Isekai No Gakusei: Students From Another World
The Resurrection of Conscience

The woman opened her head cover. A pair of tiny horns were seen hanging out between the shiny brown hair.

"Let me introduce myself. My name is Katherine, a wanderer," he said.

Katherine glanced at Michael. "You're human, huh? That explains how a light magic as powerful as it could have appeared."

Ari stood up while slightly staggering. "Thank you for helping us. To be honest, if you hadn't come, maybe this village would have vanished."

"No need to thank me that way. Actually I'm the one who should apologize" Katherine replied. "Because I fought the elder lich earlier, you guys got hit too. Now we'd better clean up the mess here first."

Katherine helped them both stand up and walk back to the center of the village. The citizens began to come out from their hiding places and greeted the three of them with cheers.

Yet still, the cheers of victory could not cover the grief over the people who had left in this incident. Bodies that were buried.

In addition to being a sign of respect, this is also done to prevent the spread of dangerous diseases spread by the undead.

"Katherine-san, why do you insist on burying these corpses?" Ari asked as her hands were busy stockpiling corpses on the ground with shovels.

"Have you ever heard of a cursed disease?" Reply Katherine.

Michael nodded while nodding. "Diseases that resemble the effects of Wither. Yet many times more deadly. Damage the body from within. Destroying internal organs to inflict damage that leads to death."

"You're almost completely right" Katherine continued. "In fact, the disease is not only limited to ending in death."

"What do you mean?" Michael furrowed his eyebrows while astonished.

Katherine walked over to the undead corpse that half of her body had Ari buried. He also looked at the corpse, which was none other than Yanu's corpse.

"If you didn't hear me wrong, that undead was one of your friends, right?" Katherine asked Ari.

Ari nodded slowly. "Yes, right."

Katherine noticed some parts of the body that seemed to be rotting with some small sticky bubbles.

"So yes, lately the disease has become stronger," Katherine said with a serious face.

Michael. "What's really going on? What are you talking about?"

Katherine looked at him. "Let me explain. In short, the disease had effects other than death. Once the corpse of its host dies, then the disease will control the body's physique."

Ari's hair immediately stood up to hear it, while Michael seemed to stroke his chin.

"So all this time. The undead we fight are the result of a cursed disease?"

"True," Katherine said.

"But how did this deadly disease come about? Is there a source of the outbreak?"

Katherine looked at Michael sharply. "I just realized something" he said. "You're human. I can't tell you all my plans."

Michael jerks. "Why not? Shouldn't everyone know about this?"

"I already know how people behave. They use everything they know to master things" Katherine continued. "When they achieve something, they don't feel satisfied. They will look for more, even if it has to hurt the other side. And who knows, you're gonna use this important information for your own personal gain."

Michael was angry. "will not. I. I just want to help," he said. "I won't use it against you."

"Oh really!? Nice dong," Katherine replied with a sarcastic tone. "Then explain to me about your light magic. A light that strong could definitely only be used by trained people. Like the royal army. And I know very well, you royal soldiers hate us demons so much."

"I hated the devil, once. But now things have changed. You have to trust me. I'm siding with the village."

"Who knows? Maybe you're just using them" said Katherine. His lips are getting sharper. "If you want to win my trust, then prove it! I know you royal soldiers have high self-esteem."

Michael was annoyed to hear Katherine's words. But what else? He had no choice but to prove himself, in order to obtain that valuable information.

"But I have to do what?" Michael seemed to think.

But the more he thought hard, the more he felt Katherine looking at him with a suspicious look.

Suddenly Riana appeared. He carried a plate with several cups of glass on it. He seemed to be bringing drinks to his brother and others who were working to bury the corpse.

"Riana, can you come here for a second?" Call Michael.

Riana approached him with a plain face. He thought Michael wanted to drink.

"What's up Michael-san?" His question.

Michael sat on the ground and put down his cane. Riana sat down and placed the plate on the ground.

"Can you please drink this a little?" Said Michael while taking a cup of drink and thrusting it at Riana.

The confused Riana took it without any suspicion. He lifted the cup near his nose, so that he could smell the tea he made himself. Shortly after, he took a sip.

He swallowed it half over. After drinking, he pulled his lips until he saw a thread of saliva stretched between the lips and the mouth of the cup.

"Already," he said. "Actually for what, Michael-san?"

Michael immediately took the cup from Riana's hand. Without hesitation, he directly stuck his mouth into the same cup and drank his tea.

He sipped it until it was over. Ari and Riana were shocked when they saw her.

