“Father, wake up! Open your eyes!”

What’s going on here? Why isn’t he breathing? He was still fine when I separated him from that bastard.

The ? No, I left enough holes for air, he shouldn’t be suffocated.

Did Jiwa do something? But, he didn’t come anywhere close to father during the fight.

Ah! Was it when he wiped the s-flies? No, no, there’s no way that’s the case. Human mind is complex, killing a human with merely mind-attack shouldn’t be possible. Well, SHOULDN’T be. Did he manage to figure a way somehow? Is he such a powerful mage who can kill by merely thinking of it?

Uh, that’s not important right now.

C’mon, wake up, father!

I repeatedly pressed his left chest in a rhythm, relying on my vague memory at how doctors in my previous live had done it. Every once in awhile in between my pressings, I would stop to blow air through his mouth. Yet, probably due to the lack of my knowledge in that area or simply because of his condition, I couldn’t get his heart to beat.

I can’t do this myself, I need help from an expert. But, who?

Ah, Fantastica! That high priest, whatever his name. He was healing that Oki guy’s wife and Dava said he’s fine even after Ken killed him, he should be able to do something. Alright.

Collecting my mind, I stood up with father’s large build on my arms. While I rushed towards the sky fighter golems, one of them restarted its engine, even though they had just arrived a moment ago. Not that they need a rest, to begin with. I then hopped on and planted parts of my feet in the golem’s rock body.

It was a strange sensation. My breaths were short but my mind was clear and focus. I wanted to help father, that was all matter. Everything else seemed distant and unimportant. I couldn’t even remember the thing related to Jiwa’s scattered fleshes, which had been bothering me up until when the SFs had returned with both my not-breathing father and the restrained Spidey.

As the SF I was on took off, I casted a wind barrier around me, carefully so it wouldn’t disrupt the flight, before opening a portal to the sky outside my dungeon. My mind wandered, Aunt Ehrisya wasn’t aware of father's return yet, moreover his condition. She was playing with Queen in my throne chamber at the moment. Yet again, it was trivial matter.

The trip was short with the fighter’s speed. Fortunately, I knew where exactly to go. Ken had reported earlier that he had sneaked into a room where the big-shots in [Firzoa] had been gathering, including that high priest guy. Thus, I headed straight to the noble district, guided by my s-flies.

Since we flew at a low altitude, the loud sound from the jet engine had to surprise the entire town. No, surprise would be an understatement, but who cared.

Soon, I jumped down when the SF passed my destination building, a huge mansion of some sort, and let the golem went somewhere on its own. Using the , I then forced a hole to open on the roof, all the way into a big meeting room below - probably calling it a hall would be more appropriate.

Although I tried to slow my fall by conjuring strong wind against me and turned the floor into soft sands, I still landed with a loud bam. It didn’t hurt or anything, so it was fine.

After laying father down on the floor, I made a quick scan to the entire room. There, I found the one I had been looking for, together with another man with similar grand white robe fashion, but with an addition of a funny looking round hat.

“Please, help me,” I asked.

No one moved, it seemed they were all too shocked. Thus, I asked once again, “Please, father, you who’re blessed with , please help my old man.”

This time, Dava responded. The red-haired guildmaster quickly moved to my side and checked father’s condition. “He’s not breathing,” he murmured. “Father Jaa!”

“Ah, yes.”

Answering the call, the high priest acted. He came closer and did a throughout inspection to father’s already-cold body, while chanting something under his breath. His now-glowing white glove touched every bruise he found and soon they were all gone.

Finished with the bruises, he put his hand on the left chest where the heart resided. His chants grew louder and louder. And lastly, he shouted, “!”

A blinding light enveloped the room. When it finally dimmed out and there was no reaction from father, the priest Jaa shook his head and threw a meaningful look to Dava. The guildmaster nodded understandingly, then patted my back.

“I- We’re sorr-”

“No!” I interjected. “No, there must be something you can still do. Please don’t give up. I beg you. Please, try again!”

“It’s no use. It’s been too long since he died,” Jaa replied, shaking his head once again.

“Then… then, use or something. You can do it, right?”

The high priest glared. “Watch your wish, young lad. Death and life is the God’s domain. Accept it.”

“Ah… but, but, you used it yourself, didn’t you? You were revived after you died once!”

“Me? No, it was different. I was under the , I haven’t really died.”

“I- is that so…? But still…”

“Listen,” Jaa cut. “I’ve applied an advanced-level . His wounds are all healed and his body is as good as new. However, since his soul has left, he’ll remain a corpse even if I cast more. If you’re Mahza’s son, you should understand this much of soul concept.”

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

“Uh, I suppose…,” I replied weakly as I felt strength was leaving me, together with my dwindling hope.

“Everything comes from nothingness and will return to nothingness. Let us pray his soul finds peace beside our God Tuhn,” the other high priest with a round hat began preaching.

“I doubt it, Father Bapa. Mahza was a great sinner in his lifetime,” Jaa disagreed.

Raising his eyebrows, Bapa gave questioning look. “What do you mean, father? The God is merciful.”

“I’m aware, father, but Mahza isn’t your regular sinner. Not only he brought miseries to wherever he went, only God knows how many taboos that man had broken.”

“I see. No wonder his name sounds familiar, so he is THAT Mahza.”

“Indeed,” Jaa nodded.

I really wanted to punch his face.

Even if what he had said was true, did he really have to talk about a deadman, in front this many people, like that? And he called himself a priest too, unbelievable.

“Too bad, young man. I suggest you, as his descendant, pay a charity of redemption to atone his sins. We, servants of God Tuhn, will take care of the rest, including the ritual to send his soul off,” Bapa said.

