"I call it the Soul Project. I was eventually able to organize it on a large scale, implementing it as a public policy when I became President.
There were so many things I wanted to ask, but I was simply too astounded to speak.
Jane always had a knack for surprising me with her exceptional talents and borderline supernatural wits, but this trumped everything.
"I-incredible..."
"Hehehe. Impressed by my great feats, are you? Puehehe. That's right! Just as we once promised, I changed the world with my Magic—well, at least among my people."
According to Jane, she was able to initiate the whole process on a national scale.
She had capable subordinates working with her, so they constructed organic bodies for the Fairies who desired the same eternal life she possessed.
It became a public luxury, similar to how the Fairies utilized Plas-gic Surgery.
Of course, there was one particular step in the procedure that required her aid—the Soul Transfer.
By using Soul Branding on all the Fairies that consented to the procedure, Jane would surgically remove their Souls from their original bodies and place them into their new bodies.
That way, the Fairies could replace their old and dying bodies with new ones.
Rinse. Repeat
As a result, it produced a metropolis where no one had to fear death.
"But, weren't there people who resisted it? What was the reception rate?"
Certainly, Fairies were open-minded, but what of the other Races? There was a reason I had never heard of this Soul Project before meeting Jane.
Besides, even among her own people, there had to be people who didn't agree with the concept.
"A hundred percent! Everyone in this Republic has consented to the procedure. Some have even had their procedures done twice already."
"Eh? Really?" I was a bit surprised.
I was sure that at least a few would object.
"The only reason people accept death is because they have either fulfilled their purpose in life, or they do not have the power to change it." My friend explained.
Someone who had spent his life as a researcher could die in peace once his experiments finally bore fruit.
They would see their life's purpose as fulfilled and would see nothing wrong with leaving the realm of the living.
However...
"I designed this Republic with Policies geared toward multiple choices and career paths. The Fairies could spend an eternity and still not reach the limits of their achievements. This drives them to keep striving for more. Their desire to live burns even stronger than before."
I was taken by storm. Jane Ursula basically designed a system where people could love forever without boredom or lack of purpose.
Every single Fairy was recognized by her through the Soul Brand, and she was able to ensure smooth transitions of her citizens so that all of them kept going about their businesses.
"No one wants to die, Jared. At least, not if they can help it." Jane concluded with a soft smile.
"W-wow, Jane. You've... far exceeded my expectations."
"Hehe! Of course!" She puffed out her chest.
Jane's small size just made her posture look weird.
"Immortality, eh? Who would have thought..."
"It's not as grand as it seems. Besides, stubborn idiots like Gawain rejected the prospects."
Yep, I expected that from him.
According to Jane, after I died, she tried to convince Gawain not to give in to the same path.
Since he had a Mana Core, he could strengthen himself so he could live longer—pending the time she could unlock the secrets of immortality.
But...
"Na. I'll live and die as a human. There's no need for anything grand like being alive forever. Living a fleeting life is what living is all about."
... Gawain rejected that prospect.
Emilia was the same as well.
Dom died earlier than I did, and Ford also died before Jane could complete her experiment.
In essence, she was the last of my comrades that I had in the past.
"You know, I actually tried to conjure your Soul several times."
"Eh?" I was surprised by this new revelation.
"Yeah. Sigh, I was stupid back then. After attaining immortality, everyone that mattered to me was dead already. I felt awfully lonely, so I decided to try calling you back."
Jane told me how she resorted to so many things to bring me back—all in vain.
"Sigh, looking at you right in front of me, I have so many questions. A part of me wonders if one of those failed attempts actually triggered something."
"Hmm. That's impossible, though." I replied, rubbing my chin.
According to her, the last time she tried conjuring me was fifty years ago. I didn't even exist back then.
Plus, even she admitted that it was a failure. With no strong link to my Soul, or a portion of it, trying something like that was useless.
"Then... how are you here? It makes no sense. Your body, even though it has been enhanced, is purely human. How were you able to return? You look nothing like your past self too."
I smiled at the curious Fairy hovering around me as she observed every minute detail of my body.
"Your body isn't very mature too... especially down there. Hmm, looks smaller than last time."
"H-hey! Boundaries!" I covered my groin in reflex—though doing that didn't really change anything.
"Urgh, please. Do you know how long I've been staring at it? You think there's a point hiding it at this point?"
Jane had a nasty habit of undressing anyone she met with her Magic Item—the Glasses she wore.
During our first meeting, she burst out saying something like;
"Holy shit! You're big down there!"
It was so embarrassing, especially since I was directly beside Emilia and the other comrades I had made at the time.
I actually felt Emilia's gaze move downward at that point, but that was probably my imagination... right?
"You still haven't changed. Come on, Jane! Grow up."
"Can you blame me? Everyone is so small and predictable around here. I can't resist trying to explore new things." She narrowed her gaze as she giggled.
"Oh, stop that." I laughed in response.
"On a serious note, though... How are you here, Lewis?" Her face was close to mine at this point, almost touching my bare skin.
Her large eyes stared into mine, waiting for an answer—if only I had one.
"I... I don't know."