"Michael-san!" Riana's face widened, while Ari quietly glared beside her.

Katherine grinned, though she did not expect this at first. "Woah, it turns out you've thrown away your pride as a soldier huh" Katherine said. "I really didn't expect. Though drinking from the same glass as a monster is a lowly deed to you humans."

Michael put down his cup. "Do you believe it now?"

Katherine smiled. "Yes. That's enough for me. Because I've met someone who had a deep connection to monsters before."

"Just go. Tell me about the disease."

"Hoh, without further ado, yes" Katherine took a breath. "A month ago, I did an investigation. I followed in the footsteps of the Dark Demon King."

"Demon King of darkness!?" Michael surprised.

"really. He and his men are planning something. Something big" Katherine continued, taking tea from the dish that Riana was carrying.

"Plan?"

Katherine sipped her tea slowly. Then I looked at Michael. "Plan to start a war" he said.

Michael responded immediately with Katherine's talk. He immediately glanced towards the undead corpse across.

"Don't, he created this disease as a weapon of war" Michael guessed. It's still hard to believe for him that such a terrible thing actually happened.

Katherine just nodded. "So far, that's all I've got. I tried to get other information from the elder lich earlier, but he was very loyal to his Master and would not open his mouth."

"Why did you make it this far?" Ask Michael suddenly. "What elder lich said earlier. If the Dark Demon King wins, won't you demons also benefit?"

Katherine looked down grimly. "The story is rather long. One of my closest friends was killed by him. He is just a normal devil trying to do right."

"The devil killed the devil? It's not just humans, yes" Michael continued.

"The world is cruel, Knight. What stands by our side can move forward and hinder us. At the end of the day, it is not race that determines good and right. But each of us's souls."

Michael was silent with a pondering face.

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The day has gotten darker. Almost completely the remnants of the chaos had been cleared up. Undead bodies were buried some distance from the village to minimize the possibility of the outbreak.

The villagers welcomed Katherine as the savior of the village. He was invited to dinner with the residents and party until midnight.

While Michael was just sitting outside, looking at the moon shining among the stars. He was alone, contemplating with his two sticks beside him.

As she looked at the stars, Riana suddenly came with a plate of food.

"Michael-san," Call him. Then he gave me that food. "Eat first, it's night."

"Ah yes. Thank you," Michael received the plate.

"Aren't you going to come?" Riana asked while pointing at where the party was.

"Just go first. I still want to get some air."

Riana slumped down beside Michael. He sat with her and looked at the same moon.

"The moon is beautiful, yes" Riana said.

"Yes" replied Michael briefly. Then he looked back to the sky.

It was strange to sit with a demon. This was the first time he could be this relaxed beside a creature he considered an enemy.

"Riana, thank you" Michael said suddenly.

"Eh?" Riana looked surprised. "What's all of a sudden like this?"

"I just feel like you really look like my late mother" Michael continued. "You and him have a lot of similarities."

Riana smiled cheerfully. "so yeah. I'm glad to hear it."

Michael stared at his two paralyzed legs. His face turned a little grim. "Maybe I've put my ego too far ahead in the past. Now I get the reward."

Riana put her hand on Michael's feet. "Maybe all of this has been arranged" he said with a smile. "Destiny deliberately brings us together. If you hadn't been hurt and hadn't come here, maybe this village would've been destroyed."

"Thank you, Michael-san," Riana continued in a soft tone.

The wind blows. Riana's shiny silver hair fluttered with a beautiful moonlight bath.

Michael's eyes were once again fixed on Riana's face the longer she looked the more beautiful.

"Beautiful," Michael was stunned to the point.

Riana immediately looked over with a reddened face. "E-Eh!?"

Michael shut his mouth. His face began to panic. "S-Damn, why am I so excited." His cheeks are also flushed.

Riana turned her face away. He began to move his hands awkwardly. Although his look was invisible, yet he was clearly still blushing red.

"T-Thank you," Reply little Riana.

Michael is shocked, but immediately replies, "I-Yes, same."

Silence filled the atmosphere between them. Michael still couldn't believe what he just said. While Riana still blushed with red cheeks.

"M-Want to eat?" Michael with a red face.

Riana glanced. "B-Bye."

Michael and Riana walked to the place where the party was held.

Michael didn't expect much at the party. He just wanted to appreciate the citizens for having organized the party and providing a lot of food, even though they were in mourning.

He entered the party and was greeted by someone he had seen before.

"Om ksattiyia!" Rio, that demon boy appeared.