Forcing a smile, I replied, “Thank you for the offer, father. Rather, is there really nothing that can bring my old man back to life? Anything? I mean, it’s called , after all, and it shouldn’t be that long since his deadtime…,” I asked one more time, with a little hope.

“Why you… I’ve explained it, which part do you still not understand?” Jaa growled. “Do you want to follow your father’s missteps?!”

“Calm down, Father Jaa. Young man, I assure you, most of people in this room have been experiencing losing someone dear, so we understand your grieve. And based on that experience, I can tell you that the best way to face this kind of situation is simply to accept your old man’s death. Let the time heal your wound.”

“So, there’s really nothing than can be done?”

“Nothing,” Bapa gave a firm answer to my question.

“… Are you telling me something like doesn’t exist?”

“Even if it does, none of us here know it. And I doubt anyone within the influenced territory of the church knows, or dares to practice it. Life and death are lying within the God’s domain, after all, and breaking such great taboo means capital punishment.”

“I… see,” was the thing that came from my mouth, after my last hope being shattered.

I wasn’t convinced, father had broken the said taboo but they had done nothing to him. However, it was obvious that the priests here didn’t want to help. It wasn’t a question if they were capable or not anymore. That meant, spending any second longer in the place was wasting of time.

“What about my earlier suggestion? Charity of redemption is the only way to get the Almighty Tuhn’s forgiveness for sins of his calibre. The sooner you pay, the less your old man will suffer in the afterlife.”

My blood boiled when I heard that. Not only they refused to help father and bad talking him, they also tried to scam me. Still, I did my best to control myself. Exploding here wouldn’t solve anything, anyway.

Thus, by regulating my breath, I managed to calm myself. However, when I tried to stand up, my knees failed to hold. Only thanks to Ken who readily caught me that I didn’t fall.

“I’m sorry for the intrusion, I’ll be taking my leave now,” I said while getting a hold of myself, ignoring the high priest. “Ken, take my father,” I ordered.

“Keek, yes.”

"Dungeon Master Arz,” Dava called, as the thunderous sound of my Sky Fighter was approaching. “You’ve our condolence.”

“Thanks.”

Without waiting any longer, I shot the three of us - Ken, father, and myself - upwards with an , leaving everyone else dumbfounded. Ken with his strings got us on the plane and we departed thereafter.

It was a dull trip back to the dungeon, mostly because I was sulking in my failure.

In the end, I couldn’t save father. What was all the effort for?

Before I knew, we had reached our destination; a cave on a rocky hill within a huge forest, with a mountain in the background. There was no trace of a settlement that once stood at the clearing near the cave entrance. That was to be expected, though. Because, the clearing was part of the dungeon area and I had absorbed everything that had been left behind.

Opening a portal in the mid-air, we entered the runway room. I jumped down from the plane, followed by Ken who brought father on his shoulder. With a gesture, I ordered the ratsassin to put him down.

I stood still, observing the unmoving father’s corpse, with Ken quietly stood next to me. Not long after, two portals were appearing. Haz, which now had thrice his previous size, and Queen, who looked so pretty with her golden tiara and black hair, were coming from each of the portal. They took position around me. Together, we mourned father’s death in silence. I really was lucky to have them with me.

As we did nothing, I realized how times had flew. Everything started when father had left me in this dungeon, which felt like aeons ago. Even though I got trusted companions, I lost Mahza; my savior, my guardian, my source of headache, my… well, my father. Even though our souls weren’t originally related, our physicals were. He was the only blood-related family I had left in this world.

“Father…,” I muttered while squatting down. “Only now I realized how much your mad existence means to me…,” I whispered, caressing his mostly-turned-white hair. I took my time to carefully look at his face, at every wrinkle and mark uncovered by his beard. His skin was really pale and cold.

“… Hey, Queen,” I said and turned, as a crazy idea flashed through my mind. “If a golem can turn alive with a , do you think… I can revive father with it?”

“…”

“What do you think?”

“… Master, you’re more knowledgeable about than I. But, even if the corpse comes to live, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s your same father. I think.”

“Hmm. Is it worth a try?”

“Just do it. You’ve decided, haven’t you?” Haz suggested.

“Yeah…,” I nodded, deciding.

Turning back to father, I whispered, “Father… I know, I should let you go. Let you rest in peace. But, just like how you tried your best to bring me back to live, this time… This time, please allow my selfishness.”

On my palm, a core was formed. Then, with a tug, I pressed it into father’s chest. There was a compulsion. One second, two seconds, five, ten, twenty. It continued, causing my heart to be in turmoil. After no less than two minutes, it finally ceased. Thereafter, slowly but steady, color returned to his face. And it wasn’t stopping there, the bearded big man started to open his eyes.

“F… father, do you recognize… me?” I asked. My voice was shaking with excitement.

The old man turned to me, he looked confused. “Master. Why’re you calling me father?” he asked.

“No! This isn’t right!”

With all my might, I pressed my hand to his chest. I used and poured my every collection of him, since I had first come to this world to this day, concentrating not to let anything slipped by.

Hours passed. I didn’t know how long it was, but shouldn’t be more than a day. My clothes were all drenched in sweats. Carefully looking at his face, the widened eyes started to focus. I bit my lower lips, not sure what to expect. He blinked once, twice, then turned his gaze to me.

*Slap!*

“Auch!”

I touched my head where it had been hit, it hurt. Then, returning my attention to father, I saw him grinning. Seeing me dumbfounded, his laugh bursted out.

“Mwa Ha ha Ha Ha Ha! I expect no less from you, boy!”

“It… it worked?”