

Home was waiting.

And so were they.

We reappeared a moment later on the outskirts of Orario, the great city rising in the distance like a beacon. With the walls so close, I resolved to sneak back in from above—cloud cover would make for a quiet return.

But before I could take a single step, a gentle tug on my hand stopped me.

I turned to find Ram, a soft blush dusting her cheeks. Her crimson eyes met mine with an uncharacteristic shyness that made my breath catch.

“Ram?” I asked, puzzled. “Is something wrong?”

Instead of answering, she tugged a little harder, pulling me down until our faces were nearly touching. And then, without a word, she rose onto her toes and pressed her lips to mine.

The kiss started soft, hesitant—but it quickly deepened, her tongue brushing against mine with surprising confidence. The sensation caught me completely off guard—but I didn’t pull away.

When she finally stepped back, a satisfied look curled on her lips. “Thanks for spending time with me, Reinhard-sama,” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

“You’re… welcome,” I replied automatically, blinking as I licked my lips. A faint taste of strawberries lingered there. “Rem’s going to be a bit jealous, you know.”

“Huhuhu~ I wouldn’t be so sure,” Ram replied with a sly smirk. “Rem felt that too.”

That’s right. I recalled the rare ability they shared. Synesthesia. A unique ability that allowed them to share mana… and emotions.

Now that I think about it… if they share feelings so directly, wouldn’t that make it nearly impossible for them to fall for different people?

An unexpected pang of jealousy stabbed through my chest at the thought of either of them—Ram or Rem—falling for someone else, like they had in the original timeline. I pushed it aside, but the discomfort lingered.

“No fair, Reinhard. Me too.”

Est’s soft voice cut through my thoughts. Before I could respond, she stepped in and tugged gently at my coat, pulling me down just like Ram had.

Her lips met mine with a touch more boldness, the kiss warm and lingering. Her fingers curled lightly into my chest as if to anchor herself there.

When she finally pulled away, I found myself breathless.

Her violet eyes gazed up at me, soft and full of quiet affection. “I’m glad you’re feeling better.”

“Thank you,” I murmured again, a small smile tugging at my lips.

But before the warmth could settle, Ram’s voice cut through the moment—calm, but edged with tension.

“By the way, Reinhard-sama,” she said, her tone turning serious. “We should probably hide or move. I see a group heading this way from the city.”

Her words snapped me to attention. I blinked, then turned toward Orario. With my enhanced vision, I zeroed in on the group.

About twenty figures were moving steadily away from the gates, marching in formation.

But what caught my eye wasn’t their number. It was the figure near the center—her form distinctly feminine, her head covered by a traveling cloak.

Yet despite the hood, I spotted it.

A faint glimmer of silver hair.

My stomach dropped.

‘No…’ I thought, dread settling in. ‘I didn’t turn Trace Defense back off.’

The realization hit like a blow. In the aftermath of the battle, weighed down by guilt and exhaustion, I had completely forgotten to deactivate the very power that kept me hidden from prying eyes.

And one goddess in particular had been watching me closely apparantly.

Freya.

I could only stare, dumbfounded, as the Goddess of Beauty herself strode forward with part of her Familia in tow—clearly intent on searching for me. If I knew Freya, she must’ve panicked when I suddenly vanished from that mirror of hers and decided to take matters into her own hands.

And since her Familia would never let her travel alone, she must’ve dragged them along with her—likely pulling strings and twisting arms in the background.

All for me.

A bead of sweat slid down the back of my neck as I quickly deactivated Trace Defense, praying it wasn’t too late to keep them from traveling too far.

‘Crap. That’s got to be awkward… She’s in for a surprise when she looks at her mirror again only to realize I’m somehow already back inside the city.’

“Let’s move, girls,” I said, already scooping Ram and Est into my arms.

Without waiting for a reply, I launched us into the sky, cutting through the morning air like a bullet and vanishing into the clouds. From there, I leapt from cloud to cloud—using the Divine Protection of Clouds to stay airborne, my eyes fixed on Orario as we raced to beat Freya’s detection.

=====

It only took a few minutes before I spotted the church below us. After making sure no one was around, I descended with Ram and Est still in my arms, landing softly just outside the front gate.

A sigh of relief slipped from my lips as I stepped forward, finally back in a place that—while not my true home like our Demiplane—still felt right.

Safe.

I barely made it to the front steps when the door burst open with enough force to nearly rip it from its hinges. Before I could react, three blurs shot toward me—and slammed into my chest, knocking me flat onto my back. My arms moved instinctively to catch them, cushioning the fall.

Then I heard it. Three voices overlapping with raw emotion.

“Rein-kun~!”

“Rein~!”

“Reinhard-kun~!”

A soft “Oof!” escaped me, more from surprise than impact. I blinked—only to find myself staring down at three tear-streaked faces, all buried in my chest.

Hestia. Artemis. Rem.

All three clung to me, their arms wrapped tight around my torso, their shoulders trembling.

My heart clenched.

Panicked, I brought them closer, holding them like they might disappear if I let go. “W-What is it? What’s wrong?” I asked, my voice rising with concern. “Why are you crying?”

