Reborn As A Ghost: Time To Build My Undead Army!-Chapter 1839: Do You Really Need Me Anymore?

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Through the many conversations they shared, Laura learned a great deal about Fran’s journey into the tower. She also gradually came to terms with her sister’s incredible power and authority within it.

Even so, whenever she looked at Fran, she still saw only her adorable little sister—with silky long black hair and those bright green eyes.

"You’ve grown up so much without me there to watch..." she muttered, voicing the thought that had been weighing on her.

"Hm?" Maria turned back to her sister and smiled warmly. "You too, sis."

"Nah... I’ve barely changed at all," Laura sighed. "But you? You didn’t just change—you became so much more. I’m kind of proud, but also a little jealous... and maybe afraid you’ll leave now that so many people depend on you. It feels awkward. I waited twenty years for you, and then you finally wake up and tell me all these things... Somehow I feel like... deep down I just wanted everything to go back to how it once was. Just you, Mom, and me... but maybe that will never happen."

"Laura..." Maria sensed the sorrow in her sister’s voice and gently patted her shoulders. "I promised I would never leave you behind, didn’t I? You’re coming with me."

"What? With you?!" Laura’s eyes widened in shock.

"Oh, I didn’t know you wanted to stay in this shithole of a planet that’s always trampled over us," Maria teased lightly. "The tower and the worlds out there are so much more than you can imagine. Your perspective on everything will expand so much, sister... Earth feels weirdly claustrophobic in comparison now. It’s oppressive, small... full of terrible people and a rotten system where money is everything. Meanwhile, there are worlds where you can fulfill your dreams, eat all the free vegetables and fruits you want, swim across an endless ocean, meet giant robots, relax in magical hot springs, and more..."

"Hm..." Laura gave a small smile. "Yeah, okay, but aside from the robots, you can find those things here..."

"Okay, maybe, but it’s so much better out there!" Maria insisted. "But anyway, that’s just my plan. I need you by my side."

Laura fell silent for a moment. "But what about Mom?"

"We’ll find her," Maria said with a confident nod. "We’ll definitely find her... And while we’re at it, we’re going to kick out the Crimson Order, Olympus, Thebes, and every other organization controlling this place. They’re from the upper floors, Laura. And they’re all horrible people."

"Fran... are you sure?" Laura asked hesitantly. "I don’t think this is the right thing to do... You may see them that way, but these guilds are helping people survive in this new world. They’re giving great powers and everything."

"At the expense of their freedom or lives?" Maria countered. "Just like how Olympus has practically enslaved you, or how the Crimson Order likely turned our mother into a cold-blooded murderer or something?"

"..." Laura fell silent. Her eyes brimmed with tears. "You don’t get it! Mom and I...! We didn’t have a chance! Maybe you were living your best life up there, but we were suffering! WE WERE SUFFERING SO MUCH!!!"

Everyone suddenly went quiet as Laura broke down, gasping as she covered her mouth.

"I-I’m sorry... sorry..."

She ran back to her room and slammed the door shut.

"Laura!"

Maria hurried after her and heard her sister crying inside.

"Laura..."

Maria stood at the door and sighed heavily.

She glanced at her family; they nodded, understanding what she intended.

With a thought, she raised a void barrier, isolating the area around her sister’s room so they could speak privately.

"Laura..."

"Just leave me alone..."

"No... I won’t. You’ve been alone this entire time. I can’t."

"You’re always so stubborn..."

"I know... heh... you know how I am, right?"

"..."

"Tell me, Laura. What’s wrong? Look, I made a barrier so my family can’t hear us. Let’s talk, sister to sister, okay? Can you open the door?"

"I don’t want to."

"Okay... then let’s just talk like this."

"..."

"Please tell me what’s wrong."

"It’s nothing... I’m just being a stupid prick. I just... feel such weird whiplash from everything... I really thought that when you woke up, everything would magically go back to normal... I wanted you to be... like before. A little dumb, naïve, anxious... hehe. I wanted to be your reliable big sister, to teach you things, to guide you so we could fight the world together..."

"Oh..."

"But when you woke up, you healed an entire hospital, then the whole damn city... then you beat those people and used all this crazy magic... and once you said you were from the tower, I didn’t want to believe it... I was... really damn stupid. I just... wanted to guide you or something... to feel reliable... I wanted my little sister..."

"I’m sorry..."

"It’s not your fault. I’m just stupid... I’m dumb as a rock... I’m a stupid idiot..."

"No, Laura... you aren’t! You’re my big sister... I relied on you so much. You were there supporting my body for twenty years! I wanted to repay you for that... I wanted you to relax and take it easy... sorry. Maybe everything was too sudden, but... I don’t have time..."

"Hm..."

Laura sighed, finally realizing things would never truly return to how they once were.

Life changes.

People change.

Life moves forward, and people keep moving with it.

The world is constantly shifting, and those good old days...

They’re impossible to reclaim.

They’re gone, left in the past.

Laura clutched her head, understanding at last how much of her life had been spent clinging to the hope that one day everything would somehow go back to normal.

"I’m sorry for... for making you feel upset," Maria said softly, her voice trembling. Laura could hear the tears in it. "I just... wanted to see you... I missed you and Mom so much..."

"Fran..." Laura sighed. "It’s nothing like that. I just felt... a little frustrated because you were right. This world is fucked. The people are fucked... and those bastards controlling us aren’t doing anything good. They’re just creating an illusion... I felt weirdly offended that you... wanted to trample on everything—this world, the only thing I ever knew—even though I knew you were right. I’m just too much of a coward to accept it."

"No, you aren’t!" Maria said firmly. "You accepted it just now, didn’t you? And... yeah, I was being a little too pushy. Sorry... I just wanted you to feel relieved and happy, to not worry anymore about anything."

"That’s impossible..." Laura said quietly. "I’m always worrying about something. You know how I am, Fran..."

"Yep," Maria smiled, gently caressing the door. "Hey, Laura... maybe we really can go back to those times."

"What...?"

"Maybe we won’t be as young as before. Maybe we won’t be studying and living in a peaceful world... but if we can find Mom and stay together, wouldn’t it be the same as before? Just you, Mom, and me...?" Maria asked. "After all... as long as we’re together as a family... that should be enough."

"..."

Laura smiled faintly. Maria was trying so hard. She let out a small chuckle.

"Hahah... okay, you’re trying so hard," she continued giggling softly.

"Hey! I’m just... I don’t want you to cry..." Maria sighed. "Laura... come on... let me in at least? I want to hug you, big sis... I need you."

"..."

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