[Multiversal Friendship group system has detected the condition to trigger a wish-based mission. Posting mission...]
[Group Mission: Save the Kamado Family]
Mission Description: Your friend, Nezuko Kamado, wishes to change the tragic fate of her family, but she lacks the power to do so alone. As friends, we should help one another. Show your love and support by helping her resurrect her family.
Mission Reward: 10,000 Points
Note: This mission can be completed by a team of 5. Final participants to be selected by the group admin.
Souta and Nezuko both received the system's mission prompt.
"This... is the mission?"
Nezuko held her phone in both hands, staring at the screen with curiosity. She even tapped at it with her finger.
"Looks like triggering the wishes of group members is a steady way to farm missions. But... seems like not everyone has one."
Souta thought of the newly joined Athena.
She was searching for the Gorgoneion—maybe that wish could lead to a mission too?
"What's going on with you two?"
Tanjiro looked at them, confused.
The two of them had suddenly developed a form of interaction he couldn't access. As an older brother, it left him with a mix of emotions.
"Brother, we're discussing how to bring our family back." Nezuko reminded him gently.
Tanjiro instinctively looked at Souta, face full of shock.
He had heard them mention resurrection, but thought they were only speaking hypothetically.
After all, bringing the dead back to life—it sounded like something from a fairytale!
"Souta-san, you're not... serious, are you?"
Even Urokodaki, sitting nearby in meditation, couldn't stay calm. His breath quickened as he listened closely.
If... if the dead could really return—could all the disciples he lost come back to him?
"Tanjiro, how do you define death?"
Instead of answering, Souta asked a question in return.
Tanjiro thought for a moment. "For humans, it's probably when their breathing and heartbeat stop, and they never wake up. For demons, it's when they're decapitated by a Nichirin blade and turn to ash."
"That's only physical death. In the eyes of a god—it doesn't mean much."
A golden light flickered in Souta's eyes, a divine glint that seemed to pierce into the depths of the soul.
The gaze placed immense pressure on Tanjiro, Nezuko, and Urokodaki all at once. It was as if their legs were about to buckle, as though they might fall to their knees and bow.
A stunned expression appeared on their faces—they finally realized:
The man standing before them truly was a god.
Despite his casual demeanor, his jokes and easygoing attitude—he was undeniably a higher being.
If he didn't choose to treat you kindly, you'd be nothing but an ant in his eyes.
"Sorry. I scared you, didn't I?"
Souta quickly retracted all his divine presence.
Ever since ascending to Divine Rank 5, his divine aura had become increasingly intense.
If he didn't keep it in check, even a stray breath of power could put immense pressure on mortals.
His power had grown so rapidly that mastering full control over it was still a work in progress.
"Anyway, what gods value is the soul. As long as the soul isn't destroyed, it doesn't count as true death."
He smiled, softening his tone:
"And if it's not true death, then resurrection is definitely possible."
Tanjiro murmured, dazed.
He wasn't the only one. Urokodaki had also lowered his head, memories of the past flooding his mind.
Both of them were lost in thoughts of their lost loved ones.
Nezuko, meanwhile, was watching the group chat on her phone, eyes sparkling with curiosity. Every now and then, she'd poke at the screen adorably.
Souta looked at her and found her kind of cute.
Even though her mind had reverted to that of a 12-year-old, some behaviors from her time as a demon had stuck around. Her habits were still a little beastly.
Just earlier, she'd instinctively reached toward the hotpot with her hand. Halfway there, she realized what she was doing and quickly pulled back, glancing around guiltily. When no one noticed, she sighed in relief.
Unbeknownst to her, Souta had seen everything—but pretended not to notice when she looked around.
Probably just lingering muscle memory, he guessed.
Then he turned his focus back to his phone.
Tokisaki Kurumi: "Looks like I was right—a mission really was triggered."
Altair: "A group mission to resurrect someone important. Reminds me of the one I had."
Rin Tohsaka: "Finally!"
Rin Tohsaka: "@Souta. Have you decided who'll join? There are five slots—can I be one of them?"
Altair: "Technically, there are only three slots left. Souta and Nezuko are guaranteed to go."
Rin Tohsaka: "Wait, Nezuko counts as a participant in her own mission?"
Tokisaki Kurumi: "Of course. That was confirmed during Altair's mission."
Altair: "Kurumi-san, since you're the one who steered the group toward this mission, I think you deserve one of the slots."
Tokisaki Kurumi: "Nah, I'm busy absorbing reiryoku right now. Crafting time-travel bullets is a hassle, so I'll pass. Let those who need points take this chance."
Shiroyasha: "I won't be joining either. Too much official work to handle. If I jump to another world, who knows how long time will pass in Little Garden. I don't have time to play around—it's too risky."
Rin Tohsaka: "Then how do we pick the three from the remaining seven of us?"
Shinobu: "A fair competition won't be easy."
Shinobu: "@Souta. You've got a wild imagination. Any clever solutions?"
Souta: "Ahem. Actually, I could finish this mission by myself... so you guys don't have to come."
Shinobu: "Oh? Going solo to hog the reward? I wouldn't mind."
Souta: "I'm just joking! I may need points, but not that badly."
Souta: "Anyway, I've already thought of a way."
Shiroyasha: "Let's hear it. I'm always entertained by your schemes."
Souta: "It's not a scheme—just bending the system a bit. Here's the plan: I'll make seven slips of paper, write 'Winner' on three, fold and shuffle them, then upload all seven to the system marketplace."
Souta: "Then I'll send 1 point to each of the seven contestants. You'll each use it to buy one paper. Whoever gets a winner slip gets to join the mission—and I get the points back."
Shiroyasha: "As expected of you."
Altair: "Brilliant! This could work for future team missions too. Well done, Souta."
Tokisaki Kurumi: "Ara~ The system's going to have a headache again."
Illya: "Big bro is so smart!"
Rin: "But what if someone doesn't buy the paper after you send them the point? You'd lose a point!"
Souta: "Rin, I think you're probably the only one in the whole group who'd try to hoard that 1 point."
Tokisaki Kurumi: "Rin does raise a valid point. Points aren't guaranteed to return. Like that new member—Luo Hao? She hasn't said a word yet. Might not buy anything at all."
Kurumi's comment made Souta pause—he had forgotten about that.
Luo Hao hadn't spoken once. Maybe she just didn't care to interact.
If he gave her a point... would she even use it?
Even if it was just one point—it was still a point!
Souta: "@Luo Hao. Do you want to join the mission?"
Souta: "@Luo Hao. If you don't reply, I'll assume you're opting out."
After a while with no response, he gave up.
Souta: "Alright, then. Only six people will draw."