At that instant, the citizens immediately turned their heads and looked at Michael. Michael fell silent. He had guessed for sure his presence would ruin the atmosphere.

"He finally showed up, yes" said one resident.

Michael lowered his face. He slowly said, "I'm sorry, I just want to take a then-"

But his words were cut. The citizens immediately came to attack him. Michael didn't expect this. He immediately prepared his position to accept the attacks of the citizens.

Grabbs! A hand grabbed one of Michael's arms. Michael surprised. He tried to defend the defense, but his hands were not so strong. He lost and one of his sticks fell.

"Damn it, I'm going to fall."

Grabbs! Suddenly something held back his back. He looked back and saw some residents supporting him from behind, to prevent him from falling.

"Michael-san, thank you for helping us," Suddenly an old demon shook his hand. It seems that all this is just a misunderstanding.

Michael's face was sweating. Encumbered by demons, making him briefly remember his military times during the war against monsters.

He set his breath. Then he saw the faces of the people.

"They..."

A big smile with a face full of gratitude. They're not kidding. They were truly grateful and had no intention of attacking him.

A scene that was inversely proportional to on the battlefield. There he was surrounded by blood-soaked demons and a face that hated each other. But here, everything is so warm. For a moment, Michael forgot that the one in front of him was a demon.

"Om ksatyia," Rio ran towards Michael. He then hugged his feet tightly.

I don't know why Michael's body doesn't seem to reject the boy's body. He let go of his hands and lowered his body to return the boy's embrace.

Tears were flowing down Rio cheeks. He must be sad to lose his mother.

"Om ksatyia, m-mama..." Her crying was full of sobs.

"Cup cup, don't cry anymore" Michael stroked her hair. "Males need to be strong. Even if your mother's gone, she'd still want to see you smile."

Rio wiped his tears. "Mikel-san, I miss you."

"Your mother will always be by your side. It's just that you can't see it" said Michael softly.

"really?"

Michael nodded. "i'm serious. So don't cry anymore. Your mother must be sad to see you."

Michael then wiped the boy's tears. Without realizing it, he began to think. Since when did he care about the monsters?

Katherine suddenly appeared from among the crowd. Looking at Michael, made him smile widely.

"So what do you think?" Ask Katherine. "They're all smiling, thanks to you."

"I don't know how to say it" Michael replied.

Katherine smiled. "Looking at you right now, makes me think of someone. He's also a human being, but he loves us monsters."

"Love?"

"Not in a profanity sense," Katherine replied. "He's a great guy. He saved me once from that damned disease. If there wasn't him, I probably wouldn't be standing here."

"She sounds like a great person. I wish I could meet her sometime."

Shortly after, Ari and Riana appeared with something. A wooden chair with wheels on both sides.

"Michael-san, me and brother made this for you!" Riana.

Michael's stunned. "For me?"

Ari began to introduce his artificial tools. "Latest model wooden wheelchair. Have a wheel that can turn smooth. Coupled with a seat that I have modified, even if only given a pillow doang. And also, hold it behind him as a scarecrow. So if you're tired of pushing yourself, you can ask someone to push you in the back."

"I want to push Michael-san!" Riana said suddenly.

Ari complained. "I shouldn't have gotten that handle."

The residents laughed at the behavior of the albino brothers. But they were immediately distracted by something else.

"Ha ha ha," Unwittingly, Michael began to laugh. His face was so elated with a sincere expression without coercion.

Riana's face was beaming. "Michael-san."

A few tears came from his laughter. Michael wiped it and smiled broadly. This was the first time since the last time he had such a cheerful smile.

"When was the last time I laughed like this? I remember the time I was with my mother. Since he left, things have changed for me."

Michael looked at the people in front of him. Riana, Ari, Rio, the citizens, and also Katherine.

"Thank you, everyone" Michael said.

Everyone there was stunned by Michael. They didn't expect to hear Michael say such a gentle thank you.

Michael then looked at Riana. "Riana, thank you so much."

Riana blushed. He started scratching his head in a wrong manner.

Michael continued his words. "Everything, if you don't mind. Can I stay here longer?"

Ari immediately replied. "Of course I can. Who will forbid" he said. "Don't you freak out with my sister."

Once again the atmosphere was filled with laughter. The residents also welcomed Michael as a new resident in the village. While Katherine just kept smiling looking at the beautiful scenery before her eyes.

Michael laughed happily once again. He's very happy.

"Darren, is this what you've been fighting for all this time?"

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To be continued...