“I-Idiot!” Hestia shouted through teary eyes, giving my chest a soft but frantic smack. “What do you mean why?! We thought something terrible had happened! We felt it, Reinhard!”

“That’s right, Rein,” Artemis added, her voice trembling with concern. Her emerald eyes shimmered with unshed tears. “We were really worried about you.”

“I’m glad you’re back, Reinhard-kun~” Rem whispered, clinging to me even tighter. “Please… don’t ever leave your Rem behind again…”

A small grimace tugged at my face as I wrapped my arms around them even tighter, drawing them into a firmer embrace.

‘I should have expected this,’ I thought quietly, mentally kicking myself for causing them pain—again.

“I’m sorry for worrying you,” I murmured, voice soft, guilt still clinging to my chest like a shadow. “But… as you can see, I’m alright.”

The words felt easier now—my earlier talk with Ram and Est had done more for me than I realized. The guilt hadn’t vanished, not completely. But at least now… it didn’t feel like it would crush me.

And looking down at the girls in my arms—Hestia, Artemis, and Rem—I felt something else rise to the surface.

Gratitude.

Love.

The quiet, steady warmth of knowing I wasn’t alone.

=====

Once we made our way inside, I barely had time to catch my breath before I was pulled into another wave of hugs—this time from the rest of the girls. Rethusa and Lante were at the forefront, both throwing their arms around me with relieved smiles.

It felt like coming home all over again.

Once everyone had finally settled down—at least a little—I looked around the room, noting the slight fatigue in their expressions.

“How about I make us something to eat?” I offered. “We also haven’t really eaten anything since lunch yesterday. In our rush to get back we are running on fumes.”

The moment the words left my mouth, I was met with a loud, enthusiastic chorus of “Yes!” from nearly everyone present.

“We missed your cooking, Senpai!”

“Finally, a real meal~!”

“Please make extra!”

I smiled softly at their reaction, glad to be back home.

“I’ll help you, Rein,” Artemis said quickly, stepping forward with a bright smile. Her voice was light—almost cheerful, happy to return to the rhythm of normal life.

“Me too~” Rem added, sidling up beside her, her expression serene and full of devotion.

“Very well,” I nodded, unable to hide the soft chuckle that escaped me.

The scent of grilled meats, sizzling vegetables, and aromatic spices soon filled the air, drifting from the kitchen and weaving through every corner of the church.

By the time I brought out the first tray of food, the dining table had transformed into a battlefield—minus the bloodshed. Plates were set, drinks poured, and the usual quiet of the church gave way to cheerful noise.

Everyone dug in like they hadn’t eaten in days.

“Mmm~ This is the taste I’ve been craving,” Lante groaned, leaning back dramatically. “Rein, seriously, how are you this good at cooking? Did you take lessons from a god?”

“He is a god,” Rethusa muttered around a mouthful of rice. “Of the kitchen.”

Across the table, Ram wore her usual half-smirk, swirling her tea like she hadn’t just helped flatten an army days ago. “Honestly, I missed this more than I thought I would,” she admitted. “Almost makes the sand in my shoes worth it.”

“You say that now, but you were still complaining about sand in your undergarments this morning,” I replied with a sly smile.

She gave me a dry look. “Don’t ruin the moment, Reinhard-sama.”

Rem, sitting beside her, let out a small sigh—but her eyes were fond. “Still, it’s nice to be together again.”

“I’ll say,” Hestia chimed in from beside me, holding her bowl high like a trophy. “This is real food! Honestly, what took you so long, Rein-kun?”

“I had to stop by and depose a corrupt country along with their army,” I said casually.

A few laughs followed—but not all eyes were smiling.

Even through the light-hearted chatter, I could feel them.

Rem. Hestia. Artemis.

Watching me.

Waiting.

The way Artemis calmly stirred her tea, her gaze never quite leaving me. The way Hestia kept glancing in my direction between bites, her brows furrowing just slightly. And Rem… her chopsticks moved with her usual grace, her face not betraying anything. Under the table though her foot reached out to mine and slid it under content to just be touching a part of me.

They were glad I was safe.

But they hadn’t forgotten.

And they would be getting answers.

There would be no escape.

“Something on your mind, Reinhard-sama?” Ram asked teasingly, though there was a knowing glint in her eyes. “You’ve been looking over like you’re on trial.”

“I’m just enjoying the moment,” I deflected smoothly.

As soon as lunch was over, I was pulled into our Demiplane by two determined goddesses.

Ram, Est, Lante, and Rethusa followed close behind. I was led straight to my room and made to sit on the bed while Hestia and Artemis stood before me, arms crossed and eyes locked on mine.

Ram and Est settled in beside me and on my lap without a word. Rem took her usual spot at my other side, her gaze sharp and unreadable. Lante and Rethusa stood near the end of the bed, watching quietly.

“Spill it, Rein-kun. And spare no details,” Hestia said, her tone stern.

Artemis nodded silently.

“Talk, mister~” Lante added, but her voice lacked its usual cheer.

There was no way out of this.