I Was Reborn in Another World, But I Awoke Inside a Corpse

Chapter 145: A Day in the Capital

The sun was high above the shimmering treetop canopy of Elaraiya, and for once, no alarms sounded. No summons were issued. No ancient systems tried to rewrite reality.

It was just… calm.

And Isaac, unarmored and unbothered, was walking through the market quarter of the elven capital with Sylvalen at his side and Lira trailing half a step behind, chewing on a candied leaf fruit and pretending not to be interested.

The scent of sweet pollen and baked bread drifted lazily through the open stalls. Shops carved into flowering trunks lined the walkways, each boasting hand-spun robes, mana-threaded jewelry, enchanted teas, and polished weaponry none of them needed today.

"You know," Isaac said, glancing around, "this is the first time no one's tried to kill me in over a week."

"Don't jinx it," Lira muttered through her snack. "We've still got the pastry district to clear."

Sylvalen chuckled, graceful even in her casual tunic and open braid. "You deserve one quiet day, at least. The Council's still arguing about how to classify you. Hero, anomaly, or walking diplomatic hazard."

"Hazard has a nice ring to it," Lira said. "We could get that engraved on your cloak."

They wandered past a fountain square where children played with floating petals, then into the shaded interior of a hidden bookstore nestled inside a hollowed amberwood tree.

Sylvalen guided Isaac toward the back alcove.

"This was my mother's favorite spot," she said quietly. "I used to hide here when the court got overwhelming. The shelves haven't changed."

Isaac trailed a hand along the books. "I like it. Feels... honest."

He paused, pulling one volume off the shelf. The title was in flowing elvish script. Lira squinted at it and translated with a grin.

"The Five Lovers of Lord Variel.""Oho~ Sylvalen, this was your hiding place?"

Sylvalen turned just enough to give Lira a flat, unamused look.

Lira held up her hands. "No judgment. Literature is literature."

Later, they shared lunch in an open-air garden café. Elven musicians played soft stringed instruments near the central dome while butterflies lazily chased the wind. Isaac bit into a moonberry tart while watching a small crowd gather near a street performer.

He frowned.

"Is that…?"

A bard stood atop a stone bench, lute in hand, singing at full volume:

"He came from death, with eyes of fate—A stranger clad in shadow's weight—He slew the Gluttonous in a flame-lit quake!The maiden wept, the world did shake—His name was…""IIIIISAAAAAAAC."

The gathered elves clapped politely.

Lira dropped her fork. "Oh gods. You have a theme song now."

Sylvalen sipped her tea with a straight face. "It needs a bridge. And better rhyme."

Isaac buried his face in his hands.

"I didn't even tell anyone about Beelzebub."

Lira shrugged. "Doesn't matter. Rumors travel faster than your sword arm."

"Can we leave?"

"Too late," Lira said as a pair of elven teens ran over with handmade charm-flowers.

"Are you really the man who defeated a Great Demon?"

"Did you use a sacred blade? Or a cursed one?"

"Can I touch your hand?"

Isaac blinked, suddenly awkward.

Sylvalen leaned in and spoke gently to the children. "You may greet him with respect. Just no relic-forging today."

They bowed and ran off, giggling.

Isaac looked at her. "That was... surprisingly diplomatic."

She smiled, serene as ever. "You're a hero now. Heroes are public property."

Lira raised her hand. "I vote we get matching cloaks."

Isaac groaned.

As the sun dipped lower, casting golden rays through the leaves, the three of them sat on a balcony ledge overlooking the river. Lira was lying flat on her back, arms behind her head. Sylvalen was reading a weathered poetry book she had picked up. Isaac sat between them, relaxed and wordless.

"This was nice," Lira said suddenly. "No system windows. No nightmares. No demons with suggestive tails."

Isaac chuckled. "You mean Asmodeus?"

Sylvalen didn't look up from her book. "I'm still watching for floral scent."

"Please don't start that again," Isaac sighed.

They sat in silence.

The day passed without incident.

And for the first time in a long while, Isaac believed—however briefly—that peace might be something he could keep.